[ important herbal plants of Iranian flora on burn healing]

Burn is one of the major causes of death and disability in the world. It can cause by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation. More burns caused by fires in buildings, contact with boiling water, steam, liquids and flammable gases. Accelerating the process of healing has always been of interest to practitioners because these injuries are usually takes long time to be healed. Therefore, proper treatment and care of this type of wound required to accelerate healing, prevent infection and chronicity. In traditional medicine, due to the high vegetation diversity and breadth of our country, the use of herbs for burns healing and lesions of various etiologies, has been intesified. Various studies on burn wound healing properties of medicinal plants have been performed. In this article, we refered to reliable sites for evaluating of 10 plants including Amebia euchroma, Green Tea, Hypericum perforatum, Centella asiatica, Scrophularia striata, Aloe vera, Cydpnia Oblongae seeed, Malva sylvestris, Calendula officinalis and Myrtus to compare the restorative properties of a number of important medicinal plant flora of Iran on accelerating the process of wounds healing of burn in order to provide effective medicinal plant sources are addressed

[Genomic structure of Burkholderia mallei Razi 325, the strain used for industrial production of Mallein in Iran]

Background and Objective: Iran remains a major stronghold for glanders in the Middle East. In Iran, the non-indigenous Burkholderia mallei Razi 325 strain is used in manufacturing of the mallein, required for malleination of animals. Multi Locus Variable number tandem repeat analysis is currently the standard globally accepted genotyping system for Burkholderia mallei. This study was done to survey the genomic structure of Burkholderia mallei Razi 325, the strain used for industrial production of Mallein

Methods: In this descriptive study, a MLVA genotyping system with 4 previously-characterized loci VNTR140, VNTR1367, VNTR2065, VNTR2971 along with two new loci of VNTR24, VNTR41 was used

Results: Optimization of PCRs resulted in a single protocol that enabled simultaneous amplification of all the six loci. Sequencing of PCR products revealed there were 2, 3, 12, 6, 1 and 2 copies of the unit repeat hold in the genome of the Burkholderia mallei Razi 325 strain. This observation was extended to include the already-whole genome sequenced Chinese Burkholderia mallei ATCC 23344 and Burkholderia mallei BMQ and also Burkholderia mallei SAVP1 strains

Conclusion: The Burkholderia mallei Razi 325 strain is distinguishable from the other three strains through MLVA genotyping method

Medical students' attitudes towards comprehensive and basic sciences exam questions in Birjand University of Medical Sciences

Background and purpose: Basic medical sciences, not only in its traditional form as basic sciences, but also in its modern forms like Biotechnology and Genetics has indicated a highly applicable potential in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses. Therefore it is essential to improve basic sciences education quality, and because clinical students are in direct contact with medical issues, their judgment towards the clinical application of these lessons is crucial. This study was to analyze the clinical students' attitude towards the basic sciences and their general questions in Birjand University of Medical Sciences

Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2006. All the medical students at the levels of Trainee I and II, and interns in Birjand University of Medical Sciences took part in this study. Data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire. In this study, the questions from three periods of comprehensive exam from September 1380-1382 [2001-2003] were used, then 60 questions were chosen via the random sampling and given to all clinical students and for each scientific question, one attitude assessment question was given so that the responder could represent his attitude on the Likert scale. The basic sciences courses and the necessity of specific courses in the basic level were analyzed in the further questionnaires. Then the SPSS software and the Chi-Square exam were used in order to analyze the data, and a P value of <0.05 was considered significant

