Inflammasomes are intracellular complexes involved in the innate immunity that convert proIL‐1β and proIL‐18 to mature forms and initiate pyroptosis via cleaving procaspase‐1. The most well‐known ...inflammasome is NLRP3. Several studies have indicated a decisive and important role of NLRP3 inflammasome, IL‐1β, IL‐18, and pyroptosis in atherosclerosis. Modern hypotheses introduce atherosclerosis as an inflammatory/lipid‐based disease and NLRP3 inflammasome has been considered as a link between lipid metabolism and inflammation because crystalline cholesterol and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) (two abundant components in atherosclerotic plaques) activate NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and lysosome rupture, which are implicated in inflammasome activation, have been discussed as important events in atherosclerosis. In spite of these clues, some studies have reported that NLRP3 inflammasome has no significant effect in atherogenesis. Our review reveals that some molecules such as JNK‐1 and ASK‐1 (upstream regulators of inflammasome activation) can reduce atherosclerosis through inducing apoptosis in macrophages. Notably, NLRP3 inflammasome can also cause apoptosis in macrophages, suggesting that NLRP3 inflammasome may mediate JNK‐induced apoptosis, and the apoptotic function of NLRP3 inflammasome may be a reason for the conflicting results reported. The present review shows that the role of NLRP3 in atherogenesis can be significant. Here, the molecular pathways of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the implications of this activation in atherosclerosis are explained.
Inflammasomes are known as intracellular complexes which are able to convert pro‐IL‐1β and proIL‐18 to mature forms and initiate pyroptosis through cleaving pro‐caspase‐1. NLRP3 is a well‐known inflammasome which has central roles in atherosclerosis. It has been shown that NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis via affecting a sequence of cellular and molecular targets such as STAT, MAPK, JNK, microRNA network, ROS, and PKR.
Background: Infertility is a global problem that leads to psychological complications. Studies show that the psychological damage caused by infertility is far greater in women compared to men. ...Infertility reduces psychological well-being and causes infertility stress in infertile women. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of positive-thinking-based poetry therapy on infertility stress and psychological well-being in infertile women. Methods: This quasi-experimental research was conducted with a pre-test, post-test design and a control group. The statistical population included all infertile women. The sample size consisted of 46 women who were selected via the convenience sampling method. They were randomly assigned to experimental (n=23) and control groups (n=23). The experimental group received the package of positive-thinking-based poetry therapy which was compiled by the researchers, for eight 90-min sessions. The data was collected using the infertility stress questionnaire and the psychological well-being scale. The data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance via the SPSS software, version 22. Results: The multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance results showed that positive-thinking-based poetry therapy has a positive and significant effect on improving infertility stress psychological and well-being in infertile women (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the change in mental attitude and emergence of positive emotions caused by the intervention of positive-thinking-based poetry therapy improved the infertility stress and psychological well-being of infertile women.
Abstract
Background
The diagnosis of keratoconus, as the most prevalent corneal ectatic disorder, at the subclinical stage gained great attention due to the increased acceptance of refractive ...surgeries. This study aimed to assess the pattern of the corneal biomechanical properties derived from Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST) and evaluate the diagnostic value of these parameters in distinguishing subclinical keratoconus (SKC) from normal eyes.
Methods
This prospective study was conducted on 73 SKC and 69 normal eyes. Subclinical keratoconus eyes were defined as corneas with no clinical evidence of keratoconus and suspicious topographic and tomographic features. Following a complete ophthalmic examination, topographic and tomographic corneal assessment via Pentacam HR, and corneal biomechanical evaluation utilizing Corvis ST were done.
Results
Subclinical keratoconus eyes presented significantly higher Deformation Amplitude (DA) ratio, Tomographic Biomechanical Index (TBI), and Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI) rates than the control group. Conversely, Ambrósio Relational Thickness to the Horizontal profile (ARTh), and Stiffness Parameter at the first Applanation (SPA1) showed significantly lower rates in SKC eyes. In diagnosing SKC from normal eyes, TBI (AUC: 0.858, Cut-off value: > 0.33, Youden index: 0.55), ARTh (AUC: 0.813, Cut-off value: ≤ 488.1, Youden index: 0.58), and CBI (AUC: 0.804, Cut-off value: > 0.47, Youden index: 0.49) appeared as good indicators.
