[Identification of key capabilities for effective implementation of knowledge management in hospitals with structural equation modeling approach]

Knowledge management is a significant determinant for the survival of organizations. Identification of key success factors and an effective approach facilitate decision making on knowledge management. This study aimed at identifying factors and indexes for effective implementation of knowledge management in hospitals to investigate their relationships through a conceptual model and confirmatory factor analysis technique. This study was divided into two parts. The first part was exploratory which involved a literature review and an exchange of ideas with experts to identify indexes. The second part was a survey which included data collection through a questionnaire and the use of structural equation modeling for data analysis. The population consisted of managers, vice-chancellors and physicians at public and private hospitals in Tehran. The samples were selected randomly. LISREL software was used for data analysis. According to the results, four factors of process, structural-cultural, technological, and managerial capabilities were effective in knowledge management at the significant level of 0.01, and managerial capability had a mediating role. Furthermore, the presence of clear objectives at the beginning of a knowledge management project, available information technology infrastructure, employment of a special team for knowledge management implementation and participation, and the support from senior managers appeared to be the most effective factors. According to the results, all four factors influenced the effective implementation of knowledge management in hospitals and deserve proper attention. Previous studies showed disproportionate growth in technological factors whereas other factors were overlooked

[Associations of red blood corpuscle mean volume and hematocrit with severity of beta-globin gene mutations in beta-thalassemia carriers]

Thalassemia, a heterogeneous disease, is one of the most common single-gene diseases worldwide. The aim of this study was to find associations between hematological indices and severity of beta-globin gene mutations in beta-thalassemia carriers. In this cross-sectional study, 30 beta-goblin gene mutations [beta[+] and beta°] in 1206 unrelated beta-thalassemia carriers were investigated. In addition, their hematological indices, including CBC and electrophoresis results, were determined. The association between genetic findings and hematological parameters [mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and mean hematocrit corpuscular hematocrit [MCH]] were determined using the SPSS software, the statistical test being the t-test. The results indicated that beta[+]-thalassemia carriers had higher MCV and MCH means than beta°-thalassemia carriers. These findings would certainly have practical implications in public health. The results show a significant correlation between two hematological indices and certain types of mutations in beta-thalassemia carriers

Transfusion complications due to human error in thalassemic patients

While public focus is on the risks of transfusion transmitted infections, transfusion errors contribute significantly to adverse reactions. In this study we describe two cases of mistransfusion; two thalassemic siblings were admitted for monthly transfusion: a 19 year old boy and his sister. The donor whose blood donation was cross matched for the sister had a name similar to the brother; so it was wrongly administered to him that led to the hemolytic reaction. Another 2.5 year old boy with O[+] blood group received A[+] blood because of the staff error in recording the patient blood group and neglecting the crossmatch. The most prevalant complications of blood transfusion are due to human error. In order to decrease errors, it is recommended to double check the blood order form and the information on the blood bag

[Study on activities of some enzymes and protein electrophoretic patterns in heat treated meat products]

Study on some enzymes and protein electrophoretic patterns in order to find an indicator for adequacy of heat treatment in meat products. Experimental study. The activities of some enzymes, including: lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], aspartate amino transferase [AST] and alanine amino transferase [ALT], were assayed in meat and heat treated meat products at different time- temperatures combinations. Extracts of samples were used for electrophoresis by SDS-PAGE method. Analysis of variance and Duncan's test. LDH was active and demonstrated a good stability in samples which were heated up to 65 [degree sign] C for 55 minute. However, its activity started to decline thereafter so that at 70 [degree sign] C no significant activity was observed. ALT and AST were more heat stable than LDH and their activities were still present in heat treated products at 70 [degree sign] C for 30 minutes and vanished at 75 [degree sign]C. Many protein bands disappeared in SDS-PAGE pattern of meatn products which heated at 65 [degree sign] C or above. LDH can be considered as a suitable indicator for meat products that have been heated at 70 [degree sign] C or above

Study of XmnI polymorphism in 5 region of the apoAl gene in Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects

Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between polymorphisms in the ApoAl - CIH - AIV gene cluster and hyperlipidemia. This study was conducted to elucidate the association between polymorphism of ApoAI/XmnI and Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects. Total genomic DNA was prepared from seventy-six Iranian patient with primary hyperlipidemia and seventy-five normolipidemic subjects. The subjects in the control group were age-and sex-matched to the patients. Fragment of 392 bp for 5 region of the apoAl gene [C-2500T] was amplified by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. In the hyperlipidemic group, the genotype frequency of X1X1, X1X2, X2X2 were 0.63, 0.24, 0.13, respectively. In the control group those were 0.81, 0.11 and 0.08, respectivley. There was a significant difference [p<0.05] between 2 groups. The rare allele [X2] was more frequent in hyperlipidemic group than in controls [p<0.01]. Various genotypes of apoAl/Xmnl had no significant effect on lipids or apoAI levels in hyperlipidemic group. The above results show that polymorphism ApoAl/XmnI is associated with hyperlipidemia in Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects. Therefore, our data confirmed the previously reported association between genetic polymorphism ApoAI/XmnI and hyperlipidemia

[Determination of P53 gene mutations in gastric cancer by PCR-SSCP]

Background and Objective: gastric cancer is the 2nd cause of cancer mortality after lung cancer. Approximately 12% of all cancer death are due to gastric cancer. Tumorgenesis is thought to be a multistep process involving a series of genetic changes in oncogenes and suppressor genes. The most common cancer-related genetic change known in human tumors is P53 mutation, particularly in gastric cancer. This study was done to determine P53 gene mutations in gastric cancer

Materials and Methods: this study was performed on 44 biopsy from patients with gastric cancer during 2002 in 3 hospitals in Tehran. For determination of P53 gene mutations was performed PCR-SSCP methods

Results: the patients group comprised 31 males and 13 females [Average age, 60.8 years Ranging from 34 to 84 years]. 36 cases [81.8%] intestinal type, 5 cases [11.4%] were diffuse type and 3 cases no defined. 44 gastric cancers of gastric tissues were screened for the mutations of P53 gene mutations in exons 5-8 using the PCR-SSCP analysis. After polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 9 patients [20.5%] showed an apparent electrophoretic mobility shift between the cancer and other normal samples. One mutation in exon 5 [11.1%], 2 were detected in exon 6 [22.2%], 3 were found in exon 7 [33.3%] and 3 were detected in exon 8 [33.3%]. The mutation rate was 7 of 36 [21.2%] in intestinal type and 2 of [40%] in diffuse type. No significant correlation between P53 gene mutations and age and genus was found

Conclusion: this investigation showed the rate P53 gene mutation [20.5%] in gastric cancer in our society