bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A research framework for grid benefits from energy storage
Authors:   College of Business and Economics, California State University, Long Beach, USA, et al. Sultan
Published: March 2022

Grid reliability is one of the greatest challenges facing electric utilities. Energy storage will play an important role in meeting these challenges by enhancing the grid’s operating capabilities, lowering costs, ensuring high reliability, and deferring and reducing infrastructure investments. This paper offers a taxonomy of the advantages of energy storage to identify the main benefits offered to electrical utilities. In addition, it illustrates and discusses a detailed classification of energy-storage materials along with their characteristics. This paper provides a solid foundation to equip researchers with the most pertinent information to advance future research in the energy-informatics domain. The goal of creating this taxonomy and framework is to identify areas for future research endeavors and illustrate new research directions.
Drug Use and Misuse: A Community Health Perspective
Authors: Bazan Christy , Barnes Brandi , Santens Ryan , Verone Emily
Published: March 2022

Drug Use and Misuse: A Community Health Perspective provides students with an introduction to the biological, psychological, and legal aspects of drug use and misuse through the lens of community health and discusses the impact of drug use and misuse on community health. The book contains eight distinct chapters addressing the background of drug use and misuse, including key terms, as well as an introduction to different categories of drugs including gateway drugs, opioids, and prescription drugs, and a conclusion that describes evidence-based prevention and treatment models. Originally developed for use in the popular undergraduate survey course “Drug Use and Abuse” taught at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the book is aimed at students learning about community health and the effects of drug use in a variety of contexts, such as survey courses for pharmacology, psychology, or public health.
“HOPING AGAINST HOPE”: A MARXIST STUDY OF CAPITALIST FATALISM IN EUGENE O’NEILL’S WARNINGS
Authors: Saeed Zanyar Faiq , Mahmood Karzan Aziz
Published: March 2022

‘"Hoping against Hope”: A Marxist Study of Capitalist Fatalism in Eugene O’Neill’s Warnings’ presents the problem of a lower-class family, the Knapps, who suffer under the fatalistic capitalist system. The Knapps, as a part of the society, and the society as a whole, become potential victims of the capitalists and the bourgeoisie who work only for their own interests even if on the account of the poor. In such a socio-economic system, human beings are viewed as productive machines and possible consumers. Once they become old or disabled, they will be dismissed and replaced by younger ones. The paper, therefore, aims to analyse and interpret the above-mentioned themes in O’Neill’s Warnings in light of Marxist criticism and class conflicts between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. It is concluded that as long as capitalism is solely based on material benefits and is negligent of humanitarian concerns, disasters befalling the proletariat in particular and the whole society in general will be an inevitable fate. Witnessing the calamities that inflict the lower-class people in the play could alert readers/audience, including the capitalists and the bourgeoisie, to the detrimental consequences of embracing a purely materialistic worldview.
Classification of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia through the Fusion of Local Descriptors
Authors: Wady Shakhawan Hares
Published: March 2022

Leukemia is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of leukocytes in the bone marrow and blood, which is usually detected by pathologists using a microscope to examine a blood smear. Leukemia identification and diagnosis in advance are a trending topic in medical applications for decreasing the death toll of individuals with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). It is critical to analyze the white blood cells for the identification of ALL for which the blood smear images are utilized. This paper discusses and presents a micro-pattern descriptor, called Local Directional Number Pattern along with Multi-scale Weber Local Descriptor for feature extraction task to determine cancerous and noncancerous blood cells. A balanced dataset with 260 blood smear images from the ALL-IDB2 dataset was used as training data. Consequently, a proposed model was constructed by applying different individual and combined feature extraction methods, and fed into the machine learning classifiers (Decision Tree, Ensemble, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naïve Bayes, and Random Forest) to determine cancerous and noncancerous blood cells. Experimental results indicate that the developed feature fusion technique assured a reasonable performance compared to other existing works with a testing average accuracy of 97.69 ± 1.83% using Ensemble classifier.
Google Trends as a Predictive Tool for COVID-19 Vaccinations in Italy: Retrospective Infodemiological Analysis
Authors: Rovetta Alessandro
Published: March 2022

Background

Google Trends is an infoveillance tool widely used by the scientific community to investigate different user behaviors related to COVID-19. However, several limitations regarding its adoption are reported in the literature.

Objective

This paper aims to provide an effective and efficient approach to investigating vaccine adherence against COVID-19 via Google Trends.

Methods

Through the cross-correlational analysis of well-targeted hypotheses, we investigate the predictive capacity of web searches related to COVID-19 toward vaccinations in Italy from November 2020 to November 2021. The keyword “vaccine reservation” query (VRQ) was chosen as it reflects a real intention of being vaccinated (V). Furthermore, the impact of the second most read Italian newspaper (vaccine-related headlines [VRH]) on vaccine-related web searches was investigated to evaluate the role of the mass media as a confounding factor. Fisher r-to-z transformation (z) and percentage difference (δ) were used to compare Spearman coefficients. A regression model V=f(VRH, VRQ) was built to validate the results found. The Holm-Bonferroni correction was adopted (P*). SEs are reported.

