Search

Abstract Several studies have shown association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hepcidin regulatory pathways genes with impaired iron status. The most common is in the TMPRSS6 gene. In Africa, very few studies have been reported. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the common SNPs in the transmembrane protease, serine 6 (TMPRSS6) gene and iron indicators in a sample of Egyptian children for identifying the suitable candidate for iron supplementation. Patients and methods One hundred and sixty children aged 5–13 years were included & classified into iron deficient, iron deficient anemia and normal healthy controls. All were subjected to assessment of serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity, complete blood count, reticulocyte count, serum soluble transferrin receptor and serum hepcidin. Molecular study of TMPRSS6 genotyping polymorphisms (rs4820268, rs855791 and rs11704654) were also evaluated. Results There was an association of iron deficiency with AG of rs855791 SNP, (P = 0.01). The minor allele frequency for included children were 0.43, 0.45 & 0.17 for rs4820268, rs855791 & rs11704654 respectively. Genotype GG of rs4820268 expressed the highest hepcidin gene expression fold, the lowest serum ferroportin & iron store compared to AA and AG genotypes (p = 0.05, p = 0.05, p = 0.03 respectively). GG of rs855791 had lower serum ferritin than AA (p = 0.04), lowest iron store & highest serum hepcidin compared to AA and AG genotypes (p = 0.04, p = 0.01 respectively). Children having CC of rs11704654 had lower level of hemoglobin, serum ferritin and serum hepcidin compared with CT genotype (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, p = 0.02) respectively. Conclusion Possible contribution of SNPs (rs855791, rs4820268 and rs11704654) to low iron status.

Kari Standal,1 Ole Andre Solbakken,2 Jorun Rugkåsa,3– 5 Margrethe Seeger Halvorsen,2 Allan Abbass,6 Christopher Wirsching,2 Ingrid Engeseth Brakstad,2 Kristin S Heiervang7,8 1District Psychiatric Center Nedre Romerike, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 2Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 3Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 4Department of Mental Health, Oslo Metropolitan University Oslo, Norway; 5Centre for Care Research, University of Southeastern Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway; 6Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada; 7Research and Development Department, Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 8Centre of Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCorrespondence: Kari Standal, District Psychiatric Center Nedre Romerike, Akershus University Hospital, Akershus universitetssykehus HF, DPS Nedre Romerike, Postboks 1000, Lørenskog, 1478, Norway, Tel +47 679 60 155, Email kari.standal@ahus.noBackground: Norwegian authorities have implemented treatment units devoted to medication-free mental health treatment nationwide to improve people’s freedom of choice. This article examines how medication-free treatment differs from treatment as usual across central dimensions.Methods: The design was mixed methods including questionnaire data on patients from a medication-free unit and two comparison units (n 59 + 124), as well as interviews with patients (n 5) and staff (n 8) in the medication-free unit.Results: Medication-free treatment involved less reliance on medications and more extensive psychosocial treatment that involved a culture of openness, expression of feelings, and focus on individual responsibility and intensive work. The overall extent of patient influence for medication-free treatment compared with standard treatment was not substantially different to standard treatment but varied on different themes. Patients in medication-free treatment had greater freedom to reduce or not use medication. Medication-free treatment was experienced as more demanding. For patients, this could be connected to a stronger sense of purpose and was experienced as helpful but could also be experienced as a type of pressure and lack of understanding. Patients in medication-free treatment reported greater satisfaction with the treatment, which may be linked to a richer psychosocial treatment package that focuses on patient participation and freedom from pressure to use medication.Conclusion: The findings provide insights into how a medication-free treatment service might work and demonstrate its worth as a viable alternative for people who are not comfortable with the current medication focus of mental health care. Patients react differently to increased demands and clinicians should be reflexive of the dimensions of individualism–relationism in medication-free treatment services. This knowledge can be used to further develop and improve both medication-free treatment and standard treatment regarding shared decision-making.Trial Registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier NCT03499080) on 17 April 2018.Keywords: medication-free, mental health care, psychotropics, choice

