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The characteristics of the faunal community in the soil are closely related to soil quality and function. Land degradation, which reduces vegetation cover, may affect the soil surface-active fauna because both the above ground and below ground invertebrates depend on complex plant communities. In this study, we evaluated the effect of land degradation/restoration and factors affecting soil fauna in northern Iran. The studied land uses were virgin natural forest (VNF), Alnus subcordata C.A.M. plantation (ASP), Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey plantation (QCP), Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis plantation (CSP) and degraded natural forest (DNF). VNF and ASP enhanced soil earthworm density (2.43 and 2.12 ind. m−2) and dry mass (27.44 and 23.39 mg m−2) with more ratio of epigeic. The activities of acarina (91,851.37 and 85,810.43 ind. m−2), collembola (83,009.50 and 74,996.18 ind. m−2) and protozoa [921.25 and 851.81 (× 102 g soil)] were increased under VNF ≈ ASP, respectively. Nematode population (650 in 100 g soil) significantly improved under VNF. In general, good quality forest floor, alkaline soil and accumulation of macro-element nutrients improved biological activities under the VNF and ASP sites, while low-quality forest floor, acidic soil, less macro-elements nutrients decreased biological activities imposed by the QCP, CSP and DNF sites. More activities of the studied soil fauna were found in autumn and spring. The findings of this study support the importance of preserving natural forests. In addition, employing N2-fixing and suitable native broadleaved species have been proposed in a bid to rehabilitate DNFs.

Microbial parameters have been used to monitor changes in the topsoil under different land covers. Soils from five land cover systems common in northern Iran, including virgin natural forest, Alnus subcordata C.A.M. plantation, Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey plantation, Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis plantation and degraded natural forest were used to assess the effects of land cover changes on soil. We tested the following hypotheses: (i) deforestation would markedly influence topsoil C, N and P microbial ratios which make it distinct from the natural forest and plantations in the long-term, (ii) virgin natural forest and the establishment of plantations promote soil enzyme activities and the fractions of particulate organic matter (POC and PON) and dissolved organic matter (DOC and DON), 30 years after planting. Sixteen samples per land cover were taken from top 15 cm soil and characterized with respect to pH, organic C, total N, N mineralization, NH4+, NO3−, available P, fine root biomass, enzymes activities (urease, acid phosphomonoesterase, arylsulfatase and invertase), basal respiration (BR), substrate inducted respiration (SIR), microbial biomass-C, -N and -P (MBC, MBN and MBP), POC, PON, DOC and DON. There were no significant differences in BR/MBC, MBC/Corg, BR/SIR and MBC/MBN microbial indices among the plantations, virgin and degraded natural forests. The values of soil MBC/MBP were increased, more than one and half-fold, following deforestation (12.82) compared to virgin natural forest (8.53) site. The natural forest and establishment of plantations reduced the ratio of MBN/MBP, while the greater amount (1.14) was observed under degraded natural forest. With replacement in the type of tree species from Carpinus betulus and Parrotia persica in the natural forest to Quercus castaneifolia plantation, almost 30 years after planting, POC/PON increased significantly in the topsoil (13.29), about two-three fold, compared to virgin (7.13) and deforested (3.96) natural forests. The soil DOC/DON ratio varied significantly and it increased by about one and half-fold, following the growth of Quercus castaneifolia (2.87) and Cupressus sempervirens (2.68) trees compared to the other ecosystems. Based on PCA, virgin natural forest and Alnus subcordata plantation presented a good condition of soil fertility, more microbial and enzyme activities with a low ratio of microbial indicators. In general, microbial/biochemical indicators showed perceptible deterioration in the topsoil due to deforestation. As a conclusion, soil enzyme activity, MBC/MBP, MBN/MBP, POC/PON and DOC/DON are robust and sensitive indicators that can be used to measure long-term variations in the topsoil due to changed land cover.

A magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst was synthesized by covalent binding of a Schiff base ligand, namely N,N′-bis(Salicylidene)-1,3-diaminopropane-2-ol (H2salpn), onto the surface of silica-coated magnetic CuFe2O4 nanoparticles, followed by complexation with MnCl2. The resulting core–shell nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods, including FTIR, XRD, VSM, TGA elemental analysis, TEM, and SEM. The Mn content was determined by ICP analysis. The nanoparticles were investigated as a catalyst for the selective oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds with tertiary-butyl hydrogen peroxide. The catalyst can be magnetically separated for reuse, with no noticeable loss of activity in subsequent reaction cycles. FTIR, VSM, and leaching experiments after three successive cycles confirmed that the catalyst was strongly anchored to the magnetic nanoparticles. A suitable mechanism for the reaction is proposed.

OBJECTIVES: Cataract is a prevalent disease in the elderly, and negatively influences patients’ quality of life. This study was conducted to study the application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) to patients with cataract. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 300 patients with cataract were studied in Neyshabur, Iran from July to October 2014. The Iranian version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to measure their quality of life. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the paired t-test, the independent t-test, and a linear regression model were used to analyze the data in SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 68.11±11.98 years, and most were female (53%). The overall observed Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the WHOQOL-BREF was 0.889, ranging from 0.714 to 0.810 in its four domains. The total mean score of the respondents on the WHOQOL-BREF was 13.19. The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in the social relationship domain (14.11) and the physical health domain (12.29), respectively. A backward multiple linear regression model found that duration of disease and marital status were associated with total WHOQOL scores, while age, duration of disease, marital status, and income level were associated with domains one through four, respectively (p

