بررسی عوامل مؤثر بر درجه موفقیت توسعه محصول جدید مشارکتی

The changing nature of competitive rules in the business world, the process of introducing a new product to the market has become particularly significant, that's why every company needs a new product development plan. Despite much attention paid to new product development, the failure rate for new product development projects is still high, therefore, the customer participation approach in new product development focuses on how to make the new product development process more effective and efficient. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting customer participation in new product development activities. According to the research background and researcher studies, the conceptual model of the research has been developed

99mTc-ECD brain perfusion SPECT imaging for the assessment of brain perfusion in cerebral palsy (CP) patients with evaluation of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Abstract: Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate cerebral perfusion in different types of cerebral palsy (CP) patients. For those patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy, brain perfusion before and after the therapy was compared. Methods: A total of 11 CP patients were enrolled in this study, of which 4 patients underwent oxygen therapy. Before oxygen therapy and at the end of 40 sessions of oxygen treatment, 99mTc-ECD brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed , and the results were compared. Results: A total of 11 CP patients, 7 females and 4 males with an age range of 5-27 years participated in the study. In brain SPECT studies, all the patients showed perfusion impairments. The region most significantly involved was the frontal lobe (54.54%), followed by the temporal lobe (27.27%), the occipital lobe (18.18%), the visual cortex (18.18%), the basal ganglia (9.09%), the parietal lobe (9.09%), and the cerebellum (9.09%). Frontal-lobe hypoperfusion was seen in all types of cerebral palsy. Two out of 4 patients (2 males and 2 females) who underwent oxygen therapy revealed certain degree of brain perfusion improvement. Conclusion: This study demonstrated decreased cerebral perfusion in different types of CP patients. The study also showed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improved cerebral perfusion in a few CP patients. However, it could keep the physiological discussion open and strenghten a link with other areas of neurology in which this approach may have some value

Pathways to Addiction: A Gender-Based Study on Drug Use in a Triangular Clinic and Drop-in Center, Kerman, Iran

Background: Addiction is characterized differently among women and men, and they begin using drugs for different reasons and motives. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the gendered experiences and patterns of illicit drug use initiation in an Iranian context. Patients and Methods: A total of 29 participants (15 men and 14 women) took part in in-depth interviews conducted at a HIV triangulation clinic (for men and women) and drop-in-center for women in Kerman in 2011. Results: The results of the study suggest that patterns of drug use are different among among Iranian men and women. Men often transit to drug use from cigarette smoking, whereas women’s drug use practices often begins with opium. Unlike women, men who used drugs were often single at their drug use debut. Conclusions: Different patterns of first exposure to drug use among men and women highlight the role of gendered expectations and socio-cultural norms in shaping drug use experiences of people who use drugs and call for gender-specific harm reduction interventions

The Effect of Technology in Information Searching Skills via Wiki to the Medical Students

Background & Objective: Recently, a new technology, i.e. Web 2.0, has emerged and it is increasingly used in education. Wiki is one of the web 2.0 application which is used in E-learning. Wiki is a simple, easy editable, interactive application that enhances learning, so this study was conducted to investigate the effect of using wiki on learning information searching skills on medical students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: The study population included the medical students who have chosen the information technology (IT) course in the second semester in 2013. The course was held in four groups, two groups were selected randomly. One group was considered as test group, teaching through wiki (wikispaces). The second one was the control group, traditional teaching (lecture). We asked about students’ attitudes toward learning through a researcher-made questionnaire. Result: The most of the students (71.9%) have used at least one of the web 2.0 technologies and 21.9% used Wikis. The mean scores of two groups increased and the difference between the mean scores was significant. The mean and standard deviation of the students’ scores before and after training through Wiki enhanced from 2.80 ± 1.85 to 12.85 ± 4.26, whereas it was 3.83 ± 4.30 to 13.75 ± 3.25 in the traditional group (P < 0.001). There was no significant association between two teaching methods (wiki and traditional) (P = 0.560) and the improvement of both groups was almost equivalent but most of students (55%) preferred training by wiki. Conclusion: Teaching through Wiki had a positive effect on learning. Regarding Wiki capabilities, it can be used as a supplement method for teaching. Keywords Web 2.0 Wiki Education Information searching skills Learning Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Medical student

