Abstract Background Previous studies has shown that nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) is expressed in Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients which is stimulated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) present in the joint environment and induces inflammation via the NF-κB pathway. Also, other studies have shown that curcumin inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion, and Inflammation and on the other hand increases the apoptosis of RA FLSs. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of curcumin, a natural antiinflammatory micronutrient, on the expression of NOD2 and inflammatory cytokines. Methods Synovial membranes were collected from ten patients diagnosed with RA and ten individuals with traumatic injuries scheduled for knee surgery. The FLSs were isolated and treated with 40 μM curcumin alone or in combination with 20.3 μM MDP for 24 h. mRNA was extracted, and real-time PCR was performed to quantitatively measure gene expression levels of NOD2, p65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Results The study findings indicate that administering MDP alone can significantly increase the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in the trauma group and TNF-α in the RA group. Conversely, administering curcumin alone or in combination whit MDP can significantly reduce mRNA expression levels of P65 and IL-6 in FLSs of both groups. Moreover, in FLSs of RA patients, a single curcumin treatment leads to a significant reduction in NOD2 gene expression. Conclusion This study provides preliminary in vitro evidence of the potential benefits of curcumin as a nutritional supplement for RA patients. Despite the limitations of the study being an investigation of the FLSs of RA patients, the results demonstrate that curcumin has an anti-inflammatory effect on NOD2 and NF-κB genes. These findings suggest that curcumin could be a promising approach to relieve symptoms of RA.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Prosthetic valve dysfunction is a potentially critical complication of heart valve replacement. An easy and quickly applicable diagnostic procedure is required for recognizing the prosthetic valve dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to prospectively define the diagnostic value of D-dimer and INR level in predicting prosthetic valve dysfunction. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 70 patients suspected to have prosthetic valve dysfunction admitted to Imam Ali Hospital, affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah Province, Iran. Cinefluoroscopy, as the gold standard diagnostic test, was used for the diagnosis of prosthetic valve dysfunction in enrolled patients. Two milliliters of blood from each patient were taken into a tube containing sodium citrate anticoagulant. To evaluate D-dimer, the cutoff value was set at 500 ng/ml. Also, to evaluate international normalized ratio (INR), the cutoff value was set at 2. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of the serum markers were used to describe predictive properties. Results: Of 70 patients, 27 (38.6%) were male and 43 (61.4%) were female, and the mean age was 54.67±15.11 years (range, 18 to 80 years). Of 70 patients, 27 (38.6%) had prosthetic heart valve malfunction demonstrable by fluoroscopy, and 19 patients (27.1%) had D-dimer levels >500 ng/ml. Elevated D-dimer levels (>500 ng/ml) have been indicated to have sensitivity of 70.4%, and hence an NPV of 84.3%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NLR of 0.3, and the infinity value of PLR for predicting prosthetic valve dysfunction. There was a significant relationship between fluoroscopy and D-dimer test (P=0.001). A kappa coefficient value of 0.745 indicated a substantial agreement between D-dimer and fluoroscopy testing. Mixing test (combination of D-dimer and INR) showed to have 100% sensitivity, and hence a NPV of 69.8%, specificity of 69.8%, PPV of 51.8%, NLR of 1.41, and PLR of 1.44 for predicting prosthetic valve dysfunction. Conclusion: D-dimer with moderate sensitivity and high specificity is an ideal marker for the diagnosis of prosthetic valve dysfunction in suspected patients. Enhanced plasma D-dimer level is not by itself diagnostic of a prosthetic valve dysfunction but may alert physicians to refer the patient for more detailed examination, preferably by fluoroscopy. Mixing test with 100% sensitivity can apply as a rule-out test.

Objective: This was the first national epidemiological study on oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in Iran, which provided new information about the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD. Methods: Data from a face-to-face household survey of 30,532 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were collected from across all 31 provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling design. The Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was used in this study. Results: The lifetime prevalence of ODD was found to be 3.9%. ODD was significantly more common in boys than girls and appeared in late adolescence more frequently than in childhood. A lower prevalence of ODD was found among participants who lived in rural areas. ODD is highly likely to co-occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorders. Conclusions: The findings of this national population-based study confirm and extend previous findings on the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD.

Resumen Objetivo . Determinar el efecto de una intervención educativa basada en las etapas de cambio en la promoción de la actividad física en los empleados del aeropuerto de Mashhad en Irán. Métodos. Estudio cuasiexperimental realizado con la participación de 60 voluntarios (30 en el grupo de intervención y 30 en el grupo control) quienes se encontraban en las etapas de contemplación o preparación para el cambio en la actividad física. La intervención consistió en actividades educativas proporcionadas durante visitas domiciliarias, llamadas telefónicas, sesiones de capacitación en grupo y entrega de material impreso. Para la recolección de información se utilizaron 5 preguntas sobre la etapa en la que se encontraba para el cambio de comportamiento en la actividad física, según el Modelo Transteórico de Marcus et al. (1. pre-contemplación, 2. contemplación, 3. preparación, 4. acción y 5. mantenimiento), y el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física. Los cambios en las etapas se evaluaron en 3 momentos: al ingreso al estudio, al finalizar la intervención (mes 8) y dos meses después de la segunda evaluación (mes 10). Resultados. En la evaluación de los 10 meses se apreció que el 26.7% de los sujetos del grupo de intervención versus el 3.3% del grupo control mejoraron su actividad física y se encontraban en la etapa de acción (p<0.01). Conclusión. La intervención educativa basada en las etapas de cambio es efectiva en la promoción de la actividad física en los participantes por lo que puede ser empleada en programas educativos que tengan como objetivo mejorar la actividad física de los empleados

