[Mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water [Sari, Iran]]

Fungi are widely distributed in nature and they are usually present in atmosphere but other sources such as water play an important role in their ecology. This study was done to evaluate mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water in Sari, North of Iran. The tap water collected form Sari water distribution system for fungi. In this descriptive study, a volume of 100 ml of tap drinking water samples [n=60] were collected in sterile bottles. All water samples passed through sterile 0.45 micrometer filters. The filters were placed directly on Malt extract agar and incubated at 27°C for 3-7 days. Routine mycological techniques were applied to identify the grown fungi. Out of 468 grown fungal colonies, eight different fungal genera were identified. The total mean cfu per 100 ml for the positive samples were 8.4. Aspergillus [37.4%] and Penicillium [27.3%] were the most common isolated fungi. Rhizopus [0.6%] had the lowest frequency. Among Aspergillus species, A. flavus had the highest frequency. Our result showed that various fungi were present in the tap drinking water. We propose fungi should be considered as part of the microbiological analysis parameters in drinking tap water

[Effectiveness of serum ferritin in the diagnosis of preterm labor]

Preterm birth defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks was implicated in the cause of approximately two thirds of neonatal deaths. Some studies have shown that a positive relationship exists between inflammatory factors such as Ferritin, G-CSF, and IL6 and occurrence of preterm birth. The present study is done to estimate Serum ferritin for the prediction of preterm birth and determination of sensitivity and specificity of ferritin in diagnosis of preterm birth. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Alzahra and Beheshti Hospitals, Esfahan, Iran during 2008-2009. All of the pregnant women who have the included criteria were investigated. 69 preterm and 153 term labors were studied. During the pregnancy, the level of serum ferritin was measured. The data was entered into a computer and analyzed by SPSS soft ware after collection. The T student, Chi square and Roc Curve tests were used for data analysis. According to results of our study, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for diagnose of preterm labor at cut of point 22.5 mg/ml were estimated as 78.3%, 83%, 67.5% and 89.4% respectively. Results show that there is a relationship between serum ferritin and preterm deliveries and according to sensitivity, specifity, positive and negative predictive value of serum ferritin, we can use this test for prediction of preterm birth

[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields during foetal life on adulthood learning in male rat]

Background and aim: Our environment is exposed to electromagnetic fields by development and industrialization of life. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields [5 and 25 Hz] during fetal life on adulthood learning in male rat

Methods: In this study forty eight Sprague Dawley pregnant rats [150+/-20g] were divided into six groups of eight: control, sham, and 5 or 25Hz and 50 or 500micro T. Duration of exposure was 4 hours per day [continuously from 8 to 12 A.M.] from first day to 15th day of gestation. We evaluated learning, body weight, brain weight, brain volume, brain weight to body weight ratio and brain density of 60 days-old male offsprings. The learning task was performed by shuttle box in the form of one-way active avoidance conditioning. The number of conditioning responses and latency periods was recorded. Data was statistically analyzed by Kruskal-wallis test

Results: Fetal life exposure to ELF EMF [25Hz/50micro T] improved learning, decreased body weight and increased brain weight to body weight ratio in male rat [P<0.05]. Fetal life exposure to 25 Hz/500 micro T, 5 Hz/500 micro T and 5 Hz/50 micro T increased body weight

Conclusion: Fetal life exposure to ELF EMF [25Hz/50micro T] could improve learning in male rats

[ effects of formaldehyde among medical students in anatomy dissection laboratory of Shiraz school of medicine]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of formaldehyde vapor on eyes, nose and skin and pulmonary function of medical students, as well as, indoor concentration of formaldehyde [FA] vapor in dissection laboratory. One hundred sixty five [165] medical students were selected randomly. Students were excluded if they had had history of smoking, or any condition likely to have an effect on the results of this study. All students were exposed to formaldehyde at least one hour per week for 10 weeks. To evaluate irritation of eyes, nose and skin, pulmonary function and indoor concentration of FA vapor in anatomy laboratory we used questioner, spirometry and NIOSH 3500 method [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health], respectively. Following exposure to FA, irritation of skin, eyes and specially nose [75.8%] were increased significantly [P

[Relationship between health belief model constructs and DMFT among five-grade boy students in the primary school in Dezfool]

