Effects of acupressure at the hugo point (LI4) on labor pain and duration of delivery in nulliparous women

Introduction: Most women have experienced child birth and its pain, which is inevitable. If this pain is not controlled it leads to prolonged labor and injury to the mother and fetus. This study was conducted to identify the effect of acupressure on sanyinjiao and hugo points on delivery pain in nulliparous women. Methods:This was a randomized controlled clinical trial on 84 nulliparous women in hospitals of Ardebil, Iran. The participants were divided by randomized blocks of 4 and 6 into two groups. The intervention was in the form of applying pressure at sanyinjiao and hugo points based on different dilatations. The intensity of the pain before and after the intervention was recorded by visual scale of pain assessment. To determine the effect of pressure on the intensity of labor pain, analytical descriptive test was conducted in SPSS (version 13). Results:There was a significant decrease in mean intensity of pain after each intervention in the experimental group with different dilatations (4, 6, 8, and 10 cm). Moreover, the Student’s independent t-test results indicated that the mean intensity of pain in the experimental group after the intervention in all four dilatations was significantly lower than the control group. Repeated measures ANOVA test indicated that in both experimental and control groups in four time periods, there was a statistically significant difference. Conclusion:Acupressure on sanyinjiao and hugo points decreases the labor pain. Therefore, this method can be used effectively in the labor process

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice of Urban and rural households toward iron deficiency anemia in three provinces of Iran

Background: Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems and consequently improper practice, which can lead to several complications. This study has been designed in order to compare knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban and rural households regarding iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in Boushehr, Golestan and Sistan & Balouchestan provinces in 2004. Methods: The sampling method at household's level in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household. Comparison of frequency of variables between urban and rural areas were tested by chi square test. Results: A total of 2306 households were selected as overall sample size. In urban areas, people recognized iron food sources better than rural areas. Knowledge level of respondents about vulnerable group for IDA and the favorite attitude of households toward IDA were better in urban areas of Sistan & Blouchestan and Golestan provinces. In Sistan & Balouchestan and Golestan, rural households who drank tea immediately before or after meal was more than urban ones. The majority of pregnant and lactating mothers (except for rural areas of Bushehr) did not take iron supplement regularly. Less than 60 percent of children used iron drop regularly. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of households toward IDA were not acceptable. One of the best ways of improving nutritional practice is nutritional education with focus on applying available food resources

DESY NanoLab

The DESY NanoLab is a facility providing access to nano-characterization, nano-structuring and nano-synthesis techniques which are complementary to the advanced X-ray techniques available at DESY’s light sources. It comprises state-of-the art scanning probe microscopy and focused ion beam manufacturing, as well as surface sensitive spectroscopy techniques for chemical analysis. Specialized laboratory x-ray diffraction setups are available for a successful sample pre-characterization before the precious synchrotron beamtimes. Future upgrades will include as well characterization of magnetic properties