Results

Simple and generic keywords are more likely to identify the actual web interest in COVID-19 vaccines than specific and elaborated keywords. Cross-correlations between VRQ and V were very strong and significant (min r²=0.460, P*<.001, lag 0 weeks; max r²=0.903, P*<.001, lag 6 weeks). The remaining cross-correlations have been markedly lower (δ>55.8%; z>5.8; P*<.001). The regression model confirmed the greater significance of VRQ versus VRH (P*<.001 vs P=.03, P*=.29).

Conclusions

This research provides preliminary evidence in favor of using Google Trends as a surveillance and prediction tool for vaccine adherence against COVID-19 in Italy. Further research is needed to establish the appropriate use and limits of Google Trends for vaccination tracking. However, these findings prove that the search for suitable keywords is a fundamental step to reduce confounding factors. Additionally, targeting hypotheses helps diminish the likelihood of spurious correlations. It is recommended that Google Trends be leveraged as a complementary infoveillance tool by government agencies to monitor and predict vaccine adherence in this and future crises by following the methods proposed in this paper.
Evaluating User Feedback for an Artificial Intelligence–Enabled, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–Based Mental Health App (Wysa): Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Authors: Malik Tanya , Ambrose Adrian Jacques , Sinha Chaitali
Published: March 2022

Background

Digital mental health apps are rapidly becoming a common source of accessible support across the world, but their effectiveness is often influenced by limited helpfulness and engagement.

Objective

This study’s primary objective was to analyze feedback content to understand users’ experiences with engaging with a digital mental health app. As a secondary objective, an exploratory analysis captured the types of mental health app users.

Methods

This study utilized a user-led approach to understanding factors for engagement and helpfulness in digital mental health by analyzing feedback (n=7929) reported on Google Play Store about Wysa, a mental health app (1-year period). The analysis of keywords in the user feedback categorized and evaluated the reported user experience into the core domains of acceptability, usability, usefulness, and integration. The study also captured key deficits and strengths of the app and explored salient characteristics of the types of users who benefit from accessible digital mental health support.

Results

The analysis of user feedback found the app to be overwhelmingly positively reviewed (6700/7929, 84.50% 5-star rating). The themes of engaging exercises, interactive interface, and artificial intelligence (AI) conversational ability indicated the acceptability of the app, while the nonjudgmentality and ease of conversation highlighted its usability. The app’s usefulness was portrayed by themes such as improvement in mental health, convenient access, and cognitive restructuring exercises. Themes of privacy and confidentiality underscored users’ preference for the integrated aspects of the app. Further analysis revealed 4 predominant types of individuals who shared app feedback on the store.

Conclusions

Users reported therapeutic elements of a comfortable, safe, and supportive environment through using the digital mental health app. Digital mental health apps may expand mental health access to those unable to access traditional forms of mental health support and treatments.
Digital Visual Communication for Public Health: Design Proposal for a Vaccinated Emoji
Authors: Boender Tamara Sonia , Louis-Ferdinand Noah , Duschek Gideon
Published: March 2022

In the 21st century, the internet and particularly social media have become essential platforms for the spread of health information (including misinformation and disinformation). One of the distinguishing features of communication on these platforms is the widespread use of emojis. Though seemingly trivial emojis are now used by many if not most public health figures and organizations alongside important health updates. Much of that information has had to do with vaccination. Vaccines are a critical public health tool but one surrounded by falsehoods, phobias, and misinformation fueling vaccine hesitancy. Part of that has to do with their lack of positive representation on social media (eg, the syringe emoji is a plain needle, which for many people is an uncomfortable image). We thus argue that vaccination deserves an entirely new emoji to communicate vaccine confidence and discuss a design proposal for a vaccinated emoji that has gained traction in the global public health community.
Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Digital Health Research: Mixed Methods Case Study
Authors: Krause-Jüttler Grit , Weitz Jürgen , Bork Ulrich
Published: March 2022

Background

Digital innovations in medicine are disruptive technologies that can change the way diagnostic procedures and treatments are delivered. Such innovations are typically designed in teams with different disciplinary backgrounds. This paper concentrates on 2 interdisciplinary research teams with 20 members from the medicine and engineering sciences working jointly on digital health solutions.

Objective

The aim of this paper was to identify factors on the individual, team, and organizational levels that influence the implementation of interdisciplinary research projects elaborating on digital applications for medicine and, based on the results, to draw conclusions for the proactive design of the interdisciplinary research process to make these projects successful.

Methods

To achieve this aim, 2 interdisciplinary research teams were observed, and a small case study (response rate: 15/20, 75%) was conducted using a web-based questionnaire containing both closed and open self-report questions. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze the quantitative data. The answers to the open-ended questions were subjected to qualitative content analysis.

Results

With regard to the interdisciplinary research projects investigated, the influencing factors of the three levels presented (individual, team, and organization) have proven to be relevant for interdisciplinary research cooperation.

