Modeling of the effects of intrapulse Raman scattering on dissipative solitons in a mode-locked fiber laser.

The effects of intrapulse Raman scattering (IRS) on dissipative solitons in a mode-locked fiber laser are studied numerically. This research contributes to understanding the impact of IRS on the stability of pulsating soliton solutions of the complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation (in the anomalous dispersion region). It is found that IRS causes an additional loss on the pulse and leads to balance between dissipative effects to generate stable dissipative solitons. The regions of parameters where stationary, pulsating, and chaotic solitons are generated are depicted considering IRS and without it. Regarding the results, the region of the existence of stable solitons becomes larger in the presence of IRS. There is an important trade-off between output pulse energy and laser stability by increasing the IRS parameter. IRS can transform pulsating solitons into stable solitons for a wide range of parameter values. However, the pulse energy is reduced. The bifurcation diagram shows that period doubling and period quadrupling do not occur in the presence of IRS.

The first hand transplantation in iran.

Nowadays, hand transplantation is a very challenging procedure for surgeons and researchers worldwide. Despite many problems that may occur after this surgery, some centers continue to practice this highly sophisticated procedure. Herein, we report on a 38-year-old man who received hand transplant from a 24-year-old brain-dead man. This patient had lost his right hand from the lower one-third of forearm six years before after a trauma from a mincing machine. Team members organized pre-operative research, cadaver dissection, legal consultation, religious permission and discussion to patient. This procedure was done by 15 Khordad Plastic Surgery Transplant team on February 27, 2013 for the first time in Iran.

Presence of the functional CASPASE-12 allele in Indian subpopulations.

Most humans lack a functional CASP12 gene, with the nonfunctional variant (CASP12p1), found in 100% of the Caucasian and east Asian population, and in approximately 80% of people of African descent. However, 20% of Africans carry an intact allele of CASP12, which produces a full-length pro-enzyme and increases the risk of sepsis. We examined CASP12 allele distribution in persons from central and southern Asia and found that CASP12 was significantly present in members of the Dravidian language group, particularly in persons from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Survey of ownership and use of mobile phones among medical science students in Yazd.

As the use of mobile phones is increasing every day, public concern about possible adverse health effects of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (rf-emf) is also growing. Despite the extensive use of mobile phones, little is known about the pattern of mobile phone ownership and its use by the general population and students. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of ownership and use of mobile phones in medical science students and their views about any possible negative effects. The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 309 selected Medical Science students who were selected from Yazd Medical Sciences University using a self administrated questionnaire. The mean talking time and listening to music on the mobile phone was 28.3 +/- 50.5 and 51.9 +/- 81.5 min day(-1), respectively. They also received or sent a mean of 18.8 +/- 37 text messages. Participants reported that location wise, the use of cell phones at home was 87.2% followed by street (79.6%), classroom (37.6%), during driving (18.6%) and in the library (17.8%), respectively. Keeping at pace with changes in community and technology, including mobile phones and their effects on university environments, it seems that responsible departments or managers must predict their possible effects and establish new regulations, accordingly.

Effects of enhanced external counterpulsation on anginal symptoms and improvements in objective measures of myocardial ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a novel, potentially beneficial adjunct therapy used for angina pectoris. We assessed the efficacy of this method in relieving angina and improving objective measures of myocardial ischaemia. METHODS: All patients (67) who referred for EECP to Shahid Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, Iran from 2002 to 2005 were included. Demographic data, coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors and baseline angiographic data were collected. Anginal symptoms, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) functional class, echocardiographic parameters (ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters) and exercise test duration before and after the treatment were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-seven per cent of patients who had undergone EECP had a positive clinical response. Exercise test duration and CCS functional class improved after the treatment. However, EECP had no significant effect on echocardiographic parameters. Efficacy was independent of age, gender, CAD risk factors, prior CCS functional class and echocardiographic parameters. Patients without left main artery involvement and those who had at least one non-obstructed artery demonstrated a greater likelihood of improvement. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that EECP is a safe, well tolerated, and significantly effective treatment for angina pectoris.