Diagnostic value of CD14+ CD16+ monocytes in neonatal sepsis

Background: The majority of monocytes (MO) are strongly positive for CD14 and negative for CD16. The phenotype and function of peripheral blood monocytes change after trauma and during sepsis. CD14+CD16+ monocytes, identified as a minor population of monocytes which constitute a potent phagocytosing and antigen-presenting monocyte subpopulation that expands during acute and chronic infections. Objective: To evaluate monocyte expression of CD14 and CD16 in preterm neonates and to assess it as a possible marker for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis as the early clinical signs are often insidious and non-specific. Methods: This study was carried out on 45 preterm neonates (1-3 days old ) with a mean gestational age of 34.5 ± 1.03 weeks . They were classified into three groups. Group I included 15 neonates with proven sepsis. Group II included 15 neonates with possible or suspected infection. Group III (control group) included 15 healthy age and sex matched neonates. The neonates with possible infection were followed up. Nine of them developed sepsis later on (proved clinically and by laboratory) and they were considered as patients with early sepsis at the time of admission. History taking and clinical examination were performed as well as laboratory investigations including, complete blood count, blood culture and sensitivity (for patients only), measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD14 and CD16 expression on monocytes by flow cytometry. Results: The proportion of CD14+ CD16+ MO within all circulating monocytes was significantly higher in patients with proven (75.2±13.1%), early (63.9±17.9%) or possible sepsis (55.1±26.8%) than controls (3.86±2.53%) (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.001, respecctively). It was higher in neonates with proven than possible sepsis (p > 0.05), whereas it was comparable in the groups of proven and early sepsis (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD16+ MO and CRP (p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation between it and the platelet count (p < 0.05) among patients. When neonates with early sepsis were followed up after 48 hours a significant increase in CRP levels and MFI of CD16 expression on monocytes was noted (p < 0.01 for both). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of CD14+ CD16+ MO% and MFI of CD16+ MO were higher than that of CRP. Specificity and positive predictive value of CD14+CD16+ MO% were similar to those of CRP. The cut off point (obtained from the ROC curve) for CD14+ CD16+ MO% was 8.6% and that for MFI of CD16+ MO was 9. Conclusion: The measurement of the percentage of CD14+ CD16+ MO among circulating MO is a promising rapid and sensitive test for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and exclusion of infection in neonates with high risk to develop sepsis. NICU costs as well as unnecessary antibiotic use can be thus reduced.Keywords: CD14, CD16, monocyte, neonate, sepsisEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2004; 2(1): 16-2

E-Learning And Instructional Management System Based On Local Computer Networks And Internet

This article describes the educational efforts invested at Wasit University (WU), in Wasit, Iraq, in order to make WU the first university in that country to implement campus-wide e-learning, which is essential for any country aiming for progress through the essential goal of “Education For All”; e-learning being economic, far-reaching, and relatively simple to implement. These efforts have materialized in an integral e-system that performs and manages a complete educational process that can be used by any educational organization (schools, colleges, or continuing education centers) in a highly flexible, reliable, and secure manner. The e-learning management system architecture consists of three layers: user’s interface layer, middle layer, and server layer. The user interface layer is composed of four modules: user interface module, teacher module, student module, and administrator module. Each module has several sub-modules that are described in detail throughout the paper. Our proposed e-learning system has been successfully tested on some courses in the Electrical Engineering Department at WU. Our primary objective is to implement it department-wide, evaluate it, and refine it. Once satisfactory and efficient, the goal is to expand its use throughout WU, and eventually to all other institutions of learning in Iraq

Consequences of AphanizomenonFlos-aquae(AFA) extract (StemtechTM) on metabolic profile of patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Blue- green algae is one of the most nutrient dense foods which is rich in substances that have useful effects on human health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a water- soluble extract of the cyanophyta Aphanizomenon Flos-aquae (StemtechTM) as a functional supplement on CD markers, lipid profile, glucose levels as well as its side effects in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: During this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 49 type 2 diabetic patients, aged between 20 and 60years with a HbA1C�7.5, were allocated. Patients were divided into two groups of placebo and treated with an equal ratio 1:1. The subjects in StemtechTM group received one capsule of StemFlo (508mg) before breakfast and two capsules of StemEnhance (500mg) after each meal for a period of 12weeks, and placebo group was instructed to take placebo with the same pattern. During the intervention period, subjects were asked to keep usual diet and prohibited to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. Metabolic panel has been measured as the primary outcome of study at the beginning and end of the intervention period via blood sampling. Results: StemtechTM supplementation for 12weeks decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) and Glycatedhemoglobin (HbA1c). Mean serum chemistry parameters (Triglyceride, Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, CRP, AST, ALT, BUN and Creatinine) as well as CD 34+, IL-6, TNF-aα in treated and control groups before and after the study showed no considerable dissimilarities. Conclusion: StemtechTM intervention brought in positive consequence on blood glucose levels in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes, consequently suggests the StemtechTM as a functional food for the management of diabetes. © 2015 Sanaei et al

Reference values for lipid profile in Iranian children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-V study

