Islamic Azad University, Yazd

Introduction: In various human societies, cancer, as one of the most irritating, exhausting, and deadly diseases, has always had numerous negative effects on the lives of patients and their loved ones. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the psychological experiences of women with cancer as factors affecting the disease Methods: The present study employs a qualitative approach and is applied in nature. Data collection was conducted through interviews with participants. The study sample consisted of 24 women diagnosed with cancer, aged 30 to 60, residing in Kerman, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, continuing until theoretical saturation was achieved. After collection, the data were recorded, documented, and transcribed. Subsequently, to identify, extract, organize, and interpret the latent themes, a coding process within thematic analysis was conducted using MAXQDA-2022 software. Results: The findings showed that 5 main clusters and 12 sub-clusters were identified, including: health care factors (physical and mental health management; health behaviors; importance of education and awareness), use of coping mechanisms (Islamic coping style; acceptance; problem solving), social support networks (social network of family, friends, and those around them; support network of medical staff and hospital personnel), personality and attitude (personality traits of optimism and self-efficacy; positive attitude), and mental health (mental stress; mental disorders and anxiety and depression). Conclusion: The results showed that the factors influencing disease in patients with cancer are a complex issue that, in addition to the most important causes of cancer, also depends on numerous other factors, including health care factors, coping mechanisms, support and social networks, personality, attitude, and mental health, which can affect the condition of cancer patients in a precipitating or intervening manner and be effective in preventing its progression or improving it.

Male fertility has declined markedly in recent decades, with reductions in sperm count, motility, and quality posing a growing global concern. Among the multifactorial causes, oxidative stress plays a central role by disrupting redox balance, damaging sperm DNA, impairing membrane integrity, and reducing motility. Natural antioxidants, particularly plant-derived bioactives, have gained significant attention as potential modulators of male reproductive health. Gum Acacia (GA), a dried exudate obtained mainly from Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, is a highly branched arabinogalactan-rich polysaccharide with excellent solubility, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. Preclinical studies suggest that GA exerts protective effects on testicular function by reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, and improving metabolic and hormonal profiles, including testosterone and luteinizing hormone. GA has also shown promise in mitigating reproductive damage caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, and environmental toxins, as well as enhancing semen cryopreservation as a plant-based alternative to conventional extenders. Despite these encouraging findings, evidence remains limited, fragmented, and largely restricted to animal studies, with human data virtually absent. This review critically appraises current experimental and biomedical evidence on GA as a modulator of male fertility, highlights potential mechanisms of action, and identifies key knowledge gaps. Findings indicate that GA could emerge as a safe, accessible, and cost-effective adjunct for improving male reproductive outcomes, warranting further investigation in standardized and clinically oriented studies.

Introduction: New innovations in AI allow opportunistic detection of non-coronary features on coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans, enabling screening for a range of conditions, and improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) prediction. Myosteatosis, excessive fat infiltration into skeletal muscle, is increasingly recognized as a marker of systemic metabolic dysfunction and can be quantified in CT using the mean attenuation of skeletal muscle. We evaluated AI-measured myosteatosis in thoracic skeletal muscle for predicting future atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), and total CVD. Methods: We used baseline CAC scans and 15-year follow-up data from 5,489 asymptomatic participants (47.8% male) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Myosteatosis was operationally defined as the lowest quartile of thoracic skeletal muscle mean attenuation (males<33 Hounsfield Units (HU) and females<27 HU). Hazard ratios [HR] for bottom vs top quartile of mean muscle CT density were evaluated using proportional hazards regression models adjusted for CVD risk factors, inflammatory markers, and social determinants of health. Results: Myosteatosis was associated with worse outcomes in both sexes: HRs in males were 4.59 (95% CI, 3.52–5.99) for AF, 8.46 (4.61–15.52) for HF, and 3.56 (2.89–4.37) for total CVD, with corresponding HRs in females of 4.68 (3.48–6.29), 8.01 (3.62–17.72), and 4.37 (3.42–5.57), respectively. After full adjustment, associations remained significant for HF (1.93 [1.31–2.82]), AF (1.78 [1.26–2.50]), and total CVD (1.44 [1.09–1.91]) in males, and for AF (1.69 [1.17–2.45]) and total CVD (1.75 [1.29–2.39]) in females. Individuals in the top quartile of CAC (>89.5 HU) who also had myosteatosis had greater 15-year incidence of AF (45.4%) and HF (21.8%) than those in either group alone (CAC, AF: 29%, HF: 9.5%; myosteatosis, AF: 20.9%, HF: 5.3%). Conclusion: Thoracic skeletal myosteatosis in CAC scans is an independent predictor of AF, HF, and total CVD over 15 years. Improving clinical outcomes through the detection of myosteatosis, and other opportunistic findings in CAC scans as part of the AI-CVD initiative, merits further investigation.

