Validating and assessing the reaction of medical students toward team-based learning

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of tools �Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Tool�, Classroom Engagement Survey (CES) and to assess the reaction of learners toward TBL sessions at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This descriptive study was done in 2013. The first step was to assess the reliability and validity of the tools. TBL-SAI questionnaire include 39 items, and CES consists 8 items. The validity was assessed through Delphi rounds by experts and reliability, through internal consistency and Test-Retest approach. Then, the reaction of medical students (N=78) was assessed concerning the aspects of team-based learning sessions through TBL-SAI and CES. The data were analyzed through descriptive tests. Our results have study confirmed the TBL-SAI and CEA validity. The tools �reliability was approved through: TBL-SAI Cronbach's alpha=0.79, CES Cronbach�s alpha=0.71 and TBLSAI ICC=0.82, CES ICC=0.75. The result of the second phase showed the TBLSAI scores of participation were appropriate concerning TBL session (159.60�12.89) According to confirmed validity of tools, these can be used in researches related to team-based learning in Iran. It could facilitate assessing the learners� reaction of team-based learning studies at Iranian medical science universities. In the present study, the reaction of students who participate in TBL sessions had been positive and their participation, satisfaction, and accountability had been improved. � 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

A Double Multi-Relaxation-Time Lattice Boltzmann Method for Simulation of Magneto Hydrodynamics Natural Convection of Nanofluid in a Square Cavity

In this work, for the first time, a double multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method (2-MRT-LBM) is proposed to simulate MHD natural convection of nanofluid in a two-dimensional square cavity. The cavity is filled with TiO2-water nanofluid and is get under a uniform magnetic field at different angles ϕ with respect to horizontal plane. The proposed numerical scheme is solved the flow field and the temperature field using MRT-D2Q9 and MRT-D2Q5 lattice model, respectively. So, the main objective of this work is to show the effectiveness of this model to predict the effects of pertinent parameters such as the Rayleigh number (103 < Ra < 107), the solid volume fraction (0 % < < 5 %), the Hartmann number (0 < Ha < 60) and the magnetic field angle (0 < ϕ < 90) on the flow field and temperature field and the heat transfer performance of the cavity. The obtained results indicate that the proposed method is a powerful approach to simulate the MHD natural convection of nanofluids in a square cavity. Also the numerical results show that for Ra = 105 and for the range of Hartmann number of this study, the heat transfer and fluid flow depend strongly upon the direction of magnetic field. Furthermore, the magnetic field influence on the effect of nanoparticles on the heat transfer enhancement is not significant

Effect of Molybdate on Corrosion Performance of Oxide Coating Produced on 7075 Al Alloy Using PEO

In this research, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were prepared on 7075 Al alloy in a silicate-based solution with Na2MoO4 additive using a unipolar waveform at constant current density. The coatings displayed micro-pores, micro-cracks, pancake-like and crater-like features, and also solidified molten oxide particles on the surface. The coatings were majorly composed of Al2O3 (gamma, delta, and alpha), SiO2 (amorphous), and MoO3 phases, which confirms the incorporation of molybdenum in the case of additive-containing coatings. Molybdenum species were transported through cracks, channels, and micropores, as the ready access pathways into the coating and partly sealed the coating pores. The EIS technique was used to evaluate the long-term corrosion performance of the coatings up to 168 h of immersion in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The results showed that the barrier action of the PEO coatings was highly enhanced by adding Na2MoO4 due to the higher resistance that alumina achieved to chlorine absorption and also its higher stability by the incorporation of MoO3. The coating formed in the presence of 5 g L-1 Na2MoO4 showed the highest thickness and the lowest porosity percent (15.15%), which provided the highest corrosion performance at long immersion times

Comparative effects of Nucleostemin silencing in human Molt-4 and Jurkat leukemia T-ALL cells

     Nucleostemin (NS), a stem cell-abundant nucleolar protein, is critical for maintaining the self-renewal and proliferative properties of normal and cancerous stem cells. Recent data suggests that NS signaling is important for proliferation of T-cells and leukemia cells. This study was conducted to verify the role of NS in pathogenesis and treatment of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL). Our results revealed that RNA interference-mediated NS silencing primarily affected clonogenicproperty of T-ALL cells by limiting their self-renewal potential in vitro.These effects were accompanied with inhibition of proliferation and early apoptosis in Jurkat cells (p53-null) while late apoptosis in Molt-4 (p53 functional) T-ALL cells. Collectively, our results suggest that NS is a critical regulator in self-renewal and apoptosis of differentT-ALL cells. This suggests therapeutic potential of this gene in leukemia

