Barriers to pharmaceutical care in Iran

<p><strong>Editorial</strong></p

Pure spin current and negative differential electric resistance in hybrid systems

This paper aims to investigate the spin dependent transport properties in hybrid nanoribbons, using the non equilibrium Greens function method. The effects of temperature gradient between the left and right leads, the ferromagnetic exchange field, and the local external electric fields are also included. The results show that the spin up and spin down currents are produced and flow in opposite directions with almost equal magnitudes. This evidently shows that the carrier transport is dominated by the thermal spin current. Whereas the thermal electron current is almost disappeared.Comment: 26 page

Acute Garlic Supplementation Ameliorates Exercise-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Sedentary Individuals

Background: The aim of study was to determine the acute effect of garlic supplementation on total antioxidant capacity and some markers of exercise-induced oxidative stress in sedentary individuals. Methods: In a randomized and double-blinded study, 10 sedentary males (age 22.9±1.9 years, Weight 70.5±8.7 kg, BMI 22.9±2 kg/m2, and fat 14.2±4.6 %) performed two sessions of aerobic exercise after either placebo (1000 lg starch) or garlic consumption (1000 mg allicin). Aerobic exercise consisted of 30 minutes running at the intensity of %75-80 of maximal heart rate. Three blood samples were taken before supplementation, 4 hours after supplementation and immediately after exercise and were analyzed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and creatine kinase (CK) levels. Repeated measures of ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were applied to analyze the data. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Results showed that garlic supplementation had no significant effect on resting levels of variables (Pvalue&gt;0.05). Aerobic exercise significantly decreased TAC and increased serum levels of MDA and CK levels (Pvalue&lt;0.05) but the rise of MDA level following exercise was significantly diminished at garlic condition (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, acute garlic supplementation had no effect on exercise-induced cell damage but may ameliorate exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. &nbsp;Key Words: Garlic, Antioxidant Capacity; Exercise, Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation, CK

Cloud Computing Adoption: An Effective Tailoring Approach

Many organisations are currently moving their legacy systems to the cloud as it offers on-demand, elastic, and pay-as-you-go service models. However, different cloud migration scenarios can involve different activities during the migration process using one of many existing migration methods to make legacy cloud-compliant. There is no universally superior or applicable method for all cloud migration scenarios. In situations like this, designing situation-specific methods that fit several existing migration scenarios would be beneficial to the industry. The literature review reveals that issues surrounding the method tailoring for the cloud migration have not been addressed yet. To effectively harness this shortcoming, the idea of situational method engineering approach is applied to develop a framework for designing and maintaining bespoke methods for moving legacies to the cloud. The paper demonstrates the applicability of the framework via presenting two scenarios of creating, configuring, and sharing situational methods

Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Honey Consumption on some Inflammatory Indices in Sedentary Subjects

Background: The sedentary lifestyle has been introduced as one of the main causes of disease and a predictor of morbidity and mortality. Inflammation is an essential contributor to the pathogenesis of diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training and honey consumption on IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-a levels in sedentary individuals. Methods: Thirty-eight young, healthy and inactive men were assigned to one of the following interventions: Exercise+placebo (EP), Exercise+Supplement (ES), Supplement (S) and Placebo (P). Subjects in the exercise groups underwent a supervised HIIT program over 8 weeks. Exercise at each session comprised 2 min high intensity training with the intensity of 80-90% of heart rate max interspersed by low-intensity intervals of walking for 1 minute. Throughout the study, the subjects in supplement groups received 5 cc/kg body mass of 13% honey dissolved in plain water within 30-60 min before each exercise session. The subjects in placebo groups were administered with an equal volume of water solution with 5 gr sucrose. Before and 72h after the experimental period blood samples were collected to assess plasma levels of IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-a. Results: We observed that IL-6 levels significantly decreased in ES and E groups from pretest to posttest and there was a significant difference between the ES and control groups (Pvalue=0.023). However, no significant changes were observed for IL-12 and TNF-a (Pvalue&gt; 0.05). Conclusions: HIIT program along with honey consumption over 8 weeks could have favorable effects on inflammatory indices such as IL-6 in subjects with sedentary life-style. Keywords: HIIT; honey; inflammation; IL-6; TNF-α; IL-12

The relationship between the adequacy of hemodialysis and laboratory parameters

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the factors affecting the adequacy of dialysis and determine the relationship of dialysis adequacy with laboratory parameters.METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on 60 hemodialysis patients of Razi Medical Center of Qaemshahr, Iran, with the history of more than 3 months of dialysis. The participants were selected using census method. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to evaluate laboratory parameters. The adequacy of dialysis was calculated through the Kt/V parameter. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests.RESULTS: According to the Kt/V criteria, the mean dialysis adequacy index was 1.6 ± 0.22 and 41.7% of the patients had the optimum dialysis adequacy (Kt/V of greater than 1.2), and 43.3% of patients had a dialysis adequacy which was close to the desirable level. There was a significant reverse relationship between dialysis adequacy and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between dialysis adequacy and parathyroid hormone ‎(PTH), cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, phosphorus, and the number of dialysis sessions per week, duration of each dialysis session, and the history of dialysis (P &gt; 0.05).CONCLUSION: In order to increase the adequacy of dialysis, the blood sugar level of patients should be controlled and patients should be advised to modify their weight using a suitable diet

