Search

All the inputs and outputs of a technical system can be interpreted from an environmental point of view. Using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, some changes that are less harmful to the environment can be included in the system. This research aims to evaluate the environmental effects of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in South Tehran, and the LCA method was used in this study. Based on the data of qualitative parameters obtained from the measurement of Tehran province's water and sewage company, the environmental emissions were calculated and analyzed using SimaPro software (9.0.0) and the standards defined under the ReCiPe 2016-midpoint method. In the ReCiPe 2016 method, the results were expressed in two intermediate levels (including three classes of influence) and final (including 18). The results showed that the treated wastewater and chlorine factors had the most adverse environmental effects. Among the 18 effect classes, the treated wastewater in the class of marine environmental toxicity with the amount of 101.1531 kg 1,4-DCB had the most environmental impacts among other classes. The power consumed by the biogas-burning combined heat and power (CHP) unit in the wastewater treatment (WWT) process reduced the environmental effects in most impact classes. The most adverse environmental effects of the WWT process are related to damage to human health and the ecosystem. According to the findings, the use of CHP systems is suggested for energy saving and also for reducing harmful effects on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hyperandrogenic intrauterine environment may lead to the development of metabolic disorders in offspring in their later life. In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of maternal hyperandrogenism (MHA) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in female offspring in their later life. Methods: In this cohort study conducted in Tehran, Iran, female offspring with MHA (n = 323) and without MHA (controls) (n = 1125) were selected. Both groups of female offspring were followed from the baseline to the date of the incidence of events, censoring, or end of the study period, whichever came first. We used age-scaled unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between MHA and MetS in female offspring. The software package STATA was used for statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: We observed a higher risk of MetS (unadjusted HR (95% CI), 1.36 (1.05–1.77)), (P = 0.02) and (adjusted HR (95% CI), 1.34 (1.00–1.80)), (P = 0.05, borderline)), in female offspring with MHA, compared to controls. The results were adjusted for the potential confounders including body mass index (BMI) at baseline, net changes of BMI, physical activity, education status, and birth weight. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MHA increases the risk of developing MetS in female offspring in their later life. Screening of these female offspring for MetS may be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As observed in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Meddle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemics, pregnant women are more prone to complications and adverse outcomes of coronavirus infection. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is thought to significantly increase the risks to maternal and fetal health, while others believe that pregnant women have similar morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. Due to the severe prognosis of pregnant women with SARS-Coronavirus (CoV) or MERSCoV, many concerns have been raised about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on this sensitive group of patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was performed on all pregnant women referred to Mahdieh Hospital in Tehran, Iran, whose gestation period was during the coronavirus epidemic, by the available sampling method. Pregnant women answered the questions asked by the researcher and the answers were recorded in a pre-prepared structured standard questionnaire. Questionnaire questions included basic information, knowledge, attitude, practice, and obstacles. Results: A total of 284 people participated in this study with a mean age of 29.6 ± 12.2 years. The mean gestational age among the participants in this study was 28.5 ± 9.7 weeks. The knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women referred to Mahdieh Hospital in Tehran were 74.05, 61.13, and 60.06, respectively. In terms of attitude, improving one's attitude towards herself will have the greatest effect on improving one's attitude. According to this finding, the attitude of individuals increases the level of knowledge about COVID-19. The amount of knowledge has a direct positive and significant effect on practice. Also, the attitude has a direct positive and significant effect on the practice. Conclusion: Given that the source of information for most of the participants in this study about COVID-19 was the media. Transmission of correct health information about the relationship between pregnancy and COVID-19, to this sensitive group, through the media could be appropriate. This is important because most participants feel they are at higher risk of developing the disease than non-pregnant people due to their pregnancy status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphocystis disease (LCD) is a self-limiting viral disease characterized by hypertrophy of fibroblastic cells in connective tissues of fishes. Upon presentation of a clinical case in painted Indian glassy fish (Parambassis ranga) with abundant whitish nodules on skin, fins, and eyes at our clinic in Tehran, Iran, in June 2018, suspected viral etiology was