Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in an Iranian patient with neurofibromatosis type I

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a common hereditary neurocutaneous disease, with known gene mutations, that mainly involves the skin and nervous system. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired inflammatory disease in which the myelin of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord is damaged. These two disease do not share any apparent pathological similarities. We herein present a 32-year-old woman with definite NF-1, who has recently been diagnosed with MS, which to the best of our knowledge is a rare co-occurrence. Though there are often neurologic sign and symptoms in patients with NF-1, they should not always be considered as the natural history of the disease, and other overlapped pathologies should be kept in mind, in order to not miss or postpone the efficient treatment. © N. Mohebi et al., 2015

Effects of soil-foundation-structure interaction on seismic structural response via robust Monte Carlo simulation

Uncertainties involved in the characterization and seismic response of soil-foundation-structure systems along with the inherent randomness of the earthquake ground motion result in very complex (and often controversial) effects of soil-foundation-structure interaction (SFSI) on the seismic response of structures. Conventionally, SFSI effects have been considered beneficial (reducing the structural response), however, recent evidence from strong earthquakes has highlighted the possibility of detrimental effects or increase in the structural response due to SFSI. This paper investigates the effects of SFSI on seismic response of structures through a robust Monte Carlo simulation using a wide range of realistic SFS systems and earthquake input motions in time-history analyses. The results from a total of 1.36 million analyses are used to rigorously quantify the SFSI effects on structural distortion and total horizontal displacement of the structure, and to identify conditions (system properties and earthquake motion characteristics) under which SFSI increases the structural response

The effect of massage on pain intensity in patients with knee surgery by Arthroscopy technique

Background: Pain as a main social problem has involved millions of people. Surface massag is one of the effective ways for reducing pain after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface massage technique on pain intensity in knee surgery patients with Arthroscopy technique. Material and Methods: This is a clinical trial study on 60 Knee surgery patientsSamples were selected using conveniencecontinuity method and then they were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In intervention group, besides routine treatments, patients were taking surface massage technique by the researcher for 20 minutes each day and pain severity was evaluated before and after the surface stroking technique. Control group received only routine medical care and pain severity was evaluated in first and after 20 minutes. Data was analyzed by presenting descriptive and inferential statistics with using SPSS version 15 software. Results: Results showed that there was a statistical different between mean score of pain severity before and after surface massage in intervention group (p <0.001) but this difference wasn't meaningful in control group (p=0.32). Conclusion: Considering surface massage as a safe and effective intervention, it could be used as an easy, cheap and executable method for treating pain in all medical health care centers and even at patient's home

Second generation of HIV surveillance system: A pattern for IRAN

Background: For the purpose of minimizing the HIV/AIDS epidemic effects, one of the programs is the promotion of scientific methods and setting of the suitable surveillance systems. The present research was conducted to design the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in Iran applying WHO recommendations and the experience of some countries. Methods: In 2009, based on the country's requirements, the HIV/AIDS surveillance system was proposed and designed for Iran. The Delphi technique was utilized to find the views of experts. Data analysis was conducted based on a comparison of the attributes of the HIV/AIDS surveillance systems in the countries under consideration using a descriptive and theoretical analysis. Results: The model was approved obtaining the final score of 36.3 out of 44, viz 82.5. Conclusion: Designing and performing of the HIV/AIDS surveillance pattern in the direction of "second generation of HIV/AIDS surveillance" can be considered as an important step in the improvement of the patient's control and precaution of HIV/AIDS. © Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Diagnostic value of D-dimer�s serum level in Iranian patients with cerebral venous thrombosis

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a longterm debilitating vascular brain disease with high morbidity and mortality. It may be associated with rise in D-dimer level. The aim of this study was to examine this potential association and identify the critical D-dimer cut-off level corresponding to increase the risk of CVT. This case-control study was conducted on two groups of patients with and without CVT attending the Rasool Akram Hospital (Iran) during 2014 and 2015. D-dimer levels were measured by the rapid sensitive D-dimer assay. Data were analyzed by Spearman�s correlation coefficient test, independent-samples t-test, backward-selection multiple linear regression and multiple binary logistic regression analyses. Sensitivity-specificity tests were used to detect D-dimer cut-off for CVT. Differences between the D-dimer levels of the case and control groups were significant (P<0.001). It showed that each level of increase in the number of symptoms could increase the risk of thrombosis occurrence for about 3.5 times. All symptom types except for headache were associated with D-dimer level, while headache has negative association with D-dimer level. D-dimer cut-off point for CVT diagnosis was estimated at 350 ng/mg. We concluded that D-dimer serum level significantly rises in CVT patients. A rounded cut-off point of 350 ng/mg can be used as a diagnostic criterion for CVT prediction. © L. Hashami et al., 2016

