The challenges of voluntary care provision for hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study of the public volunteers' experiences.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a remarkable increase in public volunteering for the care of hospitalized patients. They faced challenges during their voluntary care provision. This study aimed at exploring public volunteers' experiences of the challenges of the voluntary care provision to hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study with an inductive content analysis method was conducted, 2022-2023. Eighteen public volunteers providing care to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were purposefully selected among 10 hospitals, specialized in COVID-19 care in Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected over 7 months through in-depth semistructured interviews and concurrently analyzed using conventional content analysis methods. FINDINGS: The challenges of voluntary care provision to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were illustrated in five main categories, each with two subcategories. The categories included structural challenges, interpersonal conflicts, financial constraints, covert participation and the deteriorating condition of care provision. The subcategories comprised lack of volunteer recruitment bases, ineffective organization of voluntary activities, pervasive distrust, heightened risk of clinical errors, conflicts between volunteer commitments and primary occupation, lack of financial support, lack of family support, isolation by friends, mental trauma and physical exhaustion. CONCLUSION: Public volunteers encounter diverse challenges while providing care to hospitalized patients with COVID-19, which negatively impacts their motivation to serve. By addressing these challenges, we can create a more supportive environment for volunteers and enhance the quality of care provided to patients during public health emergencies. Identifying such challenges can assist healthcare managers and policymakers develop effective strategies to mitigate mounting difficulties and enhance volunteer services, thereby improving the overall quality of care provided to patients during public health crises. PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS: Participants were identified and recruited after the study objectives were explained in person to the managers. The participants were approached and interviewed by one author. Participation was voluntary and the participants did not receive any financial compensation for their time.

Identification of Novel Mutations in the MMAA and MUT Genes among Methylmalonic Aciduria Families.

Background: Methylmalonic aciduria is a rare inherited metabolic disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. There are still MMA patients without known mutations in the responsible genes. This study aimed to identify mutations in Iranian MMA families using autozygosity mapping and NGS. Methods: Multiplex PCR was performed on DNAs isolated from 12 unrelated MMA patients and their family members using 19 STR markers flanking MUT, MMAA, and MMAB genes, followed by Sanger sequencing. WES was carried out in the patients with no mutation. Results: Haplotype analysis and Sanger sequencing revealed two novel, mutations, A252Vf*5 and G87R, within the MMAA and MUT genes, respectively. Three patients showed no mutations in either autozygosity mapping or NGS analysis. Conclusion: High-frequency mutations within exons 2 and 3 of MUT gene and exon 7 of MMAB gene are consistent with the global expected frequency of genetic variations among MMA patients.

Enhancing Fetal Anomaly Detection in Ultrasonography Images: A Review of Machine Learning-Based Approaches.

Fetal development is a critical phase in prenatal care, demanding the timely identification of anomalies in ultrasound images to safeguard the well-being of both the unborn child and the mother. Medical imaging has played a pivotal role in detecting fetal abnormalities and malformations. However, despite significant advances in ultrasound technology, the accurate identification of irregularities in prenatal images continues to pose considerable challenges, often necessitating substantial time and expertise from medical professionals. In this review, we go through recent developments in machine learning (ML) methods applied to fetal ultrasound images. Specifically, we focus on a range of ML algorithms employed in the context of fetal ultrasound, encompassing tasks such as image classification, object recognition, and segmentation. We highlight how these innovative approaches can enhance ultrasound-based fetal anomaly detection and provide insights for future research and clinical implementations. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for further research in this domain where future investigations can contribute to more effective ultrasound-based fetal anomaly detection.

Promoter Methylation of Two HOXA9 and NISCH Genes in Opium Users.

Background: Opiate abuse has been critically increased in the world, especially in Iran. Owing to the association of opiate use with multiple human cancers and neurological disorders, seeking for genetic and epigenetic effects of opium can pave the way for early diagnosis of major health defects in addicted users. Accordingly, the present study aimed to determine the methylation status of the promoter of two genes, which are actively involved in neurodevelopment and cancer evolution. Methods: DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 28 opium abusers and 19 healthy controls and then subjected to sonication. Sonicated DNAs undergone methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-real time polymerase chain reaction (MeDIP-Real Time PCR) using specific primer pairs designed for HOXA9 and NISCH genes. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software. Findings: HOXA9 and NISCH genes were found to be significantly methylated in addicted users compared to controls (P<0.001) which was significantly associated with the mean of the age regarding HOXA9 gene (P=0.002). Neither opium amount nor duration or route of using was associated with the methylation status of HOXA9 or NISCH genes. Conclusion: Hypermethylation of HOXA9 and NISCH genes as tumor suppressor in opium-addicted individuals can be considered as confirmatory evidence for carcinogenesis of opium. Further studies are required to figure out the role of epigenetic alterations in cancer evolution among opium users.

