The effect of sleep health behavioral education on the depression of pregnant women with sleep disorders: A randomized control trial

Background: About 79 of the pregnant women experience sleep disorders and 70 of pregnant women experience some symptoms of the depression. Physiologic, hormonal, and physical changes of pregnancy can predispose mothers to depression these disorders before, during, and after childbirth and might be aggravated by neglecting health behavior. Health behavior education might be useful for the management of depression in pregnant women. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sleep health behavioral education on the improvement of depression in pregnant women with sleep disorders. Patients and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial, performed on 96 pregnant women with sleep disorder diagnosed according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Tools for data collection included demographic questionnaire and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Easy and accessible sampling was done. Participants were randomly (simple) allocated to intervention and control groups. In intervention group, sleep health behavior education was presented during a four-hour session held in weeks 22, 23, 24, and 25; then the patients were followed up to fill out the BDIQ in follow-up session at weeks 29 and 33 of pregnancy. The control group received no intervention and only received routine prenatal care. The results were assessed by Chi-square tests, independent-samples t-test, and Fischer�s exact-test by SPSS 16. Results: A statistically significant change was reported in the severity of depression in pregnant women with sleep disorders in the intervention group in comparison to the control group at weeks 29 (P < 0.000) and 33 (P < 0.00). Conclusions: Sleep health behavioral education improves depression in pregnant women who are experiencing insomnia. Findings from this study add support to the reported effectiveness of sleep health behavioral education in the prenatal care and clinical management of insomnia in pregnancy. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Efectos de los coadyuvantes tecnológicos y técnicas sobre la extractabilidad e índices de calidad del aceite de oliva

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of processing aids and techniques such as talcum powder (2% w/w), calcium carbonate (2% w/w), warm water dipping (45 °C), combined treatment (warm water dipping+2% calcium carbonate) and control (without adding processing aid) on extractability and quality of ‘Tarom 7’ olive oil as randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the carotenoid content, K232, fatty acid profile or the Cox’s value in the oil obtained from untreated and treated fruits with processing aids. The highest chlorophyll content (0.84 mg/kg), total phenolic content (236.94 mg/kg), paste extractability (8.5%) and the lowest peroxide values (0.32 meqO2/kg), K270&nbsp;(0.38) were obtained from the oil extracted with 2% talc powder. According to the results, it can be suggested that the 2% talc powder treatment could have a positive effect on olive oil quality and paste extractability.Este estudio se llevó a cabo para investigar los efectos de los coadyuvantes del procesamiento y técnicas, como talco (2 % p/p), carbonato de calcio (2 % p/p), inmersión en agua tibia (45 °C), tratamiento combinado (inmersión en agua tibia + carbonato de calcio al 2%) y control (sin adición de coadyuvante) sobre la extractabilidad y calidad del aceite de oliva ‘Tarom 7’ en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones. Los resultados mostraron que no hubo diferencias significativas en el contenido de carotenoides, K232, perfil de ácidos grasos y el valor de Cox del aceite obtenido de frutos no tratados y tratados con coadyuvantes de procesamiento. El mayor contenido de clorofila (0,84 mg/kg), contenido de fenoles totales (236,94 mg/kg), extractabilidad de la pasta (8,5%) y los valores más bajos de peróxidos (0,32 meqO2/kg) y K270&nbsp;(0,38) se obtuvieron para el aceite extraído con 2 % de talco. De acuerdo con los resultados, se puede sugerir que el tratamiento con talco al 2% podría tener un efecto positivo sobre la calidad del aceite de oliva y la extractabilidad de la pasta. &nbsp

Emergence of Multidrug Resistance and Metallo‑beta‑lactamase Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Patients in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Metallo‑beta‑lactamase (MβL) enzymes production is one of the most important resistance mechanisms against carbapenems in some bacteria including Acinetobacter baumannii. Aims: This study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and the prevalence of MβL among carbapenem‑resistant isolates of A. baumannii. Materials and Methods: In this cross‑sectional study from October 2012 to April 2013, 98 isolates were identified as A. baumannii using Microgen™ kits and confirmed by molecular method. These isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibilities by disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Carbapenem‑resistant isolates were further detected phenotypically by MβL minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)‑test strips, and subsequently positive MβL isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Overall, 98% (96/98) of A. baumannii isolates were detected as carbapenem‑resistant by MIC test. Highest sensitivity to the tested antibiotic with 42.9% (42/98) was observed to colistin. Of 96 carbapenem‑resistant isolates, 43 were phenotypically positive for MβL; out of 43 isolates, 37 were confirmed for the presence of MβL genes by PCR. Conclusion: The frequency of drug resistance among the clinical samples of A. baumannii isolated in our study against most of the antibiotics was very high. Moreover, all MβL producing isolates were multidrug resistance. Therefore, systematic surveillance to detect MβL producing bacteria and rational prescription and use of carbapenems could be helpful to prevent the spread of carbapenem resistance.Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, Antibiotic resistance, Carbapenem, Iran, Metallo‑beta‑lactamas

Feeding habits of sturgeon fishes in shallow coastal waters of Guilan Province, southern Caspian Sea

