Topical Nigella sativa L. product: a new candidate for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes. The synthetic drugs available in the market have side effects and limitations for diabetic patients, the vast majority of whom are in the upper age group. In this regard, based on Persian medicinal sources, Nigella sativa (N. sativa) has proved to have beneficial effects on neuropathic pain and neurological disorders. In this study, the effect of N. sativa is investigated topically in patients with diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: This study was performed as a double-blind clinical trial on 120 neuropathic patients. The patients were divided into three groups. The first group received a topical N. sativa product as an ointment, the second group was given a topical placebo, and the third received 300 mg gabapentin capsules. The blindness was done in first and second groups. Diabetic neuropathy was assessed before the study using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). In addition, neuropathy symptoms were evaluated after the trial using the MNSI questionnaire. RESULTS: The data were elicited from the patients' answers to a number of questions in the Michigan questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences between the group that received the topical N. sativa product and the other two groups in terms of legs and feet numbness (p value = 0.001), burning pain in feet or legs (p value = 0.001), muscle cramps in feet or legs (p value = 0.001), prickling fleeing in feet or legs (p value = 0.001), hurting of the skin when the bed covers touch it (p value = 0.005), aggravated symptoms at night (p value = 0.001) and hurting feelings in the legs when walking (p value = 0.032). However, the three studied groups were not statistically different in distinguishing hot water from cold water. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the topical use of N. sativa, compared to the current drugs, has acceptable improving effects on diabetic neuropathic patients.

Reconstruction of bone marrow microenvironment for expansion of hematopoietic stem cells by a histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is an approach for overcoming cell insufficiency for umbilical cord blood transplantation. It was suggested that in common ex vivo cultures, the stemness specificity of HSCs is rapidly reducing due to DNA hypermethylation. Here, Nicotinamide (NAM), a DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitor, is used with a bioengineered Bone Marrow-like niche (BLN) for HSC ex vivo expansion. The CFSE cell proliferation assay was used for tracking HSCs division. qRT-PCR was conducted to assay the HOXB4 mRNA expression levels. The morphology of BLN-cultured cells was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). NAM boosted the induction of HSC proliferation in the BLN group compared to the control group. In addition, the ability of HSCs to colonize was more significant in the BLN group than in the control group. Our data suggest that the presence of NAM in bioengineered niches promotes HSC proliferation. The presented approach showed that small molecules could be used in the clinical setting to overcome the limited number of CD34+ cells in cord blood units.

Rescuing fertility during COVID-19 infection: exploring potential pharmacological and natural therapeutic approaches for comorbidity, by focusing on NLRP3 inflammasome mechanism.

The respiratory system was primarily considered the only organ affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As the pandemic continues, there is an increasing concern from the scientific community about the future effects of the virus on male and female reproductive organs, infertility, and, most significantly, its impact on the future generation. The general presumption is that if the primary clinical symptoms of COVID-19 are not controlled, we will face several challenges, including compromised infertility, infection-exposed cryopreserved germ cells or embryos, and health complications in future generations, likely connected to the COVID-19 infections of parents and ancestors. In this review article, we dedicatedly studied severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virology, its receptors, and the effect of the virus to induce the activation of inflammasome as the main arm of the innate immune response. Among inflammasomes, nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway activation is partly responsible for the inflicted damages in both COVID-19 infection and some reproductive disorders, so the main focus of the discussion is on NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection alongside in the reproductive biology. In addition, the potential effects of the virus on male and female gonad functions were discussed, and we further explored the potential natural and pharmacological therapeutic approaches for comorbidity via NLRP3 inflammasome neutralization to develop a hypothesis for averting the long-term repercussions of COVID-19. Since activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway contributes to the damage caused by COVID-19 infection and some reproductive disorders, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors have a great potential to be considered candidates for alleviating the pathological effects of the COVID-19 infection on the germ cells and reproductive tissues. This would impede the subsequent massive wave of infertility that may threaten the patients.

Years of Life Lost Due to Main Causes of Deaths in Yazd Province, Iran.

AIM: One approach to measure the demographic impacts of death is to examine the number of lost years of life. The present paper aims to estimate the "Years of Lost Life" (YLL) due to the main causes of death in Yazd province of Iran. METHOD: The present study is an epidemiological examination for which the statistical population included all the death incidents in Yazd province (excluding stillbirth cases) over two time periods of 2011 and 2016 with a 5-year distance. The required data were obtained based on the Comprehensive System of Mortality Registration maintained by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education; while the standard life expectancy data were based on the World Health Organization standards using standard life table, level 26 of the West model (Coale and Demeny) for Japanese men and women. The standard YLL was calculated according to the WHO standard using a 0.03 relaxation rate for the future time and weighting coefficient for various ages and life years through the formula using the Microsoft Excel software. RESULTS: The findings of the present study suggest that two main causes of YLL in Yazd province during the year of 2011 were cardiovascular difficulties with the rates of 31.6 per 1000 persons for women and 27.1 per 1000 persons for men, and cancers with the rates of 14.9 per 1000 persons for women and 16.2 per 1000 persons for men. While the above numbers in 2016 were, respectively 22.5 per 1000 persons for women and 25.5 per 1000 persons for men due to cardiovascular difficulties; and 18 per 1000 persons for women and 15.5/1000 for men due to various types of cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that cardiovascular diseases and cancers are the main factors leading to Years of Lost Lifetime for the residents of Yazd province in Iran.

