Validation of a translated and culturally adapted Iranian version of the International Index of Erectile Function.

This study aimed to examine the psychometric values of a Farsi-translated version of the International Index of Erectile Function among a population sample of Iranian men. A community sample of 2,345 healthy men and a clinical sample of 421 men with diagnosed erectile function from 2 cities of Iran participated in the study. Participants were asked to complete the International Index of Erectile Function, the Life Satisfaction questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire at baseline.

The effectiveness of gain-versus loss-framed health messages in improving oral health in Iranian secondary schools: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Adherence to oral self-care behaviors is low among adolescents.

Purpose: This study aims to examine effects of two message framing interventions on oral self-care behaviors and health among Iranian adolescents.

Methods: Cluster-randomized controlled trial, with four schools randomly assigned to receive gain-framed, loss-framed, or no messages.

Safety of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration for postrehabilitated motor complete spinal cord injury patients: an open-label, phase I study.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a major growth factor in the activation and differentiation of granulocytes. This cytokine has been widely and safely employed in different conditions over many years. In this translational study, G-CSF is administered to 19 patients with chronic motor complete spinal cord injury, and outcomes are reported.

Cytokine gene polymorphism and graft-versus-host disease: a survey in Iranian bone marrow transplanted patients.

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Numerous studies have shown the potential role of cytokine genotypes in the occurrence of GVHD. In this retrospective, case-control study we aimed to investigate the association between 13 cytokine genes and acute GVHD (aGVHD) after HLA-identical sibling BMT in 91 Iranian subjects.

Combination of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, carboplatin and dexamethasone as a salvage regimen for refractory multiple myeloma patients: a comparison with a historical control group.

The aim of this study was to design a regimen for refractory multiple myeloma with minimum complications to achieve a reasonable response. Fifteen patients with active multiple myeloma after at least two lines of conventional treatment underwent therapy with our regimen for two cycles. Disease activity was evaluated after the last cycle.

Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability evaluation of Iranian version of Functional Assessment Measure in spinal cord injury patients.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Iranian version of the Functional Assessment Measure (FAM) among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Material And Methods: Two hundred patients with SCI participated in this study. A convenience sampling approach was used for selection of the patients.

Effect of a school-based oral health-education program on Iranian children: results from a group randomized trial.

Parents and school staff play important roles in promoting children's oral health. Our study goals were to investigate whether an intervention targeting parents and school staff can improve the oral-health behavior and oral-health status of schoolchildren. Three-hundred and ninety-two schoolchildren in six schools in Tehran participated in a group randomized trial from September 2010 to March 2011.

Prevalence and risk factors of the female sexual dysfunction in a sample of infertile Iranian women.

Background: Infertility has a major impact on women's quality of life and emotional well-being. The resulting interpersonal problems extend to women's sexual relationships, with a high proportion of infertile women reporting sexual problems.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and identify the potential risk factors of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among infertile Iranian women.

Association of P1635 and P1655 polymorphisms in dysbindin (DTNBP1) gene with schizophrenia.

Objectives: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 1% in most of the populations studied. SCZ is multifactorial with the contribution of multiple susceptibility genes that could act in conjunction with epigenetic processes and environmental factors. There is some evidence supporting the association between genetic variants in dysbindin (DTNBP1) gene and SCZ in populations.

Translation and validation of the EORTC brain cancer module (EORTC QLQ-BN20) for use in Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was to translate the EORTC quality of life questionnaire for brain cancer, the QLQ-BN20, into Persian, and to evaluate its psychometric properties when used among brain cancer patients in Iran.

Methods: A standard backward and forward translation procedure was used to generate the Persian language version of the QLQ-BN20. The QLQ-BN20 was administered together with the QLQ-C30 to 194 patients diagnosed with primary brain cancer.

Safety of intramedullary Schwann cell transplantation for postrehabilitation spinal cord injuries: 2-year follow-up of 33 cases.

Object: Many experimental studies on spinal cord injuries (SCIs) support behavioral improvement after Schwann cell treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate safety issues 2 years after intramedullary Schwann cell transplantation in 33 consecutively selected patients with SCI.

