Statistical assessment of natural radioactivity, radon activity, and associated radiological exposure due to artisanal mining in Atiwa West district of the Eastern region, Ghana.

The activity concentration of natural radionuclides, radon activity concentration, mass and area exhalation rates have been studied in soils from gold mining communities in Atiwa West district. The natural radionuclides were determined by gamma ray spectrometry method while radon concentrations were measured using CR-39 detectors. The mean activity concentrations were found to be 26.

The Relationship between Structure of the Corticoreticular Tract and Walking Capacity in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Background: Disruption in the descending pathways may lead to gait impairments in Cerebral Palsy (CP) children. Though, the mechanisms behind walking problems have not been completely understood.

Objective: We aimed to define the relationship between the structure of the corticoreticular tract (CRT) and walking capacity in children with CP.

Corpus Callosum Functional Activities in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Background: Since cerebral palsy (CP) is a corollary to brain damage, persistent treatment should accompany an alteration in brain functional activity in line with clinical improvements. In this regard, the corpus callosum (CC), as a connecting bridge between the two hemispheres, plays an essential role.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of occupational therapy (OT) on CC functional activity and walking capacity in children with cerebral palsy.

Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas.

This study provides a general observation of the status of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas of Ghana in order to establish regional and national data on NORMs. The study includes data on radioactivity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in soils and for water concentrations of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 from various mining, oil, and gas communities, as well as water sources used for crop farming and farmlands. The average activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in the soil samples were found to be 59 ± 16 Bq/kg, 48 ± 15 Bq/kg, and 286 ± 57 Bq/kg, respectively.

Characterization of environmental radiological parameters on dose coefficient - Realistic dosimetry compared with epidemiological dosimetry models.

Radiation exposure due to all-natural sources amounts to about 2.4 mSv per year. However, this amount might be changed to over 3 mSv y according to the recently introduced ICRP radon dose coefficient factor.

A Comparison Study of the Tehran Norms to the Reference Norms on Children Performance of the Bayley III.

Objectives: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (3rd ed.; Bayley III) are widely used to assess cognitive, language, and motor development of children aged 1-42 months. It is unclear whether or not the reference norms of the Bayley III are acceptable for use in other populations or lead to over- or underestimating the developmental status of target children.

The second family affected with a PRDM8-related disease.

Introduction: Lafora disease (LD) is a severe form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy characterized by generalized seizures, myoclonus, intellectual decline, ataxia, spasticity, dysarthria, visual loss, and in later stages, psychosis and dementia. To date, mutations in the EPM2A and EPM2B/NHLRC1 genes have been identified as the common causes of LD. However, a mutation in PRDM8 has been reported only once in a Pakistani family affected with early-onset Lafora disease.

Contribution of altered corticospinal microstructure to gait impairment in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: Corticospinal tract (CST) injury may lead to motor disorders in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). However, the precise underlying mechanisms are still ambiguous. We aimed to characterize the CST structure and function in children with CP and determine their contributions to balance and gait impairments.

Natural radioactivity and radiological risks of common building materials used in Semnan Province dwellings, Iran.

Impact assessment of building materials is a focused topic in the field of radioecology. A radiological survey has conducted to monitor radioactivity of most common building materials in Semnan Province, Iran, and assess the radiation risk. Activity concentrations of Ra, Th, and K were measured in 29 samples including nine commonly used building materials that were collected from local suppliers and manufacturers, using a high purity germanium gamma-ray detector.

Multivariate statistical approach on distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and associated radiation indices along the north-western coastline of Aegean Sea, Greece.

A comprehensive radiological survey using multivariate statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the distribution of K, Th, Ra, U, and Cs, and associated radiation indices in beach sand samples of the coastal area of the Aegean Sea. The activity concentration of selected radionuclides was measured and no clue of recent migration of radiocaesium by not only precipitation but also through an indirect way, such as ocean runoff, was found. As part of radiological risk assessment, external radiation hazard index, radium equivalent activity, effective dose, and absorbed dose rate were estimated.

Radiological Assessment of Indoor Radon and Thoron Concentrations and Indoor Radon Map of Dwellings in Mashhad, Iran.

A comprehensive study was carried out to measure indoor radon/thoron concentrations in 78 dwellings and soil-gas radon in the city of Mashhad, Iran during two seasons, using two common radon monitoring devices (NRPB and RADUET). In the winter, indoor radon concentrations measured between 75 ± 11 to 376 ± 24 Bq·m (mean: 150 ± 19 Bq m), whereas indoor thoron concentrations ranged from below the Lower Limit of Detection (LLD) to 166 ± 10 Bq·m (mean: 66 ± 8 Bq m), while radon and thoron concentrations in summer fell between 50 ± 11 and 305 ± 24 Bq·m (mean 115 ± 18 Bq m) and from below the LLD to 122 ± 10 Bq m (mean 48 ± 6 Bq·m), respectively. The annual average effective dose was estimated to be 3.

High level of natural ionizing radiation at a thermal bath in Dehloran, Iran.

It has been proven that more than half of the exposure to natural background radiation originates from radon isotopes and their decay products. The inhalation of radon and its decay products causes the irradiation of respiratory tracts, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer. In this study, the concentrations of radon and thoron in thermal baths at a spa in Dehloran (Iran) were investigated.