on the top of the differential diagnosis list. Therefore, we proceeded with the analysis to exclude parasitic and bacterial agents, and followed up with identification and characterization of the causative as the lymphocystis disease virus. Direct wet mounts of skin nodules revealed multiple hypertrophic host skin cells. Histopathological examination of the whitish fin and skin nodules revealed hypertrophic cells with thick, smooth, hyaline capsules with irregular nuclei and many inclusion bodies resembling characteristics of the Iridoviridae family and lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in particular. Molecular detection (PCR) confirmed presence of LCDV in the external nodules and in the homogenate of the internal organs of the infected fish. Sequence analysis of the MCP gene of the detected virus (IR_LCDV) revealed significant identity (97%) with another LCDV isolate previously reported in Himalayan glassy perchlet (Parambassis baculis) in Korea, and assigned the detected virus to genogroup 5. This is the first report on detection and characterization of LCDV in painted glassy fish in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal obesity affects the health of infants and pregnancy outcomes. Few studies, to the best of our knowledge, have assessed the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) at antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACS) and the frequency of preterm adverse outcomes results of which were discrepant. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of several neonatal morbidities based on maternal BMI among pregnant women who received a single course of ACS. Methods: The present retrospective study was conducted on pregnant women referred to Mahdieh Hospital in Tehran, Iran between 2021 and 2022. Medical records of pregnant women were included who received a single course of betamethasone with the risk of preterm birth. The mothers were divided into three groups in terms of weight after checking the inclusion criteria. Clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes were collected and analyzed using soft statistics. Results: A total of 610 medical records (30.49%: normal weight, 57.54%: overweight, and 11.98%: obese) were included. Also, the cesarean section rate in overweight and obese cases was significantly higher than that of the normal BMI group (P<0.05). No significant relationship was observed between maternal BMI and neonatal mortality or morbidity (P> 0.05). Conclusion: BMI was more associated with increased cesarean section rate in overweight and obese groups. However, no significant relationship was observed between maternal BMI and neonatal outcomes. This result suggests that BMI fails to affect the efficacy of betamethasone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevention of the incidences of mental disorders, psychological problems, or their rapid diagnosis is an important issue that has led to the creation of a mental health literacy concept and the development of standard tools for evaluating them. This study is the first step in the designing and psychometrics of the Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (MHLQ) in Iran. The purpose of this study was to design the psychometric properties of the MHLQ in soldiers. Methods: This study is a methodological study that was designed in three phases: 1) Designing the instrument, 2) Assessing the items, and 3) Psychometric assessment. This study was conducted during 2017-2018, and the soldiers were selected by using a convenience sampling method from different garrisons of Tehran, Iran. To evaluate the content validity of the questionnaire 10 experts, to evaluate the face validity 9 soldiers, and for the pilot study 103 soldiers formed the sample size. Finally, construct validity was assessed among 251 soldiers. Results: In the first phase, 78 items were collected and designed. Then, based on the experts' opinions and preliminary studies, the items were reduced to 52 in the "Assessing the items phase" and then to 42 items in the psychometric phase. In the third phase, 31 items remained in the final version. The CVR and CVI scores of the 52 items were 0.91 and 0.94, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 4-factor structure with 31 items of special value that were higher than five that accounted for 55.04 of the total scale variance. The fit indices values indicated that the model is fit for the data. In the total scale, the test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha were 0.81 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusion: The MHLQ of soldiers has appropriate psychometric properties and can be considered as a suitable tool for evaluation and screening as well as a basis for educational and research interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The beauty of nasal tip is very important in septorhinoplasty surgeries. Unstable tip rotation may lead some problems in the outcome of this surgery or performing a repair surgery. Hence, using an appropriate method to save the tip rotation for the long term is considered. Materials and Methods: We studied 30 patients who underwent rhinoplasty in Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex of Tehran and Razi Hospital of Tehran and divided them equally into two groups of rein (case) and septocolumellar (control), randomly. Then, we evaluated the rotation and projection of the nasal tip (nasolabial, columellar-labial, and nasofacial angles) after 2 weeks and 6 months of the surgery. Results: In both groups, 80% and 20% of the patients were female and male, respectively. The reduction of the nasal projection (columellar-labial and nasofacial angles) and nasal rotation (nasolabial angle) was significant in both groups