Modelling the probability of presence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Iran until 2070

Objective: To determine the suitable ecological habitats of Aedes (Ae.) aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Iran due to climate change by the 2070s. Methods: All data relating to the spatial distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus worldwide, which indicated the geographical coordinates of the collection sites of these mosquitoes, were extracted from online scientific websites and entered into an Excel file. The effect of climatic and environmental variables on these mosquitoes was evaluated using the MaxEnt model in the current and future climatic conditions in the 2030s, 2050s, and 2070s. Results: The most suitable areas for the establishment of Ae. aegypti are located in the southern and northern coastal areas of Iran, based on the model outputs. The modelling result for suitable ecological niches of Ae. albopictus shows that in the current climatic conditions, the southern half of Iran from east to west, and parts of the northern coasts are prone to the presence of this species. In the future, some regions, such as Gilan and Golestan provinces, will have more potential to exist/establish Ae. albopictus. Also, according to the different climate change scenarios, suitable habitats for this species will gradually change to the northwest and west of the country. The temperature of the wettest season of the year (Bio8) and average annual temperature (Bio1) were the most effective factors in predicting the model for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, respectively. Conclusions: It is required to focus on entomological studies using different collection methods in the vulnerable areas of Iran. The future modelling results can also be used for long-term planning to prevent the entry and establishment of these invasive Aedes vectors in the country.

Spatial distribution of cutaneous anthrax in western Iran from 2009 to 2016: Geographic information system mapping for predicting risk of anthrax outbreaks

To explore the spatial accumulation of diseases and their aggravating factors are essential in all public health. This study attempts to use geographic information system (GIS) to provide more information about the incidence and future of anthrax. Methods: Patients were diagnosed with anthrax in Kurdistan Province from 2009 to 2016. Data was then exported into ArcGIS software version 9 and the required layers for years and areas were added.Final map for each year was drawn up, pointing out the hot spots and predicting its future pattern. Results: Most cases were reported in females (57 cases, 54.80 %), and the lower body limbs were most affected (63 cases, 60.57%). The highest numbers of incidences were related to the cities of Marivan, Saqez and Divandareh, with more concentration in the central parts of the province, rather than borderline areas. The highest percentage of the probable incidence of the disease was in Sanandaj (57.74%) with a potential susceptible area of 1 729.12 km

In vitro cysteine reactivates organophosphate insecticide dichlorvos-inhibited human cholinesterases

Objectives: Organophosphate [OP] pesticides inhibit both red blood cell [RBC] and plasma cholinesterases [ChEs]. Oximes, especially pralidoxime [2-PAM], are widely used as antidotes to treat OP poisoning. In addition, N-acetylcysteine [NAC] is sometimes used as an adjuvant antidote. The current study aimed to assess the feasibility of using NAC as a single therapeutic agent for OP poisoning in comparison to in vitro 2-PAM

Methods: This study was carried out at the Razi Drug Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between April and September 2014. A total of 22 healthy human subjects were recruited and 8 mL citrated blood samples were drawn from each subject. Dichlorvos-inhibited blood samples were separately exposed to low and high doses [final concentrations of 300 and 600 micro mol.L[-1], respectively] of 2-PAM, NAC and cysteine. Plasma and RBCs were then separated by centrifugation and their ChE activity was measured using spectrophotometry

Results: Although cysteine-and not NAC-increased the ChE activity of both plasma and RBCs over those of dichlorvos, it did not increase them over those of a high dose of 2-PAM

Conclusion: These results suggest that the direct reactions of 2-PAM and cysteine with dichlorvos and the reactivation of phosphorylated ChEs occurr via an associative stepwise addition-elimination process. High therapeutic blood concentrations of cysteine are needed for the elevation of ChE activity in plasma and RBCs; however, both this agent and NAC may still be effective in the reactivation of plasma and RBC ChEs

most effective safety codes on occupational accidents prevention in construction sites frequency of intestinal parasites in patients with malignancy in Ardabil Province, Northwest Iran