Is metformin neuroprotective against diabetes mellitus-induced neurodegeneration? An updated graphical review of molecular basis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that activates several molecular pathways involved in neurodegenerative disorders. Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug used for treating DM, has the potential to exert a significant neuroprotective role against the detrimental effects of DM. This review discusses recent clinical and laboratory studies investigating the neuroprotective properties of metformin against DM-induced neurodegeneration and the roles of various molecular pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and its related cascades. A literature search was conducted from January 2000 to December 2022 using multiple databases including Web of Science, Wiley, Springer, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Google Scholar, the Core Collection, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library to collect and evaluate peer-reviewed literature regarding the neuroprotective role of metformin against DM-induced neurodegenerative events. The literature search supports the conclusion that metformin is neuroprotective against DM-induced neuronal cell degeneration in both peripheral and central nervous systems, and this effect is likely mediated via modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death pathways.

Numerical study of location and depth of rectangular grooves on the turbulent heat transfer performance and characteristics of CuO-water nanofluid flow.

This current work expresses numerical simulation of forced turbulent flow convection in a grooved cylinder. Rectangular grooves with a spacing of A = 1, A = 1.1, and A = 1.3, and groove depth to cylinder diameter of e/D = 0.1 and 0.2 were considered. This research concentrates on the effect of groove depth, location of the grooves and CuO nanoparticles on the heat transfer for Reynolds numbers 10000, 12,500, 15,000 and 17,500 in volume fractions of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% of nanoparticles. Results show that grooves improve heat transfer. This behavior at a lower A ratio results in a significant Nu number increase so that the highest Nu number occurs for A ratio of 1, 1.1 and 1.3. Increasing e/D ratio, due to increasing the channel section in this area, results in loss of velocity and dissipation of flow momentum, resulting in lower convective heat transfer and lower Nu number. Changing the pitch for e/D = 0.1 results in a 1.1 to 1.6 times increase of Nu number compared with the smooth channel, and for e/D = 0.2 this value is 1.1-1.5 times the smooth channel for similar Re, φ and geometry. Changing groove pitch at e/D = 0.1 results in a 2.1-2.9 times increase in friction factor compared with the smooth channel in similar conditions. For e/D = 0.2, this increase is 1.8-2.8 times the smooth channel. In low Re, the thermal performance is higher than in higher velocities. This is because the grooved channel acts as a smooth channel at high Re, and the average Nu does not have significant growth.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel hydrogel based on carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate with the ability to release simvastatin for chronic wound healing.

Since wound dressing has been considered a promising strategy to improve wound healing, recent attention has been focused on the development of modern wound dressings based on synthetic and bioactive polymers. In this study, we prepared a multifunctional wound dressing based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)/sodium alginate (Alg) hydrogel containing a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) in which simvastatin (SIM) has been encapsulated. This dressing aimed to act as a barrier against pathogens, eliminate excess exudates, and accelerate wound healing. Among various fabricated composites of dressing, the hydrogel composite with a CMC/sodium Alg ratio of 1:2 had an average pore size of about 98.44 ± 26.9 µm and showed 707 ± 31.9% swelling and a 2116 ± 79.2 g m-2per day water vapor transfer rate (WVTR), demonstrating appropriate properties for absorbing exudates and maintaining wound moisture. The NLC with optimum composition and properties had a spherical shape and uniform particle size distribution (74.46 ± 7.9 nm). The prepared nanocomposite hydrogel displayed excellent antibacterial activity againstEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureusas well as high biocompatibility on L929 mouse fibroblast cells. It can release the loaded SIM drug slowly and over a prolonged period of time. The highest drug release occurred (80%) within 14 d. The results showed that this novel nanocomposite could be a promising candidate as a wound dressing for treating various chronic wounds in skin tissues.

