[Construction of a phage M13-based gene carrier and examination of its capacity for transgene delivery and expression in eukaryotic AGS cell line]

Due to some drawbacks associated with gene delivery vehicles including viral and non-viral vectors, scientists have continued their efforts to find an ideal gene delivery vehicle. Bacteriophages have been proposed as an attractive alternative gene delivery vehicle in view of their advantages such as protection of transgene, lack of immunogenicity and stability in different conditions. This study has been conducted with the aim of obtaining a construct based on M13 phage and evaluating its capability for delivering transgene to eukaryotic cells. pCMV-Script EX phagemid was constructed by intracellular excision of Lambda-Zap CMV XR vector bearing GFP gene. Packaging of the construct using helper phage resulted in M13-GFP phage particles which used for transfection of human AGS cell line. Finally internalization of the phage particles into the AGS cell line was evaluated by PCR and florescence microscopy. Examination of the treated cells with florescence microscopy indicated that M13-GFP phage particles were able to internalize and express the transgene in eukaryotic cells, but the efficiency of this trasfer was very low. PCR analysis showed that internalization of the M13-GFP gene vehicle to eukaryotic cells was dose dependent. The results indicated that M13 phage could be an appropriate gene delivery vehicle, because it had trivial tropism for eukaryotic cells. This means that after displaying or coupling of appropriate targeting molecules on the surface of phage particles, transgene can effectively be delivered to the target cells

[Assessing the readiness of assembly line workers to adopt the upright posture]

Based on a biomechanical model, an upright body posture has an important contribution to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and back pain. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the constructs of theory of planned behavior and the stage of readiness for maintaining correct body posture among the assembly line. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 264 workers from Pars Electric and Kachiran factories with an average age of 35 years and selected by convenient sampling method were investigated in 2009. Data were collected using a questionnaire with appropriate psychometric properties of 5 parts including the demographic information, attitude, perceived behavior control, subjective norms, and intention as well as a staging algorithm for maintaining an upright posture during a 6-month period. The results of analysis of variance [ANOVA] showed that all selected variables shared a significant variance with the stage of readiness and that the discrimination between the stages by the selected variables was successful. Structural equation modeling was indicative of a direct relationship between the intention and the stage of readiness. Also, the subjective norms and perceived behavior control which showed to have direct relationships with intention exerted their effects on stage of readiness through intention mediation [P<0.05]. Perceived behavior control, subjective norms, and intention are beneficial to understand the individual differences in stage of readiness for maintaining upright body posture and considering the subjective norms and managerial supportive network is essential to promote safe behavior

[ study of refractive errors among carpet weaver women in rural Sephidehkesh of Qazvin, Qazvin, Iran]

Carpet weaver women due to long working in inappropriate environment are at risk for certain eye disease. The aim of this study is to determine the refractive errors among carpet weavers women in rural Sephidehkesh of Qazvin. 28 Carpet weaver women were under optometric eye examinations. Light Intensity at work stations was measured, using luxmeter and eye examinations were done by using the ophthalmoscope and retinoscop. Data were analyzed using one-side T-test. The result of this study showed, general and local light intensity in 13 carpet weaving workshops, respectively 160 and 154 Lux that was much less than the minimum and maximum recommended values of 200 to 300 Lux. Only one of 28 Carpet weaver women was healthy and others were visually impaired. In addition to poor eyesight, workers complained of headache, itching and burning eyes. The results show, due to inappropriate working condition in carpet weaving workshops, most young workers are suffering from eye impairment and is predicted the severity of myopia to increase with working experience and age

[Control and eradication program for bovine brucellosis in Iran: an epidemiological survey]

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that is widely distributed throughout the developing countries. The status of bovine brucellosis combating program in Iran from beginning to now was reviewed. The information of 59 year combating against bovine brucellosis were obtained from Iran Veterinary Organization. Bovine brucellosis was first recognized in 1944 in Iran and is now endemic. In 1949, a bovine brucellosis combating program was setup which included vaccination of female calves with strain S19/RB51, infection diagnostic testing and slaughtering the infected cattle. Prevalence of brucellosis among industrial and semi-industrial dairy cattle calculated as 0.3%. Controlling and prevention of bovine brucellosis is far more complex than vaccination, testing and slaughtering the infected livestock. A financially well- supported control and eradication program and joint efforts between the farmers and governmental authorities are needed as a mean to prevent the spreading of disease. Without these, even a very good strategy will fail

[Study of expression pattern of eIF4E gene as a molecular marker in thyroid cancer]

