Background: Traditional medicine, rooted in ancient history, resurged due to concerns over synthetic pharmaceuticals’ adverse effects. This study goal was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of herbal medicine research in Iranian and Chinese CAM clinical trials to identify trends, patterns, and differences in research productivity. Materials and Methods: This bibliometric study compared Chinese and Iranian CAM clinical trials using Web of Science data. It focused on RCTs, applying search terms for CAM and Chinese or Iranian CAM, with exclusion criteria to filter out irrelevant publications. The dataset included author information, article details, keywords, and citation history. It calculated the Annual Growth Rate (AGR) and used visual tools like the Three-Field Plot to illustrate associations. Additionally, Lotka’s Law was applied to author productivity, and a co-citation collaboration network was analyzed using Bibliometrix r package. Results: Key findings for Iranian CAM include 71 documents by 342 authors with an average document age of 3.11 years. Chinese CAM featured 255 documents by 1857 authors with an average document age of 5.75 years. Iranian CAM showed a negative annual growth rate of -18.05%, while Chinese CAM had a positive rate of 5.65%. The included studies for Chinese CAM span from 2004 to 2024, while those for Iranian CAM range from 2015 to 2024. The most cited Iranian CAM document had 66 citations, and in Chinese CAM, “TONG XL, 2012” and “LIU XL, 2019” had the highest total citations. Decentralized research practices were observed in China, while Tehran and Shiraz universities led clinical trials in Iran. Conclusion: Our study indicates differing research trends in Iranian and Chinese herbal medicine. Iranian CAM research showed a declining trend, with Tehran and Shiraz universities leading clinical trials, while Chinese CAM research displayed a growing landscape with a more decentralized approach among authors.

Background: Clonidine, a potent α2-adrenoceptor agonist, is used in anesthesia for its sedative and analgesic properties, but its administration requires careful monitoring due to potential risks of hypotension and bradycardia. As there are increasing number of trials on clonidine, this study aimed to synthesize a conclusion on unwanted consequences of clonidine use in the perioperative period. Materials and Methods: This umbrella review synthesizes evidence on adverse events associated with perioperative prescription of clonidine, following the PRIOR guidelines using three prominent databases of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science with a strategic combination of keywords. Studies included were systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and network meta-analyses published in English; studies reviewing prescribing systematic clonidine perioperative; and reporting adverse events. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular events, respiratory, neurological, and gastrointestinal complications. Data were extracted systematically by two independent reviewers and analyzed using random effects models in Stata. Pooled odds ratios and mean differences were calculated, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic. Results: Our umbrella review of 8 systematic review studies including 223 studies from 1980 till now; all of which included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The bradycardia analysis, comprising four studies, shows a significant increased risk of bradycardia compared to control (OR: 1.653, 95% CI: 1.013 to 2.700) with some heterogeneity (P=0.0609). Hypotension meta-analysis (four studies) reveals a substantial increased risk (exp(theta): 3.281, 95% CI: 1.696 to 6.347), albeit with moderate heterogeneity (I^2=62.37%, P=0.0355). Heart rate reduction (two studies) and MAP reduction (two studies) meta-analyses indicate significant effects of clonidine, with substantial heterogeneity. Conclusion: Our comprehensive umbrella review highlights significant associations between perioperative clonidine and complications such as bradycardia and hypotension, suggesting the need for careful consideration and further investigation in clinical practice.

Background: Article retraction means removing a published article from the journal because of ethical issues or scientific errors in order to correct the literature. In this study, we aimed to determine the reasons for retracting biomedical articles written by authors from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included all retracted biomedical articles with first authors affiliated with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, or Turkey, retracted between September 1, 2010, and September 1, 2019. Data were extracted from Retraction Watch, MEDLINE, PubMed Central (PMC), Clarivate Analytics, and Scopus. Each article’s information was entered into a data collection form and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: Of 436 retracted articles, Iran had the highest number (223), followed by Turkey (80), Egypt (72), Saudi Arabia (35), and Pakistan (26). Common causes of retraction included plagiarism, duplication, authorship issues, and fake peer review. In Iran, fake peer review (42.6%) and authorship issues (41.3%) were most prevalent. Significant inter-country differences were found in retraction frequency and causes. The most affected fields were biology, biochemistry, oncology, cardiovascular, surgery, and pathology. Conclusion: The results showed that scientific misconducts (plagiarism, duplication, authorship issues, and fake peer review) were the main reasons for retracting the articles in the five studied countries. To reduce such misconducts, regional regulatory policies, improved editorial practices, and enhanced research ethics training are urgently needed.

