Retinoic Acid Decorated Albumin-Chitosan Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Retinoic acid (R) grafted chitosan (C) copolymers with different degree of substitution of retinoic acid on the chitosan were synthesized. Retinoic acid targeted chitosan-albumin nanoparticles were prepared for targeted delivery of doxorubicin in hepatocellular carcinoma by coacervation method. Physical properties of nanoparticles including particle size, zeta potential, drug loading efficiency, and drug release profiles were studied. TEM micrographs were taken to see the morphology of nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles was studied on HepG2 cells using MTT assay and their cellular uptake by fluorescence microscopy. FTIR and 1HNMR spectra confirmed successful production of RC conjugate which was used in production of the targeted RC-albumin nanoparticles. IC50 of drug loaded in these nanoparticles reduced to half and one-third compared to nontargeted nanoparticles and free drug, respectively

Fatalities Among Iranian High-altitude Outdoor Enthusiasts: Causes and Mechanisms

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the possible causes and mechanisms of fatalities among Iranian mountaineers during climbing. Methods: By contacting several sources, deceased mountaineers were identified. Data about the causes and mechanism of death was retrospectively obtained using a standard questionnaire for each case. Results: A total of 29 deaths were identified from March 2006 to June 2010. Deceased subjects had a mean age of 39 years (SD: 12.8, Range: 20-67). Falling was the most common accident leading to death of outdoor enthusiasts (n = 14, 48%). Asphyxia (n = 6, 24%) was the most common cause of death among the subjects, followed by heart attack, internal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage and hypothermia (17%, 17%, 17% and 10%, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that education of medical service providers of the climbing groups on facing victims in high altitude areas, where they have limited resources, can be particularly helpful. In addition, a national program to educate mountaineers might help to reduce fatalities

Kdr genotyping and the first report of V410L and V1016I kdr mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel gene in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Iran

Background: Aedes aegypti is the main vector of arboviral diseases worldwide. The species invaded and became established in southern Iran in 2020. Insecticide-based interventions are primarily used for its control. With insecticide resistance widespread, knowledge of resistance mechanisms is vital for informed deployment of insecticidal interventions, but information from Iranian Ae. aegypti is lacking. Methods: Fifty-six Ae. aegypti specimens were collected from the port city of Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan Province in the South of Iran in 2020 and screened for kdr mutations. The most common kdr mutations in Latin America and Asia (V410L, S989P, V1016G/I and F1534C), especially when present in combinations, are highly predictive of DDT and pyrethroid resistance were detected. Phylogenetic analyses based on the diversity of S989P and V1016G/I mutations were undertaken to assess the phylogeography of these kdr mutations. Results: Genotyping all four kdr positions of V410L, S989P, V1016G/I and F1534C revealed that only 16 out of the 56 (28.57%) specimens were homozygous wild type for all kdr mutation sites. Six haplotypes including VSVF (0.537), VSVC (0.107), LSVF (0.016), LSIF (0.071), VPGC (0.257) and LPGC (0.011) were detected in this study. For the first time, 11 specimens harbouring the V410L mutation, and 8 samples with V1016I mutation were found. V410L and V1016I were coincided in 8 specimens. Also, six specimens contained 1016G/I double mutation which was not reported before. Conclusions: The relatively high frequency of these kdr mutations in Iranian Ae. aegypti indicates a population exhibiting substantial resistance to pyrethroid insecticides, which are used widely in control operations and household formulations. The detection of the 410L/1016I kdr mutant haplotype in Iranian Ae. aegypti suggests possible convergence of invasive populations from West Africa or Latin America. However, as Iran has very limited maritime/air connections with those African countries, a Latin American origin for the invasive Ae. aegypti in Iran is more plausible

Assessment and Comparison of Visual Skills among Footballers

Like bodily, physiological, and psychological skills which are commonly assessed in professional sport, assessment of visual skills is also of high importance. In this regard, and in order to organize teams efficiently, the skills of each player, considering his/her post in the pitch, should be developed for superiority over the opponent. The present study attempts to clarify if there is a meaningful difference between visual skills of players, by considering their posts, age groups and sport records. A group of 100 professional footballers with average age of 25.09±4.47, average height of 178.66±6.53 cm, and average weight of 74.80±7.03 were selected, using an available sampling method. Wilson and Falkel's Sports Vision Test (2004), widely used in many researches, was the assessment tool of visual skills in this research, and is comprised of six skills of accommodation or focusing, tracking, vergence, sequencing, eye-hand coordination and visualization. The results indicated a meaningful difference which existed only in terms of tracking (p≤0.04) between adults and the youth, of which the superiority was shown by the first group. No meaningful difference was observed between post in the pitch (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward) and sport record in terms of visual skills (including accommodation / focusing, tracking, vergence, sequencing, eye-hand coordination and visualization). The results of this study demonstrated a similarity between the exercise programs of team members. Coaches should notice that every post has different characteristics and the fact that in addition to specific physiological needs and skills, each post requires visual skills, and this marks the necessity for specialized planning for every post during the training sessions

