[Mapping the distribution of some important scorpions collected in the past five decades in Iran]

Scorpions are important venomous arthropods which kill many people annually globally. Scorpion sting is one of important health issues in subtropical area in south of Iran. Scorpions are subjects of many studies conducted before in many parts of Iran. The aims of this study were to find the dispersion and mapping the distribution of scorpion specimens based on published documents. In this study all published documents on Iranian scorpions which indexed with Iranmedex and PubMed including locally information and collection details were studied. Scientific names and collection details were arranged as a shape file in ArcGIS software and were mapped. Alternatively, a systematic literature review was preformed and the data and/or metadata were used for evaluation of the findings. Maps show the distribution of scorpions across Iran and provide preliminary information for its monitoring. Further prevention and control programs are needed. There was not considerable difference between the distribution of the studied specimens and the other information obtained from the other studies. The specimens of a few species which previously reported from some parts of Iran were not available. The existence of some species which was reported from different parts of the country needs to be confirmed by experts. It seems that more species of scorpions in Iran may found in central and south part of Iran and areas with low altitude

[Quality assessment of the reporting of cohort studies before STROBE statement]

Observational studies are not often reported in detail and clear enough, so that assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of these studies is not straightforward. To improve the reporting of observational studies, a checklist of items called 'Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology' [STROBE] was developed by some experts in October 2007. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of reporting of observational studies before STROBE statement. We included randomly sixty cohort studies published in six important international journals until October 2007. Then, we used STROBE checklist to assess the strengths and weaknesses of these included studies. On average, more than 81% [95% Cl: 77%-87%] of included studies pointed to 43 items of aim of this study. The most reported [100%] items were "scientific background" and "rationale for the investigation" and the less reported [30%] item was "flow chart". Although, the quality of reported cohort studies' results was acceptable, the type of study, journal and date of publication could influence on the quality of observational studies

Assessment of helicobacter pylori viability by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for determination of bacterial viability. Here we assayed the capability of flow cytometry to detect Helicobacter pylori viable cells in both forms of spiral and coccoid. Viable bacteria stained with Rhodamin 123 and fluoresced with laser beam of 488nm. The rate of Rh123 absorption was determined in both forms of bacteria. In positive control that consisted of live bacteria, the rate of rh123 absorption was at highest, but negative control that consisted of dead bacteria, the rate of Rh 123 absorption was at lowest absorption. This method showed that non-culturable coccoid forms of H. pylori, which could resist environmental stresses, were alive and might be responsible for bacterial transmission and failure in disease treatment. Due to simplicity, reliability, and sensitivity of flow cytometry, this method is preferred to other expensive and no reliable methods such as autoradiography, PCR and Electron microscopy used for assessment viability

Thl/Th2 cytokines in psoriasis

The aim of this study was to determine the Thl and Th2 serum cytokines, in patients with psoriasis and to compare their cytokine levels with those of normal control subjects. Serum levels of Interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma], Interleukin-2 [IL-2], Interleukin-4 [IL-4], and Interleukin-10 [IL-10] were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 40 patients with psoriasis and in 40 normal controls. Compared with control subjects, patients with psoriasis had elevated levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 [P<0.001]. In addition a positive correlation was found between the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and disease severity. Thl secreting inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis