[Evaluation of morphophysiological and phytochmical traits of different ecotypes of salvia multicaulis Vahl. in Hamedan Province, Iran]

Background: Salvia multicaulis Vahl. a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, has an extensive application in native and traditional medicine

Objective: This research was conducted to investigate diversity of morphophysiological traits and content of essential oil, phenol and flavonoid of Salvia multicaulis ecotypes in different districts of Hamedan province, Iran

Methods: In this study, 11 ecotypes of Salvia multicaulis were collected from different districts of Hamedan Province at the full flowering stage in spring 2016 and were evaluated for their morphophysiological and phytochemical characteristics. The classification of ecotypes was done on the basis of phytochemical and morphophysiological traits by cluster analysis and correlations among quantitative traits was also conducted by Pearson method

Results: Result showed that the essential oil content had positive significant correlation with plant height, inflorescence length, dry matter of flowering branche and essential oil yield. Also there was a positive significant correlation between essential oil yield with receptacle length, flower fresh and dry matter and plant dry matter. The heighes dry weight of flowering branch and flower was related to ecotypes of Lashkardar and west of Hamedan, respectively. The maximum plant dry weight was belong to Yelfan ecotype. The most essential oil content was related to Lashkardar and west of Hamedan ecotypes. Also, the highest content of phenol and flavonoid related to Vehnan ecotype. According to the cluster analysis, 11 ecotypes were divided into two groups

Conclusion: The evaluation of morphophysiological and phytochemical traits showed that there was a considerable variation among different ecotypes of Salvia multicaulis in respect of morphophysiological and phytochemical characteristics

[Glycodelin expression in human breast cancer]

Glycodelin expression in normal and cancerous human breast tissue and its relation with age, tumor type, microscopic grade and metastasis to axillary lymph nodes recently were noticed. This study was done to evaluate the glycodelin expression in breast cancer. In this descriptive study, 96 Paraffin-embedded blocks of malignant breast cancer by immunohistochemistry method were considered to evaluate the expression of glycodelin. Patients age,tumor size, tumor type, microscopic grade and metastasis to axillary lymph nodes were recorded for each subject. Glycodelin was found in 30.45% of invasive carcinoma of the breast with axillary lymph node metastasis. Glycodelin was expressed in 72.7% of carcinoma of the breast without lymph nodes metastasis [P<0.05]. There was a significant relation between glycodelin expression with microscopic grade 1 of tumor and metastasis to less than 4 of lymph nodes [P<0.05]. Glycodelin expression can be evidence for lack of axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer

[Goiter and urinary iodine excretion survey of schoolchildren in Qazvin provine: results of 17 years universal salt iodization in Iran [2007]]

The iodine deficiency elimination program, which began two decades ago, has resulted in Iran becoming an Iodine Deficiency Disorders [IDD] free country in the Middle-East region. This study was performed to evaluate the adequacy of iodine supplementation after 17 years of universal salt iodization in the province of Qazvin. In a crosssectional study, 1200 schoolchildren [600 girls and 600 boys], aged 8 to 10 years, were randomly selected from Qazvin province, and evaluated in 2007. Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion and iodine content of household salts were measured and the data obtained were compared with those obtained in 1996 and 2001. Total prevalence of goiter was 0.8%; and no grade 2 goiter was seen. One-tenth of the children enrolled for goiter assessment, were randomly selected for urinary iodine measurement. The median urinary iodine in these 120 schoolchildren was 151 micro g/L, with 4% having urinary iodine excretion less than 50 micro g/L. Sixty-six percent of households were using purified iodized salt, 65% of households had appropriate salt storage, and 30% of the household salts contained less than 15 micro g iodide. Goiter prevalence has significantly decreased in Qazvin province, 17 years after universal salt iodization. Similar to reports from 1996 and 2001, the median urinary iodine of schoolchildren was adequate, indicating a well established sustainable IDD program in Iran

