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We study $P(n,3)$, the size of the largest subset of the set of all permutations $S_n$ with minimum Kendall $τ$-distance $3$. Using a combination of group theory and integer programming, we reduced the upper bound of $P(p,3)$ from $(p-1)!-1$ to $(p-1)!-\lceil\frac{p}{3}\rceil+2\leq (p-1)!-2$ for all primes $p\geq 11$. In special cases where $n$ is equal to $6,7,11,13,14,15$ and $17$ we reduced the upper bound of $P(n,3)$ by $3,3,9,11,1,1$ and $4$, respectively.

Acne is the pilosebaceous units’ disorder. The most important cause of acne is the colonization of bacteria in the follicles. Among antibiotics, doxycycline-hyclate kills a wide range of bacteria. To prevent oral administration’s side effects, overcome the barriers of conventional topical treatment, and improve the therapeutic effectiveness, doxycycline-hyclate was loaded into four niosomal formulations with different percentages of constituents (span 60 and cholesterol) prepared by the thin-film hydration method. Then, one of the four formulations with the most appropriate particle size of 362.88 ± 13.05 nm to target the follicles, percentage of drug entrapment efficiency of 56.3 ± 2.1%, in vitro drug release of 54.93 ± 1.99% after 32 hours, and the lowest permeation of the drug through the Wistar rat skin, was selected. Then, its toxicity on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) by MTT method after 72 hours, its antibacterial activity against the main acne-causing bacteria via antibiogram test, and its effect on Wistar rat skin drug deposition were measured. Improved cell viability, increased antibacterial activity, and an approximately three-fold increase in drug deposition were the optimal niosomal formulation features relative to the free drug. Overall, this study demonstrated the ability of nano-niosomes containing doxycycline-hyclate to treat skin acne.

Background: Lack of knowledge, attitude and practice are some of the barriers of having a healthy lifestyle and controlling high blood pressure. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a lifestyle modification program on knowledge, attitude and practice of hypertensive patients with angioplasty. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted from November to April 2014 on 60 hypertensive patients with angioplasty in Shahid Chamran hospital of Isfahan, Iran. The samples were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Data collection was performed in three stages by a researcher-made questionnaire. The intervention plan was 6 education sessions and then follow up were done by phone call. The gathered data were analyzed via SPSS (V.20), using t-test, Chi-square, repeated measurement, and post hoc LSD test and ANOVA statistics. Results: The mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice in the experimental group immediately after the intervention was 77.8±7.2, 88.3±6.4 and 86.2±6.5, respectively and one month after the intervention was 80.8±7.4, 91.1±3.5 and 92.5±2.2, respectively. But in the control group, the mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice immediately after the intervention (34.90±11.23, 61.11±6.28, and 38.64±7.15) and one month after the intervention was (38.64±7.15, 59.56±6.31 and 37.27±7.26. Conclusion: Lifestyle modification program can be effective in promoting the knowledge, attitude and practice of hypertensive patients with angioplasty. Nurses can use this program in their care provision programs for these patients. Trial Registration Number:IRCT2015062420912N3

To identify the frequency and associated factors of persistent diarrhoea in a paediatric hospital in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, children admitted with acute diarrhoea were followed prospectively until resolution of the episode. Persistent diarrhoea developed in 19.6% of the 424 diarrhoea cases. Children with persistent diarrhoea were significantly younger than those with acute diarrhoea (15.3 versus 29.4 months). Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen in both groups, but otherwise the profile of symptoms and isolated organisms was similar in the 2 groups. History of dietary change prior to admission and use of antibiotics and anticholinergic drugs in the acute phase were significantly higher in the persistent than acute diarrhoea cases.

Mosaicism in vacA alleles with two distinct families of vacA signal sequences (s1 and s2) and two distinct families of middle region alleles (m1 and m2) has been reported. Research suggests that the vacA s1 genotype is closely associated with duodenal ulcer disease and with high cytotoxin production. The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of vacA genotyping with respect to gastric inflammation and injury, and clinical presentation in Iranian populations. Genomic DNA of biopsy specimens from patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), or gastric cancer (GC) were characterized based on ureC (glmM), cagA, and vacA genotyping by using polymerase chain reaction. Of 167 patients including 33 with PUDs, 129 with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), and 5 with GC, 96 (57.5%) cases were infected by Helicobacter pylori. Among these patients, H. pylori were isolated from 19 (57.7%) PUD patients, 74 (68.7%) NUD patients, and 3 (60%) GC patients. The cagA was detected in 76% of H. pylori-positive cases. The vacA s1-m2 genotype was the most prevalent in 7/19 PUD (37%) and 30/74 NUD (40.5%) patients with H. pylori infection. The prevalence of vacA s2-m1 (8%) was high in Iranian isolates. A significant association was not found between H. pylori genotypes and clinical outcomes. The vacA genotypes and cagA status were not useful markers for gastroduodenal diseases in Tehran, Iran.

