Effect of Oral Supplementation of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles on White Blood Cell Profile of BALB/c Mice and Mice Exposed to X-ray Radiation.

Background: Radiation therapy is an effective method used for treatment of many types of cancers. However, this method can cause unwanted side effects such as bone marrow suppression. In this study, the effect of oral administration of biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on total and differentiated white cells profile of BALB/c mice exposed to X-ray radiation was investigated and compared with non-irradiated mice.

Riluzole as an adjunctive therapy to risperidone for the treatment of irritability in children with autistic disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: A hyperglutamatergic state has been shown to play a possible role in the pathophysiology of autistic disorders. Riluzole is a glutamate-modulating agent with neuroprotective properties, which has been shown to have positive effects in many neuropsychiatric disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of riluzole as an adjunctive to risperidone in the treatment of irritability in autistic children who were not optimally responding to previous medications.

Inadequate investment on management of diabetes education.

Aims: Reforming and improving the patient education process need more insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the existing education process. There is little documentation on patient education in National Diabetes Prevention and Control Program in Iran, so the present study aimed to describe patient education process in diabetes centers in one of the provinces of Iran.

Materials And Methods: This is a qualitative content analysis.

The nursing metaparadigm concept of human being in Islamic thought.

The metaparadigm concept of person as a core emphasis for nursing theorizing has attracted considerable attention in western literature, but has received less attention in the context of eastern philosophical contexts. In this philosophical inquiry, we sought to clarify the concept of what it is to be a human being according to ideas deriving from Islamic tradition, drawing on concept analysis as general approach to advance an understanding of how nursing within an Islamic context might operationalize metaparadigm conceptualization. Specifically, we considered person as human being on the basis of its definition, attributes/characteristics and boundaries to explore the anatomy of the concept in this context.

Personal and Family Factors Affecting Life time Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents in Tehran (Iran): A Community Based Study.

Objectives: The prevalence of smoking among adolescents varies in different parts of the world. The current study aims to survey the socio-demographic and family characteristics related to adolescent lifetime cigarette smoking among 1201 Iranian adolescents aged 15-18 years old.

Methods: This study is a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted using the multistage random cluster sampling method in Tehran, Iran in the summer of 2010.

Expert approaches to promote adolescent physical activity in Iran: development of the promoting strategies using the Nominal Group Technique meeting.

Background: Several studies have shown that physical activity decreases as the age increases. This study was for evaluating the perspectives of health sciences specialists or informants on the strategies for increasing physical activity among Iranian adolescents using Nominal Group Technique (NGT).

Methods: a semiquantitative/qualitative methodology research using NGT for prioritizing the strategies for alleviating the physical activities among Iranian adolescents based on the opinions of health sciences experts.

The prevalence of anisometropia and its associated factors in an adult population from Shahroud, Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anisometropia in an urban adult population in the north of Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the 40-64-year-old population in Shahroud, Iran. Random cluster sampling was applied to select 6,311 people.

Omega-3 fatty acids improve glucose metabolism without effects on obesity values and serum visfatin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder. Affected women present a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on obesity status, insulin resistance, and serum levels of visfatin in PCOS patients.

Gene expression profiling of liver X receptor α and Bcl-2-associated X protein in experimental transection spinal cord-injured rats.

Background: Study of molecular responses to central nervous system injury would be helpful for controlling the harmful pathways post-injury and triggering the useful pathways required for the treatment of injury.

Objective: To investigate the expression level of liver X receptor α (LXRα) which has anti-inflammatory effects and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) upon spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: To induce SCI, transection was carried out at T9 level of male Wister rats.

Efficient tumor targeting by anaerobic butyrate-producing bacteria.

Butyrate as an important short chain fatty acid has been shown to affect different kinds of cancer cells. Butyrate exerts its anti-cancerous effects by several mechanisms and has lead to successful outcomes in phase I and II clinical trials. Moreover, since solid tumors grow rapidly, multiple regions of hypoxia and anoxia forms within them that provide good niches for the growth of anaerobic bacteria.

Effects of preconditioning with normobaric hyperoxia on Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger in the rat brain.

Background: Recent studies suggest that normobaric hyperoxia (HO) reduces hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in the rat brain. We have attempted to determine the effect of HO on Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchangers (NCX) in the rat stroke model.

Methods: Rats were divided into two experimental groups.