Visual Skills of the Female Athletes in Team and Individual Sports

Visual has always been recognized as one of the most important sensory systems involved in the implementation of many athletic skills because of the close and necessary relationship with performing the movements, and it is considered particularly important by specialists in learning and motor control. Today, in addition to assessing the key indices in athletic performance (physical, medical, psychological and nutritional evaluations), visual skills assessment is also held in great importance. In this regard, the present study aims to answer the question of whether the difference between the visual skills of athletes (team and individual) and non-athletes is significant. For this purpose, 85 subjects (44 non-athletes, 22 athletes in team sports, and 19 athletes in individual sports) participated in this study and were selected using purposive sampling. The research instrument was &quot;sports vision tests of Wilson and Falkel (2004)&quot;. The psychometric properties of this test were studied and confirmed through the correlation between the referees and retest method. The results of the statistical analyses showed that there were significant differences between focusing (P<0.001), tracking (P<0.001), sequencing (p=0.009), eye-hand coordination (P<0.001), and vergence (P=0.015) of all-girl teams and individual sports athletes with non-athletes. Just as female individual and team sports athletes were better at focusing and tracking than non-athletes, individual sports athletes were better in vergence, team sports athletes were better in sequencing, and non-athletes were better in eye-hand coordination. However, in regards to visualization, no significant difference was observed between the three groups. According to the results, participation in sports activities, regardless of the type of activity, helps an individual to obtain better abilities in the visual system and its skills. Additionally, the role of visual skills in individual and team fields is different; therefore, due to the importance of vision, it is recommended that coaches consider special planning along with other motor capabilities

Genetic variability and heritability of some morphological and physiological traits in Fagus orientalis Lipsky along an elevation gradient in Hyrcanian forests

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the genetic variability and heritability of some morphological and physiological traits in Fagus orientalis Lipsky along an elevation gradient in northern forests of Iran. Beech leaves were sampled from southern and northern crown parts of healthy mature trees along an elevation gradient comprising sites situated at 700 m, 1,200 m and 1,700 m above the sea level. Our statistical analysis showed that the investigated traits differed significantly between the populations. The results indicated the lowest and the highest coefficients of variation for the high (1,700 m) and middle elevation populations (1,200 m) for leaf length, petiole length, leaf area, specific leaf area, dry weight, specific dry weight, leaf index and petiole index traits. With increasing elevation, mean leaf width, distance from leaf base to the leaf maximum width, dry weight and petiole index increased. The plasticity of leaf length, specific leaf area, specific dry weight, petiole index and petiole length peaked at middle elevation, and with increasing elevation, the plasticity of these traits declined. The distance from leaf base to the leaf maximum width had the highest coefficient of genetic (75.5%) and phenotypic (75.5%) variation. The heritability results showed that there were differences in all traits, and that the highest heritability was recorded for the distance from the leaf base to the leaf maximum width (99.95 %). The results suggest that the studied beech populations responded to the environmental changes by changing their leaf traits in different ways at different altitudes

Folated Synperonic-Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate Polymeric Micelles for the Targeted Delivery of Docetaxel in Melanoma

The objective of this study was the synthesis of folic acid- (FA-) targeted polymeric micelles of Synperonic PE/F 127-cholesteryl hemisuccinate (PF127-Chol) for specific delivery of docetaxel (DTX). Targeted or nontargeted micelles loaded with DTX were prepared via dialysis method. The effects of processing variables on the physicochemical properties of targeted micelles were evaluated using a full factorial design. After the optimization of the polymer/drug ratio, the organic solvent type used for the preparation of the micelles, and the temperature of dialyzing medium, the in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of the optimized micelles were studied on B16F10 melanoma cells by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. The anticancer efficacy of DTX-loaded FA-PF127-Chol was evaluated in mice bearing melanoma tumor. Optimized targeted micelles had the particle size of 171.3 nm, zeta potential of −7.8 mV, PDI of 0.325, and a high encapsulation efficiency that released the drug within 144 h. The MTT assay indicated that targeted micelles carrying DTX were significantly more cytotoxic, had higher cellular uptake, and reduced the tumor volume significantly more than the nontargeted micelles and the free drug. FA-PF127-Chol could be, therefore, a promising biomaterial for tumors overexpressing folate receptors

Insights on my future job: implementing near-peer shadowing program for operating room freshmen

