Effects of citrus aurantium [bitter orange] on the severity of first-stage labor pain

Considering that vaginal delivery is a painful process, the present study investigated the effects of Citrus aurantium on the severity of first-stage labor pain in primiparous women. This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted with 126 eligible primiparous patients. The pain severity of patients was measured at the time of enrolling in the study. In the intervention group, [aromatherapy] gauze squares were soaked in 4 ml of Citrus aurantium distillate, and in the control group, gauze squares were soaked in 4 ml of normal saline; each gauze square was attached to the respective patients' collar. The intervention was repeated every 30 min. Pain severity was measured after the intervention at 3-4, 5-7, and 8-10 cm cervix dilatations. The two groups were standardized with regard to age, profession, education, desire to conceive, and number and severity of uterine contractions. The Bishop's score was also calculated. Before intervention, pain severity was the same for both groups, but following intervention, pain severity reduced in the intervention group at 3-4 centimeter [P < 0.05], 7-5 centimeter [P < 0.05], and 8-10 centimeter [P < 0.05] dilatations compared with that in the control group. The findings of the study revealed that aromatherapy using Citrus aurantium distillate alleviates labor pain. This method is recommended because of its ease of use and low cost and because it is a non-aggressive method to reduce labor pain

Using ROC surface to predict preterm delivery based on hemoglobin level in the first trimester of pregnancy

Receiver Operating Characteristics [ROC] curves have numerous applications for identifying a cut-off point in diagnostic tests. Nonetheless, given that sometimes two cut-off points have to be specified simultaneously, the ROC curve can be used to identify such points. The Volume under the ROC Surface [VUS] serves as a criterion for the accuracy of diagnostic tests. One of the unfortunate outcomes in pregnancy is pre-term delivery; it has been noted that an increase in the level of hemoglobin in the first trimester of pregnancy could result in preterm delivery in weeks 34 to 37 and that an ongoing hemoglobin increase could result in the delivery of a premature fetus before the 34th week of pregnancy. In this regard, in order to separate three groups of on-time delivery, pre-term delivery and immature delivery two cut-off points have to be identified, simultaneously. A suitable measure to identify such points is the ROC surface. In the current study, the hemoglobin information of the first trimester of pregnancy and delivery time of 623 pregnant ladies referring to Milad Hospital in Tehran in 2009-2010 was obtained. ROC surface was adopted to draw two ideal cut-off points for the first trimester of pregnancy. The optimal points for hemoglobin of the first trimester computed with the ROC surface were 12.54 and 13.2. While a hemoglobin rate less than 12.54 indicated an on-time delivery, a rate between the two cut-off points referred to pre-term delivery and hemoglobin more than 13.2 showed a premature fetus. The three-dimensional ROC surface is a useful tool that can visually summarize the ability of a biological marker to classify individuals between more than two groups

Biclustering algorithm for embryonic tumor gene expression dataset: LAS algorithm

An important step in considering of gene expression data is obtained groups of genes that have similarity patterns. Biclustering methods was recently introduced for discovering subsets of genes that have coherent values across a subset of conditions. The LAS algorithm relies on a heuristic randomized search to find biclusters. In this paper, we introduce biclustering LAS algorithm and then apply this procedure for real value gene expression data. In this study after normalized data, LAS performed. 31 biclusters were discovered that 26 of them were for positive gene expression values and others were for negative. Biological validity for LAS procedure in biological process, in molecular function and in cellular component were 77.96%, 62.28% and 74.39% respictively. The result of biological validation of LAS algorithm in this study had shown LAS algorithm effectively convenient in discovering good biclusters

[Examination of sexual behavior patterns in married woman aged 19-45 who come to Taleghani Health Center, Tehran, Iran]

Objective: To determine sexual behavior patterns in married woman with 19-45 ages who com to Taleghani heath center, Tehran, Iran

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a total of 200, 19-45 years old women who came to Taleghani health center was performed. Sampling was as simple method. A designed questionnaire administered for data collection. Content validity and Choronbach's Alpha were utilized for examination of validity and reliability respectively. Questionnaires were completed through interview. Then the data were analyzed using SPSS 15

Results: The mean age and marriage age in women was 34.08+/-7.04 and 20.73+/-3.9 years respectively. 24.5 % of them had anal sex and 23.5 % had oral sex. There were a significant relation between asked and acceptance of oral and anal sex [P<0.00]. Most of them have more than one behavior in one sexual episode

Conclusion: There are Non-vaginal sex in some women of society that can lead to some physical problems such as urinary tract infections, genital infections and sexually transmitted and can had negatively psychologic load on women. Hence, advice and education on sexual health in the community seems to be necessary

[Translation and evaluation of psychometric properties of the KINDL Questionnaire]

Objective[s]: Valid and reliable data collection requires valid and reliable tools [questionnaires]. In using questionnaires in other languages, translation and psychometrics to make them compatible with target culture gain the first priority. The aim of this study was to translate KINDL questionnaire [for measuring quality of life in school-age children] to Farsi and to perform its psychometric evaluation