Background: Rapid pace of the construction projects have led to safety negligence on the part of the contractors causing higher numbers of accidents in construction industry. Thus, over 2200 legal provisions have been established for the prevention of accidents on construction sites. Not only contractors are unable to implement all provisions, but also it is hard for regulatory bodies to implement all rules, but they are also hard to remember and attend to by regulatory forces. Therefore, identifying the set of codes with the highest effect on reducing accidents would be most beneficial. The aim of this study was to determine the most effective legal provisions in reducing accidents on construction sites in Zanjan city

Methods: In this study, 378 work-related accidents in construction sites in Zanjan city, already registered in the Labor Inspection Authority, were investigated .Then the codes that had not been respected in the construction industry accidents were identified. Effective codes were determined based on their frequency on Pareto chart

Results: Results indicated that out of 2200 legal matters, only 164 were broken in the accidents

Conclusion: Application of Pareto chart could raise safety professionals' awareness of the specific broken codes in accidents, thus draw higher attention to the codes

case-control study on occult hepatitis b infection in chronic hemodialysis patients from south-west of Iran

Blood born viral infections such as hepatitis B virus [HBV] are major concerns in chronic hemodialysis [CHD] patients and hemodialysis units. Undetected HB[s] Ag in the presence of viral DNA, occult HBV infection [OBI], isa concern in the care of CHD patients and hemodialysis unit as a mode of transmission.In this case-control study we compare the frequency of OBI in the CHD patients with the normal population.82 consecutive CHD patients and 82 healthy individuals without any risk factors for HBV infection were enrolled in this study. A selection criterion was negative serum HB[s] Ag by ELISA method. Subsequently, the sera were tested for HBV DNA by nested PCR method.In the CHD group, 55 [67.1%] were male and 27 [32.9%] were female, with the overall mean age of 54.32 +/- 13.67 years old. The mean age of control group was 32.65 +/- 8.51 years old, with 26 [31.7%] male and 56 female [69.3%]. HBV DNA was present in 9 [11%] CHD patients, 4 [8%] of whom were seronegative for anti-HBc and anti-HB[s] antibodies. No HBV DNA was identified in the control group [p<0.0001]. History of blood transfusion was presentin all OBI CHD patients and 59 [80.9%] of non-OBI CHD patients. Duration of hemodialysis in OBI CHD and non-OBI CHD patients were 73.56 +/- 39.53 and 44.24 +/- 24.59 months, respectively [p =0.002]. The prevalence of occult HBV infection is relatively high in patients with chronic hemodialysis in our region. Duration of hemodialysis and history of blood transfusion are important risk factor for OBI infection. A more sensitive method, such as PCR, may need to be considered in this patient population

[ relationship between craniovertebral [CV] angle and neck pain among male and female students with an emphasis on different educational levels]

Objective: Neck pain is a common cause for which people refer to physiotherapy centers. Neck pain may be related to prolonged static posture in head, neck, and shoulder during daily activities and studying. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between Forward head posture [FHP] and neck pain in female and male students of different educational levels

Materials and Methods: 1017 students [511 girls, 506 boys] from the University of Tehran in undergraduate, graduate and PhD level participated in this correlation study. Selection in departments have been target, however sample, s selection have been random. The mean of age of girls and boys was 23.78 +/- 3.74, the weight was 63.24 +/- 12.1, and height 162.42 +/- 7.14 and boy's age was 23.74 +/- 3.91, weight 57.23 +/- 8.87, and height 168.53 +/- 9.74.FHP was measured in students by questionnaire, visual analog scale [VAS] and by using the Head Posture Spinal Curvature Instrument [HPSCI]. Spearman correlation test was administered to analyze the data using SPSS 18 software [P and le0.05]

Results: Neck pain was significantly and negatively correlated with FHP in female PhD students [P=0.007], while this relationship between undergraduate, graduate students and male PhD students was not significant [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Neck pain is associated with forward head posture in PhD students. Therefore, it is important to address these faulty postures and correct them in treatment sessions. However, due to the progression of student community to higher education level, it is more critical to be aware of the correct of posture position in students

Effects of magnetized water on ovary, pre-implantation stage endometrial and fallopian tube epithelial cells in mice

