Urmia University of Medical Sciences

Infertility is a crucial challenge for global health that encompasses economic, psychological, and medical aspects. Besides anatomical contributors to infertility, specific dietary components may influence reproductive outcomes in both men and women through diverse molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the role of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals in male and female infertility using a system biology approach. To address the complex interplay between infertility and nutritional factors, we focused on published studies that explore molecular and systems biology pathways, including those involving nutrigenetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, and gene expression profiling. These studies span both human and animal models and were selected based on their relevance to reproductive outcomes and mechanistic insights. Several nutrients appear to influence infertility through distinct molecular mechanisms. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may exert beneficial effects by modulating the expression of fertility-related genes, while saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are associated with impaired oocyte quality and reproductive dysfunction via altered gene expression and DNA damage. Among micronutrients, increased intake of folate and vitamin D has been linked to improved gamete quality and folliculogenesis in women with infertility. Dietary glutamine and selenium may enhance fertility through their antioxidant properties. Iron demonstrates dual effects, potentially supporting or impairing fertility depending on its role in epigenetic regulation. Dietary intake may influence the risk of infertility through pathways related to nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and nutri-epigenomics. While current evidence suggests promising nutrient–gene interactions, most findings are derived from small-scale or preclinical studies, highlighting the need for robust human trials.

The care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a challenging task for parents and caregivers, affecting their physical and mental health. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the care burden (CB) in caregivers of children with ASD. This study was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 guideline with no time limitation (by March 2024). Eligible articles were selected following a comprehensive search in various databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Google Scholar) using keywords and operators of “AND” “OR”. Following duplicate papers detection and merging, primary and secondary screenings were applied. Finally, 20 cross-sectional eligible articles (with 2063 caregivers among 13 different countries) were included for data analysis (CMA software, v2). Following assessment of 13 studies, the CB value for caregivers of children with ASD was calculated as 42.8 ± 4.3 using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) questionnaire. Also, according to the data extracted from 16 eligible articles, the severity of CB was categorized in four groups including No CB (10.6

The complexity of breast cancer cells complicates the process of enhancing our understanding, which may lead to the development of effective therapeutic agents and approaches. Among the novel medical interventions, menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Mens-MSCs) demonstrate proactive and immunomodulatory interactions with malignant cells. This study aims to evaluate the effects of Mens-MSCs-derived exosomes (MM-Exos) on breast cancer cell behaviors, with particular emphasis on apoptosis, migration, and angiogenesis. MM-Exos were characterized using DLS, flow cytometry, and TEM. After determining the effective concentration by MTT assay, the exosomes were applied to MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cell lines. Cell motility was evaluated using a scratch assay, while apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and ROS generation were assessed by flow cytometry and ELISA. Gene expression of BAX, BCL-2, MMP-2, and VEGF was analyzed by qPCR, and corresponding protein levels were confirmed through Western blotting. Based on the results, MM-Exos dose-dependently decreased breast cancer cell survival across both cell lines. Furthermore, MM-Exos at 50 and 100 µg/ml significantly reduced the migratory rate of cell lines (P < 0.001). Treatment with MM-Exos (100 µg/ml) significantly increased ROS production (P < 0.001), enhanced apoptosis (P < 0.001), induced cell cycle arrest (P < 0.001), and altered gene and protein expression. Both cell lines exhibited significant down-regulation of VEGF(P < 0.001), BCL-2 (P < 0.01), and MMP-2 (P < 0.01) after treatment with MM-Exos, whereas BAX demonstrated significant up-regulation (P < 0.001). Based on results, MM-Exo demonstrates anticancer functions by enhancing cytotoxicity, ROS generation, apoptosis, while reducing migration rate. Thus, MM-Exo may represent a potential therapeutic option for breast cancer; however, further comprehensive studies are required.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of spiritual interventions on hope among patients with chronic diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. International databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Google Scholar) and Iranian databases (Magiran, SID) were searched up to September 8, 2025, using the operators “AND” and “OR” without time restrictions. The inclusion criteria consisted of randomized controlled trials or clinical trial studies that examined various spiritual interventions to promote hope in adults with chronic physical illnesses. After removing duplicates, initial and secondary screenings were independently performed by two reviewers, and finally, a total of 18 eligible studies were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. A total of 18 studies involving 1410 participants (intervention = 708; control = 707), conducted between 2008 and 2024 across five countries, were included in the review. The interventions consisted of structured spiritual care, religious counseling, self-care education, and prayer. Hope was assessed using validated instruments, including the Herth Hope Index (HHI), the Miller Hope Scale (MHS), and Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale (AHS). The majority of studies reported significant improvements in hope among participants in the intervention groups compared with controls, whereas only one study found nonsignificant results. Overall, the meta-analysis demonstrated a strong and significant effect in favor of the intervention group (Cohen’s d = 1.90, p < 0.001). According to the findings, spiritual interventions effectively enhance hope in patients with chronic physical diseases. These results highlight the importance of integrating spiritual interventions into the care plans of such patients and underscore the need for further research on standardized protocols and long-term outcomes.

This study presents a green, near-solvent-free method for quantifying residual BTEX solvents (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) in injectable antibiotic vials using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) coupled with solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Among five fabricated functionalized carbon fibers, the fiber coated with a graphene oxide/pyrrole/aniline nanocomposite (Fiber 4) demonstrated superior adsorption capacity. Optimized extraction parameters were established as follows: fiber length 1.5 cm, sample temperature 50 °C, extraction time 15 min, stirring speed 500 rpm, and 20