The effect of lidocaine spray early after tonsillectomy on pain and vomiting

زمینه و هدف: تانسیلکتومی (tonsillectomy) یکی از شایعترین اعمال جراحی است که با عوارضی نظیر استفراغ و درد همراه می باشد. در این مطالعه اثر اسپری لیدوکائین در کاهش عوارض مذکور بررسی شده است. روش مطالعه: این مطالعه یک کارآزمایی بالینی تصادفی دو سویه کور می باشد که در طی پنج ماه روی 100 بیمار که با رعایت تصادفی سازی به دو گروه مورد و شاهد تقسیم شده بودند انجام گرفت. در گروه مورد بلافاصله بعد از اتمام تانسیلکتومی در بستر لوزه اسپری لیدوکائین 10 mg/kg)4) و در گروه کنترل همان حجم اسپری نرمال سالین به عنوان دارونما استفاده شد. مقدار استامینوفن مصرفی توسط بیماران در سه روز بعد از عمل در پرسشنامه هایی ثبت شد. نتایج: میانگین و انحراف معیار دفعات مصرف استامینوفن بر حسب mg/kg/day در گروه کنترل به ترتیب 43/1±01/3، 62/1±80/2 و 2/1±86/1 در روز اول، دوم و سوم بعد از عمل محاسبه شد و در گروه مورد این مقادیر به ترتیب 92/0±3/1، 02/1±07/1 و 83/0±94/0 بدست آمد. میانگین و انحراف معیار مقدار مصرف استامینوفن بر حسب mg/kg/day در گروه کنترل در روزهای اول و دوم و سوم بعد از عمل به ترتیب 02/13±93/28، 40/12±46/26 و 41/12±3/18 بود و درگروه مورد به ترتیب ارقام 71/9±07/12، 71/7±39/10 و 23/6±03/9 بدست آمد. با توجه به آنالیز نتایج با تست t، مقدار و دفعات مصرف استامینوفن در گروه مورد به طور معنی داری از گروه کنترل کمتر بود ولی کاهش استفراغ در گروه مورد از نظر آماری معنی دار نبود. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج فوق، مصرف لیدوکائین بعد از عمل تانسیلکتومی برای بیماران مفید به نظر می رسد

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of 2, 4-dinitrophenol in aqueous solution by magnetic carbonaceous nanocomposite: catalytic activity and mechanism

Herein, the catalytic properties of a carbonaceous nanocomposite in the catalytic ozonation process (COP) of 2, 4-dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNP) were investigated and the results were compared with those obtained from single ozonation process (SOP). Magnetic carbonaceous nanocomposite, as a novel catalyst, was applied to optimize the condition for the removal of 2, 4-DNP in the COP, and the influential parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, addition of radical scavengers, and durability were all evaluated. The results showed that the degradation efficiency of 2, 4-DNP and COD in the COP (98.2, 92) was higher compared to the SOP (75, 61) and the highest catalytic potential was achieved at an optimal pH of 6. The first-order modeling demonstrated that the reactions were dependent on the concentration of the catalyst, with the kinetic constants varying from 0.022 (1/min) in the SOP to 1.377 (1/min) in the COP at the catalyst dosage of 4 g/L and the optimum concentration of catalyst (2 g/L). The addition of radical scavenger noticeably diminished the removal efficiency of 2, 4-DNP in the SOP from 75 down to 54, while the corresponding values for the COP dropped from 98.2 to 93. Furthermore, a negligible reduction in the catalytic properties of the catalyst was observed (~5) after five-time reuse. The results also revealed that the applied method is effectively suitable for the removal of 2, 4-DNP contaminant from industrial wastewaters. © 2015 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved

Functional Seizures: The Patient’s Perspective of a Diagnostic and Treatment Odyssey

