The role of curcumin during pregnancy on the exposed fetuses' tissues of Wistar rats to electromagnetic field.

To investigate curcumin (CUR) as the protector against the harmful effects of low-frequency electromagnetic field(LF- EMF, 50 Hz) during pregnancy period, 5 males and 15 females of Wistar rat mated and vaginal plaques were observed. Then, the pregnant rats were divided into six groups. During pregnancy(21 days), the EMF group was exposed to EMF for 30 min/day, the CUR group received a single dose of 50 mg/kg/daily CUR intraperitoneal, the EMF+CUR group was injected CUR and exposed to EMF daily. The DMSO(dimethyl sulfoxide) group was injected solvent of CUR (DMSO) intraperitoneal with the same volume of CUR solvent, the sham group was placed through the solenoid in the same conditions as the first group without exposure and the control group was kept in their cage in normal condition. After four weeks, babies born were divided according to the mother groups and sacrificed. Then, the three tissues injuries were investigated. EMF exposure led to an increase in outstanding necrotic areas in hippocampal tissue, an increase in the amount of hyperemia(p = 0.017) and necrotic(p = 0.005) in kidneys, and degeneration in liver tissue(p = 0.007) in the EMF group compared with EMF+CUR groups. A single dose of CUR daily during pregnancy can protect these tissues from injuries caused by LF-EMF exposure in rat fetuses.

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are able to penetrate and be absorbed by the body. The researchers showed that these radiations might be harmful and lead to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and fetal abnormalities. Curcumin as an active component in turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia properties. It can protect the body against diseases such as arthritis, anxiety, and metabolic syndrome. This study examined the effects of curcumin as the protector against the harmful effects of EMF (50Hz) during pregnancy period. So the pregnant rats were divided into six groups. During pregnancy, a group was exposed to EMF for 30 min/day, the second group was injected a dose of curcumin 50mg/kg/daily, the third group was injected curcumin and exposed to EMF daily. The fourth group was injected a curcumin solvent dose, the sham group was placed through the field generator in the same conditions as the first group without exposure and the control group was kept in their cage in normal condition. After four weeks, babies born were divided according to the mother groups and sacrificed. Then, the liver, kidney, and hippocampal tissues were investigated. EMF exposure led to an outstanding increase in necrotic areas in hippocampal tissue, a notable increase in the amount of hyperemia and necrosis in kidneys, and degeneration in liver tissue(p=0.007) in the EMF group compared with the third group that was exposed to EMF and received curcumin. A single dose of curcumin daily during pregnancy can protect these tissues from injuries caused by EMF(50Hz) exposure in rat fetuses.

Resolution and recurrence of anemia following repair of paraesophageal hernias.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia is a common paraesophageal hernia (PEH) symptom and may improve after repair. When present, anemia has also been proposed to be associated with an increase in length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality after PEH repair. This study aimed to determine anemia-related factors in patients with PEH, the rate of anemia resolution after PEH repair, and the risk of anemia recurrence when repair failed. METHODS: We included patients who received a PEH repair between June 2019 and June 2020 and had 24 months of postoperative follow-up. Demographics and comorbidities were recorded. Anemia was defined as pre-operative hemoglobin values < 12.0 for females and < 13.0 for males, or if patients were receiving iron supplementation. Anemia resolution was determined at 6 months post-op. Length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality was recorded. Logistic regression and ANCOVA were used for binary and continuous outcomes respectively. RESULTS: Of 394 patients who underwent PEH repair during the study period, 101 (25.6%) had anemia before surgery. Patients with pre-operative anemia had larger hernia sizes (6.55 cm ± 2.77 vs. 4.34 cm ± 2.50; p < 0.001). Of 68 patients with available data by 6 months after surgery, anemia resolved in 36 (52.9%). Hernia recurred in 6 patients (16.7%), 4 of whom also had anemia recurrence (66.7%). Preoperative anemia was associated with a higher length of hospital stay (3.31 days ± 0.54 vs 2.33 days ± 0.19 p = 0.046) and an increased risk of post-operative all-cause mortality (OR 2.7 CI 1.08-6.57 p = 0.05). Fundoplication type (p = 0.166), gastropexy, or mesh was not associated with an increased likelihood of resolution (OR 0.855 CI 0.326-2.243; p = 0.05) (OR 0.440 CI 0.150-1.287; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia occurs in 1 out of 4 patients with PEH and is more frequent in patients with larger hernias. Anemia is associated with a longer hospital stay and all-cause mortality after surgery. Anemia recurrence coincided with hernia recurrence in roughly two-thirds of patients.

