A Case of Overlooked Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon cause of lower extremity claudication that is often overlooked. It most commonly occurs in young athletes without risk factors for peripheral vascular disease. We present a case of a 47-year-old man who went undiagnosed for over 10 years despite multiple orthopedic, chiropractic, and neurosurgery consults. A definitive diagnosis of PAES was confirmed in the catheterization lab by angiography. The patient underwent popliteal artery bypass surgery and his symptoms completely resolved. PAES must be considered in the differential diagnosis of lower extremity pain, especially in younger patients

COVID-19 preventive behaviors and influencing factors in the Iranian population; a web-based survey

Background: COVID19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. As there has been no definitive treatment for the disease so far, the only way to control the spread is to break the chain of infection. Our study aimed to analyze the preventive behaviors and influencing factors in the Iranian population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was a web-based survey in the Iranian population. We performed the study during the first peak of COVID-19 outbreak (from March 25th, 2020 to April 5th). We used demographic and Preventive behaviors questionnaires to collect the data. This web-based survey was publicized on the internet through the common platforms used by the Iranian population. This survey was released on the website “Porsline.com”. A total of 2097 acceptable questionnaires were filled. All data were analyzed, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results: 61.9% of the participants checked the hand-washing question as “Always”. 55.7 and 58.2% checked the wearing masks and gloves as “Always”, respectively. We found a significant relationship between gender and hand washing behavior (P = 0.006) and the use of masks and gloves (P < 0.001). Results showed that wearing gloves had a significant relation with the education status (P = 0.029) and economic status (P = 0.011). Wearing masks had a significant relation with economic status (P = 0.032). Overall women had better preventive behaviors. Conclusions: Preventive behaviors have a significant relation with some socio-demographic characteristics. According to the 3 main preventive behaviors of hand-washing, wearing masks and gloves 50% of the population has not taken these behaviors seriously

Virulence determination of Beauveria bassiana isolates on a predatory hemipteran, Andrallus spinidens Fabricius (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Virulence of the two isolates of Beauveria bassiana, BB2 and AM-118, were evaluated on adults of a predatory hemipteran, Andrallus spinidens Fabricius by conidial bioassay and enzymatic activities. Results of the bioassay revealed LC50 of 37×104 and 15×103 spore/ml for isolates BB2 and AM-118, respectively. Activities of chitinase, lipase and ALP showed the higher activity in the media inoculated by AM-118 while no statistical differences were observed in activity of ACP. Although no statistical differences were found in general protease and Pr1 activities but activity of Pr2 in AM-118 was significantly higher than that of BB2. Activity of general esterases demonstrated no statistical differences when α- and β-naphtyl acetate were used as substrates but activity of glutathione S-transferase in AM-118 was higher than that of BB2 by using CDNB and DCNB as specific reagents. Results of the current study indicated higher virulence of isolate AM-118 against adults of A. spinidens by lower LC50 value and higher activities of the enzymes involved in pathogenicity. Recruiting of these isolates against C. suppressalis must be considered by their adaptability of A. spinidens. Moreover, AM-118 has been isolated from rice fields of northern Iran, so it may somehow indicate a type of host-microorganism interaction

Relationship between Vitamin D and Childhood Asthma: A Case–Control Study

Objective: Studies determining the relationship between serum vitamin D status and childhood asthma have yielded controversial results. Findings indicated that vitamin D deficiency is associated with asthma and airway hyper responsiveness. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D status and childhood asthma. Methods: Data were obtained from 200 asthmatic children (age 3-12 years) and 200 healthy controls. Serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D, total IgE, calcium, phosphorus, parathormone (PTH) and eosinophil count were measured in both asthmatic children and healthy controls. Also, the mean values of 25(OH) vitamin D were compared with asthma symptom severities. Findings: There was a significant decrease in the concentration of serum 25(OH) vitamin D in the asthmatic patients as compared with the controls (20.34±2.8 vs 25.39±4.1 ng/mL, 95%CI: 1.46-3.86, P=0.01). Out of total asthmatic subjects, 40 (20%) were vitamin D sufficient, 48 (24%) were insufficient, and 112 (56%) were deficient. Total IgE concentration was also significantly higher in asthmatic patients having vitamin D deficiency (132.4±20.1 IU/ml, 95%CI: 1.38-3.75, P=0.03). Comparing asthmatic patients with healthy controls, odds of having vitamin D level less than 20ng/mL was 2.47. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may be positively related to the prevalence of asthma in children