Conclusions
TBI, CBI, and ARTh parameters could be valuable in distinguishing SKC eyes from normal ones.
Cancer is a considerable health problem worldwide and the second leading cause of death in children. It has many physical, psychological, and social consequences for children and their families. The ...ability to adapt to cancer plays a vital role in the recovery and quality of life of affected children. This study aimed to explain the adaptation of children with cancer to their disease.
This qualitative study adopted the directed content analysis approach based on the Roy nursing model. The participants were nine children with cancer aged 6-18 years old, five family members, four nurses, one doctor, one teacher, and two charity association members, recruited by purposive sampling method. The information was collected via individual semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, and field notes. The data were analyzed simultaneously with data collection using the Elo and Kyngäs method. The study rigor was ensured based on the Guba and Lincoln criteria.
Of the four categories of physical challenges, fragile self-concept, the difficulty of role transition, and disruption of the path to independence, the theme of Falling and rising in the cancer vortex was abstracted.
Based on the Roy model, the children in the present study were at the compensatory level of adaptation. This research demonstrates that the adaptation of children being treated for cancer is fragile and not constant. With each hospitalization and exacerbation of the disease, they made efforts to adapt to their disease using regulatory and cognitive subsystems. Paying attention to different stimulants and the effects of support systems on physical challenges, fragile self-concept, difficult role transition, and disruption of the path to independence for each child, as well as providing individualized care for these children, can help their adaptation to and healthy transition from the vortex of cancer. The Roy adaptation model was helpful and efficient for elucidating the adaptation of children with cancer. Providing care for children by healthcare specialists, especially nurses, should be theory-based and individualized.
Listeria monocytogenes, one of the most important bacterial pathogens transmitted through milk, causes listeriosis in humans and animals. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of L. ...monocytogenes in raw milk of healthy sheep and goats in the west of Iran (Lorestan Province) by touchdown PCR (TD-PCR). Listeria spp. were found in milk samples taken from 21 sheep (29.16%) and 3 goats (10.71%) whereas L. monocytogenes was isolated from milk samples taken from 4 sheep (5.55%) and 1 goat (3.75%). The results showed that there was a significant difference between sheep and goats in the prevalence of Listeria spp. in their raw milk (p<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between them in the prevalence of L. monocytogenes. The study findings suggested that the raw milk of healthy sheep and goats was infected with L. monocytogenes and warned of the risk of human infection with listeriosis following consumption of raw and unpasteurized milk.
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Peripheral blood monocytes cells (PBMCs) may have altered function to some extent in women with ...endometriosis.
is a probiotic bacterium within the human body with the ability of alleviating many inflammatory diseases. Here, we examined the effect of
on PBMCs of endometriosis patients.
In this study, peripheral blood samples were obtained from endometriosis patients (n=11) and non-endometriosis individuals (n=11). After isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Ficoll, cells were cultured in the presence and absence of phytohemagglutinin. Also, these cells were co-cultured with 1×10
CFU/ml of
IL-6 and IL-1 cytokines were measured by ELISA method and the two groups were evaluated and compared.
The results showed that in endometriosis patients, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 and IL-6, by PBMC was increased compared to non-endometriosis subjects, and stimuli such as PHA intensified this elevation. Also,
increased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1 and IL-6. However, the production of these cytokines decreased due to the modulatory properties of bacterial cells after 48 h.
According to the results of the current study, IL-1 and IL-6 production was significantly increased in PMBCs of endometriosis patients compared to that of the healthy controls. Also,
was considered as an antigenic compound and induced IL-1 and IL-6 production. According to these results, probiotics can be further used for the treatment of endometriosis patients and more investigations are needed to confirm these results.