Risk Factors of Osteoporosis in Females: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study, Yazd, Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of osteoporosis in women in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was performed on 270 women 35-65 yr old (135 case and 135 control) from Mar 2016 to Mar 2017. Case and control were matched in terms of age ± 2 (year) as a group matching. Osteoporosis is defined as a T-score of bone mineral density (BMD) below -2.5 SD. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software. Statistical tests included chi-square, student t test and Mann Whitney test .Multiple logistic regression (MLR) which forward method was used for modeling. Results: Odds ratio (OR) of osteoprosis were menarche age>12 yr (OR=3.37, CI:2.29-15.89), history of hysterectomy (OR=13, CI:3.81-44.82), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (OR=6.58, CI:2.29-18.91) calcium supplements (OR=0.14, CI:0.04-0.41), menopause age <40 (OR=11.84, CI:1.54-90), second smoking (OR=3.38, CI:1.16-9.81) and increase of weight (OR=0.86, CI:0.80-0.94). Conclusion: Predictors of osteoporosis was menarche age >12 yr (3 times), history of hysterectomy (13 times), RA (6.5 times), menopause age <40 (12 times), second smoking (more than 3 times), calcium supplements and weight (protective).

A Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Livestock and Poultry Worldwide.

Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis with a global prevalence in the world. A large proportion of human illness is most frequently associated with consuming raw and undercooked meat or other animal products containing infective parasitic stages of T. gondii. This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle, sheep, camels, goats, and poultry worldwide. The search was performed in databases including PubMed, WoS, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and ISC from 2000 to 2019 in Persian and English. The main inclusion criteria were the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among livestock and poultry and the prevalence indices by sample size. During these 20 years, the overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in livestock and poultry was 28.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 25-31.9%) using the random-effects meta-analysis model. The highest prevalence of T. gondii in livestock and poultry animals was found in Asia in 2014 with 89.8% (95% CI 78.5-95.5%). The lowest prevalence was found in Asia in 2013 with 1.26% (95% CI 0.4-3.8%). A quarter of livestock and poultry were infected with T. gondii. Since livestock products are globally important sources of people's diet, our findings are useful for policymakers to control T. gondii infection in livestock.

Prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and its relationship with opium, total opiate drugs, and chronic smoking: Fasa cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity and drug use are two major global issues today. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use with general and central obesity. METHODS: The data of the longitudinal population-based study were collected from the basis of the Fasa Cohort Study (FACS). Participants were 10141 people with 35-70 years old. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Binary logistic regression (BLR) was used for modelling. A significance level (α) less than 0.05% was considered for hypothesis testing. RESULTS: Of the total participants (N = 10104), 54.8% (n = 5539) were women. The prevalence of central obesity in terms of waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were calculated 48.20% (N = 4871), 79.50% (N = 8032), and 83.30% (N = 8314). The Odds Ratio (OR) adjusted of Abnormal body mass index (BMI) for Opium and chronic smoking were 0.54 (CI: 0.47-0.63) and 0.47 (CI:0.40-0.56). OR adjusted Abnormal WC for opium and chronic smoking were calculated 0.65 (CI: 0.53-0.80) and 0.57 (CI:0.46-0.72), respectively. Three variables of opium (OR = 0.54, CI: 0.46-0.64), total opiate drugs (OR = 1.46, CI:1.16-1.83) and chronic smoking (OR = 0.58, CI: 0.48-0.70) remained in the modeling for Abnormal WHR. Which were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Significant and inverse relationships were found between obesity and opium, total opiate drugs, and chronic smoking.

