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The present systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in patients at risk of CVD. Relevant studies were obtained by searching the PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases (from inception to January 2023). Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% CI were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were reported using standard methods. A pooled analysis of 14 randomised controlled trials (RCT) with 17 effect sizes revealed that CLA supplementation led to significant reductions in body weight (WMD: −0·72 kg, 95% CI: −1·11, −0·33, P < 0·001), BMI (WMD: −0·22 kg/m2, 95% CI: −0·44, −0·00, P = 0·037) and body fat percentage (BFP) (WMD: −1·32 %, 95% CI: −2·24, −0·40, P = 0·005). However, there was no effect on lipid profile and blood pressure in comparison with the control group. In conclusion, CLA supplementation may yield a small but significant beneficial effect on anthropometric indices in patients at risk of CVD. Moreover, CLA seems not to have adverse effects on lipid profiles and blood pressure in patients at risk of CVD. It should be noted that the favourable effects of CLA supplementation on anthropometric variables were small and may not reach clinical importance.

Background Patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are susceptible to arrhythmias and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in addition to medical treatments may help prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) and improve survival in this population. Hypothesis We aim to investigate the impact of ICD insertion on survival and prognosis of patients with nonischemic DCM. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with nonischemic DCM treated with medical therapy with or without ICD who referred to our hospital from January 2020 to November 2021. Patients were divided based on the treatment that they had received into two equal groups. Different variables including demographic features, comorbidities, medical treatments, hospitalization rate, function class, and left ventricular ejection fraction before and after treatments were investigated in this study. In addition, variables in survival including overall survival (OS) and SCD were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 120 patients were investigated in this study. Mean ± SD of age and follow‐up time of patients were 64.0 ± 12.7 years old and 61.2 ± 15.9 months, respectively. Ten (16.7%) patients with medical therapy, and seven (11.7%) patients with ICD and medical therapy died during the follow‐up period (p = 0.25). However, the two groups had a significant difference regarding SCD (11.7% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.02). Conclusion In patients with nonischemic DCM who had undergone ICD insertion in addition to standard medical treatments, SCD was significantly reduced compared with patients receiving just medical treatments. OS had no significant difference between our two studied groups. In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from 120 participants with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) treated with standard medical therapy with or without implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Patients were divided into two equal groups based on the kind of treatment they had received. ICD insertion significantly decreased cardiac arrhythmia leading to sudden cardiac death in patients with nonischemic DCM who were receiving standard medical treatments. On the other hand, ICD implantation had no significant advantage in other investigated clinical variables including overall survival (OS), hospitalization rate, and cardiac function implied by left ventricular ejection fraction and New York Heart Association function class.

In our study entitled “The impact of implantable cardioverter defibrillator on the prognosis of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients compared with standard medical treatments,” we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), of participants with nonischemic DCM who were only treated with standard medical treatments such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers compared to those who underwent ICD, in addition to the above-mentioned routine medical treatments. 2 As previously mentioned in the methodology section of our article, SCD was considered as mortality due to cardiac arrhythmias. [...]ICD implantation significantly reduced the rate of mortality due to SCD (p = .005), which was consistent with our findings. [...]in another study by Kadish et al., 5 the nonischemic DCM patients were evaluated in terms of mortality variables, including SCD and all-cause mortality, between those treated with standard medical treatments and those who underwent ICD implantation in addition to the aforementioned medical therapies. [...]ICD insertion was associated with a significant decrease in SCD mortality.

Type A aortic dissection is a catastrophic event that requires prompt diagnosis and intervention to save the patient. It seems that type A aortic dissection in COVID‐19 patients has increased severity, and even with immediate diagnosis, it has a high mortality. Type A aortic dissection is a catastrophic event that requires prompt diagnosis and intervention to save the patient. It seems that type A aortic dissection in COVID‐19 patients has increased severity, and even with immediate diagnosis, it has a high mortality.