Background: We aimed to develop the age- A nd sex-specific reference values for lipid profile of Iranian pediatric population. Methods: Fasting lipid profiles of 3843 participants, aged 7 to 18 years, were extracted from a surveillance survey on Iranian children and adolescents living in 30 provinces across the country. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 12.3(3.1) years, and 52.3 of them were boys. Significant differences were observed between genders comparing the levels of triglyceride (TG) (P = 0.04), total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.01), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (P = 0.03). In both genders, TG levels increased with age in the 75th and higher percentiles. Among boys, TC showed a decreasing trend at all percentiles and all age groups. In girls, TC levels increased with age at all percentiles except for the 75th and 90th percentiles. Among boys, the levels of LDL-C and HDL-C decreased with age in all percentiles. However, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations increased up to the 50th percentile in girls and then decreased with age. The non-HDL-C level decreased in the 50th and higher percentiles among boys and in the 90th and 95th percentiles among girls. The TG/HDL-C ratio increased with age at all percentiles in boys. In girls, TG/HDL-C ratio increased with age in the 50th and higher percentiles. Conclusions: Based on the observed differences, it seems necessary to determine age- A nd sex-specific cut-off values for lipid parameters of children and adolescents in different populations. © 2020 The Author(s)

WTC2005-63951 TURBOJET ENGINE DEMONSTRATION WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE AIR FOIL BEARING

ABSTRACT Recent tests demonstrated successful operation of a turbojet engine with a compliant foil air bearing using a new high-temperature solid lubricant coating. The hot section rolling element bearing and corresponding lubrication system were replaced with a compliant foil air bearing using a composite solid lubricant coating capable of operating at temperatures well above 650ºC (1200ºF). Detailed engine integration studies, bearing component rig testing and hot engine simulator tests were completed prior to the successful engine test. The rig and simulator tests verified high temperature capabilities of the bearing and its surface coating, the bearing journal design, bearing dynamic performance, and rotor-bearing system dynamic stability, prior to engine integration and test. Based on these preliminary efforts, the engine and bearing were assembled and tests were conducted that included over 70 start stop cycles (including hot restarts), seven simulated mission cycles and more than 14 hours of run time. The foil bearing and engine operated flawlessly throughout the test. Vibrations were very low and all temperatures and pressures were as expected. The post-test inspection revealed that the bearing, journal and coating were all in excellent condition. Keywords: compliant foil bearing, high temperature coating, solid film lubricant, gas turbine engine, and turbojet engine. INTRODUCTION Gas turbine engines having high specific thrust, high fuel efficiency, and are both durable and maintenance free are needed for a wide range of applications such as aerial targets, drones, Uninhabited Air and Air Combat Vehicles (UAV/UCAV). For example, highly efficient engines can increase UAV range and loiter time for greater data gathering. When used in drones or target systems, the quality of pilo

Effects of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�) on diabetic foot ulcers healing: A multicenter clinical trial

Some diabetic foot ulcers, which are notoriously difficult to cure, are one of the most common health problems in diabetic patients .There are several surgical and medical options which already have been introduced for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, so some patient will require amputation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�), a naive herbal extract to accelerate healing of diabetic foot ulcers. A multi-centric randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate intravenous Semelil for healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Sixteen diabetic patients were treated with intravenous Semelil, and nine other patients were treated with placebo as control group. Both groups were otherwise treated by wound debridement and irrigation with normal saline solution, systemic antibiotic therapy and daily wound dressing. Before and after intervention, the foot ulcer surface area was measured, by digital photography, mapping and planimetry. After 4 weeks, the mean foot ulcer surface area decreased from 479.93±379.75 mm2 to 198.93±143.75 mm2 in the intervention group (p = 0.000) and from 766.22±960.50 mm2 to 689.11±846.74 mm2 in the control group (p = 0.076). Average wound closure in the treatment group was significantly greater than placebo group (64 vs. 25, p= 0.015). This herbal extract by intravenous rout in combination with conventional therapy is more effective than conventional therapy by itself probably without side effect. However, further studies are required in the future to confirm these results in larger population