Tooth decay is one of the most common human diseases and it has a close relationship with individual's behaviors. Access to present information or the status can pave the ground for interventions that can improve oral health status. The health belief model is a framework that shows the relation between some of the constructs related personal perceives and cues to action and self efficacy and behavior. This research was done to determine predictors of health belief model constructs in dental caries index in the boy students, in fifthgrade in the primary school in Dezfool in 2010. This research is an analyticdescription type. Initially a questionnaire was self-designed based on model constructs, and validity and reliability was evaluated. Then, 150 students were selected by random sampling method. The collected data form the completed questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS15 software. The results showed that prevalence of tooth decay was%78.7 and M +/- SD of dental caries index was 2.59 +/- 2.05. There was a significant relation between dental caries index and perceived susceptibility [P=0.07, r=0.21], severity [P=0.03, r=0.16], barriers [P=0.07, r=0.21], and self efficacy [P=0.04, r=0.17] constructs, but it had no significant relation with perceived benefits and cues to action. In addition, there was a significant relation between dental caries index and tooth brushing behavior [P=0.002, F=4.05], but it had no significant relation with using tooth flossing. The result of this study confirms that we can decrease tooth decay indicator of students by improving tooth brushing behavior

Numerical simulation of pulsatile flow with newtonian and non-newtonian behavior in arterial stenosis

There is considerable evidence that vascular fluid dynamics plays an important role in the development and prevalence of atherosclerosis which is one of the most widespread disease in humans .The onset and prevalence of atherosclerosis hemodynamic parameter are largely affected by geometric parameters. If any obstacle interferes with the blood flow, the above parameters change dramatically. Most of the arterial diseases, such as atherosclerosis, occur in the arteries with complex patterns of fluid flow where the blood dynamics plays an important role. Arterial stenosis mostly occurs in an area with a complex pattern of fluid flow, such as coronary artery, aorta bifurcation, carotid and vessels of lower limbs. During the past three decades, many experimental studies have been performed on the hemodynamic role of the blood in forming sediment in the inner wall of the vessels. It has been shown that forming sediment in the inner wall of vessels depends on the velocity of fluid and also on the amount of wall shear stress.We have examined the effect on the blood flow of local stenosis in carotid artery in numerical form using the incompressible Navier-Stockes equations. The profile of the velocity in different parts and times in the pulsatile cycle, separation and reattachment points on the wall, the distance stability of flow and also alteration caused by the wall shear stress in entire vessel were shown and compared with two behaviors flow [Newtonian and Non-Newtonian].Finally we describe the influence of the severity of the stenosis on the separation and reattachment points for a Non-Newtonian fuid. In the present study, we have pointed very low and high oscillating WSS [Wall Shear Stress] values play a significant role in the development of forming sediment in the inner wall of vessels. Also, we obtain this probability is higher for Newtonian than Non-Newtonian fluid behavior.Based on our results, the possibility of the endothelium destruction is greater with the Newtonian fluid behavior and in the regions where WSS are beyond the range of 10-420 dyne/cm2

Deprivation level and the risk of colorectal cancer by anatomic subsite in Northern England

Evidence suggests that the incidence of many cancers including bowel cancer vary according to socioeconomic status and education. In case of colorectal cancer, the direction of this association might be even different for anatomical subsites. The aim of this study was to describe the variation in the incidence of colorectal cancer by subsites across North of England and correlate it with community deprivation. Incidence data were obtained from a population- based cancer registry for the period 1976-2000. Small areas were characterized by their affluence or lack of it, by deriving a Townsend score for each Enumeration District from the 1991 census. The age-standardized incidence rates were calculated for different sites of colorectal cancer for each fifth. The association of each fifth with incidence was also studied using Poisson regression. in men, the age standardized incidence for rectal cancer ranged from 18.3 [for fifth 1, most affluent] to 22.3 [for fifth 5, most deprived] but the trend for proximal cancer was reverse [9.4 for fifth 1 and 8.8 for fifth 5]. Poisson models showed a significant inverse association between deprivation level and proximal cancer in both genders. Rectal cancer had a positive significant association with deprivation level in men [RR+1.25, 95% CI, 1.19-1.32] the association of socioeconomic status with proximal cancer was different from that with rectal cancer. Socioeconomic status is not a direct risk factor and might consider as a proxy for life style factors. This indicates that lifestyle correlates of different subsites of bowel cancer differ. Therefore, the different sites of CRC should not be combined in aetiological studies

