Functional Independence Measure in Iran: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Evaluation of Ceiling and Floor Effects in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Background: The functional independence measure (FIM) is one of the most important assessment instruments for motor and cognitive dependence in rehabilitation medicine; however, there is little data about its confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and ceiling/floor effects from other countries and also in Iranian patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate a two-factor model (motor and cognitive independence as latent variables) and ceiling/floor effects for FIM in Iranian patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 185 subacute TBI patients were selected from emergency and neurosurgery departments of Poursina Hospital (the largest trauma hospital in northern Iran, Rasht) using the consecutive sampling method and were assessed for functional independence. Results: The results of this study showed that the floor effect was not observed; however, ceiling effects were observed for the FIM total score and its subscales. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the chi-square/df ratio was 2.8 for the two-factor structure and the fit indices for this structural model including root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.099, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.96, tucker lewis index (TLI) = 0.97, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.97 were close to standard indices. Conclusions: Although ceiling effects should be considered for rehabilitation targets, the two-factor model of FIM (motor and cognitive independence) has an eligible fitness for Iranian patients with TBI

Comparison of non-electrophoresis grade with electrophoresis grade BIS in NIPAM polymer gel preparation

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of replacing electrophoresis cross-linker with non-electrophoresis N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) in N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel and its possible effect on dose response. Methods: NIPAM polymer gel was prepared from non-electrophoresis grade BIS and the relaxation rate (R-2) was measured by MR imaging after exposing the gel to gamma radiation from Co-60 source. To compare the response of this gel with the one that contains electrophoresis grade BIS, two sets of NIPAM gel were prepared using electrophoresis and non-electrophoresis BIS and irradiated to different gamma doses. Results: It was found that the dose-response of NIPAM gel made from the non-electrophoresis grade BIS is coincident with that of electrophoresis grade BIS. Conclusion: Taken all, it can be concluded that the non-electrophoresis grade BIS not only is a suitable alternative for the electrophoresis grade BIS but also reduces the cost of gel due to its lower price

The effect of silymarin on the expression of urotensin�ii and urotensin�ii receptor genes in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that the increase in urotensin � II is associated with diabetes disorders. Considering that using herbal medicines for the treatment of diseases leads to fewer complications compared to most chemical drugs, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of silymarin on glucose, and insulin levels and the expression of urotensin � II (U�II) and urotensin � II receptor (U�II R) genes in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic male rats. METHODS: In this experimental study, 36 male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6): 1. Control group; 2 and 3. Control groups treated with 60 and 120 mg / kg / day silymarin; 4. Type 2 diabetic group which received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 60 mg / kg streptozotocin and 120 mg / kg nicotinamide; 5 and 6. Diabetic rats treated with 60 and 120 mg/kg/day silymarin. After 60 days of treatment, serum and liver tissue samples were collected. Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR index and liver enzymes were evaluated by spectrophotometry and ELISA methods, while gene expression in liver tissue was analyzed by Real-time PCR method. FINDINGS: Insulin levels increased significantly in diabetic groups treated with silymarin (60 and 120 mg/kg) (9.6±1.11 and 9.8±0.96, respectively) in comparison with the diabetic control group (7.10±1.06) (p<0.05). Moreover, glucose level, HOMA-IR, liver enzymes, U�II and U � II R expression in diabetic group treated with silymarin significantly decreased compared to diabetic control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that administration of silymarin improves liver function in diabetic rats. © 2019, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Additive manufacturing of bioactive glass biomaterials

Tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine have held great promises for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. Additive manufacturing has recently appeared as a versatile technology in TE strategies that enables the production of objects through layered printing. By applying 3D printing and bioprinting, it is now possible to make tissue-engineered constructs according to desired thickness, shape, and size that resemble the native structure of lost tissues. Up to now, several organic and inorganic materials were used as raw materials for 3D printing; bioactive glasses (BGs) are among the most hopeful substances regarding their excellent properties (e.g., bioactivity and biocompatibility). In addition, the reported studies have confirmed that BG-reinforced constructs can improve osteogenic, angiogenic, and antibacterial activities. This review aims to provide an up-to-date report on the development of BG-containing raw biomaterials that are currently being employed for the fabrication of 3D printed scaffolds used in tissue regeneration applications with a focus on their advantages and remaining challenges

Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin on liver injury via irisin upregulation and oxidative stress reduction in rats with type 2 diabetes

Background: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases. Irisin (FNDC5 protein) is involved in the new strategy of combating type 2 diabetes. In the liver, the antidiabetic mechanism of silymarin at the molecular level is unknown. This study investigated the effects of silymarin on irisin and the related gene expression and oxidative stress status in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty-six rats were divided into 6 groups (n=6 each) by simple randomization: control, control+silymarin (60 mg/kg daily in normal saline orally for 60 days), control+silymarin (120 mg/kg daily in normal saline orally for 60 days), diabetic, diabetic+silymarin (60 mg/kg daily for 60 days), and diabetic+silymarin (120 mg/kg daily for 60 days). Biochemical parameters were measured by spectrophotometric and immunoassay methods, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate gene expression. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test, using SPSS software, version 16.0. The results were considered statistically significant at a P value less than 0.05. Results: In the diabetic rats treated with silymarin (60 and 120 mg/kg), by comparison with the diabetic group, body weight (P=0.04 and P=0.02), insulin (P<0.001), expression of PGC-1α (P=0.04 and P=0.02), expression of FNDC5 (P=0.03 and P=0.01), and concentration of irisin in the liver (P=0.02 and P=0.01) and serum (P<0.001) were significantly increased, whereas the levels of glucose (P<0.001), HOMA-IR (P=0.03 and P=0.01), and liver injury markers (P<0.001) were significantly reduced. Oxidative stress status and histopathological changes were improved in the treated groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that silymarin because of its ability to upregulate irisin and antioxidant effects can be considered an antidiabetic agent. © 2019, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Beliefs, attitude, and knowledge of the Iranian physiatrists towards neuromusculoskeletal ultrasound and common barriers in its application

Background: Regarding the increasing application of neuromusculoskeletal sonography among medical specialties, specifically physiatrists, this study aims to assess the knowledge and skill level of these specialists in neuromusculoskeletal sonography in Iran. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018. The utilized questionnaire developed based on previous studies in collaboration with 6 university lecturers of Shaheed Beheshti, Iran, and Tabriz medical universities and a physiatrist from Hacettepe University (Turkey); it included questions entailing demographic data, knowledge, and performance levels. Its validity and reliability were evaluated through face validation, pilot study, and the Cronbach α calculated via SPSS. Data extraction and analysis were also performed by SPSS-25. Results: Of 364 questionnaires distributed, 300 were properly filled and entered into the study, of which, 38 were filled by clinical residents, 10 university lecturers, and 52 other categories (e.g. private sector). The average number of musculoskeletal patient visits was 140.6 ± 119 and the mean number of musculoskeletal sonographies requested was 8.2 ± 5.2 per month (the three most common indications reported as the shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendon injuries). 95 of the participants considered the importance of sonography for physiatrists to be �very high� or �high�; with the most valuable applications �as a guide for procedures (90), its diagnostic utility (68), and follow up/evaluating the response to treatment (45). 86 of physiatrists reported they had participated in musculoskeletal sonography courses, 60 during residency, and the rest through workshops. Also, the participants mentioned safety (83), the possibility of performing simultaneous diagnosis and intervention procedures (70), repeatability (58), and dynamic imagery (52) as the major advantages of musculoskeletal ultrasound. Conclusion: a large number of doctors consider musculoskeletal sonography to be essential for physiatrists, though insufficient education on the subject and the low number of ultrasound devices are some of the obstacles in enhancing the use of this technology in PM&R setting. Presenting certified specific training courses during residency, provision of necessary rotations, using the capacities of the PM&R scientific committee, and the private sector for running workshops and professional training courses are suggested for enhancing the knowledge and skills of neuromusculoskeletal sonography. © 2020, The Author(s)

Comparison between direct and reverse electroporation of cells in situ: a simulation study.

