Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor and High Sensitive C-reactive Protein in Bipolar Depression and Unipolar Depression: The Practical Usage as a Discriminatory Tool

Shima Shahyad(Shima Shahyad ),Gholam Reza Kheirabadi(Gholam Reza Kheirabadi ),Gila Pirzad Jahromi(Gila Pirzad Jahromi ),Muhammad Massaly(Muhammad Massaly ) 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.1

Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) have been reported to play roles in depression and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the probable discriminatory properties of these biologic markers are less investigated. We aimed to assess the serum BDNF and hs-CRP levels among Iranian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and BD during a depressive episode and investigate the optimum cut-off point for differential diagnosis of BD and MDD. Methods: We recruited 30 patients with MDD, 30 with BD in depressive mood and 30 healthy comparators. Blood sample was taken from each participant to measure BDNF and hs-CRP levels. We also used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to find an optimal cut-off point for differentiating MDD from BD according to pre-defined variables. Results: The mean age of total study population was 37.3 ± 5.0 years (males: 49%). BDNF was significantly lower in patients with BD, followed by MDD subjects and healthy controls 541.0 ± 601.0 pg/ml vs. 809.5 ± 433.3 pg/ml vs. 1,482.1 ± 519.8, respectively, p < 0.001). The area under curve of ROC curve analysis for BD versus MDD was 0.704 (95% confidence interval: 0.564−0.844, p = 0.007). We also found that the BDNF cut-off value of 504 could appropriately distinguished BD from MDD (sensitivity: 73%, specificity: 70%). No significant association were identified in terms of hs-CRP levels. Conclusion: Patients suffering from BD had lowest BDNF levels compared to MDD or healthy adults and this biomarker could play a practical role differentiating MDD from BD. Several studies are required confirming our outcomes.

Adherence to Healthy Diet Can Delay Alzheimer’s Diseases Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Shima Moradi,Jalall Moloudi,Mehdi Moradinazar,Diana Sarokhani,Seyyed Mostafa Nachvak,Mehnoosh Samadi 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.25 No.4

A healthy diet has long been indicated to be protective against Alzheimer’s diseases (AD). We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies to explore the relationship between healthy and unhealthy diets and risk of ADs. We screened PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Embase, and screened manually to identify relevant articles published in English and non-English until Jun 2020. We classified the studied dietary patterns into two groups: healthy and unhealthy diets. The pooled weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to analyze the data using a random-effects model. The data were extracted manually and the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis checklist was used to appraise the risk of bias and quality of data. Of the 1,813 articles identified, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative analysis. A healthy diet was related to a lower risk of AD [odds ratio (OR): 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.86, I2=99.7%; n=17 studies]. Moreover, high adherence to an unhealthy diet was not associated with increased risk of AD (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98 to 0.99, I2=0.0%; n=6 studies). However, the etiology of AD is uncertain and it is difficult draw conclusions about dietary healthy patterns. We concluded that adherence to a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of AD, but were unable to find evidence that an unhealthy diet increases the risk of AD.

CO₂ emissions optimization of reinforced concrete ribbed slab by hybrid metaheuristic optimization algorithm (IDEACO)

Shima Bijari,Mojtaba Sheikhi Azqandi Techno-Press 2023 Advances in computational design Vol.8 No.4

This paper presents an optimization of the reinforced concrete ribbed slab in terms of minimum CO₂ emissions and an economic justification of the final optimal design. The design variables are six geometry variables including the slab thickness, the ribs spacing, the rib width at the lower and toper end, the depth of the rib and the bar diameter of the reinforcement, and the seventh variable defines the concrete strength. The objective function is considered to be the minimum amount of carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) emission and at the same time, the optimal design is economical. Seven significant design constraints of American Concrete Institute's Standard were considered. A robust metaheuristic optimization method called improved dolphin echolocation and ant colony optimization (IDEACO) has been used to obtain the best possible answer. At optimal design, the three most important sources of CO₂ emissions include concrete, steel reinforcement, and formwork that the contribution of them are 63.72, 32.17, and 4.11 percent respectively. Formwork, concrete, steel reinforcement, and CO₂ are the four most important sources of cost with contributions of 67.56, 19.49, 12.44, and 0.51 percent respectively. Results obtained by IDEACO show that cost and CO₂ emissions are closely related, so the presented method is a practical solution that was able to reduce the cost and CO₂ emissions simultaneously.