Background: Although the problem of substance use among drivers is not limited to certain parts of the world, most epidemiological reports on this topic have been published from industrial world. Aim: To investigate pattern of drug use among Iranian drivers who were involved in fatal road accidents. Methods: This study enrolled 51 Iranian adults who were involved in fatal vehicle accidents and were imprisoned thereafter. Data came from a national survey of drug abuse that was done among Iranian prisoners. The survey collected data at the entry to seven prisons in different regions of the country during a 4-month period in 2008. Self-reported lifetime, last year, and last month drug use was measured. Commercial substance screening tests were applied to detect recent substance use (opioids, cannabinoids, methamphetamines, and benzodiazepines). Results: The commercial substance screening test showed three distinct patterns of recent illicit drug use: opioids (37.3%), cannabinoids (2.0%), opioids and cannabinoids (13.7%). 29.4% were also positive for benzodiazepines. The substance use screening test detected 23.5% of participants who had used drugs but did not disclose any substance use. Conclusion: Opioids are the most common illicit drugs being used by Iranian drivers who are involved in fatal car accidents. The high rate of substance use prior to fatal car accidents in Iran advocates for the need for drug use control policies and programs as major strategies for injury prevention in Iran. There is also a need for substance screening among all drivers involved in fatal car accidents in Iran, as more than 20% of users may not disclose substance use.

For almost all injecting drug users (IDUs), the first injection is done to the arm. Years after in their injection career, they shift to using other sites for intravenous access. Although injection to sites other than arm is considered as a risky behavior, literature is poor regarding this behavior. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of using intravenous (IV) access points other than arm among a national sample of IDUs in Iran. In a secondary analysis of the national drug dependence survey in 2007, we enrolled all 863 IDUs with at least once daily heroin injections. Data on socio-demographics, drug use data and injection related behavior entered to a backward logistic regression to determine the predictors of our main outcome which was injection to any IV access points other than arm. From all participants, 54.8% reported current injection in sites other than arm. Injection sites were femoral venous sinus (17.0%), groin (14.5%), neck (11.5%), other sites (3.0%), or missing (8.8%). Logistic regression revealed that living alone (OR=1.789, 95% CI=1.218 to 2.629), being Sonni (OR=3.475, 95% CI=1.775 to 6.801), Having higher family income (OR=1.002, 95% CI=1.001 to 1.003), higher age at first drug use (OR=1.039, 95% CI=1.009 to 1.069), more injection duration (OR=1.071, 95% CI=1.041 to 1.102), and more injection frequency (OR=1.255, 95% CI=1.072 to 1.471) were associated with higher likelihood of use of IV access points other than arm. Use of the other sites than arm for IV injection shows an attachment to some socio-demographics, drug use data, and injection related characteristics which can be used by policy makers in harm reduction planning.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of inconsistent condom use among Iranian male injection drug users (IDUs).Materials and methods: Data came from the national Iranian behavioral survey of drug dependence, which sampled 7,743 individuals with drug dependence, from medical centers, prisons and streets in 29 provinces in Iran, 2007. This study included all individuals who were male, IDUs, and were sexually active (n = 1,131). The main outcome was inconsistent condom use which was assessed using a single item. A logistic regression was used to determine the association between socio-economic data, drug use data, and high risk injection behaviors with inconsistent condom use.Result: 83.3% of sexually active IDUs (n=965) reported inconsistent condom use. Based on the logistic regression, likelihood of inconsistent condom use was higher among those with a history of syringe sharing (Odds Ratio [OR]; 1.63, 95% Confidence Interval CI; 1.13- 2.34), but lower among those with higher education levels (OR; 0.34, 95% CI; 0.14- 0.82), those who mostly inject at home (OR; 0.09, 95% CI; 0.02- 0.47) and those with a history of treatment (OR; 0.54, 95% CI; 0.31- 0.94).Conclusion: Because of the link between unsafe sex and risky injecting behaviors among Iranian IDUs, combined programs targeting both sexual and injection behavior may be more appropriate than the programs which target sexual or injection behavior. The efficacy of combined programs should be, however, compared with traditional programs that only target sexual or injection behavior of IDUs.

Background: Renal transplantation is the best choose in the end stage renal disease (ESRD), and acute rejection and graft dysfunction remain major challenges in the worldwide, even with the advent of new immunosuppressive drugs. The novel cell-based anti-rejection treatments have been studied by using different stem cell sources. In this study, transplantation of autologous-bone-marrow-derived-total-nucleated-cells is used to improve the cadaver kidney graft function. Methods: 18 ESRD patients, which candidate for cadaver kidney transplantation, were divided in two groups (group A and B) and there was no significant difference (male, female, age, weight, type of dialysis) between two groups. The two kidney of one cadaver were transplanted to two recipients. Before transplantation, randomly, autologous-bone-marrow aspiration was done for one recipient, and then the transplantation was done for both of recipients. The total-nucleated-cells were separated and infused intravenously during and after the transplantation, respectively. In post transplantation, 6 hours diuresis, delay graft function (DGF), creatinine (1 week, 2 weeks and 3 months), cyclosporine (2 weeks) and cold ischemia were measured in bone-marrow-treated group (A: 9 patients) and non-bone-marrow-treated group (B: 9 patients). Results: A significant increase in diuresis, a significant decrease in DGF, a significant decrease (1 week and 2 weeks) and marginally significant decrease (3 month) in creatinine, no significant difference in cyclosporine blood level (2 weeks), operation time and cold ischemia were seen in group A in comparison to group B. 2 patients had CMV infection in group B, but none in group A. Conclusion: The transplantation of autologous-bone-marrow-cells in cadaver kidney recipient is safe and significantly decreases early graft dysfunction. Further clinical trial is needed to confirm these promising results. Keywords: Bone marrow, Delayed graft function, Kidney transplantation, Stem cell.