[Investigation and determination of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by methanol extract of the aerial parts of Alcea kurdica [Schlecht.] Alef and Astragalus glumaceus bioss]

Background: Using of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is one of the methods for treatment of Alzheimer disease currently. Plants are rich sources for many bioactive compounds. So searching for new drugs with better properties and fewer side effects from plants is the aim of many studies

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition by methanol extract of the aerial parts of screened plants, Alcea kurdica [Schlecht.] Alef and Astragalus glumaceus Bioss

Methods: Using a modified version of Ellman's microplate assay method, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of methanol extracts from various aerial organs [flowers, stems, leaves] of plants Alcea kurdica and Astragalus glumaceus at four different concentrations were investigated. Electric eel acetylcholinesterase was used in this study. Galanthamine, dissolved in methanol, used as a positive control and each experiment was done in triplicate

Results: The results revealed that the methanol extract from flower organ of Alcea kurdica and leaves of Astragalus glumaceus, at 2 mg/ml concentration, inhibited the enzyme activity with 63.45 and 53.58 inhibition percent respectively. Their IC50 values were 0.114 and 0.216 mg/ml respectively. According to the results enzyme inhibition kinetics analysis, methanol extract from flower organs of Alcea kurdica and leaves of Astragalus glumaceus showed competitive and mixed [competitive-noncompetitive] inhibition, respectively

Conclusion: These results suggest that the most effective plant's organ extracts in this study, be worthy of further investigation with the aim of obtaining new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with pharmacological applications

Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoantibodies in patients with Vitiligo

Background and Objective: Vitiligo is one of the most frequent skin disorders with a prevalence of 1-2% in different populations. Although many theories have been suggested for its pathogenesis, but the most popular hypotheses is the role of autoimmunity in Vitiligo. This study was done to evaluate the thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoantibodies in patients with Vitiligo

Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 45 patients with Vitiligo and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as control group. Age, gender, duration of the disease and type of Vitiligo were collected through a standard questionnaire. Thyroid autoantibodies including thyroglobulin antibody, anti- thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibody, and anti-TPO thyroid hormones Tetraiodothyronine [T4], Truodothyronine [T3] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] in Vitiligo patients and healthy volunteers were measeared

Results: Serum level of T4 was significantly reduced in Vitiligo patient compared to controls [P<0.05]. Serum level of T4 in 20% of Vitiligo patient and 2.2% of control cases was less the normal level. Anti-TPO in 14 [31.1%] of Vitiligo patient and 6 [13.3%] of controls were higher than normal range [<60 lU/m] [P<0.05]. Serum level of anti- thyroglobulin was significantly higher in those with Vitiligo in compared to controls [P<0.05]

Conclusion: This study showed that the thyroid dysfunction particularly hypothyroidism and anti-TPO is more common in Vitiligo patients

[ effect of hydroalcoholic castor bean extract on spermatogenesis in mice]

Castor is a plant with various advantages that, it's anti-fertility effects are seen in some studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of castor bean extract on spermatogenesis and sperm damage. 35 male mice were divided into four experimental groups and one control group. Control group received normal saline and experimental groups, received 25, 30, 35 and 45mg/kg body weight Castor bean extract for 30 days respectively. Ten days after the last injection mice were anesthetized and the epididymis and testis were removed. Heart blood samples were collected from mice to measure hormones. After preparing cross-sections of testis, samples were stained and line of cells were counted. The data were analyzed by One - Way ANOVA and Tukey test. Right testicular and epididymal weight and number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Leydig and Spermatozoa in all experimental groups as well as the diameter in the three groups of 2, 3 and 4 groups were significantly smaller than control group [p<0.05]. In experimental group 4, the rate of denaturation of DNA was significantly higher than control group. The Serum sex hormones and percentage of live sperm in the experimental groups 3 and 4, compared to the control group was decreased. Castor bean extract significantly decreases the number of sperm cell lines and sex hormone levels. Furthermore, in higher doses of extract, the sperm DNA denaturation increases. Thus, Castor bean extract may effect on fertility by reducing it

[Evaluation of the correlation between ration physically effective fiber and rumen pH in dairy cattle]

