Evaluating the Effect of Family-Centered Intervention Program on Care Burden and Self-Efficacy of Hemodialysis Patient Caregivers Based on Social Cognitive Theory: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study / 가정의학회지

Background@#Caregivers of hemodialysis patients spend a large amount of time providing care to these patients while tolerating fatigue and stress. This study evaluated a family-centered empowerment program on the care burden and self-efficacy of hemodialysis patient caregivers based on social cognitive theory. @*Methods@#In this randomized clinical trial, 70 family caregivers of hemodialysis patients in Isfahan, Iran, were selected and randomly allocated to intervention and control groups, in 2015–2016. Two questionnaires were used to collect the family caregivers’ characteristics, care burden, and self-efficacy, and patients’ negative and positive outcomes expectancies. Data were analyzed using SPSS before, immediately after, and 2 months after the intervention. @*Results@#There was no significant difference in the mean scores of care burden, positive outcomes expectancies, negative outcomes expectancies, and self-efficacy between the two groups before the intervention. However, there were significant differences in the post-test and follow-up data analyses (P<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Given the degenerative nature of chronic kidney disease, it can be considered as a source of long-term and chronic stress for caregivers. Therefore, by implementing an empowerment program, caregiving behaviors can be improved, positive outcomes expectancies can be increased, and negative outcomes expectancies can be reduced.

Epigenetic aberration of FMR1 gene in infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve

Objective: The diminished ovarian reserve [DOR] is a condition characterized by a reduction in the number and/or quality of oocytes. This primary infertility disorder is usually accompanied with an increase in the follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] levels and regular menses. Although there are many factors contributing to the DOR situation, it is likely that many of idiopathic cases have genetic/epigenetic bases. The association between the FMR1 premutation [50-200 CGG repeats] and the premature ovarian failure [POF] suggests that epigenetic disorders of FMR1 can act as a risk factor for the DOR as well. The aim of this study was to analyze the mRNA expression and epigenetic alteration [histone acetylation/methylation] of the FMR1 gene in blood and granulosa cells of 20 infertile women

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we analyzed the mRNA expression and epigenetic altration of the FMR1 gene in blood and granulosa cells of 20 infertile women. These women were referred to the Royan Institute, having been clinically diagnosed as DOR patients. Our control group consisted of 20 women with normal antral follicle numbers and serum FSH level. All these women had normal karyotype and no history of genetic disorders. The number of CGG triplet repeats in the exon 1 of the FMR1 gene was analyzed in all samples

Results: Results clearly demonstrated significantly higher expression of the FMR1 gene in blood and granulosa cells of the DOR patients with the FMR1 premutation compared to the control group. In addition, epigenetic marks of histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation [H3K9ac] and di-metylation [H3K9me2] showed significantly higher incorporations in the regulatory regions of the FMR1 gene, including the promoter and the exon 1, whereas tri-metylation [H3K9me3] mark showed no significant difference between two groups

Conclusion: Our data demonstrates, for the first time, the dynamicity of gene expression and histone modification pattern in regulation of FMR1 gene, and implies the key role played by epigenetics in the development of the ovarian function

Genotype and Phenotype of Echinococcus granulosus Derived from Wild Sheep (Ovis orientalis) in Iran

The aim of the present study is to determine the characteristics of genotype and phenotype of Echinococcus granulosus derived from wild sheep and to compare them with the strains of E. granulosus sensu stricto (sheep-dog) and E. granulosus camel strain (camel-dog) in Iran. In Khojir National Park, near Tehran, Iran, a fertile hydatid cyst was recently found in the liver of a dead wild sheep (Ovis orientalis). The number of protoscolices (n=6,000) proved enough for an experimental infection in a dog. The characteristics of large and small hooks of metacestode were statistically determined as the sensu stricto strain but not the camel strain (P=0.5). To determine E. granulosus genotype, 20 adult worms of this type were collected from the infected dog. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase 1 subunit (COX1) of the mitochondrial DNA were amplified from individual adult worm by PCR. Subsequently, the PCR product was sequenced by Sanger method. The lengths of ITS2 and COX1 sequences were 378 and 857 bp, respectively, for all the sequenced samples. The amplified DNA sequences from both ribosomal and mitochondrial genes were highly similar (99% and 98%, respectively) to that of the ovine strain in the GenBank database. The results of the present study indicate that the morpho-molecular features and characteristics of E. granulosus in the Iranian wild sheep are the same as those of the sheep-dog E. granulosus sensu stricto strain.

Morphological and genetic characteristics of the liver hydatid cyst of a donkey with Iran origin

No data is available on morphology and genetic characteristics of Echinococcus granulosusderived from donkeys of Iran, despite of its existence in donkeys. In the present study morphometric variations of the rostellar hooks of protoscoleces and genotype characteristics of hydatid cyst of donkey from Iran were determined. Protoscoleces prepared from hydatid cyst of donkey of Iran were morphometric and genetic analyzed. The genetic analysis was done using Cox 1 gene by comparative sequence analysis. Our morphometric results showed that donkey of Iran shares 6 out of 7 determined parameters with donkeys of Jordan and 4 out of 7 with 4 available data with Switzerland donkeys. Morphological similarities and dissimilarities were observed with sheep-dog [G1] and camel-dog strains [G6] of Iran. The nucleotide sequence alignment showed that the partial sequence of Cox 1 from donkey had 91% homology with query coverage of 99% to the corresponding sequence of E. equinus, 90% homology to the E. felidis, 90% homology to E. ortleppi, 89% homology to the E. shiquinus, 89% homology to the E. vogeli, 89% homology to the E. oligarthrus, 88% homology to the E. Canadensis and 83% homology to the Taenia solium. Additionally, the amino acid sequence of this gene has also some differences between this strain and all known strains of E. granulosus even with E. equinus [G4]. Despite of common morphological characteristics of Iranian donkey hydatid cyst with those of donkeys of other parts of the world, genetically it has its own entity

