Expression of folliculogenesis-related genes in vitrified human ovarian tissue after two weeks in vitro culture

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitrification and in vitro culture of human ovarian tissue on the expression of oocytic and follicular cell-related genes

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ovarian tissue samples were obtained from eight transsexual women. Samples were cut into small fragments and were then assigned to vitrified and non-vitrified groups. In each group, some tissue fragments were divided into un-cultured and cultured [in alpha-MEM medium for 2 weeks] subgroups. The normality of follicles was assessed by morphological observation under a light microscope using hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] staining. Expression levels of factor in the germ line alpha [FIGLA], KIT ligand [KL], growth differentiation factor 9 [GDF-9] and follicle stimulating hormone receptor [FSHR] genes were quantified in both groups by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] at the beginning and the end of culture

Results: The percentage of normal follicles was similar between non-cultured vitrified and non-vitrified groups [P>0.05], however, cultured tissues had significantly fewer normal follicles than non-cultured tissues in both vitrified and non-vitrified groups [P<0.05]. In both cultured groups the rate of primary and secondary follicles was significantly higher than non-cultured tissues [P<0.05]. The expression of all examined genes was not significantly altered in both non-cultured groups. Whiles, in comparison with cultured tissues non-cultured tissues, the expression of FIGLA gene was significantly decreased, KL gene was not changed, GDF-9 and FSHR genes was significantly increased [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Human ovarian vitrification following in vitro culture has no impairing effects on follicle normality and development and expression of related-genes. However, in vitro culture condition has deleterious effects on normality of follicles

[Effectiveness of training in improving attention and working memory on continuous performance in ADHD children]

Background: ADHD [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder] is a developmental disorder that has been attracting the attention of psychologists and psychiatrists for a long time. The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of training in improving attention and working memory on continuous performance in ADHD children

Materials and methods: This was a semi-expremental study performed on 44 ADHD children referred to psychiatric clinics in Babol city. They were equally divided into the experimental and the control groups. The performance of the members belonging to both groups was assessed using the continuous performance test in the pretest stage. Each member of the experimental group was then individually trained for 20 half-hour sessions [three half-hour sessions per week for a period of seven weeks] using attention and working memory improvement software. After the training period, post-test was conducted on members of both groups using the mentioned software

Results: Results of ANCOVA indicated that despite increased continuous performance in both the experimental and the control groups in the post-test stage, the increased continuous performance in the experimental group was greater compared to the control group. Therefore, training in improving attention and working memory was effective in increasing continuous performance in ADHA children

Conclusion: Training in improving attention and working memory, and similar trainings, can be considered as complementary treatment method, or a substitute method for medicines

[Effects of peer education on clinical skills in nursing students, including interns and trainees]

Background: Learning from peers is an authentic way to improve psychomotor skills and to reduce stress, in which monitoring the implementation of clinical skills, doing practice, strengthening sense of responsibility and active participation and privates take responsibility for their learning are performed. It can prepare them for their future roles and has lower cost compared to other methods. The purpose of this study was to define the effects of peer education on learning clinical skills in nursing students [interns and trainees]

Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 71 internship and 84 trainees were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. One researcher- made questionnaire was used to collect data to evaluate the clinical skills [40 questions consisting of two parts 20 questions about the standard of care and 20 questions standard clinical skill] before and after Internships. Content validity was used for testing validity and test-retest for reliability

Results: Mean [ +/- standard deviation] score of clinical skills in intern students were 39.18 +/- 0.628 in the intervention group and 32.23 +/- 3.77 in the control group [P<0.0001]. Mean [ +/- standard deviation] score of clinical skills in the trainees of the intervention group was 36.94 +/- 2.45 and in the control group was 32.73 +/- 4.40 [P<0.0001]

Conclusion: peer education is effective in teaching clinical skills and promotion of clinical education among junior students as well as own peer students

Comparing radiation receiving dose at 50 Cm distance of the source of radiation and nearby room during fluoroscopic percutaneous nephrolithotomy

One of the radioactive sources in operating room is fluoroscopy which is used in a variety of surgical operations. Because the operating room walls are not protected by lead, this study was done to measure the radiation receiving dose at nearby room during fluoroscopic percutaneous nephrolithotomy. After randomization, we measured x-ray in distance of 0.5 m, behind wall [3.50 m], and 30 meter [background dose] in 40 urological procedures in a simultaneous manner for a period of two months by using 12 thermoluminescent chips, and compared the results using independent T test. The total fluoroscopy time was 66.90 minutes and the mean voltage used was 76.38 kV. Mean radiation dose for 40 procedures received at a distance of 0.5 meter was 0.426 +/- 0.188 with minimum of 0.260 and maximum 0.689 mSv, while radiation dose received by a nearby room was zero. There was statistically significant difference between the amount of radiation received at distance of 0.5 meter and the adjoining room [P <0.05]. The amount of radiation received at 0.5 meter was high and safety guidelines should be considered. Furthermore, the dose of radiation received in a neighboring room like the background dose was zero which means that working in adjoining rooms is safe