Abstract Objective . This work sought to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the stages of change in promoting physical activity in employees in the Mashhad airport in Iran. Methods. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted with the participation of 60 volunteers (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group) who were in the stages of contemplating or preparing for change in physical activity. The intervention consisted in educational activities provided during home visits, telephone calls, group training sessions, and delivery of printed material. To gather the information, the study used five questions on the stage in which they were for behavioral change in physical activity, according to the Theoretical Model by Marcus et al., (1. pre-contemplation, 2. contemplation, 3. preparation, 4. action, and 5. maintenance), and the International Questionnaire on Physical Activity. Changes in the stages were evaluated during three moments: upon entering the study, at the end of the intervention (8th month), and two months after the second evaluation (10th month). Results. During the 10th month evaluation, it was noted that 26.7% of the subjects from the intervention group versus 3.3% from the control group improved their physical activity and were in the action stage (p<0.01). Conclusion. The educational intervention based on stages of change is effective in promoting physical activity in the participants and may be used in educational programs that seek to improve physical activity in the employees studied.

Resumo Objetivo . Determinar o efeito de uma intervenção educacional baseada nos estágios de mudança na promoção da atividade física nos funcionários do aeroporto de Mashhad, no Irã. Métodos Estudo quase experimental realizado com a participação de 60 voluntários (30 no grupo intervenção e 30 no grupo controle) que estavam nos estágios de contemplação ou preparação para a mudança na atividade física. A intervenção consistiu em atividades educativas realizadas durante visitas domiciliares, telefonemas, sessões de treinamento em grupo e entrega de material impresso. Para a coleta de informações, foram utilizadas 5 questões no estágio em que se destinava à mudança de comportamento na atividade física, conforme o Modelo Transteórico de Marcus et al. (1. pré-contemplação, 2. Contemplação, 3. Preparação, 4. Ação e 5. Manutenção) e o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. As alterações nas etapas foram avaliadas em três momentos: na admissão ao estudo, ao final da intervenção (mês 8) e dois meses após a segunda avaliação (mês 10). Resultados . Na avaliação de 10 meses, observou-se que 26.7% dos indivíduos no grupo intervenção versus 3.3% no grupo controle melhoraram a atividade física e estavam no estágio de ação (p<0.01). Conclusão A intervenção educacional baseada nos estágios de mudança é eficaz na promoção da atividade física dos participantes e pode ser usada em programas educacionais que visam melhorar a atividade física dos funcionários.

Although several invasive and noninvasive tests have been developed for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, all of the tests have their limitations. We conducted a study to investigate and compare the suitability of rapid urease test (RUT), serology, histopathology and stool antigen tests with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of H. pylori, and correlate the diagnostic methods with PCR. Eighty nine patients (61 adults, 28 children) referred to the Firoozgar Hospital and Children Medical Center Hospital for diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy entered to the study and noninvasive tests such as immunoassay for serological antibodies against H. pylori and detection of its antigen in feces were measured. The biopsies were utilized for histological examination, RUT and PCR. The H. pylori statuses were evaluated by the positivity of ureC PCR in biopsy specimens and 53 subjects had H. pylori positive result. Histopathology showed high overall performance in adults and children with sensitivity and specificity 100% and 90%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for stool antigen test were 87.8%, 75% and 82%, respectively. Correlation of RUT, serology (IgG), histopathology and stool antigen tests with PCR were 0.82, 0.32, 0.91 and 0.63, respectively. In conclusion, the RUT and histopathology are as accurate as the PCR of biopsy and stool antigen test can consider as appropriate noninvasive test for detection of H. pylori infection.

Antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antihypoxic and antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae, flower were investigated. Antidepressant activity was examined by forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice. Antihypoxic activity was investigated in haemic and circulatory models. The effects were pronounced in both models. It produced statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced edema at nearly all doses, compared to control groups. IC50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 674±27.6 µg mL-1. Extract showed good Fe2+ chelating ability (IC50 43±1.5 µg mL-1). It exhibited low antioxidant activity in linoleic acid peroxidation test. Its pharmacological effects may be attributed, in part, to the presence of phenols and ISSN 0102-695X flavonoids in the extract.

O complexo N,N’-bis[3-(2-nitrofenil)alilideno]etano-1,2-diamino(tetrafenilborato)prata(I), [Ag(nca2en)(BPh4)], foi sintetizado e caracterizado por análise elementar e por espectroscopias de RMN de ¹H, de absorção no infravermelho e UV-vis. Sua estrutura cristalina e molecular foi determinada por difratometria de raios X (monocristal). O centro de prata(I) no complexo está em um ambiente tetraédrico distorcido e faz ligações covalentes com os dois átomos de nitrogênio da base de Schiff e com dois átomos de carbono do tetrafenilborato. No complexo, o tetrafenilborato apresenta um comportamento não-usual, agindo como um ligante bidentado.

The complex N,N’-bis[3-(2-nitrophenyl)allylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine(tetraphenylborato) silver(I), [Ag(nca2en)(BPh4)], has been synthesized and characterized by CHN analyses and ¹H-NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopies. Its crystal and molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffractometry from single-crystal data. The coordination geometry about silver(I) is best described as a distorted tetrahedron. The Ag center is covalently bonded to two N atoms of the Schiff base and two C atoms of tetraphenylborate. In the complex, tetraphenylborate shows an unusual behavior and acts as a bidentate ligand.