Results: The number of participants in this study was 95 students, from which 27 [28.4%] were men and 68 [71.6%] were women. According to most students [75.8%] there was no significant relationship between the questions of comprehensive exam of basic sciences and the studied courses in the basic sciences' period, and the questions were not so applicable. There was no significant difference between the male and female ideas and students at various levels on the matter [p>0.05]. From the viewpoint of the questions being applicable, the physiology [74.8%] and microbiology [74.8%] had the highest percentage of responses, and Biochemistry [69.5%] had the lowest. The necessity of specific courses was analyzed; anatomy [88.4%] and ESP [77.9%] were on top, and the Histology lab [14.7%] and Biochemistry lab [9.5%] were placed last. Among all the students, 61.1% had an opposing attitude towards the relation of basic sciences' courses with the clinical application [clinical application in practice]. 49.5% of the students did not even remember the basic sciences' material. 60% evaluated the basic sciences' period to be weak, and 73.7% believed that the courses' duration to be inappropriate. Interns had a more positive feedback towards the application of the basic sciences exams than the trainees, and 61.1% had an opposing attitude towards the relation of basic sciences and their clinical application, and 71.6% of them were agree to the simultaneous study on the basic and clinical courses. There was no significant difference between the male and female students, or the students from various levels on the matter [p>0.05]

Conclusions: The innovation of new teaching methods in basic sciences, along with its applicable examples could partially change the students' attitude. The questions of the exam should be as applicable as possible, and therefore reduce the gap between clinical and basic sciences

Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotyping by MIRU-VNTR method

st and ardized genotyping systems in molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in the world. This sudy was done to determine the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotyping by MIRU-VNTR method. Methods: This descriptive study was done on sputum, gastric lavage clinical specimens of 53 tuberculosis suspected patients. Fifty-three isolates were identified by 16S rRNAandRv-typing followed by RD typing. They were then subjected to a 12-locus [ETRA, ETRB, ETRC, ETRD, ETRE and ETRF, MIRU-10, MIRU-26, MIRU-39, MIRU-30 plus QUB-11b] MIRU-VNTR typing system. Results: In MIRU-VNTR typing, forty-four types were identified with 13 isolates classified in 4 clustered and the remaining 40 isolates representing 40 orphan patterns. In comparative analysis of MIRU-VNTR loci, MIRU-26 with 7 alleles displayed the highest diversity level [Simpson's diversity index = 0.767. Out of the 53 isolates, only one was identified as Mycobacterium bovis. All the remaining isolates were characterized as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. None of the samples was affected to Mycobacterium complex strain. No evidence of either double or co-infection of the patients with more than one species/strain was detected. Conclusion: While the genomic diversity observed by MIRU-VNTR typing sounds extensive, the population genomic structure on the whole however, seems to be homogenous. Recent transmission between studied patients does not appear to be a frequent event as only 13 isolates representing 4 MIRU-VNTR types, were assumingly epidemic

[Safety climate in a steel-manufacturing plant]

Safety climate is a psychological phenomenon and a sub-component of safety culture, which is usually reflected in the shared workforce's perceptions about the state of safety at any particular time. It can provide an indication of the priority of safety in an organization with regard to other priorities such as production or quality. The objective of this study was to assess the safety climate profile in a steel manufacturing plant in Iran and using the results to improve the level of safety. In this cross-sectional study, the UK Loughborough University Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit was used to assess the safety climate in a steel-manufacturing industry in Iran. Information was collected through interviews and questionnaires, focus group discussions, and direct observations in the filed. Safety climate scores were calculated in 17 themes. A graphic representation of the safety climate scores obtained showed that safety climate in the company is at the medium level [4.80 +/- 2]. The highest and lowest scores were for dimensions of personal priority and need for safety [8.6 +/- 0.8] and accidents and incidents [1 +/- 0.00]. A non-significant correlation was found between worker's education and work experience on the one hand and their attitude towards safety on the other hand [p>0.05]. Both management commitment and personal priority were associated with the workers' age [p= 0.03 and 0.02, respectively], while work environment was associated only with employment status [p = 0.04]. Safety climate assessment can be a proactive safety performance indicator used to improve the level of safety in an organisation

[ relationship between indicators of plasma oxidative stress and photo aging]

