Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:26 Issue: 5, May 2025

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is widely used as a predictor of ovarian reserve. Although increased body weight is associated with reduced fertility, the relationship between Body Mass index (BMI) and AMH remains inconclusive, limiting its accurate interpretation.

This study aims to investigate the association between serum AMH levels and BMI among individuals with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

This cross-sectional, single-center study analyzed 522 patients who attended an Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, from January 2022 to October 2024. Patients were categorized based on BMI into two groups: Those with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and those with a BMI < 30 kg/m2. The PCOS diagnosis was based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code and the Rotterdam Criteria. Inclusion criteria required female participants to be at least 19 years old with documented BMI and AMH test results within the study period. Exclusion criteria included diabetes, systemic diseases, galactorrhea, endocrine disorders, metformin intake, and contraceptive use within the past four weeks. Statistical Analysis: The chi-square test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent samples t-test, and Pearson correlation test were used for data analysis. A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean BMI of the PCOS group was significantly higher than that of the non-PCOS group (31.16 ± 5.55 kg/m2 vs. 28.69 ± 5.04 kg/m2, P < 0.001). The AMH levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to the non-PCOS group (4.70 ± 3.23 ng/mL vs. 1.59 ± 1.57 ng/mL, P < 0.001). However, the correlation between BMI and serum AMH levels was not statistically significant in either the PCOS group (P = 0.318) or the non-PCOS group (P = 0.417).

There is no significant correlation between AMH levels and BMI across the study population, regardless of PCOS status. Additionally, no significant differences in serum AMH levels were observed between patients with BMIs ≥ 30 kg/m2 and those with BMIs < 30 kg/m2. A key limitation of this study is that it was conducted in a single clinic. Therefore, further studies involving a broader population are recommended.

Determining both general and organ-specific Mizaj is a crucial step in the diagnosis and treatment within Persian medicine (PM). Developing a standardized instrument for assessing the Mizaj of body organs, particularly the heart, is a research priority in PM.

The present study aims to extract major and minor indices of heart Mizaj based on PM literature and expert opinions as an initial step towards standard development.

This qualitative study was designed using a hybrid model that includes both theoretical and experimental phases. Initially, heart Mizaj indices were extracted from ten written PM sources and categorized. Additionally, 23 PM experts were interviewed, and ten participated in expert panel sessions. Each expert scored the importance of each index on a scale of 0 - 3, and the practical method for determining each index was discussed. Final decisions on indices were based on average scores (< 1: Index removed, 1 - 2: Minor criterion; ≥ 2: Major criterion).

From the 30 primary heart Mizaj indices identified on the hotness axis, 15 were classified as major and 10 as minor. The wetness/dryness axis comprised 14 indices, with six categorized as major and five as minor. Across both axes, indices pertaining to mental and emotional states emerged as some of the most significant and frequently noted.

The indices extracted in this preliminary study highlight their importance and provide methods for the practical diagnosis of heart Mizaj criteria. These findings can facilitate the development of a standardized tool for diagnosing heart Mizaj.

Primary spinal tumors are rare, and epidemiologic studies on this topic are limited. These tumors may originate from the spinal cord, cauda equina, or spinal meninges. Various factors, including age and sex, influence the epidemiology of primary spinal tumors.

This study provides a descriptive report on the epidemiology of primary spinal tumors in Fars province, southern Iran.

We retrospectively collected data from patients with primary spinal tumors who underwent surgery at major neurosurgery centers in Fars province from 2001 to 2019. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data concerning sex, age, tumor histology, and behavior.

The study included 166 patients with primary spinal tumors. The mean age of the patients was 41.9 years (SD, 17.1 years), with 55.4% being female. Among the patients, 66.9% had spinal cord tumors, 25.9% had tumors of the spinal meninges, and 7.2% had tumors in the cauda equina. Most tumors were intradural extramedullary (45.2%), followed by intramedullary tumors (42.2%) and extradural tumors (12.7%). Of the total, 76 tumors (45.8%) were classified as malignant, while 90 tumors (54.2%) were non-malignant. The most frequent histological types were ependymoma (24.1%), nerve sheath tumors (22.3%), and meningioma (20.5%). An increase in the relative incidence of astrocytic and ependymal tumors was observed compared to previous studies conducted in the same region.