[Effectiveness of teaching ways to deal with stress on quality of life in patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to hospitals of Tehran university of medical sciences in 2013]

Stress, as a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, affects the quality of life for patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stress paths on the quality of life of patients with acute coronary syndrome. In this quasi-experimental study, 35 patients with acute coronary syndrome were selected by sampling purposively from hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. They received 3 sessions, each 45 minutes, education using[, the ways of coping with stress] lecture, and the booklets were trained. Data collection questionnaires were [World Health Organization Quality of Life [WHOQOL-BREF]], [Cohn stress] and [coping with stressful situations Endler and Parker [CISS]], respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics [T test and Wilcoxon] using SPSS-22 software. Mean scores of the responses to all three questions were significantly changed before and after training [P<0.0001]. This study showed that learning ways to cope with stress can reduce stress and increase quality of life; so it can be used as a helpful intervention in acute coronary syndrome

[ effect of lecture in comparison with lecture and problem based learning on nursing students self-efficacy in Najafabad Islamic Azad university]

Introduction: Self-efficacy has an important role in applying scientific and professional knowledge and skills. Teaching methods can develop different skills such as decision making capability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of teaching method of lecture in comparison with lecture and problem based learning on nursing students' self-efficacy in Najafabad Islamic Azad University during 2008-2009

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 44 nursing students who had been admitted to the university in 2006, were selected through random sampling method. Then, they were assigned in to two experiment and control groups, randomly. The data gathering tool was the Iranian edition of Generalized Self Efficacy questionnaire [GSE10]. The data were analyzed by version 15 of SPSS software using mean, standard deviation and independent t-test and paired t-test

Results: The self-efficacy score increased significantly in both lecture [p<.004] and PBL [P<.001] groups. Although the mean score of post-test was higher in PBL group compared to the lecture group, no significant difference was observed comparing the mean of the difference between pre and post-tests in the two groups

Conclusion: According to this study, effective education can promote student's self-efficacy in order to carry out the related performance. Considering the higher mean score of the PBL group, it is recommended to pay more attention to this educational method in higher education curriculum

[Association of life style and self-esteem among adolescent girls of daily public high schools of Tehran]

Necessity of self-esteem is one of the natural human needs that achieves by following social norms and standards, development, success, right activities and right lifestyle. This study evaluated relationship between lifestyle and self-esteem of adolescent girls. This descriptive-correlation study was perfomed on 400 girls who had been eligible to participate in this study. They were selected by multi-stages sampling method. Required information was gathered by three questionnaires, including demographics, lifestyle [diet, sleep-rest, physical activity, sport, smoking and methods of prevention from stress] and coopersmith's self-esteem. Self-esteem had significant association with consumption of dairy-products [p<0.0001], vegetables and fruits [p=0.008], sleep and rest [p=0.009], smoking [p=0.009] and prevention from stress [p=0.000], while it had not significant association with consuming meat [p=0.58], bread and cereals [p=0.060], confections [p=0.130], sport [p=0.124] and hookah [p=0.560]. This study showed that there is a relationship between lifestyle [unsuitable diet, inadequate rest and sleep, smoking and unsuitable methods for preventing from stress] and self-esteem

[Sleeplessness effect on the general health of hospitals nightshift nurses in Gorgan, Iran]

Nightshift working has negative physical, psychological and social effects on personal life of nurses and in the long run, with subsequent health and complication. This survey was done to study the effect of sleeplessness on general health of nightshift nurses in hospitals of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran, during 2008. In this descriptive study, 124 subjects with suitable condition were selected through a census from among 615 nightshift working nurses in hospitals of Golestan university of medical sciences. Data were collected by delivering questionnaire and it included one questionnaire of personal information and two questionnaires about effects of sleeplessness and general health [GHQ-28]. Effect of sleeplessness, in the maximum percent of nurses [55.6%] were moderate and in the minimum percent [2.4%] were low. Mean +/- SD the sleepness rate was moderate [58 +/- 9]. Also, the results of general health showed that most of them [60.6%] had favorable general health and 2.5% of subjects had unfavorable general health. There was a significant correlation between sleepness, effect and general health of nurses in addition. There was also a meningfull sleeplessness correlation between sleepness effect with age, employment history and nightschieft time table [P<0.05]. This study showed that sleepness, negatively, effect on general health of nightschieft nurses, it is suggested, there should a properly organized sleep time table for the nightchieft nurses