Synthetic studies toward inducamide C.

The alkaloid inducamide C is proposed to contain a very rare benzoxazepine ring. Herein, we report that the benzoxazepine ring in inducamide C is unstable and prone to rearrangement, indicating that structural revision of the natural product may be necessary. In a first-generation synthetic approach, attempts to assemble the benzoxazepine by cyclization of 4-hydroxyinducamide A led to the regioisomeric oxepanoindole, a result of the 4-hydroxyindole (C4-OH) undergoing preferential cyclization instead of the desired chlorosalicylic acid C15-OH. A second-generation approach involved dealkylation of O-isopropylinducamide C, but the same oxepanoindole formed via rearrangement of the proposed inducamide C structure. Computational studies validate preferential formation of the oxepanoindole and the lactone in O-isopropylinducamide C is susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Thus, inducamide C is either highly unstable or in need of structural revision.

Fusion Rates of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. OBJECTIVES: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) has been widely performed with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), but the fusion rates using this graft alternative have not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate fusion rates in 1- and 2-level LLIF with rhBMP-2 and their relationship with fixation, as well as rates of BMP-related complications. METHODS: Institutional review board (IRB)-approved spine registry cohort of 93 patients who underwent LLIF with rhBMP-2 (71 one-level cases and 22 two-level cases). Minimum 1-year clinical follow-up and computed tomography (CT) scan for fusion assessment. Postoperative CT scans were used to evaluate the rate of fusion in all patients. Instrumentation and complications were collected from chart and imaging review. RESULTS: Average age was 65 years (67% female). For 1-level cases, 92% (65/71) had complete fusion and 8% (6/71) had either incomplete or indeterminate fusion. Three of the 6 patients who had incomplete or indeterminate fusion had bilateral pedicle screw instrumentation, 1 patient had unilateral posterior fixation, and 2 had no fixation. In 2-level cases, 86% (19/22) had complete fusion and 14% (3/22) had either incomplete or indeterminate fusion. The 3 patients who had incomplete or indeterminate fusion did not have fixation. CONCLUSION: Interbody fusion rates with rhBMP-2 via LLIF was 92% in 1-level cases and 86% in 2-level cases, indicating that rhBMP-2 may be used as a viable graft alternative to allograft options for LLIF. Higher rates of pseudarthrosis occurred when not using fixation.

Responding to physical and psychological health impacts of disasters: case study of the Iranian disaster rehabilitation plan.

This paper describes the process of developing a national pre-disaster plan for physical health and psychological rehabilitation of disaster-stricken communities. Data gathered from a literature review and expert panel discussions informed the process of drawing up unified definitions of physical and psychological health rehabilitation, carrying out stakeholder and STEEP-V analyses, and assigning the responsible organization and the collaborative organizations for each task. The Ministry of Health and the Welfare Organization were selected as the two responsible organizations. Integrated management at all levels, and sharing information, education and funding, were identified as ways to improve stakeholders' participation and collaboration. A system is needed for evaluating the implementation of the disaster rehabilitation plan, using valid and reliable indicators.

Responding to physical and psychological health impacts of disasters:case study of the Iranian disaster rehabilitation plan

This paper describes the process of developing a national pre-disaster plan for physical health and psychological rehabilitation of disaster-stricken communities.Data gathered from a literature review and expert panel discussions informed the process of drawing up unified definitions of physical and psychological health rehabilitation,carrying out stakeholder and STEEP-V analyses,and assigning the responsible organization and the collaborative organizations for each task.The Ministry of Health and the Welfare Organization were selected as the two responsible organizations.Integrated management at all levels,and sharing information,education and funding,were identified as ways to improve stakeholders' participation and collaboration.A system is needed for evaluating the implementation of the disaster rehabilitation plan,using valid and reliable indicators

La presente etude decrit le processus d'elaboration d'un plan national de preparation aux catastrophes naturelles pour la sante physique et la rehabilitation psychologique des populations frappees par les catastrophes.Ees donnees collectees a partir d'une analyse documentaire et de groupes de discussions d'experts ont permis la redaction de definitions unifiees en matiere de rehabilitation au plan de la sante physique et mentale,la conduite d'analyses des parties prenantes et d'analyses PEST[E]-V [politique,economique,sociologique,technologique et ecologique,et questions liees aux valeurs], et I'attribution de chaque tache a I'organisation responsable et aux organisations collaborates.Ee ministere de la Sante et l'Organisation de protection sociale ont ete designees comme les deux entites responsables.Une prise en charge integree a tous les niveaux,le partage de l'information,I'education et Taide financiere ont ete identifies comme les moyens de renforcer la participation et la collaboration des parties prenantes.E'etablissement d'un systeme est requis pour evaluer la mise en oeuvre du plan de relevement post-catastrophe a I'appui d'indicateurs valables et fiables

School fire in Iran: simple actions save lives.

