Mechanisms and shape predictions of nematic disclination branching under conical confinement.

Liquid crystals (LCs) are self-organizing anisotropic viscoelastic soft materials that flow like viscous liquids and display anisotropies like crystals. When a nematic liquid crystal is confined to a capillary tube with strong anchoring conditions, disclination defects of higher (+1) and lower (+1/2) topological charges can coexist, connected through a defect branch point. The shape of the +1/2 disclination lines emanating from the branch point are functions of confinement and bulk elasticity.

The effect of age, sex and obesity on fundamental motor skills among 4 to 6 years-old children.

Objective: To examine the effect of age, sex and obesity on Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) in 4 to 6 years-old children.

Methodology: A total of 400 preschool children (200 boys and 200 girls) between the ages of 4 to 6 years old participated in this research. Subjects were selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling.

Applying theory of planned behavior in predicting of patient safety behaviors of nurses.

Background: Patient safety has become a major concern throughout the world. It is the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care, ensuring safer care is an enormous challenge, psychosocial variables influences behaviors of human. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a well-validated behavioral decision-making model that has been used to predict social and health behaviors.

A scientometric study of general internal medicine domain among muslim countries of middle East (1991 - 2011).

Background: The position of General Internal Medicine in the Islamic countries in the Middle East has been investigated in the present study.

Material And Methods: The scientific productions of the countries in the area on Web of science database during 1990-2011 constitute were examined.

Results: The result of the survey showed that the share of these countries in world scientific productions is very low.

A Survey on Clients' Opinions in Isfahan's Public Hospitals About Effective Factors in the Fulfillment of Referral System.

Introduction: Cutting back on the staff and equipment and also reduction of costs and devices, balanced distribution of resources for optimal use and prevention of unreasonable costs for patients are some advantages of the fulfillment of referral system process. Accordingly the purpose of the present study is to determine factors affecting the fulfillment of referral system process from the viewpoints of clients of Isfahan's public hospitals so that health system could benefit its advantages.

Methodology: The research is a descriptive-analytic survey and the population consisted of clients referring to public hospitals of Isfahan Province.

Sporadic Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva in an Egyptian Infant with c.617G > A Mutation in ACVR1 Gene: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an autosomal dominant severe musculoskeletal disease characterized by extensive new bone formation within soft connective tissues and unique skeletal malformations of the big toes which represent a birth hallmark for the disease. Most of the isolated classic cases of FOP showed heterozygous mutation in the ACVR1 gene on chromosome 2q23 that encodes a bone morphogenetic protein BMP (ALK2). The most common mutation is (c.

A biofilm model developed to investigate survival and disinfection of Mycobacterium mucogenicum in potable water.

Water in healthcare environments can be a source for healthcare-associated infections (HAI). However, information on the exposure risk to opportunistic pathogens in potable water distribution systems (PWDS) is lacking. Laboratory studies characterizing the interaction of opportunistic pathogens with biofilms are needed to understand their role in water systems within healthcare facilities.

Enteropathogenic e.coli sustains iodoacetamide-induced ulcerative colitis-like colitis in rats: modulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and apoptosisi.

Pathogenic or non-pathogenic bacteria from flora may play a key role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. However, a specific infectious agent causing IBD has not been identified. This study assessed the impact of enteropathogenic E.

A modulating effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a tea catechin, on the bladder of rats exposed to water avoidance stress.

Aims: To examine the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea catechin, on the bladder of rats exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS).

Methods: Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five. The first group was exposed to WAS for7 days.

A novel homozygous p.Arg527Leu LMNA mutation in two unrelated Egyptian families causes overlapping mandibuloacral dysplasia and progeria syndrome.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is a rare disease resulting from a mutation of LMNA gene encoding lamins A and C. The most common mutation associated with this disease is a homozygous arginine 527 replacement by histidine. Three female patients originating from two unrelated families from Northeast Egypt were examined.

Determination of rate of customer focus in educational programs at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(1) based on students' viewpoints.

Background: Today, the challenges of quality improvement and customer focus as well as systems development are important and inevitable matters in higher education institutes. There are some highly competitive challenges among educational institutes, including accountability to social needs, increasing costs of education, diversity in educational methods and centers and their consequent increasing competition, and the need for adaptation of new information and knowledge to focus on students as the main customers. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the rate of costumer focus based on Isfahan University of Medical Sciences students' viewpoints and to suggest solutions to improve this rate.

Crocin Bleaching Assay Using Purified Di-gentiobiosyl Crocin (-crocin) from Iranian Saffron.