Conclusions

With regard to recommendations for the future design of interdisciplinary cooperation, management aspects are addressed, that is, the installation of a coordinator, systematic definition of goals, required resources, and necessary efforts on the part of the involved interdisciplinary research partners. As only small groups were investigated, further research in this field is necessary to derive more general recommendations for interdisciplinary research teams.

Trial Registration

German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00023909, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023909 ; German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00025077, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00025077
Energy Consequences for Environment
Authors: Lane Jan-Erik
Published: March 2022

The beginnings of this century sets up the dilemma of more energy or betterment of the environment. If “energy” is the capacity to do work, as often said, then it can be made profitable. If protecting the ecology of Earth is what the COP reunions of the UN aim at, then it is hardly a surprise that China and India reneged against the original formulation of phasing out coal power. Both countries use a lot of coal plants to get cheap energy for rapid economic development. This is dismal fact for COP endeavours. The efforts of the UN to create global ecology coordination will be harmed by the war in Ukraine, but how realistic is the 1.5 temperature goal anyhow?
A Study on English Translation of Numerals in TCM—Taking Li Zhaoguo’s English Translation Version of Yellow Emperor’s Cannon of Medicine as an Example
Authors: Zhu Xiaoqian
Published: March 2022

As traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) gradually enters the international perspective, it is facing new opportunities and challenges, so the translation of Chinese medicine culture becomes more important. TCM classics are the principle part of TCM culture. Among them, numerals occupy a large proportion, and at the same time, numerals are an aspect that translators can easily ignore. Therefore, this article discusses the English translation of TCM numerals. Besides, due to the different cultural backgrounds, there are many non-correspondences between Chinese and English numerals. The meaning of quantifiers in English is single, while the meaning of numerals in Chinese medicine is complicated. It requires that translators should pay attention to numeral translation on the process of translation. Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine has been guiding the development of Chinese medicine. This paper, taking Li Zhaoguo’s translation vision as an example, makes an in-depth analysis of the meaning of numerals, studies the translation methods of translators, and compares Li’s vision numeral processing methods, so as to better apply them to the translation practice of TCM culture.
Bioremediation of Zearalenone by using Lactobacillus acidophilus in albino rats bodies (in vivo)
Authors: Jasim Ibrahim H
Published: March 2022

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Lactobacillus acidophilus to reduce zearalenone toxicity in vital systems of albinowhite rats.Methods Fusarium graminearum isolate was tested to produce zearalenone toxin. L. acidophilus was used to reduce the toxin in rats. Thisability was studied by many parameters such as biochemical and physiological parameters in addition to histological study.Results The results showed that L. acidophilus had the ability to reduce zearalenone toxicity. L. acidophilus had the ability to raise Hb 11 g/dlin blood of animals that was treated with zearalenone only to 13.06 g/dl in animalâ€™s blood that was treated with zearalenone + L. acidophilus.As well as the number of red blood cells in animals blood treated with these treatment was 6.62 Ã— 1012 cell/ L. L. acidophilus reduces thetoxicity of zearalenone through its ability to reduce the number of platelets to normal levels.Conclusion L. acidophilus had a role in repeated biochemical parameters to normal levels. Total protein rose to 6.6 g/dl in animalâ€™s bloodtreated with zearalenone + L. acidophilus compared with these levels in blood of control group. Also GPT and sugar levels in animal bloodthat was treated with zearalenone + L. acidophilus were at normal level. Histological study proved that L. acidophilus had the ability toprotect liver, kidney, and uterus from the toxicity of zearalenone.
Effect of life style (exercise and nutrition) on occurrence of breast cancer in women: A retrospective study in Babylon governorate
Authors: Hassan Najat Hamza , Ali Rabea M
Published: March 2022

Objective To identify the effect of exercise and nutrition on breast cancer occurrence and to find the relationship between life style and somedemographic and reproductive variables.Methods A retrospective study (case control study) of a purposive sample of 400 women; 200 women diagnosed with breast cancer visitedthe Merjan Teaching Hospital Oncology Cancer Center in Babylon Governorate as a study group and 200 women free of breast cancer as acontrol group. An assessment tool was constructed for the purpose of the study. It comprised of socio-demographic data, reproductivedata, information related to breast cancer (stage, side, period, family history) and information related to their life style: exercise (5 items) andnutrition (14 items) of 10 years previous breast cancer occurrence, physical measurements for measuring obesity and overweight (BMI) aswell as medical records to explain in the stage of breast cancer and other details which may be assisting this study Data were collected from4 May 2013 to 4 July 2013. Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive and inferential statistical data analysisapproach.Results The study demonstrates that the highest percentage (39.5%) of study sample was in age group 50â€“54 years in comparison with theother age groups for both the study and control groups. There was a high significant difference at P < 0.01 between the life aspects(exercise and nutrition) and breast cancer in women while no relationship between life aspects and demographical and reproductivevariables except with interval between pregnancies and duration of contraception of study group was noted.Conclusion Establishing an activation media and Ministry of Health role for guiding women and their families about the importance ofexercise and healthy nutrition which contributes to reducing the incidence of breast cancer occurrence and the importance of earlydetection of breast cancer.
Screening of nasal carriage for Staphylococcus aureus and their resistance to oxacillin and cefoxitin among medical students in Karbala University
Authors: Mohammed Suhad Hadi , Hmood Mohammed Neama , Abd Areej Abbas
Published: March 2022

