[Element of learning in 21[st] century from the students' view points, in summer school of Shiraz university of medical sciences]

The aim of education process is learning and change in behavior which has been revolutionized in the 21[st] century due to the rapid changens in technology and sciences. The traditional approach to education does no longer meet the learners' needs, entailing new changes in educational curricula. This study was designed to determine the factors influencing learning in the 21[st] century and find out the students' views on this issue. This is a descriptive study aiming at determining the students' views on new approaches to learning in the 21[st] century. To do so a researcher made questionnaire was designed. It contained 30 questions in 3 sections including demographic data, background questions and two open questions about their suggestions and criticism. 150 summer school students in Shiraz participated in the study. The questionnaire was sent to the students in person and through electronic mail; they were asked to retain the completed questionnaire to the given email address. The data were analyzed through SPSS 19. T-test and analysis of variance were used for analysis. The results dedicated, 6 factors including the use of computer in teaching, increase in virtual learning, and the use of mobile in relations, engagements of electronic learning contexts, the learning focus on attitudes and the facilitating role of the lectures were the most influential factors on learning. It seems that the student philosophical tend to approve constructivism and cooperative learning which is learner-centered as compounded to conventional education which is teacher-contended. According to experts, this type of view point is in the same line with new approaches to teaching and education in the present. Moreover, it effects the reforms, complementation and expansion of methodology

[Evaluation of frequencies of the Personality disorders [Axis II] in soldiers who evade the draft]

Mental disorders represent an important source of morbidity among military personnel and are a commen reason for early separation from the military, and the most frequency of premature elimination from the army was personality disorder. The goal of this study is evaluation of prevalence of personality disorder in soldiers separated from military service. In this study 102 awoles and 105 soldiers referred to the clinic of 506 Army hospital, evaluated by clinical interviews on the basis of DSM-4 criteria.The results were then analyzed by statistical software of SPSS 13. In this study, the frequencies of personality disorders in awols 73 percent and in the soldiers referred to clinic22 percent [p value 0/00].The frequencies of the most personality disorders [hysterionice, borderline, and antisocial] in awols are respectively 29, 18, and 23 percent and in soldiers referred to clinic are 16/2, 3/8, and 1 percent which there was a significant difference between two groups [p value in borderline 0/02, hysterionic 0/00, and antisocial 0/00]. The frequencies of personality disorders in awols were more common than community and soldiers which referred to clinic of hospital. Other trails are neede to determine relationship between the Personality disorders [Axis II] and separation from military service

[Application of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of diseases: quality or quantity?]

Mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] are presently isolated from various human tissues such as bone marrow. These cells have relatively high replication potential and can differentiate into various cell lineages with mesodermal and non-mesodermal origin and therefore, show promising in treatment of diseases. Their striking features like availability of source, ease of isolation and replication, and migration to lesions have made them appropriate for disease treatment and tissue engineering. The low frequency of MSCs in bone marrow necessitates their in-vitro expansion prior to clinical use. However, over-expansion may lead to aging or replicative senescence of MSCs and other complications for the patient. In this study, we isolated BM MSCs and cultured them in vitro. After the first passage cell surface markers were determined by flowcytometry and the cells propagated in culture for more passages. Telomere length was assessed using Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit after each cell passage. Our data showed that there is a direct correlation between in-vitro expansion of MSCs and reduction of telomere length. The telomere length was shortened by 1 kb after nine passages. This means that expansion induces aging through reduction of telomere length. These data suggest that in-vitro expansion of MSCs may restrict their future clinical application due to telomere length shortening which happens in each cell division. Thus, it would be much better to consider early passages of MSCs for cell and gene therapy due to their proliferation, differentiation and homing ability