Regulation of protein synthesis in the early stage of translation depends on the function of eIF4E factor especially in the form of eukaryotic initiation factor [eIF4F]. Overexpression of eIF4E in multiple cancer types, including malignancies of the prostate, breast, colon, lung, and the hematopoietic system is indicative of the role of this factor in tumorogenesis and promotion of the cancers. In this study we investigated the expression pattern of eIF4E as a new molecular marker in thyroid tumors and their marginal normal tissues. We used semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique to examine the expression of eIF4E in 21 papillary carcinoma tissue specimens and 14 specimens of corresponding marginal normal tissue adjacent to the malignant lesions. Beta 2m gene was considered as an internal control. Rate of expression of eIF4E in different groups were compared with one another by use of SPSS software and data were analyzed by one way ANOVA and t-test. Our data revealed significant expression of eIF4E in all tumor samples compared to non-tumor lesions and normal tissues [P<0.05]. Moreover the expression level was notably increased in malignant tumor samples compared to marginal tissues of the tumors [P<0.05]. The rate of expression was more in tumor samples than non-malignant samples. The results of this study indicated that the rate of expression of eIF4E gene is associated with kind of tumor and grade of malignancy. Also this study confirmed the role of eIF4E gene in tumor progression and development of thyroid tumors. Therefore eIF4E gene expression can be an appropriate indicator for diagnosis of tumors and can be used as a guide for grading of thyroid tumors. This prognostic and diagnostic factor can be considered as a promising therapeutic target for treatment of cancers

[Prevalence of myopia in patients with a history of night-time ambient light exposure during sleep throughout the first three years of their lives]

This was a cross-sectional case-control study in which the effect of night-time ambient light on prevalence of myopia in patients with a history of exposure to night-time light during sleep throughout the first three years of their lives was investigated in 2008. Two hundred children aged 3-15 years who were brought to our eye clinic at boo-Ali hospital for ophthalmic examination investigated as case group. Also, 200 sex and age matched children were randomly selected as control group. Following completion of questionnaire routine ophthalmic examinations including visual acuity test, refraction, ophthalmoscopy, IOP, slit lamp test, and keratometry were performed by an ophthalmologist and an optometrist. Data were analyzed using SPSS and t-test. There were 126 [63%] females and 74 [37%] males in each group. The results of this study showed that of 200 children with the history night-time ambient light exposure during sleep throughout the first three years of their lives, 196 [98%] were with myopia [-0.25 to-4D], three with hyperopia and one with normal sight. Among control group, 154 [77%] were myopic [-0.25 to-1.25D] and 46 [23%] hyperopic. Our data indicated that exposure to night-time light during sleep within the first three years of life increase the risk of early myopia by 1.6 times higher than those in control group with no exposure to night-time light during sleep within the first three years of life [p<0.05]

[Predicting the stages of change in physical activity behavior of QUMS students with Pender's model]

Low level physical activity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases and evidences suggest that the level of physical activity is decreasing. Reversing the trend depends on a behavior change by most people. However, the association between various psychosocial determinants and physical activity are not well understood. The aim of this study was to predict the stages of change in physical activity behavior of QUMS students by Pender's model. This cross-sectional survey was carried out at Qazvin University of Medical Science in 2008. A total sample of 222 students completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of an exercise change. A test-retest method was applied to determine the reliability while the Cronbach's Alpha used to confirm internal consistency. Face and content validity were confirmed in this study. Also, ANOVA and Path analysis were performed to determine the association between these constructs and stage of physical activity behavior change. More than half of students were in inactive stage and exercised for 41.62 minutes a week on average. Exercise self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits were found to be significant predictors of the stage of exercise behavior change among medical students. Only self-efficacy and stages of change [P<0.001] could directly predict the significant variance of physical activity while other constructs from Pander's model indirectly influenced the physical activity behavior through mediating stages of change construct. Perceived benefits [P<0.001] directly and perceived barriers inversely [P<0.001] were predictor of stage of exercise behavior. Perceived health status could indirectly influence the stage of change via perceived benefit. Our results indicated that the change in stage of readiness for exercise is probably dependent on the student's perceptions of exercise self-efficacy, benefits and barriers as well as the perceived health status to engage in physical activity. Furthermore, the results of this study made moderate support for the health promotion model constructs to predict physical activity and exercise stage of change

[Assessing the refractive errors in beta-thalassemia major patients]

Introduction: beta-thalassemia major caused abnormalities of the eyes because of skeleton deformities, especially in the skull and long-term desferrioxamine [DFD] treatment

Objective: assessing the refractive errors in Beta-thalassemia major patients

Materials and Methods: a total of 71 thalassemia patients who referred lo Qoads hospital of Qazvin, were included in this study. Thirty-seven patients [52%] were female and thirty-four patients [48%] were male seventy one persons who were referred to same Hospital for opthal examinations were randomly selected as control group. All the patients [sample and control] after filling the questionnaires underwent an ophthalmologic and optometric examination by the same optometrist. Ultimately, the data were analyzed by using Spss

Result: the mean age of patients was 16 +/- 50, 37 patients were females and 34 patients were male. Among 71 patients 142 eyes 48 cases, 96 eyes [68%] were hyperopia and 18 cases [25%] were myopia. Whereas, from 142 aged-match control groups, 64 persons [90%] were myopia and 4 persons [5/6%] was hyperopia. The mean of Right and Left Axial length in thalassemia patients showed 22.52 +/- 0.34 and 22.57 +/- 0.38 and for control group showed 23.12 +/- 0. 7 and 23.13 +/- 0.64. There was significant difference between two groups [p<0.05]