Nursing image: an evolutionary concept analysis.

A long-term challenge to the nursing profession is the concept of image. In this study, we used the Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis approach to analyze the concept of nursing image (NI). The aim of this concept analysis was to clarify the attributes, antecedents, consequences, and implications associated with the concept.

Novel nucleotide changes in mutational analysis of mitochondrial 12SrRNA gene in patients with nonsyndromic and aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.

Mitochondria have essential role in cellular energy metabolism and defects in their function lead to many metabolic diseases. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been associated with number diseases such as nonsyndromic and aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. Mutational screening of entire 12SrRNA and tRNA (ser (UCN)) genes in 107 unrelated Iranian patients with amino glycoside-induced and nonsyndromic bilateral hearing loss by direct sequencing analysis method were performed.

Juxtacrine and paracrine interactions of rat marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, muscle-derived satellite cells, and neonatal cardiomyocytes with endothelial cells in angiogenesis dynamics.

Research into angiogenesis has contributed to progress in the fast-moving field of regenerative medicine. Designing coculture systems is deemed a helpful method to understand the dynamic interaction of various cells involved in the angiogenesis process. We investigated the juxtacrine and paracrine interaction between 3 different cells, namely rat marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs), rat muscle-derived satellite cells (rSCs), and rat neonatal cardiomyocytes (rCMs), and endothelial cells (ECs) during angiogenesis process.

Dapsone as an alternative therapy in children with familial mediterranean Fever.

Objective: Familial Mediterranan Fever is an hereditary autoinflammatory disease that presents with recurrent febrile attacks and poly serositis. Colchicine is the only known treatment in this diease. However, nearly 5-10% of patients are resistant to colchicines.

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on serum adiponectin levels and some metabolic risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female endocrine disorder associated with several risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum adiponectin levels and some metabolic risk factors in PCOS patients.

Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 overweight or obese PCOS patients; aged 20-35 years.

Exploring families' experiences of an organ donation request after brain death.

This qualitative research study with a content analysis approach aimed to explore families' experiences of an organ donation request after brain death. Data were collected through 38 unstructured and in-depth interviews with 14 consenting families and 12 who declined to donate organs. A purposeful sampling process began in October 2009 and ended in October 2010.

Social support for women of reproductive age and its predictors: a population-based study.

Background: Social support is an exchange of resources between at least two individuals perceived by the provider or recipient to be intended to promote the health of the recipient. Social support is a major determinant of health. The objective of this study was to determine the perceived social support and its associated sociodemographic factors among women of reproductive age.

The effects of unripe grape juice on lipid profile improvement.

Introduction. Consumption of unripe grape juice (verjuice) has been portrayed by the traditional belief, as a means of combating dyslipidemia. We aimed to evaluate the effects of unripe grape juice consumption on lipid profile in healthy human volunteers.

Patients' perception of dignity in Iranian healthcare settings: a qualitative content analysis.

Purpose: The importance of recognising patient dignity has been realised in recent years. Despite being a central phenomenon in medicine, dignity is a controversial concept, the definition of which in healthcare centres is influenced by a multitude of factors. The aim of this study was to explore the perspective of Iranian patients on respect for their dignity in healthcare centres.

Psychometric properties of the persian version of the youth risk behavior survey questionnaire.

Background: Adolescents may get involved in high-risk behaviors. Surveys are the primary, and sometimes the sole source of data collection for many high-risk health behaviours. We examined the reliability and validity of the psychometric properties of the self-administered Persian version of the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) questionnaire.

The experiences of women of reproductive age regarding health-promoting behaviours: a qualitative study.

Background: Health promotion is critical for community and family health. Health-promoting behaviours provide solutions for maintaining and promoting health. Although several studies have addressed the frequency and different types of health-promoting behaviours in women, little information is available about their experiences.

Burnout: interpreting the perception of Iranian primary rural health care providers from working and organizational conditions.

Objectives: Health care providers in the rural centers offer the primary health services in the form of proficiencies and professions to the most required target population in the health system. These services are provided in certain condition and population with a verity of limitations. This study aimed to describe and interpret the experiences of the employees from their own working condition in the rural health centers.

Nurses' experiences of violation of their dignity.

Dignity is a human right and a base for human health. This right must be observed in work environments as a moral obligation. This qualitative study aimed to understand nurses' experiences of violation of their dignity at work and to explore its dimensions.