Grading of gliomas using transfer learning on MRI images.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the critical role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of brain tumours, there are still many pitfalls in the exact grading of them, in particular, gliomas. In this regard, it was aimed to examine the potential of Transfer Learning (TL) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in the accurate grading of gliomas on MRI images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dataset has included four types of axial MRI images of glioma brain tumours with grades I-IV: T1-weighted, T2-weighted, FLAIR, and T1-weighted Contrast-Enhanced (T1-CE). Images were resized, normalized, and randomly split into training, validation, and test sets. ImageNet pre-trained Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were utilized for feature extraction and classification, using Adam and SGD optimizers. Logistic Regression (LR) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) methods were also implemented for classification instead of Fully Connected (FC) layers taking advantage of features extracted by each CNN. RESULTS: Evaluation metrics were computed to find the model with the best performance, and the highest overall accuracy of 99.38% was achieved for the model containing an SVM classifier and features extracted by pre-trained VGG-16. DISCUSSION: It was demonstrated that developing Computer-aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems using pre-trained CNNs and classification algorithms is a functional approach to automatically specify the grade of glioma brain tumours in MRI images. Using these models is an excellent alternative to invasive methods and helps doctors diagnose more accurately before treatment.

Enhanced characterization of beta cell mass in a Tg(Pdx1-GFP) mouse model.

Introduction: Measurement of pancreatic beta cell mass in animal models is a common assay in diabetes researches. Novel whole-organ clearance methods in conjunction with transgenic mouse models hold tremendous promise to improve beta cell mass measurement methods. Here, we proposed a refined method to estimate the beta cell mass using a new transgenic Tg(Pdx1-GFP) mouse model and a recently developed free-of-acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) protocol. Methods: First, we generated and evaluated a Tg(Pdx1-GFP) transgenic mouse model. Using the FACT protocol in our model, we could quantify the beta cell mass and alloxan-induced beta cell destruction in whole pancreas specimens. Results: Compiled fluorescent images of pancreas resulted in enhanced beta cell mass characterization in FACT-cleared sections (2928869±120215 AU) compared to No-FACT cleared sections (1292372±325632 AU). Additionally, the total number of detected islets with this method was significantly higher than the other clearance methods (155.7 and 109, respectively). Using this method, we showed green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression confined to beta cells in Tg(Pdx1-GFP) transgenic. This enhanced GFP expression enabled us to accurately measure beta cell loss in a beta cell destruction model. The results suggest that our proposed method can be used as a simple, and rapid assay for beta cell mass measurement in islet biology and diabetes studies. Conclusion: The Tg(Pdx1-GFP) transgenic mouse in conjunction with the FACT protocol can enhance large-scale screening studies in the field of diabetes.

Antibacterial effects and cellular mechanisms of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles coated by piroctone olamine against some cariogenic bacteria.

Background: The present study aims to study antibacterial effects and cellular mechanisms of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles loaded with piroctone olamine (Fe3O4@PO NPs) against some cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus). Methods: Nanoparticles was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. Antibacterial effects of Fe3O4@PO NPs were performed by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). We also evaluated the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein leakage to assess whether antibacterial effects may be dependent on these mechanisms. Results: The results demonstrated that PO showed the lowest antibacterial effect compared to other drugs tested with MICs values of 53.33 and 64 µg/ml for S. mutans and A. viscosus, respectively. In contrast, the highest antibacterial effect was related to Fe3O4@PONPs with MICs values of 2.66 and 3.33 µg/ml for S. mutans and A. viscosus, respectively. Fe3O4@PONPs, Fe3O4MNP, and PO markedly increased (p < 0.001) ROS production and protein leakage of tested bacteria at ≥» MIC, ≥1/3 MIC, and ½ MIC, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present survey revealed the promising antibacterial effects of Fe3O4@PONP against some cariogenic bacteria; whereas it triggered the ROS production and protein leakage as the possible antibacterial mode of action of anti-infective agents. However, additional surveys are necessary to elucidate the accurate mechanisms of these nanoparticles.

Identification of NLRP3PYD Homo-Oligomerization Inhibitors with Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that represent critical elements of the inflammatory response. The dysregulation of the best-characterized complex, the NLRP3 inflammasome, has been linked to the pathogenesis of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. While there exist molecular inhibitors specific for the various components of inflammasome complexes, no currently reported inhibitors specifically target NLRP3PYD homo-oligomerization. In the present study, we describe the identification of QM380 and QM381 as NLRP3PYD homo-oligomerization inhibitors after screening small molecules from the MyriaScreen library using a split-luciferase complementation assay. Our results demonstrate that these NLRP3PYD inhibitors interfere with ASC speck formation, inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine IL1-ß release, and decrease pyroptotic cell death. We employed spectroscopic techniques and computational docking analyses with QM380 and QM381 and the PYD domain to confirm the experimental results and predict possible mechanisms underlying the inhibition of NLRP3PYD homo-interactions.