during 6 months after the surgery (P > 0.001) that showed reduction in the nasal projection and rotation after 6 months in both group. This reduction was not significant in the nasofacial and columellar-labial angles (nasal projection) among two groups. However, in the case of nasolabial, we found less reduction in the case group that explains significant relation (P = 0.03). Discussion: Using rein flap can be used as a proper way to save the tip rotation in the long term and could be used in the patients with droopy tip noses. Conclusion: Using rein flap in nasal tissue seems to be effective in providing a stable rotation and projection. This method can be considered as a good option for providing proper projection and rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of available studies on the AMH thresholds were not age-specific and performed the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, based on variations in sensitivity and specificity rather than positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively), which are more clinically applicable. Moreover, all of these studies used a pre-specified age categorization to report the age-specific cut-off values of AMH. Methods: A total of 803 women, including 303 PCOS patients and 500 eumenorrheic non-hirsute control women, were enrolled in the present study. The PCOS group included PCOS women, aged 20–40 years, who were referred to the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Tehran, Iran. The Rotterdam consensus criteria were used for diagnosis of PCOS. The control group was selected among women, aged 20–40 years, who participated in Tehran Lipid and Glucose cohort Study (TLGS). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to identify the optimal cut-off points for various age categories. The cut-off levels of AMH in different age categories were estimated, using the Bayesian method. Main results and the role of chance: Two optimal cut-off levels of AMH (ng/ml) were identified at the age of 27 and 35 years, based on GAMs. The cut-off levels for the prediction of PCOS in the age categories of 20–27, 27–35, and 35–40 years were 5.7 (95 % CI: 5.48–6.19), 4.55 (95 % CI: 4.52–4.64), and 3.72 (95 % CI: 3.55–3.80), respectively. Based on the Bayesian method, the PPV and NPV of these cut-off levels were as follows: PPV = 0.98 (95 % CI: 0.96–0.99) and NPV = 0.40 (95 % CI: 0.30–0.51) for the age group of 20–27 years; PPV = 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.91–0.99) and NPV = 0.82 (95 % CI: 0.78–0.86) for the age group of 27–35 years; and PPV = 0.86 (95 % CI: 0.80–0.94) and NPV = 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.93–0.98) for the age group of 35–40 years. Conclusions: Application of age-specific cut-off levels of AMH, according to the GAMs and Bayesian method, could elegantly assess the value of AMH in discriminating PCOS patients in all age categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our purpose was to compare the latency periods of preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) in twin compared with singleton pregnancies from 24 to 34 weeks' gestation and assessment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) between twins and singletons. Materials and Methods: Between 2010 and 2014 in Mahdieh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, data on all women with singleton and twin gestations complicated by PPROM were reviewed. Latencies between singleton and twin pregnancies were compared. An additional comparing according to PPROM at under, equal and above 30 weeks' gestation was surveyed in these groups. In addition, their latencies compared among them. Use of surfactant consumption and need for intubation were measured during hospitalization between twins and singletons. Results: The mean latencies of singleton and twin pregnancies were statistically significant without comparing the gestational age at PPROM (8.22±7.4 vs. 5.54±3.36 days, p=0.001). When PPROM occurred at < 30 weeks' gestation, latency in twins was not statistically significant (8.24±9.81 vs. 8.24±4.71 days, p=0.07) but at > or = 30 weeks' gestation, latency was significantly different in singleton and twin pregnancies (6.3±5.85 vs. 2.42±2.60 days, p=0.002). There were significant differences in the use of surfactant and intubation between twin and singletons (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study provides the basis for effective patient counseling and managing pregnancies with PPROM. Overall, in pregnancies with PPROM at > or = 30 weeks' gestation, latency in twins was significantly shorter than in singleton pregnancies. For fetal lung maturity, the use of surfactant and intubation increased in twins compared with singletons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transsexual (TS) people are those who assigned one sex at the birth but identified their gender in what society considers the opposite direction. Studies showed that gender reassignment surgery (GRS) had greatly improved the quality of life in TS patients. Materials and Methods: We studied 20 patients who had legally the permission of being underwent the sex reassignment surgery in Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex of Tehran, Iran. For all patients, concentric periareolar subcutaneous mastectomy was performed. The patients were followed up for 1 year and the results were evaluated. Results: Our findings show an acceptable scar formation after 1 year of the sex reassignment surgery. There was only one complication which was managed conservatively. About 90% of patients were satisfied from the results of surgery, and no one was less/unsatisfied. The average score of nipple sensation was 7.9 and no changes in nipple pigmentation was