Abstract The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, particularly in edge computing, has exposed the limitations of conventional silicon-based hardware, including excessive power consumption, thermal challenges, and insufficient computational density. These issues are exacerbated by the slowing pace of transistor miniaturization under Moore’s law, necessitating innovative semiconductor technologies. While complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based ternary logic implementations exist, their reliance on precise threshold voltage regulation results in high power consumption and larger chip architectures. Emerging technologies like Fin-based FETs, carbon nanotube FETs, and Tunnel FETs also face significant constraints, such as fabrication challenges and inadequate performance for ternary logic. This work addresses these challenges by proposing a graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistor (GNRFET)-based ternary half adder (THA) circuit. Leveraging GNRFET’s superior attributes—such as tunable bandgap properties, high carrier mobility, and precise threshold voltage control—the proposed THA circuit achieves enhanced performance. Simulations at 0.9 V show a 41.5% reduction in delay, a 7.7% decrease in power, and a 52.3% improvement in energy efficiency compared to CNTFET-based counterpart. Additionally, the proposed THA circuit achieves at least a 13.7% lower power consumption and a 6.2% enhancement in energy efficiency over previous GNRFET-based THA designs. To further evaluate performance, a ternary full adder (TFA) was implemented using the proposed THA. The design demonstrates significant enhancements, achieving power reductions of 34.3%–58.5%, energy efficiency improvements of 18.6%–70.2%, and transistor count reductions of 19%–34.7% compared to recent GNRFET-based TFA designs.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a key enzyme in DNA repair pathways and has been implicated in cancer susceptibility. The rs1136410 polymorphism in the PARP-1 gene has shown inconsistent associations with gastrointestinal cancer risk across populations. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between PARP-1 rs1136410 polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC), with a focus on ethnic differences. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, BIOSIS, LILACS, CNKI, CBM, Wan Fang, and other regional databases up to February 1, 2025. Eligible case-control studies assessing the association between PARP- 1 rs1136410 polymorphism and CRC or GC were included. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated under five genetic models using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Thirteen case-control studies were included, comprising 3.591 patients and 5.433 controls. For GC (8 studies; 1,784 cases and 2,521 controls), significant associations were observed under multiple genetic models: allele comparison (C vs. T: OR=2.01, 95% CI 1.04-3.91, p=0.039), homozygous comparison (CC vs. TT: OR=1.77, 95% CI 1.24-2.52, p=0.002), heterozygous comparison (CT vs. TT: OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.57, p<0.001), and recessive comparison (CC vs. CT+TT: OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.08-2.20, p=0.017). No significant association was detected for CRC (5 studies; 1.807 cases and 2.912 controls). Ethnic subgroup analysis revealed a protective effect against CRC in Caucasians but increased susceptibility in Asians. The PARP-1 rs1136410 polymorphism is associated with elevated GC risk but not CRC, with ethnicity-dependent effects suggesting differential genetic susceptibility. These findings highlight the importance of considering population-specific genetic backgrounds in gastrointestinal cancer risk assessment, prevention, and precision medicine strategies.

ABSTRACTIllness anxiety disorder (IAD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive fear and anxiety about developing a serious illness. Individuals with IAD constantly search for signs of serious illness, despite negative test results. This case report presents a patient with IAD who was concerned about developing Parkinson's disease. A 37‐year‐old married woman was worried about developing Parkinson's disease. Same as her mother, she had an anxious personality, albeit there was no history related to Parkinson's disease in her family, and all physical examinations were normal, but she exhibited a hand tremor. After the second pregnancy, she experienced depression, and after her father's death, the situation got worse. There are rare cases of illness anxiety disorder (IAD) related to other neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis in the literature review, but we believe this is one of the first and very rare reports regarding a patient with illness anxiety disorder who believes in involving Parkinson's disease, and it progresses. We are of the opinion that treatment for this disorder can be more useful to eliminate overvalued ideation and treat the patient.

ABSTRACTBackgroundMelasma is a prevalent skin condition that primarily affects females of reproductive age. Despite the various available treatments, managing melasma is challenging due to frequent relapses and partial responses. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has gained attention as a potential treatment because of its antifibrinolytic and anti‐melanogenic properties. However, there is still limited information on the efficacy of oral versus topical TXA formulations.AimThe present investigation explored the efficacy and safety of topical versus oral TXA in melasma patients to determine whether topical administration could provide a viable alternative with improved tolerability.Patients/MethodsIn this single‐center randomized trial, 50 melasma patients received oral TXA (250 mg twice daily) or topical TXA (a 5% cream applied twice daily) for 12 weeks. Melasma severity was measured using the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score at baseline and after 3 months. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsFifty female patients (mean age≈39.9 years) were equally randomized to the oral and topical TXA group. One patient in the topical group discontinued treatment due to sensitivity, while all in the oral group completed the study. At baseline, MASI scores were not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.28). After 12 weeks, both groups demonstrated significant reductions in MASI scores (oral group: 58.86%; topical group: 50.88%; p = 0.001 for each), though the difference was insignificant.DiscussionFifty female patients (mean age≈39.9 years) were equally randomized to the oral and topical TXA groups. One patient in the topical group discontinued treatment due to sensitivity, while all in the oral group completed the study. Baseline MASI scores were similar (p = 0.28). After 12 weeks, both groups demonstrated significant reductions in MASI scores (oral group: 58.86%; topical group: 50.88%; p = 0.001 for each), though the difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionBoth forms of TXA are effective with low side effects. The choice between oral and topical TXA can depend on patient preference and convenience.