Mohammed H Hassan,1 Sawsan Abuhamdah,2,3 Bakheet EM Elsadek,4 Ashraf Abdelwahab,5 Tarek Hamdy Abd-Elhamid,6 Hanan M Fayed,7 Amany Abbass,8 Ahmed Alamir Mahmoud Abdallah,9 Marwa Mohamed,5 Wafaa Mohamed Abd-Elmagid5 1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt; 2College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 3Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt; 5Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 6Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 7Department of Chemical and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt; 8Department of Chemical and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 9Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammed H Hassan, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt, Tel +20 109 8473605, Email Mohammedhosnyhassaan@yahoo.com; mohammedhosnyhassaan@med.svu.edu.egIntroduction: Verruca vulgaris is a benign hyperkeratotic proliferation of the epidermis. Few studies look at the differences in serum and tissue macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels in verruca vulgaris, as well as its gene polymorphisms that have yet to be explored. The current study provided in-depth evaluation of MIF in serum and tissues of patients with verruca vulgaris, and establishes for the first time the possible association of MIF gene polymorphisms with common warts.Methods: This case-control study included 50 patients who were diagnosed clinically as common warts in comparison with 50 age and sex-matched controls. Clinical examination was done on all included cases. Serum MIF was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while its tissue expression was analyzed using Western blotting and immunohistochemical techniques for the included participants. Analysis of MIF-173 G˃C single nucleotide polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique.Results: The overall results revealed significantly lower MIF tissue expression in lesional and perilesional skin biopsies from cases compared to the controls using Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Yet, the difference in the serum MIF levels between cases and controls was not significant (p ˃ 0.05). GC genotype of the studied MIF rs755622 G>C SNP could be considered as a protective genetic factor against the occurrence of verruca vulgaris among Egyptians with OR (95% CI) equal 0.444 (0.199– 0.989).Conclusion: MIF and its genetic variants are thought to play a pathogenic role in verruca vulgaris development and recurrence.Keywords: macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF rs755622 G>C SNP, common warts, RFLP-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry

Kari Standal,1 Ole Andre Solbakken,2 Jorun Rugkåsa,3,4 Astrid Ringen Martinsen,1,2 Margrethe Seeger Halvorsen,2 Allan Abbass,5 Kristin Sverdvik Heiervang6,7 1District Psychiatric Center Nedre Romerike, Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 2Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 3Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 4Centre for Care Research, University of South-Eastern Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway; 5Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; 6Department of Research and Development, Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; 7Centre of Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCorrespondence: Kari StandalDistrict Psychiatric Center Nedre Romerike, Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Postboks 1000, Lørenskog, 1478, NorwayTel +47 679 60 155Email kari.standal@ahus.noPurpose: Medication has been a central part of treatment for severe mental disorders in Western medicine since the 1950s. In 2015, Norwegian Health Authorities decided that Norwegian health regions must have treatment units devoted to medication-free mental health treatment to enhance service users’ freedom of choice. The need for these units has been controversial. The aim of this study was to examine why service users choose medication-free services. This article examines what purpose these units serve in terms of the users’ reasons for choosing this service, what is important for them to receive during the treatment, and what factors lay behind their concerns in terms of medication-related views and experiences.Methods: Questionnaires were answered by 46 participants and 5 participants were interviewed in a mixed-method design integrated with a concurrent triangulation strategy applying thematic analysis and descriptive statistics.Results: Negative effects of medications and unavailable alternatives to medication in ordinary health care were important reasons for wanting medication-free treatment. Medication use may conflict with personal values, attitudes, and beliefs.Conclusion: This study broadens the understanding of why the demand for separate medication-free units has arisen. The findings may contribute to making medication-free treatment an option in mental health care in general. To this end, clinicians are advised to communicate all treatment alternatives to service users and to be mindful of the effect of power imbalances in their interactions with them.Keywords: mental health care, medication-free, choice, psychotropics