Objectives: Crocin bleaching assay (CBA) is a new method for determination of antioxidant capacity. In CBA, addition of hydrogen to the conjugated double bonds of crocin results in reduction of crocin and increase in the absorbance at 440 nm, which is considered as a measure of antioxidant potential. Here CBA method was set up using di-gentiobiosyl crocin or α-crocin from Iranian saffron.

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in tonsils and adenoids of United Arab Emirates nationals.

Objective: Given that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) often inhabits human tonsils and adenoids, it remains to be distinctively determined its prevalence and in which cell and microenvironment the virus is present.

Methods: To determine the prevalence of EBV in the tonsils and adenoids of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals and to provide a basis for understanding the origin and biology of EBV-infected cells, the immunophenotype of all EBV-infected cells in 46 tonsils and 46 adenoids was determined by EBER in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20), and epithelial cells (cytokeratin AE1/AE3), as well as immunostaining with antibodies to EBV latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1).

Results: EBV was found in 43% of tonsillectomy specimens and 15% of adenoidectomy specimens.

Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex among ventilated pediatric patients linked to hospital sinks.

We investigated a cluster of Burkholderia cepacia complex colonization in ventilated pediatric patients. Isolates from 15 patients, 2 sink drains, and several ventilator components were found to belong to a single B cenocepacia clone. Hospital tap water used during oral and tracheostomy care was identified as the most likely mechanism for transmission.

Chlorine dioxide inactivation of bacterial threat agents.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) against seven species of bacterial threat (BT) agents in water.

Methods And Results: Two strains of Bacillus anthracis spores, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei and Brucella species were each inoculated into a ClO(2) solution with an initial concentration of 2.0 (spores only) and 0.

Comparison of two surgical methods (Winograd and sleeve method) in the treatment of ingrown toenail.

Background: Ingrowing toenail is one of the most common nail complaints. Although many surgical treatments are described for complicated nails, frequent recurrence of pain and postoperative disability necessitate finding an appropriate treatment.

Methods: In a clinical trial, we compared the Winograd and sleeve (gutter) surgical methods to find a simple, painless, and practical alternative.

Chlorine disinfection of Francisella tularensis.

Aims: To determine the range of free available chlorine (FAC) required for disinfection of the live vaccine strain (LVS) and wild-type strains of Francisella tularensis.

Methods And Results: Seven strains of planktonic F. tularensis were exposed to 0·5 mg·l(-1) FAC for two pH values, 7 and 8, at 5 and 25°C.

Scaling up methadone maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent prisoners in Iran.

Background: Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, including acquisition of blood-borne infections. In response, several prevention interventions including methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have been introduced into prisons in Iran.

Methods: This report reviews and presents some important information extracted from published articles, and available documents on HIV sentinel surveillance and provision of MMT inside correctional settings in Iran.

Multistate outbreak of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infections caused by contamination of prefilled heparin and isotonic sodium chloride solution syringes.

Background: To investigate clusters of Serratia marcescens (SM) bloodstream infections (BSIs) at health care facilities in several states and determine whether contaminated prefilled heparin and isotonic sodium chloride solution (hereinafter, saline) syringes from a single manufacturer (company X) were the likely cause, we performed an outbreak investigation of inpatient and outpatient health care facilities from October 2007 through February 2008.

Methods: Active case finding for clusters of SM BSIs. Information on SM BSIs was obtained, and SM blood isolates were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Proteinuria is reduced by inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with proteinuria. There are reports on the involvement of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in proteinuria in conjunction with renal disease. This study was designed to investigate the effect of N6-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine hydrochloride (L-Nil), a selective inhibitor of iNOS, to prevent proteinuria in IR injury.

Variability of Burkholderia pseudomallei strain sensitivities to chlorine disinfection.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a select agent and the causative agent of melioidosis. Variations in previously reported chlorine and monochloramine concentration time (Ct) values for disinfection of this organism make decisions regarding the appropriate levels of chlorine in water treatment systems difficult. This study identified the variation in Ct values for 2-, 3-, and 4-log(10) reductions of eight environmental and clinical isolates of B.

An outbreak of postoperative gram-negative bacterial endophthalmitis associated with contaminated trypan blue ophthalmic solution.

We report 6 cases of postsurgical endophthalmitis due to gram-negative bacteria associated with contaminated trypan blue dye from a compounding pharmacy. Unopened trypan blue syringes yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex on culture, with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns indistinguishable from patient isolates. Contamination of compounded medications should be considered when investigating outbreaks of postoperative endophthalmitis.