One of the main challenges of water scarcity is the water consumption in the agriculture sector. Therefore, optimizing water consumption and applying an optimal management in the agriculture sector ...is necessary. The implementation of a participatory management of water resources in the rural areas and the creation of Water User Association (WUA) can be a successful approach towards this management. That requires the continuity of the management, the comprehensive participation of farmers, and the exploitation of water resources; however, this action needs to understand the factors affecting the behavior of consumers. Thus identifying the factors influencing farmers’ intentions towards participation in WUA is essential. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting farmers' intentions towards participation in water user association, by theory of planned behavior (TPB). There are 21 agriculture water pumping stations active in Lorestan Province. Farmers at each agriculture water pumping stations make up a Water User Association. The population of this study consisted of all WUAs in western Iran (
= 1990), and through a proportional stratified random sampling technique farmers were selected (
= 133) from the population. Moreover, the validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated at pre-test stage for different parts of the questionnaire ranging from 0.83 until 0.91. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 software. The results revealed that there were effective variables including subjective norm, attitude, and extension training courses which contributed to the importance of participation in the water management, and that the educational level of farmer was a controlled variable that could affect farmers' attitudes towards participating in Water User Association; these factors could explain 53% of farmers' participation totally.
Since 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis has caused a great deal of social and economic damages to micro and small-scale enterprises (MSEs). This research examined the most common damages of ...this crisis in active and inactive rural MSEs and also assessed different kind of responses the managers and owners of theses MSEs have received dealing with these damages. The sample population of this study consisted of all managers of 72 active and 38 closed rural MSEs in the Dastjerd village, Hamedan, Iran. These MSEs were mainly garment small factories. This research utilized a mixed approach (quantitative-qualitative) to study the research objectives in depth. First, in qualitative part, semi-constructed interviews and field visits were done. Then, using quantitative, results of the qualitative section, previous studies and the existing literature, a researcher-made questionnaire was created. Based on qualitative part information through interviews, damages of rural MSEs during COVID-19 pandemic were categorized into three classes, including damages related to production, and financial and marketing issues. Also, two categories of managers' responses that could be labeled as passive and adaptive behavior were identified. Findings showed that active rural MSEs have taken more adaptive measures and tried to find appropriate ways to reduce or overcome damages. Active MSEs were mainly owned and managed collaboratively by more literate and experienced managers. Also results revealed that rural MSEs' managers reacted to different kinds of damages based on their ability, knowledge, and experience. Based on research results, managers' knowledge and skills can help them find more adaptive solutions to keep the firms stable and overcome damages. It can be concluded that COVID-19 pandemic has a great impact on rural MSEs and they need more financial support and managerial advice to overcome this kind of crisis situation.
Hematological inflammatory indices are currently suggested to assess systemic inflammation. This study aims to investigate a vitamin D supplementation effect on hematological indices of inflammation ...in rats.
Forty-eight middle-aged male rats were allocated into a normal diet (ND) group (10% fat) and a high-fat diet (HFD) group (60% fat). The animals were fed for 26 weeks. After this period, each group was randomly divided into three subgroups, each of 8 rats: Group (1): animals were fed the ND and HFD containing 1 IU/g vitamin D for 4 months, group (2): animals were fed the ND and HFD containing 6 IU/g vitamin D for 4 months and group (3): animals were euthanized to evaluate the HFD effect. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, white blood cell count (WBCs), platelet count, platelet crit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were measured.
The HFD, significantly increased body weight, PCT, PDW, PLR, NLR, and MLR and significantly reduced serum vitamin D levels compared to the ND (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in food intake, MPV, PDW, and NLR after vitamin D supplementation in the ND-fed group (P < 0.05). A significant reduction in platelet count, PCT, and MLR was observed after vitamin D supplementation in HFD-fed rats (P < 0.05).
In our study, some hemogram-derived inflammatory indices were higher in the HFD-fed group, and vitamin D supplementation lowering effects on some hematological indices were seen in both ND and HFD groups.
The purpose of the present study was to examine an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model within the domain of sustainable entrepreneurship and identified the most important factors ...impacting on sustainable entrepreneurial intentions in sustainable entrepreneurship. In particular, the study aimed to extend the TPB model to include sustainability orientation and prior sustainability knowledge. Data were collected from 211 Iranian agriculture students. The results of structural equation modelling showed that sustainable entrepreneurial intentions were determined by attitudes toward sustainable entrepreneurship and perceived behavioural control (PBC) but not subjective norms. The analysis also revealed that sustainability orientation and prior sustainability knowledge influenced sustainable entrepreneurial intentions indirectly through their effects on attitudes toward sustainable entrepreneurship and PBC. As a practical implication, educators who want to stimulate the creation of new sustainable businesses could consider the pivotal role not only of attitudes toward sustainable entrepreneurship and PBC but also of sustainability orientation and prior sustainability knowledge.
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