Functional seizures can be challenging to properly diagnose, often leading to delays in treatment. The etiology of functional seizures is multifactorial, with psychological factors identified in many, but not all cases. Misdiagnosis may occur due to clinical features mimicking other medical conditions. Once a correct diagnosis is reached, delivery of definitive, evidence-based treatment may be challenging due to limited availability of specialized resources. Research shows psychological education and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have the greatest efficacy. However, individual differences, including acceptance of the diagnosis, therapeutic alliance, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, and access to care may influence outcomes. There is a critical need for reports that can help identify barriers to effective diagnosis and treatment. We present the diagnosis and treatment of a woman who visited the emergency room after an attack of predominant left-sided paralysis, speech dysfunction and altered awareness. Following multiple daily episodes and visits to multiple medical practitioners, testing led to a diagnosis of functional seizures. While the patient was recommended to undergo a variety of therapeutic interventions, including CBT, she ultimately terminated treatment. In a subsequent interview, the patient revealed her personal experience with perceived limitations of acute management strategies. We explore the complexities of diagnosing and treating individuals with functional seizures

Genetic diversity and population structure of Ascochyta rabiei from the western Iranian Ilam and Kermanshah provinces using MAT and SSR markers

Knowledge of genetic diversity in A. rabiei provides different levels of information that are important in the management of crop germplasm resources. Gene flow on a regional level indicates a significant potential risk for the regional spread of novel alleles that might contribute to fungicide resistance or the breakdown of resistance genes. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) and mating type (MAT) markers were used to determine the genetic structure, and estimate genetic diversity and the prevalence of mating types in 103 Ascochyta rabiei isolates from seven counties in the Ilam and Kermanshah provinces of western Iran (Ilam, Aseman abad, Holaylan, Chardavol, Dareh shahr, Gilangharb, and Sarpul). A set of 3 microsatellite primer pairs revealed a total of 75 alleles; the number of alleles varied from 15 to 34 for each marker. A high level of genetic variability was observed among A. rabiei isolates in the region. Genetic diversity was high (He = 0.788) within populations with corresponding high average gene flow and low genetic distances between populations. The smallest genetic distance was observed between isolates from Ilam and Chardavol. Both mating types were present in all populations, with the majority of the isolates belonging to Mat1-1 (64%), but within populations the proportions of each mating type were not significantly different from 50%. Results from this study will be useful in breeding for Ascochyta blight-resistant cultivars and developing necessary control measures

BVVL/ FL: features caused by SLC52A3 mutations; WDFY4 and TNFSF13B may be novel causative genes

Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere (BVVL) and Fazio-Londe are disorders with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like features, usually with recessive inheritance. We aimed to identify causative mutations in 10 probands. Neurological examinations, genetic analysis, audiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, biochemical and immunological testings, and/or muscle histopathology were performed. Mutations in known causative gene SLC52A3 were found in 7 probands. More importantly, only 1 mutated allele was observed in several patients, and variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance were clearly noted. Environmental insults may contribute to variable presentations. Putative causative mutations in other genes were identified in 3 probands. Two of the genes, WDFY4 and TNFSF13B, have immune-related functions. Inflammatory responses were implicated in the patient with the WDFY4 mutation. Malfunction of the immune system and mitochondrial anomalies were shown in the patient with the TNFSF13B mutation. Prevalence of heterozygous SLC52A3 BVVL causative mutations and notable variability in expressivity of homozygous and heterozygous genotypes are being reported for the first time. Identification of WDFY4 and TNFSF13B as candidate causative genes supports conjectures on involvement of the immune system in BVVL and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A survey of relationship between anxiety, depression and duration of infertility

BACKGROUND: A cross sectional study was designed to survey the relationship between anxiety/depression and duration/cause of infertility, in Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: After obtaining their consents, 370 female patients with different infertility causes participated in, and data gathered by Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Cattle questionnaires for surveying anxiety and depression due to the duration of infertility. This was studied in relation to patients' age, educational level, socio-economic status and job (patients and their husbands). RESULTS: Age range was 17–45 years and duration and cause of infertility was 1–20 years. This survey showed that 151 women (40.8%) had depression and 321 women (86.8%) had anxiety. Depression had a significant relation with cause of infertility, duration of infertility, educational level, and job of women. Anxiety had a significant relationship with duration of infertility and educational level, but not with cause of infertility, or job. Findings showed that anxiety and depression were most common after 4–6 years of infertility and especially severe depression could be found in those who had infertility for 7–9 years. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate attention to these patients psychologically and treating them properly, is of great importance for their mental health and will improve quality of their lives