The current definition of subacute ruminal acidosis [SARA] is based on the pH of the ruminal fluid in dairy cattle and ration physically effective fiber could be used as a non-invasive method for prediction of ruminal pH. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ration physically effective fiber, measured using old and modified Penn-state particle separator and ruminal pH. The physically effective fiber measured in the ration of 17 rational group [7 fresh and 10 mid lactation cow groups]. Ruminal fluid obtiained by rumenocentesis and SARA affected cows were detected. The physically effective fiber measured by modifed Penn-state particle separator had a correlation with mean ruminal pH of cows [r= 0.595, p= 0.012] and the ratio of subacute ruminal acidosis affected cows in rational groups [r= -0.533, p= 0.027]. The ration of SARA affected mid lactation groups had less physically effective fiber than non affected groups [p= 0.041]. According to our results, the physically effective fiber measured by modifed Penn-state particle separator had more correlation with ruminal pH in dairy cattle and can be used as a predictive index for ruminal pH

Risk factors in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia in Shiraz-Iran [2009]: an epidemilogical study

The etiology of childhood leukemia as the most common childhood malignancy remains largely unknown. This study was done to ascess the risk factors in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia in Shiraz-Iran. This case-control study was done on 141 children younger than 18 years suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] whome resided at Fars Province of Iran during 2009. Patients were individually matched with 141 controls in respect to age, sex and residential area. Variables included: maternal age, parental education, father occupation, child birth weight and birth order, number of siblings, history of pet ownership including cat or dog, history of child day care attendance, history of leukemia in relatives, and history of mother diagnostic radiography during pregnancy. In order to evaluate the relationships between each variable and the risk of leukemia, odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and Chi-Square test. The agricultural occupation fathers in case and control were 17% and 5.7%, respectively [P<0.01]. The association between risk of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia with birth order >/= 3 [OR=5.939, 95% CI: 2.646-13.331, P<0.01], pet ownership [dog or cat] [OR=2.582, 95% CI: 1.265-5.269, P<0.009] and history of leukemia in first and second degree relatives [OR=3.5, 95% CI: 1.252-10.633, P<0.027] was significant. No relationship was found between birth weight, day care attendance, history of miscarriage, number of siblings and history of mother diagnostic radiology tests with risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This study showed that father occupation, birth order, pet and history of leukemia in relation are risk factors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in haemodialysis patients in Zanjan province, Islamic Republic of Iran

Hepatitis E virus [HEV] infection is the most common form of acute hepatitis in adults in endemic regions of Asia. In a descriptive, cross-sectional study, anti-HEV antibody was measured in patients referred to the 2 haemodialysis centres in Zanjan city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Among 93 patients with chronic renal failure, mean age 57.0 [SD 18.5] years, antibodies against HEV were positive in 25 [26.9%] patients. HEV infection was not significantly associated with sex, age, educational level, residence or water source. The rate of HEV positivity was higher in patients with > 1 than

Evaluation of a community-based drowning prevention programme in northern Islamic Republic of Iran

This study evaluated the feasibility of a drowning intervention package in northern Islamic Republic of Iran. A quasi-experimental design used pre- and post-observations among residents and tourists in water-recreation beach areas of intervention and control regions by the Caspian Sea and in residents near the Caspian Sea coastline. The fatal drowning rate in the studied resident population in the provinces fell from 4.24 per 100 000 residents at baseline to 3.04 per 100 000 residents at endline. The risk of death from drowning in the intervention areas in the water-recreation area was greater during the pre-intervention [OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.66-2.01] than the implementation period [OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15-0.37]. The risk of drowning can be reduced by implementing increased supervision and raising community awareness

Lifetime and current waterpipe use among adolescents in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Waterpipe use among Iranian adolescents has become a matter for concern. A descriptive, crosssectional community-based survey was performed in 2010 to determine the prevalence of waterpipe use and associated factors among Iranian adolescents in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. After multi-stage, random cluster sampling 1201 adolescents aged 15–18 years old responded to a questionnaire based on the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking [at least once in the previous 30 days] was 28.0%, significantly higher among males [34.8%] than females [21.4%]. A total of 45.1% of adolescents reported lifetime use [ever use] of waterpipes and 34.2% had ever shared a waterpipe. In multivariate logistic regression analysis the significant correlates of current waterpipe use for both males and females were having smokers among friends and family members, while for males, older age and educational failure were also risk factors.