Resistance Training improves Nerve Conduction and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Diabetic Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetes is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy where older patients are at increased risk of diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) due to age-related nerve degeneration and vascular changes. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on nerve conduction, measures of neuropathy and arterial stiffness in older patients with DSPN. In a randomized controlled trial, thirty-four older adults with type-2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy were enrolled and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group carried out circuit resistance training (1-3 rounds, 11 exercises, 10-15 reps, 50-60 of 1RM, 3 times per week) for 12 weeks. Measurements were performed at baseline and 48 h after the intervention. Measures of DSPN including Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI), Michigan diabetic neuropathy score (MDNS), motor nerve action potential amplitude (APA), sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) improved following intervention (p<0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.034, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). Sensory APA did not change after the intervention (p = 0.139). Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) improved in the experimental group compared with the control group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.033, respectively). In addition, HbA1C decreased following the 12-week resistance training program (p=0.002). Older adults with DSPN respond positively to resistance training by improved neuropathy symptoms, nerve conduction, arterial stiffness and glucose regulation. Resistance training offers a positive intervention that can abate the progression of DSPN in older adults

An Investigation on Polymerization of Ethylene by Ziegler-Natta Catalyst in the Presence of a Promoter: Polymerization Behavior and Polymer Microstructure

The effect of a halocarbon (ethyl chloride) as a promoter on a Ziegler-Natta catalyst composed of‌ T‌iCl4 (catalyst), AlEt3 (activator) and Mg(OEt)2 (support) in the polymerization of ethylene have been investigated. In addition, the impact of this compound on the structural and thermal properties of the produced polyethylene has been studied. The catalyst activity and polymerization rate increased almost up to twice when a suitable molar ratio of ethyl chloride to triethylaluminum (TEA) was used. There was no change in the type of the profile of the polymerization rate during the polymerization time. A reduction in the polymer molecular weight was observed in the presence of the promoter and hydrogen. In addition, the MWD curve shifted toward lower values in the presence of ethyl chloride. Furthermore, a numerical method was used to obtain the most probable chain-length distribution, number   average molecular weight and weight fraction corresponding to each site type in the presence and absence of the promoter. Since, the catalyst had an irregular shape, the produced polymer also showed a similar morphology. In addition, the promoter used in the polymerization did not have any effect on the produced polymer morphology. The DSC results indicated that the presence of the promoter in the polymerization led to a decrease in the melting point of the produced polymer; whereas, there were no remarkable changes in the crystallization temperature of the polymers. Copyright © 2018 BCREC Group. All rights reserved Received: 2nd October 2017; Revised: 5th April 2018; Accepted: 26th April 2018 How to Cite: Gholami, Y., Abdouss, M., Abedi, S., Azadi, F., Baniani, P., Arsalanfar, M. (2018). An Investigation on Polymerization of Ethylene by Ziegler-Natta Catalyst in the Presence of a Promoter: Polymerization Behavior and Polymer Microstructure. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 13 (3): 412-419 (doi:10.9767/bcrec.13.3.1574.412-419) Permalink/DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.13.3.1574.412-41

Massage enhances recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage in older adults

To examine efficacy of cold‐water immersion (CWI) and massage as recovery techniques on joint position sense, balance, and fear of falling following exercise‐induced muscle damage in older adults. Seventy‐eight older men and women performed a single bout of strength training on the calf muscles (3 exercises with 4 sets of 10 reps with 75% of 1RM) to induce muscle damage. After the damaging exercise, participants received either a 15‐min massage on calf muscles, or a CWI of the lower limb in cold water (15±1°C) for 15 min, or passive rest. Interventions were applied immediately after the exercise protocol and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post‐exercise. Muscle pain, calf muscle strength, joint position sense, dynamic balance, postural sway and fear of falling were measured at each time point. Repeated application of massage after EIMD relieved muscle pain, attenuated the loss of muscle strength and joint position senses, reduce balance impairments and fear of falling in older adults (p≤0.05). However, repeated applications of CWI, despite relieving muscle pain (p≤0.05), did not attenuate the loss of muscle strength, joint position senses, balance impairments, and fear of falling. CWI had only some modest effects on muscle pain, but massage attenuated EIMD symptoms and the related impairments in muscle strength, joint position sense, balance, and postural sway in untrained older individuals. Therefore, older exercisers who plan to participate in strength training can benefit from massage for recovery from muscle damage indices and balance to decrease falling risk during the days following strength training

Pharmacist-Led Medication Review: Supports for New Role of Pharmacists

In recent decades, by increasing complexity of drug therapy, pharmacists considered as health- care members who can help optimizing drug therapy. We know that medicines do not have the anticipated effects all the times and a vast variability may exist in their behaviors in the body. So, it is very crucial to individualize treatment for every single patient. Nowadays, optimizing drug therapy in patients needs a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to patients care and treatment. Specifically when drug therapy is considered for a condition, pharmacists can enroll as a valuable professional to help for modification of therapy along with other clinicians. Abundant number of studies and reports exist in the literatures which address usefulness of pharmacist engagement in patient care. In this review we have presented some valuable evidences supporting pharmacist role in different clinical settings