Verification of multi-structure targeting in chronic microelectrode brain recordings from CT scans.

Background: Large-scale microelectrode recordings offer a unique opportunity to study neurophysiological processes at the network level with single cell resolution. However, in the small brains of many experimental animals, it is often technically challenging to verify the correct targeting of the intended structures, which inherently limits the reproducibility of acquired data.

New Method: To mitigate this problem, we have developed a method to programmatically segment the trajectory of electrodes arranged in larger arrays from acquired CT-images and thereby determine the position of individual recording tips with high spatial resolution, while also allowing for coregistration with an anatomical atlas, without pre-processing of the animal samples or post-imaging histological analyses.

Sexual Self-Concept and General Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Background: There are several studies regarding sexual dysfunction in chronic diseases such as diabetes and renal failure; however, no significant study has been done on Iranian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to identify and compare sexual dysfunction between RA patients and the normal population.

Patients And Methods: In this case-control study, two groups of females (87 RA patients and 89 controls) were randomly selected from the rheumatology clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Knowledge and Practice of Junior and Senior High School Students Regarding Violent Behaviors in Isfahan Province.

Background: Considering the importance of anger, aggression, violence and other misbehaviours in schoolchildren education, the present study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and practice of students in Isfahan province regarding violence, in order to figure out the required interventions for violence-reduction.

Methods: In a survey during 2008-2009, 5500 junior and senior high school students of Isfahan province were assessed in a multistage sampling process to determine their level of knowledge about various types of violent behaviors, causes of violence, its consequences, and preventive behaviors. Validity and reliability of the data collection tool (questionnaire) were assessed.

Evaluation of leptin and adiponectin levels in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Background: Leptin and adiponectin are two adipose tissue hormones and their association with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is under evaluation. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of leptin and adiponectin with coronary artery diseases.

Methods: One hundred and seventy patients with angina pectoris and indications of coronary angiography underwent angiography.

Is family history of premature cardiovascular diseases appropriate for detection of dyslipidemic children in population-based preventive medicine programs? CASPIAN study.

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and the usefulness of self-report family history (FH) of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) for identifying children with lipid disorders. This study was conducted on a representative, population-based sample of 4811 Iranian children and adolescents (2248 boys and 2563 girls) aged 6-18 years. We compared the obtained serum lipid profile with that of the Lipid Research Clinic (LRC) and calculated the predictive value of FH for detecting those children with dyslipidemia.