We collected sturgeon specimens from seven fishing stations operating 30 to 35 Km away from each other in Guilan province over the years 1999 MD 2000. Trawl nets six meters long were drawn using motorboats at each station, repeated three times for each season. Among the studied premature sturgeons, 121 Acipenser persicus specimens with an average age of less than two years and a length of 10 to 49.9 ± 0.77 cm showed full stomachs (57.17 % fullness). Among the mature specimens with an average age of 11 years and a length range of 90 to 194 cm, only three showed full stomachs (11.54 % fullness). The highest gut index in this study belonged to premature A. persicus. A one-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference in condition factor and gastro-somatic index among the different length groups (P<0.05). We found that the food consumed by premature A. persicus was comprised of eight genera of benthic invertebrates Hypania sp., Hypaniola sp., Pterocuma sp., Stenocuma sp., Abra ovata, Paramysis sp., Gammarus sp. and Nereis sp. Adult sturgeons were found feeding mainly on fish species belonging to Gobidae, Atherinidae and Clupeidae families. The main preys of premature A. persicus were polychaet worms Hypania sp. and Hypaniola sp. belonging to the class Sedantaria. Crustaceans Stenocuma sp. and Pterocuma sp. of the class Cumacea were also seen in the diet of the premature sturgeons. The main preys of adult A. persicus were fishes belonging to the family Gobiidae and secondary prey were fishes of the family Atherinidae

Population of sand goby (Neogobious fluviatilis pallasi) in southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea using morphological characteristics

Caspian sand goby, Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi belongs to Gobiidae family. Because of their abundance in Caspian Sea, they have important role in the sea food chain in this area. This study was conducted from October 2005 to September 2006 in southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea in Guilan province. Samples were collected monthly from four stations (Astara, Anzali, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar coasts) from coastal areas to waters l5 meters deep using bottom trawl. Result of differential function analyses on corrected morphometric statistic showed three functions 51.3%, 28.4% and 20.3%, respectively, and sum of differentiative function percentage was 80% which proved difference among groups. The functions showed that samples in Astara station were completely different from other regions while they were similar to Anzali station only in some sampling points. Chamkhaleh and Astara stations were the same but Chaboksar station was a separated group. Analysis of differential functions for studied characteristics included on average 86.3% of the population with most of it belonging to Astara station (93.3%) and Anzali (90%). The minimum amount belonged to Chamkhaleh with 79.3%. The results showed that Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi probably has three different populations in Astara, Anzali, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar populations

Effect of vitamin B12 addition to extenders on some physicochemical parameters of semen in crossbred rams

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different doses of vitamin B12 on some physicochemical parameters and antioxidtive enzyme activities in crossbreed rams semen during storage at 5°C. Semen samples were collected from eight crossbreed rams, evaluated and pooled at 33°C. Fresh semen was diluted with a Tris-based extender containing 0, 1, 2 and 3 mg/mL vitamin B12 and was cooled at 5°C. In both genetic group, the extender supplemented with vitamin B12 (1, 2 and 3 mg/mL) led to higher motility percentages than control group. While, the addition of 2 mg/mL vitamin B12 into the semen extenders led to higher viability sperm, in comparison to control group. In Ghezel × Baluchi genotype, the percentage of spermatozoa abnormality was reduced with vitamin B12 when compared with control group. Supplementation with vitamin B12 improved significantly sperm membrane integrity in both genotypes. Addition of vitamin B12 did not cause significant differences in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) when compared with the control group in both genotypes. In the current study, the addition of 2 mg/mL of vitamin B12 (as an antioxidant) to extender had higher SOD activities than the other groups in both genetic groups. In conclusion, vitamin B12 supplementation in semen extender benefit the motility and viability of crossbreed ram sperm.Key words: Antioxidant, crossbreed ram, semen parameters, sperm, crossbreed ram

Mid-term follow-up of the transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects in children using the Amplatzer

Background: The ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common form of congenital heart defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of the early complications and mid-term follow-up of the transcatheter closure of the VSD using the Amplatzer VSD Occluder. Methods: Between April 2012 and October 2013, 110 patients underwent the percutaneous closure of the perimembranous VSD. During the procedure, the size and type of the VSD were obtained via ventriculography. A device at least 2 mm larger than the VSD diameter measured via ventriculography was deployed. The size of the VSD, size of the Amplatzer, and devicesize to VSD-size ratio were calculated. After the confirmation of the suitable position of the device via echocardiography and left ventriculography, the device was released. Follow-up evaluations were done at discharge as well as at 1, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter for the VSD occlusion and complete heart block. Results: The study population comprised 62 females and 48 males. The mean age and weight of the patients at procedure were 4.3 ± 5.6 years (range: 2 to 14) and 14.9 ± 10.8 kg (range: 10 to 43). The average device size was 7.0 ± 2.5 mm (range: 4 to 14). The VSD occlusion rate was 72.8 at the completion of the procedure and rose up to 99.0 during the follow-up. The most serious significant complication was complete atrioventricular block, which was seen in 2 patients. The mean follow-up duration was 10.9 ± 3.6 months. Conclusion: The transcatheter closure of the perimembranous VSD was a safe and effective treatment with excellent closure rates in our study population. This procedure had neither mortality nor serious complications. © 2015, Tehran Heart Center. All right recived

Genetic variation of Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Chenopodium album L. (Amaranthaceae) suggests multiple independent introductions into Iran

Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Chenopodium album L. (Amaranthaceae) are weedy plants that cause severe ecological and economic damage. In this study, we collected DNA from three different countries and assessed genetic diversity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Our analysis shows both weed species have low genetic diversity within a population and high genetic diversity among populations, as well as a low value of gene flow among the populations. UPGMA clustering and principal coordinate analysis indicate four distinct groups for A. retroflexus L. and C. album L. exist. We detected significant isolation-by-distance for A. retroflexus L. and no significant correlation for C. album L. These conclusions are based data from 13 ISSR primers where the average percentage of polymorphism produced was 98.46 % for A. retroflexus L. and 74.81% for C. album L.. These data suggest that each population was independently introduced to the location from which it was sampled and these noxious weeds come armed with considerable genetic variability giving them the opportunity to manifest myriad traits that could be used to avoid management practices. Our results, albeit not definitive about this issue, do not support the native status of C. album L. in Iran