Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the primary cause of dementia accounting for 60% to 70% of cases globally, results in a gradual decline in cognitive abilities, affecting memory, executive function, and daily activities. Recent research highlights the essential involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in AD pathogenesis, characterized by complex bidirectional signaling that modulates neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and immune functions. This manuscript extends the discussion beyond the gut alone by emphasizing the significance of the oral-gut microbiota axis as a dynamic and relatively under-investigated factor in AD progression. Microbial populations in both the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract produce key neurotransmitters, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, noradrenaline, and dopamine, as well as neuroactive metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, which together impact brain physiology. Disturbances in gut and oral microbial balance can compromise barrier integrity, promoting systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, and facilitating amyloid-β plaque formation and tau-related changes typical of AD. This review introduces a novel probiotic, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics (PPSP) therapeutic model designed to modulate both oral and gut microbiota, aiming to restore homeostasis, regulate neuroimmune interactions, and counteract cognitive impairment.We comprehensively assess emerging clinical and translational findings supporting the effectiveness of microbiota-targeted therapies in the scope of this dual-axis framework, addressing both their potential to alter disease course and recognized limitations.By underscoring the importance of the integrated oral-gut microbiota axis alongside targeted PPSP interventions, this manuscript puts forth a paradigm-shifting conceptual strategy that may redefine approaches to AD management and improve cognitive outcomes.

Translating progress in neuroscience into clinical benefits for patients with psychiatric disorders is challenging because it involves the brain as the most complex organ and its interaction with a complex environment and condition. Dealing with such complexity requires powerful techniques. Computational neuroscience approach to psychiatry integrates multiple levels and types of simulation, analysis and computation according to the different types of computational models to enhance comprehending, prediction and treatment of psychiatric disorder. This approach comprises two approaches: theory-driven and data-driven. In this review, we focus on recent advances in theory-driven approaches that mathematically and mechanistically examine the relationships between disorder-related changes and behavior at different level of brain organization. We discuss recent progresses in computational neuroscience models that relate to psychiatry and show how principles of neural computational modeling can be employed to explain psychopathology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of essential oil from Citrus aurantium on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 80 patients experiencing coronary angiography in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran from April to November in 2016. All patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups by a random number table, 40 cases in each group. The patients in the intervention group inhaled Citrus aurantium essential oil for 15-20 min about 60 min before angiography. Following the same procedure, distilled water was used instead of Citrus aurantium in the control group. Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was filled in and vital signs including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respiratory and pulse rate were recorded before and 20 min after the intervention. Adverse reactions after intervention were observed. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the mean scores of STAI, SBP, DBP, respiratory and pulse rate were 53.30 ± 10.13, 134.82 ± 11.75 mm Hg, 84.49 ± 6.99 mm Hg, 17.87 ± 1.73 times/min, and 76.48 ± 12.55 beats/min at baseline and significantly decreased to 42.37 ± 10.15, 124.49 ± 10.48 mm Hg, 79.23 ± 6.62 mm Hg, 14.54 ± 1.43 times/min, and 70.03 ± 13.66 beats/min respectively 20 min after intervention (all P<0.05); however, in the control group, neither anxiety scores nor vital signs changed significantly (P>0.05). All subjects reported no adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of the essential oil from Citrus aurantium was effective in reducing anxiety and stress levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography. TRIAL REGISTRATION IRCT2016040816797N2 (retrospectively registered on 21 April 2016, https://en.irct.ir/trial/15600 ).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS). The mmune system plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Current treatments are unable to cure patients and prevent the progression of MS lesions. Stem cell-based cell therapy has opened a new window for MS treatment. Stem cells regulate immune responses and improve axonal remyelination. Stem cells can be obtained from different origins such as embryonic, neural, bone marrow, and adipose tissues. But yet there is a challenge for the selection of the best cell source for stem cell therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell obtained from different origins and have significant immunomodulatory effects on the immune system. The increasing evidence have suggested that umbilical cord and adipose tissue can be a suitable source for isolation of MSCs. Moreover, human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) as novel stem cell origins by having immunoregulatory effects, regenerative effects, and less capacity of antigenicity can be a candidate for MS treatment. This review discussed the mechanistic effects of MSCs with a focus on human amniotic epithelial cells, which can be used to treatment and improvement of outcome in MS disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS). The mmune system plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Current treatments are unable to cure patients and prevent the progression of MS lesions. Stem cell-based cell therapy has opened a new window for MS treatment. Stem cells regulate immune responses and improve axonal remyelination. Stem cells can be obtained from different origins such as embryonic, neural, bone marrow, and adipose tissues. But yet there is a challenge for the selection of the best cell source for stem cell therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell obtained from different origins and have significant immunomodulatory effects on the immune system. The increasing evidence have suggested that umbilical cord and adipose tissue can be a suitable source for isolation of MSCs. Moreover, human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) as novel stem cell origins by having immunoregulatory effects, regenerative effects, and less capacity of antigenicity can be a candidate for MS treatment. This review discussed the mechanistic effects of MSCs with a focus on human amniotic epithelial cells, which can be used to treatment and improvement of outcome in MS disease.

