The Effect of Body Position on Pain Due to Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Premature Neonates: A Cross-Over Clinical Trial Study

Background The most common cause of admission to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is respiratory distress syndrome. One of the respiratory assistance methods is using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Regarding the importance of pain control which is one of the major priorities in neonatal nursing care, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of body position on pain due to nasal CPAP in premature neonates. Materials and Methods In this cross-over clinical trial, 50 premature neonates who were receiving nasal CPAP admitted to the NICU of Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, were included. The neonates were randomly placed at three body positions (fetal, supine, and prone positions). Pain was measured by Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital Pain Scale Neonates (ALPS-Neo) pain assessment scale. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software (Version 22.0). Results Significant difference existed regarding pain of nasal CPAP among body positions (p< 0.001). Mean (SD) pain was 5.15 (0.822) in fetal position, 6.260 (0.747) in prone position and 7.326 (0.792) in supine position. Conclusion Body positioning in premature neonates under nasal CPAP in NICU can be effective as a non-pharmacologic method in alleviating pain due to nasal CPAP. Among the studied positions, the lowest pain score was seen in fetal position

Corrosion and scaling potentials of rural water distribution network in different climate zones of Kermanshah province, Iran

Corrosion control is an important parameter to supply safe drinking water considered by the World Health Organization. This study is intended to determine the scaling and corrosion potentials of drinking water in rural distribution networks during 2009-2017 in different climate zones of Kermanshah province, Iran. The most commonly used corrosion indices, Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), aggressive index (AI), and Larson–Skold index (L-SI), were calculated. Statistical analysis was executed to examine the significant differences in water corrosion and scaling indices between different climate zones. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in water chemical characteristics related to corrosion and scaling potentials between different climate zones (except temperature). Statistical analysis also indicated significant differences in water corrosion and scaling indices (P <0.001) between different climate zones. The lowest average amounts of LSI (0.06), AI (12.13), and L-SI (0.06), and the highest values of RSI (7.44) and PSI (7.11) were observed in moderate humid climate zone. Also, the highest values for LSI (0.39), and L-SI (0.15) were related to warm semi-arid climate zone. Based on water characteristics in various climate zones, LSI and RSI were chosen as good indices for corrosion or scaling of water corrosion potential in different climate zones. The results indicated that there is a weak tendency towards corrosion for warm semi-dry climate zones in contrast to the other climate zones that have higher corrosion potentials for Kermanshah Province under the conditions of this study, or maybe related to local water quality characteristics among climate zones

An introduction to expression and regulation of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs): review article

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are a kind of antigens that their expression mostly is restricted in testis and female&rsquo;s genital organs. Tumor cells often express antigens whose expression is normally limited to germ cells. CTAs are composed of a vast gene family of closely related members and are commonly classified into two groups: the CT-X antigens that are encoded by the X chromosome and the non-X CTAs that are encoded by the autosomes. CTA are extensively and variably dispersed between tumors of diverse histotypes. CTA are broadly expressed in tumors, but not in normal tissue except for testis that is not available to the immune system, actually, the blood-testis barrier and the lack of HLA class I expression on the surface of germ cells avoid the immune system from the interaction with CTA proteins to be identified as non-self-structures. Consequently, CTA can be regarded as fundamentally tumor-specific targets. With extensive investigations on the function of this important biological molecules, their functions are somewhat revealed. Because of their high immunogenicity, tumor-limited, and biased expression, detection of these molecules provides unprecedented chances for further research and clinical development in the field of immunotherapy and cancer diagnosis. Also, growing evidence discloses that a number of CTAs stimulate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and generation of cancer stem-like cells, increasing metastasis, invasion and tumorigenesis. According to recent clinical attention, more features of CTA regulation are explored. CTA expression has been confirmed in a variety of human cancer tissues and some of them have been discovered to cause humoral and/or cellular immune responses in cancer patients, likewise, they displayed intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity in expression levels. CTAs are excellent targets for targeted tumor therapy, anticancer drug discovery, and diagnostic biomarkers, similarly, appreciated genes in the study of promoting tumorigenesis, immunotherapy, and malignant progression. This review summaries and classifies our current understanding of the complex and biased process of CTAs mRNA and protein expression in cancer, and provide the most current information on their function and regulation. &nbsp

External Genital Abnormalities and Inguinal Hernia among Males of Children Nurseries, North West of Iran

Background Abnormalities of external genitalia in male children nurseries and inguinal hernia are the most common congenital disorders in children. We aimed to determine prevalence rate of inguinal hernia and other genital among children nurseries, in Shahrood-Iran. Materials and Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we examined 920 children nurseries boys. Physical examination of children was performed in presence of a parent in a warm room in supine and upright position with and without Valsalva maneuver. A written consent was obtained from parents before examination. Past medical history and history of surgery on inguinal and genital area was taken. Examination was performed 2 interns who were trained about genital system examination.   Results A total of 920 children nurseries boys aged 3 to 6 years were examined which were detected in 88 children and prevalence rate of these abnormalities were 9.6%. The prevalence of abnormalities in the children under study were as follows: Inguinal hernia (5.1%), cryptorchidism (2.1%), Hydrocele (1.5%), hypospadias (0.4%), Varicocele (0.1%), micropenis (0.4%). Conclusion Regarding to relatively high prevalence rate of these abnormalities and low level of people knowledge, seem screening systems for diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these abnormalities to be necessary