[Microscopic isolation and characterization of free living amoebae [FLA] from surface water sources.in Birjand, the capital city of the South Khorasan]

Background and Aim: Free living amoebae [FLA] are amphizoic protozoa that are widely found in various environmental sources. They are known to cause serious infections in human and animal nervous systems. The aim of the current study was to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba spp in surface water sources in Birjand city employing microscopic culture analysis based on morphology features of the amoebae

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 samples of surface water sources in Birjand city including parks pools, public squares, waterfronts, and water stations were collected and transferred to the laboratory and were passed through nitrocellulose filter paper. The remained elements in the filters were cultured on non-nutrient agar [NNA] with 100microl Escherichia coli suspension. After a few weeks of using morphological features, the amoeba grown were identified

Results: Out of the total of 50 samples cultured on non-nutrient agar [NNA], 19 [38%] samples were morphologically polluted with Acanthamoeba spp,. In 2 samples [4%] a colony of Vahlkampfiidae were observed

Conclusion: The results indicated that a significant percentage of surface water sources in Birjand city was contaminated with Acanthamoeba spp. It is necessary for physicians, therefore, to take into account the diseases caused by these infectious agents. Besides, local regional health professionals should take into consideration the potential role of surface stagnant water sources in transferring these infectious agents. Placing warning signs in areas contaminated with these infectious agents seems a useful measure

[Study of blood utilization in Vali-e Asr educational hospital in Birjand Iran: short communication]

Background and Aim: Efficiency of blood request and transfusion, if purposeful, can prevent wasting of blood in hospital wards and as a result, decrease overload on the blood bank and spare various expenses. The aim of the present descriptive study was to assess the efficiency of blood utilization in Vali-Asr educational hospital in Birjand in order to take an effective step to make medical centers aware of the coordination required between blood need and blood request

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Blood requests in 16 wards of a hemovigilance based hospital program over the first 4-months of 2013 were included. The cross-match transfusion ratio [C/T], the transfusion index [TI], and transfusion probability [T%] were calculated

Results: Out of 2201 cross-matched blood units only 1394 units were transfused into 624 patients. C/T T% and TI were <2.5, >50% and >0.5 respectively. The most C/T was in the maternity ward and the least belonged to ENT ward. In both of these wards C/T and TI were more than normal

Results: In total for 1617 patients ordered blood with the mean age of 41.55 +/- 23/94 years. Out of 2201 cross-matched blood units only 1394 units were transfused for 624 patients. The overall C/T ration, TI index and T% were 1.5, 1.3, and 60.1% respectively

Conclusion: The overall C/T ratio and TI index obtained in this study are considered to be optimal compared with the standard figures of C/T< 2.5 and TI>5. However, blood utilization model in some wards like gynaecology was not appropriate, indicating a more effective guideline for blood order

[Breast cancer: a preventable disease]

With regard to high cancer incidence, as one of the major mortality causes worldwide, following human societies industrialization in recent years breast cancer, dealt with in the present article, has got a particular impact on women who possess a pivotal role in family and society. Thus, adoption of effective diagnostic procedures in the early stages of the disease is very important, which must be considered as a substantial component of the strategies aimed at women's health promotion and decreasing of breast cancer mortality rate. Meanwhile, women's education and their awareness promotion and advising them to carry out different methods of breast cancer screening in the early stages of the symptoms, as preventive measures, play important roles. The present review article attempts to study prevalence and epidemiology of breast cancer, its risk factors and its different stages of prevention

model portraying experimental loss of hair cell: the use of distortion product otoacoustic emission in the assessment of rat's ear

The use of rats in research academies to study deafness is widespread, meanwhile medicinal methods to eliminate hair cells is also increasing. Thus, aminoglycosides and loop diuretics have grasped more attention. This study aimed at establishing an animal model in which a rapid distortion of the hair cell of cochlea administering amikacin and furosemide and using distortion product otoacoustic emission [DPOAE] the functioning of rat's ear would be assessed. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats [mean weight 200-250g] were randomly divided into six equal groups. Except the control group the rest received 0.5mg/g, 0.75mg/g, 1mg/g, 1.25mg/g, and 1.5mg/g, of subcutaneous amikacin respectively. 30 minutes later every rat received 0.1mg/g of furosemide intrapritoneally. DPOAE of rats was measured before these injections and 72 hours later. Then tissue sections of the rat's cochlea were prepared. All the cases had a significant decrease in their DPOAE with the frequencies 2KHz-8KHz [p