Objective Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a problem within healthcare organizationsand in the community. The aim of the study was to screen S. aureus carriage and their susceptibility to cefoxitin and oxacillin amongmedical students.Methods A total of 100 nasal swabs were collected. Isolation and identification of the isolate as S. aureus was done using Gram stain,coagulase test and catalase test. S. aureus isolates were confirmed as MRSA using cefoxitin (30 Î¼g) disc and oxacillin (30 Î¼g) disc by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. From 100 nasal swabs, 76 were coagulase negative Staphylococci and 20 werecoagulase positive Staphylococci.Results From 100 nasal swabs, 76 were coagulase negative Staphylococci and 20 were coagulase positive Staphylococci. From these, 60%and 40% were oxacillin- and cefoxitin-resistant isolates, respectively. The data obtained from this study revealed that there were carriers ofMRSA among the medical students.
From micelle to microemulsion: an investigation of structural changes using molecular dynamics
Authors: Amani Amir , Amani Milad
Published: March 2022

Objective Although a huge number of experimental works may be observed in the literature for microemulsions, modelling reports onthese nano-systems are rare. Additionally, no comprehensive work so far has detailed the changes occurring to a micellar droplet when oilmolecules are introduced (i.e. obtaining microemulsions from micelles). This work aimed to simulate a micelle and a microemulsion systemcontaining polysorbate 80 - as surfactant - and study the structural changes in the two systems.Methods Molecular dynamics simulation employing a coarse-grained model was used.Results The results showed that the oil molecules located in the hydrophobic core of the micelle make its size larger, while the co-surfactantmolecules distribute throughout the system and enter the hydrophilic shell of the micelle.Conclusion It was shown that insertion of oil molecules makes the droplets more spherical, while co-surfactants tend to enlarge them.
VitaminD deficiency and hypertension in type 2 diabetic Iraqi patients
Authors: Al-Tuâ€™ma Fadhil Jawad , Yosuf Lina Mohammed Z
Published: March 2022

Objective Vitamin D3 deficiency has been defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25-(OH)D3] levels below 30 ng/ml and it is common among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Laboratory studies indicate that 1,25-(OH)D3 suppresses renin expression and vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation, then decreases blood pressure. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the association between 25-(OH)D3 level and the risk of blood pressure, and its relation with T2DM and body mass index (BMI).Method This study was conducted at Al-Hussein Medical City/Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Karbala, Iraq. All samples, 30 apparently healthy subjects as control, N = 30 and 90 patients (equal number of male and female) with T2DM [50 obese with hypertension (G1) and 40 non-obese without hypertension (G2)], were randomly selected from diabetic patients who had attended the diabetic consultation unit from November 2012 to June 2013 with age ranged between 23 and 75 years. Measurement of 25-(OH)D3, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in addition to blood pressure and BMI were calculated in all samples.Results The results showed that serum 25-(OH)D3 was significantly decreased in G1 and G2 groups (16.8 Â± 8.8 ng/ml, 19.5 Â± 9.7 ng/ml, respectively), compared with control group (36.0 Â± 9.4 ng/ml) at P < 0.001, and 68% of female vs. 57% of male underwent this deficiency. Also 25-(OH)D3 had negative correlation with blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and BMI in diabetic patients in G1 at P < 0.0001 and it had positive significant correlation with HDL-C in G1 and G2 groups.Conclusion It can be concluded that T2DM, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels correlates significantly with lower concentration of 25-(OH)D3, which suggested that clinical experiences should be taking into account the protective effect of vitamin D in decrease hypertension, which reflects risk factors in diabetic patients with hypertension that leads to metabolic syndrome and then to cardiovascular diseases.
Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Al Nasiri Yusra , Al Mawali Adhra Hilal
Published: March 2022

Objective The purpose of this concept analysis is to examine the health-related quality of life in children with sickle cell disease.

Methods Meleisâ€™s (Theoretical Nursing: Development and Process. 5th Ed.; J. B. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2012) concept analysis methodology was followed for analyzing health related quality of life concept. This includes defining the concept, clarifying ambiguities, describing the critical attributes, identifying the observable and measurable empirical referent, delineating the antecedents, the consequences, and modeling to illustrate the concept in its entirety. Articles focusing on quality of life, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) were examined.

Results The concept appears well developed and the internal characteristic of HRQOL is delineated. To ensure that its characteristics maintained contextual relevance, a concept called â€˜fine tuneâ€™ should be done. Since HRQOL concept is a multidimensional concept, a factor analysis test may be needed to explore the dimensionality and the structure of its meaning. Also, internal consistency reliability needs to be done to assess the items independence of one another.

Conclusion Successful patient outcomes is an important goal for nursing and it is critical to health care decision making for practical, ethical, and financial. The analysis of HRQOL concept provided more clarity to the concept definition and also to the underlying outcome measures. Naming the variables of the concepts clearly facilitates comparing and contrasting the healthcare interventions on various patientsâ€™ outcomes. In addition, by examining the concept in children with SCD, pediatric nurses become more cognizant of the conceptâ€™s meaning that would easily facilitate the understanding of the childrenâ€™s and their parentsâ€™ perception of HRQOL.
The incidence and mortality rate of cervix cancer in Iran from 1990 to 2016: A systematic review and meta-analysis Running title: Cervix cancer in Iran
Authors: Riahi Shirin , Mokhtari Ali Mohammad , Vali Mouhebat , Abdzadeh Elham , Mohseni Shokrollah , Salehiniya Hamid , Hassanipour Soheil
Published: March 2022

Objective: Cervix Cancer (CC) is one of the major health problems among Iranian women and elsewhere around the world. Considering the importance of this cancer, the present study was conducted to determine the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of CC in Iran.

Methods: A search was conducted using international databases (Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Embase and ISI/ web of knowledge), and national databases (Scientific Information Database, MagIran, IranMedex, and IranDoc). This systematic review was carried out according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) check list in 2018. Thereafter, Persian and English language papers referring to the ASIR and ASMR of CC in Iran were included. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers. The Joanna Briggs checklist was carried out to evaluate the quality of studies.

Result: A total of 522 papers were obtained in the initial search of the databases, and 25 articles were included to the review by further refinement and screening. Based on the random-effect model, the ASIR and ASMR of CC in Iran was 2.14 per 100000, 95% CI (1.89 to 2.38) and 0.93 per 100000, 95% CI (0.81 to 1.05), respectively.

Conclusion: The incidence and mortality of CC in Iran was lower than other parts of the world. It should be noted that because of the high heterogeneity of the results of this study, we must judge with caution regarding the results.
Evaluation of Nigella Sativa and Honey Combination for Treatment of kidney Stone: a Randomized, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Moghimipour Eskandar , Ghorbani Ali , Malayeri Alireza , Siahpoosh Amir , Khodadoost Mahmood , Rajaeipour Mehdi , Ahmadi Angali Kambiz , Zaheri Abdehvand Laleh
Published: March 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of N. sativa with honey on treatment of Kidney stone.

Methods: A clinical trial was conducted on 42 patients who were referred to the urology clinic of Ganjavian Hospital, Dezful, Iran and were identified by a sonographist that they had kidney stones smaller than 6 mm, they were without hydronephrosis, and did not require medication. They were randomly assigned to control (n= 20) and treatment (n= 22) groups. 8 grams of NS and honey combination with one glass of warm water were given daily to the treatment group for one month. The control group did not receive medication. Both groups drank 6-8 glasses of water daily.

Results: The rate of stone expulsion in the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (P value = 0.0001).

Conclusion: According to our results, it seems that NS with honey may have some beneficial effects in treatment of kidney Stone.
Evaluation the Effect of Royal Jelly on the Growth of Two Members of Gut Microbiota; Bacteroides fragillis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Authors: Kazemi Vida , Mojtahedzadeh Mojtaba , Siadat Seyed Davar , Hadjiakhondi Abbas , Ameri Abdulghani , Ahmadi Badi Sara , Manayi Azadeh , Bagheri Mahdi
Published: March 2022

Objective: In this study the effect of Royal jelly on the growth of two important members of Bacteroides spp.; Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, was evaluated. Also the physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity effects of Royal jelly on Caco-2 cell line as gastrointestinal epithelial cell model, assessed.

Methods : Bacteria, Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron were grown on brain heart infusion (BHI) broth medium supplemented with Royal jelly in 3 different concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10% v/v), both of the bacteria (1.5Ã—108 cfu/mL) were inoculated to BHI broth contained Royal jelly in anaerobic condition. To calculate the bacterial optical density (OD), the absorbance was measured at 600 nm after an overnight. Also Caco-2 cells, was used to study the effects of Royal jelly on epithelial cell viability, and the Physicochemical properties consist of  total proteins, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, total lipids, ash and moisture by UV-VIS spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods were evaluated .

Results: The growth of B. fragillis and B. thetaiotaomicron were increased by Royal jelly (2.5, 5 and 10% v/v concentrations) and the results indicated that Royal jelly increased the growth of bacteria in a dose dependent manner (p<0.001). In addition MTT assay showed more than 95% viability of Caco-2 cells treated with Royal jelly. The Iranian Royal jelly sample contains 59.01% water, 11.57% proteins, 12% lipids, 12.63 % polysaccharide and 5% mineral.

