[Comparison of picture naming ability in fluent and non-fluent aphasics: an analysis of 4 cases]

Impairment of noun retrieval is common among aphasic patients, but some of previous studies represent differences between noun retrieval ability of various aphasia syndromes. Current study investigates and compares the picture naming ability of 4 patients with fluent and non-fluent aphasia. Present study investigated the naming ability of 2 fluent and 2 non-fluent aphasic patients with oral picture naming test. This test contains line drawing of 109 nouns. Patients were asked to name each picture with a single word. Responses were classified according to Philadelphia Naming Test scoring system as correct and semantic, formal, mixed, non-word, unrelated and others error [no response, description/circumlocution, miscellaneous error]. Then, the data were investigated in terms of descriptive statistics and analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The score of non-fluent aphasics was more than fluent ones. The percentage of semantic errors in fluent group and no responses among non-fluent patients were more than the other types. Despite of personal differences, all error types were found in responses of patients. The difference between score and error types in fluent and non-fluent patients was not significant [p>.05]. This scoring system can define a variety of word retrieval errors. The fluent aphasics have more noun retrieval problems than non-fluent patients. Although, there are differences between two groups, but error type in picture naming is not a precise factor for distinguish between various aphasia syndromes and there is similarity in impaired underling mechanisms and naming behavior of them

[Normative data of semantic fluency in adult Persian speakers]

In some disorders, word finding is difficult. There is different ways to assess naming process that verbal fluency is one way. So far has not been an index to verbal fluency assessment and treatment, the aim of this study was to determine normative data of semantic fluency for 18-69 -year - old adult Persian speakers. This study was cross sectional and analytic. Participants were 540 normal adults 18-69 -year - old. They were divided in 4 age groups [18-30, 31-43, 44-56, 57-69] and 3 educational groups [0-8, 9-12, >12]. The peoples were asked to name animals and fruits in 60 seconds, words were recorded and analyzed whit Troyer method and SPSS 16 software. The findings of this study did not show significant differences in semantic verbal fluency, clusters mean and number of switches between two genders. But significant differences were found in semantic verbal fluency [P=0.000] and number of switching [P=0.000] between educational groups. Also significant differences were found in semantic verbal fluency [P=0.014], clusters [P=0.000] mean and number of switching [P=0.000] between age groups. Semantic verbal fluency and number of switching increase by promoting the education but decrease by rising of participant age. Clusters mean increase by rising of participant but the education had not significant effect. Gender had no effect on none of them. The findings of this study are consistent with other studies and difference in findings in some of studies, could cause of different in educational and age partitions

[Heterotrophic bacteria in drinking water in Tabriz, Iran]

Recently the use of heterotrophic plate count [HPC] has received much attention as a supplementary indicator of the MPN test in water quality control. The US Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] has declared 500 cfu/mL as the maximum acceptable level for heterotrophic bacteria in distribution networks. Currently the HPC determination is not among the routine control items in Tabriz city and there is no published information on the presence of heterotrophic bacteria in that city's potable water. In this study the presence of HPC in potable water main was determined in Tabriz city, Iran. A total of 50 water samples, representing drinking water of the whole city of Tabriz, were taken randomly from different districts of Tabriz city and their HPC, coliform, residual chlorine, turbidity, temperature, and pH were measured. For the heterotrophic bacteria the R2A and Nutrients Agar culture media were used, while the spread plate count method was used for the HPC test. The statistical tests used for data analysis were the t-test and regression. In 50% of the samples heterotrophic bacteria were present. In 6 districts the HPC was higher than 500 cfu/mL. Based on Nutrient Agar and R2A, the HPC indicator in Tabriz drinking water was 184 +/- 340 and 154 +/- 315 cfu/mL, respectively, the growth rate being higher in the former medium. There was a significant correlation between the HPC and residual chlorine in both media [for Nutrients Agar, p<0.05; R= -0.347, and for R2A, p<0.05; R= -0.312]. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the HPC and pH [p<0.05]. Further analysis of the data showed that the correlation between HPC values in both media was also significant [p<0.95, R= 0.95]. The presence of heterotrophic bacteria in 50% of the water samples tested indicates that drinking water contamination with these bacteria is a public health problem in Tabriz city. As a result, monitoring of HPC at least once every 6 or, at least, 12 months, together with coliform bacteria, and the comparison of the results over time can help to better determine water quality in the distribution system, as well as boost the system operation and ensure drinking water with a high quality

[Assessment of self esteem among students of high schools in Sabzevar[2010]]

Self esteem is the judgment of a person about herself himself. Given that having low self esteem causes many abnormalities such as function reduction,loneliness, substance abuse and self destructive behaviors and also the fact that some studies report low rate of self esteem among students, this study wanted to assess self esteem and some related factors among high school students of Sabzevar. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 270 students of high schools of Sabzevar in 2010.The subjects were selected using multi-stage sampling. The data were collected using PoP questionnaire. The questionnaire included five domains of self-esteem [physical, public, academic, family and social self esteem. Score above 75 was taken as good self esteem, 50-75 was medium and lower than 50 was comsidered as poor. The data were then analyzed by SPSS software version 15.0 using descriptive and analytical statistics t-test, ANOVA and pearson correlation. This study indicated that only 50 students[14%] enjoyed good self steem. There was a positive correlation between the five domains of self esteem. However there is a negative correlation between family self esteem and parent age. Results also showed a significant difference between public and academic self esteem in terms of the gender of the students because the mean of self esteem was higher among the girls. There was significant difference between self esteem domains except academic self esteem and addiction of a member in the family as the mean self esteem was lower among students who had an addicted family member. Mean of self esteem was higher among the students who enjoyed a warm and supportive relationship with their parents [P<0.01]. Considering the low rate of self esteem among students and many problems that can results from unfavorable self esteem it is necessary that parents and high school teachers pay more attention to this age group. Supportive relationship of parents, appropriate age for marriage and non-addicted parents all can improve self esteem among students