[Determination of the angle of impacted mandibular third molar]

Impacted molars teeth, especially third molar, are important in most branches of medical sciences. The angular position of molar teeth is in side effects and therapeutic regiment. This study was conducted to determine the angle of the impacted mandibular third molars. This descriptive study was carried out on 429 patients [269 men and 160 women] selected for surgery on impacted mandibular third molar in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic in Gorgan, Iran during 2010-11. Pre-operative diagnosis was done by physical examination and OPG radiography. Demographic characterstics including age, gender, ethnicity, impaction angle were recorded for each subject. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, independent t-test and chi-square test. Totally, 480 impacted third molars were studied. Mean age of patients was 26.06 +/- 6.21 years. Impaction of the third molar was more prevalent among men [62.7%] than women [38.30%]. Impacted mandibular third molar of 189 people [44.1%] were in left side in 200 people [46.6%] were in right side and in 40 people [9.3%] were bilateral. According to impaction angle, mesioangular [41.7%] and distoangular [3.5%] types had the highest and the lowest frequency, respectively. In bilateral cases, the mesioangular-mesioangular type [48.8%] was the most prevalent. The mesioangular type was the most prevalent in all ethnic groups. The most prevalent angular position of the impacted third molar was the mesioangular type in both sexes. This study showed that the most prevalent angular position of impacted mandibular third molar is the mesioangular type

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the youth risk behavior survey questionnaire

Adolescents may get involved in high-risk behaviors. Surveys are the primary, and sometimes the sole source of data collection for many high-risk health behaviours. We examined the reliability and validity of the psychometric properties of the self-administered Persian version of the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System [YRBSS] questionnaire. In a methodological study in summer 2010, 100 Iranian adolescents aged 15-18 years were recruited through convenience sampling. The face and content validity were used for the questionnaire validity. In order to evaluate the questionnaire's reliability, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] and Cronbach's alpha were calculated for domains and 89 items. Among 89 items, the ICC values were below 0.4 [weak reliability] for 2 items [2.25%], 0.4-0.6 [moderate reliability] for 10 items [11.24%], 0.6-0.8 [good reliability] for 32 items [35.96%] and 0.8-1 [excellent reliability] for 45 items [50.56%]. The prevalence of most high-risk behaviors was constant in the first and second survey. The value of Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 for intentional and unintentional injuries, 0.77 for tobacco use, 0.86 for alcohol and other drug use, and 0.79 for unsafe sexual behaviors. No domain had a mean ICC of below 0.6. Furthermore, 97.75% of the items had moderate to excellent reliability. Thus, the Persian YRBSS questionnaire had an acceptable reliability. Over the 2-week period, sexual behaviors were reported with less consistency compared to other behaviors. In any case, researchers must be aware of the limitation of the data collected through this questionnaire, particularly in comparison to the domain of sexual behaviors. Overall, 97.75% of the items had moderate to excellent reliability. Thus, the Persian YRBSS questionnaire had an acceptable reliability

protective effect of medicinal herbs extracts including cynara scolymus L., cichorium intybus L. taraxacum officinal L. and berberis vulgaris L. in single and in combination form in CCI4 induced rat liver toxicity

Several herbal remedies are used in traditional medicine for treatment of liver disorders, but their efficacy, safety, and dosage have not been investigated so far. The present study was aimed to evaluate the liver protective effects of medicinal herbs extracts such as Cynara scolymus leave [artichok], Cichorium intybus roots [chichory], Taraxacum officinale root [dandelium], Berberis vulgaris [barberry] root and stems extract in single and in combination form against carbon tetrachloride [CCl4] induced liver toxicity. Total 70 wistar male rat, aged 5 months were divided in 7 groups of 10 rats each. One group kept as normal and out of six CCl4 intoxicated groups one served as control, one received mixture of four extract and four groups received artichok, chichory, dandelium, and barberry in the dosage of 150, 300, 300 and 250 mg/kg/day respectively. The plant extracts were injected intra peritoneal simultaneously with intoxication for three days. Three days after intoxication and extract treatments the serum liver enzymes levels such as ALT, AST and ALP as well as serum gluthathion and catalase were determined. In group receiving mixture of 4 herbal extract the blood level of ALT, AST and ALP were reduced significantly as compared to control group. In all the groups receiving herbal extracts the serum glutathione and catalase levels did not differ as compared to control groups. In the present study administration of chichory, artichoke, dandelium and barberry in combination form prevent liver intoxication withought influence on serum antioxidant properties

[Workplace behaviors and its correlation with demographic characteristics: perspective of nurses in teaching hospitals in Gorgan]

