A survival analysis of bipolar steroid-eluting and unipolar nonsteroid-eluting epicardial leads.

Introduction: Epicardial pacemakers are known as an alternative for endocardial pacemakers in some cases such as heart block, and complex congenital heart diseases. Considering recent advances and improvement of epicardial lead subtypes, it is essential to investigate the long-term function of them. In this study, we aimed to assess the sensing and pacing characteristics, and survival of bipolar steroid-eluting and unipolar nonsteroid-eluting epicardial pacemakers.

The safety and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation as add-on therapy to fluoxetine in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, clinical trial.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes impairment in daily activities. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as adjunctive therapy with fluoxetine in individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe OCD.

Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind sham-controlled trial.

Effects of associated SCF and G-CSF on liver injury two weeks after liver damage: A model induced by thioacetamide administration.

The present study aimed at investigating the beneficial effects of co-administering granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) in a model of chronic liver injury induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Biochemical and histopathology- cal examinations were performed on serum and liver specimens. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were anesthetized with ether, serum was collected and sections of randomly selected fixed liver specimens from each group were embedded in paraffin and processed for light microscopy by staining individual sections with hematoxylin- eosin (HE) stain.

Central effects of camphor on GnRH and sexual hormones in male rat.

In Persian traditional medicine is believed that camphor (a crystalline ketone obtained from cinnamomum camphora) is a suppressor of sexual behaviors. This study examined the central effects of camphor on sexual hormones (LH, FSH and testosterone) and GnRH plasma levels in male rat. Male Wistar rats weighing 250-260gr were selected and divided into control (no treatment), sham (ICV injection of EtOH 10%) and treatment (ICV injection of camphor in three doses 4, 20, 40 µg/ 10µl in alcohol) groups.

Validity and reliability of a new food frequency questionnaire compared to 24 h recalls and biochemical measurements: pilot phase of Golestan cohort study of esophageal cancer.

Background: A pilot study was carried out to evaluate validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which was designed to be used in a prospective cohort study in a population at high risk for esophageal cancer in northern Iran.

Methods: The FFQ was administered four times to 131 subjects, aged 35-65 years, of both sexes. Twelve 24-h dietary recalls for two consecutive days were administered monthly during 1 year and used as a reference method.