Methods: In this methodology study, after permission from developers of KINDL questionnaire, it was translated in 7 stages. Its English version was first translated to Farsi. Different early translations were then unified into one Farsi version. The final product was then translated back into English with revision, correction and finalization. For measuring psychometric, content validly, criterion validity and reliability by test-retest methods were used. First the KINDL questionnaire was translated and then psychometric was measured. Content validity index [CVI] of the questionnaire was measured based on the "relevance", "clarity", and "simplicity" on a four point scale

Results: The results showed that content validity index was more than %75 for all questions. In addition, the results of criterion validity of KINDL questionnaire and "Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children with Asthma" showed a significant, linear and positive relationship between the scores of the two questionnaires by Spearman statistical test. In addition, test-retest results showed a high correlation between the different domains of the questionnaire

Conclusion: Foreign questionnaires should be translated by expert people and made compatible with the target culture of each country. Researchers should be aware of this important point when they apply questionnaires from other countries. In this research, content validity index, criterion validity and reliability of KINDL questionnaire were measured and approved. Thus, it can be concluded that the questionnaire is suitable to measure quality of life in children

[Psychometric evaluation of the [Health Promoting Life Style Profile 2]]

Objective [s]: The goal of this study was to translate and to evaluate Psychometrically of Iranian version of 'Health Promoting Life Style Profile 2'

Methods: This methodological survey was conducted in 2011 in 3 health centers in Tehran for estimating the construct validity, content validity and reliability with participating of612people. For the purposes of study, the questionnaire was translated. At first stage of the psychometric evaluation, content validity of the questionnaire was measured by Waltz and Bussel content validity index. In order to the evaluating reliability, for determining the external stability of this instrument, test-retest and inter class correlation coefficient were used and for determining the internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used. Construct validity indexes were calculated using confirmatory factor analysis

Results: Findings showed that internal correlation coefficient [Alpha Cronbach] was 0.95 for 'health promotion lifestyle profile 2'. Inter class correlation coefficient for the instrument subscales were between 0.67-0.87. Confirmatory factor analysis to assess the validity of the index, fitted X2 was equal to 2.58, the RMSEA index was equal to 0.05, GFI index equal to 0.83, and CFI index was equal to 0.95, respectively

Conclusion: There is high correlation between the total score of "Health promotion lifestyle profile 2" and its subscale scores

effect of illness perception on physical health-related quality of life promotion in multiple sclerosis [MS] patients attending peer support groups

Illness perception influences patients' decision to adopt effective behavior and achieve positive results such as adapting with the disease and improving functionality, and the interventions that increase illness perception can promote health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of illness perception on the physical health-related quality of life of MS patients attending peer support groups. This study with a quasi-experimental before-and-after design included 33 MS patients in three groups: male-only[n=10], female-only[n=11] and one with both males and females [mixed, n=12] that selected by convenience sampling Participants were required to attend 8 weekly sessions comprising 2 hours each. Instruments used to assess physical health related quality of life and illness perception were the physical health section of "Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory [MSQLI]" and "Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire[IPQ-R]" respectively, which were completed by participants before and after attending the group sessions. The results showed that although illness perception of MS patients attending peer support groups did not show a significant increase, physical health significantly improved[p=0.001]. Attending peer support group increased illness perception in the mixed group[p=0.01] and elevated physical health in men only and mixed group [p=0.03 for the mixed group and p=0.04 for men only group]. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between MS and physical health with efficacy of 0.54[p<0.001]. The results showed that increased illness perception in MS patients improves their physical health. Therefore, we can improve MS patients' physical health-related quality of life through peer support groups and hence promote patients' quality of life

Gene sets involved in prostate cancer based on differential expression

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. In spite of on-going researches in this filed, the specific causes of prostate cancer are so far unknown. In this study, we used two methods of Gene Set Analysis to improve the biological interpretation of the observed expression patterns in prostate cancer. The Gene Set Analysis is a computational method to discover gene sets whose expression is associated with a phenotype of interest. In addition, we used these methods to search gene sets defined by KEGG and BioCarta. Although, our results showed that most of the gene sets were associated with prostate cancer in the Category and Hotelling's T[2] methods, the power of the Hotelling's T[2] was more than Category method in either KEGG or BioCarta gene sets. The concordance between the results of Pubmed articles and KEGG gene sets was more than the results of Pubmed articles and BioCarta gene sets

Using partitioning and non-partitioning clustering algorithms for included proteins sequences in esophagus, stomach and colon cancer