Population genetics of sexual conflict in the genomic era

Sexual conflict occurs when selection acts in opposing directions on males and females. Case studies in both vertebrates and invertebrates indicate that sexual conflict maintains genetic diversity through balancing selection, which might explain why many populations show more genetic variation than expected. Recent population genomic approaches based on different measures of balancing selection have suggested that sexual conflict can arise over survival, not just reproductive fitness as previously thought. A fuller understanding of sexual conflict will provide insight into its contribution to adaptive evolution and will reveal the constraints it might impose on populations

Individual Differences in Social Behavior and Cortical Vasopressin Receptor: Genetics, Epigenetics, and Evolution

Social behavior is among the most complex and variable of traits. Despite its diversity, we know little about how genetic and developmental factors interact to shape natural variation in social behavior. This review surveys recent work on individual differences in the expression of the vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR), a major regulator of social behavior, in the neocortex of the socially monogamous prairie vole. V1aR exhibits profound variation in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), a region critical to spatial and contextual memory. RSC-V1aR abundance is associated with patterns of male space-use and sexual fidelity in the field: males with high RSC-V1aR show high spatial and sexual fidelity to partners, while low RSC-V1aR males are significantly more likely to mate outside the pair-bond. Individual differences in RSC-V1aR are predicted by a set of linked single nucleotide polymorphisms within the avpr1a locus. These alternative alleles have been actively maintained by selection, suggesting that the brain differences represent a balanced polymorphism. Lastly, the alleles occur within regulatory sequences, and result in differential sensitivity to environmental perturbation. Together the data provide insight into how genetic, epigenetic and evolutionary forces interact to shape the social brain

Identification of Pythium species and their pathogenicity on cool season turfgrass in Tehran province

Turfgrasses have been widely used in many residential areas and sport fields for many years. Pythium species can cause severe losses on cereals and other crops as well as ornamental plants such as turfgrass. To study the role of Pythium species in causing seed and root rot and damping-off, plant and soil samples were collected from different regions of Tehran province. Isolates were identified on the basis of morphological characters and cardinal temperature. Pathogenicity of the recovered species was determined on common cool season turfgrass (Loliumperenne, Poaparatensis and Festucaarundinaceae). Of the 48 recovered Pythium isolates, three species were identified include 66.7% P. aphanidermatum, 18.7% P. catenulatum and 14.6% P. okanoganense. Comparative pathogenicity of Pythium species (total diseases) on turfgrasses showed that P. aphanidermatum was the most aggressive species and P. catenulatum and P. okanoganense were in second and third levels respectively

Data from: Methylation of avpr1a in the cortex of wild prairie voles: effects of CpG position and polymorphism

DNA methylation can cause stable changes in neuronal gene expression, but we know little about its role in individual differences in the wild. In this study, we focus on the vasopressin 1a receptor (avpr1a), a gene extensively implicated in vertebrate social behaviour, and explore natural variation in DNA methylation, genetic polymorphism and neuronal gene expression among 30 wild prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Examination of CpG density across 8 kb of the locus revealed two distinct CpG islands overlapping promoter and first exon, characterized by few CpG polymorphisms. We used a targeted bisulfite sequencing approach to measure DNA methylation across approximately 3 kb of avpr1a in the retrosplenial cortex, a brain region implicated in male space use and sexual fidelity. We find dramatic variation in methylation across the avrp1a locus, with pronounced diversity near the exon–intron boundary and in a genetically variable putative enhancer within the intron. Among our wild voles, differences in cortical avpr1a expression correlate with DNA methylation in this putative enhancer, but not with the methylation status of the promoter. We also find an unusually high number of polymorphic CpG sites (polyCpGs) in this focal enhancer. One polyCpG within this enhancer (polyCpG 2170) may drive variation in expression either by disrupting transcription factor binding motifs or by changing local DNA methylation and chromatin silencing. Our results contradict some assumptions made within behavioural epigenetics, but are remarkably concordant with genome-wide studies of gene regulation