Peer reviewed article authored by (Ai J, Biazar E, Jafarpour M, Montazeri M, Majdi A, Aminifard S, Zafari M, Akbari HR, Rad HG). Read article or submit your manuscript for publishing.

Purpose : There is conflicting evidence whether components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increase or decrease the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The aim of the present study was to determine the association between metabolic syndrome and primary open-angle glaucoma.Methods : A total of 200 participants comprising 100 controls and 100 patients with POAG documented by clinical tests and examined by an experienced ophthalmologist using standard ophthalmologic equipment were included in the study. MetS was defined and based on ATP III criteria and POAG was defined by the criteria of the International Society of Geographic and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO). The data were entered into the SPSS software and analyzed.Results : The prevalence of MetS in the glaucoma group was 53% in comparison to 38% in the control group (p=0.037). MetS was associated with an increased odds ratio for an IOP higher than 21 mmHg (OR: 1.72; 95% CI 1.03-2.79; p=0.034). The mean IOP was 24.91±4.29 mmHg in the patients without MetS, and 27.23±4.81 mmHg in those with MetS (p=0.027). The mean values of CCT were 603.64±63.16 µm in MetS patients and 579.27±72.87 µm in controls (p=0.018).Conclusion : Data showed an increased prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome in patients with glaucoma. The mechanisms underlying these associations need to be established in future studies. Our results support the recommendation that patients with metabolic syndrome undergo regular ophthalmological exams to monitor for the onset or progression of glaucoma.

Surface modification of medical polymers is carried out to improve biocompatibility. In this study, conventional polyurethane was exposed to microwave plasma treatment with oxygen and argon gases for 30 seconds and 60 seconds. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectra investigations of irradiated samples indicated the presence of functional groups. Atomic force microscope images of samples irradiated with inert and active gases indicated the nanometric topography of the sample surfaces. Samples irradiated by oxygen plasma indicated high roughness compared with those irradiated by inert plasma for the different lengths of time. In addition, surface roughness increased with time, which can be due to a reduction of contact angle of samples irradiated by oxygen plasma. Contact angle analysis indicated a reduction in samples irradiated with both types of plasma. However, samples irradiated with oxygen plasma indicated lower contact angle compared with those irradiated by argon plasma. Cellular investigations with unrestricted somatic stem cells showed better adhesion, cell growth, and proliferation among samples radiated by oxygen plasma for longer than for normal samples.

Purpose: An important cause of avoidable childhood blindness is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in countries with high human development index and also in some emerging economies countries. To date, no research have been conducted on analyzing data of ROP prevalence in Babol, and this is the first research performed on ROP in this area.Methods: All VLBW babies who referred to Babol ophthalmology center over the seven years, from February 2007 to December 2013 were enrolled in this descriptive cross-sectional research. A team of researchers recorded patients’ information completely in check lists. A single experienced ophthalmologist performed ophthalmologic examination of patients.Result: The incidence of ROP of any stage in Babol was determined to be 306 (45%) of all babies enrolled in this study. In present study, key risk factors of ROP were low gestational age, oxygen therapy more than five days and low birth weight.Conclusion: The findings of current study demonstrate that the main risk factors of developing ROP in newborns are multiple gestation, low birth weight, oxygen therapy for more than five day. Therefore, the progression of ROP to blindness will be prevented by a high index of suspicion, suitable screening, prompt diagnosis, and early treatment.

There is limited information on the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Iranian population, a group that has a high prevalence of CKD and obesity. The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between MetS and CKD in West of Iran. A total of 800 subjects aged more than 35 years admitted from 2011 to 2013 were enrolled in the study. MetS was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and CKD was defined from the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative practice guidelines. Waist circumference and body mass index were calculated, as well, blood samples were taken and lipid profile, plasma glucose levels, and serum creatinine were measured. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). CKD was seen in 14.8% patients with MetS and 8.3% individuals without MetS. MetS was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for a glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (OR: 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.99; P = 0.004). Individuals with 2, 3, 4, and 5 components of the MetS had an increased OR for CKD: 2.19 (95% CI: 0.95-3.62), 2.65 (95% CI: 1.03-4.71), 2.86 (95% CI: 1.08-5.53), and 5.03 (95% CI: 1.80-8.57), respectively, compared with individuals with none of the components. We found a high prevalence of CKD in patients with MetS compared with the subject without MetS. Our observations raised major clinical and public health concerns in Iran, where both the MetS and kidney diseases are becoming common.

Background. Tissue engineering is defined as the designing and engineering of structures to rebuild and repair a body damaged tissue. Scaffolding Poly Hydroxy Butyrate Valerate (PHBV) has shown good biocompatibility and biodegradable properties. Nanofibers have improved the performance of biomaterials, and could be considered effective. One of the important methods for designing nanofiber scaffold is the electrospinnig method. In this study, PHBV nanofibers were well designed and then, modified with the immobilized collagen via the plasma method. The samples were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, SEM, contact angle, and, finally, cell culture.Results. ATR-FTIR structural analysis showed the presence of collagen on the nanofiber surfaces. The SEM images showed the size average of nanofibers as to be about 280 nm; that increased with a collagen coating up to 300 nm. Contact angle analysis showed 67 degree for uncoated nanofibers and 56 degree for coated nanofibers. Cellular investigations (USS cells) showed better adhesion and cell growth and proliferation of coated samples than uncoated samples.Conclusions. In this work, the PHBV nanofibers with a size average about 280 nm were designed. Nanofibers were successfully coated with collagen via the plasma methods. These collagen-coated nanofibers could be used well for tissue engineering.