Helminth infections of house mouse [mus musulus] and wood mouse [apodemus sylvaticus] from the suburban areas of Hamadan city, Western Iran

To determine the prevalence and intensity of helminths and their zoonotic importance in small rodents inhabiting in the suburban areas of Hamadan City, Iran. The present survey was conducted on the helminth infections of two species of rodents Apodemus sylvaticus [n=60] and Mus musculus[n=72] in the suburban areas of Hamadan City during 2010-2012. Rodents were collected and examined for helminth in the different organs. The nematodes were collected in 5% formalin solution and cleared in lactophenol, cestodes and trematodes collected from intestine fixed in AFA solution and stained by acetocarmine, cleared in xylol for identification. Helminths found in A. sylvaticus and M. musculus and their prevalence for the first time in suburban areas of Hamadan City were as follows; In A. sylvaticus: Cysticercus fasciolaris[3.33%], Syphacia fredrici[26.67%], S. stroma[8.33%], Anoplocephalidae sp. [1.67%], Skrjabinotaenia lobata[5%], Plagiorchis muris[1.67%] and in M. musculus: Hymenolepis nana [16.67%], H. diminuta [5.55%], S. obvelata[30.56%], S. ohtarom [9.72%], Rodentolepis crassa [1.39%], C. fasciolaris [1.39%]. Among 11 species in two rodents 4 species including S. obvelata, H. nana, H. diminuta, and P. muris have zoonotic importance. Statistically the relation between gender and their helminth infections was not significant in either M. musculus or A. sylvaticus [P>0.05]. This study reports 11 species of helminths and on the other hand 3 species were identified for the first time in Iran and 5 species of them have potential health importance for public health and cat

Cattle fascioliasis in Gilan Province, Iran

Fasciolais a well-known parasite with a worldwide distribution and huge implications for the economic performance of domesticated herbivorous animals. It also caused deleterious effects on human health. It is prevalent in most parts of Iran, but especially in Gilan province. During 2005, 445 fecal samples taken directly from the rectum of local cattle in three different regions of Gilan and were subjected to coprological examination using saturated zinc and sodium chloride solution. The sex, age and locality of cattle were recorded. Our findings revealed an overall infection rate of 32% with the highest rate [55.2%] occurring in Talesh. No significant relationship was found between sex or age [P=0.65] and infection. Despite this, in contrast to the longheld assumption that adult cattle develops resistance to infection, our findings showed no difference between the rates of infection and the mean number of Egg Per Gram [EPG] in young and old cattle. The rate of infection in 5,820 slaughtered cattle showed that the fascioliasis is more prevalent among the animals examined in Talesh Region [P<0.01]. Meanwhile, there was a direct relationship between the amount of rainfall and the rate of infection [r=0.98, P<0.01]. The determination of Fasciola species in the liver of 70 native cattle revealed that 50 [71.4%] harbored F. gigantic, 14 [20%] had F. hepatica, and six [8.5%] had F. hepatica and F. gigantica. Therefore, F. gigantica was the dominant species in the studied areas

Screening of soil and sheep faecal samples for predacious fungi: Isolation and characterization of the nematode-trapping fungus arthrobotrys oligospora

Over one-year period, 150 pasture soil samples and 138 sheep faecal samples, collected from different parts of Iran were screened for the presence of nematophagous fungi. The samples were cultured at 25°C on chloramphenicol-2% water agar [CHF-WA] plates in the presence of Haemonchus contortus third stage larvae [L3] and checked over a two-month period for characteristic conidia, conidiophores and hyphal traps of nematophagous fungi. Suspected nematophagous fungi were isolated by periodic transfer of the fungi on CHF-WA plates using the agar block method. Overall, 11 soil samples were found to harbour the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys from which 3 pure isolates were made and consequently identified as Arthrobotrys oligospora IRAN 877 C, IRAN 878 C and IRAN 879 C. Nematophagous fungi were not found in any tested sheep faecal samples. The predatory capacity of the isolates was tested against H. contortus infective larvae and then compared to reference strains A. oligospora CBS 111.37, A. oligospora CBS 251.82 and Duddingtonia flagrans CBS 583.91. The local strains of A. oligospora reduced the development of H. contortus L3 by 75-85%, whereas, the predatory capacity of reference A. oligospora and D. flagrans strains was measured in the range of 51-85% compared to the fungus free controls. Study of the effect of temperature on predatory activity of A. oligospora strains IRAN 877 C and CBS 111.37 revealed a reduction of more than 95% in infective larvae of H. contortus at temperature levels between 15 to 25°C. This reduction was significantly decreased to 30% and 50% at 10°C and 30°C, respectively. The nematode-trapping fungus A. oligospora is reported from soil of Iran for the first time and its potential role in biocontrol of gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants is discussed