[Can bilirubin be an indicator for predicting coronary artery disease?]

Oxidative interactions such as the formation of oxygen, peroxy radicals and LDL-cholesterol oxidation are involved in the development of atherosclerosis process. This study aims to examine the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and the incidence of coronary artery disease. Eighty-five patients and ninety-two healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Total and direct bilirubin levels were measured using diazo method. Besides, triglycerides and total cholesterol were determined by enzymatic method, HDL-Cholesterol by polyanionic method, and LDL-Cholesterol by direct method. For statistical analysis of data, SPSS 17 was applied. For qualitative variables, Chi-square and for quantitative variables, t student tests were used. The significance level was set at P=0.05. Direct, indirect and total bilirubin levels were 0.213, 0.375, 0.588 mg/dl for control group and 0.228, 0.365, 0.593 mg/dl for patient group, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the mean values for direct, indirect and total bilirubin in the two groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between triglycerides and total cholesterol level figures in the two groups. However, there was a significant difference between HDL-Cholesterol levels [P=0.001], smoking [P=0.031], family history [P=0.006], and mean blood pressure [P<0.001] of the two groups. The results of this study indicate that measurement of bilirubin as a marker for predicting coronary artery disease may be important. In the end, it should be mentioned that the findings of this study are consistent with some previous studies, but incompatible with others in this area

[Evaluation methods of theoretical and practical courses of paramedical faculty laboratory sciences undergraduate students at Tehran university of medical sciences in the academic year 2009-2010]

Achievement-based evaluation is an important part of the educational planning process, in which learners are screened; besides, it helps teachers in their self-evaluation. The purpose of present study is to survey the methods through which laboratory sciences students were evaluated by their professors at Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS] in the academic year 2009-2010. In this cross-sectional study, the population consisted of the faculty members who teach laboratory sciences courses. Data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed to describe all evaluation methods using tables and necessary distribution frequencies. Then, the results were compared with those of Medical Planning Council resolutions. The results show that mid-term exams were used for the evaluation of students in 35% of all theoretical and practical courses. Besides, of the evaluation methods used, multiple-choice questions occupied the first rank [70%] among the methods normally employed. According to the results, routine evaluation of undergraduate students of laboratory sciences at the Paramedical Faculty of Tehran University of Medical sciences not only conformed to the ratifications of the Supreme Council of Medical Planning, but also was done more extensively and with a higher degree of consistency in the academic year 2009-2010

[Evaluation of cytokines changes in patients infected with giardia lamblia in comparison with healthy subjects]

Human Giardisis infection is caused by the flagellate protozoa. Giardia lamblia, which lives in the small intestine, causing damage and may also cause gastrointestinal symptoms. This parasitic disease has a worldwide distribution and prevalence varies from 5% to 30%. The role of both humeral and cellular immune response in the host defense against parasites has proven. Since an immune response is directly affected by cytokine, study of cytokines changes in patients with giardiosis is of particular importance. In this study the serum levels of IL-2 - 4 - 6 to 17 and 23 in patients and healthy subjects were measured and compared. Fasting blood samples were taken from the volunteers, ELISA was performed to measure cytokines. In this study, the amount of IL-2 and IL-6 in infected patients was significantly more than the controls, but IL-4 levels were significantly lower in infected individuals [P=0.0001]. Also for the first time in people with giardiasis IL- 17 and IL-23 was measured and there was a significant aifference in these cytokines between the infected patients healthy controls[respectively P=0.044 and P=0.03]. Host defense response against parasitic infections, is directly and affected by cytokines. Increased interleukin 2, 6, 17 and 23 in patients with Giardiosis was probably caused by immune response and local intestinal inflammation

[Internal evaluation of medical laboratory sciences department of allied health sciences school, Tehran University of medical sciences[2010]]

Internal Evaluation is a process of providing evaluative-descriptive information based on the value and significance of educational objectives, operations and results to direct decisions, responses, information and research processes. In this research, studying the opinions of faculty members, students, and graduates, the educational system of Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS] was evaluated in the year 2010. The aim the study was to remodel and adjust the educational system with the society's needs and to promote the educational quality. The employed method was a cross-sectional, descriptive one and consisted of 10 procedural steps in eight sections dealing with the evaluated factors such as faculty members and students, and the satisfaction expressed by students. The results of the study showed that the average of the eight investigated sections was 70.6% for the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, which can be interpreted as desirable. Internal evaluation can be considered as one of the best methods of improving the quality of education in the faculty of Allied Health Sciences School