[Allometric growth rate of the spinal cord in relation to the vertebral column during prenatal life in male and female goats [Capra hircus]]

Total and regional allometric growth rates and termination sites of the spinal cord related to the respective vertebra were studied in 36 goat fetuses, from the Ahvaz slaughterhouse. These specimens were assigned to 3 groups, group 1 [CRL 10-20 cm], group 2 [CRL 21-30 cm], and group 3 [CRL 31-40 cm], each consisting of 6 male and 6 female fetuses. Observations in all 3 groups revealed that although the growth of the vertebral column was greater than that of the spinal cord, the difference in growth was not constant throughout the spine. While in cervical and thoracic regions the growth rate of the spinal cord in relation to the vertebral column was almost isometric, in the caudal part of the spine there was marked decline in growth of the spinal cord compared to the respective regions of the vertebral column. Craniocaudally, the allometric growth rate became drastically negative. There was no significant difference [P>0.05] between males and females. Except in thoracic region, all other regions showed significant differences [P<0.01] between similar regions in all 3 groups. In the lumbar region of group 2 no significant difference was found [P>0.05]. As a consequence of the negative allometric growth of the spinal cord in relation to the vertebral column in the caudal part of the spine, the conus medullaris was displaced from S4-S5 in group 1 to S2 in group 3. No significant difference [P>0.05] between male and female fetuses concerning the termination of the spinal cord was found

effect of service quality on patient loyalty: a study of private hospitals in Tehran, Iran

Service quality is perceived as an important factor for developing patient's loyalty. The aim of this study was to determine the hospital service quality from the patients' viewpoints and the relative importance of quality dimensions in predicting the patient's loyalty. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010.The study sample was composed of 943 patients selected from eight private general hospitals in Tehran. The survey instrument was a questionnaire included 24 items about the service quality and 3 items about the patient's loyalty. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to extracting the dimensions of service quality. Also, regression analysis was performed to determining the relative importance of the service quality dimensions in predicting the patient's loyalty. The mean score of service quality and patient's loyalty was 3.99 and 4.16 out of 5, respectively. About 29% of the loyalty variance was explained by the service quality dimensions. Four quality dimensions [Costing, Process Quality, Interaction Quality and Environment Quality] were found to be key determinants of the patient's loyalty in the private hospitals of Tehran. The patients' experience in relation to the private hospitals' services has strong impact on the outcome variables like willingness to return to the same hospital and reuse its services or recommend them to others. The relationship between the service quality and patient's loyalty proves the strategic importance of improving the service quality for dragging and retaining patients and expanding the market share