This study presents a comprehensive epidemiologic report on primary spinal tumors in Fars province, Iran. Further nationwide studies, including all diagnosed spinal tumors, are recommended.

The advent of digital technology has profoundly impacted the field of education, effectively removing limitations and enhancing the learning environment. Blended learning, which combines face-to-face instruction with online components, addresses barriers to learning and fosters higher-order cognitive skills, resulting in increased student satisfaction and improved outcomes in medical education.

This study aimed to identify the key motivational components and construct a comprehensive model that can effectively support faculty members in implementing blended learning within medical universities.

A qualitative grounded theory (GT) approach was used to explore this phenomenon. Faculty members from medical universities in region 4 were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2023 and March 2024. A three-stage coding process — open, axial, and selective — was applied to analyze the data. Rigor was ensured through measures addressing credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability.

Interviews with 14 faculty members revealed five primary categories influencing the adoption of blended learning: Learner-professor, infrastructure, structural, environmental factors, and rules and regulations. These findings informed the development of a motivational framework that highlights critical components for promoting faculty engagement in blended learning.

The model provides actionable insights for medical schools to enhance educational outcomes and innovate teaching practices in healthcare education.

The study compared the fracture resistance of bulk fill composite restorations of anterior primary teeth using four different reinforcement methods.

Forty-eight extracted human maxillary primary incisors were randomly divided into four groups: The first group was the conventional composite posts (CCP), the second group was the fiberglass posts (FGP), the third group was the pin and composite posts (PCP), and the fourth group was the dentinal pin (DP). The samples were prepared and underwent 5000 thermo-cycles. A Universal Testing Machine applied an increasing force at a 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed until fracture occurred. The fracture resistance was then reported in Newtons (N). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were applied with a significance level of 0.05.

The mean fracture resistance in the four groups was 825.61 ± 74.54 N, 540.10 ± 51.61 N, 758.03 ± 60.94 N, and 498.88 ± 54.59 N, respectively. The results of the one-way ANOVA showed a significant difference among the study groups in terms of fracture resistance (P = 0.001). The fracture resistance of the CCP group was significantly different from the DP group (P = 0.022), with CCP exhibiting a significantly higher mean fracture resistance. The fracture resistance of the FGP was significantly different from the PCP and DP groups (P = 0.010 and P = 0.003, respectively), with FGP exhibiting a significantly higher mean fracture resistance.

According to the results of this study, the best reinforcement methods for bulk fill composite restorations in anterior primary incisors were FGP and CCP.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common leukemia in children and is associated with a high relapse rate despite current treatments. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) is a bioactive compound found in Ganoderma lucidum that has shown potential antileukemic properties.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a GAA extract on autophagy gene expression and apoptosis induction in the NALM-6 cell line.

A total of 20 × 103 NALM-6 cells were cultured in triplicate across various conditions: Culture condition supplemented with GAA, culture condition supplemented with L-asparaginase, culture condition supplemented with both GAA and L-asparaginase, and culture condition alone without L-asparaginase and GAA. The optimal concentration of GAA treatment was determined using an MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell death induced by GAA treatment, using FITC-conjugated propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V staining. The expression levels of autophagy-related genes, including MAP1LC3B, BECN1, ATG5, ATG10, RB1CC1, and AMBRA1, were measured in the groups using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The results of the MTT test indicated that the half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of GAA against leukemic cells was 140 μg/mL after 48 hours of treatment. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated a 40.5% increase in apoptosis and cell death at a concentration of 140 μg/mL of GAA after 48 hours. Furthermore, treatment with GAA resulted in upregulation of the expression of MAP1LC3B (P = 0.024), BECN1 (P = 0.035), ATG5 (P = 0.024), ATG10 (P = 0.024), RB1CC1 (P = 0.024), and AMBRA1 (P = 0.024) in NALM-6 cells compared to the control groups.

These findings suggest that GAA has potential as a therapeutic agent for ALL. The GAA might have potential therapeutic properties against ALL.

This article has no abstract regards to the type of article