Ethno-Linguistic Materials from Rural Mazandaran

The texts published here are in an eastern Mazandarani dialect spoken in the Caspian littoral in northern Iran. The informant is a rural woman who recollects the supernatural deeds of her father-in-law, revered like a saint after his death. The stories are narrated in a most intimate manner, something rarely published previously in Iranian dialect documentations. The folkloric songs typify those sung in Caspian rice paddies by women, who traditionally have a dominant role in the rural economy. The stories and songs provide both linguistic and ethnographic data for this poorly studied but important province with its unique culture among the Iranian-speaking groups in Iran

The Last Galesh Herdsman: Ethno-linguistic Materials from South Caspian Rainforests

This article includes part of the linguistic material we documented in 2002 from a galesh ranch in central-eastern Mazandaran. It transcribes, translates, and glosses two texts related by a patriarch on his long, eventful life: the dramatic elopement with the girl he married, his successful family life and career as a pastoral nomad, and his long resistance against the laws forcing the galesh families to evacuate the forest for good. Notwithstanding our dialectological purpose, namely documentation of the largely understudied language of Mazandaran within the long-standing tradition of Iranian philology, the article may also provide raw material for the anthropologist, sociologist, and historian, as it relays an unrecorded tradition just before its total disappearance

The effect of immobilization stress and cold stress on growth of WEHI–164 fibrosarcoma cells in Balb/c mice

Abstract Background: Stress gradually suppresses the immune system making the body susceptible to various diseases. The aim of this study was to show the effects of cold and immobilization stress on growth of malignant cells in Balb/c mice. Methods: In an experimental study which was carried out in the Molecular & Cellular Research Center of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2008, 3 groups of 10 Balb/c mice were selected to investigate the effects of cold stress and immobilization stress on growth of WEHI – 164 fibrosarcoma cells in groups of 10, Balb/c mice. Each mouse was injected with tumor cells subcutaneously in the chest for 2 hours/day mice in group 1were subjected to cold stress and mice in group 2 were immobilized the control group received tumor cells with no stresses. Tumor sizes were measured every two days and case groups were compared with the control group. Results: Results showed that the tumor sizes in stressed mice were significantly different from controls. After 14 days of tumor inoculation, mean tumor size in mice subjected to cold stress and immobilization was 31.99±2.61 and 37.13±3.51cumm respectively, but in the control group the mean tumor size was 18.15±3.09 cumm, (p<0.05) . Conclusion: Results in this study showed that cold and immobilization stresses increase the growth of WEHI-164 tumor cells. Keywords: Stress, Cancer, Immune system, Cold stress, Immobilization stress

Effectiveness of amlexanox and adcortyl for the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common condition that affects approximately 20% of the general population. The ulcers can interfere with speech and eating and cause significant pain and discomfort. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Amlexanox and Adcortyl in the treatment of aphthous ulcers. Material and Methods: In this randomized double blind clinical trial with sequential patient entry, a total of 40 patients who presented with aphthous ulcers were included. Patients were received Amlexanox or Adcortyl four times daily for 7 days. Patients were evaluated for pain, lesion size, and tingling at one day, three days, five days and seven days follow-ups. The treatment effects were then evaluated using the Wilcoxonâ Mannâ Whitney (WMW) test. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. Results: No significant differences in pain score, tingling and lesion size were observed on similar days between Amlexanox and Adcortyl groups. In both groups, reduction in the assessed variables was significant between days 1-3, 3-5, and 5-7 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study indicated that Amlexanox as well as Adcortyl was effective in relieving pain and reducing the lesion size during the treatment of aphthous ulcers

Prevalence of Behavioral Inhibition among Preschool Aged Children in Tehran, Iran

One of the identified risk factors for anxiety disorders in adolescence and adulthood is inhibited behaviors in childhood. The present study sought to examine the relationship between behavioral inhibition with some of the internal (personal) and external (family environment) factors in a sample of preschool children in kindergartens. In a cross sectional study in 2009, data was collected trough a structured questionnaire completed by parents and teachers in day-care centers. A total of 1403 children were assessed. Analysis was performed through complex sample analysis. The results showed that 7.4% (CI95%= 6.1%-9.1%) of children according to parents' and 8.1% (CI95%= 6%- 10.7%) according to teachers' evaluation classified as behaviorally inhibited. The higher levels of behavioral inhibition were shown by girls, first children, single parent families and older children. Birth year before 2004, birth rank, living in a single parent family and maternal level of education were independent predictors for behavioral inhibition in logistic regression modeling. There is relatively high prevalence of inhibited behaviors among Iranian children. Further examination of diagnosed children with behavioral inhibition by experienced psychiatrists is needed. Also establishing consultation centers for behaviorally inhibited children and instructing their parents and teachers are recommended

Development of neoantigens: from identification in cancer cells to application in cancer vaccines

Introduction: The discovery of neoantigens as mutated proteins specifically expressed in tumor cells but not in normal cells has led to improved cancer vaccines. Targeting neoantigens can induce anti-tumor T-cell responses to destroy tumors without damaging healthy cells. Extensive advances in genome sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis have made it possible to discover and design effective neoantigens for use in therapeutic cancer vaccines. Neoantigens-based therapeutic personalized vaccines have shown promising results in cancer immunotherapy. Areas covered: We discuss the types of cancer neoantigens that can be recognized by the immune system in this review. We also summarize the detection, identification, and design of neoantigens and their appliction in developing cancer vaccines. Finally, clinical trials of neoantigen-based vaccines, their advantages, and their limitations are reviewed. From 2015 to 2020, the authors conducted a literature search of controlled randomized trials and laboratory investigations that that focused on neoantigens, their use in the design of various types of cancer vaccines. Expert opinion: Neoantigens are cancer cell-specific antigens, which their expression leads to the immune stimulation against tumor cells. The identification and delivery of specific neoantigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with the help of anti-cancer vaccines promise novel and more effective cancer treatments

Determining Vitamin D Levels in Police Staff Referred to Behdad Medical Centers in Tehran, Iran during 2020

Aims: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that helps maintain healthy bones by absorbing calcium and phosphorus. This study aimed to determine the serum level of vitamin D among police staff and use the evaluated results to decide on the staff health and the effectiveness of organizational control and prevention programs. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed for 12 months from the start of the year 1399 in Tehran in the population of police staff referred to Medical Centers of police. With ethical and scientific issues being considered, blood samples were taken, and serum levels of vitamin D were measured using immunological kits by the ELISA method. Vitamin values less than 10 ng/ml were considered a severe deficiency, 11-30 were insufficient, and more than 30 were sufficient. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software. Findings: From a total of 442 participants, 80% had severe deficiency or insufficient vitamin D levels (18.9% and 61.1%, respectively), and only 20% had adequate vitamin D levels. The largest deficit was observed among the 21- to 30-year-old age group. A significant difference was seen between age groups (P=0.001). In comparing different job types, administrative job positions had the highest frequency of severe deficiency and insufficient amounts of vitamin D, and the operational job positions had the lowest frequency. This difference was statistically significant (P =0.02). Conclusion: The results show that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high among police officers in Tehran (80%), which requires better planning, and appropriate and effective decision-making by the organization's health managers to improve employees’ health