On December 5, 2012 a fire broke out in a primary school in Iran, causing injuries to 26 children and two deaths. The fire came from an oil stove. Rather than evacuate the classroom and use the fire extinguisher, the teacher attempted to remove the stove itself from the classroom. During this process an explosion occurred resulting in a haphazard attempt at evacuation. This tragedy highlights gaps in both the policy and practice of fire safety. From 2005 to 2012, Iran experienced six large school fires that led to 67 injuries and five deaths. Five events were related to oil stoves. About 30% of Iran's classrooms use oil stoves for heating during the winter with 3.4 million students and 150,000 teachers at risk. Iran's Ministry of Education has mandated that regular training of school personnel in fire safety measures should be organized but no safety officer is tasked to prepare and conduct this training. Instead, the task is delegated to the Fire Departments, which fall under municipal administrations; however, such departments do not exist in 93% of the rural areas of Iran. School fires are not unique to Iran. Similar tragic events have occurred in several middle-income countries (India, Kenya, Russia) over the last decade. This article presents an overview of school fires in Iran and proposes preventive strategies through a reform in policy making and practice, including education of students and school personnel along with regular drills, designation of a fire safety officer, and development of a countrywide school fire registry.

Le 5 décembre 2012, un incendie dans une école primaire en Iran a causé des lésions à 26 enfants et deux décès. Le feu provenait d'un poêle à pétrole. Plutôt que d'évacuer la classe et utiliser l'extincteur, l'enseignant a tenté de porter le poêle audehors de la salle de classe. Pendant ces moments une explosion s'est produite, suivie par des tentatives hasardeuses à l'évacuation. Cela met en évidence les lacunes à la fois politiques et pratiques de la sécurité anti-incendie. De 2005 à 2012, il y a eu six grands incendies en Iran avec cinq décès et 67 blessés. Cinq de ces événements étaient liés à des poêles à pétrole. Environ 30% des salles de classe en Iran utilisent les poêles à mazout pour le chauffage pendant l'hiver, avec 3,4 millions d'élèves et 150.000 enseignants à risque. Le Ministère iranien de l'Education a insisté sur la formation régulière du personnel scolaire pour ce qui concerne les mesures de protection contre les incendies, mais les agents de sécurité chargés de préparer et de diriger cette formation n'existent pas. Au lieu de cela, la tâche est déléguée aux services d'incendie qui relèvent des administrations municipales, mais ces services n'existent pas dans 93% des zones rurales de l'Iran. Les incendies dans les écoles évidemment ne se produisent pas seulement en Iran. Des événements tragiques similaires ont eu lieu dans plusieurs pays à revenu intermédiaire comme l'Inde, le Kenya et la Russie au cours de la dernière décennie. Cet article présente une vue d'ensemble des incendies dans les écoles iraniennes et propose des stratégies de prévention basées sur une réforme dans l'élaboration des politiques d'action et des pratiques, y compris l'éducation des élèves et du personnel scolaire ainsi que des exercices réguliers, la désignation d'un agent de sécurité anti-incendie, et la compilation d'un registre national de tous les incendies qui se vérifient dans les écoles iraniennes.

Origins of domestic dog in southern East Asia is supported by analysis of Y-chromosome DNA.

Global mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data indicates that the dog originates from domestication of wolf in Asia South of Yangtze River (ASY), with minor genetic contributions from dog-wolf hybridisation elsewhere. Archaeological data and autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism data have instead suggested that dogs originate from Europe and/or South West Asia but, because these datasets lack data from ASY, evidence pointing to ASY may have been overlooked. Analyses of additional markers for global datasets, including ASY, are therefore necessary to test if mtDNA phylogeography reflects the actual dog history and not merely stochastic events or selection. Here, we analyse 14,437 bp of Y-chromosome DNA sequence in 151 dogs sampled worldwide. We found 28 haplotypes distributed in five haplogroups. Two haplogroups were universally shared and included three haplotypes carried by 46% of all dogs, but two other haplogroups were primarily restricted to East Asia. Highest genetic diversity and virtually complete phylogenetic coverage was found within ASY. The 151 dogs were estimated to originate from 13-24 wolf founders, but there was no indication of post-domestication dog-wolf hybridisations. Thus, Y-chromosome and mtDNA data give strikingly similar pictures of dog phylogeography, most importantly that roughly 50% of the gene pools are shared universally but only ASY has nearly the full range of genetic diversity, such that the gene pools in all other regions may derive from ASY. This corroborates that ASY was the principal, and possibly sole region of wolf domestication, that a large number of wolves were domesticated, and that subsequent dog-wolf hybridisation contributed modestly to the dog gene pool.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran: a population-based study.

A 2-month community-based survey in February/March of 2003 was carried out to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran. From each of 6 urban regions of Nahavand, 304 inhabitants > or = 6 years were recruited through systematic random sampling (total 1824). Participants were tested for anti-HEV IgG using ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of HEV was 9.3% (95% CI: 8.2%-10.9%). Based on multivariate adjustment, only sex (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28) and age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04) emerged as significant risk factors. This intermediate prevalence urges further investigations on HEV infection in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran: a population-based study

A 2-month community-based survey in February/March of 2003 was carried out to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus [HEV] infection in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran. From each of 6 urban regions of Nahavand, 304 inhabitants >/= 6 years were recruited through systematic random sampling [total 1824]. Participants were tested for anti-HEV IgG using ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of HEV was 9.3% [95% CI: 8.2%-10.9%]. Based on multivariate adjustment, only sex [OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28] and age [OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04] emerged as significant risk factors. This intermediate prevalence urges further investigations on HEV infection in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran.

We determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in Nahavand in a sample of 1824 subjects > 5 years in 2002. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and blood samples taken. The association between risk factor and hepatitis B was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of HBsAg positive cases was 2.3%, and HBcAb and HBsAb were isolated in 7.8% and 11.6% of the participants respectively; 11.9% were positive for both HBcAb and HBsAb. History of surgery and imprisonment were the major risk factors for infection with odds ratios of 2.14 (95% CI: 1.22-3.05) and 3.57 (95% CI: 1.68-5.4) respectively.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran

We determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in Nahavand in a sample of 1824 subjects > 5 years in 2002. Face- to- face interviews were conducted and blood samples taken. The association between risk factor and hepatitis B was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of HbsAg positive cases was 2.3%, and HBcAb and HBsAb were isolated in 7.8% and 11.6% of the participants respectively; 11.9% were positive for both HBcAb and HBsAb. History of surgery and imprisonment were the major risk factors for infection with odds ratios of 2.14 [95% CI: 1.22- 3.05] and 3.57 [95% CI: 1.68- 5.4] respectively

Population screening for association of mitochondrial haplogroups BM, J, K and M with multiple sclerosis: interrelation between haplogroup J and MS in Persian patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immunological inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which is chronically observed in young adults. On the basis of earlier studies, potential relatedness between MS and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations was postulated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 246 individuals were screened using the PCR-RFLP method, including 70 MS patients examined for mitochondrial haplogroups BM, J, K and M and 176, 149 and 70 normal controls examined for haplogroups BM and M, J and K, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our analysis revealed a relatively high proportion of haplogroup BM in MS patients (approximately 26%) compared to normal controls ( approximately 13%). In addition, a slightly significant increase of MS patients of haplogroup J (20% in MS patients versus 9.39% in normal controls at P =0.049), while haplogroups M and K did not show contribution to MS contingency (2.85 and 2.27%, respectively at P = 1.000 in haplogroup M and 12.85 and 7.14% respectively at P =0.399 in haplogroup K).

A new case of a severe clinical phenotype of the cat-eye syndrome.

A new case of severe clinical phenotype of the cat-eye syndrome: We report on a female infant with severe clinical phenotype of Cat-Eye Syndrome (CES). At birth, she had respiratory distress and marked hypotonia. Physical examination showed major craniofacial anomalies including microcephaly, bilateral total absence of the external ears, hypertelorism, bilateral ocular coloboma of iris and micrognathia. In addition, she had anal stenosis, a patent ductus arteriosus and intra- and extra- hepatic biliary atresia. She deteriorated with the development of bradycardia. She died at age one month of cardiac failure. Cytogenetic analysis of the proband showed an extra de novo small bisatelllited marker chromosome in all cells examined. Molecular cytogenetic analysis with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identified the marker as a CES chromosome. Thus, the patient's karyotype was: 47, XX, +idic(22)(pter-->q11.2 ::q11.2-->pter). The duplication breakpoints giving rise to the CES chromosome were distal to the DiGeorge Syndrome (DGS) locus 22q11.2. The marker could be classed as a type 11 symmetrical (10). According to a recent review of CES literature (1) only 41 % of the CES patients have the combination of iris coloboma, anal anomalies and preauricular anomalies. Almost 60% are hard to recognize by their phenotype alone. Only twelve patients showed a severe clinical phenotype leading to the death of the child. This phenotypic variability increases the difficulties of genetic counseling.

Molecular cytogenetic analysis of a duplication Xp in a female with an abnormal phenotype and random X inactivation.

We describe a female infant with severe abnormal phenotype with a de novo partial duplication of the short arm of the X chromosome. Chromosome painting confirmed the origin of this X duplication. Molecular cytogenetic analysis with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed with YAC probes, further delineating the breakpoints. The karyotype was 46, X dup(X)(p11-p21.2). Cytogenetic replication studies showed that the normal and duplicated X chromosomes were randomly inactivated in lymphocytes. In most females with structurally abnormal X chromosomes, the abnormal chromosome is inactivated and they are phenotypically apparently normal relatives of phenotypically abnormal males having dupX. Therefore, in this case, there is functional disomy of Xp11-p21.2 in the cells with an active dup(X), most likely resulting in abnormal clinical findings in the patient.

Progress in the national schistosomiasis control programme of Iran.

A combination of chemotherapy and mollusciciding has been used in Khuzestan, south-west Iran, since 1966, to try to control urinary schistosomiasis. The total amount of molluscicide used each year varied between 702 and 3505 kg and between 287 and 1320 infected persons were detected and treated annually. The prevalence of infection has gradually declined from 8.3% in 1970 to 0.7% in 1979. Similarly, the incidence of infection among schoolchildren decreased from 3.5% in 1970 to 0.7% in 1979. The proportion of Bulinus-infested habitats also decreased from 10% in 1971 to 2.4% in 1979.