Magnetized water has made many improvements in industry, agriculture and medicine. However its utilization in medicine still remains controversial. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of magnetized water on height of epithelial cells in pre-implantation stage endometrium and fallopian tube and number of corpus lutea in female mice. Eighty female NRMI mice were recruited to this experimental study and randomly divided into two groups: the control group which drank normal water and the experimental [case] group which drank magnetized water for 2 weeks. Super-ovulation was induced in these mice and then they were mated with male mice as well. Samples of ovary, uterus and fallopian tube were obtained at the pre-implantation stage. Then, after preparation, the number of corpus lutea in each ovary was counted and the height of fallopian and endometrial epithelial cells was measured by light microscopy. Data analysis showed a significant increase in the mean number of corpus lutea and the height of epithelial cells in fallopian tube comparing the case with the control group [p=0.01, p=0.002 respectively] whereas uterus epithelial cells of the case group showed insignificant increase in height, in compare with the control group [p=0.052]. Our results suggest that magnetized water intake increases the number of corpus lutea and the height of fallopian tube epithelial cells. Further research is needed to determine whether this will increase in the success rate of fertility

effect of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field on in vitro fertilization success rate in NMRI mice

The effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields [EMF] on reproduction systems have been widely debated. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether low frequency EMF could ameliorate the in vitro fertilization success rate in Naval medical research institute [NMRI] Mice. In this randomized comparative animal study, ten NMRI mice were randomly divided into 2 equal groups [control and experimental].10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] was injected intraperitoneally to both groups in order to stimulate ovulating, and ovums were then aspirated and kept in KSOM [modified version of sequential simplex optimization medium with a higher K+ concentration] culture medium. Metaphase II ovums were separated, and sperms obtained by "swim out" method were added to metaphase II ovums in the culture medium. The experimental group was exposed to 1.3 millitesla pulsed electromagnetic field at 4 kilohertz frequency for 5 hours. To assess the efficacy, we considered the identification of two-pronuclear zygote [2PN] under microscope as fertilizing criterion. Total number of collected ovums in the control and experimental groups was 191 and 173, respectively, from which 58 [30.05%] and 52 [30.36%] ovums were collected from metaphase II, respectively. In vitro fertilization [IVF] success rate was 77% in extremely low frequency- pulsed electromagnetic field [ELF-PEMF] for exposed group [experimental], whereas the rate was 68% for control group. Despite increased percentile of IVF success rate in exposed group, there was no statistically significant difference between 2 groups, but this hypothesis has still been stated as a question. Further studies with larger sample sizes and different EMF designs are suggested

Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin in acute ischemic stroke

Ischemic brain strokes consist two-thirds of strokes and their complications bear a lot of disability for patient and society. In this study, we seek for effect of Erythropoietin on ischemic brain stroke's outcomes according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] changes. This study is a RCT [randomized clinical trial]. All patients with focal neurologic deficit with primary suspicion of brain stroke undergone neuroimaging evaluations. After confirmation of new ischemic brain stroke, the patients with inclusion criteria's randomized into two groups of cases and controls. NIHSS was defined for each patient and all patients received a routine treatment protocol. Erythropoietin 16,000 IU as a bolus intravenous dose was given to case patients as soon as neuroimaging study confirmed new ischemic stroke and continued as 8000 IU each 12 h up to total dose of 56,000 IU during 3 days. Patients re-evaluated at days 14 and 28 and NIHSS was assessed by another neurologist blinded to patient's group. Finally, NIHSS changes of both groups compared with each other's. Evaluations revealed that in days14 and 28 during follow-up, Erythropoietin was effective in NIHSS [P= 0.0001]. This effect was of value in level of consciousness Commands [P= 0.024], facial palsy [P= 0.003], motor arm [P= 0.0001], motor leg [P= 0.0001], sensory [P= 0.009], and best language [P= 0.023]. Administration of high-dose erythropoietin in first 24 h can be effective on reduction of ischemic stroke complication. A larger scale clinical trial is warranted

Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function after kidney ? transplantation by Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of successful kidney transplantation [KT] on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by both qualitative [visual] interpretation and semiquantitative parameters, using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with gated-single photon emission computed tomography [gated-SPECT] in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease. From a total of 38 patients who were candidates of KT, twenty-six patients [16 female, 10 male, mean age: 47.5 yr, range: 24-64 yr] who had successful KT were included. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was performed by Gated Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography [Gated-SPECT] method, before and after surgery [mean: 24 months]. Perfusion and function status was evaluated by qualitative and semiquantitative parameters. Our data showed qualitative evidence of perfusion and functional abnormality in pre-transplant scans as follows: Abnormal perfusion in left anterior descending [LAD], left circumflex [LCX] and right coronary artery [RCA] territories in 42.5%, 53.8% and 65.4% of cases, respectively; dilation in 57.7% and inhomogenity of uptake in 53.8% of cases. However no statistically significant change was noted after transplantation, i.e. p value for all semiquantitative values including summed stress score [SSS], summed rest score [SRS] and summed difference score [SDS], summed motion score [SMS], summed thickening score [STS], ejection fraction [EF], end diastolic volume [EDV], end systolic volume [ESV], and stroke volume [SV] was greater than 0.05. Renal transplantation may not have considerable long term effect on myocardial perfusion and function in patients with chronic renal failure. This could be due to either non-reversible myocardial changes or continuing effect of degrading factors on the myocardium

Active-passive immunization effectiveness against hepatitis B virus in children born to HBsAg positive mothers in Amol, north of Iran

HBV infection is a contagious disease that may transmit vertically from mothers to their neonates or horizontally by blood products and body secretions. Over 50% of Iranian carriers have contracted the infection perinatally, making this the most likely route of transmission of HBV in Iran. This study assesses the serologic markers of HBV in children born to HBsAg positive mothers who received HBIG and 3 doses of HBV vaccine. To evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination against HBV, a study was conducted on 95 Children, born to hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive mothers, who had received Hepatitis B Immune Globulin and HBV vaccines during 2004- 2008. All children were tested for the presence of HBsAg, anti- HBs and anti-HB core antigen [anti-HBc]. Among an estimated 30000 pregnant women during the five year study, about 130 [0.42%] were HBV carriers. Ninety-five children from these mothers were enrolled in this study. Only one child [1.1%] was HBsAg positive, while 88.4% of children were Anti-HBs Positive. Eleven children [11.6%] were exposed to HBV as shown by the presence of anti-HBc. A significant difference was observed between the children's age and Anti-HBs [p=0.0001]. Passive-active immunoprophylaxis of high risk babies was highly efficacious in preventing perinatal transmission of the HBV carrier state. Also, evaluation of serologic markers in HBV infected people is important for designing the strategies for disease control

[Sero prevalence of CMV in women's with spontaneous abortion in kowsar hospital, ilam during 2007-2008]

Human CMV is the most causative agent of a very common viral infection contacted by most adults that have no noticeable or with only mild uncharacteristic symptoms. However when a pregnant women is infected with CMV as a primary infection, there is a risk for transmission of virus to the fetus as well as reactivation of virus in rare case. HCMV antibodies were already described in spontaneous abortion and fetal abnormalities cases. Also antibodies against HCMV in fetal abnormalities as well as abortion had been reported by several studies in different part of the world. Due to lack of published data about CMV epidemiology in Ilam, the aim of current study was to determine the seroprevalence of specific viral IgM and IgG in spontaneous abortion cases as well as the age and socioeconomic status in the studied population in Ilam. Sera sample from 42 patients in abortion process as well as 30 healthy pregnant and 30 healthy women as negative control were collected and quantitative serological test to assess IgM/IgG against HCMV was performed using a commercial ELISA assay. SPSS software was used to analysis the results and demographic information. Among 42 patients in abortion process, IgG was found in 6 [14.28%] patients and IgM in 12 [28.58%] cases. Based on demographical information, it was showed that IgG seropositivity correlate with the increase of age, but there is no correlation between IgM and age of patients. The results showed that there is a high seroPrevalence of HCMV IgM than IgG among pregnant women in the process of abortion in Ilam; correlation between Age and IgG anti body seroPrevalence was same as other reported. Based on the current studies, it seems that more sensitive and specific method such as NAT method is needed for determination of CMV and abortion procces