مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید صدوقی یزد
سال سی و سوم شماره 1 (پیاپی 221، فروردین 1404)

In recent years, the rate of migration from one country to another has increased significantly. Immigrants, whether by choice or by force, encounter numerous challenges and socio-economic stressors during and after migration, and this can severely affect their mental health and quality of life.  Research indicated that immigrants are more susceptible to psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder than non-immigrants

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts social interactions, communication, and behaviors, frequently recognized during early childhood. ASD is defined as a spectrum, displaying diverse symptoms regarding type and intensity, shaped by both genetic and environmental influences. Infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse, can also result from a range of genetic, physiological, and environmental factors. This study examined the association between infertility and ASD, and emphasizing common genetic mechanisms—such as copy number variations (CNVs) and genetic variants—that might influence the occurrence of both conditions.
 Additionally, factors like the age of parents, exposure to environmental toxins, and the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may raise the likelihood of both ASD and infertility.   In particular, older paternal age has been associated with an increased probability of new genetic mutations in sperm, which could play a role in ASD in offspring. Research findings suggested that epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, might clarify the role of genetic and environmental factors in these disorders. Preliminary studies indicated that children conceived through ART may face a higher likelihood of developing ASD.

Despite advancements, significant gaps remain in fully understanding these associations, necessitating further research. A deeper comprehension of these links could support the development of targeted interventions, genetic counseling, and improved quality of life for affected individuals and their families.

Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for about one-third of deaths worldwide. Consequently, innovative strategies for the development and treatment of cardiovascular diseases are of great interest. Vitamin E is known for its unique and remarkable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The advantages of vitamin E in cardiovascular diseases have been investigated and the relationship between lower vitamin E levels and increased cardiovascular events supports this view. However, clinical trials reveal inconsistent and disappointing results in reducing cardiovascular events with vitamin E supplementation. The analysis of studies shows that in addition to the amount, duration of consumption, the type of vitamin E isoform, and its natural or synthetic source, factors such as genetic polymorphisms and the clinical status of users also affect the impact of vitamin E supplementation on cardiovascular events.

Patients with cardiovascular diseases, as well as those receiving preventive care for cardiovascular events or at risk of bleeding, should take Vitamin E only under medical supervision.  Considering that low concentrations of antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol can lead to greater susceptibility to diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation in the population, reviewing or reinterpreting the mechanisms of vitamin E effects in the cardiovascular process is essential for a better understanding of the relationship between Vitamin E and cardiovascular diseases. It is equally important to establish public health initiatives and strategies to encourage the intake of natural vitamin E sources and healthy fats.

Doxorubicin increases oxidative stress and cardiac damage. ERK1/2, PI3k, and IL-18 seem to play an important role in increasing cardiac damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of interval training with curcumin on ERK1/2, PI3k, and IL-18 in the heart tissue of cancer mice treated with doxorubicin.

In this experimental study, Fourteen days post-cancer induction, a total of 40 rats aged between 4 to 6 months were divided into 5 distinct groups: cancer control+doxorubicin, cancer control+no drug, cancer+intermittent exercise+doxorubicin, cancer+curcumin+doxorubicin, and cancer+intermittent exercise+curcumin+doxorubicin. Curcumin was administered to two of these groups at a dosage of 100 mg/kg, one hour after training sessions. The high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocol consisted of six intervals each lasting 3 minutes and 20 seconds at 80%-95% of VO2max, interspersed with 2 minutes of active recovery at 30%-35% of VO2max. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was utilized to examine variables, and the statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 16, applying ANOVA along with Bonferroni post hoc tests.

ERK1/2 was significantly increased in the cancer control + doxorubicin group compared to the cancer control + no drug group (P=0.001). In the interval training + curcumin + doxorubicin group, ERK1/2 was significantly decreased compared to the cancer control + doxorubicin group (P=0.001). PI3K was significantly decreased in the cancer control + doxorubicin group compared to the cancer control + no drug group (P=0.001). PI3K was significantly increased in the interval training + curcumin + doxorubicin group compared to the cancer control + doxorubicin group (P=0.001). IL-18 was significantly increased in the cancer control + doxorubicin group compared to the cancer control + no drug group (P=0.001). In the interval training + curcumin + doxorubicin group, IL-18 was significantly decreased compared to the cancer control + doxorubicin group (P=0.001).

The administration of doxorubicin resulted in elevated levels of ERK1/2 and IL-18 while reducing PI3K in the heart tissue of cancer-affected mice. In contrast, the combination of curcumin administration and exercise reduced ERK1/2 and IL-18 levels while increasing PI3K. While both curcumin and exercise individually showed considerable benefits in enhancing these factors, their combined effect produced even more effective outcomes.

Spinal cord injury is a neurodegenerative condition that leads to reduced motor function and skeletal muscle atrophy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a period of endurance training and the administration of MitoQ supplementation on the atrophy signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle of male rats with spinal cord injury.