Conclusion: The present study showed that Royal jelly has a potential effect in the  preserving gut microbiota  and it is suggested that Royal jelly as a complementary and alternative medicine can be used to treatment diseases are associated  with gut microbiota- host interactions and immune regulating. Although we need to expand our knowledge by designing clinical trials to conï¬rm the therapeutic effects of Royal jelly on gut microbiota modulation as a barrier function.
Fibrin-collagen hydrogel as a scaffold for dermoepidermal skin substitute, preparation and characterization
Authors: Mollapour Sisakht Mahsa , Nilforoushzadeh Mohammad Ali , Verdi Javad , Banafshe Hamid Reza , Safaei Naraghi Zahra , Mortazavi-Tabatabaei Seyed Abdolreza
Published: March 2022

Objective: Bioengineered skin substitutes were created to address wound healing problems. Skin substitutes contains live human cells seeded onto a matrix to provide cytokine, growth factor and other proteins from ECM required to decrease healing time. These products are classified based on their durability, the cells seeded on them and their originality. In this study, we aimed to investigate fibrin-collagen hydrogel as a new scaffold to design a bilayer temporary skin equivalent.

Methods: Fibrin gel was prepared by crosslinking fibrinogen with thrombin and mixing it with collagen type 1. Human fibroblasts and keratinocytes were isolated from skin biopsies of healthy donors and foreskin and the cells were seeded onto 3D hydrogel layer by layer. Morphological assessment, histological analysis, immunocytochemistry were performed to characterize the scaffold properties.

Result: The results of scaffold characterization demonstrated good porosity, cell viability and biocompatibility of the scaffold.

Conclusion: Fibrin-collagen as a natural material in organotypic cell culture modeling demonstrates that hydrogel scaffolds can be properly designed to generate bilayer or composite temporary skin grafts.
Effect of Artemisia fruit extract on TNF- Î± and IL-6 levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Authors: Ali Ekhlass N. , Eltyeaf Emad Mahmoud , Kadhem Ashwaq A. , Jouda Jamela
Published: March 2022

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Artemisia extract on some immunological parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: After preparation of Artemisia extract, many chemical tests were used to identify the type of element and compounds presented in this plant using many chemical techniques. Thirty five streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetes mice were divided in to 5 groups; the first group provided only with water, the other four groups were consumed orally ingested the plant extract in four different concentration (2000, 1000, 500,250) mg/Kg of body weight. Another 10 mice didnâ€™t injected with STZ were divided in to two groups; one consumed Artemisia (Art group), and the second consumed only normal saline (Cont. group). After 14 days of diabetes induction and Artemisia extract treatment, the mice were sacrificed. Blood and tissue (brain, spleen and kidney) were collected. Fasting blood sugar and insulin levels were determine in the serum. Furthermore Tumor Necrosis Factor- alpha (TNF- Î±) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined in the serum and aliquots of homogenize tissues.

Results: Results declared that the extract of Artemisia fruit contains high levels of active compounds especially antioxidant compounds. IL-6 and TNF-Î± levels were decreased while insulin and glucose levels were increased in the STZ- induce mice group. Artemisia extract effects differently on glucose and insulin levels depend on its concentration. Interestingly, IL-6 and TNF-Î± levels increase in serum, brain and spleen of the STZ-induce mice group consumed different concentration of Artemisia but it normalized in the STZ-induce mice group consumed 250 mg/kg Artemisia, as well as insulin and glucose levels for the same group, while there was no difference in kidney.

Conclusion: Artemisia can control diabetes in 1000 and 500mg/Kg through controlling insulin level, and in the other hand, using the plant extract in 250mg/Kg ,acts as immune modulator for anti-inflammatory agents IL-6 and TNF-Î±.
Design, synthesis, preliminary pharmacological evaluation, molecular docking and ADME studies of some new pyrazoline, isoxazoline and pyrimidine derivatives bearing nabumetone moiety targeting cyclooxygenase enzyme
Authors: Yousif Omar A. , Mahdi Monther F. , Raauf Ayad M. R.
Published: March 2022

Nabumetone is a prodrug, its active metabolite 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic (6MNA) acid has low selectivity toward COX-2 enzyme; PLP fitness was 67.36 Kcal/Mol. A series of pyrazolines, oxazolines and pyrimidines bearing nabumetone moiety have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated as a potential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. These new compounds were evaluated for their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and in vitro COX-2 selectivity through molecular docking via GOLD suite v. 5.6.2. All tested compounds in molecular docking exhibited significant activities compared with diclofenac, naproxen, and 6MNA as reference drugs due to their hydrogen bonding interaction with key amino acids in COX isozymes Arg120, Tyr355, and Ser530, and these results are compatible with their in vivo acute anti-inflammatory study for tested compounds. Also, ADME studies were performed to predict which of them are candidate to be given orally, site of absorption, bioavailability, topological polar surface area and drug-likeness. The ADME results showed that all synthesized compounds absorbed from GIT while, only compounds 3, 2a, 2c, and 3a -3c fulfilled the Lipinski rule.
Pomegranate protects renal proximal tubules during gentamicin induced-nephrotoxicity in rats
Authors: Alkuraishy Hayder M. , Al-Gareeb Ali I. , Al-Naimi Marwa Salih
Published: March 2022

Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of pomegranate in gentamicin induced-nephrotoxicity in rats.