Background: The need to provide high quality prenatal care services, which take account of women's views and specifi­cally address their need for information, support and communication, has been advocated and group prenatal care, had been sug­gested as one of the ways to achieve this objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of group versus in­dividual prenatal care on satisfaction and prenatal care use. Methods: This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial with the health center as the randomization unit that conducted in 2007. Satisfaction was measured through a standardized questionnaire, and the Kotelchuck Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utili­zation Index was used to measure prenatal care utilization. Results: We recruited 678 women (group prenatal care, (N= 344) and individal prenatal care, (N=334) in the study. Women in group prenatal care model were more satisfied than women in individual prenatal care model in all areas evalu­ated, including information, communication, co-ordination and quality of care. Group care women were significantly more likely to have adequate prenatal care than individual care women were (OR=1.35 95% CI=1.26-1.44). Conclusions: Group prenatal care was associated with a significant improvement in client satisfaction and prenatal care utili­zation. This model of care has implications for the planning and provision of prenatal services within public health sys­tem, which is moving toward a better quality health care, and increasing use of services

During a study examining causes of diarrhea from May 2004 to May 2005, 808 stool specimens were collected from patients with acute diarrhea in Tehran. Fecal samples were cultured and identified according to the standard biochemical methods. Molecular identification of enteropathogens was carried out by amplification of their virulence genes by polymerase chain reaction. A total of 369 (45.6%) bacterial pathogens were recovered from 808 patients as follows: Shigella spp., 155 (45.6%); diarrheagenic Escherichia coli 143 (38.8%); Salmonella spp., 51 (13.8%); and Campylobacter spp., 20 (5.4%). Most of the diarrheagenic E. coli were Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, with 64 (44.7%) isolates, followed by 47 (32.9%) enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates; among Shigella spp. isolates, 69 (44.5%) Shigella flexneri were predominant. The molecular diagnosis of enteropathogens yielded a more accurate characterization of the prevalence of diarrhea-causing bacterial strains in Iran. The present study revealed a high prevalence of Shigella and diarrheagenic E. coli as the predominant causes of bacterial diarrhea in this region of the world. These two types of bacteria should therefore be considered when designing preventive strategies for people living in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Arsenic (Ar) by induced oxidative stress in gestation and lactation period can cause teratogenicity properties in the neonate. On the other hand, the evidence suggests the antioxidant effect of zinc (Zn). So, the aim of present study was to evaluate protective effect of Zn against Ar-induced hepatotoxicity during gestation and lactation in rat neonate. METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 adult wistar rats of the 35 mice that their pregnancy was confirmed, randomly divided into four groups including:I) Control group; II) Ar group, (20 mg/kg/day); III) Zn group; (5 mg/kg/day) and IV) Ar+Zn group. Ar and Zn administration was daily with intragasticaly method. At the end of the experimental period (42 days: 21 of gestation and 21 of lactation) after anesthesia hepatic samples were taken for biochemical assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and histopathological assessment. FINDINGS: The MDA and GSH mean±SD in Ar group was 41.56±7.2 and 7.05±1.36, respectively. Also, in Ar+Zn group assessed 26.26±1.84 and 13.79±1.34, respectively. This difference was significant between groups (P

Background and Objectives: Current chemotherapies of cutaneous leihmaniasis have faced to some problems and limitations; Development of new leishmanicidal drugs from different sources like herbal plants, are crucially important. The objective of the present study was evaluation of in vitro activity of Alkanna frigida extracts in comparison with glucantime against Leishmania major. Materials and Methods: L. major promastigotes were exposed to different concentrations of the A. frigida extracts, processed by ethyl acetate, ethanol, hexane and chloroform. The inhibitory effect, as the IC 50 , were calculated after 24, 48 and 72 hours by linear regression analysis values of the concentrations employed. Results: The significant inhibition was observed after 24 and 48 hours with different concentrations of compounds (p < 0.05 in all tests). All extracts had potent activity against proliferation of the promastigotes, comparing to the untreated negative control. It could compete with the glucantime efficacy in some concentrations. Ethyl acetate and ethanol extractions showed potent IC value, 106 µg/ml and 86 µg/ml, respectively. Hexane and chloroform extractions had poor efficacy after 24 hours;however, the efficacy increased after 48 and 72 hours. Conclusion: The results indicated that the A. frigida has appropriate inhibitory effects on the growth of L. major promastigotes in vitro and can be of herbal targets for further investigation in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is now viewed as a risk factor for coronary heart diseases (CHD). There is a scarcity of evidence concerning the effects of menopause on coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of menopausal status on CAD risk factors. METHODS: The present study was designed as part of the Kerman coronary artery disease risk study (KERCADRS) that was a population-based study among a cohort of 6000 individuals aged 15 to 75 years in Kerman, Iran. Only women aged 35 to 60 years were enrolled. Participants were categorized according to reproductive age into the three groups of premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal states. RESULTS: The premenopausal status was accompanied with lower levels of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and blood pressure compared with the other two groups (P < 0.001). In addition, women in the postmenopausal group had higher levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in comparison with the other two groups (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, total cholesterol and LDL levels were significantly higher in the postmenopausal group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). In addition, total cholesterol and LDL levels, and systolic blood pressure were statistically different according to menopausal status after adjustment for both age and body mass index (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal period can be explained by elevated levels of lipid profile and increased systolic blood pressure, regardless of effects of advanced age or other anthropometric parameters. Keywords: CAD Risk Factors, Women, Premenopause, Perimenopause, Postmenopause