Photo aging is significantly different from chronological aging in both clinical and histological appearances. It has been suggested that oxidative stress generated by ultraviolet radiation [UVR], leads to photo aging over a long time period. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the indicators of plasma oxidative stress and photo damaged skin in patients who referred to dermatology clinic in Birjand city. In this case-control study, 33 patients with photo aging and 33 controls [matched age and gender] were recruited after confirmation of the diagnosis by a dermatologist. Mean time of sun exposure in patient and control groups was measured separately. Plasma total antioxidant capacity, lipid per oxidation and thiol groups' levels [as indicators of oxidative stress] were measured in case and control groups. The collected data were analyzed using [5.5 +/- 2.1hour per day] was higher than control group [1.9 +/- 1.2 hour per day] [p<0.001]. Mean of plasma lipid per oxidation levels in case group [3.4 +/- 1.1 micro mol/lit] was higher than control group [2.80 +/- 0.67 micro mol/lit] [p<0.003]. There was no significant difference between mean of plasma total antioxidant capacity and mean of plasma thiol groups in case and control groups. The results of this study suggest that a relationship exists between plasma lipid per oxidation levels and photo aging

[ relationship of plasma antioxidants and serum lipid levels with seborrheic dermatitis [SD]: a case-control study]

Evidences shows that the defect in the synthesis of some fatty acids can lead to seborrheic dermatitis and elevated serum lipids in lipophilic fungi activities. Epidemiologic reports suggest a relationship between antioxidant levels and serum lipids in a number of dermatitis. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between antioxidant levels of plasma and serum lipids with seborrheic dermatitis. In this case-control study 70 patients suffering from SD were compared with 70 healthy people as control group. The two groups had been matched in terms of age and sex. Lipid levels and plasma antioxidants were measured by FRAP [Ferric Reducing A Bility Of Plasma Assay] in both groups. In patients skin lesions samples were tested through web spread to confirm the diagnosis and severity of pityrosporum ovale. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS software, T-Test and Chi-Square tests. The mean level of cholesterol in treatment group [120.5+39.9 mg/dl] was higher than control group [166.5+39.1 mg/dl] and the mean triglyceride level in treatment group [138.1+65.3 mg/dl] was higher than control group [91.7+44.2 mg/dl], which were both statistically significant [p<0.001]. No significant difference was observed between HDL cholesterol in treatment and control groups [p<0.177]. However, the mean LDL level was higher in treatment group [143.5+37.6 mg/dl] than that of control group [106.3+35.6 mg/dl] which shows a significant difference [p<0.001]. No significant difference was observed between the mean plasma antioxidants in treatment and control groups [p>0.05]. The study findings suggest the relationship between SD with total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood plasma LDL. However, there was no association between SD and plasma antioxidant and HDL levels

effects of topical application of octy1-2-cyanoacrylate tissue glue on the wond healing in mice: An experimental study

Management of patients with full thickness wound of skin continues to challenge physicians and surgeons in area of cosmetic dermatologic surgery. at the present, there are some medications and procedures that can be used to accelerate the healing of full thickness wound of skin. Based on studies that have demonstrated improved upper eyelid wound healing with OCA [octy1-2-cyanoacrylate tiissue glue] treatment, we anticipated that OCA will accelerate healing of full thickness woynd of skin. the aim of research is to evaluate the efficacy of OCA in accelerating healing of full thickness wound of skin in mice. Design: experimental study,, Animal: Male N. mRi mice, sample size: 6 per study group. Surgery: two mm full thickness wound of skin back of mice under general anaestesia. treatment groups: Control group: simple dressing with sterile guaze, OCA group: topical application octy 1-2-cyanoacrylate [Dermabond; ethicon Inc, Somerville, NJ] tissue glue. study Period: mice mice were euthanized on days 4, 7 and 10 post-operation to reflect different phases of wound healing, Assay: 1- groos pathology of the skin noting presence of infections, dehiscence and repair, 2- histological evaluation of the wound site for the degree of healing, 3- finally the wounds were tested for, Resilience = ability of the wound to stretch and then resume shape without incrring any tissue damage, ultimate strength = maximum pressure a wound can tolerate before it sarts to weaken and toughness = total amount of pressure a wound can tolerate before rupturing. OCA increased: 1] formation of granulation tissue 2] density and activation of fibroblasts 3] keratinization in surface of wound 4] thickness of basement membrane and epidermis. OCA decreased toughness of wound in mice. we conclude that OCA accelerates healing of full thickness wound of skin in mice