Preparation of Self-healing Additives for Concrete via Miniemulsion Polymerization: Formulation and Production Challenges

Shima Taheri,Simon Martin Clark 한국콘크리트학회 2021 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.15 No.2

Concrete structures undergo internal damage; this usually starts at the atomic level with defects that then grow and form cracks, which can propagate through the material. Here, a method of preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocapsules adhesive system via miniemulsion polymerization technique is reported, where MMA + DMA (resin + accelerator) and BPO (hardener) components are separately encapsulated by PMMA shells. The crack-healing potential of these nanocapsules was then investigated by embedding them into the mortar matrix. The prepared PMMA core-shell self-healing nanostructures survived the mixing and hardening processes, and the hardened mortar alkaline environment. The stress fields associated with propagating cracks (load‐induced cracking) broke the brittle/weak inert shell of these core-shell structures, resulted in releasing the healing agents to bridge the nascent and early-stage fractures (< 10 μm) in a short time. Long-term healing was achieved through the formation of polymorph calcite crystals in the presence of moisture and CO₂, which improved the durability of mortar by filling the gaps. Formulation design (addition of chemical admixtures) and process parameters (blade design and mixing speed) were found to directly impact the uniform distribution of nanocapsules, the survival rate of nanocapsules, and the overall strength of the hardened concrete. The stepwise approach to formulate and fabricate a novel high-strength self-healing concrete system unlocks unique opportunities to design nanomaterials that safeguard the integrity of concrete structures.

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of Video Analysis for Detecting Gross Movement During Sleep in Children

Shima Okada,Masaaki Makikawa,Yuko Ohno,Kumi Kato-Nishimura,Ikuko Mohri,Masako Taniike 대한의용생체공학회 2011 Biomedical Engineering Letters (BMEL) Vol.1 No.4

Purpose Obtaining an adequate amount of sleep is a necessity for normal childhood development. Gross body movements (GMs) during sleep in normal children vary by sleep stage and developmental state, and abnormalities in GMs characterize specific developmental pathophysiologies. Therefore, GM monitoring in children is of great importance when tracking normal development. While videosomnography is a widely used technique for monitoring GMs, it is qualitative, and a quantitative method for assessing GMs is required. We developed a novel, simple noncontact method based on video analysis for the detection of GMs during sleep. Methods Our method used image difference processing of videos to detect GMs. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of our technique by assessing the relationships between sleep stages determined by polysomnography and GMs assessed by the video images of 14 young children (3-7 years old). Results Our experiments suggest that this method may be used to detect GMs during sleep in children. The rates of GMs during sleep in children significantly differed among wake,light sleep, and slow wave sleep stages. However, rapid eye movement sleep was difficult to distinguish, probably due to age-related changes in neurological development. Conclusions Our novel method could detect GMs during sleep by difference processing of video images, and we demonstrated the possible utility of this technique for assessing sleep in children. Our proposed technique requires further evaluation, but we suggest that GM detection via video images may be more useful than the presently available qualitative methods.

The Effect of Garlic (Allium sativum L) Supplementation on Circulating Adiponectin: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

( Shima Sharifi ),( Sepide Talebi ),( Elyas Nattagh-eshtivani ),( Yasaman Amiri ),( Gholamreza Askari ) 한국임상영양학회 2021 Clinical Nutrition Research Vol.10 No.3

Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of garlic on serum adiponectin levels. We searched Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library to databases up to January 2021. RCTs investigating the effects of garlic on serum adiponectin levels in adult participants were included. The change in serum adiponectin levels was estimated using weighted mean differences (WMD) and standard deviations (SD). The random effects model was used to provide a summary of mean estimates and their SDs. Out of 386 records, 6 trials with 8 arms treatment which enrolled 266 subjects were included. Garlic supplementation resulted in a non-significant increase in adiponectin concentrations when compared to placebo, according to the pooled data (WMD, 0.27 Hedges' g; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.07, 0.62; p = 0.124). Greater effects on adiponectin were observed in trials with supplementation dose less than 1.5 gram per day (WMD, 0.71 Hedges' g; 95% CI, -0.01, 1.43; p = 0.600) and in trials with female subset (WMD, 0.62 Hedges' g; 95% CI, -0.96, 2.21; p = 0.441). Garlic boosts adiponectin levels in general. However, due to different target population, various units for reporting adiponectin level and few eligible studies in final analysis, more research is needed to get a firm conclusion about the influence of garlic on adiponectin levels.