HIV/AIDS Patients’ Experiences about Stigma: a Qualitative Study

Introduction: HIV/AIDS stigma has influenced HIV/AIDS patients and the medical system. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of perceived stigma in these patients in relation to the public and health care workers (PLWHA). Method: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were held with a purposively selected group of 61 PLWH recruited from two HIV care clinics in Tehran during 2009-2010. Data were analyzed using the content analysis approach. Results: The results were categorized into two themes based on the two major themes of extrinsic stigma (i.e. taunting, bashfulness and discrimination) and intrinsic stigma (i.e. rejection, seclusion, and frustration). Conclusion: Taunting and rejection were among the patients' main experiences. This study implies that it is crucial to integrate education to reduce stigma into HIV education programs by behavior change theories. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Stigma, Qualitative study, Patients

Nucleostemin depletion induces post-G1 arrest apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells

Abstract Purpose: Despite significant improvements in treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), the emergence of leukemic stem cell (LSC) concept questioned efficacy of current therapeutical protocols. Remaining issue on CML includes finding and targeting of the key genes responsible for self-renewal and proliferation of LSCs. Nucleostemin (NS) is a new protein localized in the nucleolus of most stem cells and tumor cells which regulates their self-renewal and cell cycle progression. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of NS knocking down in K562 cell line as an in vitro model of CML. Methods: NS gene silencing was performed using a specific small interfering RNA (NS-siRNA). The gene expression level of NS was evaluated by RT-PCR. The viability and growth rate of K562 cells were determined by trypan blue exclusion test. Cell cycle distribution of the cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: Our results showed that NS knocking down inhibited proliferation and viability of K562 cells in a time-dependent manner. Cell cycle studies revealed that NS depletion resulted in G1 cell cycle arrest at short times of transfection (24 h) followed with apoptosis at longer times (48 and 72 h), suggest that post-G1 arrest apoptosis is occurred in K562 cells. Conclusion: Overall, these results point to essential role of NS in K562 cells, thus, this gene might be considered as a promising target for treatment of CML

Effects of 3 Hz and 60 Hz Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Anxiety-Like Behaviors, Memory Retention of Passive Avoidance and Electrophysiological Properties of Male Rats

Introduction: The effects of electromagnetic fields on biological organisms have been a controversial and also interesting debate over the past few decades, despite the wide range of investigations, many aspects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF/EMFs) effects including mechanism of their interaction with live organisms and also their possible biological applications still remain ambiguous. In the present study, we investigated whether the exposures of ELF/EMF with frequencies of 3 Hz and 60 Hz can affect the memory, anxiety like behaviors, electrophysiological properties and brain’s proteome in rats. Methods: Male rats were exposed to 3 Hz and 60 Hz ELF/EMFs in a protocol consisting of 2 cycles of 2 h/day exposure for 4 days separated with a 2-day interval. Short term memory and anxiety like behaviors were assessed immediately, 1 and 2 weeks after the exposures. Effects of short term exposure were also assessed using electrophysiological approach immediately after 2 hours exposure. Results: Behavioral test revealed that immediately after the end of exposures, locomotor activity of both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposed groups significantly decreased compared to sham group. This exposure protocol had no effect on anxiety like behavior during the 2 weeks after the treatment and also on short term memory. A significant reduction in firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) was found after 2 hours of both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposures. Proteome analysis also revealed global changes in whole brain proteome after treatment.Conclusion: Here, some evidence regarding the fact that such exposures can alter locomotor activity and neurons firing rate in male rats were presented

Expression and Clinical Significance of IRE1-XBP1s, p62, and Caspase-3 in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background: Three main cell signaling pathways including the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) response, autophagy, and apoptosis play critical roles in both cell survival and death. They were found to crosstalk with one another during tumorigenesis and cancer progression. This study aimed to investigate the expression of the spliced form of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s), p62, and caspase-3, as the essential biomarkers of ERS, autophagy, and apoptosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), as well as the correlation between their expression and clinicopathological data. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks, which were collected from patients and their tumor margins, from the tumor bank of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from 2017 to 2019. Tissue microarray (TMA) was used to measure the XBP1s, p62, and caspase-3 biomarkers. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20, and P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Evaluating the total of 91 patients, a significant relationship was found between XBP1s expression and TNM stage (P=0.003), primary tumor (pT) (P=0.054), and the degree of differentiation (P=0.006); and between caspase-3 with pT (P=0.004), and lymphovascular invasion (P=0.02). However, no significant correlation was found between p62 and clinicopathological data. Furthermore, a positive relationship between XBP1s and p62 was confirmed (correlation coefficient: 22.2% and P=0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicated that XBP1s could be considered as a target for therapy in personalized medicine