Aim: Chronic heart failure (CHF) can be classified as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Currently, there is an unmet need for a minimally invasive diagnostic tool for different forms of CHF. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic potential of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) for the detection of different CHF forms via a systematic review and meta‐analysis approach. Methods and results: Comprehensive search on Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE identified 45 relevant studies which were used for qualitative assessment. Out of these, 29 studies were used for qualitative and quantitative assessment and allowed to identify a miRNA panel able to detect HFrEF and HFpEF with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 and 0.79, respectively. A panel of eight miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐18b‐3p, hsa‐miR‐21‐5p, hsa‐miR‐22‐3p, hsa‐miR‐92b‐3p, hsa‐miR‐129‐5p, hsa‐miR‐320a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐423‐5p, and hsa‐miR‐675‐5p) detected HFrEF cases with a sensitivity of 0.85, specificity of 0.88 and AUC of 0.91. A panel of seven miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐19b‐3p, hsa‐miR‐30c‐5p, hsa‐miR‐206, hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐miR‐328‐5p, hsa‐miR‐375‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐424‐5p) identified HFpEF cases with a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.61. Conclusions: Although conventional biomarkers (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide and B‐type natriuretic peptide) presented a better performance in detecting CHF patients, the results presented here pointed towards specific miRNA panels with potential additive values to circulating natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis of different classes of CHF. Equally important, miRNAs alone showed a reasonable capacity for ‘ruling out’ patients with HFrEF or HFpEF. Additional studies with large populations are required to confirm the diagnostic potential of miRNAs for sub‐classes of CHF.

Purification and Characterization of Bovine Serum Albumin Using Chromatographic Method

The kidneys are one of the main end organs targeted by hypertensive disease. Although the central role of the kidneys in the regulation of high blood pressure has been long recognized, the detailed mechanisms behind the pathophysiology of renal damage in hypertension remain a matter of investigation. Early renal biochemical alterations due to salt-induced hypertension in Dahl/salt-sensitive rats were monitored by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) micro-imaging. Furthermore, FTIR was used to investigate the effects of proANP_31–67, a linear fragment of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, on the renal tissue of hypertensive rats. Different hypertension-induced alterations were detected in the renal parenchyma and blood vessels by the combination of FTIR imaging and principal component analysis on specific spectral regions. Changes in amino acids and protein contents observed in renal blood vessels were independent of altered lipid, carbohydrate, and glycoprotein contents in the renal parenchyma. FTIR micro-imaging was found to be a reliable tool for monitoring the remarkable heterogeneity of kidney tissue and its hypertension-induced alterations. In addition, FTIR detected a significant reduction in these hypertension-induced alterations in the kidneys of proANP_31–67-treated rats, further indicating the high sensitivity of this cutting-edge imaging modality and the beneficial effects of this novel medication on the kidneys.

Background: University students are the developers of their nations’ future and make up a significant number of young people. The number of students is increasing as universities and higher education centers develop. Hence, paying attention to student’s physical and mental health is among the most important issues. The aim of the present analytical cross-sectional study was to determine the epidemiological pattern of loneliness and related factors among Maragheh University of Medical Sciences students. Methods: The research was an analytical cross-sectional study, in which 323 Maragheh University of Medical Sciences students were selected by means of applying the inclusion criteria with a convenience sampling method. Then, the required data were collected through demographic profile questionnaire and Russell’s revised UCLA loneliness scale. The data were analyzed using the Chi square test. Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe loneliness was reported to be 50.5% and 31.6%, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between loneliness of the participants and their gender (P < 0.001), birth order (P = 0.004), birth place (P < 0.001), and semester of study (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the present study accentuate the necessity of paying attention to the state of loneliness in students, exploring situations and reasons that intensify the feeling in this age group, and identifying intervention plans that could reduce it. Keywords: Loneliness; Students; Prevalence; Iran

Liver transplantation (LT) is a therapeutic option for patients suffering from end-stage liver diseases. Recent research has probed the prognostic significance of biomarkers to predict graft function and mortality post-transplant, yet few candidates are recommended in clinical practice. We employed a pipeline that integrates meta-analysis (PRISMA 2020), followed by Kaplan Meier (KM)-based individual patient data (IPD) analysis, aiming to identify potential novel prognostic biomarker panels for LT recipients. Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. Twenty-one prognostic and eight diagnostic studies were eligible, pooling 34922 patients. Single biomarkers sampled at an early stage (≤15 d after LT) were significant associated with graft-related outcomes (HR/OR 0.95 (0.94-0.97)) but did not predict mortality (HR/OR 1.00 (0.97-1.04)) or composite outcomes (HR/OR 1.02 (0.98-1.07)). Biomarkers in combination (GGT/bilirubin ratio, ALT+AST or ALT+AST+bilirubin+INR) predicted composite outcomes (graft failure or mortality, aHR/aOR 4.37 (2.65-7.21)). Biomarkers assessed at late stage (>15) did not show association with mortality (HR/OR 1.02 (1.00-1.04)) or composite outcomes (HR/OR 1.00 (0.99-1.01)). KM-based IPD analysis showed that coagulation factor V combined with ALT predicted graft survival (HR 2.12 (1.44-3.12)), and coagulation factor V+Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 stratified the risk of patient survival (HR 2.97 (1.79-4.91)). Therefore, we were able to compare various scoring systems in predicting graft-related outcomes and mortality followed LT. Additionally, we identified novel combinations of biomarkers that exhibited prognostic value for LT patients. Finally, we demonstrate that combined analytical tools for assessing large clinical datasets effectively evaluate multi-modal markers for risk stratification of early and late outcomes for LT. Export