Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of dominant lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional yoghurts produced by tribes of Iran

Morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics were studied to identify dominant lactic acid bacteria [LAB], isolated from traditional yoghurts produced by tribes of Iran. From 60 yoghurt samples, a total of 137 LAB isolates were determined, in which 66 and 71 were identified as lactic acid cocci and bacilli, respectively. Biochemical tests showed the occurrence of 9.76% mesophilic homofermentative, 10.98% mesophilic hetrofermentative, 26.83% thermophilic homofermentative and 47.56% mesophilic homofermentative cocci. As for lactic acid bacilli, mesophilic facultative hetrofermentative [26%]; thermophilic obligate homofermentative [56%]; mesophilic obligate hetrofermentative [18%] were found. Genetically the presence of the following species were verified: E. faecium, E. faecalis, E. durans; L. lactis subsp. lactis/ St. thermophilus', Lb. delbruecki subsp. bulgaricus; Lb. brevis/ Lb. diolivorans'Lb. helveticus; Lb. jensenii; Lb. plantarum. 9% of the Lactobacillus isolates showed incompatible results between phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. From the cocci isolates, 38.46% showed identical results between phylogenetic characteristics. The current study constitutes the first step in the designing process of LAB starter cultures, to protect the typical organoleptic characteristics of traditional yoghurt. The results could also be used to introduce new starter cultures for commercial use

[Symptomology of patients with obsessive compulsive disorders when referring to clinical centers in Tehran]

Different cultural habits through creating different beliefs and attitudes can affect phenomenology and prevalence of symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorders. This descriptive study was conducted among patients to determine symptomology of obsessive disorder Referred to clinical centers in Tehran with emphasis on culture. In this descriptive study 103 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were selected through non accidental sampling [quota, convenience]. Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale with an open-ended question was used in this study. Convergent and test-retest were also conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability. Data have been analyzed by SPSS software. The results showed that the most common symptoms of obsession in Iranian patients respectively, Included contamination obsession [92.23%], miscellaneous obsessions [66.99%] and physical obsession [57.28%] and the most common symptoms of compulsive respectively, Include miscellaneous compulsive [78.64%], Cleaning and washing [73.78%], and Sift [64.07%]. The overall pattern of Symptomology obsessive-compulsive disorder in this study sample is consistent with the observed pattern in Western and Eastern cultures in some countries, so that the main features of obsessive-compulsive disorder was relatively independent of cultural variables and only exception is content of OCD in which cultural factors may play a significant role

[Comparison of the effects of narrative therapy and diet therapy on the body mass index in overweight and obese women]

This study was carried out with the aim of comparing the effect of diet therapy and narrative intervention on the extent of body mass index [BMI] reduction in overweight and obese women. This was a quasi experimental-interventional study, in which 30 overweight women were selected by random sampling from among those consulting the Diet Clinic and randomly assigned to one of 2 intervention [group 1, diet therapy alone; group 2, diet therapy plus narrative therapy] and a control group [receiving no intervention]. The period of intervention was 5 weeks. Weight of all the subjects with light clothing was measured by a Seca scale to the nearest 0.5 kg and their height by a stadio-meter to the nearest 0.5 cm. The BMI was calculated by dividing weight [in kg] by squared height [m2]. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 16 software, the statistical test being covariance analysis and paired t- test. Data analysis showed that diet therapy alone [group 1] had no significant effect on the BMI [P>0.05], while in group 2 [diet therapy plus narrative therapy] BMI decreased significantly [P<0.001]. Inter-group comparison [among the 3 groups] showed that there were no significant difference between diet therapy and narrative therapy with regard to BMI. The findings show that in the first phase of intervention life narratives about overweight help obese women correct their nutritional habits. This is followed by BMI reduction in the second phase. Since diet therapy is not consistent with the women's life narratives, it plays no role in correcting life narratives for more successful dieting. Considering the efficacy of narrative therapy in body mass index reduction and no effect by diet therapy alone, further studies on the life narratives of overweight women and their correction are recommended

Nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding for preprochymosin in native goat [Capra hircus] from Iran

Prochymosin is one of the most important aspartic proteinases used as a milk-clotting enzyme in cheese production. In the present investigation we report sequence of cDNA encoding goat [Capra hircus] preprochymosin and compare its nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences with sequences of other ruminants preprochymosin. As bovine prochymosin, the caprine prochymosin cDNA encodes 365 amino acids with a prosegment of 42 amino acids and the mature goat chymosin begins with glycine. The preprochymosin nucleotide sequence reported in this study differs from other reported goat sequence [AY389343] in three nucleotides, two of which alter the amino acids at positions 19p and 139

[Quantitative measurement and ranking of jobrelated stressors: a preliminary survey in anesthesiology residents]

Stress is undoubtedly one of the best known factors that threaten the health of an anesthesiologist. There are few quantitative measures about the job-related stress in anesthesiology. This study attempts to determine these job-related stressors, measure them quantitatively and rank them. In this cross-sectional study after reviewing the literature and extraction of stressors to which anesthesiologists and residents are exposed, a primary list of occupational problems [30 questions] was compiled. In phase I, 39 registered residents [group A] answered the questionnaire before beginning their program. Then the questionnaire was revised slightly based on phase I experiences and a final version of the questionnaire [34questions], was completed by 85 first- to third- year residents in phase 11. To assess the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach a was calculated for groups A and B as 0.929 and 0.927 respectively. ANOVA was highly significant [P<0.0001]. After data collection, answers were ranked zero to four and mean score for each resident was calculated. Then we averaged these mean scores and named it: "Anesthesiology problem score [APS]". Besides, all residents completed SCL-90R screening test questionnaire and we extracted its nine subscales. In group A, "financial problems" and "vague career future" and in group B, "vague career future" and "inadequate training of residents" were ranked as the most important problems. In both groups, "fear of addiction" was the least important problem. To measure the relationship between APS and nine Scl-90K subscales, parametric correlation test was performed. This relationship appeared significant for all subscales [P<0.02] .Besides, T-test for independent groups showed significant difference in APS between two sex groups [1.2 1 for men and 1.5 1 for women, P=0.04]. One- way ANOVA showed significant difference in APS among educational years [P=0.04]. We conclude that: "anxiety about career future" is the most important occupational stressor among young anesthesiologists. Statistical tests show the relationship between occupational stress and the following: I. SCL-90R Scores, 2- The extent of work experience. In addition these tests demonstrate that stressors are different in quality and quantity among men and women