Pregnancy; an opportunity to return to a healthy lifestyle: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The lifestyle of the mother during pregnancy can affectthe health of their baby. Since lifestyle change is a sociocultural act and the motivations associated with lifestyle patterns during pregnancy cannot be explained in quantitative studies, a comprehensive study of the lifestyle during pregnancy and factors influencing its patterns was needed to investigate it from different aspects. Thus, the present study aimed to explore 'mothers' perceptions and experiences about lifestyle patterns during and after pregnancy and the reasons for adopting these lifestyles. METHODS: The present study, conducted on 20 pregnant or postpartum women living in Bushehr, Iran, has used a conventional content analysis approach. The purposeful sampling method was used with maximum diversity and continued until data saturation. data were collected through face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and assuringthe confidentiality of their information. MAXQDA 10 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Four main themes were defined after data analysis; "Being a mother as motivation for adopting a new healthy lifestyle"; "Access to information from media and supports from physicians as facilitators of adopting healthy lifestyle"; "Aspects of lifestyle modifications" and "Durability of healthy lifestyles". When women become pregnant, they feel a responsibility tohave a healthy pregnancy. They care about their fetuses more than themselves, which motivated them to look for the best lifestyle. In this way, access information from mass media and recommendations from professionals (physicians, midwives, and other health care providers) were helpful factors to have a healthy lifestyle, leading to modifying physical, mental, and religious aspects of lifestyle. However, despite reminding the advantages of a healthy lifestyle, these changesshift to a pre-pregnancy lifestyle due to the cessation of support and care provided during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The study results showed that pregnant women should be motivated to modify their lifestyle andadopt healthy lifestyles. Pregnant women seek to modify their lifestyle because of motherhood responsibility and and having a healthy baby. Access to information and supports from various sources promote a mother's inner decision to change, leading to modifying different aspects of life. However, these modifications often shift to the pre-pregnancy lifestyle due to cessation of supports and care, despite reminding the benefits of the lifestyle change. Health care providers should consider supportive measures during pregnancy and postpartum.

Propranolol-loaded electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing: From fabrication and characterization to preliminary wound healing evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: The wound healing potential of beta-blocker drugs such as propranolol (PNL) has recently attracted attention. To date, incorporation of PNL into electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing mats has not been tested as a novel topical drug delivery system. Presently, electrospun nanofibrous mats loaded with PNL were fabricated, and their physicochemical properties and wound healing activities were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyvinyl alcohol solutions containing 0, 2% or 4% (wt/vol) PNL were electrospun into mats, and the physicochemical properties and PNL release were evaluated. In vitro biocompatibility of selected PNL-loaded mats was tested in human foreskin fibroblasts and wound healing capability was evaluated in mouse skin wounds. RESULTS: The 4% PNL mat had thin fibers (160 nm), convincing porosity (79.5%), and good hydrophilicity (swelling: 89.1%, water contact angle: 42.1°) with little degradability (14.2%). The release of PNL was not in bursts and was best explained by the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation (R2 = 0.96, n = 0.40), suggesting Fickian release. The viability of fibroblasts was 173% on day 5 of incubation with 4% PNL mats, indicating good mat biocompatibility. In vivo treatment for 14 days with 4% PNL mats resulted in wounds with a surface area of only 9% of the original wound area. These wounds had better histopathologic characteristics and were associated with less oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: The wound dressing fabricated with 4% PNL showed good potential for wound healing because of a favorable drug release profile from the nanofiber scaffold, and can be considered eligible for further clinical research.

Allocating kidneys in optimized heterogeneous circles.

Recently, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network approved a plan to allocate kidneys within 250-nm circles around donor hospitals. These homogeneous circles might not substantially reduce geographic differences in transplant rates because deceased donor kidney supply and demand differ across the country. Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 2016-2019, we used an integer program to design unique, heterogeneous circles with sizes between 100 and 500 nm that reduced supply/demand ratio variation across transplant centers. We weighted demand according to wait time because candidates who have waited longer have higher priority. We compared supply/demand ratios and average travel distance of kidneys, using heterogeneous circles and 250 and 500-nm fixed-distance homogeneous circles. We found that 40% of circles could be 250 nm or smaller, while reducing supply/demand ratio variation more than homogeneous circles. Supply/demand ratios across centers for heterogeneous circles ranged from 0.06 to 0.13 kidneys per wait-year, compared to 0.04 to 0.47 and 0.05 to 0.15 kidneys per wait-year for 250-nm and 500-nm homogeneous circles, respectively. The average travel distance for kidneys using heterogeneous, and 250-nm and 500-nm fixed-distance circles was 173 nm, 134 nm, and 269 nm, respectively. Heterogeneous circles reduce geographic disparity compared to homogeneous circles, while maintaining reasonable travel distances.

