Modeling of influential predictors of gastric cancer incidence rates in Golestan Province, North Iran

Golestan province has a reputation for relatively high incidence rates of gastric cancer in Iran. Along with dietary, lifestyle and environmental influential factors, soil selenium and high levels of pesticide used may exert influence in this region. The present study was designed for modeling the influential predictors on incidence of gastric cancer in Golestan. All registered cases of gastric cancer from March 2009 to March 2010 (49 females and 107 males) were investigated. Data were gathered by both check list and researcher made questionnaire (demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics) and analysed using logistic regression. Mean (±SD) age at diagnosis was 62.9±13.8 years. CIR and ASR of gastric cancer showed 9.16 and 13.9 per 100,000 people, respectively. Based on univariate logistic regression, a history of smoking (OR= 2.076), unwashed hands after defecation (OR= 2.612), history of cancer in relatives (OR= 2.473), history of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives (OR= 2.278), numbers of gastric cancers in first-degree relatives (OR= 2.078), history of X-ray and dye exposure (OR= 2.395), history of CT scan encounter (OR= 2.915), improper food habits (OR= 3.320), specific eating behavior (OR= 0.740), consumption of probable high risk foods (OR= 2.942), charred flesh (OR= 1.945), and animal fat (OR= 2.716) were confirmed as a risk factors. Changes in lifestyle may be expected to increase gastric cancer incidence dramatically in the near future. Therefore, appropriate educational interventions should be designed and implemented by competent authorities

The effect of high-frequency electric pulses on tumor blood flow in vivo

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 5-kHz repetition frequency of electroporating electric pulses in comparison to the standard 1-Hz frequency on blood flow of invasive ductal carcinoma tumors in Balb/C mice. Electroporation was performed by the delivery of eight electric pulses of 1,000 V cm-1 and 100 ls duration at a repetition frequency of 1 Hz or 5 kHz. Blood flow changes in tumors were measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. Monitoring was performed continuously for 10 min before application of the electric pulses as well as immediately after application of the electric pulses for 40 min. The delivery of electric pulses to tumors induced changes in tumor blood flow. The reduction in blood flow started after the stimulation and continued for the 40-min period of observation. There was a significant difference in blood flow changes 3 min after application of the electric pulses at 1-Hz or 5-kHz repetition frequency. However, after 3 min the difference became nonsignificant. The findings showed that the high pulse frequency (5 kHz) had an effect comparable to the 1-Hz frequency on tumor blood flow except at very short times after pulse delivery, when pulses at 5 kHz produced a more intense reduction of blood flo

SAG2 locus genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in meat products of East Azerbaijan Province, North West of Iran During 2010-2011

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular obligate parasite. Its transmission is usually attributed to ingestion of undercooked or raw meat. The aim of this study was the detection and genotyping of T. gondii in meat products using the molecular method in East Azerbaijan. DNA was extracted from 164 meat products sample obtained from 15 commercial establishments. Nested polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for Toxoplasma gondii SAG2 locus was used for detection of the parasite in samples. Genotyping was carried out by digestion of PCR products with restriction enzymes Cfo1 and Sau3AI. T. gondii DNA was detected in 16.6, 19.1, 15 and 56.6%, in salami, sausages, and hamburger and kebab samples, respectively. Genotyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of SAG2 locus revealed that all of the samples belonged to genotype I. The detection of the parasite in uncooked meat and commercial meat products, and the high ratio of seropositive slaughtered animals, emphasis that the risk still exists for food -born toxoplasmosis.Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, SAG2, genotyping, meat products

Barriers to Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Implementation Before and After COVID-19: A Qualitative, Collective Case Study

Objectives: SFSP, as a federal food assistance program, could ensure that children have sufficient nutritious food during summer. According to a 2016 USDA report, only 0.4–0.6% of eligible children participated in this program in Nebraska, which makes for one of the lowest SFSP participation rates in the U.S. This study aims to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted SFSP implementation in urban and rural settings across the state. Conclusions: Insights from this study may inform the development of policies that expand food access to vulnerable families. On the organizational level, this includes providing participating kids and their parents with both meal distribution options - meal sites and delivery options - during summer. On the policy level, this calls for revising the eligibility of SFSP by decreasing the threshold level from 50% to 30% to allow more schools in low-income neighborhoods to participate

A study on Inhibitory Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and its Photocatalytic Type on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus

Backgrounds and Objectives: Photocatalyst titanium dioxide nanoparticles can oxidize organic and inorganic compounds of microorganisms in aqueous solutions after exposure to UV light. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of titanium dioxide and its photocatalyst type on Aspergillus flavus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is investigated. Materials and Methods: Toxicogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus were cultured in their selective media and two groups of samples both included three different concentrations of nanoparticles (0.1, 0.5 and 1 g l-1) and two control samples without any nanoparticles were considered. The first category of samples was placed on the shaker for 20 min, and the second category was irradiated by a UV lamp while shaking for 20, 40 and 60 min on a rotary shaker. Thereafter, they were cultured by using pour plate method in agar and after incubation the colonies were counted. Results and Conclusion: Based on obtained results the photocatalyst titanium dioxide had an inhibitory effect at concentration of 1 g l-1 at the highest timeframe (60 min). In addition, the test variables i.e. the type of bacteria, concentration of nanoparticles and time had a significant effect on the growth inhibition of microorganisms. Regarding the economic aspects of contamination control and its importance in dairy products, application of photocatalystic nanoparticles of titanium dioxide is recommended.