Do NICU developmental care improve cognitive and motor outcomes for preterm infants? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to review the effects of developmental care in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting on mental and motor development of preterm infants.

Method: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library until October 8th 2017, and included randomized controlled trials that assessed effects of developmental care in NICU on mental and motor development of preterm infants at 12 and 24 months of age, using the Bayley scale of infant development in this systematic review. In addition, data were pooled by random effects model and Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), calculated for meta-analysis.

Therapeutic Effects of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Corticospinal Tract Activities and Neuromuscular Properties in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

The objective of this research was to study the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on corticospinal tract (CST) activities, reflex hyper-excitability, muscle stiffness, and the clinical status of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Three children participated in this study. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks.

Are the Norms of Bayley Screening Test Appropriate for Persian Language Children?

Objective: We aimed to assess the distribution of the Bayley screening test by age, and compare developmental risk category distributions between Persian language children and reference norms.

Materials & Methods: A representative sample of 417 children, 1 to 42-months-old, by consecutive sampling from health -care centers were enrolled, during 2014 to 2015 in Tehran, Iran. The cognitive, language and motor development of children were evaluated using Bayley screening test.

Association of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the Genes Encoding IL-2 and IFN-γ With Febrile Seizure.

Inflammatory elements and genetics have major roles in febrile seizures (FS) pathogenesis. Seventy patients were enrolled and compared with 139 controls. The allele and genotype frequency of the IL-2 gene at -330 and +166 positions and the IFN-γ at +874 position were determined.

Radon measurements and dose estimate of workers in a manganese ore mine.

In the new European Basic Safety Standard (EU-BSS), a new reference level for indoor radon concentration in workplaces has recommended that the annual average activity concentration of indoor radon shall not be higher than 300Bqm. This paper describes the radon concentration level in an underground workplace (manganese ore mine) over long time intervals (4 years). Several common radon monitors devices - including NRPB and Raduet (as a passive method based on CR-39), AlphaGUARD PQ 2000Pro, SARAD EQF3220, TESLA and Pylon WLX (as active methods) - were used for continuous radon measurements.

A Psychometric Study of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development in Persian Language Children.

Objective: Bayley Scales of infant & toddler development is a well-known diagnostic developmental assessment tool for children aged 1-42 months. Our aim was investigating the validity & reliability of this scale in Persian speaking children.

Materials & Methods: The method was descriptive-analytic.

Is the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Developmental Screening Test, Valid and Reliable for Persian Speaking Children?

Background: Advances in perinatal and neonatal care have substantially improved the survival of at-risk infants over the past two decades.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Bayley Scales of infant and toddler developmental Screening test in Persian-speaking children.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective study of 403 children aged 1 - 42-months.

Determination of Po-210 content in cigarette smoke using a smoking machine: A case study of Iranian cigarettes.

The Po-210 content of tobacco has been known for a long time, however, different results can be found about the estimated amount of Po-210 that is inhaled by humans as a result of smoking cigarettes. Because of the unique properties of Po-210, the smoking machines available on the market are not suitable because of their failure to quantitatively collect Po-210 for measurement. Therefore, to estimate precisely the amount of Po-210 entering the lungs as a result of smoking, a smoking machine and sampling protocol based on relevant ISO standards - ISO-3308, ISO-3402 and ISO-4387 - was developed.

Radon exhalation study of manganese clay residue and usability in brick production.

The reuse of by-products and residue streams is an important topic due to environmental and financial aspects. Manganese clay is a residue of manganese ore processing and is generated in huge amounts. This residue may contain some radionuclides with elevated concentrations.

The quality of life in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

We conducted a study to evaluate the quality of life in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8-18 years, compared with that in matched healthy controls. A total of 85 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8-18 years and 136 age, sex and living place matched healthy controls were included in this study. Patients and one of their parents separately completed the 27-item Persian version of KIDSCREEN questionnaire (child and adolescent version and parent version).

Association of Interleukin-1 Gene Cluster and Interleukin-1 Receptor Polymorphisms With Febrile Seizures.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a key role in inflammation, has an effect on a wide variety of cells, and often leads to tissue destruction. While the ratio between IL-1 and IL-1Ra could influence the development of different diseases of the central nervous system, its gene polymorphisms were investigated in a group of patients with febrile seizures. Ninety patients with febrile seizures were enrolled and compared with 140 controls.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of TNF-Α gene in febrile seizures.

Febrile seizures (FS) is the most common seizure disorder during childhood. This study was performed in 78 patients with FS and 137 control subjects to assess polymorphisms of the TNF-α gene at positions -308 and -238, using the polymerase chain reaction and the sequence specific primers method. The highest positive allelic association that made the patients susceptible to FS was seen for TNF-α -238/G (p<0.

Association of TGFB, but not IL10, single nucleotide polymorphisms with febrile seizures.

Purpose: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common convulsive event in children. Inflammatory elements and genetics seem to have major roles in their pathogenesis.

Methods: Seventy nine patients with FS were enrolled in this study and compared with 140 controls.