Methylation Assessment of Two DKK2 and DKK4 Genes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most important types of oral malignancies. DKK gene family members as well as DKK2/4 have critical roles in regulation of Wnt signaling as one of the main determining pathway in oral carcinogenesis. This study aimed to identify promoter methylation status of DKK2/4 genes to provide possible biomarkers for early detection and treatment of OSCC patients. METHODS: A case control study was performed on 31 fresh tissues obtained from oral cavity of patients affected by OSCC and 31 fresh corresponding tissues from normal healthy controls in Tehran and, between the years of 2016-2018. Purified DNA from tissue samples was subjected to bisulfite treatment and then methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP-PCR) was carried out on treated DNA samples. RESULTS: DKK4 promoter was methylated in none of OSCC samples while it was methylated in 16.1% of healthy controls. 16.1% of OSCC samples were detected to be semimethylated and 22.6% of healthy normal samples were methylated for DKK2 promoter gene. Meaningful difference was found in DKK4 promoter methylation among OSCC patients and healthy controls. Significant correlation was found between DKK4 promoter methylation and tumor grade. The age of all enrolled samples was demonstrated to have strong effect on promoter methylation of studied genes. CONCLUSION: Hypomethylation of DKK2 and DKK4 genes in higher grades of OSCC samples may indicate the pivotal role of their expression in tumor cells invasion and progression through modulation of Wnt signaling pathway. Further study required to determine simultaneous expression of those genes and Wnt signaling elements at mRNA and protein levels.

Investigating expression pattern of eight immune-related genes in pemphigus patients compared with the healthy controls and after rituximab therapy: Potential roles of CTLA4 and FCGR3A genes expression in outcomes of rituximab therapy.

Pemphigus is a rare group of autoimmune diseases, which its exact molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic biomarkers remained unknown. In this regard the expressions of eight immune-related genes was evalualted in pemphigus patients. Forty-six pemphigus patients, either new case or on minimal therapy, were recruited. The expressions of IL22, IL9, IL21, EBI3, TNFSF13B, FCGR3A, CTLA4, and PDCD1 genes were analyzed at baseline, compared with 32 healthy controls, and their changes were monitored 3 months after rituximab (RTX) therapy through Reverse Transcriptase Real-time PCR (RT-Real-time PCR). Except of IL21, which was similar in both groups, expressions of other genes were significantly lower in patients compared with the controls (P-value <.05). PDCD1, EBI3, IL21, and IL22 genes were significantly overexpressed three months following RTX administration (P-value <.05). Higher prednisolone dosage and PDAI-score were positively correlated with CTLA4 and FCGR3A expressions after 3 months, respectively (P-value = .019 and .048, respectively). Anti-desmoglein 1 (Dsg 1) titer and its positivity at baseline were associated with TNFSF13B expression, FCGR3A expressions, and the PDAI-score. Our results suggest the possible involvement of some gene expressions in pemphigus immunopathogenesis, which could be affected by RTX therapy and also might be used as prognostic biomarkers.

Investigation of promoter methylation of MCPH1 gene in circulating cell-free DNA of brain tumor patients.

INTRODUCTION: Despite advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, many brain tumors are still diagnosed at high grades and, therefore finding novel molecular markers may assist in early detection and reducing brain tumors-related mortality rate. Owing to the previous reports on the importance of MCPH1 gene in tumorigenesis, the present study was aimed to study the promoter methylation of MCPH1 gene in paired circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and tumor tissues of brain tumor patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen fresh paired serum and tumor tissue samples in addition to 18 isolated serum samples were collected from patients affected by different grades of brain tumor. Genomic DNA and cfDNA was isolated from tissue and serum samples using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit Norgen Bioteck Kit, respectively. Methylation DNA immunoprecipitation Real-time polymerization chain reaction (MeDIP-Real-time PCR) was performed on isolated DNA samples using EpiQuik MeDIP Ultra Kit and specific primer pairs. cfDNA quantity was determined through Real-time PCR analysis using specific primer pairs designed for GAPDH gene. RESULTS: MCPH1 was methylated in 54% of cfDNA samples which was significantly associated with tumor grade, as well (P-value = 0.02). The methylation rate of MCPH1 was found as 78% in the tissue samples which was meaningfully associated with tumor grade (P-value = 0.03). Moreover, methylation of the MCPH1 gene was consistent in 57% of the same cfDNA and tissue samples. Methylation of MCPH1 gene in neither tumor tissues nor cfDNA was not correlated with age and sex of the patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Due to the conformity of methylation of MCPH1 gene in cfDNA and tissue samples in more than half of the enrolled patients, especially in higher grades of tumors, it seems that MCPH1 promoter methylation could be a potential epimarker in not only detection of brain tumors but also in response to chemo- and radiotherapy which warranted further assessment.