Background: This study aimed to determine the association between the incidence of neonatal jaundice and the weight loss of newborns in postnatal days. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 infants with jaundice were examined. The required information was obtained from the medical records. In this study, newborns were divided into two groups based on hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin level was compared in two groups on the fourth day of referral. Effect of weight loss was determined on hyperbilirubinemia by logistic regression. Results: The study compared 137 healthy neonates with 53 hyperbilirubinemic neonates, finding significantly greater weight loss (0.25±0.18 kg vs. 0.09±0.11 kg, P<0.001) and higher bilirubin levels (17.13±1.05 vs. 12.60±1.89 mg/dL, P<0.001) in the latter group. Hyperbilirubinemic neonates had younger mothers (27.23±3.26 vs. 28.63±3.21 years, P=0.007), lower nulliparity (60.4% vs. 75.9%, P=0.033), and higher breastfeeding rates (96.2% vs. 18.6%, P<0.001). Logistic regression confirmed weight loss as a strong predictor (aOR=2.14×106, P<0.001), with ROC analysis showing high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.86-0.88). Optimal cutoffs were 0.175 kg (89% sensitivity) and 4.95% weight loss (91% sensitivity). Maternal and neonatal blood groups also influenced risk. Conclusion: Neonates at risk need to be more closely monitored for jaundice and weighting, thus, early detection and timely treatment can be done.

Background: Tamsulosin, an α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent against urolithiasis-induced renal damage. However, limited in vivo evidence exists regarding its renoprotective mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=10/group): positive control, negative control (ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis), prevention (tamsulosin administered simultaneously with ethylene glycol), and treatment (tamsulosin administered after model induction). Biochemical parameters including serum creatinine, urea, uric acid, calcium, and phosphorus were measured using rat-validated commercial kits (Pars Azmun, Iran). Normal ranges were defined based on published reference values. Gene expression was analyzed by qPCR using the 2^−ΔΔCt method. Study design and reporting followed the ARRIVE checklist. Results: At day 30, the prevention group exhibited significantly lower serum creatinine (0.60 ± 0.08 mg/dL) compared to the negative control (0.98 ± 0.12 mg/dL, P<0.01). Although urea levels were slightly higher in the prevention group (4.0 ± 0.7 mg/dL) versus the negative control (3.22 ± 0.6 mg/dL), the calculated BUN/creatinine ratio was significantly improved (46.7 vs. 33.0, P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in serum calcium or phosphorus. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of protective markers in the prevention group. Conclusion: In vivo findings on the beneficial effects of tamsulosin on the renal profile in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis illustrate its protective effects on the renal system through improvement of creatinine clearance and BUN/creatinine balance. This underscores its probable use as a protective therapeutic agent against renal injury of crystallization origin.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced fatigue (CIF) is a common and debilitating side effect in cancer patients, particularly those with gastrointestinal cancers. This study explores the potential of Ma-ol-asal, a traditional Persian herbal syrup, as a holistic, supportive approach to alleviate CIF’s physical and psychological burdens. Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 120 gastrointestinal cancer patients with fatigue, randomly assigned to receive 10 mL of Ma-ol-asal (compound honey syrup) or placebo thrice daily for four weeks. Fatigue was assessed with validated scales at baseline and post-intervention once, with data analyzed to evaluate efficacy. Results: After withdrawals, 42 patients per group remained. No significant demographic or lab differences were observed. Both groups had comparable scores post-treatment across all measures, with no significant differences. Adverse events, mainly nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, were similar. Perception of benefit varied between groups. Conclusion: Our study shows Ma-ol-asal syrup isn’t superior to placebo for chemotherapy-induced fatigue, highlighting significant placebo effects. This emphasizes the need to understand harnessing placebo responses to improve symptom management safely.

