Background and aimsDietary regimens are crucial in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The effects of intermittent fasting (IF) have gained attention in this regard, but further research is warranted. Thus, we aimed to ascertain the overall effects of the 5:2 IF diet (5 days a week of normal food intake and 2 consecutive fasting days) in patients with NAFLD compared to a control group (usual diet).Methods and resultsA 12-week randomized controlled trial was performed to evaluate the effects of the 5:2 IF diet on anthropometric indices, body composition, liver indices, serum lipids, glucose metabolism, and inflammatory markers in patients with NAFLD. The IF group (n = 21) decreased body weight (86.65 ± 12.57–82.94 ± 11.60 kg), body mass index (30.42 ± 2.27–29.13 ± 1.95 kg/m2), waist circumference (103.52 ± 6.42–100.52 ± 5.64 cm), fat mass (26.64 ± 5.43–23.85 ± 5.85 kg), fibrosis (6.97 ± 1.94–5.58 ± 1.07 kPa), steatosis scores/CAP (313.09 ± 25.45–289.95 ± 22.36 dB/m), alanine aminotransferase (41.42 ± 20.98–28.38 ± 15.21 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (34.19 ± 10.88–25.95 ± 7.26 U/L), triglycerides (171.23 ± 39.88–128.04 ± 34.88 mg/dl), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (2.95 ± 0.62 −2.40 ± 0.64 mg/L), and cytokeratin-18 (1.32 ± 0.06–1.19 ± 0.05 ng/ml) values compared to the baseline and the end of the control group (n = 23)—p ≤ 0.05 were considered as significant. However, the intervention did not change the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, insulin, HOMA-IR, and total antioxidant capacity.ConclusionAdhering to the 5:2 IF diet can reduce weight loss and related parameters (fat mass and anthropometric indicators of obesity), as well as hepatic steatosis, liver enzymes, triglycerides, and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with NAFLD.

Background: Diarrhea infection has been established as one of the major etiologies and risk factors of malnutrition in children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the maternal knowledge, attitude and practices when treating diarrhea in their children less than 5 years old in the Zahedan, south-east province of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in urban health centers in Zahedan. Three hundred mothers who had less than five years old children and had been referred to the health centers for six months duration had been included. The questions were about demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice regarding childhood diarrhea, and had been designed to obtain information through an interview. Results: The findings indicated that knowledge of the majority of mothers (64.3%) regarding diarrhea and diet was moderate and only 3.7% had good knowledge. The majority of mothers (56%) had a moderate practicing knowledge of diarrhea and diet and only 2.3% had a good practice. Conclusions: Based on the low level of knowledge and practice among the study population, the usual practice of focusing on a target group would be necessary. Our findings indicated a serious lack of competence in dealing with this problem.

Background: Diarrhea infection has been established as one of the major etiologies and risk factors of malnutrition in children. Objectives:The aim of this study was to assess the maternal knowledge, attitude and practices when treating diarrhea in their children less than 5 years old in the Zahedan, south-east province of Iran. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in urban health centers in Zahedan. Three hundred mothers who had less than five years old children and had been referred to the health centers for six months duration had been included. The questions were about demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice regarding childhood diarrhea, and had been designed to obtain information through an interview. Results: The findings indicated that knowledge of the majority of mothers (64.3%) regarding diarrhea and diet was moderate and only 3.7% had good knowledge. The majority of mothers (56%) had a moderate practicing knowledge of diarrhea and diet and only 2.3% had a good practice. Conclusions: Based on the low level of knowledge and practice among the study population, the usual practice of focusing on a target group would be necessary. Our findings indicated a serious lack of competence in dealing with this problem.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) due to extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria including Escherichia coli has become widespread. Studies have shown a trend toward higher mortality, longer hospitalization, greater hospital expenses and reduced rates of clinical and microbiologic response in ESBL UTI. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determinate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of ESBL producing E. coli isolated from UTI. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3126 samples. Urine specimens were cultured on Eosin Methylene Blue (EBM) and blood agar. The disk diffusion standard method (Kirby Bauer) was used to test the susceptibility of the drug on MullerHinton agar plates and results were reviewed based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. The reviewing of ESBL-producing uropathogens was carried out using Combined Disk Test (CDT) by using cefotaxime (CTX; 30 µg) and cefotaximeclavulanic acid (CTX; 30 µg /CA:10 µg) disks and CLSI protocol. Results: Out of 291 E. coli isolates, 108 (37.11%) are ESBL-producer and 183 (62.89%) are non–ESBL-producer. Among ESBL-producing E. coli, the highest antibiotic resistance was observed with cefotaxime (100%), amoxicillin (97.22%) and piperacillin (96.3%) and the highest antibiotic sensitivity was observed with meropenem (93.5%), nitrofurantoin (81.48%) and gentamicin (55.56%). Conclusion: We recommended that cephalosporins, penicillins and cotrimoxazole are not suggested in the treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli. On the other hand, carbapenems as a first line and aminoglycosides as the next step in the treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli are recommended.

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