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Background: Very few studies have investigated athletes with disabilities during a long period of competitions, such as a professional league. Also, there are limited findings related to specific mechanisms and risk factors of injury, and prevention strategies in Wheelchair Basketball. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the rate and characteristics of injuries in the 2021-2022 Iran Wheelchair Basketball League and present prevention strategies. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted after the 2021-2022 (Mar 2021-Sep 2022) competition season. The sample size consists of 36 players, who were randomly selected among 129 players. All the data was processed using SPSS (version 21). Results: 111 injuries were registered, equivalent to 132 per 100 players (95% CI: 100-180) and 8.16 Injuries per 1000 hours of athlete exposure (6.2-9.8). Also, 77.8% occurred during training and 22.2% in competitions. Most injuries affected the fingers and hands (35.13%), and shoulders (22.57%). The most common types of injuries were contusions (30.63%), laceration and skin lesion (23.42%), and muscle spasms (13.51%), in which, half of the injuries were slight (0-1 days), 27.8% (mild 4-7 days), and 22.2% moderate (8-28 days). Also, 66.9% of injuries were new, and 33.1% were recurrent. Most situations and actions leading to injury include quick wheelchair pushing (29.72%), the intense ball hitting (17.14%), and sudden stops or changes of direction of the wheelchair (12.63%). A multiple linear regression analysis (Enter method) demonstrated (R2 Adjusted=0.530) Wheelchair inappropriateness (P=0.015), lack of protective equipment (P=0.028), and previous injury (P=0.003) explained close to 55% of the injury rate. Conclusion: The injury rate during the league period was higher than the amounts reported from Paralympic games. Prevention strategies should be focused on rethinking athletes' pre-season readiness evaluation, return to play assessments and protection equipment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: HTLV-1 is responsible for two important diseases, HAM/TSP and ATLL. Approximately 10 to 20 million people are infected with HTLV-1 worldwide. Identifying altered genes in different cancers is crucial for finding potential treatment strategies. One of the proteins of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway is MEK1, which is made from the MAP2K1 gene. The effects of the MAP2K1 gene on the MAPK signaling pathway are not yet fully elucidated. The current study aims to determine the MAP2K1 gene mutations and the level of MAP2K1 gene expression in ATLL patients compared to healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Ten ATLL and 10 healthy control individuals were investigated in this study. We used ELISA test to screen anti-HTLV-I antibodies and PCR for confirmation of infection. Then, we extracted total RNA from fresh whole blood, and cDNA was synthesized. The expression levels of the MAP2K1 gene were examined by qRT-PCR, and to check possible mutations in the MAP2K1 gene; all samples were sequenced and analyzed by BioEdite Software. Results: MAP2K1 gene expression in the ATLL group was significantly higher than in the healthy control (P=0.001). The mutational sequencing analysis showed nucleotide 212 (SR) change and identification mutations at different nucleotides that were entirely different from the nucleotide mutations defined in the UniProt database. Conclusion: These results could be a perspective in the prevention, prognosis, and targeted treatment of diseases in which the MAP2K1 gene plays a vital role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women are at higher risk of death during disasters due to physical, biological, psychological, and cultural differences. After a disaster, they experience more miscarriages, premature births, inadequate fetal growth, low birth weight, sexual violence, and unwanted pregnancies. This study aims to investigate the reproductive health status of women affected by the 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. The study population consists of women aged 15-49 years (Mean age=31.7 years) living in Sarpol-e Zahab, Javanrood, and Thalas Babajani towns in Kermanshah city affected by the earthquake in 2017. The questionnaire used for assessing the status of reproductive health in women was the Reproductive Health Assessment Questionnaire for Women of Reproductive Age, which has already been localized in Iran and its reliability and validity have been confirmed. Native Kurdish language experts completed the questionnaires on behalf of 396 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables. Results: It was found that 42.4% of women complained of abnormal menstruation and 34.09% of limited menstrual hygiene materials. Sixty women were pregnant at the time of the earthquake, all of whom gave birth in hospital; two had miscarriages, two had premature births, and one had stillbirth. Urinary tract infection was the most common problem (21%) in pregnant women. Moreover, 48% of women used contraceptive methods after the earthquake, the most commonly used method was the use of contraceptive pills (23%). Access to contraception methods was difficult for 14.4% of them after the earthquake. Furthermore, 25% had experienced violence after the earthquake; of these, 30 reported physical violence, 86 verbal violence, and 13 sexual violence. Conclusion: The control of pregnancy and safe delivery in earthquake-affected areas of Kermanshah is relatively acceptable; however, the provision of reproductive health services seems to be challenging. It is recommended to pay attention to the menstrual hygiene of women and regular distribution of contraceptives (despite the current population growth plan), address sexual acts of violence, and develop a protocol to support the victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Progressive visual impairment is one of the problems that threatening the health of patients and has the negative effects on their abilities. This study aimed to explore the health concerns of patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Materials & Methods: A qualitative inductive approach was used. Eleven patients with RP, participated in this study in Iran. Patients were selected through purposeful