Education-based needs assessment: a step toward effective prevention of AIDS

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is dramatically increasing worldwide. Iran and the other Middle East countries have also encountered this increasing pattern. The aim of this study was to assess the educational needs of Bandar-Abbas people about HIV/AIDS. This descriptive analytical research was carried out on a sample population of 2123 persons who were randomly recruited for the study in 2003. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and the information resource for HIV/Aids were assessed through interviews. Our data showed that people had a good level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, however no positive attitude toward this disease was observed. There was a relationship between age and the knowledge on transmission routes [P=0.03, r=0.65]. Also, a significant correlation between education and the knowledge on different ways of transmission was demonstrated. No significant relationship between sex and the knowledge was established. Approximately, 40% of people were shown to have high level of self-efficacy in preventing the disease. Regarding the perceived severity, 48.7% believed that HIV/AIDS causes the patients to become weak and 34.7% thought that HIV/AIDS can expose people to other diseases. Most people described that their information on HIV/AIDS was obtained through mass media. Promoting the level of social health is in close association with publicizing the level of knowledge among people and correcting their attitudes toward the disease. This topic should be highlighted in health promoting educational programs

Osteoporosis and its association with estrogen receptor- alpha gene polymorphism in a population of Iranian women referring to Loghman hospital

Osteoporosis is a common disease in which the bones become prone to fracture as a result of loss of bone mineral density [BMD]. The estrogen receptor [ER] gene is a candidate gene for osteoporosis. This study assesses the relation between estrogen receptor- alpha gene polymorphism and osteoporosis in a population of Iranian women. In the present study, we investigated 200 pre- and/or post-menopausal Iranian women, aged 35-80 years, stratified for BMD into normal and patient groups. The genomic DNA of both groups was amplified by PCR using specific primers and products were digested by restriction enzymes PvuII or XbaI to identify the related genotypes. The genotypes of intron 1 PvuII or XbaI poly-morphisms of the ER- alpha gene were detected and introduced so that the upper case and lower case letters of Pp [PvuII] and Xx [XbaI] signified the absence or presence of restriction sites in RFLP experiments. Based on our results, no significant relationship was observed between BMD and intron 1 RFLPs of the estrogen receptor alpha gene. Three genotypes, Pp XX, pp XX and PP xx, were detected, all at a very low frequency in this population of Iranian women. To conclude no significant relationship was found between BMD and intron 1 RFLPs of the estrogen receptor alpha gene. Larger numbers of patients need to be investigated to ascertain and confirm whether ER- alpha genotypes are associated to the disease etiology and if any other factors are involved

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward iron deficiency anemia in three Provinces of Iran

Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems and consequently improper practice, which can lead to several complications. This study has been designed in order to compare knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban and rural households regarding iron deficiency anemia [IDA] in Boushehr, Golestan and Sistan and Balouchestan provinces in 2004. The sampling method at household's level in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household. Comparison of frequency of variables between urban and rural areas were tested by chi square test. A total of 2306 households were selected as overall sample size. In urban areas, people recognized iron food sources better than rural areas. Knowledge level of respondents about vulnerable group for IDA and the favorite attitude of households toward IDA were better in urban areas of Sistan and Blouchestan and Golestan provinces. In Sistan and Balouchestan and Golestan, rural households who drank tea immediately before or after meal was more than urban ones. The majority of pregnant and lactating mothers [except for rural areas of Bushehr] did not take iron supplement regularly. Less than 60 percent of children used iron drop regularly. Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of households toward IDA were not acceptable. One of the best ways of improving nutritional practice is nutritional education with focus on applying available food resources

