Accurate and rapid detection of Fasciola hepatica copro-DNA in sheep using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique.

Fascioliasis is a parasitic infection caused by Fasciola spp. in humans and animals. Despite significant advances in vaccination and new therapeutic agents, little attention has been paid to validate methods for the diagnosis of fascioliasis in animals. This study aimed to compare the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique with PCR assay for the diagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep. In this cross-sectional study, 195 stool samples were collected from sheep for 3 months in Lorestan province, West of Iran. Specimens' parasitological examination was performed by using the direct wet mount and formalin-ether concentration method. After DNA extraction from the samples, molecular analysis was done using PCR and LAMP techniques based on the Fasciola ribosomal intergenic spacer (IGS) sequence. Of 195 specimens of sheep, 11 specimens were identified as F. hepatica-positive infection by using microscopic, PCR and LAMP assays. Kappa agreement test results showed that there was a significant agreement between the results of microscopic examination diagnostic tests, PCR and LAMP (Kappa = 0.51-0.72 and p < .001). According to the results of chi-square comparisons between parasite prevalence applying different techniques and variables of age, sex breed, and type of drinking water, there was no significant relationship (p ≥ .05). However, most of the infected sheep with Fasciola were 3- to 4-year-old females, of the Lori breed and consumed tap water. In many endemic areas, successful prevention and treatment of fascioliasis in animals depend on rapid and accurate diagnosis. Based on the results of the Kappa agreement, the significant agreement among the results of the microscopic examination, PCR and LAMP indicates the accuracy and reliability of these tests in the diagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep. However, molecular methods, especially the LAMP technique, are suggested because of their higher sensitivity and reliability for the diagnosis of F. hepatica even under field conditions.

Comparison of Massage and Prone Position on Heart Rate and Blood Oxygen Saturation Level in Preterm Neonates Hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: These days, most of the admitted infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are premature infants. Infant massage and prone position has been recommended for several decades to have a positive effect on preterm and low birth weight infants. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of neonatal massage with prone positioning in preterm infants on Heart Rate (HR), and Oxygen Saturation (O2Sa) status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a controlled randomized three-group clinical trial study conducted on hospitalized infants in selected hospitals of Alborz University of Medical Sciences in Karaj-Iran. There are about 75 preterm infants (33-37 weeks) who met inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to groups of position, massage as intervention groups, and a control group. Intervention (prone position and massage) was administrated for five straight days. The repeated measure ANOVA test was performed to evaluate and compare the effect of interventions. p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significance. RESULTS: The Repeated Measure two-way Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA) result showed a significant difference in HR and SaO2 in different time points among control, position and massage groups with RM-ANOVA (F 10,360 = 10.376, p < 0.001). HR values was reduced and SaO2 values was increased in intervention groups with RM-ANOVA (F 5,360 = 2.323, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that massage and prone position equally led to the reduction of HR and increase of SaO2, compared to control group.

Introducing a general framework for pollution source identification in surface water resources (theory and application).

Studies on pollution source identification in water resources date back over three decades. These studies use inverse solution of the transport equation for recovering the release history and/or the location of the pollutant sources. Each of these studies has its own advantages and limitations in accordance with the methods employed and the complexity of the solutions. Moreover, conducted studies on pollution source identification in surface water resources (e.g. rivers) are fewer in number compared to those on groundwater resources. In nearly all previous related studies on rivers, researchers have often developed their own numerical forward models, but these models have never taken into account the complexity of the problem in real conditions, such as river topography, real flow conditions, etc. Therefore, compared to commercial models, these models have many drawbacks and limitations. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a framework that can be employed to solve the transport equation in the inverse model using available software packages. In this study, the inverse solution of the transport equation for recovering release histories of multiple pollutant sources in rivers is achieved by the help of ready software packages via a feasible framework. The proposed framework can be readily applied in one-, two-, and three-dimensional problems. The underlying concept of the proposed framework is the linearity of the governing equation, i.e. transport equation. Furthermore, the present study presents the conditions and rules for the arrangement (number and location) of the measurement points of the pollutant concentration under various conditions. The proper arrangement of the measurement points is significant, since it solves the non-uniqueness problem of the inverse model. The most important factor affecting the arrangement of the measurement points is the flow pattern. In this study, it is suggested that the complexity of the flow pattern may lead to practical arrangements for the control points. The proposed procedure was verified by the use of three series of data in one- and two-dimensional domains under real conditions of flow and topography by employing well-known existing software packages. In each test case, a proper and practical arrangement was proposed for the measurement points of the concentration-time curve. The suggested arrangement resulted in the correct operation of the inverse model. The proposed inverse model showed a good capability with a reasonable percentage of errors of the recovering release rate of pollutant sources. Accordingly, it can be conveniently used in cases where forward models are readily available.