Exosomal MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Allergic Asthma.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are involved in intracellular communication and different biological processes. Recently, the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes has been considered as biomarkers in asthma diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the expression of selective miRNAs from plasma-derived exosomes in moderate and severe asthmatic patients compared with healthy controls.

Effect of Illness Perception Correction - Based Educational Program on Quality Of Life and Self- Care in Patients with Heart Failure: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Because of the chronic nature of Heart Failure (HF), low Quality of Life (QoL) and poor self-care are prevalent among patients with HF. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of illness perception correction- based educational program on QoL,and self- care in patients with HF. In this randomized controlled trial, 78 eligible patients were included in the study from Rajaei Heart Center (Tehran, Iran) and randomly assigned into intervention and control group with 1:1 allocation ratio.

Effects of Nurse-Led Intervention on Patients' Anxiety and Sleep Before Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

The aim of this study to examine the effects of supportive-educational nurse-led intervention on the patients' anxiety and sleep before the coronary artery bypass grafting.The current clinical trial recruited 160 patients (N = 160) waiting for the coronary artery bypass grafting by random block sampling and divided them into two 80-people experimental and control groups. Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory was completed on the first day.

Economic Burden of Pediatric Asthma: Annual Cost of Disease in Iran.

Background: Asthma is the first cause of children hospitalization and need for emergency and impose high economic burden on the families and governments. We aimed to investigate the economic burden of pediatric asthma and its contribution to family health budget in Iran.

Methods: Overall, 283 pediatric asthmatic patients, who referred to two tertiary pediatric referral centers in Tehran capital of Iran, included from 2010-2012.

Global epidemic trend of tuberculosis during 1990-2010: using segmented regression model.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a pandemic disease. It is the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world.The main objective of this paper was to determine and compare the epidemiology of TB incidence rate and its trend changes during 1990-2010 in six WHO regions regarding age, gender and income levels.

Skin Prick Test Reactivity to Common Aero and Food Allergens among Children with Allergy.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has risen in the last decades. The objective of this study was to determine the common allergens in children via the skin prick test.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 313 allergic children (4 months to 18 years old) referred to the Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Children's Medical Center in Tehran.

Association study of cathepsin D gene polymorphism in Iranian patients with sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

One of the most prevalent forms of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Complex inheritance and multifactorial patterns of late-onset AD (LOAD) along with its heterogeneity are due to the presence of different AD-predisposing genes with different influence on disease development among various populations. A key event in the pathogenesis of AD is the deposition of β-amyloid peptide, which is derived from the amyloid precursor protein by β- and γ-secretases.

Withdrawal users' experiences of and attitudes to contraceptive methods: a study from Eastern district of Tehran, Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore withdrawal users' experiences of and attitudes to contraceptive methods in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A sample of women attending a health care center in Tehran, Iran was entered into the study.

Behavioral characteristics in 18- to 36-month-old toddlers with atopic dermatitis compared with healthy children.

Some differences in behavioral characteristics have been attributed to atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, AD patients compared with healthy toddlers had significantly higher scores in perceptual sensitivity and high pleasure in an early childhood behavior questionnaire (ECBQ). They tended to be more energetic and impulsive, and also showed more excitement when subjected to novel stimuli.

Why Iranian married women use withdrawal instead of oral contraceptives? A qualitative study from Iran.

Background: Withdrawal as a method of birth control is still used in Iran. The aim of this study was to explore married women's perspectives and attitudes on withdrawal use instead of oral contraceptive (OC) in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: This was a qualitative study.

Interrater reliability of the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) for patients with wrist flexor muscle spasticity.

The measurement of spasticity is part of the neurological examination of patients with disorders of the central nervous system. Recently, the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) was developed for the characterization of muscle spasticity. The purpose of this study was to determine the interrater reliability of the MMAS in the assessment of wrist flexor muscle spasticity in adult patients after upper motoneuron lesions resulted in hemiplegia.

Serum selenium concentration in healthy children living in Tehran.

Introduction: Selenium is one of the essential trace elements which is more notified in children in recent years. Reliable age-specific reference values for selenium in children in Iran are not clear and are important for the identification of selenium deficiency and some other researches that is the aim of this study.

Methods: Serum samples of 216 healthy children were analyzed by using hydride generation and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy to measured selenium level.

Behavioral characteristics in 3- to 12-month-old infant with atopic dermatitis: a case-control study.

There have been reports that refer to the personality of the patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) especially adult patients but there are few studies regarding the behavioral characteristics in AD infants. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral characteristics of 30 AD infants (3-12 months old) with 40 controls. The infants with the definite diagnosis of AD (according to Hanifin and Rajka criteria) referring to children medical center were included in this study.

Which cereal is a suitable substitute for wheat in children with wheat allergy?

Wheat is one of the main food allergens. It is among widely used cereals and there is an extensive cross-reaction between cereals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent to which cereals cross-react and to find the best substitute for wheat.

Wheat allergy: clinical and laboratory findings.

Background: Food allergy affects 6-8% of infants and wheat allergy is one of the common food allergies among children. The clinical and laboratory manifestations of wheat allergy were evaluated in this study.

Methods: Thirty-two children (< or =12 years old) with suspected wheat allergy were evaluated for wheat allergy.

The impact of participatory ergonomics on working conditions, quality, and productivity.

A participatory ergonomics model was designed for improving working conditions, quality, and productivity in a medium-sized manufacturing enterprise by making use of a Supportive Expert Team (SET). In order to implement the model, a team-based structure consisting of a Steering Committee (SC) and 2 Action Groups (AGs) was designed and a 5-phase methodology followed. To validate the model, a similar factory was selected as control.