observed. Conclusion: Concentric periareolar mastectomy is probably a good technique of subcutaneous mastectomy in female to male GRS in patients with small and medium size of the breast and poor skin elasticity. The result scar in this method is acceptable and gives the patients a good feeling of having male chest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Damavand region is located in the north of Iran and north-eastern of Tehran. In the present study, geothermal favorability map in this region has been prepared using two methods of data integration in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. The purpose of this study is to introduce the areas with high potential of geothermal field in Damavand region for subsequent exploratory program. For this purpose, at first, necessary information layers identified and studied and then were processed. The 13 layers were identified and collected and integration with two cumulative and weighted index overlay methods and compared. After a survey of experts, the weights used in the weighted index overlay method were obtained from the Fuzzy /Ahp method. In the result of cumulative overlay method, south and southeast of Damavand volcano are favorable area for geothermal field but the result of the weighted index overlay method indicates the high potential of the southeastern region of Damavand. Comparing the results with gradient and thermal flux from drilling by the ENEL Italian Company, indicate the accuracy and precision of the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common malignancies, which occur on the scalp. There are various therapeutic methods for managing these malignancies in which the standard treatment method of both is surgical excision with a good margin. Sometimes, the patients need full-thickness excision due to the deep invasion, so exposing the underlying calvarium may be a challenge for surgeons. Objectives: We evaluated the outcomes of using the combined therapy of acellular dermal matrix and split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in comparison with using only STSG in the treatment of defects caused by the excision of scalp malignant tumors among the patients who attended Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex and Razi Hospital of Tehran, Iran. We also evaluated the satisfaction of both surgeons and patients among these two methods of treatment. Materials and Methods: All the candidates were divided into the two groups, that is, of case and control, randomly. The case group underwent the treatment using acellular dermal matrix and STSG, whereas the control group underwent the treatment by only STSG on the wound. In both groups, BCC and SCC were excised with a margin of 6 and 10 mm, respectively, on the skull bone. Then, a layer of bone was removed by osteotomy in order to reach the bleeding points. All patients were followed up for 7, 30, and 90 days after the surgery, and the results were recorded. Results: A significant difference in Manchester Scar Scale, wound contour formation, the mobility of the repair site, and patients and surgeon satisfaction was observed among both groups based on visual analog scale. We found better outcomes in the case group, especially in wound contour formation during 90 days of follow-up. However, the satisfaction of both surgeons and patients was achieved in the case group. Satisfaction of surgeons was achieved in the case group with a relative superiority to the control group according to the Manchester Scar Scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health Literacy (HL) is negatively associated with substance addiction. However, no study has examined the bivariate correlation of HL with cell phone addiction. Aim: To investigate the correlation between HL and cell phone addiction amongst Iranian healthcare students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 287 male students (nursing, health, medicine and dentistry) in two medical universities in the northern and central part of Tehran, Iran, during February to May 2016. Data were collected via the Persian version of Mobile Phone Addiction Scale (PMPAS) and the Test Of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). Results: The total score of TOFHLA showed a significant and positive correlation with the total score of PMPAS in nursing students (r=0.063, p=0.040), whereas this relationship was negatively significant for non-nursing students (r=-0.219, p=0.023). The total score of TOFHLA significantly and positively correlated with the psychological improvement subscale of PMPAS in total and also nursing students. The same correlation was found between the total score of TOFHLA and self-control inability subscale in total (r=0.142, p=0.016), and also non-nursing students (r=0.286, p=0.003). However, a significant and negative correlation was observed between the total score of TOFHLA and anxiety and sense of loss subscale in total (r=-0.137, p=0.020) as well as nonnursing students (r=-0.260, p=0.007). Conclusion: HL is significantly correlated with cell phone addiction in some dimensions. Based on findings, it is recommended that authorities should pay attention to HL and cell phone addiction, especially among nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between low testosterone concentration and increased risk of hyperglycemia in men has been demonstrated in observational and interventional studies. However, considering a variety of confounding factors, limited population‐based studies have so far been conducted. Also, no information is available regarding the effect of testosterone on progressive development of dysglycemia. Objective: To examine the effect of total testosterone on development of pre‐diabetes/diabetes in normoglycemic middle‐aged and older men. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, a community‐based prospective cohort of an Iranian population. Analyses were conducted on 903 normoglycemic eligible men aged 30–70 years. An illness‐death model was applied to estimate the probabilities of three transitional phases of normoglycemia→diabetes, normoglycemia→pre‐diabetes, and pre‐diabetes→diabetes. Results: Over a median follow‐up of 12 years, 0.9% individuals developed diabetes. Per unit increase (ng/mL) in testosterone concentration, the transition rate from normoglycemia to pre‐diabetes decreased by 6% [hazard ratios (HRs): 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90, 0.99)]. However, no effect for testosterone on the progression of diabetes from normoglycemia or pre‐diabetes was observed [HRs: 0.79 (95% CI: 0.44, 1.41) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.84, 1.16), respectively]. High body mass index was a strong predictor of hyperglycemia within all transitions. Discussion: Independent of major confounding factors, low testosterone was associated with normoglycemia progression to pre‐diabetes, but not with pre‐diabetes to diabetes, which might indirectly highlight the stronger impact of other risk factors after occurrence of pre‐diabetes. Conclusion: Low testosterone concentrations in men are associated with progression from normoglycemia to pre‐diabetes, but not from pre‐diabetes to diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective malaria control strategies require an accurate understanding of the epidemiology of locally transmitted Plasmodium species. Emerging evidence indicates that migrants from malaria endemic regions are at risk of delayed presentation of Plasmodium spp. and malaria infection. Cases Report: We reported a case of P. vivax malaria occurring after arrival in Iran. Patient was originally from Iraq. A 48-year-old male patient who was hospitalized with fever attacks, chills, and headache after arriving from Iraq to Tehran. Conclusion: In this patient, new prevention and screening strategies should be studied and blood safety policies adapted. Thus, ultimate elimination of malaria in Iran will require national malaria control program to adopt policy and practice aimed at all human species of malaria since neighbor country are still face to problem to control of malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the use of Internet banking is growing dramatically. Internet payment systems in the world are affected by the demands of the service recipients. The purpose of this study is to identify and investigate the effect of social value and learning requirement of internet banking service on customers' attitude. This study, in terms of purpose is practical and in terms of data collection is descriptive and in terms of evaluating the relationships between the variables is correlational study. Statistical population of this study is the customers at Mellat Bank in Tehran which relate to the four different regions of the bank. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed randomly among 400 customers of Mellat Bank. Testing of research hypotheses has been done by using inferential statistics methods. Data analysis shows that social value and learning requirement of internet banking service have a direct effect on customers' attitude. The results show that social value and learning requirement of internet banking service have effect on customers' attitude directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the use of e-banking, especially Internet banking, is dramatically rising by the technology advancement and the effect of the using computers in people's lives. Internet payment systems in the world are affected by the demands of the service recipients and the question is that which factors affect Internet Banking Services. Due to the importance of Internet banking in today's societies and e-commerce, the purpose of this study is to identify and investigate the effect of internet banking service system coordinates on customers' intentions and attitudes. This study, in terms of purpose is practical and in terms of data collection is descriptive and in terms of evaluating the relationships between the variables is correlational study. Statistical population of this study is the customers at Mellat Bank in Tehran which relate to the four different regions of the bank. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed randomly among 400 customers of Mellat Bank. Testing of research hypotheses has been done by using inferential statistics methods. Data analysis shows that internet banking system coordinates has a direct effect on the customers' intentions and attitudes. The results show that based on the analysis, perceived risk for customers directly affects customers' attitudes and comparative advantage and perceived risk of Internet services have a significant relationship with customer attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study was to investigate the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), frequency ratio (FR), and certainty factor (CF) models for groundwater potential mapping using geographical information system (GIS) at Varamin Plain, Tehran province, Iran. In the first step, the groundwater conditioning factors such as altitude, slope angle, slope aspect, topographic witness index, rainfall, drainage density, water table level, aquifer thickness, lithology, and distance from rivers were prepared. The groundwater yield dataset was prepared using earlier reports, and extensive field surveys. In total, 71 groundwater data with high potential yield values of ≥40 m/h were collected and mapped in GIS. Out these, 50 (70 %) cases were randomly selected for models training, and the remaining 21 (30 %) cases were used for the validation purposes. Subsequently, groundwater potential maps were produced using AHP, FR, and CF models in ArcGIS 10.2. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for all the groundwater potential models were constructed and the areas under the curves (AUC) were computed. From the analysis, it is seen that the FR model (AUC = 77.55 %) performs better than AHP (AUC = 73.47 %) and CF (AUC = 65.08 %) models. The results of groundwater potential map can be helpful for future planning in groundwater resource management and land use planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of invasive infections among both young children and elderly people. Common serotypes causing invasive diseases and the emergence of carriers of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Iran is not yet known. Past-vaccine surveillance studies of serotype prevalence patterns in Iran are necessary to monitor the epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Because of variation of pneumococcal serotypes in different geographical regions, in this study we evaluated common serotypes causing pneumococcal infections and healthy carrier children in Tehran by Multiplex PCR. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from healthy children in Tehran between December 2011 and August a 2012, and 100 clinical samples were collected. Identification was performed by biochemical and molecular tests. Serotyping was done by multiplex PCR. We designed primers based on the sequences available for the routine capsular types and combined them into six multiplex PCR. Results: From 150 nasopharyngeal swabs, 40 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified after identification tests. Thirty six clinical isolates were also detected among clinical samples. Four serotypes (19A, 6, 3, 23F) of S. pneumoniae accounted for 55.7% of both sets of strains isolated from nasal carriage and clinical samples. Serotype 19A was the most common serotype among both groups. Conclusion: The multiplex PCR approach was successfully adapted to identify serotypes from more than 91% of the isolates tested. Among S. pneumoniae isolates in Tehran, the most prevalent serotypes were similar among carriage and invasive isolates. Continued monitoring of common serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae is essential for future vaccine formulation in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of power, vacuum, and flow rate on endothelial cell loss after phacoemulsification. Setting: Labbafinejad Medical Center Medical Center, Tehran, Iran. Methods: In a prospective randomized clinical trial, phacoemulsification was performed in 2 groups (high vacuum and low vacuum) with 3+ nuclear sclerosis. The stop-and-chop technique was used with the Sovereign machine. Machine parameters during the chop stage were vacuum 400 mm Hg in the high-vacuum group and 200 mm Hg in the low-vacuum group and flow rate, 40 cc/min and 20 cc/min, respectively. Endothelial cell density preoperatively before and 1, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively were compared. Results: Each group comprised 30 eyes. The mean US power was 9.2% ± 4.3% (SD) in the low-vacuum group and 13.1% ± 4.6% in the high-vacuum group (P = .001) and the mean phaco time, 1.28 ± 1.0 minutes and 0.88 ± 0.6 minutes, respectively (P = .04). Total US energy and total fluid consumed were similar between groups. After 12 weeks, the mean endothelial cell loss was 9.0% ± 4.0% in the low-vacuum group and 9.6% ± 4.6% in the high-vacuum group (P = .6). There was a relationship between total US energy and endothelial loss (P<.001); however, total fluid volume was not a significant predictor (P = .19). Conclusions: Vacuum level did not have a significant effect on total US energy or total fluid consumed during phacoemulsification. There was a strong relationship between total US energy and endothelial cell loss but not between total infused fluid and endothelial cell loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives. Despite extensive research on endometrial cancer (EC) and endometrial hyperplasia, there is still a gap in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of FOXO-1, P27Kip1, miR-27, and miR-186, and Akt1, Akt-P proteins in patients with EC and endometrial hyperplasia compared to control subjects. Subjects and methods. Samples of the endometrial tumor (n=30), normal (control) (n=30) and endometrial hyperplastic (n=30) tissue were obtained from patients referring to Arash and Imam Khomani hospitals, Tehran, Iran. Expression levels of genes and microRNAs were evaluated by qRT- PCR. Western blot analysis was applied for protein evaluation. The data were analyzed using t-test, Mann -Whitney U, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, ANCOVA and ANOVA. Results. There was significant decrease in FOXO-1 in EC tissue compared to control tissue (p<0.05). Significant increase was observed in expression of miR-27 in patients with EC (p<0.001) and hyperplasia (p<0.01), whereas miR-186 expression level increased significantly only in patients with EC (p<0.05). P27Kip1 expression level did not significantly change in patients with EC and hyperplasia. There was a significant association between expression levels of miR-27 with FOXO-1 and P27Kip1 in patients with EC. Western blot analysis revealed higher endometrial AKT1-P protein levels in patients with EC and hyperplasia than control subjects (p<0.05). Conclusions. Our findings suggest that FOXO-1, miR-27, miR-186, and Akt1-P/Akt1 protein have the potential to serve as tissue biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and progression of EC in the human reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]