The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Management of Neurodegenerative Disorders; Focus on Alzheimer's Disease.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have shown great promise in the diagnosis, prediction, treatment plans, and monitoring of neurodegenerative disorders. AI algorithms can analyze huge quantities of data from numerous sources, including medical images, quantifiable proteins in urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), genetic information, clinical records, electroencephalography (EEG) signals, driving behaviors, and so forth. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders that progressively damage cognitive abilities and memory. This study specifically explores the possible application of AI in the diagnosis, prediction, monitoring, biomarker or drug discovery, and classification of AD.

The effects of a team-based planned care program on the quality of sleep in cardiac surgery patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit: A two-group controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances as a major health problem are common in patients hospitalized in critical care units. This study examined the effects of a team-based care plan on the quality of sleep in patients hospitalized in a cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU) of a multidisciplinary hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, 100 patients with cardiac surgery were selKMected through convenience sampling and then nonrandomly allocated to the intervention and or the control group. A plan of care with the recommendation of all intensive care unit care teams was designed and then applied. In this study, the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality. Patients in the intervention group received the care plan for two consecutive nights. The study's national approval code is IRCT2017091915512N2. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (v. 21), and by paired, independent t, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Quality of sleep in patients admitted to the CSICU is significantly improved by noise reduction both in the first and second nights. Moreover, the team-based care plan requires good coordination between all team members taking care of cardiac surgery patients admitted to the CSICU (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The team-based care plan significantly improves the quality of sleep. It may be due to the close coordination between all team members to avoid sleep disturbances.

Ellagic acid effects on testis, sex hormones, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the relative sterility rat model following busulfan administration.

BACKGROUND: Busulfan is an antineoplastic medication that is broadly utilized for cancer treatment. It affects the testicular function and leads to sterility. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ellagic acid on testicular tissue changes, sexual hormones, antioxidant defense system, and caspase-9 and Bcl2 gene expression in the busulfan-induced relative sterile rat model. METHODS: This is an interventional-experimental animal study that was performed on 65 Adult male rats; they were randomly divided into five groups including control (1 ml of 0.9% normal saline), ellagic acid (50 mg/kg); busulfan (10 mg/kg); and busulfan plus ellagic acid (10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected, and plasma levels of sex hormones, antioxidant system, apoptosis-related genes, and testis histology were assessed. RESULTS: Busulfan reduced the levels of serum testosterone, total antioxidant capacity, gene expression of Bcl2, testicular volume, seminiferous tubule, germinal epithelium, interstitial tissue volume, and the number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, round spermatid, elongated spermatid, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells (p < 0.05). Busulfan administration resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the level of LH, FSH, malondialdehyde, and caspase 9. Busulfan + ellagic acid (50 mg/kg) showed higher serum levels of testosterone, gene expression of Bcl-2 and antioxidant markers, and lower LH, FSH levels, and gene expression of caspase 9 compared to the Busulfan-treated rats (p < 0.05). Stereological parameters were also ameliorated in the group treated with Busulfan+ 50 mg/kg ellagic acid (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the consumption of ellagic acid may have beneficial effects on the antioxidant defense system, sexual hormone abnormality, and testicular tissue damage induced by busulfan.

Effects of acupressure on the childbirth satisfaction and experience of birth: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicines have been used to increase comfort and relaxation in mothers during labor. Comforting and preparing the mother in labor can create a positive birth experience. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupressure on childbirth satisfaction and the experience of giving birth in women with full-term pregnancy, before the onset of labor. METHODS: In 2016, a randomized clinical trial study was conducted in Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital, Tehran, Iran, enrolling 120 pregnant women at 39-40 gestational weeks with no signs of the onset of labor. They were divided randomly into acupressure, sham acupressure, and control groups. Acupressure points including SP6, BL 60, and BL 32 were pressured bilaterally. Interventions were performed by the researcher, the mother and her relative (husband). Childbirth satisfaction was measured 24 h after delivery. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software and comparing tests were Chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA tests (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: The total childbirth satisfaction did not differ significantly among the three groups (P = 0.460), but the acupressure group had a higher level of satisfaction than the other two groups. Moreover, statistical tests regarding the expectations of the childbirth experience showed a significant difference among the groups (P = 0.033). The actual birth was closest to the expectations of subjects in the acupressure group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that acupressure may be used as a method in order to attempt to provide a good birth experience and satisfaction of childbirth.

Addressing the Sexual Function of Women During First Six Month After Delivery: Aquasi-Experimental Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy and childbirth are important periods of women's life that cause hormonal and bodily changes, and these changes could have significant effects on sexual function. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PLISSIT-based counselling model on the sexual function of women during the first six months after childbirth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial study from June to November, 2015. Ninety lactating women,with at least one sexual problem, were included in this study. Samples were recruited and randomized into two groups (intervention group and control group). Demographic and obstetric information, Edinberg postpartum depression, Larson's sexual satisfaction and female sexual function index questionnaire were used. Data were collected from participants at two points: before consultation and 4weeks after consultation. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software and Data were analyzed using the Paired t-test,dependent t-test with parametric data and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Ninety women who were the nulliparous and lactating criteria subjects were randomly divided into two groups and all recruited women completed the questionnaires. Mean score of sexual function was 19.35 before consultation and 27.90 after consultation in experimental group. In the control group, mean score of sexual function was 20.55 before consultation and 22.41 after consultation. These differences were statistically significant in pre-counseling stage and 4 weeks after counseling in the two groups (P<0.001 and P=0.002). Four weeks after consultation, there was significant difference in the mean score of sexual function between the control and experimental groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, sexual problems in lactating women decreased by using the PLISSIT model. The use of the PLISSIT model is recommended in health care setting.

The effect of acupressure on the initiation of labor: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Induction of labor is a common obstetric procedure. Acupressure is a natural method that is used for inducing uterine contractions. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the impact of acupressure on the induction of labor. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupressure on the initiation of labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 162 nulliparous pregnant women were admitted to the hospital. They were categorized into 3 groups; acupressure, sham acupressure and control. Acupressure points SP6, BL 60 and BL 32 were pressured bilaterally. The intervention was done by the researcher every other day between 9 am and 11 am. The intervention was carried out on women in the afternoon and the following day. Subjects were examined to determine the initiation of labor symptoms48 and 96h after the start of intervention and at the time of hospitalization. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests (p<0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the groups for spontaneous initiation of labor within 48h (P=0.464), and 49-96h after beginning the intervention (P=0.111) and 97h after beginning the intervention to the time of hospitalization for the spontaneous initiation of labor (P=0.897). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes between the groups. CONCLUSION: According to the finding of this study, it seems that acupressure treatment was not effective in initiating labor as compared with the sham acupressure and the routine care groups.