The psychometric properties of the Barkin index of maternal functioning (BIMF) for the Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Mothers' capability for childcare and compatibility with the maternal role represent important challenges in postpartum care. Given the significance of evaluating maternal functioning, and the lack of adequate standard instruments in Iran for this purpose, the present study was aimed at translating and conducting a psychometric assessment of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) for Iranian women. METHODS: The instrument was translated into Persian using the Backward Forward method. The study included 530 women in the postpartum period admitted to healthcare centers in Tabriz, Iran; they were selected through the cluster sampling method. Face, content, and construct (through exploratory and confirmatory analyses) validity were presently examined. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined using the internal consistency and test-retest reliability methods. RESULTS: Two factors (mom's needs and competency), emerged based on exploratory factor analysis. The x2/df ratio was less than 5, and the values of the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) and the Root Mean Square Residual (RMR) were less than 0.08 and 0.1, respectively, verifying the model validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were calculated as 0.88 and 0.85, respectively, indicating reliability. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the BIMF is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the postpartum functioning of Iranian mothers.

Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of foetal gender through maternal circulation in first trimester of pregnancy.

Owing to the lack of perfect accuracy and sufficient sample size in previously performed studies on cell-free foetal DNA (cffDNA) for detection of foetal gender through maternal plasma, this study aimed to investigate the efficiency of using two Y-chromosome specific probes in foetal sex determination during first trimester of pregnancy. Five millilitres of whole blood was drawn from 192 pregnant women (10-12 weeks) and was subjected to isolate cffDNA following separation of plasma. TaqMan Real-time PCR was performed on isolated cffDNA using primer pairs and probes specific for SRY, ZFY and ß-globin genes. Co-amplification of ZFY and SRY genes was detected in 103 samples confirmed after the birth. Sensitivity and specificity of the test were calculated to be 100%. Further study on larger sample size is required to confirm the reproducibility of the present test in early and non-invasive determination of foetal sex. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Foetal gender analysis through maternal plasma has been investigated in some cell-free foetal DNA (cffDNA) analysis. However, the detection rate and method of cffDNA analysis were different among various studies. What do the results of this study add? This study introduced a modified simple probe based real time analysis with perfect detection rate. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The proposed method can be used as diagnostic test in all laboratories around the world using real-time PCR to non-invasively determine the foetal gender in the initial weeks of pregnancy following confirmation in larger sample size.

The Study of rs693 and rs515135 in APOB in People with Familial Hypercholestrolemia.

OBJECTIVE: APOB-related familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common hereditary hyperchlosterolemia with an autosomal dominant pattern. A number of APOB variants are the most important risk factors for hyperchlosterolemia. APOB is a large glycoprotein that plays an important role in the metabolism of lipoproteins in the human body. Small changes in the structure and function of APOB can cause major problems in lipid metabolism. Two forms of APOB are produced by an editing process of gene replication. APOB48 is required for the production of chylomicrons in the small intestine and APOB100 is essential in liver for the production of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and is also a ligand for LDL receptor (LDLR) that mediates LDL endocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, rs693 (in exon 26 of APOB) and rs515135 (5 'end of APOB) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed in 120 cases of familial hypercholesterolemia and 120 controls. Both SNPs were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) where PCR products were digested with specific restriction enzymes recognising each single nucleotide polymorphism. RESULTS: This study was analyzed by odds-ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) to examine the association of the two SNPs with familial hypercholostermia susceptibility. Statistical analysis showed that both SNPs were in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium. CONCLUSION: We found no significant relationship between rs515135 and familiar hypercholesterolemia. However, there was a significant association between the C allele of rs693 and high familial cholesterol levels. Furthermore, it seems the dominant model of T allele occurrence has a protective role in emergence of disease.