The role of fetal heart rate in first trimester sonograms in prediction of fetal sex: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early fetal sex determination is worthy of providing alertness about possible x-linked disorders, as well as predicting sex-related pregnancy complications and outcomes. Satisfying the curiosity of parents is another advantage. In this way, several studies have been performed which have shown conflicting results. AIM: We planned a systematic review for identifying any plausible role of Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) for early predicting fetal sex during the first trimester of non-complicated pregnancies. METHODS: This is a meta-analysis in which PubMed and Scopus databases were searched using different related keywords to find similar articles up to December 2022. Then the articles were screened to find eligible articles and finally, the articles entered in the meta-analysis were analyzed using Stata software (Stata Corp, College Station, TX). Standardized mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 223 articles were evaluated and five articles were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that there is a significant heterogeneity between the articles (p = 0.012, I-squared = 69.0%). The results of meta-analysis with a random model showed that there is no significant difference between male and female genders in terms of mean FHR (SMD = 0.04, 95%CI = -0.09-0.16, Z = 0.59, p = 0.553). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that even though male fetuses show faster FHR but such sex-related difference is minimal. Therefore, first-trimester FHR is not a reliable predictive test for fetal sex determination. Further studies are recommended to achieve a more precise conclusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42023418291.

More reliability of suspicious symptoms plus chest CT-scan than RT_PCR test for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in an 18-days-old neonate.

The present study investigated an 18-days-old neonate who was referred to the hospital with suspected respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. Results of CT-Scan and blood tests were highly suspicious, but result of the first RT-PCR test was negative on March 1. The second RT-PCR test reported positive on March 12. The neonate's medical history indicated no close contact except with family members and hospital treatment staffs, but the RT-PCR test results of all family members were also negative.

Effects of In Ovo Injection of Coenzyme Q10 on Hatchability, Subsequent Performance, and Immunity of Broiler Chickens.

Effects of in ovo injection of Q10 on hatchability, performance (feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed/gain ratio (F/G)) traits, and immune status of Ross × Ross 308 broiler chicks, hatched from eggs laid by a 38-week-old breeder flock, were determined through 42 days after hatch. Eggs containing live embryos were injected in the amnion with 0.1 and 0.2 mL Q10 solution on day 18 of incubation. Two controls groups were included as sham and/or as an uninjected group. At 28 and 42 days of age, performance traits, serum enzyme activity, weights of immune organs, and serum antibody titer of viral diseases were determined. Results were shown that hatchability % increased by Q10 on average of 6.54% (P≤0.025) and body weight/egg weight after hatching increased up to 4.74% (P≤0.002), compared with uninjected and sham controls. Injection of Q10 at different levels led to significant increases (P≤0.001) in performance traits all over the rearing period (P<0.05). Weight of immune organs significantly improved compared to uninjected and sham controls (P<0.05). In addition, serum antibody titers of viral diseases as well as serum enzyme activity of AST, ALT, CAT, and SOD were significantly changed by Q10 treated groups than controls (P≤0.01). In conclusion, in ovo injection of Q10 at levels of 0.1 and 0.2 mL led to significant increases in hatchability%, internal egg characteristics, and performance parameters as well as serum enzyme activity, weight of immune organs, and serum antibody titer of ND, AI, and IBD diseases.

A novel model for predicting bioelectrochemical performance of microsized-MFCs by incorporating bacterial chemotaxis parameters and simulation of biofilm formation.

Bacterial transport parameters play a fundamental role in microbial population dynamics, biofilm formation and bacteria dispersion. In this study, the novel model was extended based on the capability of microsized microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as amperometric biosensors to predict the cells' chemotactic and bioelectrochemical properties. The model prediction results coincide with the experimental data of Shewanella oneidensis and chemotaxis mutant of P. aeruginosa bdlA and pilT strains, indicating the complementary role of numerical predictions for bioscreening applications of microsized MFCs. Considering the general mechanisms for electron transfer, substrate biodegradation, microbial growth and bacterial dispersion are the main features of the presented model. In addition, the genetic algorithm method was implemented by minimizing the objective function to estimate chemotaxis properties of the different strains. Microsized MFC performance was assessed by analyzing the microbial activity in the biofilm and the anolyte.