Methods: Of 356 patients with SCIs who had completed at least 6 months of a conventional rehabilitation program and who were screened for the study criteria, 33 were enrolled.

Relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) +405 G/C polymorphism and proliferative retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The role of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphism in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is controversial. VEGF seems to play a central role in mediating microvascular pathology in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Recently, a +405 G/C VEGF polymorphism was shown to be associated with PDR.

Mothers' perception of obesity in schoolchildren: a survey and the impact of an educational intervention.

Objectives: To investigate mothers' awareness of their children's weight problem, and to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on improving mothers' recognition of obesity in their children.

Methods: Twelve primary schools from Tehran, Iran, were randomly chosen. Obese children were selected, and 300 mothers participated in the study.

The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale in Iranian children: reliability and validity.

Objective: The primary objective of the study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Oral Health Scale in over 1000 Iranian children.

Methods: A standard forward and backward translation procedure was used to convert the US English dialect version of the PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale into the Iranian language (Persian). The Iranian version of the PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale, in combination with the PedsQL™ 4.

Misunderstanding prescription physician's oral instructions in patients with low back pain.

Medication errors and adverse drug events can bring about hospitalization, permanent injury, or death. Patients due to lack of adequate understanding of instruction may unintentionally misuse a prescribed medicine. The aims of the study were to examine whether patients with low back pain were correctly able to understand physician's instructions regarding drug use and also to identify influencing factors in patient's misunderstanding.

Translation, cultural adaptation assessment, and both validity and reliability testing of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life--Short Form version 1.3 for use with Iranian patients.

Aim: The aims of the study were to translate the Kidney Disease Quality of Life--Short Form version 1.3 (KDQOL-SF ver. 1.

Health-related quality of life in a sample of Iranian patients on hemodialysis.

Introduction: This study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of Iranian patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The data were compared with the HRQOL for the Iranian general population.

Materials And Methods: Two-hundred and fifty patients undergoing hemodialysis were included using a convenience sampling approach in a cross-sectional study.

Health-related quality of life in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis: a cross-cultural study.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who live in Tehran and to compare data with evaluations of both the general population and MS patients in other countries.

Material And Methods: One hundred and forty patients with MS, yet without severe comorbidity, were selected according to convenience sampling in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected by means of the SF-36 questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Effects of silibinin on cell growth and invasive properties of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG-2, through inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation.

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the effect of silibinin on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG-2 cells. Microculture tetrazolium test (MTT assay), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, Gelatin zymography, Griess reaction, Cell-based the extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation assay and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were employed to appraise the effect of silibinin on cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, metastatic potential, nitric oxide (NO) production, ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and activation in HepG-2 cells. Silibinin inhibited cell proliferation, matrix metalloproteinase 2 enzymatic activity, NO production and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner without exerting any cytotoxicity effect.

A probable causative factor for an old problem: selenium and glutathione peroxidase appear to play important roles in epilepsy pathogenesis.

Purpose: Only recently has it become known that oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species are the cause and the consequence of epileptic seizures. Due to the protective role of selenium (Se) and selenoproteins against oxidative damage and the ability to promote neuronal cell survival, we compared serum selenium level and red blood cell Glutathione peroxidase activity (RBC GPx) between epileptic and healthy children.

Methods: In a case control study, 53 epileptic children were compared with 57 healthy children in the same age and community of residence.

A comprehensive study on the major mutations in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient polymorphic variants identified in the coastal provinces of Caspian Sea in the north of Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was the molecular analysis of G6PD patients for G6PD mutations in the coastal provinces of the Caspian Sea in north of Iran.

Methods: Studies on G6PD deficiency in the coastal provinces of the Caspian Sea in Iran were performed in 248 patients with a history of favism, in Mazandaran, Golestan and Gillan provinces, which contributed 74, 71 and 103 samples, respectively. Three different major polymorphic variants were determined by molecular analysis, using SSCP, sequencing and PCR-RFLP methods.