The Effectiveness of Prenatal Intervention on Pain and Anxiety during the Process of Childbirth‑Northern Iran: Clinical Trial Study

Background: Due to the painful nature of childbirth and its maternal and neonatal complications, the woman needs support in this phase of their life. Increased knowledge and skills during pregnancy prepares pregnant mothers for labor and leads to promoted health. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of “prenatal education” on the process of childbirth. Subjects and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 195 pregnant women, that is, control group (N = 132) and case group (N = 63) attending health centers in Amol‑Iran from 20 weeks of gestation age during 2012. Case group members attended in “prenatal education” class and the control group only received routine care. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire, standard hospital anxiety questionnaire, and a checklist related to childbirth information, and intensity of pain based on visual analogue scale and McGill scales. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software using t‑test and Chi‑square test. Results: The result of this study showed that the parent with a high level of education was more interested to participant in prenatal classes. The anxiety level in case group (who received education) was 14.47 (4.69) and in control group it was 16 (4.86), (P &lt; 0.001) the pain intensity in case group was 85.68 (1.85) and in control group was 90.99 (14.72) (P = 0.03), intervention on labor such episiotomy was 39 %66.1 (39/63) in case group and 80 %72.8 (80/132) in control group (P = 0.01) and cesarean section was 13 %17.1 (13/63) in case group and 58 %32.2 (58/132) in control group (P = 0.01). Conclusions: According to findings of this study, the prenatal education and psychological support are beneficial for mothers during pregnancy and labor. Therefore, it is recommended for educating all the pregnant women.Keywords: Delivery, Obstetric, Pregnancy training classes, Prenatal care, Prenatal educatio

Breast cancer screening beliefs questionnaire : psychometric properties of the Persian version

Background: Valid and reliable instruments are needed to assess such beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge. This study aimed to translate Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties among Iranian women. Methods: In this methodological study, the twelve-item Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire was translated into Persian and filled out by 1256 Iranian women. Face, content, convergent, and discriminant validity were evaluated and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for construct validity evaluation. Reliability was also evaluated through calculating Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, Average inter-item correlation, and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient and finally, composite reliability was estimated. Results: Three factors were extracted in factor analysis which included screening attitude, screening knowledge and perception, and screening practice. These factors explained 55.71% of the total variance of breast cancer screening beliefs. This three-factor model was confirmed in confirmatory factor analysis based on model fit indices (PCFI = 0.703, PNFI = 0.697, CMIN/DF = 2.127, RMSEA = 0.30, GFI = 0.980, AGFI = 0.998, and CFI = 0.991). Convergent and discriminant validity were also confirmed. Composite reliability and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient were more than 0.7. Conclusion: With a three-factor structure, the Persian Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire has acceptable validity and reliability and hence, can be used to evaluate Iranian women’s breast cancer screening beliefs

Lithology and tectonomagmatic setting of volcanic and plutonic rocks from the Lak area, southwest Buin Zahra, NW Iran

The Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA) of Iran with a length of about 1700 km and a width of approximately 150 km is mainly composed of Tertiary volcanic rocks and acidic to basic intrusions (Berberian, 1981; Emami et al., 1992; Darvishzadeh, 2003; Ghorbani, 2003). The UDMA has been attributed to the subduction of the Neotethys oceanic crust under the Iranian plate, which occurred from the Triassic to the Eocene (Asiabanha et al., 2012; Pang et al., 2013). The UDMA extending NW-SE includes a large volume of Cenozoic magmatism, especially in the Eocene (Chiu et al., 2013; Kananian et al., 2014). The purpose of this research is to identify the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the volcanic and intrusive rocks of the Lak area in NW Iran and also to determine the tectonomagmatic setting of these rocks.GeologyThe Lak area is situated 36 km southwest of Buin Zahra, in the northern part of the UDMA and the western part of the Central Iran zone (Aghanabati, 2006). The UDMA is an Andean magmatic arc with a NW-SE trend, which formed by the oblique subduction of the Neotethys oceanic plate under the central Iranian plate (Shearman et al., 1976; Berberian and King, 1981; Agard et al., 2011; Gohari et al., 2022). One of the remarkable features of the UDMA is the emplacement of intrusive masses due to late Eocene and early Oligocene pressure phase (Pyrenean tectonic phase) in volcanic-sedimentary sequences of Eocene age (Delavari et al., 2017).The main outcrops of the study area include Eocene volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks consisting of andesite, andesitic basalt, basalt, dacite, and rhyodacite. The volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Lak area comprise alternating lava flows (basalt to andesite) and pyroclastic materials (various types of tuff and agglomerate).MethodsThe studies carried out in the Lak area include field and laboratory parts. During the field studies, a geological map with a scale of 1:5000 in an area of 20 square kilometers was prepared. Forty-five samples of volcanic rocks and intrusive masses for preparation of thin sections and petrographic studies (20 samples), measurement of main oxides by XRF method (14 samples), and analyzing minor and rare earth element contents by ICP-MS method (17 samples) were collected and sent to the relevant laboratories for analysis.PetrographyIn the Lak area and its surroundings, volcanic and intrusive rocks are exposed. These rocks mainly include andesite lavas, basaltic andesite, basalt and tuff, and pyroclastic deposits of lower Eocene age and intrusive masses and dykes with the composition of dacite, rhyodacite, microdiorite, and gabbro-diorite of upper Eocene-Oligocene age, which were injected into the Eocene volcanic rocks (Firouzbakht et al., 2018).Geochemistry and tectonomagmatic setting of the volcanic and intrusive rocksThe amount of SiO2 in the rocks under study varies from 42 to 71% and on K2O versus SiO2 diagram, those are in the range of andesite, basaltic andesite, basalt, dacite, and rhyodacite. The range of K2O changes in these rocks as well as intrusive rocks is relatively wide so the investigated samples of volcanic and intrusive units are located in different groups of low- and medium-potassium rocks. According to the geochemical characteristics and also taking into account the temporal and spatial location of the volcanic rocks of the Lak area, it seems that these rocks are related to the magmatism caused by the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust under the central Iranian plate and have been originated in a (magmatic arc) environment.Possible origin of magmaThe widespread distribution of plutonic rocks in the study area, mineralogical similarity between these plutons and the volcanics as well as very similar chemical compositions of these two rock types in different geochemical and tectono-magmatic discrimination diagrams suggest that the plutonic and the volcanic rocks may have originated from the same source.The volcanic and plutonic rocks of the area are very similar to calc-alkaline lavas based on major and trace element geochemical data. The Al2O3 content of these rocks is high, but they are low in Mg#, their Zr/Y ratio is greater than 3, similar to the volcanic rocks of continental arcs (Pearce and Norry, 1979). In the diagram of normalized trace elements relative to the enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts (E-MORB), Ti (except basalts), Nb, P, and Rb have negative anomalies, but Pb and K show positive anomalies, pointing to magmatic rocks from a subduction zone (Morata and Aguirre, 2003).Magmas forming volcanic rocks in subduction zones usually originate from mantle wedges, fluids, and hydrous melts derived from subducting oceanic crust. The samples from the Lak area have high K2O contents and the downward trend in MgO values of the volcanic rocks of the area indicating that the magma originated from the mantle wedge (Gourgaud and Vincent, 2003).AcknowledgmentsWe would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Research Vice-Chancellor of Tarbiat Modares University as well as Mr. Poursaleh, CEO of Yazd Peijouyan Industrial and Mining Company, for providing the facilities to carry out this research