Background: Research has shown that there are relationships between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OC), but no research has been performed on the mediating role of inferential confusion in this regard. Therefore, the question of research is whether inferential confusion can mediate this relationship?. Aims: The present study was carried out aming to investigate the mediation role of inferential confusion in the relationships between EMSs and OC symptoms in university students. Method: The present research was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population of this study included all undergraduate students in Arak University. Among them, a sample of 532 undergraduate students were selected by multiple cluster sampling method. To collect data, the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised (Foa et al. 2002), the Young early maladaptive schema questionnaire-short form (1998), and the inferential confusion questionnaire-expanded version (Ardema et al, 2010) were used. Results: According to maladaptive schemas and inferential confusion theories, findings indicated the significant direct and indirect effects of EMSs on OC symptoms through the mediating inferential confusion (p

The assessment of geothermal potentials over part of the upper Benue trough corresponding to Kaltungo, Guyok, Lau and Dong areas, North Eastern Nigeria using spectral depth analysis of aeromagnetic data has been carried out. The study area is bounded by latitudes 9o00’N and 10o00’N and longitudes 11o00’E and 12o00’E. This research work is necessitated by the need for renewable and alternative sources of energy for use in Nigeria. Regional/residual separation was carried out on the total magnetic field using polynomial fitting method of order one. The residual map was divided into nine overlapping blocks for the spectral analysis. The centroid depths and depth to top of basement were obtained from the plot of log of power spectrum against wavenumber. These two parameters were used to estimate the Curie point depth using , where and are Curie depth, centroid depth and depth to top of basement respectively. The results from the spectral analysis suggested that in the parts of the Upper Benue trough, the basement is deepest at the south western portion towards the Lau area and varies between 0.55 and 3.8 km, while the centroid depth varies from 7.26 to 18.00 km. From the same portion of the trough, the Curie-point depths vary between 12.43 and 33.91 km and the corresponding geothermal gradient and heat flow values varying from 17.10 to 46.66 0C/km with an average of 30.75 0C/km and 42.75 to 116.65 mW/m2 with an average of 75.91 mW/m2 respectively. The maximum heat flow is found around the south western portion of the study area (Lau). The entire study area with high heat flow values might probably be good sources for geothermal and thereby recommended for both geothermal exploration and exploitation.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a major cause of acute kidney injury. Several studies have shown that renin angiotensin (Ang) system and activation of Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1) are involved in various forms of kidney diseases. Likewise, Ang 1-7 as a physiologic antagonist of AT1 and losartan could possibly protect the kidney against I/R damage. Therefore, we investigated renal injury by administering the drugs before and after I/R. Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups as follows. 1, Sham operated; 2, saline group (as a control group); 3, losartan group; 4, Ang 1-7group; and 5, Ang 1-7 + losartan simultaneously. It should be noted that groups 2-5 consisted of two separate I/R-induced subgroups both receiving medication where the first groups received the treatment 15 min before induction of I/R while the medications were given to the second groups immediately after induction of I/R. Twenty four h after I/R, blood samples were collected, and then levels of serum urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Likewise, nitrite, MDA and TAC were measured in the homogenized kidney tissues. After the induction of I/R, the BUN, Cr, LDH, and kidney tissue damage score increased. Administration of Ang 1-7 alone or simultaneously with losartan decreased the levels of aforementioned factors. Also, kidney MDA and nitrate levels significantly increased after I/R induction (P < 0.05). According to the results of this study, it can be claimed that the effect of losartan in the presence of Mas receptor is statistically significant and kidney damage dramatically decreases.