Formant frequency of Persian Vowels in 18-24 years old university students

This study aimed to investigate first three formants of Persian language among 18- 24 years old university students. In a descriptive and cross-sectional study, 60 students [30 males and 30 females] aged 18-24 years were selected from school of Persian language and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The data were gathered directly by the interviewer; and the Persian vowel producing test was performed on the samples. Then first, second, and third formants of every six vowels were obtained by the Real analysis program of Dr. Speech software and Speech Studio, and their scores were recorded in the table, and investigated finally based on the goals and questions of the study. The greatest mean amount of F1, F2, and F3 were for vowel /?/ 767 Hz, vowel /i/ 2244 Hz, and vowel /i/ 3129 Hz, respectively; and the least amount was for vowel /i/ 255 Hz, /u/ 734 Hz, and /u/ 2317 Hz, respectively, among the male students. The greatest mean amount of F[1], F[2], and F[3] was for vowel /?/ 876 Hz, vowel /i/ 2688 Hz, and vowel /i/ 3339 Hz, respectively; the least amount was for vowel /u/ 376 Hz, /u/ 731 Hz, and /u/ 2412 Hz, respectively, among the female students. The vowels /i/ and /u/ are close and the vowels /?/ and /a/ are open and two vowels /o/ and /e/ are located between these two groups. The vowels /i/, /e/, and /?/ are anterior and vowels /a/, /o/, and /u/ are posterior. The vowels /i/, /?/ are expanded and the vowel /e/ is semiexpanded. The vowels /a/ and /u/ are circular and the vowel /o/ is semi-circular

Persian vowel formant structure of students with normal, moderate and severe hearing loss aged 15-18 years in Esfahan

Formant structure is one of the most important acoustic characteristics of Sounds. We can differentiate Vowels according to their first three Formants. Objective measurements of Vowel Formants are more valid than auditory perception in pathologic circumstances including children with hearing impairment. In this analytical-descriptive and cross-sectional study we compared the Persian Vowel Formants between 64 Normal and hearing impaired students ranged from 15-18 years Old in Esfahan high school. The mean of Fl, F2, F2/F1 and F3/F1 of Persian vowels in all groups were significantly different [P<0/05]. The mean of F3 of Persian vowels only in/u/ was significantly different. Results showed that students with moderate and severe hearing impairment had an irregular pattern of vowel arrangement in regard of the most and the least three formants [Fl- F2 - F3]. They also tend to substitute forward vowels with backwards and near the vowels place of articulation to back of the tongue and making sclnowa because of their dependence on proprioceptive sense while making sound

[Comparing dressing with silver sulfadiazine and nitrofurazone on burn wound infection among the patients admitted to the pediatric burn ward in Tabriz, 2005]

Introduction: Burns are among the main public health problems throughout the world especially in the developing countries. In Iran burn injuries causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially among the pediatric population. Infection remains the most common cause of death in the severely burned patients. The proper use of topical antimicrobial agents decreases the occurrence of bacterial resistance and sepsis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare two topical antimicrobial agents, Silver Sulfadiazine and Nitrofurazone, with respect to the rate of healing, infection and their treatment

Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study that used convenience sampling for 5 months on 60 cases that were admitted in the pediatric burn ward at the burn center of the Sina hospital, Tabriz, East Azarbijan, in 2005. Research population consisted of children who were admitted in this center and from among them; the patients who met the characteristics of research samples were selected after explaining the study to their parents and receiving their permission. They were allocated in random into two groups [control and experimental]. The tools were a questionnaire and a checklist. In this research one group was dressed with Silver Sulfadiazine cream and another group with Nitrofurazone and they were replaced once per day. For burn status assessment, in dressing change time, the wounds were considered regarding to the infection criteria and presence of epithelialization and granulation tissue. Also for each patient, bacterial cultures were taken three times by a swab. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed using the X[2]-test and T-test by means of SPSS software [version 11.5]

Results: Statistical analysis didn't show any significant difference between the two groups with regard to clinical signs of infection [P= 1.000] and microbiological study [P= 0.739]. Also there wasn't any significant difference between two groups with regard to re- epithelialization time [P= 0.763], hospitalization days [P=0.818] and cost of confinement [P= 0.969]

Conclusion: In this study, our hypothesis based on a difference between two topical antibacterial agents was rejected and it was seen that the efficacy of two drugs [Silver Sulfadiazine 1% cream and Nitrofurazone] were parallel. It indicated that over use of one drug can't be a reason for its efficacy. It seems that more attention should be paid on selecting the drug for burned patient treatment