Optimizing Telehealth Experience Design Through Usability Testing in Hispanic American and African American Patient Populations: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND:Telehealth-delivered pulmonary rehabilitation (telePR) has been shown to be as effective as standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) at improving the quality of life in patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is not known how effective telePR may prove to be among low-income, urban Hispanic American and African American patient populations. To address this question, a collaborative team at Northwell Health developed a telePR intervention and assessed its efficacy among low-income Hispanic American and African American patient populations. The telePR intervention system components included an ergonomic recumbent bike, a tablet with a built-in camera, and wireless monitoring devices. OBJECTIVE:The objective of the study was to assess patient adoption and diminish barriers to use by initiating a user-centered design approach, which included usability testing to refine the telePR intervention prior to enrolling patients with COPD into a larger telePR study. METHODS:Usability testing was conducted in two phases to identify opportunities to streamline and improve the patient experience. The first phase included a prefield usability testing phase to evaluate technical, patient safety, and environmental factors comprising the system architecture. This was followed by an ergonomic evaluation of user interactions with the bicycle, telehealth tablets, and connected wearable devices to ensure optimal placement and practical support for all components of the intervention. The second phase of research included feasibility testing to observe and further optimize the system based on iterative rounds of telePR sessions. RESULTS:During usability and feasibility research, we identified and addressed multiple opportunities for system improvements. These included physical and environmental changes, modifications to accommodate individual patient factors, safety improvements, and technology upgrades. Each enrolled patient was subsequently identified and classified into one of the following 3 categories: (1) independent, (2) intermediate, or (3) dependent. This categorization was used to predict the level of training and support needed for successful participation in the telePR sessions. Feasibility results revealed that patients in the dependent category were unable to perform the rehab sessions without in-person support due to low technical acumen and difficulty with certain features of the system, even after modifications had been made. Intermediate and independent users, however, did exhibit increased independent utilization of telePR due to iterative improvements. CONCLUSIONS:Usability testing helped reduce barriers to use for two subsets of our population, the intermediate and independent users. In addition, it identified a third subset, dependent users, for whom the telePR solution was deemed unsuitable without in-person support. The study established the need for the development of standard operating procedures, and guides were created for both patients and remote respiratory therapists to facilitate the appropriate use of the telePR system intervention. Observational research also led to the development of standard protocols for the first and all subsequent telePR sessions. The primary goals in developing standardization protocols were to establish trust, ensure a positive experience, and encourage future patient engagement with telePR sessions

Maturation of NMDA receptor-mediated spontaneous postsynaptic currents in the rat locus coeruleus neurons

Introduction: During mammalian brain development, neural activity leads to maturation of glutamatergic innervations to locus coeruleus. In this study, fast excitatory postsynaptic currents mediated by N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) receptors were evaluated to investigate the maturation of excitatory postsynaptic currents in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. Methods: NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic currents in LC neurons were evaluated using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording during the primary postnatal weeks. This technique was used to calculate the optimum holding potential for NMDA receptor-mediated currents and the best frequency for detecting spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC). Results: The optimum holding potential for detecting NMDA receptor-mediated currents was + 40 to + 50 mV in LC neurons. The frequency, amplitude, rise time, and decay time constant of synaptic responses depended on the age of the animal and increased during postnatal maturation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that most nascent glutamatergic synapses express functional NMDA receptors in the postnatal coerulear neurons, and that the activities of the neurons in this region demonstrate an age-dependent variation. © 2020 Akademiai Kiado, Budapest

Induced spermiation of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, using a GnRh analogue

In this study, the benefits of using the first Iranian made GnRHa[D-Ala6 des Gly10] mGnRH ethylamide, to induce spermiation in male rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were evaluated, In addition, its effect on acceleration and synchronization, quality and quantity of milt and the plasma Testosterone (T) fluctuations were examined. For these purposes, 40 non-spermiating male rainbow trouts were injected with a mammalian gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) preparations of 0 (control), 30, 40 and 80 μg/kg B.W. or vehicle (propylene glycol). Spermiation was very synchronous and accelerated in treated groups. Six days after first injection, the cumulative spermiation rates reached respectively 40, 49 and 79% in injected groups (i.e. 30 to 80 μg/kg B.W.) while none of the control fish was spermiated. GnRHa injections advanced spermiation and reduced the average time to spermiation from 16 3.67 days for control group to 14.3± 2.2, 9.2 ±0.75 and 6.6± 0.29 days for treated groups, respectively (p0.05). Circulating levels of testosterone (T) prior to the GnRHa treatment were relatively low in all groups. Treatment with GnRHa induced significant increase in plasma T after 12 h, increasing it to 43.43±5.82, 38.66±5.63, 39.72±5.07 ng/ml in groups 2 to 4, respectively, which were higher than T levels for control (i.e. 24.58±7.13 ng/ml) p<0.05. These levels remained high up until 48 h in treated groups; but after this time, T levels reduced to the basal levels of time 0, except in 4 which had received its second GnRHa injection at time 48