Social network analysis of Iranian researchers on medical parasitology: A 41 year co-authorship survey

Background: The aim of this study was to survey the Iranian Parasitology researchers� performance, and analyse and visualize the scientific outputs of their co-authorship network. Methods: This study was conducted using scientometric method and social network analysis (SNA). The data extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) databases in July 10th 2014. Totally, 1048documents of all types in research area of Parasitology during 1972-2013 by Iranian researches retrieved. The coauthorship map was drawn utilizing NETDRAW, Coauthor.exe, and UCINET softwares and was analysed based on SNA measures. Results: The researchers� co-authorship network consisted of 78 authors and its density degree is 0.57. �Mohebali� ranked top in all of centrality measures.The most of the publications were related to 2012, �Mohebali� with about 9 of all documents was the Iranian most prolific author in Parasitology field. The Iranian researches have published mostly (266 documents) in �Iranian Journal of Parasitology�, and the most of the documents belong to �Tropical Medicine� subject field. The most of Iranian researchers� scientific cooperation was performed with England and United States. Conclusion: Bringing forth density degree (is 0.57) showed that this network has an almost medium density. Indeed, the authors have had relations in moderate level with each other in the network. The findings of this study can be identified aspects of scientific collaboration, and help policy makers of Parasitology field research. © 2016, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). All rights reserved

Historiographical Map of Petroleum Scientific Outputs in Science Citation Index (SCI) through 1990-2011

The purpose of this study was to map the structure of scientific outputs of petroleum field in Science Citation Index (SCI) accessible via Web of Science (WOS) during 1990 to 2011 and determine the position of Iran. The used research methods were citation analysis and historiography. The results showed that there were totally 26859 records indexed in the petroleum discipline during 1990-2011 in SCI. USA, 7237 documents (27.28%), was the most collaborative country in this research. Iran with 321 documents ranked 21th country among all countries. The American author, Marshall A.G., with 85 documents ranked top among the most productive authors. In Iran, Kharrat from Petroleum University of Technology with 8 documents was the most productive Iranian author in petroleum field. Among the institutes and universities, Chinese Academy of Science was the most productive with 530 documents. Among the institutes and universities at national level, Tehran University has the first place with 53 documents. Energy & Fuels, Organic Geochemistry, and Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society were the most important journals in terms of production and citation (both LCS and GCS) in petroleum field. The scientific map of petroleum field was drawn using HistCiteTM software. The analysis of the map revealed six thematic clusters including “Analysis and evaluation of compounds and elements of molecular structure of petroleum”, “Analysis and evaluation of compounds and elements of molecular structure of petroleum using mass spectrometry”, “reviewing and modeling of conditions of production and formation of source rock”, “survey of petroleum and its compounds biodegradation by bacteria and algae”, “survey of characteristics and history of petroleum reservoir”, and “survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)”

DNA vaccination with a plasmid encoding LACK-TSA fusion against Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice

Vaccination would be the most important strategy for the prevention and elimination of leishmaniasis. The aim of the present study was to compare the immune responses induced following DNA vaccination with LACK (Leishmania analogue of the receptor kinase C), TSA (Thiol-specific-antioxidant) genes alone or LACK-TSA fusion against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated before and after challenge with Leishmania major (L. major). In addition, the mean lesion size was also measured from 3th week post-infection. All immunized mice showed a partial immunity characterized by higher interferon (IFN)-gamma and Immunoglobulin G (IgG2a) levels compared to control groups (p< 0.05). IFN-gamma/Interleukin (IL)-4 and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios demonstrated the highest IFN-gamma and IgG2a levels in the group receiving LACK-TSA fusion. Mean lesion sizes reduced significantly in all immunized mice compared with control groups at 7th week post-infection (p< 0.05). In addition, there was a significant reduction in mean lesion size of LACK-TSA and TSA groups than LACK group after challenge (p< 0.05). In the present study, DNA immunization promoted Th1 immune response and confirmed the previous observations on immunogenicity of LACK and TSA antigens against CL. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that a bivalent vaccine can induce stronger immune responses and protection against infectious challenge with L. major