Background: Nummular eczema (NE) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic coin-shaped lesions and a long-lasting and easy-relapsing course, which severely decreases patients' qual-ity of life. This case was designed to observe the effects of specific acupuncture techniques on pruritic NE management.Case presentation: A 22-year-old female was first diagnosed with pruritic NE three years earlier. No al-lergies were found in the patch test;while emotional stress would trigger and aggravate the NE. External application of 0.1％tacrolimus failed to reverse this condition over a long period of treatment. Treatment&outcomes: An individualized acupuncture treatment protocol was identified. Half needling and encircling needling were applied at local eczematous lesions, with routine needling at meridian points, once per week, for 12 treatment sessions. All outcome measures, including the Eczema Area and Severity Index, Visual Analogue Scale score for pruritus, Self-Rating Anxiety Score, and Dermatology Quality Life Index, substantially improved over 6 months from pre-treatment to 3 months post-treatment. Conclusion: Acupuncture might be a promising non-pharmacological treatment method for patients with NE, especially for those with emotional stress. A randomized controlled trial with an adequate sample size and rigorous study design is required to verify the results of the study.

Objective: To explore the analgesic effects and uterine hemodynamics of perpendicular needling (PN) and transverse needling (TN) at SP 6 in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with PD diagnosed with cold-dampness con-gealing pattern were randomly assigned in a ratio of 1:1 to receive PN or TN at bilateral SP 6 for 10 min. Acupuncture was performed when the menstrual pain score was over 40 mm on the first day of menstruation, as measured using the visual analog scale for pain (VAS-P). The primary outcome was average menstrual pain (VAS-P). Secondary outcomes included the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic-diastolic peaks ratio (S/D) in uterine arteries as measured using color Doppler ultra-sonography;anxiety as assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Results: Forty-eight patients completed the study. The TN group exhibited a significant reduction in VAS-P scores (-5.71 mm, 95％ confidence interval (CI): -8.78, -2.63, P = .001), RI values (-0.05, 95％ CI:-0.09,-0.01, P=.015), and HAMA values (-2.50, 95％CI:-4.78,-0.22, P=.032) when compared with the PN group. No significant differences in PI, S/D, BP, or HR values were observed between the two groups (P>.05). Conclusion: TN at SP 6 was superior to PN in alleviating menstrual pain and anxiety in patients with PD. This analgesic effect of TN may be due to its better ability to improve uterine arterial blood flow via decreases in RI values.

Banking, Personal ; COVID-19/virology* ; Environmental Microbiology ; Equipment Contamination/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Public Facilities/statistics & numerical data* ; Public Health ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Supermarkets

Purpose::Comparison of effective road safety approaches with those of relatively similar countries can be used to identify possibilities for safety improvement. Since there is no clear and comprehensive study of countries' current and successful approaches to road safety in the world, the aim of this study was to identifying common road safety approaches in the world.Methods::This study was performed using scoping review and thematic analysis. The study followed the approach proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. In this study all articles were selected without time limit by searching in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Embase. An initial search of 5612 papers was found and finally, 20 papers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.Results::There were different road safety approaches in different countries around the world, which were classified in three themes: traditional approach, systemic approach, and vision zero. The traditional approach includes the sub-theme of the road-user approach, and the causal approach. The systemic approach also includes sub-themes of sustainable safety, safety system, and the United Nations plan for decade of action.Conclusion::A systemic approach to road safety seems to be welcomed by most developed and developing countries, and a paradigm shift towards a safe system has taken place. Also, given the successful results of implementing vision zero in leading countries, most countries are trying to design and implement this approach. Finally, the choice and implementation of road safety approaches varies according to the principles, priorities and infrastructure of each country.

Purpose::Various organizations and institutions are involved in road traffic injury (RTI) and crash registration such as police, forensic medicine organization, hospitals and emergency medical services. But there is a substantial uncertainty in interpreting the data, duplicated data collection and missing data in relation to RTI in most systems. This study aims to identify data sources for RTI surveillance in Iran and to explore traffic safety data source domains, data elements and detailed information by each data source.Methods::This is a qualitative study which was conducted in 2017 in Iran. Data were collected employing semi-structured interviews with informants in road safety organizations in relation to traffic safety including Police, Ministry of Health and Medical Education as well as Forensic Medicine Organization and other authorities-in-charge. For completing the preliminary extraction information, the minimum data set was used and compared in each system.Results::Eight different organizations relevant to road traffic safety were identified. The main domain of data provided by each one consists of Emergency Medical System form, Police KAM114 form, Ministry of Transport and Road Administration, Red Crescent Organization/Disaster Management Information System, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Forensic Medicine Organization, Insurance Company and Ministry of Justice. Each system has its own database, based upon its scope and mainly at crash and post-crash status and little on pre-crash circumstance.Conclusion::All current registry systems are not surveillance systems for RTI prevention. Huge data have been collected in various registry systems in Iran, but most of the collected variables are duplicated in each system. On the other hand, some variables like alcohol and substance abuse, child seat belt, helmet use in relation to RTI prevention are missed in all systems. Accordingly, it is a critical need to integrate and establish a comprehensive surveillance system, with focus on the goal of each system and collection of minimum data in each organization, which currently is underway.