Role of Microglia and Astrocyte in Central Pain Syndrome Following Electrolytic Lesion at the Spinothalamic Tract in Rats

Central pain syndrome (CPS) is a debilitating state and one of the consequences of spinal cord injury in patients. Many pathophysiological aspects of CPS are not well documented. Spinal glia activation has been identified as a key factor in the sensory component of chronic pain. In this study, the role of glial subtypes in the process of CPS induced by unilateral electrolytic lesion of spinothalamic tract (STT) is investigated. Male rats received a laminectomy at T8–T9 and then unilateral electrolytic lesion centered on the STT. Thermal and mechanical thresholds as well as locomotor function were measured on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-injuries by tail flick, von Frey filament, and open field tests, respectively. To investigate the spinal glial activation following denervation in STT-lesioned groups, Iba1 and GFAP were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting at the same time points. Data showed that STT lesion significantly decreased thermal pain at day 3 in comparison with sham groups. Significant bilateral allodynia appeared in hind paws at day 14 after spinal cord injury and continued to day 28 (P<0.05). Additionally, electrolytic spinal lesion attenuated locomotor function of injured animals after 7 days (P<0.05). In both histological assessments and Western blotting, Iba1 increased at days 3 and 7 while increased GFAP occurred from day 14 to 28 after lesion. It appears that microglial activation is important in the early stages of pain development and astrocytic activation occurs later. These events may lead to behavioral outcomes especially central neuropathic pain

Estradiol attenuates spinal cord injury-induced pain by suppressing microglial activation in thalamic VPL nuclei of rats.

In our previous study we showed that central pain syndrome (CPS) induced by electrolytic injury caused in the unilateral spinothalamic tract (STT) is a concomitant of glial alteration at the site of injury. Here, we investigated the activity of glial cells in thalamic ventral posterolateral nuclei (VPL) and their contribution to CPS. We also examined whether post-injury administration of a pharmacological dose of estradiol can attenuate CPS and associated molecular changes. Based on the results,in the ipsilateral VPL the microglial phenotype switched o hyperactive mode and Iba1 expression was increased significantly on days 21 and 28 post-injury. The same feature was observed in contralateral VPL on day 28 (P<.05). These changes were strongly correlated with the onset of CPS (r(2)=0.670). STT injury did not induce significant astroglial response in both ipsilateral and contralateral VPL. Estradiol attenuated bilateral mechanical hypersensitivity 14 days after STT lesion (P<.05). Estradiol also suppressed microglial activation in the VPL. Taken together, these findings indicate that selective STT lesion induces bilateral microglia activation in VPL which might contribute to mechanical hypersensitivity. Furthermore, a pharmacological dose of estradiol reduces central pain possibly via suppression of glial activity in VPL region

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Probiotic Strains Isolated from Probiotic Yogurts of Iran

Background:     Probiotics mainly belong to Lactobacillus spp. and they are useful for humans in appropriate amounts. The present study aimed to determine antibiotic resistance patterns of such bacteria isolated from probiotic yogurts of Iran. Methods:     Probiotic bacteria were isolated from 7 yogurt samples and the isolates were identified by conventional methods and then confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by disc diffusion test in order to determine isolates antibiotic resistance patterns. Results:      From 7 yogurt samples, 8 isolates were recovered and PCR assay also showed that the isolates belong to Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that three isolates from three brands were resistant to vancomycin and gentamicin. Other strains were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Conclusion:  Low resistance rate to antibiotics among Iranian probiotic bacteria indicate that the consumption of their products is safe but their clearance following antibiotic therapy can be unfavorable. Hence, applying probiotic strains with non-transferrable resistance elements in probiotic yogurts can be a useful strategy to make stable probiotic products