Population Attributable Risk of Hyperuricemia in Hypertension Incidence in 20-74-Year-Old Population during a 10-Year Longitudinal Cohort: Yazd Healthy Heart Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The population attributable risk (PAR) percent has used widely in public health policy. We aimed to calculate the attribute risk of hypertension due to hyperuricemia by Levin's formulas compare to direct PAR calculation method. METHODS: This was a sub-study of Yazd Healthy Heart Cohort (YHHC). Overall, 1256 normotensive individuals were enrolled through multistage randomized cluster sampling and followed up for mean 9.8 years, from 2005-2015. The threshold cutoff point of the hyperuricemia was considered equal and more than 75th percentile that equal to 5.5 mg/dl for men and 4.3mg/dl for women. To calculate the attributable risk of hyperuricemia in developing hypertension, two methods were applied. Levin's formulas and direct PAR estimation by population risk calculation via exposure prevalence weighted formula. Multiple logistic regression was used for estimate of odds ratio (OR) of hyperuricemia in developing hypertension. We calculated Relative Risk (RR) from OR. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. A significant level of 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: Hypertension developed in 44.7% of individuals with uric acid level ≥ 75th percentile vs. 35.6% of other individuals (P=0.024). Attributable risk (AR) of hyperuricemia in hypertension incidence was 9.1%. PAR of hyperuricemia for hypertension incidence by using two methods mentioned before was 6%, 5.8% respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirmed the noticeable contribution of hyperuricemia as an independent other risk factor for the occurrence of hypertension. PAR of hyperuricemia for hypertension incidence by using two methods almost near was 6%, 5.8% respectively.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency in adult population of yazd - The sun province in center of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) is one of impaired calcium absorption causes. It is associated with increased risk of several diseases. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence and predictors of VDI in Yazd. METHOD AND MATERIAL: This cross sectional study was conducted on 700 participant aged between 20 and 70 years old on second phase of the Iranian Multi-Center Osteoporosis Study (IMOS) in Yazd province. All analyzes were performed with the SPSS 20 and Stata 14.1 software. Chi-squared test, Pearson correlation and binary logistic regression were used. A significance level was considered for all tests P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of VDI was 55.1% (51.37-58.87%) in total participant of this study. Predictors of VDI including: age 31-45 years old (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.04-2.70), female (OR = 3.49, CI = 1.80-6.78), live in the apartment houses (OR = 2.15, CI = 1.06-4.35), inability of climbing of steps (OR = 2.59, CI = 1.17-5.69), serum Calcium (OR = 0.53, CI = 0.34-0.81) and serum PTH (OR = 1.04, CI = 1.02-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of VDI in Yazd is high. It is recommended to people that to be exposed to sunlight per day. And people should consumption vitamin D supplements under their physician.

Establishment of cardiac rehabilitation program in Yazd-Iran: An experience of a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of mortality in the world including Iran and are one of the main causes of disability. Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is a multidisciplinary program that helps CVD patients recover faster after a heart attack and avoid any subsequent incident. This report determined the current state of CR in Yazd, Iran. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROGRAM: Hospital-based Afshar CR program in Yazd, Iran, is the only CR facility in Yazd province, which is located in the centre of Iran. Currently, the Afshar CR program has four phases including inpatient, sub-acute, outpatient and maintenance. The CR team includes cardiologists and heart surgeons as physicians, and physical medicine rehabilitation specialist, outpatient and inpatient resident medical officers, psychiatrists, nutritionists, psychologists, physiotherapists and social workers. DISCUSSION: Given the facilities and training programs mentioned above, the rate of patient referral to the center by the inpatient CR team during the short life of CR in this center was 60%, the patient participation rate was 6.9% and the enrollment rate was 55%. In addition, over the past three years, 57% of registered patients completed the program. CONCLUSION: The Afshar CR is trying to get closer to the world standard setting. But it seems that it is necessary to develop the standard of CR in Iran based on the culture and socio-economic status of Iranian community.

Relationship between sitting time and anthropometric indices: Findings of Yazd health study (YaHS).

BACKGROUND: The abnormal anthropometric indices are one of the main risk factors of the non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sitting time and anthropometric indices. METHODS: This cross sectional analytic study was conducted on 10000 adult 20-69 years old residents of Yazd in 2013-2014. The anthropometric indices were measured according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and using the calibrated instruments. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Statistical analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD), Chi-square test and Binary Logistic Legression (BLR). with significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The findings showed that 49.9% of the participants were male. After the confounders adjustment, the Odds Ratio (OR) of abnormal waist to hip ratio (WHR) and sitting time was 0.7 (95% CI = 0.5-0.9) in people with daily sitting of 4-6 h at work (p = 0.03). The OR of abnormal waist to height ratio (WHtR) was 0.7 (95% CI = 0.5-0.9) in individuals with sitting of 1-3 h per day at work (p = 0.02). Furthermore, the OR of abnormal waist circumference (WC) and sitting time was 1.7 (95% CI = 1.0-2.8) in participants who were sitting 10 h or more per day at work (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased sitting time per day at work can prevent from abnormal WHR, WHtR and WC.

The prevalence of Peyronie's disease in diabetic patients -2018- Yazd.

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease (PD) is the fibrous scar tissue inside the penis that causes curved and painful erections. PD is associated with, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and low testosterone. PD causes erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PD in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients in Yazd. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 317 patients with T2DM referred to the Diabetes Research Center of Yazd. Inclusion Criteria were: T2DM, ages 30-65 years old, having a medical record at the Yazd diabetes research center, willingness to participate in research. Exclusin criteria contain: history of smoking and using anti-depressive drugs. Data was analyzed using with SPSS-16 and Stata software. Descriptive tables and charts were used and statistical tests such as independent sample T-test and Fisher's exact test were used. RESULTS: A total number of 317 male patients were enrolled. The prevalence of diabetes microvascular complications were as following; neuropathy 36.30% (30.97-41.38), retinopathy 24.30% (19.67-29.39), nephropathy 20.50% (16.19-25.37), and PD 3.80% (1.97-6.51). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the prevalence of PD in our study with the global studies. But there is a higher prevalence of PD in diabetic patients than the general population.