Incivility behavior and violence have long-term complication on individual performance. These behaviors cause complex issues at workplace in the nursing profession and lead to embarrassment and threats of nurses and patients health and endanger the climate. The aim of this study was to determine workplace behaviors and its correlation with demographic characteristics, perspective of nurses in teaching hospitals in Gorgan. In this descriptive - correlational study, 232 nurses who employed at two hospitals in Gorgan were participated. Data collected by "Nursing Incivility Scale", "[NIS]". Validity of this scale was approved with face validity and reliability through test-retest [Cronbach's alpha=0.86]. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and linear regression models with SPSS/16. The total score of incivility from the perspective of nurses was 3.89 of 5.00 likert. The most incivility behavior score was reported with physician interacting and the lowest was observed in the interaction of nurses with a supervisor. There was a significant correlation between age and type of employment with incivility behaviors [[P=0.04] and [P=0.02] respectively. Similarly, the correlation between working in type of hospital ward and incivility behaviors was significant [P=0.02]. The highest score of incivility behavior reported in the emergency ward was 4.43 from 5 and the lowest in genecology ward was 2.71 from 5. Incivility behaviors among nurses can affect the quality of services provided by them. Therefore, considering factors that lead to incivility in nursing workplace is necessary

[Relationship between major dietary patterns and stunting in Tehrani school children]

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between stunting and major dietary patterns among the first-grade pupils in Tehran in 2008. In this case-control study, children's height [n=3147] was measured in 5 areas of Tehran by expeienced nutritionists using standard protocols. Children with a height lower than the 5th percentile of height for age of the CDC2000 standard were considered as stunted [n = 86, the case group]. Control children were selected randomly from among healthy, non-stunted children with the same age and sex [n=308]. Data on demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, birth weight and length, and duration of breast feeding were collected using standard questionnaires. In addition, two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires were completed for each subject on 2 cosecutive days by interviewing their mothers. Factor analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns. Logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, mother's age and education, father's education, birth weight, family size, and energy intake. There were significant differences between the stunted children and their control group with regard to sex, birth weight, age of mother, and parents' education of [P<0.05]. Based on the 24-hour dietary recalls, the mean consumptions of dairy products [308 +/- 167 g/day] and dried fruits and nuts [2.58 +/- 9 g/day] in the case group were significantly lower than the respective control values [7.15 +/- 26 and 382 +/- 232 g/day, respectively; p<0.05]. However, consumption of the fat and oils group in the case group [37.85 +/- 29 g/day] was higher than in the control group [30.94 +/- 22 g/day; P< 0.05]. Three dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis: dietary pattern 1, high in bread, potatoes, fats, eggs, relish, other vegetables, sugar, and soft drinks; dietary pattern 2, high in leafy vegetables, fast foods, nuts, other cereals, fruits, legumes, and offal; and dietary pattern 3, high in biscuits and cakes, chicken, dairy products, fruits, etc. Dietary patterns 1 and 2 were not significantly associated with stunting, while children in the third quartile of dietary pattern 3 had a lower risk for stunting as compared to those in the first quartile of that dietary pattern [p<0.05]. It seems that following dietary patterns high in protein [e.g., dairy and meat products] and carbohydrate [e.g., fruits and biscuits/cakes] may reduce the risk of stunting in children

[ relationship between servant leadership and job involvment of staff in teaching hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan university of medical sciences: 2011]

Servant leadership, a newly developed concept of leadership, emphasizes on increased services to others, as well as a holistic attitudes toward people, individual development and shared decision making. The servant-leadership philosophy focuses on servant leader, training staff and developing services in the society. This research aimed to study the relationship between servant leadership and its four dimensions [servicing, humility, trust and agapao love] as independent variables and job involvement as a dependent variable, among the staff of teaching hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences KUMS. This was a descriptive - analytical study conducted in 2011. The population included 151 staff of teaching hospitals affiliated to KUMS. Data were collected through Servant Leadership and Job Involvement Questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics and spearman correlation test. There was a significant and positive correlation between servant leadership and its four dimensions and job involvement among the staff of teaching hospitals affiliated to KUMS [r=0.343 and P-Value<001]. The mean scores for servant leadership and job involvement were 2.56 and 2.78 out of 4, respectively. The high correlation between servant leadership and job involvement and a moderate correlation between servant leadership and job involvement suggest that managers should always be pioneers in serving customers inside and outside their organizations and consider this as their major responsibility

[Effectiveness of grouped spiritual psychotherapy on patients with opium using disorder]

Introduction: Some scientists believe that the definition of Bio-psychosocial is not a comprehensive definition for humankind. They are willing to add the spirituality as a part of human being

Methods: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a spiritual group therapy among patients with opium using disorders in Tehran. This study was a clinical trial in which 61 opium users were selected using simple sampling from patient referred to the Iranian national center for addiction studies and two other private centers. Patients were divided into two equal intervention and control groups. The intervention group was treated by spiritual group therapy presented at Yale University, modified according to the Iranian/Islamic culture of the participants within eight sessions in eight weeks. Urine morphine test was done for each participant every week. The Beck depression test, Beck anxiety test and quality of life test [the short form Health survey SF36] were completed before, during and after the intervention