Introduction: Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are associated with intracerebral haemorrhage. Therefore they may represent a concern if anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy is needed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CMB in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to follow their progression at 3 months under dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Methods: This prospective study included patients aged over 60 hospitalized in intensive cardiac care unit in our city for AMI. These patients underwent a first brain Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 72 h of admission, that was repeated 3 months. Results: 108 patients were included between November 2016 and December 2018. The prevalence of CMB was 21.3%, with a female predominance of 65.2% vs 32.1% (p = 0.004). Diabetes is significantly associated with the presence of CMB, 45.5% vs 21.2% (p = 0.021). Patients with at least one acute CMB had higher haemorrhagic risk as evaluated with CRUSADE score (40.5 ± 13.6 vs 31.2 ± 14.8 (p = 0.004).Multivariate analysis showed that only female sex was associated with the presence of a CMB on the initial MRI. On repeated MRI, an increase in CMB was observed in 6% of patients.Our results suggest that discharge treatment with anticoagulant in combination with antiplatelet therapy may be an independent predictor of early progression of CMB. Conclusion: Our study confirms the high prevalence of CMB in patients over 60 years with AMI. The association of anticoagulant with DAPT, 3 months after stenting, may be an independent factor of CMB progression.

Rami Abbass,1 Usmaan Bhatti,1 Ahmed Abbass2 1Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; 2Faculty of Medicine, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UKCorrespondence: Rami AbbassFaculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UKEmail ra3615@ic.ac.uk We read with great interest the article by Shrestha et al,1 implementing and evaluating in-situ simulation (ISS) to train interns with regards to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). As 5th-year medical students in the UK, we have also experienced simulation-based medical education (SBME) and have found it to be a valuable tool in learning to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations. View the original paper by Shrestha and colleagues

Background: Nephrotoxicity is the most recognized side effect of gentamicin. Vitamin E and vitamin C demonstrate their effective role in the prevention of nephrotoxicity. Likewise, previous studies have suggested that women have low risk of end-stage renal disease at premenopausal period. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the possibility of any gender difference in response to antioxidant effects vitamins E and C in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups each including both male and female rats. The first and second groups received saline (control group) and almond oil, the third group received gentamicin. The fourth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin E. Similarly, the fifth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin C. The sixth group received a dose of gentamicin + vitamin C and E simultaneously constantly. This protocol continued for 9 days. Results: Gentamicin increased significantly urea, creatinine (Cr) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but it decreased superoxidase dismutase (SOD) level (P < 0.05). Treatment with antioxidant vitamins improved urea, creatinine, MDA, and SOD serum level significantly in both genders (P

Salinity is one of the most important restricting factors for plant growth and production around the world. The use of plant growth regulators has been expanded for improving salt tolerance in recent decades. In this investigation the effect of gibberellic acid (GA) and paclobutrazol (GA inhibitors) were evaluated for ameliorating negative effects of salt stress in sweet sorghum. After germination, the plants in 4 levels of salinity were cultured in Hoagland solution then seedlings were treated by GA and paclobutrazol (PBZ) for 12 days. The results showed that the highest level of salinity without hormone treatment reduced the fresh and dry shoot weight by 44 and 22%, respectively, and increased the fresh (46%) and dry (16%) root weight. Treating Plants with 17 Mm GA and PBZ led to improvement of the above traits in the salt–stricken plants. PBZ treatment decreased negative effects of salinity and increased potassium (K+) content in roots and its transfer from root to shoot. Whereas, translocation factor of sodium was increased about 39% by GA treatment at the presence of 150mM salt. PBZ enhanced phenol content in shoots by increasing PAL activity. Therefore, GA and PBZ improved salt tolerance by transferring some ions toward shoot and root respectively. It seemed that, PBZ has an effective role in salt resistance by increasing of root growth, phenol content and maintaining the ionic balance

