It is ranked as one of Iran's top medical schools, with more than 9000 students studying in over 200 different disciplines, and a faculty staff of nearly 900 and 25,000 personnel.[citation needed] as it is one of the best medical universities in Iran. Iranian students are recruited to SUMS through National Entrance Exam (Konkur) and registered to the main campus of the university. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), exhibiting nearly 70 years of Medical education experience, is the most popular University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran, and offers international degree and non-degree programs to international students at different levels and disciplines including Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), B.Sc., M.Sc.,Ph.D., Specialty, Subspecialty, and Fellowship.International applicants who are interested to apply to SUMS' International Programs may apply at http:// www.gsia.sums.ac.ir.With 41 hospitals (including 14 teaching hospitals), SUMS is a regional health care provider and the main medical center in Fars Province.
Abstract Background Consistent force output is a critical indicator of the neuromuscular system’s effectiveness. Although force signals inherently fluctuate, the ability of skeletal muscles to generate accurate and steady force offers insights into the system’s adaptability and its ability to adjust motor control strategies to meet task demands. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on quadriceps force control in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and/or surgical reconstruction (ACLR). Additionally, it sought to explore the relationship between force control measures and physical function outcomes. Methods A literature search was conducted across several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. Risk of bias was assessed using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa tool. The study included individuals with unilateral ACL injury and/or ACLR, with comparisons to uninjured controls or unaffected contralateral limbs. Primary outcomes included torque quality, force accuracy, and force/torque steadiness, while secondary outcomes included function-related clinical questionnaires and performance tests. Eligible studies consisted of observational studies and baseline data from interventional studies published in English. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using a random effects meta-analysis. Results A total of 33 studies were included, comprising 20 individuals with ACLR, 12 with ACL injuries, and one with both. The meta-analysis showed significant effects of ACL injury (SMD = 0.84) and ACLR (SMD = 1.57) on quadriceps torque frequency content. Individuals with ACLR had a greater root mean squared error (RMSE) or absolute error (AE) in force output compared to healthy controls (SMD = 0.35) and exhibited a significant difference in the coefficient of variation (CoV) of the force signal (SMD = 0.22), indicating impaired force control in those with ACLR. Conclusions ACL injury impairs quadriceps force control in the injured limb, as shown by torque frequency content analysis. While ACL reconstruction is the gold standard for joint stability, it may not fully restore neuromuscular function, potentially compromising physical functioning. However, the limited number of high-quality studies may weaken these conclusions. Registration The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number: CRD42024571495).
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder globally. Conventional treatment primarily involves oral supplementation with various iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate. While cost-effective and easily administered, these salts are associated with several challenges, including gastrointestinal irritation, prolonged treatment duration, and poor patient compliance due to adverse side effects. To address these limitations, nanotechnology has been employed to develop improved oral iron supplements with varying degrees of success. Utilizing approaches from nanotechnology and materials science, researchers have engineered diverse iron-containing nanomaterials designed to provide bioavailable iron. However, the efficacy of these nanomaterials as oral supplements is highly dependent on their specific physicochemical properties. An effective nano-based replacement for iron salts must exhibit high bioavailability for efficient iron restoration and low toxicity to minimize side effects. This review consolidates in vivo research on various iron nanomaterials evaluated as oral iron supplements. Furthermore, it proposes a framework for the ideal characteristics of an oral iron nanoparticle supplement by consolidating the current understanding of the mechanisms governing nanoparticle absorption and toxicity.
Freezing of gait is a disabling and treatment-resistant manifestation of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for freezing of gait remains inconsistent across stimulation targets, frequencies, and medication states. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines to examine how DBS affects freezing of gait in patients with PD. We searched Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane up to September 28, 2025. For synthesis, we combined mean differences and 95
Although cigarette butts (CBs) are known as a hazardous waste and an important litter in public environments, the density of littered cigarette butts in rural areas and the concentration of pollutants leaking from them remain a knowledge gap. This study aimed to investigate the difference in cigarette butt density in urban and rural areas of Iran and the environmental consequences caused by the leakage of various pollutants from them, by comparing the Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI). Visual surveys were conducted in seven locations in urban environments and sixteen locations in eight villages. The range of cigarette butt density in urban environments was 0.25/m2 to 0.81/m2 (0.46/m2 on average), while in rural environments, it was 0.8/m2 to 2.33/m2 (1.54/m2 on average). Additionally, the CBPI in rural areas was three times higher than in urban areas, resulting in an average CBPI of 31.24 in rural areas and 10.7 in urban areas. In addition, the higher durability of cigarette butts in rural environments resulted in the leakage of 1.09–2.38 µg/m2 of heavy metals, while the leakage of metals from littered cigarette butts in urban environments was estimated to be 0.065–0.406 µg/m2. Developing public services such as cleaning systems in rural environments is essential to reduce pollution caused by cigarette butts.
Melatonin, an indoleamine, is a chemical present in trace levels in different organisms. Its significance in the regulation of biological functions and therapeutic monitoring necessitates highly specific and sensitive detection methods. Despite the widespread usage of immunoassay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, and radioimmunoassay) methods, they often encounter problems with specificity, cross-reactivity, and operationality. Recent advances in biosensing technologies have overcome these limitations by providing highly sensitive, real-time, and highly specific detection with low limit of detection values. Reports on metal-organic framework combined with molecularly imprinted polymers electrochemical biosensor with limit of detection of 0.18 ng/mL, gold nanoparticles/polydopamine impedimetric biosensor with the lowest reported limit of detection of 0.32 pM and a linear range between 1 and 18 pM, and graphene voltametric biosensor with limit of detection of 0.8 µM, limit of quantification of 2.9 µM, with recoveries of 98.66–102.5