Background Controversy persists regarding the superiority of partial nephrectomy (PN) versus radical nephrectomy (RN) in pT2a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumors. In this study we aimed to compare survival and clinical outcomes between these two techniques in Iran. Methods In this retrospective cohort, 96 patients who underwent either RN or PN for their pT2a RCC tumors were included. Overall survival (OS), cancer specific survival (CSS), recurrence free survival (RFS), major postoperative complications and postoperative renal function were compared, subsequently. Results During a mean follow-up time of 57.3 ± 24.0 months, OS, CSS, RFS, postoperative bleeding, postoperative urinary leak, postoperative prolonged wound drainage and length of hospital stay were not statistically different between RN versus PN patients ( p  = .09, .42, .09, .27, .27, .06 and .78, respectively). Nevertheless, post-operative creatinine was significantly lower in PN patients compared to RN patients ( p  = .01). Our multivariable cox regression models indicated that higher Fuhrman grade detrimentally affected CSS ( p  < .01) and increased the risk of recurrence ( p  = .02). Moreover, prior history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) was a significant determinant of lower OS ( p  = .03) and RFS ( p  = .02). Conclusions In conclusion, our data suggested that although OS, CSS, RFS and major postoperative complications were similar between PN and RN, PN may offer better postoperative renal function and can be thus regarded as the superior approach in pT2a tumors.

 This study aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors of lifetime urolithiasis occurrence on a nationwide scale in Iran.  All data regarding urinary stone events were extracted from the cross-sectional Iran National Stone Survey (INSS) study, and the possible determinants of urolithiasis incidence were evaluated.  Our multivariable logistic regression suggested that while older age at presentation, male sex, and a positive family history of urolithiasis in either of the patient's parents or siblings were all significantly associated with an increased odds of lifetime urolithiasis occurrence (all P < .001), a positive family history in one's sister (odds ratio; OR=5.56) or brother (OR=4.70) were the most significant predictors. Moreover, belonging to Baluch ethnicity (i.e., an ethnical group indigenous to the south eastern regions of Iran) and residing in regions with higher water hardness (i.e., total concentration of dissolved minerals) were also associated with an increased odds of urolithiasis occurrence (P < .001 and P=.023, respectively). Conversely, living in regions with higher mean humidity decreased the chances of developing a urinary stone event during one's lifetime (OR=0.62, P <.001).  Our results indicated that a constellation of demographic, ecological, and familial risk factors are associated with an elevated risk of developing urinary stones during one's lifetime. These findings can assist in implementing novel regional healthcare policies, considering the specific demographic and ecological characteristics. They also support tailoring personalized preventive strategies, particularly for individuals with multiple nonmodifiable risk factors.

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiome is a complex and all-encompassing ecological system of trillions of microorganisms. It plays a vital role in digestion, disease prevention, and overall health. When this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapeutic intervention used as an adjuvant therapy for many diseases, particularly those with dysbiosis as their underlying cause. Its goal is to restore this balance by transferring fecal material from healthy donors to the recipients. FMT has an impressive reported cure rate between 80% and 90% and has become a favored treatment for many diseases. While FMT may have generally mild to moderate transient adverse effects, rare severe complications underscore the importance of rigorous donor screening and standardized administration. FMT has enormous potential as a practical therapeutic approach; however, additional research is required to further determine its potential for clinical utilization, as well as its safety and efficiency in different patient populations. This comprehensive literature review offers increased confidence in the safety and effectiveness of FMT for several diseases affecting the intestines and other systems, including diabetes, obesity, inflammatory and autoimmune illness, and other conditions.