Introduction: Self-care is the core concept of health care and may be considered as one’s stabilization, and restoration as well as the improvement of his/her health and well-being. Looking at the process of Self-care from patients’ perspective who suffer from thalassemia may assist the nurses and health care providers to facilitate the health process. Thus this study was conducted to discover the process of self-care in patients with major thalassemia. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with grounded theory approach. 21 patients with major thalassemia from a Medical Research Center, supervised by Kerman Medical University, were selected through purposeful and theoretical sampling. Data were collected by unstructured interviews which lasted 30-60 minutes. These data were analyzed using the method of Corbin and Strauss. Results: The main theme of "struggling to improve life quality" that included the sub-themes of "focus on needs of illness, "activating resources" and "restoring a new identity with thalassemia" were extracted from the data. This theme implies that participants endeavor to strengthen their self- efficacy via thalassemia. "Looking for strengthening self-efficacy in light of thalassemia" was the core theme in this study. Conclusion: Facilitating the process of self-care in patients with major thalassemia requires that they be helped so that their self-efficacy, influenced by real life conditions, might be strengthened in light of thalassemia. Increasing public awareness and social support may affect the recognition of individual, family and society.

Background: Nephrotoxicity is the most known side effect of gentamicin. In addition, renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal injury and nephrotoxicity. Hypomagnesaemia is other complication of gentamicin. Previous studies reported that magnesium plays an important role in cell enzymatic functions, reducing lipid peroxidation. Objectives: We investigated the role of losartan and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ) on gentamicin nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: In this study, rats randomly assigned to five groups. The first group, received saline, the second group received gentamicin 80 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally (ip), and the third group, received a regular dose of losartan, 10 mg/kg/d + gentamicin 80 mg/kg/d. The fourth group received MgSO4 , 80 mg/kg/d + gentamicin 80 mg/kg/d. The fifth group obtained a continuous dose of gentamicin 80 mg/kg/d + losartan 10 mg/kg/d + MgSO4 80 mg/kg/d simultaneously. Nine days after administration of drugs, blood samples were collected from the heart. The level of urea, creatinine (Cr), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite were measured in the animal serum and homogenized kidney tissue. Results: Gentamicin increased serum urea and Cr levels. The administration of losartan and MgSO4 lonely and combination of them, significantly reduced the levels of serum urea and Cr. Losartan alone and combination of losartan and MgSO4 compared with gentamicin, significantly decreased kidney MDA level too. Decrease of kidney nitrite level by gentamicin was compensated by the administration of losartan, MgSO4 alone or their combination. Additionally, losartan and MgSO4 alone and their combination together significantly reduced renal damage. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that administration of losartan and MgSO4 individually and their combination decreased kidney nephrotoxicity and improved renal function. This effect is probably related to the improvement of antioxidant status and renal blood flow.

Introductoin: The aim of the current study was Comprsion of the effectiveness of two training programs of mindful motherhood and its customized version designed by the researcher on the quality of pregnant women's life. Method: The sample was consisted of 36 first delivery pregnant women (3 month pregnancy) referring to health centers and gynecologists in the city of Isfahan which participated voluntarily. They were assigned into two experimental groups and one control group randomly. During the test one participant in the first experiment group and one in the second experimental group were excluded due to medical problems and the need for rest. One participant in control group was also excluded due to altered questionnaire, therefore, 33 individuals could terminate the training period. All participants responded to demographic and Healthe Related Quality of Life (SF36) questionnaires before and after the intervention. ANCOVA was used for analyzing the data. Results: The results showed that post test score of mothers Healthe Related Quality of Life (SF36) questionnaires and its five subscales (including physical performance, limited performance due to physical problems, fatigue or freshness, physical pain and general health) in the group of mindful motherhood which is based on the Islamic Iranian culture improved meaningfully in comparison with the other two groups. Discussion and Conclusion: As mindful motherhood training programs effect on the qualiy of pregnant women's life, health centers and related experts should pay attention to these types of psychological interventions in addition to general cares of pregnancy.