[Comparison of oral nicardipine and intravenous magnesium sulfate for preterm labor pain management]

2% of all pregnancies terminate before 32 weeks and 12.5% of them before 37 weeks of gestation. Medical treatment by contraction inhibitors is the most common strategy for management of preterm labor pain. Nicardipine is a dihydropyridine used for inhibition of contractions in animal models. In the clinical setting, the most common medication used for management of preterm labor pain is magnesium sulfate. This study aims to compare the effectiveness and side effects of oral nicardipine and intravenous magnesium sulfate in treatment of preterm labor pain. 125 pregnant women with a gestational age of 24-34 weeks and preterm labor pain were entered into this clinical trial. They were randomly divided into two groups of nicardipine and magnesium sulfate. The medications were administered in loading and maintenance doses. Two groups were not significantly different in terms of gestational age, and cervical dilatation, but their gravity differed significantly. But response to treatment and the time needed for complete inhibition of contractions were significantly different in these groups. In magnesium sulfate group, the response to primary treatment was higher and the time needed to stop the contractions was shorter in comparison to the nicardipine group. But, maternal side effects were higher in the former group

[Comparison of pulmonary function parameters changes among professional and semi-professional basketball athletes]

Bronco constriction is induced by exercise. There are several studies on pulmonary function in athletes during exercise, but there is not a specific study on basketball athletes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pulmonary function changes during basketball in professional players. This study was a before and after study on spirometric parameters during basketball play. Respiratory function was assessed in participants before and 6 to 9 minutes after exercise with a spirolab 2. The study was conducted in three groups, National team of basketball as professional athletes, university team of basketball as semi-professional athletes and medical students as non-athletes group. Thirty five professional athletes, 12 semi-professional athletes and 34 non-athletes participated in this study. Overall, forced vital capacity [FVC] was significantly decreased after exercise [p=0.000], but this change was significant in professional athletes [p=0.05]. Although forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] didn't have significant changes after exercise, there was a significant reduction in this parameter among professional athletes. There were not any significant changes in other spirometric parameters. The reduction in FVC and FEV1 were not more than 6%. We concluded that changes in pulmonary function parameters in professional basketball players were more than semi-professional and non-athletes people

Common food allergens in Iranian children

The prevalence of food allergy is different in different parts of the world. Identification of the most common food allergens is a priority in any population to provide effective preventive and curative measures. The aim of this study was to determine the most common food allergens in Iranian children. One hundred and ninety children with skin, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, thought to be due to food allergy, were studied. The total serum IgE and eosinophil count tests were measured in all patients. Allergy to 25 food allergens was determined according to the patient's history, skin prick tests, RASTs [Radioallergosorbent Test] and open food challenge tests. Findings: The most common food allergens were cow's milk, tomato, egg white, egg yolk, beef and almond, respectively. The order of common food allergens in this study was different from other reports; this might be due to the different food habits and /or ethnic diversities

20-year survey of infectious complications in 64 patients with common variable immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency [CVID] is a heterogeneous primary immunodeficiency disorder, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and increased susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections. To determine the spectrum of infectious complications in patients with common variable immunodeficiency [CVID], we reviewed the hospital records of 64 CVID patients, who were diagnosed in Children's Medical Center during a period of 20 years. Among our patients, there were 38 males and 26 females, with a median age of 12 years [2-42 years] at the time of study. The median age of diagnosis was 6.1 years, with an average diagnostic delay of 5.2 years in our patient's group. Almost all of our patients have suffered from acute and recurrent infections, particularly in the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The majority of patients [82.5%] had pneumonia prior to diagnosis. The other infectious complications seen in our patients were as follows: recurrent otitis media [54%], recurrent sinusitis [50.8%], diarrhea [65.1%], and bacterial meningitis [11.1%]. Unusual or opportunistic infections were also seen in some of our patient population, including oral candidiasis in 10 patients, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 2 subjects. Based on this study, we suggest that hypogammaglobulinemia should be considered in any patient with a history of recurrent infections in different organs, and such patients should have a full assessment of the immune system