Methods: Thirty Sprague Dawley Male rat were used, which randomly divided into 3 groups, 10 rats in each group. Group1 (n=10): Rats treated with distilled water for 12 days.Group2 (n=10): Rats treated with distilled water + Gentamicin .Group3 (n=10): Rats treated with pomegranate + gentamicin. Blood urea, serum creatinine, serum malondialdehde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , glutathione reductase (GSH) , Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) , kidney injury molecules (KIM-1) and Cystatin-c were measured .

Results: Blood urea and serum creatinine were significantly elevated in gentamicin group compared to the control p=0.007 and p=0.04 respectively. Also estimated GFR was significantly decreased in gentamicin group compared to the control p=0.04. Cystatin-c serum level and MDA serum level were increased but SOD and GSH were decreased insignificantly in gentamicin group compared to the control p>0.05. Pomegranate reduced blood urea significantly p=0.002. Pomegranate improves endogenous anti-oxidant capacity since; it increase GSH significantly compared to gentamicin group p=0.02. There were insignificant effects on MDA and SOD. Moreover, pomegranate reduce serum levels of KIM-1and NGAL in gentamicin group p<0.05.

Conclusion: Pomegranate attenuates gentamicin induced-nephrotoxicity through potentiation of endogenous anti-oxidant capacity and inhibition of inflammatory pathway.
Osteocacin favours the expression of synaptonemal complex protein 3 in azoospermic mouse model
Authors: Omotosho Dhulqarnain Akanji , Takzaree Nasrin , Hassanzadeh Gholamreza , Solhjo Somayeh , Tooli Heidar , Yaaghoobi Nejad Mahsa , Shafaat Pedram , Rastegar Tayebeh
Published: March 2022

Objective Infertility is the inability to conceive after regular unprotected sex for more than 1 year without the use of contraceptive.Azoospermia is defined as an absence of fertile sperm in seminal fluid. Men with azoospermia will guide the formulation of a therapeutic plan. Uncarboxylated form of the osteocalcin (OCN) modulates fertility. In this study, we investigated the role of osteocalcin on SYCP3 expression in azoospermic mouse model.Methods Male mice (NMRI) ranging in age from 4 to 6 weeks (25 Â± 5 g) were randomly divided into five groups (in all groups n = 5), Control, Sham I, Sham II, azoospermic model and azoospermic experimental OCN (3 ng/g/day) treated groups. At the end of the treatment period, (15th week age) the mice were sacrificed, left testes removed, weighted and put in fixative for morphology and IHC technique.Results Testis weight was reduced in azoospermic and azoospermic OCN treated group compared with Control and Sham groups, but in azoospermic OCN treated group is more than azoospermic mice (P â‰¤ 0.05). Daily injections of OCN improved spermatogenesis and SYCP3 expression in azoospermic OCN treated mice but not in azoospermic model.Conclusion Our results suggests that the osteocalcin overexpressed SYCP3 expression and improved spermatogenesis.
Demographic and clinical profiles of female patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Iraq
Authors: Alwan Nada A.S. , Tawfeeq Furat N. , Mallah Nawar A.G.
Published: March 2022

Objective To highlight the main demographic characteristics and clinical profiles of female patients registered with breast cancer in Iraq; focusing on the impact of age.Methods This retrospective study enrolled 1172 female patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the Main Center for Early Detection of Breast Cancer/Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad. Data were extracted from an established information system, developed by the principal author under supervision of WHO, that was based on valid clinical records of Iraqi patients affected by breast cancer. The recorded information regarding clinical examination comprised positive palpable lumps, bloody nipple discharge, skin changes, bilateral breast involvement, tumor size, lymph node status, and the stage of the disease.Results The mean age at the presentation was 51 years; patients under the age of 50 constituted 46.8%. Overall 9.8% were not married, 22.4% were illiterate whereas 19.2% graduated from universities. About 72% of the patients had more than two children, merely 7.5% delivered their first child after the age of 35 years and only 11% were nulliparous. History of lactation and hormonal therapy was recorded in 57.6% and 19.4% respectively. Family history of cancer was positive in 28.8% and breast cancer specifically in 18.7%. Clinically, the most common presenting symptom was breast lumps (95%) followed by skin changes/ulcerations (6.7%) and bloody nipple discharge (4.3%).Bilateral breast involvement was encountered in 4.7%. More than two-thirds of the patients (68.2%) had palpable axillary lymph nodes; classifying 40.5% into advanced stages III and IV. In general stages Iâ€“IV comprised 12%, 47.5%, 31.9%, and 8.6% respectively. Upon stratifying the studied sample with respect to age at diagnosis, it was observed that the frequency of unmarried patients was significantly higher among younger women under the age of 50 years, whereas illiteracy and nulliparity features were statistically lower (p < 0.05).Conclusion A considerable proportion of breast cancer patients in Iraq still present with locally advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. That justifies the necessity to promote public awareness educational campaigns to strengthen our national early detection program. Excluding the marital status, level of education and number of parity, there was no statistical difference regarding the impact of age on the demographic and clinical profiles of breast cancer among premenopausal versus postmenopausal Iraqi patients.
Cord Blood Sex Hormones Concentration: Relation to Birth Weight and Pregnancy Complications
Authors: Al-Omary Hanan L. , Alawad Zainab M.
Published: March 2022