Beneficial effects of combination therapy with testosterone and hydrogen sulfide by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis: Rat experimental varicocele model

Background: Despite the effectiveness of testosterone therapy in conditions associated with testosterone deficiency, including varicocele, several dose-dependent side effects limit the clinical use of testosterone therapy. Hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas in high concentrations but a beneficial molecule in low concentrations, acts as both a major effector and an important inducer of testosterone. Objective: This study investigated whether a subeffective dose of testosterone combined with a subeffective dose of hydrogen sulfide donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) can be effective in an experimental varicocele model through a possible additive effect. Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar rats weighing 200-250 gr were divided into 5 groups as (n = 6/each): sham, varicocele, testosterone (200 μg/kg, 5 times per wk for 4 consecutive wk), NaHS (15 μmol/L, daily for 4 consecutive wk) and testosterone + NaHS (200 μg/kg, 5 times per wk + 15 μmol/L, daily, both for 4 consecutive wk). All animals, except in the sham group, underwent varicocele induction. Results: The coadministration of testosterone and NaHS significantly increased serum testosterone (10.23 ± 0.95, p = 0.01), testicular H2S levels (608.94 ± 21.09, p &lt; 0.001), and testicular superoxide dismutase activity (66.14 ± 1.56, p &lt; 0.001), decreased malondialdehyde levels (0.77 ± 0.52, p &lt; 0.001), and B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein to B-cell lymphoma 2 (0.16 ± 0.01, p &lt; 0.001) protein expression ratio in the testicular tissues and improved sperm parameters and testicular histopathology compared to the varicocele group. Conclusion: The combination therapy of subeffective doses of testosterone and NaHS can attenuate the varicocele-induced damages by reducing testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis and thus can be considered an effective approach with fewer side effects. Key words: Apoptosis genes, Hydrogen sulfide, Oxidative stress, Sperm count, Testosterone, Varicocele

Impact of Hypericum Perforatum Ointment on Perineal Pain Intensity Following Episiotomy: a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Introduction: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Hypericum Perforatum ointment on perineal pain intensity following episiotomy among primiparous women. Methods: This triple-blind clinical trial was performed on 98 eligible primiparous women referring to selected educational hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences for normal vaginal delivery. Block Randomization (in 1; 1 ratio) was used to categorize the participants continuously into two groups: intervention (using Hypericum Perforatum ointment) and control (using placebo ointment). Participants in each group used ointments (about 3 grams each time) on episiotomy site, twice a day and for a period of ten days. Our primary outcome was the pain intensity in different intervals following episiotomy. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 13) using student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results: We missed 14 participants during the study and analyzed the data from 42 participants in each group. The mean of pain scores revealed no significant differences before (mean difference=-0.33; P=0.46) and four hours (mean difference=0.57; P=0.13) after ointments use, between the intervention and control groups, while these differences were significant after eight hours (mean difference=2.17; P<0.001), five days (mean difference=2.20; P<0.001) and ten days (mean difference=2.21; P<0.001) following the intervention. Conclusion: Using Hypericum Perforatum ointment as a noninvasive, simple and effective topical formulation, can significantly reduce pain intensity of episiotomy site

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Serum and Saliva of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered as a potentially malignant disorder and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play a key role in cancer development. The aim of this study was to compare serum and saliva VEGF among patients with OLP, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and a healthy control group. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed on 27 patients with OLP, 27 patients with OSCC and 27 healthy volunteers. The serum and saliva VEGF were assayed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of ANOVA was used. Results: The mean saliva flow rate and serum VEGF in OLP and OSCC patients were significantly lower compared to healthy control group (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between OLP and OSCC patients. There was no significant difference in mean salivary VEGF among groups. Conclusion: It seems that saliva VEGF may not be a good biomarker for OLP and OSCC