Utilizing the health belief model to predict preventive behaviors for heart diseases in the students of Islamic Azad university of Sabzevar [2010]

In Iran, over 19% of the population are suffering from heart diseases. Understanding and modifying its risk factors can decrease its morbidity and mortality rate. Planning requires information about present knowledge and performance of the people. The purpose of this study was to determine factors related to preventive behaviors for heart diseases in the students of Islamic Azad university of Sabzevar based on Health Belief Model [HBM]. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 270 students of Islamic Azad University of Sabzevar.The subjects were selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire designed according to HBM and was completed by self-administeration. A panel of experts approved the validity of the questionnaire and its reliability was verified by means of cronbach alpha test [N=30,alpha=0.68%-0.86%].The data were then analyzed by SPSS versionlS.O software using descriptive and analytical statistics [t-test, ANOVA, Regression analysis and Pearson correlation]. According to the results, the mean score of preventive behaviors for heart diseases among students was 10.41 out of 16. The subjects mostly followed preventive behaviors for heart diseases [65%].of the subjects, 23.8% were overweight or obese most of whom were males over 24 years and married. Perceived barriers, guide for action and preventive behaviors of heart diseases were related to parent education. Among the extended health belief model variables, there was a significant correlation between the presence of guide for action and self efficacy on preventive behaviors for heart diseases .These variables explained 14.6% of variance of preventive behaviors of heart diseases. Mass media [TV and Radio] was the most important source of information. The mean of heart diseases preventive behaviors was moderate among students, however, a significant percentage of students were overweight. Based on the results, using mass media and increasing self efficacy in the field of training programs can improve the preventive behaviors for heart diseases

[ association between interview and written exam in graduate student admission of medical education and rehabilitation management]

In 2007 and the years before, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education invited MS volunteers in different disciplines such as rehabilitation management and medical education for interview in addition to written exam. This study tried to determine the role of interview in students' admission in medical education and rehabilitation management during the years 2006 and 2007 and also the association between interview and written exam. In this study, the scores of interview, written exam, total exam, and written exam materials were extracted separately. Then, statistical parameters such as mean, standard deviation, and correlation between scores were calculated by MINITAB-15 software. It was tried to investigate the medical education and rehabilitation management examination results using correlation coefficient and frequency distribution. This study also investigated the association between interview and written exam and their role in students' admission. The correlation coefficient between interview and written exam scores in medical education examinations was higher than the ones for rehabilitations management which demonstrates a closer linear correlation between interview score and written exam score in medical education examination. Correlation coefficient and frequency distribution in rehabilitation management examination, showed no logical relation-ship between interview and written exam scores. Considering non-equivalent changes appeared in medical education and rehabilitation manage-ment examinations, we can learn about lack of coordination in interviews of different groups. Therefore, it seems that it is better to change the interviews more toward structural, multi-aspect, and individual instead of accumulative and qualitative

[Botulinum toxin in treatment of chronic idiopathic anal fissure]

Anal fissure is a chronic condition characterized by painful defecation and rectal bleeding. The aim of this study was to compare the injection of botulinum toxin [BT], versus with surgical lateral internal sphincterotomy [LIS]. In this clinical trial, 40 patients enrolled with chronic idiopathic anal fissure [CIAF] and were divided into 2 groups [20 BT group and 20 LIS group]. Both groups were compared according to complications and healing process during one week, following, 2 and 4 months after interventions. There were no statistical significant differences between 2 groups as a viewpoint of duration of disease, pain and other symptoms at the beginning of the study. The rate of healing in the LIS group was greater than the BT group within the first month [16/0], and second month [16/7] [p<0.05], however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the 4[th] month [17/11] of the study [p>0.05]. In comparison with the BT group, the severity of pain in the LIS group decreased significantly. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding complications. Healing in the BT group was approximately similar to the LIS; yet it appears to occur slower than LIS. Therefore, according to the results of the study, injection of the BT is recommended within the first step of CIAF treatment. To obtain the maximum healing effects of BT, a minimum period of 4 months is needed

[Comparison of different invasive types of refractive errors operation]

The methods of ammetropia of human eye correction are divided into invasive and non invasive methods. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Each method has limitations due to the type of compensation; therefore it is difficult to make a straight forward decision. In this study we tried to compare the results of methods to find out their predictability, Uncorrected Visual Acuity, safety and stability. We investigated data of 24012 patients of different operation types in published papers by using the following keywords: Conductive Keratoplasty [CK], Hyperopic Thermokeratoplasty [HTK], Diode Laser Thermal Keratoplasty [DTK], Laser Thermal Keratoplasty [LTK], Photorefractive Keratectomy [PRK], Laser In Situ Keratomileusis [LASIK], Laser SubEpithelial Keratomileusis [LASEK]. The criteria for selection of papers were safety, predictability, stability and uncorrected visual acuity. Data were analyzed with Chi-square test. For those patients with hypermetropia less than 3.5 diopter, CK and LTKhave best correction results, respectively. Then the results of PRK and LASEK were the same. For all range of myopia, LASEK provided the best results and then LASIK was proper for moderate and higher myopia refractive errors, and PRK was useful in low myopia refractive anomalies