Abstract Background As a main challenge in paramedical faculties of medical sciences, freshmen lose interest in their academic field of study and then job motivation. Lack of developed knowledge about their academic field and unfamiliarity with their future job’s tasks and roles contribute to freshmen’s job motivation loss. Various interventional programs have been implemented to improve students’ job motivation by familiarizing them with their future job’s duties and responsibilities. Methods This was one-group pretest-posttest design study in 2019–2020. Students grouped into pairs of a freshman (shadowee) with a senior (shadower) in a clinical setting during shadowing program. This program helps freshmen to comprehend and discover realities of their academic field and can help them change their perspectives regarding their future job’s duties and responsibilities. The shadowees’ main task was reflective observation on operating room events and interactions and to be active in the program, several tasks e.g., how to wear gloves, guns, and disinfect equipment were assigned to them exclusively under the supervision of senior students. The Hackman and Oldham’s Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) questionnaire and a novel Job Motivation Survey (JMS) questionnaire were distributed among participants. Results Fifty freshmen majoring in operating room participated in the shadowing program from November 2019 to January 2020. Before and after the program, they completed Hackman and Oldham’s job diagnostic survey and researcher-made job motivation survey questionnaires. Results were indicative of a significant difference in job diagnostic survey questionnaire score, where overall pre-test and post-test scores before and after the intervention were 57.78 (±9.78) and 68.58 (±5.02), respectively; the score difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Moreover, the overall pre-test and post-test scores of the job motivation survey questionnaire were 25.16 (± 9.75) and 39.80 (±5.18), respectively; this score difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion Shadowing program improved freshmen’s realistic perception of their future job’s duties and responsibility, and hence enhancing their job motivation and job recognition. As future work, in various disciplines, further studies need to evaluate the impact of such interventional programs in providing early insights for freshmen as well as in providing guidance on their plans for education, and future job.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/173624/1/12909_2021_Article_3071.pd

Relations Between Lateral Abdominal Muscles Thickness Body Mass Index Waist Circumference and Skin Fold Thickness

In light of provided progresses in ultrasound measurements of lateral abdominal muscles, an important role for these muscles, particularly transverse abdominis (TrA) muscle in stability of the spine has been suggested. Some authors have found significant correlations between body mass index (BMI) and thickness of these muscles. The aim of this study was to examine possible association between different methods of measurements of fatness and lateral abdominal muscles thicknesses, employing ultrasound imaging in healthy subjects. Ninety healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 38 (mean= 31.37, standard deviation=5.09) who met our inclusion criteria participated in this study. BMI, skin fold thickness, weight and waist circumference were assumed as the major outcomes for measurement of fatness of the subjects. Employing ultrasound measurements, the thickness of TrA, internal oblique (Int Obl) and external oblique (Ext Obl) muscles were also measured. We found positive significant relation between Ext Obl muscle thickness and all methods of measurements of fatness. Reversely, the results show that Int Obl muscle thickness significantly decreases with the rise of all methods of fatness measurement except weight which had no significant correlation with Int Obl thickness. No significant relation between the TrA muscle thickness and different measurements of the fatness of the subjects were found. In the studies investigate the thickness of lateral abdominal muscles; the authors try to match the participants of different groups of their study regarding the BMI. We found that both waist circumference and skin fold thickness measurements might be assumed as surrogate of BMI, in aim of matching the participants on Ext Obl muscle thickness

The mediating role of ethical leadership on professional commitment and moral sensitivity in the control of blood pressure by intensive care unit (ICU) nurses

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction &amp; Background:&lt;/strong&gt;&nbsp;Correct decision-making regarding nursing requires sufficient sensitivity to ethical issues, and failure to address ethical issues in care may lead to ignoring the principles and ethical values of nursing in providing proper care to patients. The present study investigates the relationship between moral sensitivity and professional commitment of nurses working in ICU departments in controlling patients' blood pressure, emphasizing the mediating role of ethical leadership of nursing managers in hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; The current research is of a descriptive-correlation type. Data collection tools included demographic information form, Brown, Trevino and Harrison ethical leadership questionnaire, Allen Mayer professional commitment questionnaire and Lutzen moral sensitivity questionnaire. Mean (standard deviation) and interval scale were used to describe quantitative data. Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation model and AMOS software were used for data analysis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; There is a positive and significant relationship between professional commitment and ethical leadership in controlling patients' risk factors such as blood pressure. Also, there is a positive and significant relationship between moral leadership and moral sensitivity. According to the structural equation model, the relationship between professional commitment and moral sensitivity is confirmed with the mediating role of moral leadership in blood pressure control.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;Based on the results of the research, it can be said that there is a relationship between professional commitment and moral sensitivity of nurses working in ICU departments in blood pressure control, and the ethical leadership of managers plays a mediating role.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords:&lt;/strong&gt; Professional commitment, ethical sensitivity, ethical leadership.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&nbsp;&lt;/p&gt