Association of Emotional Intelligence and Professional Socialization in Operating Room Students

Background & Aims: Socialization is a constant process throughout human life. The enhancers of socialization must be identified in order to promote this process. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between the emotional intelligence and professional socialization of the operating room students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted on 93 operating room students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences after determining the sample size. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Shirring and Siberia self-report questionnaire of emotional intelligence, and professional socialization questionnaire by Toit. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results of Pearson’s correlation-coefficient indicated direct correlations between the professional socialization of students and the total score of emotional intelligence (P=0.04), social component (P<0.001), empathy (P=0.04), and self-awareness (P=0.045). However, no significant associations were observed between emotional intelligence and the other components (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the professional socialization of operating room students is remarkably influenced by emotional intelligence and the level of learning in the academic environment. Given the importance of intelligence and socialization in the clinical environment and comprehensive patient care, clinical students must be adequately trained on emotional intelligence skills

Bone mineral density is lower in male than female patients with plaque-type psoriasis in Iran

Background There are many similarities with regard to contributing cytokines in patients with psoriasis and osteoporosis. A theory of probable relationship between these two entities has been proposed but there is no concordant consensus. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with psoriasis. Method and materials This cross-sectional study of BMD was conducted with 64 eligible patients with psoriasis who were referred to the dermatology clinic of Razi hospital in Tehran, Iran in between 2011 and 2012. Results The mean T score of femoral neck was �1.17 and �0.49 in men and women, respectively, which was statistically significant (p =.047). The mean T score of the lumbar spine was �0.93 and �0.30 in men and women, respectively, but not statistically significant (p =.058). In total except with the exclusion of the study site (femur or lumbar), men and women did not have a statistically significant difference with regard to osteoporosis or osteopenia in BMD (p =.114). The Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a moderate inverse relationship between age and T score of the femoral neck and lumbar spine (r = �0.419 and �.406, respectively), which was statistically significant (p =.001). Although there was no statistically significant relationship between the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and T scores of the femoral neck (p =.596), a positive and weak correlation was observed between the PASI and T scores for the lumbar spine, which was statistically significant (r = 0.269; p =.03). Conclusion Patients with psoriasis had decreased bone density, which was more significant in men. Prevalence of osteoporosis showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the healthy population in Iran. © 201

Bone mineral density is lower in male than female patients with plaque-type psoriasis in Iran

Background There are many similarities with regard to contributing cytokines in patients with psoriasis and osteoporosis. A theory of probable relationship between these two entities has been proposed but there is no concordant consensus. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with psoriasis. Method and materials This cross-sectional study of BMD was conducted with 64 eligible patients with psoriasis who were referred to the dermatology clinic of Razi hospital in Tehran, Iran in between 2011 and 2012. Results The mean T score of femoral neck was �1.17 and �0.49 in men and women, respectively, which was statistically significant (p =.047). The mean T score of the lumbar spine was �0.93 and �0.30 in men and women, respectively, but not statistically significant (p =.058). In total except with the exclusion of the study site (femur or lumbar), men and women did not have a statistically significant difference with regard to osteoporosis or osteopenia in BMD (p =.114). The Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a moderate inverse relationship between age and T score of the femoral neck and lumbar spine (r = �0.419 and �.406, respectively), which was statistically significant (p =.001). Although there was no statistically significant relationship between the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and T scores of the femoral neck (p =.596), a positive and weak correlation was observed between the PASI and T scores for the lumbar spine, which was statistically significant (r = 0.269; p =.03). Conclusion Patients with psoriasis had decreased bone density, which was more significant in men. Prevalence of osteoporosis showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the healthy population in Iran. © 201

Dynamic interaction of plates in an inhomogeneous transversely isotropic space weakened by a crack

The problem of axisymmetric vibration of a flat thin rigid circular plate located inside a vertically exponentially graded, transversely isotropic material of infinite extent is addressed by means of a displacement potential method. The contact condition on one side of the foundation is assumed to be the perfect adhesion with the media but known to be faced by a penny-shaped crack at the other side as it occurs in anchors. The mixed boundary value problem is formulated with the aid of Hankel integral transforms and is written in the form of a set of singular integral equations. The analytical procedure for the special case of vertical movement of the rigid plate results in a closed form solution. The solution is pursued numerically for the general elastodynamic case. The physical quantities, such as contact stress on the plate and the stress and displacement fields in the non-homogeneous medium are obtained for different materials