Conclusion: the occurrence of refractive error [hyperopia] in thalassemia major patients is affected by either orbital deformity or toxicity of desferrioxamine treatment and should be taken into consideration. This study showed involvement of the Beta-thalassemia major in visual system especially in hyperopia

[Assessment of the eye problems in diabetic patients in Qazvin]

To determine diabetes-associated eye problems in Qazvin, in a cross- sectional study, 371 patients [742 eyes] were studied at eye clinic of Boali hospital in Qazvin [Iran]. Visual acuity was taken and the refractive state performed. Corneal surface, anterior and posterior chamber, lens, vitrous body and retina were assessed. In ocular examination, 55 eyes [7.4%] were normal, 242 [32.6%] with hyperopia and 443 [59.7%] with myopia. Cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and blindness were diagnosed in 77.22%, 18.3%, and 1.35% of cases, respectively

Septoplasty: assessment with rhinomanometry

Septoplasty is one of the most common procedures in the domain of otolaryngology; though, few studies have discussed objectively how much successful this procedure is. We intended to use active anterior rhinomanometry to show this and correlation between these objective figures with clinical signs and symptoms. Overall, 48 patients underwent septoplasty procedure by a single surgeon. Before and one month after surgery, rhinomanometric study [measuring nasal flow and resistance] was done. In that periods, clinical symptoms [nasal obstruction] and signs [nasal impaction seen by rhinoscopy] were recorded by another surgeon, as well. According to history and physical examination, both nasal obstruction and impaction were improved significantly. Nasal flow and nasal resistance improved totally and in each side as well. There significant correlation between obstruction and nasal flow [r=0.34]. In 60.4% of patients, strong correlation was found between patient's satisfaction and clinical findings, as well as a significant but less strong correlation between satisfaction and rhinomanometric findings. Rhinomanometry is able to objectively evaluate the results of septoplasty procedure, so it is a useful and sometimes necessary tool for clinic and research as well as legal issues

Protective effect of Johne's disease attenuated vaccine in an intensive non-tuberculosis free dairy

This study was carried out to control Johne's disease [JD] without interfering with tuberculosis [TB] control programme. A dairy herd [n>1500 heads] was used over a period of 6 years, from 1994 to 1999 for this investigation. The herd had a history of heavy infection with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis [MAP] with culling rates of 1.5 and 5%, in 1991 and 1995, respectively. The mean annual losses due to the reduction in milk yield, pregnancy rate and carcass weight was about $32000. In addition, the farm has had positive tuberculin test. During this study, 2070 calves within 31 days of age, were inoculated once subcutaneously, with MERIAL JD attenuated vaccine, in the middle of brisket region. The vaccine protected the herd against JD effectively, so that from 1995 up to the end of 1999, the means of JD culling among 2-year-old vaccinated and unvaccinated cattle were 0.52 and 19.4%, respectively. This vaccination had no side-effects on TB control programme that was conducted by the comparative tuberculin test. In the site of inoculation, fibrocaseous inflammation, while increasing in size, was developed. during 2 years, on the majority of animals, this reaction disappeared; only in less than 1.5% of instances the lesion became tumoral. and permanent. These animals had no clinical abnormality. While inoculating the vaccine, the insertion of vaccine germ contaminated needles in fingers of vaccinators usually caused temporary, hard and painful inflammation. In one occasion, a progressive granuloma caused by vaccine germ was diagnosed histopathologically and treated with suitable antibiotics

Health education effects on nutritional behavior modification in primary school students

Malnutrition has great effects on causing various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders as well as bone and joint diseases. As the childhood experiences are the main causes of bad hygienic behaviors, this study was performed to determine the effect of health education on nutritional behaviors modification among primary school students of Qazvin. This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 176 students, in two groups of case and control. A questionnaire of three parts, [demography, knowledge and behavior] and a checklist of direct observation were used to collect data. Two educational methods were used: direct education [face to face education with question] and indirect education [using booklets and other-educational subjects]. At the end of the education, the effects of educational programs on knowledge and behaviors of the students were assessed. The results showed that there were significant increases in knowledge [from 23.61 +/- 6.21 to 30.62 +/- 4.96] and nutritional behaviors [from 19.98 +/- 6.63 to 13.19+7.08] after education [p<0.01]. Also education had a positive effect on changing the breakfast habit p<0.05. Based on the results of this study and due to importance of the role of students in the future and low expense of health education, extension of similar education programs is necessary

economic behavior of general hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences from 1997 to 2004

Economic analysis should be applied to hospitals for optimization. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the economic behavior [production-cost] of general hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences from 1997 to 2004. Data was collected using appropriate questionnaire and analyzed by t-test. In this research, Cobb-Douglas function and its T form was used for evaluation of production and cost, respectively. The marginal production of hospital labor for physician was 57, for nurse was 24, and for other personal was 0.04 of the patient admission. The marginal product of capital agent was 18 patient admissions. The personnel and non-personnel costs were 62 and 38 percent of the overall operatic costs respectively. Cost elasticity of overall expense to labor price, capital rate and production was 0.69, 0.48 and 0.32, respectively. The hospitals can be on the decreasing part of LRAC [Long Run Average Cust] care and can decrease the unit cost of production with increasing economic agents