Teachers' and students' view points about the characteristics of effective teaching, Birjand university of medical sciences and health services, April 2003-4

As achieving the intended goals in medical education necessitates the utilization of effective teaching and learning methods, in order to further retention of the knowledge, continuous research is needed to study the factors affecting the quantitative and qualitative development of medical education. This study was to recognize the factors delineated by the students and teachers as to be important in the teaching-learning process. This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study comprised of 880 students and 68 teachers at the Medical University of Birjand, lasting from April 2003 till April 2004. SPSS software and statistical test of Mann-Whitney were used for data analysis. In this study, teachers' and students' opinions about the characteristics of an effective teaching-including Professional, and personal characteristics of the teachers, and motivation students toward independent learning each consisting of several items - were assessed with regard to their sex, marital status, residential status, educational level, and educational group. The results were as the following: Professional characteristics of the teachers: Mastery over the subject, rational sequencing of the subject matters, proper use of the basic knowledge of the related discipline, and use of simple language in teaching, were the choices rated by the teachers and students as the most important ones. Personal characteristics of teachers: self confidence in teaching, interest in teaching, clear speech were the choices most rated by the teachers and students. Amongst the 3 characteristics of an effective teaching, teachers gave the first priority to motivation the students toward independent learning, while students regarded the professional characteristics of the teachers as the most preferred one. The study found that teachers and students regarded mastery over the subject, self-confidence in teaching, use of simple language in teaching, interest in teaching, and clear speech as the most important factors necessary for having an effective teaching

Influential factors in medical students' attitudes towards studying medicine in 2002

Different factors can make students interested in studying medicine and cause a positive attitude towards their course of study, or in contrast, lead to their boredom, distraction, and disappointment to continue their education. Thus, this study aims to assess influential factors in the attitude of medical students towards their own discipline. A survey study was performed on 227 medical students who were chosen by stratified random sampling. The data was gathered by a self-administered questionnaire covering different factors affecting medical students' attitude towards studying medicine. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using mean, frequency and chi-square tests. Personal interests, serving society, social status of medicine, and society's belief on the importance of medicine were the most important factors in choosing medicine as a discipline. Teachers' evaluation method, shortage of research facilities, lack of job security, and educational regulations were among the most important factors causing a negative attitude in medical students towards studying medicine. The feelings to help patients and satisfy others were the most important factors causing a positive attitude in students. Although the interest in medicine had decreased during different years of study, no significant difference was observed. There was a significant relationship between students' attitude and some of their demographic characteristics. The problems resulting from evaluation methods, research facilities and future job security were the most important factors causing a negative attitude towards medicine. Therefore, accurate educational planning, having standard examinations and planning to achieve professional security can improve these attitudes

[Comparison of acid salisylic 2% and betamethasone with topical fish oil in recovery of psoriasis signs]

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease which is treated with wide range of topical and systemic drugs . Most of researchers have approved the effect of oral fish oil in the treatment of psoriasis but any improvement in psoriasis lesion wasn't seen by others

Objective: to evaluate the effect of topical fish oil versus salisylic acid and betamethasone in treating psoriasis

Methods: this randomized double blind clinical trial was carried out on 39 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. They were randomly divided into two groups The first group [20 patients] were treated with topical salisylic acid and betamethasone . The second group [19 patients] were treated with topical fish oil. The patients were evaluated in beginning and 2 months after treatment. Finally the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS package, t-test, chi-square and paired t-test

Findings: decrease of erythema and skin lesion size in the first group were more than second group at the end of treatment, but there weren't significant differences. Decrease of scaling in the first group was more than second group at the end of treatment and this difference was significant [P< 0.05]

Conclusion: topical fish oil is efficient in treatment of psoriasis vulgaris