A thorough recognition of the nature and duties of the genes is based upon having adequate information about the proteins. However, the proteomic projects follow a slow trend; therefore, solving the protein-related problems has become as one of the most important challenges in bio-informatics. Consequently, the presence of tools which can enhance the structural recognition, classification, and interpretation of proteins will be advantageous. Statistical methods are among the tools to help solve bio-informatics problems. These methods may be used to help predict the third structures of proteins, study proteins collectively, as well as extract new interactions among the protein collections. One of the very efficient and useful methods in the collective study of protein subsets is the cluster analysis. In the present study, the recognized protein sequences related to esophagus, stomach, and colon cancers are analyzed through partitioning, non-partitioning, and fuzzy clustering methods. Needleman-Wunsch global alignment algorithm was used to determine pair-wise similarities. The evaluations have shown that the clusters obtained through using the AGNES method have produced more powerful structures; yet, it can be said that the PAM clustering method, compared to other ones, has produced the best results in predicting ability of the 3D structure of the unknown protein sequences

Imputation in missing not at random SNPs data using EM algorithm

The relation between single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] and some diseases has been concerned by many researchers. Also the missing SNPs are quite common in genetic association studies. Hence, this article investigates the relation between existing SNPs in DNMT1 of human chromosome 19 with colorectal cancer. This article aims is to presents an imputation method for missing SNPs not at random. In this case-control study, 100 patients suffering from colorectal cancer consulting with the Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were considered as the case group and 100 other patients consulting with the same research institute were considered as the control group and the genetic test was applied in order to identify the genotype of the 6 SNPs of the DNMT1 of chromosom 19 for all the patients under investigation. The obtained data were analyzed using logistic regression, then a fraction of the data was eliminated both at random and not at random and the imputation was done through the EM algorithm and the logistic regression coefficients variation before and after the imputation was compared. The results of this study implied that in both methods, at random and not at random missing SNPs, the estimation of the logistic regression coefficients after the imputation through EM algorithm has a greater correspondence to the results obtained from the complete data in comparison with the method of eliminating the missing values

Comparison of the precision of measurements in three types of micropipettes according to NCCLS EP5-A2 and ISO 8655-6

Micropipettes or piston pipettes are used to make most volume measurements in fields such as health, chemistry, biology, pharmacy and genetics. Laboratories must ensure that results obtained using these instruments are reliable; therefore, it is necessary to calibrate micropipettes. Before the start of the calibration process, we must check the precision of measurements. The objective of this work is to compare several methods for calculating the precision of three kinds of micropipettes according to the reference value in ISO 8655-6. The medical tests will not have accurate results, if the volume of the liquid doesn't transfer precisely by micropipettes. Thus, the physician might potentially face problems in the disease diagnosis and its control. In the NCCLS EP5-A2, there is a method to specify and assess the precision of micropipettes by using CV [Coefficient of Variation]. Also there are other methods to estimate and test the CV theory, in the formal statistics texts which could be applied to assess the micropipettes precision. In this research we evaluate the precision of lab micropipettes. Three brands of micropipettes, A, B and C are assigned to measure the distilled water mass by using accurate scale which is accurate up to 10-6 to measure 50-gram weights. The experimental environment is a metrology lab which is approved by Iran Standard and Industrial Researches Organization. A technician sampled at the beginning of the experiment and then after 2 hours, the same technician repeated the sampling. Overall, each micropipette is used to measure 40 times with 10-repeat times for single measurement in 28 work days. Common statistical methods are used to estimate and test the CV. Point estimation of CV for micropipettes A, B and C were 0.50%, 0.64% and 1.56%, respectively. Furthermore, the upper limit of 95% confidence bounds for these three micropipettes using the exact method were 0.53%, 0.69% and 1.65%, respectively. Micropipette A met the ISO 8655-6 standard level, but micropipettes B and C did not. On average, measurement errors in micropipettes B and C were respectively 30% and 3.11 times more than micropipette A. By using the approach of CLS EP5-A2 and confidence interval for CV, precision of the three micropipettes were compared. Only one of them met the ISO 8655-6 standard level, but the others failed

Detection of anti-platelet glycoprotein antibodies Using MAIPA method

AITP mostly occur in children accompanied by variable clinical sings including petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis and severe bleeding. This study has determined and characterized the anti-platelet glycoproteins in children with ITP. The aim of this study was to determinate anti-platelet glycoproteins [GPs] using MAIPA method. During 18 months 38 children with clinical signs of AITP were studied in Mofid children hospital. To determine anti-platelet antibodies by ELISA technique, washed O negative platelets were used as a source of platelet antigens. MAIPA method was used to detect antibodies against individual platelet membrane glycoprotein. The anti-platelet antibodies level above mean+ 3SD of control group was assumed as positive. The results indicated that the platelet count ranges was between 2×109/L and 95×109/L. 63.5 % out of 38 patients were anti-platelet antibodies positive with ELISA method. The correlation between the above patients with anti-platelet antibody positive and clinical signs was 0.4. Results for determination of antibody against platelet GPIIb/IIIa, GPIb/IX and GPIa/IIa using MAIPA method were 44%, 51% and 25% respectively. In conclusion the preference of MAIPA method is the detection of very small amount of antibody. Since MAIPA is the specific method for the detection of antibody against glycoprotein antigens, it has the advantage of differentiating immune and non-immune thrombocytopenia