Results: The mean scores of the depression test [p>0.002], anxiety test [p>0.001], and the short form health survey SF 36 test [p>0.001] were improved in the intervention group after the intervention. Although urine morphine test showed a negative trend, the decline was not statistically significant [p<0.75]

Conclusion: This package showed to be effective in many dimensions of psycho-somatic, social and spiritual health of opium users. Subsequent interventions with more modified packages may be more influential

[ relationship between organizational health and performance indicators of health care in teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran university of medical sciences: 2011]

Organizational health, influenced by various factors, can affect the effectiveness, efficiency, and profitability of the organization. This study investigated the relationship between organizational healths [and its seven-fold dimensions] and the performance indicators at teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS]. This descriptive, analytical and applied study was conducted in winter 2011. There were 300 employees randomly selected from among the research population who were the staff of teaching hospitals affiliated to TUMS. The instruments were the checklist of performance indicators and a standard questionnaire of organizational health the validity of which was obtained through opinion analysis of seven experts and its reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha [88%]. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software and descriptive statistics including absolute frequency, relative frequency, mean, standard deviation, and Spearman correlation test. No significant relationship was found between any of performance indicators and either of the dimensions of morality, scientific emphasis, consideration, and support of resources. Significant relationship was, however, observed between construction of organizational health and indicators of the total number of occupied bed days, total number of those admitted the performance of the rotating beds, and the crude mortality rate [P

Amantadine versus methylphenidate in children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double-blind trial

Background: The aim of the present study was to further evaluate, under double blind and controlled conditions, the efficacy of amantadine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] in children and adolescents as compared to methylphenidate. Materials and methods: this was a 6-week randomized clinical trial. Forty patients [28 boys and 12 girls] with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD were the study population of this trial. All study subjects were randomly assigned to receive the treatment using capsule of amantadine at a dose of 100- 150 mg/day depending on weight [100 mg/day for <30 kg and 150 mg/day for >30 kg] or methylphenidate at a dose of 20-30 mg/day for a 6- week double blind, randomized clinical trial. The principal measure of outcome was the Teacher and Parent Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups on the Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores [df=1; F=0.02; p=0.86 and df=1; F=0.01; p=0.89, respectively]. Side effects of decreased appetite and restlessness were observed more frequently in the methylphenidate group. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that amantadine significantly improved symptoms of ADHD and was well tolerated and it may be beneficial in the treatment of children with ADHD. Nevertheless, the present results do not constitute proof of efficacy

Maternal and prenatal risk factors for childhood leukemia in southern of Iran

The causes of childhood leukemia as the most common malignancy in children are vastly unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between maternal birth characteristics with environmental exposures in childhood leukemia. This is a case-control study which consists of children younger than 18 year old suffering from leukemia who reside at Fars Province of Iran. Patients were individually matched with variables such as age, sex and residence region. In order to evaluate the relationships between each variable and the risk of leukemia, odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Statistically, the association between risk of childhood leukemia with birth order [OR=6.177, 95% CI: 2.551-14.957], pet ownership [OR=2.565, 95% CI: 1.352-4.868] and history of leukemia in first and second degree relatives [OR=2.667, 95%CI: 1.043-6.815] was significant. However, there was no significant association between daycare attendance, history of miscarriage, number of siblings and history of mother's diagnostic radiology tests with risk of childhood leukemia. Although no definite etiologic factor for acute childhood leukemia has been clearly defined, the contribution of environmental risk factors in the context of genetic predisposition are strongly elucidated

[ frequency of beta thalasemia major complications in patients referred to Kerman center for special diseases during 6 months]

Major beta -thalassemia is a chronic and costly disease for health care system. Although regular transfusion reduces the disease complications, it is associated with complications of hemosiderosis. This study was performed to determine beta - thalassemia complications in patients referred to Kerman center for special diseases regardless of their age. This cross-sectional study was conducted on major beta -thalassemia patients referred to Samen-al Hojaj institute in Kerman city during winter 2008 to spring 2009. Those with less than 8 blood transfusion sessions in year were excluded. The results of Physical examination, history, demographic information and laboratory tests were recorded for each patient. In whole, 340 patients were participated of whom, 54.4% were females, 51.76% were below 15 years old, 37.64% were between 16-24 years old and 10.58% were older than 25 years old. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 3.5%. There was no case of hypothyroidism in the age group