Objectives: Umbilical cord blood can be taken at birth and largely gives indication of fetal and maternal conditions. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between sex hormones in cord blood and birth weight of newborns and pregnancy complications.
Materials and methods: Fifty cord blood samples were collected from newborns at labor room of Baghdad Teaching Hospital between May and October 2018. Blood was withdrawn from their mothers for lead analysis. Five milliliters (ml) of cord blood was taken, 3 ml was used for testosterone and estradiol analysis (using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and 2 ml for lead measurement by lead care analyzer. Newborns weight and head circumference were measured. Delivered women were divided into 4 groups: Women with normal pregnancy, women with preeclampsia, diabetic women and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.
Results: There was no significant difference in age between women in all groups (pËƒ0.05). Birth weights, estradiol, and testosterone were significantly different between groups. Estradiol was higher in cord blood of newborns of PCOS women (pË‚0.05) than others. Testosterone was higher in cord blood of babies of PCOS and preeclampsia women compared to those of diabetes (pË‚0.05). There were no significant differences between male and female neonates regarding cord estradiol (3596.27Â±1934.69, 3714.57Â±1581.47 pg/ml respectively), and testosterone (393.18Â±87.14, 361.43Â±102.14 ng/ml respectively) (pËƒ0.05). Maternal lead levels correlated positively with cord lead (r=0.905, pË‚0.05), which correlated negatively with head circumference (r=-0.766, pË‚0.05). Birth weight correlated negatively with estradiol (r=-0.295), but positively with testosterone (r=0.006) (pËƒ0.05). 
Conclusion: Cord blood estradiol and testosterone levels do not differ between males and females. Estradiol was high in cord blood of PCOS mothers. Testosterone was high in cord blood of PCOS and preeclampsia mothers. The increase in cord lead causes decrease in babies head circumference.
Effects of Eryngium Caucasicum Extract on Testosterone, Inflammation and Oxidative Status of Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin Induced Type-2 Diabetes in Male Rats
Authors: Afshari Masood , Malayeri Ali Reza , Mohammadshahi Majid
Published: March 2022

Objective: Regarding the unfavorable side effects of anti-diabetic drugs including peripheral edema, gastrointestinal discomfort and hypoglycemia, using medicinal plants due to their useful contents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, glycopeptides, terpenoides, phenolic compounds and other constituents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is encouraged in treatment of diabetes mellitus. Thus, the hypothesis was that Eryngium Caucasicum extract will decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes mellitus model in Wistar rats.

Methods: In this study, sixty adult male Wistar rats (150 â€“ 250 g) were randomly allocated into six groups (n=10) including: 1: healthy control, 2: diabetic control, 3: diabetic rats which received Sitagliptine, 4, 5 and 6: diabetic rats which received 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of E. Caucasicum extract oral gavages for 30 days. Eventually, total antioxidant capacity, vitamin B12, malondyaldehyde, interleukin-6, high sensitive C - reactive protein and testosterone serum levels were measured.

Results: Administration of E. Caucasicum in type 2 diabetes mellitus animal model did not change serum vitamin B12 and animal weight compared with control groups. Total antioxidant capacity and malondyaldehyde improved in all doses of E. Caucasicum; in the highest doses, the total antioxidant capacity was higher than sitagliptine group. Interleukin-6 and high sensitive C-reactive protein both decreased in all doses of E. Caucasicum. Administration of E. Caucasicum extract improved testosterone serum level only in highest dose of E. Caucasicum extract. Since the highest dose showed the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; dose-responses of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are suggested.

Conclusions: In conclusion, we showed that administration of E. Caucasicum in T2DM animal model has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, in future studies other dose-escalating intervention must be performed. Also toxicity in diabetes must be elucidated in future studies.
The efficacy of traditional formulation on quality of life and fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-control clinical trial
Authors: Namjooyan F. , Ghanavati R. , Majdinasab N. , Rezaei zadeh H
Published: March 2022

Objective: According to effects that cinnamon, ajwain and Iranian borago shows in involving mechanisms in MS and MS animal model, we decided to survey the affect of traditional formulation on MS patient by clinical trial.

Methods: in a double blind randomized clinical trial study, 60 patients with (MS) observed. They take formulation 15cc per day, fill the MSQOL-54, and fatigue questionnaires every month. The data were analyzed with 18th version of SPSS, independent t-Test and repeated measure tests. The p-value for tests was 0.05.

Results: the mean quality of life and fatigue of patient with MS were significantly changed during 3 month.

Conclusion: most patients with MS had better quality of life during 3 month and get less tired. In some patient tremor and pain reduce. Because of good result and revenue of formulation, it seems to be useful for MS patient.