In this study, a total of 40 male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=8 each): 1) sham, 2) spinal cord injury (SCI), 3) spinal cord injury and MitoQ supplementation (250 μM), 4) spinal cord injury and swimming exercise (4 weeks, 5 days a week, 6 sessions of 5 minutes), and 5) spinal cord injury and swimming and MitoQ supplementation. Real-time RT-PCR was utilized to evaluate the variables. For statistical analysis,  data were analyzed  one-way ANOVA along with Tukey's post hoc test, applying a significance level of p < 0.05, utilizing and with SPSS software 16.

After four weeks of swimming training, there was a marked decrease in the expression of TWEAK, TRAF2, and AP-1 genes in the training groups when compared to the spinal cord injury group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, endurance training combined with MitoQ supplementation led to a more significant reduction in the mRNA levels of TWEAK (p = 0.001), TRAF2 (p = 0.001), and AP-1 (p = 0.001) within the skeletal muscle of male rats suffering from spinal cord injury, in contrast to the injury group.

The interaction of 4 weeks of swimming training and MitoQ supplementation can effectively prevent the expression of genes involved in the process of skeletal muscle atrophy in mice with spinal cord injury and improve motor function in mice with spinal cord injury.

Calcification of the carotid artery wall can serve as a primary pathology that early detection can prevent adverse outcomes in patients. Therefore, in this study, the prevalence of carotid artery calcification in an Iranian population was assessed by CBCT radiography.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 320 CBCT images taken at a private oral and maxillofacial radiology center in Tehran City during 1395-1399 were reviewed. The patients’ age and gender were recorded, and these images were used to examine the carotid artery for calcification. Data were analyzed using SPSS17 software along with Chi-Square and t-test analyses.

Out of all radiographs, carotid artery calcification was diagnosed in 11 cases (3.4%) among patients with a mean age of 52.55±20.07 years, including 8 men and 3 women A statistically significant association was found between carotid artery calcification and both sex (P = 0.048) and age (P = 0.000) of the patients.

Based on the results of the present study, the frequency of carotid artery calcification was low in the study population. The frequency of this complication was higher in older people and men.

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics causes the increasing trend of microbial resistance, followed by the limitation of treatment options, complicated treatment processes, and heightened expenses within the healthcare system. In this study،, it was investigated the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli obtained from urine culture samples in the central laboratory of Meybod City.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on urine cultures submitted by the patients referred to the central laboratory of Meibod City in 2022. Antibiotic resistance in 300 E. coli cultures was investigated, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software and a Chi-square statistical test based on age،, gender, and antibiotic resistance.

The greatest antibiotic resistance of E. coli was observed at ampicillin at 83.8%, cotrimoxazole at 65.1% and cefazolin at 68.4% followed by cefotaxime 63.3% and ceftriaxone 61.3%, while the lowest resistance was noted for imipenem at 3% and amikacin nitrofurantoin at 3.3%. Resistance to cefazolin, ceftazidime، gentamicin، cefepime، ciprofloxacin, and amikacin was significantly higher in men compared to women. The greatest resistance to ampicillin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole antibiotics was notebly observed in the age group of 60- 41 years, while the least resistance was found in the age group of 21-40 years. Women showed significantly the  the highest resistance to cefepime in the surgical department and the lowest in the emergency department, resistance to levofloxacin was the highest in the internal ward and lowest in the infectious ward, and resistance to Nitrofurantoin in the cardiac department compared to other departments.

The current study shows high antibiotic resistance to E. coli isolates in patients with urinary tract infections referred to the laboratory، especially in the population of men and elderly people. In order to prevent the spread of treatment resistance، urine culture should be done in patients.

Dental injuries are very common and negatively affect an individual's life. The effective management of emergencies in such situations depends on the knowledge of non-experts, such as healthcare providers, who are on-site during the event. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge extent and self-perceived practice of healthcare providers in elementary schools in Abarkuh City regarding the emergency management of traumatic dental injuries.

This descriptive cross-sectional study utilized an online, anonymous questionnaire designed to gather demographic information, assess the background of previous exposure to dental traumatic injuries, and evaluate caregivers' performance in managing such injuries. The questionnaire was distributed to virtual groups of healthcare providers, who had one week to complete it. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression tests.

A total of 189 questionnaires were filled out, resulting in a response rate of 80.77%. The average knowledge score of the respondents was 5.63 ± 1.98 out of a possible 10 points, whereas their respondents’ average performance score was 4.48 ± 1.86 on the scale of 7 points. Linear regression analysis indicated that the caregivers' previous knowledge significantly influenced their knowledge level (p < 0.001). After adjusting for demographic variables, the study revealed that caregivers' work experience positively impacted their knowledge score (p = 0.009). However, the self-reported performance ratings of healthcare providers did not show any significant correlation with demographic variables.

The results of this study show that primary school healthcare workers have inadequate knowledge and self-reported performance concerning dental injuries resulting from trauma.