Comparison of 3 Nutritional Questionnaires to Determine Energy Intake Accuracy in Iranian Adults

( Shima Moradi ),( Yahya Pasdar ),( Behrooz Hamzeh ),( Farid Najafi ),( Seyed Mostafa Nachvak ),( Roghayeh Mostafai ),( Parisa Niazi ),( Mansour Rezaei ) 한국임상영양학회 2018 Clinical Nutrition Research Vol.7 No.3

A precision instrument is required to assess the nutritional status. This study was conducted on comparison of 3 nutritional questionnaires to determine energy intake (EI) accuracy in adults in Ravansar Non-Communicable Chronic Disease (RaNCD) cohort study. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 118 of participant's RaNCD. EI was evaluated with 3 questionnaires including food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), 24-hours recall (24HR), and food habits questionnaire (FHQ). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured using indirect calorimetry. We used EI/RMR cut off to evaluate EI reporting status. The mean ± standard deviation of age in men and women were 44.1 ± 6.5 and 43.7 ± 5.25 respectively and 50.8% of participants were men. Among 3 EI estimating questionnaires, FFQ was more accurate than 2 other questionnaires (67.8%). We observed that implausible reporters of 24HR were likely overweight (p < 0.005) but we did not observe a significant difference between EI reporting of FFQ and FHQ with participants' body composition. Our finding showed that EI underreporting of 24HR and FHQ were high. Under reporters were seemed to be overweight. Therefore, these results suggested that among 3 nutritional questionnaires the FFQ was an appropriate approach to determine EI in this population due to plausible EI reporting was higher than 2 other nutritional questionnaires (24HR and FHQ).

Review on the main advances in photo-Fenton oxidation system for recalcitrant wastewaters

Shima Rahim Pouran,A.R. Abdul Aziz,Wan Mohd Ashri Wan Daud 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

This paper reviews themain advances in photo-Fenton oxidation treatment for recalcitrant wastewaters. This oxidation method is able to produce biodegradable intermediates and mineralize such pollutantseffectively when the main operational conditions are at optimum level. However, cost of the process isone of the main limitations. Several strategies have been put in practice to minimize cost and improvephoto-Fenton efficiency primarily through application of heterogeneous catalysts and/or chelatingagents. In addition, cost can be further reduced by applying solar energy and integrating biologicaltreatment technologies in the treatment process.

The Effect of Microencapsulation of Phenolic Compounds from Lemon Waste by Persian and Basil Seed Gums on the Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Mayonnaise

Shima Shaygannia,Mohammad Reza Eshaghi,Mohammad Fazel,Mahnaz Hashemiravan 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.26 No.1

Natural preservatives with high level of phenolic compounds, antioxidants and antimicrobial activities are used in mayonnaise to improve quality and safety due to their potential health benefits. Application of these compounds in production processes highlights many difficulties due to instability of their physical and chemical properties. Microencapsulation is used to address these restrictions. In this study, phenolic compounds from lemon waste were encapsulated with Persian gum (PG) and basil seed gum (BSG) as coating materials at different ratios (0:1, 1:0, and 1:1) at 15% (w/w) total biopolymer. We confirmed microencapsulation by scanning electron microscopy, and evaluate phenolic content, antioxidant activity, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, water solubility indexes, and water absorption indexes. Sample mayonnaise was prepared using microencapsulated polyphenols from lemon waste and extract (1,000 ppm of concentration), and control samples without extracts or microcapsules. All samples were subjected to chemical (measuring the peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, acidity, and color) and microbial (total count of microorganisms and Escherichia coli) analysis during 30 days of storage. BSG samples exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (61.19%) and encapsulation efficiency (70.72%), and PG/BSG microcapsules had the highest capability to prevent oxidative deterioration during storage. Addition of microcapsules led to increases in parameter b* and decreases in parameters a* and L*. In general, PG/BSG microcapsules were considered optimal samples for production of mayonnaise, since they prevented mayonnaise deterioration and exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Effect of inhibition synergism of zinc chloride and 2-mercaptobenzoxzole on protective performance of an ecofriendly silane coating on mild steel

Shima Alinejad,Reza Naderi,Mohammad Mahdavian 한국공업화학회 2017 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.48 No.-

This work aims to study the impact of zinc cation and 2-mercaptobenzoxzole (MBO) on the corrosionprotection of a silane sol-gel coating on mild steel. First, effectiveness of the organic and inorganicinhibitors on the corrosion of bare mild steel in a NaCl solution was shown to be linked to formation of asurfacefilm. Using electrochemical data as well as results of surface analysis, a sharp inhibitionsynergism was found when an equal mole percentage of ZnCl2 and MBO was added to the NaCl solution. Finally, electrochemical data indicated superior performance of the coating with the combination ofinhibitors.