sampling. Data collection was done through two methods of in-depth semi-structured individual interviews and field notes. Data analysis was performed using approach of conventional content analysis. Results: The categories of "perceived health threat" and "perceived support needs", were extracted. The category of perceived health threat included sub-subcategories of "gradual decline in physical function", "sustained fluctuations in mental health", and "weakening of social capability". "need for socio-economic support", "need for educational support", "need for psychological support", and "need for a personal assistant" were extracted as sub-subcategories of perceived support needs. Conclusion: RP Patients faced with the problem of abilities impairment in various physical, mental, and social dimensions and need for support in society. So, to improve the health of these patients, members of the health group are suggested to develop a context-based wholistic care program through multidisciplinary cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems. Various complications, such as disability, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, stress, decreased sexual function and Quality of Life (QoL) are associated with chronic low back pain. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between demographic, physical fitness, health status, socio-economic indicators, and sexual function indicators on the QoL of women with chronic non-specific low back pain. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 in the private center of Cyrus Physiotherapy in Tehran, Iran. Thirty married women with non-specific chronic low back pain who were sexually active and living in Tehran were included in the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. At first, the goals and process of the study were explained to them and they were given written consent to participate in the study. Then demographic information was recorded and pain, sexual function, and QoL were measured using relevant tools. SPSS software v. 22 was used for statistical tests. Pearson correlation test was used to examine the relationship between the above variables. Results: The Mean±SD age of participants was 38.6±7.48 years. Pearson correlation coefficient showed no statistically significant relationship between the QoL with age (r=-0.172, P=0.364), the number of children (r=-0.166, P=0.382), pain intensity (r=-0.181, P=0.339) and regular exercise (r=-0.159, P=0.402), but there was a statistcally significant relationship between QoL with body mass index (r=-0.406, P=0.026), sexual function score (r=0.379, P=0.039), general health status (r=0.436, P=0.026), education level (r=0.463, P=0.010), and physical fitness status (r=-0.406, P=0.026). Conclusion: In women with chronic non-specific back pain participating in the present study, the lower the body mass index, the higher the level of education and sexual function score, the better overall health and physical fitness status, the better the QoL. However, the results of this study did not confirm the relationships between QoL and age, number of children, pain intensity, and regular exercise. Improving education, health status, fitness status, body mass index, and sexual function index help improve QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma radiation are used in many medical and technical applications, however, it is one of the most dangerous kinds of radiation and can be harmful to the body. The present study was designed to clarify the protective effects of the selenium supplementation as selenium nanoparticle and selenite selenium in rat liver against Gamma irradiation with different intensities of 2.00 and 8.00 Gy. A total number of 45 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups of five each. The radiation procedure was carried out in the Cobalt 60 equipment in Omid hospital, Urmia. The animals were simultaneously immobilized in a transparent acrylic plate and exposed to different intensities of 2.00 and 8.00 Gy radiations on day 7th and 14th of the experiment. After 72 hr after the last radiation, the animals were euthanized, and blood and liver tissue were collected. Histological analyses revealed the radiation-induced hepatic injury in rats, which included vacuolated cytoplasm, liver necrosis, fibrosis, and vascular lesions followed by a significant increase in alanine transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and Gamma-glutamyl transferase. Selenium nanoparticles bear a more potent antioxidant effect in comparison with selenium selenite and can effectively protect the liver cell against Gamma radiation at a dose of 8.00 Gy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preterm birth has been increased over the last two decades, thus leading to higher admissions of preterm infants to the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The design of NICUs may have several consequences for the health of infants, parents, and staff. In addition, it has gone through numerous changes in recent years, including the single-family room (SFR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using SFRs in the NICUs on the environmental (outcomes related to NICU environmental features) and clinical outcomes of the infants. Further, the present systematic review study was based on English papers about utilizing SFRs in the NICUs published during 2012-17. The papers were collected by searching the keywords "neonatal intensive care unit", "single-family room", "preterm infants", "parents' perspective", "staff's perspective", "infant outcomes", and "open-ward care unit" in ISI, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, and OVID database. The findings showed that applying SFRs improves clinical and environmental outcomes and that the staff and parents have a positive attitude toward this method. Besides, it costs the same as or even in some models less than the open-ward method and is considered a cost-effective method. Although a consensus may not be achieved on some issues such as maternal stress, language and motor development, intellectual maturation, and to some extent nurses' satisfaction, in general, using the SFR in the NICUs enhances clinical and environmental outcomes and there is a positive attitude towards this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Subjects with migraine headache often have stiff posture, especially in the head and neck. Also, these patients often have reduced cervical range of motion, faulty posture, forward head posture, increased sensitivity on the cervical muscles, and myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) are considered as the contributing factors to migraine headache. They produce painful trigger points in the cervical muscles. There are different techniques for eliminating MTrPs such as soft tissue (neck muscles) release technique, Ultrasound, and deep heat therapy, laser therapy, and dry needling. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of selective neck muscle release techniques on clinical indicators (frequency/intensity/duration of headache, medication, functional disability, and pressure pain threshold) in patients with migraine headache. Materials & Methods The current study is a randomized controlled trial was conducted in the physical therapy research center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran from August 2017 to February 2018. The statistical population consisted of all patients with migraine headache. Of these, 40 patients (aged 25-55 years) with trigger points in neck muscles including sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and suboccipital were selected and then randomly assigned into two groups of release (mean age, 40.4±11.2 years) and control (mean age, 37.45±8.9 years). The subjects in the release group received 6 sessions for 2 weeks (combined MTrP therapy and stretching movements), while control group received placebo superficial massage. Headache frequency/intensity/duration, medication, functional disability, and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) were assessed before, immediately after intervention, and at 1-month follow-up period. For data analysis, the two-way mixed design of ANOVA was used in SPSS v.23 software to evaluate the main effects of the two factors of group and time on the dependent variables. If the group effect was significant, independent t-test was performed to evaluate the differences in study variables between the two groups after the treatment and at the follow-up period, and if the time effect was significant, the paired t-test was carried out to assess the differences between the two groups before and after treatment and at the follow-up period. The significance was considered at P<0.05. Results All the variables had normal distribution (P˃0.05); therefore, parametric tests were used for analyzing data. Based on the results, there were no significant differences between the two groups in all quantitative and qualitative variables before treatment(P˃0.05). The release group showed improvement in the headache frequency, intensity, and duration, medication use, the functional ability, and the PPT level in comparison with the control group (p<0.001). According to the paired t-test results, the release group showed a significant reduction in headache parameters, medication use and functional disability and increased PPT after the intervention and at the follow-up period (P<0.001). Conclusion The release techniques for selective neck muscles including MTrP therapy and stretching movements were helpful in improving some clinical indicators such as headache parameters, medication use, functional ability, and PPT in a short time. Therefore, these techniques can be recommended for treating migraine headache patients with MTrPs in sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and suboccipital muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major reasons of cancer-related mortality. Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection, which can lead to cervical cancer. There is no powerful chemotherapeutic agent for HPV infection and cervical cancer. Some plants have the proper potential to be used for treatment of cervical cancer caused by HPV type 18. Materials and Methods: In this study, cytotoxic effect of extract of four indigenous Iranian plants including Rosa damascene mill, Allium sativum, Allium hirtifolium boiss and Prosopis farcta were investigated on the HeLa cell line. HeLa cells were incubated with different concentrations of extracts and then the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Results: The viable cell numbers were decreased by increase of the extracts concentration. The Allium sativum showed the higher cytotoxicity in all concentrations than the other ones. Afterwards, Allium hirtifolium Boiss, Rosa damascene mill, and Prosopis farcta showed maximum efficiency to decrease cell viability, respectively. Conclusion: The above four mentioned plants might be used for death of HeLa cell harboring HPV type 18. Therefore, they could be employed as a chemotherapeutic agent in the cervical cancer treatment in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dental impressions are among the potentially infectious items in dentistry. Dental impressions are invariably contaminated with saliva or blood. Such fluids may contain viral or bacterial pathogens including Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three different types of disinfectants on alginate impression materials after one, three and five minutes. Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 126 circular samples of alginate impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were then disinfected with 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, Deconex (Solarsept) and SeptiTurbo spray. Afterwards, the samples were wrapped in moist paper towels and kept in plastic bags for one, three and five minutes. Number of bacterial colonies was counted 24 hours after incubation. Negative and positive controls were included. Results: After five minutes, 0.525% sodium hypochlorite showed the highest disinfection activity against S. aurous as it eradicated over 99.98% of the bacteria. Although the disinfecting agents showed non-significant results in eradicating S. aureus, SeptiTurbo was more effective in elimination of S. aurous . The disinfection activity of different agents increased with time. Conclusion: This study revealed that alginate can be effectively disinfected with SeptiTurbo and sodium hypochlorite by the spraying technique. This study highlighted the efficacy of SeptiTurbo for eradication of S. aurous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]