Visualizing the Intellectual Structure of Iranian Physicists in Scisearch during 1990-2009: An Author Co-Citation Analysis (ACA)

The purpose of this paper was to study and map the intellectual structure of Iranian physicists using author co-citation technique during 1990-2009. The results of the study showed that Iranian physicists have produced 6290 documents indexed in Science Citation Index (SciSearch) during the studied period. Publication counts have grown at an approximate rate of 24/70 % per year. Setare M.R. with 121 documents was the most productive Iranian author in this study. Applied Physics, with1564 documents was the most interesting subject area for the Iranian physicists. We identified 42 Iranian and international physicists who were highly co-cited in 6290 documents during the studied period. Using principal components analysis, 8 subject factors were extracted. The subject areas of factors were in: "Physics, Particles &amp; Fields", "Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics", “Physics, Mathematical", “Physics, Multidisciplinary", "Physics, Nuclear", "Cosmology", "Physics, Atomic, Molecular &amp; Chemical", and "Physics, Fluids &amp; Plasmas". The PFNet map of the intellectual structure of Iranian physicists in SciSearch during 1990-2009 showed a central subject area in "Physics, Particles &amp; Field" with Witten E. as its focal author. The other clusters were rooted in this essential cluster

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers as a measure of disease activity and treatment efficacy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers can reflect different aspects of the pathophysiology of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Understanding the impact of different disease modifying therapies on the CSF biomarker profile may increase their implementation in clinical practice and their appropriateness for monitoring treatment efficacy. This study investigated the influence of first-line (interferon beta) and second-line (natalizumab) therapies on seven CSF biomarkers in RRMS and their correlation with clinical and radiological outcomes. We included 59 RRMS patients and 39 healthy controls. The concentrations of C-X-C motif chemokine 13 (CXCL13), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light protein (NFL), and neurogranin were determined by ELISA, and chitotriosidase (CHIT1) was analyzed by spectrofluorometry. RRMS patients had higher levels of NFL, CXCL13, CHI3L1, and CHIT1 than controls (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed higher NFL, CXCL13 and CHIT1 levels in patients treated with first-line therapy compared to second-line therapy (p = 0.008, p = 0.001 and p = 0.026, respectively). NFL and CHIT1 levels correlated with relapse status, and NFL and CXCL13 levels correlated with the formation of new magnetic resonance imaging lesions. Furthermore, we found an association between inflammatory and degenerative biomarkers. The results indicate that CSF levels of NFL, CXCL13, CHI3L1, and CHIT1 correlate with the clinical and/or radiological disease activity, providing additional dimensions in the assessment of treatment efficacy

Psychometrics properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life tool: a cross- sectional study

Background: Clinical measurement of quality of life for assessing reproductive problems should be considered as a standard investigation at the initial and continuing medical consultations with infertile people. Objective: The purpose of this study was comprehensive testing the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life (FertiQol) as its use could be considerable due to the prevalence of infertility in Iran and the importance of evaluation of QoL in patients with infertility. Method and material: This was a psychometric properties study of 300 women referred to infertility clinic, Hormozgan, Iran. After linguistic validation of the Iranian version of MPCOSQ, a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess face validity. Consequently exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to indicate the scale constructs. Discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and FertiQol. In addition, reliability analysis was carried out with internal consistency. Results: The reliability of the Iranian version of the FertiQol questionnaire was satisfactory in all dimensions (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.77 to 0.83 ). Six factors (emotional, mind/body, relational, social, environmental and tolerability) were extracted from the results of EFA with factor loading of the more than 0.3. Discrimination validity showed that FertiQol can differentiate between female patients with differing duration of infertility and number of children; this indicates favorable discrimination validity. Moreover, the results of convergent validity showed a favorable correlation between the related dimensions of 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (correlation ranging from 0.43 to 0.68 ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(correlation ranging from 0.47 to 0.52 ) and FertiQol. Conclusion: The Iranian version of FertiQol is valid and reliable for assessing infertility problems and the effects of treatment on quality of life of infertile patients referred for diagnosis and treatment at an Iranian infertility clinic. The clinical use of this measure is recommended for Iranian infertility clinics