Effect of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia trait on coronary atherosclerosis via coronary artery disease risk factors: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Thalassaemia is considered the most common genetic disorder worldwide. An association between the heterozygous beta-thalassaemia trait and myocardial infarction has previously been observed. However, the relationship between heterozygous beta-thalassaemia and atherosclerosis, considering other coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, has remained unclear. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that thalassaemia minor affects the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Blood counts and blood chemistry data as well as traditional risk factors from 1,363 patients referred to heart centres for coronary angiography were recorded. Heterozygous beta-thalassaemia was diagnosed by the presence of hypochoromic-microcytic anaemia, ferritin levels > 12 ng/ml and haemoglobin-A2 levels > 3.5. RESULTS: Chi-squared analysis showed that the prevalence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia was not significantly different between patients with and without CAD (p > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis using CAD as the dependent variable and traditional risk factors, haematocrit, ferritin levels and heterozygous beta-thalassaemia as independent variables, did not show any significant difference either. Independent two-tailed student's t-tests showed that haematocrit levels were statistically different (p = 0.000) between CAD(+) and CAD(-) groups, but low-density lipids (LDL), high-density lipids (HDL), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and serum ferritin levels were not statistically different (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia in the case group was not significantly different from the control group. This case-control study did not support the hypothesis that thalassaemia minor affects the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Uric acid: a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is uncertain whether high serum uric acid levels are a true independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis or whether the association is due to other confounding variables. We therefore studied the relationship between elevated serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis after adjustment was made for confounding factors such as age, gender, body mass index, smoking, lipid profile, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 patients referred for coronary angiography to heart centres in the Shahid-Chamran and Sina hospitals, Isfahan, Iran. Blood chemistry data as well as traditional risk factors and uric acid levels were measured at enrollment. We used vessel, stenosis and extent scores to indicate the degree of coronary artery involvement. RESULTS: This study was conducted on 240 patients with a mean age of 56 +/- 10.9 years (66% male; 37% female) who underwent coronary angiography. Student's t-test analyses revealed that there were significant differences in the mean uric acid levels between male and female patients (p = 0.001). We found no statistically significant correlation between serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis (p > 0.05). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analyses, using coronary atherosclerosis as dependent variable and traditional risk factors and uric acid levels as independent variables, did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that uric acid is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Any correlation reported in other studies was probably due to the relationship between high serum uric acid levels and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Knowledge, attitude and practice study about blood donation in the urban population of Yazd, Iran, 2004.

The most important aim of all blood transfusion centres is to recruit blood donors from low-risk groups of society to donate blood voluntarily and regularly to have a safe and continuous blood supply. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding blood donation in the city of Yazd, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 1394 cases aged between 20 and 60 years were selected by clustering sampling method and asked to fill a specially formatted questionnaire. Data were analysed by analysis of variance, Sheffe test and t-test. Less than half of the population under study was aware about the appropriate age for blood donation and certain deferral criteria. Only 98% of them believed that blood donation is a moral duty with a spiritual reward and 38% of the population under study (60% of men and 16% of women) had donated blood at least once in the past. There was a direct relationship between knowledge and performance (P= 0.000). Women and young people had the least levels of knowledge and performance. Although the attitude level of women was high, their performance level was very low. Increase in the level of knowledge of women and young should be the topmost priority. Barriers to donation of blood by women who comprise half of the population should be studied and evaluated, and steps must be taken to remove or decrease them as far as possible. Advertisements should be with the aim of increasing the level of awareness of the general population regarding specific factors of blood donation and keeping fresh the idea of regular voluntary blood donations in their minds.

A study of the prevalence of iron deficiency and its related factors in blood donors of Yazd, Iran, 2003.

Iron deficiency anaemia is an important limiting factor for the number of donations in regular donors. Limited data is available on the iron status in Iranian donors. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency and its related factors in blood donors at Yazd blood transfusion centre, Iran. In this descriptive study, 337 persons accepted for donation in 2003 were selected randomly. Haemoglobin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and ferritin concentrations were measured. Results showed that the prevalence of reduction in iron stores increased with an increase in the number of donations (P = 0.0001), such that reduction in iron stores was seen in all regular female donors (100%) and 48% of regular male blood donors. The prevalence of iron deficiency in female and male regular donors was 78 and 28%, whereas 55.6 and 16% of these donors had iron deficiency anaemia. Just one blood donation resulted in a significant increase in the prevalence of iron deficiency in women (P < 0.05), but in men, a significant increase was seen only in regular donors (P < 0.05). It is therefore recommended that blood donors should be educated about iron deficiency, and research studies should be performed to determine the best method of iron supplementation with minimal complications for all regular blood donors and women of childbearing age on their first donation.