The discovery of the human genome has unveiled new fields of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, which has produced paradigm shifts on how to study disease mechanisms, wherein a current central focus is the understanding of how gene signatures and gene networks interact within cells. These gene function studies require manipulating genes either through activation or inhibition, which can be achieved by temporarily permeabilizing the cell membrane through transfection to deliver cDNA or RNAi. An efficient transfection technique is electroporation, which applies an optimized electric pulse to permeabilize the cells of interest. When the molecules are applied on top of seeded cells, it is called “direct” transfection and when the nucleic acids are printed on the substrate and the cells are seeded on top of them, it is termed “reverse” transfection. Direct transfection has been successfully applied in previous studies, whereas reverse transfection has recently gained more attention in the context of high-throughput experiments. Despite the emerging importance, studies comparing the efficiency of the two methods are lacking. In this study, a model for electroporation of cells in situ is developed to address this deficiency. The results indicate that reverse transfection is less efficient than direct transfection. However, the model also predicts that by increasing the concentration of deliverable molecules by a factor of 2 or increasing the applied voltage by 20%, reverse transfection can be approximately as efficient as direct transfection

The prevalence of migraine in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Migraine is a major dilemma and problem which affects public health and results to reduced quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of migraine in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search was conducted using Pub Med,Web of Science,Embase,Scopus,Ovid,Google Scholar,as well as Iranian databases including: MagIran,IranMedex and Scientific Information Databank,from 2000 to November,2015. The Der-Simonian/Laird�s random-effects model,with a 95 confidence intervalwasemployed to estimate the overall pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity was investigated using subgroup analysis based on sample size and time of study. Results: Thirty studies comprising 33,873 participants met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The overall prevalence of migraine in Iran was 14 (95 CI,12 to 17),respectively. The overall prevalence was (8; 95 CI 6 to 11) according to the international classification of headache disorders (ICHD-1),(17; 95 CI 13 to 21) according to ICHD-2,and (18; 95 CI 7 to 30) according to the other questionnaire for migraine screener (ID Migraine),respectively. Meta-regression demonstrated that the prevalence of migraine increased by year of publication and decreased by sample size. Conclusions: The prevalence of migraine in Iran,which was estimated as 14,was similar or even higher than that reported worldwide. Migraine can have impact on the economic productivity of any country; therefore it is necessary to educate people on the early detection and the discovery of an effective treatment of migraine. More thorough review of further studies in this field is recommended. © 2016,Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Investigating the application of spawning shelter of cattle fish for its enhancement of resources

In this project, four types of structures, of 40 number was investigated. In a six month period, the structures were inspected 13 times. The total weight and number of eggs hatched on the structures were estimated to be 214.1kg and 94944 respectively. The weight and number of eggs settled on trap types were 141.9 and 60982 respectively, whereas, The eggs on cubical structures were estimated 56.7kg and 27088 ,on pyramid structures 7.9 and 3941 and then also were 6.9 kg and 3280 eggs on cylindrical structures respectively. It is also estimated that 358 eggs were settled on The connecting line weighting 0.5kg. In this report four types of structures was compared. As a result, the trap, cubical, pyramid and cylindrical structures had contributed to the settelment of 66, 27, 4 and 3 percent of eggs in weight. While 64, 29, 4 and 3 percent of eggs in number was settled on these structures respectively. Thus it is concluded that the trap structures fallowed by cubical ones had acted more effectively relative to other two. If based on the results of other studies, we assume 80% survival rate of eggs and average weight of 1.2 kg of survival growth cuttlefish, then it can be calculated that 160 structures can contribute to 91 tons increase in cuttlefish stock in one area of 4 to 5 acre. It is obvious that by planning an annual increase of the structures, it is possible to attract more spawners to spawn and produce more larvae. Moreover,The old structures will be covered by corals and barnacles and become Amore stalie and attractive spawning ground for cuttlefish