Background: In recent decades, the prevalence of diabetes, alcohol and tobacco consumption has increased in Iran and the world. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between diabetes with family history, alcohol and tobacco consumption in Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the southeast of Iran in 2023_2024. The target population consisted of 10,016 individuals aged between 35 and 70 years. The data required for this study was obtained from the data collected by ZACS (Zahedan Adult Cohort Study) in the southeast of Iran. The data on general information, diabetes, family history of diabetes and alcohol consumption were collected through a standard questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests, chi-square and logistic regression in SPSS 22 software. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 19.0% and it was more prevalent in women (20.1%), unemployed people (21.9%) and age groups of 60 years and older (P<0.05). The prevalence of diabetes was 37.8% in first relatives and 19.4% in second relatives. Although only 2.4% of people consumed alcohol, diabetes was less common in people who consumed alcohol than in others (P<0.001). In univariate results, drug use reduced the chance of developing diabetes (OR=0.86, P=0.026). However, there was not significant relationship between drug use and diabetes after adjusting for history of diabetes in relatives (OR=0.99, P=0.229). Family history had a positive effect on developing diabetes (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings showed the family history had a positive effect on developing diabetes. These results show the necessity of examining the family history of people, identifying people at risk, and also providing the necessary education for the prevention of diabetes. It is recommended that people with a family history of diabetes take diabetes preventive measures and modify their lifestyle.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three decontamination methods on the surface alterations of dental implants and the removal of bacterial plaque from their surfaces. Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, 24 titanium cylinders with sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) surfaces were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus to simulate biofilm formation. Samples were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6): titanium curette, diode laser, titanium brush, and saline flush control. Surface roughness (Ra and Rz) was measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after cleaning. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were quantified post-treatment to assess bacterial removal. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney pairwise comparisons, and one-way ANOVA with post hoc LSD tests (α = 0.05). Results: Surface roughness differed significantly among groups after cleaning (Ra, p = .002; Rz, p = .002). Titanium curette and titanium brush produced smoother surfaces than diode laser and control, with the curette achieving the greatest reduction in roughness. CFU analysis revealed significant differences among groups (F = 3.26, p = .043). Contrary to expectations, the saline flush control showed the lowest CFU counts, whereas titanium curette and titanium brush exhibited higher bacterial counts than control (p < .05), and diode laser did not differ significantly from control (p = .151). Conclusion: The titanium curette and titanium brush caused the samples' most significant surface roughness changes. However, the effectiveness of these methods for bacterial plaque removal was lower than that of the control group and the Diode laser group.

Background: The present study was designed and conducted to determine the effect of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) treatment, with and without glutathione and potassium iodide, on the micro-shear bond strength of composite resin to primary tooth dentin. Materials and Methods: An in vitro experimental design was used with 52 sound extracted primary teeth randomly divided into four groups (n = 13): (a) control (no SDF), (b) SDF, (c) SDF+KI, and (d) SDF+GSH. Demineralized dentin was prepared and treated per group protocol. All samples received total-etch adhesive (Single Bond 2) and Z250 composite resin restorations. Micro-shear bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until failure. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests (α = .05). Results: Significant differences in mean μSBS were observed among groups, F(3, 48) = 14.27, p < .001. The control group demonstrated the lowest bond strength (8.24 ± 1.31 MPa), whereas the SDF (15.34 ± 3.72 MPa), SDF+KI (14.68 ± 3.96 MPa), and SDF+GSH (14.51 ± 2.97 MPa) groups exhibited significantly higher values (P < .001 for all vs. control). No significant differences were found among the SDF-treated groups (P > .90). Conclusion: Given that the application of SDF, SDF combined with glutathione, and SDF treatment with potassium iodide before composite restoration enhances bond strength, it is recommended to use these treatments.