OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between demographic characteristics, clinical features, treatment modalities, and outcomes in patients with acute methadone intoxication in Yazd. METHODS:This retrospective, hospital-based cohort study analyzed the clinical data of 1,400 patients diagnosed with methadone intoxication. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, treatment methods, and outcomes were obtained from patients' medical records and the hospital information system. RESULTS:The majority of patients (68.4%) were male, and most intoxication incidents occurred in the 15-30-year age group (37.4%). The most common clinical manifestations were decreased level of consciousness (97.5%), respiratory depression (84.9%), and miosis (82.0%). The most frequent complications were elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (19.6%), aspiration pneumonia (10.4%), seizures (6.0%), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (0.9%). Endotracheal intubation was required in 12.9% of cases. The overall mortality rate was 1.4%. Logistic regression analysis identified elevated CPK (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.16-3.66, P = 0.014), ARDS (OR = 27.86, 95% CI: 4.55-170.74, P < 0.001), and the need for endotracheal intubation (OR = 31.64, 95% CI: 8.37-119.60, P < 0.001) as independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS:Acute methadone intoxication in this region predominantly affects young males and presents with significant central nervous system and respiratory depression. Although the mortality rate is relatively low, the development of ARDS, rhabdomyolysis (indicated by elevated CPK), and the requirement for endotracheal intubation are important risk factors associated with a significantly higher likelihood of death.
INTRODUCTION:Oral health is associated with an individual's overall health and daily function, as well as having an impact on mental health. As such, this study evaluated the cytotoxic and biocompatibility profile of fourth-generation polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanodendrimers using a human gingival fibroblast cell line [1]. The aim was to determine the concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects of PEI nanodendrimers to assess their suitability for potential dental applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This laboratory study investigated the potential cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of fourth-generation PEI nanodendrimers. PEI nanodendrimers were synthesized, and their cytotoxic effects were tested on human gingival fibroblast cells (2PI2HGF) at varying concentrations (1-128 µg/mL) over 48 and 72 hours. Viability of the cells was determined by MTT assay, and growth curves were constructed to determine the rate of cell proliferation in response to the addition of the PEI dendrimer. RESULTS:Cytotoxicity was shown to increase with increasing concentrations of PEI dendrimers. For example, after 48 and 72 hours of exposure to a range of concentrations (1-128 µg/mL), viability levels dropped from 99.18% to 67.7% and 97.3% to 65.1%, respectively. It should also be noted that the extent of reduced cell viability was influenced by both the duration of exposure and the dendrimer concentration. CONCLUSION:These results indicate that while PEI dendrimers show significant potential for use in dentistry, they also demonstrate considerable cytotoxicity and subsequent concern over their biocompatibility. Future research should therefore focus on improving the safety and efficacy of dendrimer materials in the context of developing therapies for oral health. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on nanomaterials in dentistry and highlight the need to balance antimicrobial efficacy with acceptable cytotoxicity for clinical translation.
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that are widely expressed throughout the nervous system and play a central role in sensory processing, particularly in nociception. Due to their involvement in key physiological processes, ASICs have emerged as promising targets for the modulation of pain perception. Postoperative pain management is primarily dependent on pharmacological agents, such as opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to alleviate discomfort and facilitate recovery. However, the long-term use of these analgesics is associated with significant risks, including opioid dependence, tolerance, and other adverse effects. As such, the development of non-pharmacological alternatives for pain management is critically needed. Modulating ASIC activity offers a compelling approach to attenuate pain perception, providing an opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional pharmacological agents and their associated side effects. This highlights the importance of further research into ASICs as therapeutic targets for pain management, which could revolutionize postoperative care by offering safer and more effective pain relief strategies.
OBJECTIVES:The menstrual cycle is the primary biological rhythm orchestrated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, subject to complex hormonal fluctuations. These hormonal changes modulate cardiovascular activity, changes in heart rate variability, blood pressure, and psychological states. They often appear as premenstrual syndrome in the luteal phase. Previous studies suggested that stress reactivity is different across menstrual stages but inconsistently. For the present study, we aimed to explore psychophysiological stress reactivity following the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in women aged 18 to 30 years. METHODS:Several menstrual phases were assessed by luteinizing hormone test. All participants underwent laboratory studies in the follicular and luteal stages as follows: basal blood pressure and heart rate measurements were taken, whereas psychological stress was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Stress responses were elicited using the cold pressor test, and data were quantified using paired t-test and correlation analyses. RESULTS:Upon analysing the results, it was found that basal blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly different between the three phases. However, diastolic blood pressure rose considerably during the luteal phase following the cold pressor test. Trait anxiety scores were significantly increased during the luteal phase, and significant differences in state anxiety were detected only after the stressor in this phase. CONCLUSIONS:These findings indicated that the luteal phase could reflect maladaptive psychophysiological stress reactivity. Taken in aggregate, the findings highlight the relevance of menstrual cycle phases in stress assessments and treatment interventions, promoting individualized methods in women's healthcare.
Over the past few decades, X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been introduced as one of the main cross-sectional imaging methods in a wide range of clinical applications in diagnostic radiology, oncology, and multimodality molecular imaging. Despite the acknowledged value of this imaging method, in some cases, the quality of CT images is affected by the presence of metallic implants. The presence of metal objects such as dental fillings, hip or knee prostheses, pacemakers, war shrapnel, and spinal cages cause and exacerbate image artifacts. These types of artifacts appear in the image as black and white lines that obscure the structures and tissues surrounding the metal implant and destroy the diagnostic value of CT images. These artifacts also affect the accuracy of radiotherapy treatment planning, which relies on CT images to characterize electron density and estimate the relative stopping power of particles. Therefore, to solve this problem, over the past 4 decades, algorithms called Metal Artifact Reduction (MAR) have been proposed. The objective of this study was to assess the five MAR algorithms using simulation and clinical studies. The algorithms include linear interpolation (LI-MAR) of degraded data in sinograms, normalization metal artifact reduction (NMAR), metal removal method (MDT), metal artifact reducer for orthopedic implants (OMAR), and a method based on iteration-based algorithms (MAP). Clinical images in different body regions, with different dimensions and types of metal implants, have been studied to evaluate the performance of MAR algorithms. To quantitatively assess the quality of images modified with MAR algorithms, the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) criterion has been calculated and evaluated. The results of the algorithm evaluation showed that the NMAR algorithm was more efficient than other algorithms in reducing metal artifacts in most cases. Also, the algorithm processing time parameter demonstrated the clinical value of the NMAR algorithm.