To estimate the current lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis at the national level in Iran and investigate the potential influential demographic factors in different geographical areas.   Materials and methods: An epidemiological study was conducted between October 2020 and November 2022 in 31 provinces of Iran at the national level. Data was obtained through telephone interviews with households. Items in the interview included questions about the current and past episodes of urolithiasis, family history of urolithiasis, and demographic and environmental variables of potential interest in urolithiasis.   Results: A total of 44186 participants were investigated from 31 provinces of Iran. The overall percentage of those with lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis was 6.6%, including 7.9% for males and 5.3% for females (P<.001). In addition, with regard to the residential location, men were 53% (7.9% vs. 5.2%) more susceptible than women to urinary stones in urban areas and 36% (7.8% vs. 5.7%) more susceptible in rural areas. Out of 31 provinces, the Sistan-baluchistan province had the highest lifetime prevalence (15.6%) and the Golestan province had the lowest (2.1%). The lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis in the rural areas was 6.8% versus 6.5% in the urban areas (P=.29). Regarding age differentiation, the lifetime urolithiasis prevalence has increased up to the age of 70 years. In addition, the most prominent increase in the lifetime prevalence was observed in the age range of 20 to 60 years (from 0.9% to 11.8%). The ethnicity with the highest lifetime prevalence rate of urolithiasis was the Baluch ethnicity (18%).   Conclusion: generally, 6.6% of Iranian population suffers from urinary stones during their lifetime. Urolithiasis prevalence has increased 0.06% annually compared to the latest national study that took place 15 years ago. This increasing trend seems to be less prominent than other countries. According to our findings, urinary stones are more prevalent in men than in women and in the third to sixth decade of life regardless of gender. Baluch ethnicity is associated with the highest lifetime prevalence rate of urolithiasis and there is no significant difference between rural and urban areas. However, the ratio of male to female risk of urolithiasis is higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

Background It is suggested that supplementation with milk protein (MP) has the potential to ameliorate the glycemic profile; however, the exact impact and certainty of the findings have yet to be evaluated. This systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed the impact of MP supplementation on the glycemic parameters in adults. Methods A systematic search was carried out among online databases to determine eligible RCTs published up to November 2022. A random-effects model was performed for the meta-analysis. Results A total of 36 RCTs with 1851 participants were included in the pooled analysis. It was displayed that supplementation with MP effectively reduced levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) (weighted mean difference (WMD): -1.83 mg/dL, 95% CI: -3.28, -0.38; P  = 0.013), fasting insulin (WMD: -1.06 uU/mL, 95% CI: -1.76, -0.36; P  = 0.003), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD: -0.27, 95% CI: -0.40, -0.14; P  < 0.001) while making no remarkable changes in serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values (WMD: 0.01%, 95% CI: -0.14, 0.16; P  = 0.891). However, there was a significant decline in serum levels of HbA1c among participants with normal baseline body mass index (BMI) based on sub-group analyses. In addition, HOMA-IR values were significantly lower in the MP supplement-treated group than their untreated counterparts in short- and long-term supplementation (≤ 8 and > 8 weeks) with high or moderate doses (≥ 60 or 30–60 g/d) of MP or whey protein (WP). Serum FBG levels were considerably reduced upon short-term administration of a low daily dose of WP (< 30 g). Furthermore, the levels of serum fasting insulin were remarkably decreased during long-term supplementation with high or moderate daily doses of WP. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with MP may improve glycemic control in adults by reducing the values of fasting insulin, FBG, and HOMA-IR. Additional trials with longer durations are required to confirm these findings.

Background The present systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on glycemic control, adipokines, cytokines, malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver function enzymes in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods Relevant studies were obtained by searching the PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases (from inception to January 2023). Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were reported using standard methods. Results A pooled analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) revealed that CLA supplementation led to a significant increment in fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD: 4.49 mg/dL; 95%CI: 2.39 to 6.59; P  < 0.001), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD: 2.54 IU/L; 95%CI: 0.06 to 5.01; P  = 0.044). Moreover, CLA supplementation decreased leptin (WMD: -1.69 ng/ml; 95% CI: -1.80 to -1.58; P  < 0.001), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (WMD: -0.44 pg/ml; 95%CI: -0.86 to -0.02; P  = 0.037). However, there was no effect on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) adiponectin compared to the control group. Conclusion Our findings showed the overall favorable effect of CLA supplementation on the adipokines and cytokines including serum IL-6, and leptin, while increasing FBG and AST. It should be noted that the mentioned metabolic effects of CLA consumption were small and may not reach clinical importance. Prospero registeration cod CRD42023426374.