Backgrounds: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing in developing countries that affects the liver in a variety of ways. This study was designed to investigate the protective role of eugenol on liver damage caused by fructose-induced MetS. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1: tap water (control), 2: fructose, 3: fructose + eugenol solvent, 4: fructose + eugenol 50 mg/kg, and 5: fructose + eugenol 100 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for measurement fast blood glucose (FBG), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Results: FBG significantly increased in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P < 0.001); however, it significantly decreased in Groups 4 and 5 compared to Group 2 (P < 0.05). SGOT and SGPT levels significantly increased in Group 2 compared to the control group (P < 0.001). However, SGOT and SGPT levels significantly decreased in Groups 4 and 5. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver tissue damage score (LTDS) significantly increased in Group 2 compared with the control group (P < 0.01), whereas MDA and LTDS decreased in Groups 4 and 5 compared to Group 2 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Eugenol may ameliorate liver damage in a rat model of fructose-induced MetS, and these protective effects may in part be mediated by improving antioxidant status and reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. It may also reduce hepatic inflammation and fat accumulation as well as fibrosis of liver cells.

Objective: To identify the anti-Toxoplasma antibodies from blood donors who referred to blood transfusion bases of Jahrom County, using ELISA method. Methods: Based on the prevalence and characteristics method, 400 serum samples were collected from blood donors referred to Jahrom blood transfusion bases, Southern Iran, during 2010–2011, designed at testing by ELISA. IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were tested using ELISA kits (Dia-Pro) on serums. The data were analysed by SPSS 19 software. Results: Review of 400 cases, 54 of them were IgG positive for parasites (13.5%) and 346 of those with negative IgG (86.5%). In IgM examination, 1.75% of them have been positive IgM (7 cases) and 98.25% of them were IgM negative (393 cases). By comparing the different group ages, 40–50 year age group had the highest prevalence of IgG positive (17.9%) and the age group of 30–40 years had the highest incidence of IgM negative (2.5%). Conclusions: Due to the serological infection rate of toxoplasmosis obtained from this study, toxoplasmosis should be considered as a significant transfusion risk factor in Jahrom and also in any region with similar situations.

Ahmad Salha, Ahmed Abbass, Samsul IslamFaculty of Medicine, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UKCorrespondence: Ahmad SalhaFaculty of Medicine, St George’s Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UKTel +44 777 955 5525Email ahmad_salha@hotmail.co.uk We read the article by Guraya et al1 with great interest. We were fascinated by the idea that social media could be integrated into medical curricula and be used as an educational platform in the future. As medical students who use various social networking sites (SNS) for both educational and recreational use, we wish to offer our opinion on this topic.Guraya et al1 suggest that social media’s role in higher education is currently under-utilised and has greater potential in the future. Cheston et al2 explored the effects of integrating social media tools into medical curricula. Their work found that it not only improved exam scores, but also reflective practice and empathy, both of which are essential skills for doctors. They also noted that these platforms improved learner engagement, feedback and personal development, thus reinforcing the positive effects described in the article by Guraya et al.1 Read the original article here

Background: Different techniques have been introduced to improve removing the calcium hydroxide intra-canal dressing. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and RinsEndo system in the removal of calcium hydroxide from root canal system. Materials and Methods: Access cavities were prepared in 50 single-rooted anterior teeth. Cleaning and shaping were done using the Flexmaster rotary system up to size no. 30, 6%. The canals were filled with injectable calcium hydroxide (calcipex). After 7 days, the calcium hydroxide were retrieved using RinsEndo system in Group 1 (n = 20), with PUI system in Group 2 (n = 20). In positive control group (n = 5), no irrigation was performed. In negative control group (n = 5), root canals were not filled with any medicament. Following the removal of the calcium hydroxide with these two systems, teeth were split buccolingually into two sections and every third of the root canals was evaluated under stereomicroscope (×30) to analyze the residual medicament in each segment. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (P < 0.05). Results: There was no significant difference in the removal of calcium hydroxide between RinsEndo and PUI at cervical (P = 0.67), middle (P = 0.51) and apical (P = 0.75) part of the root canals. Conclusion: None of the irrigation techniques was able to completely remove calcium hydroxide from the root canal system.