[Phylogenetic study of Iranian infectious bronchitis virus isolates during 2010-2011 using glycoprotein S1 gene]

Infectious bronchitis is an acute, highly contagious, viral disease of poultry with worldwide distribution, and is continuously evolving through point mutation and recombination of their genome; subsequently the emergence of IBV variants complicates disease control. To investigate genetic characterization of new IBV variants isolated from commercial chicken flocks in Iran collected between 2009 and 2010. The partial S1 gene of the spike protein, covering a hypervariable and constant regions, was amplified and sequenced using conventional RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four viruses designated as Razi-HKM891, Razi-HKM892, Razi-HKM893 and Razi-HKM894. Deduced amino acid sequence comparison with other IBV genotypes, published in the GenBank database, indicated that the isolates Razi-HKM891 and Razi-HKM894 were placed into the pathogenic 793/B serotype. However, the isolates Razi-HKM892 and Razi-HKM893 were different with previously described isolates in Iran. The Razi-HKM893 is closely related to recently published isolates from countries in Middle East and likely indigenous to Iran. These findings is essential for improving the disease control strategies and thus emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance of the disease and of sharing the information to the global scientific community, which would help to fill the epidemiological gaps in the regions and to validate the robustness of diagnostic screening

Protective effect of pretreatment with thymoquinone against aflatoxin B1 induced liver toxicity in mice

Thymoquinone [TQ] is one of the active components of Nigella sativa. The plant has been used in herbal medicine for treatment of many diseases including liver complications. The present study aimed to investigate protective effects of TQ on Aflatoxin B1 [AFB1] induced liver toxicity in mice. Animals were divided into six groups and treated intraperitoneally. Group 1 [blank] served as vehicle, group 2 [positive control] received AFB1, Group 3 was treated with 9 mg/kg of TQ, Groups 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 4.5, 9 and 18 mg/kg of TQ, respectively. After three consecutive days, except for groups 1 and 3, animals were administered with a single dose of AFB1 [2 mg/kg]. All the animals were killed 24 hrs following the AFB1 administration under ether anesthesia. Biochemical parameters including AST, ALT and ALP in serum samples and glutathione [GSH] and malondialdehyde [MDA] contents in liver homogenates were determined. Liver sections were collected for histopathological examination. Findings of this study showed that AST, ALT, ALP and MDA levels were significantly lower in the TQ treated animals as compared to AFB1 group [group 2]. Furthermore, TQ was able to recover glutathione content [GSH] of liver tissue. The best response, however, was observed with the dose of 9 mg/kg. Liver sections of AFB1 intoxicated mice showed inflammation, necrosis, hyperplasia of kupffer and infiltration of mononuclear cells, dilation of sinusoids and disruption of hepatocytes, while treatment with TQ helped to normalize liver architecture in accordance to biochemical findings. Taken collectively, TQ has a protective role with optimum dose of 9 mg/kg in AFB1 hepatotoxicity

Occupational stress and mental health of employees of a petrochemical company before and after privatization

Many countries make many of their governmental sectors private. This transition, however, may affect their employees in numerous ways. To determine the level of occupational stress and mental health of employees of a petrochemical company in Isfahan, Central Iran, before and 3 months after privatization. Out of the 700 employees of the studied company, using a stratified random sampling technique, 140 persons were selected. We used Steinmetz occupational stress and GHQ-28 questionnaires to determine the level of stress and mental health status of participants. The reliability of the questionnaires used was acceptable [Chronbach alpha coefficients: 0.85 and 0.86, respectively]. Job stress level was significantly increased 3 months after privatization; the mean +/- SD job stress score before and after privatization were 22.9 +/- 10.43 and 28.3 +/- 12.25, respectively [p<0.001]. The mean +/- SD mental health score after privatization [17.57 +/- 11.63] was also significantly [p<0.001] higher than that before the privatization [13.8 +/- 6.0]. There was a significant [p<0.001] positive correlation between the mental health status score and job score [r=0.476]. After privatization, the job stress of employees increased significantly. This increase was associated with a decrease in mental health. To lessen the side effects of privatization, the process should be performed cautiously

Effect of the Audiovisual tactile on Sensory Recovery Following Ulnar Nerve Repair

The aim of this study was to determine if deprivation of tactile sense could be compensated by hearing sense, early after the nerve repair in hand. This may hypothetically help to maintain the cortical hand representation during the early denervation period. [Audiovisual tactile]; apparatus was used early after repair of the ulnar nerve in order to improve recovery of hand sensibility by maintaining an active sensory map of the hand in the somatosensory cortex during the differentiations period. This tool was used in a 25- years-old man. Then sensory evaluation was performed at regular intervals in 2, 5 and 7 months after the intervention. Sensory improvement was better in the patient who used the artificial sensibility regimen compared with the others who did not. This study suggests that the onset time of sensory afferent inflow after nerve repair is a very important agent to focus on sensory re-education

epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in Semnan province in year 2001

The burden of psychiatric disorders in the developed countries has been identified by the screening questionnaires and standard clinical interviews at a high level, but the epidemiological studies of psychiatric disorders in Iran are brief and their numbers are few. Planning for providing essential mental health services to the people who requires to be informed about the present status of psychiatric disorders in the society. The objective of this research was to carry out the epidemiological study of the psychiatric disorders in the individuals 18 years and above in urban and rural areas of Semnan province. Two hundred eighty individuals were selected through randomized systematic and clustered sampling methods among the existing families in Semnan province. The clinical psychologist completed the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [SADS] questionnaires. The diagnosis of the disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province was 18.58%, which was 22.14% in the women, and 14.49% in the men, respectively. The anxiety and mood disorders respectively with 8.22% and 5.00% had the higher prevalence in the province. The prevalence of psychotic disorders in this study was 1.78%, neuro-cognitive disorders 2.86 percent and dissociative disorders 0.72%. In the group of mood disorders, major depression with 3.57% and in the group of anxiety disorders, phobic disorder with 2.86% had the higher prevalence. This study showed that 10.71% of individuals suffered from minimum one of the psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province among the individuals in the age group of 41-55 years with 13.85%, individuals whose spouses had passed away 37.50%, residents of urban areas with 13.92%o, individuals with diploma 14.29% and unemployed individuals 28.57% that was more common more than other individuals. By considering of these findings, the responsibility of the health policy makers and programmers is more than before in relation to preparing application and executive plans to prevent and treatment of psychiatric disorders in Semnan province for mental health