Effect of Educational Program on Quality of Life of Patients with Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Heart failure is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases which decrease the quality of life. Most of the factors influencing the quality of life can be modified with educational interventions. Therefore, this study examined the impact of a continuous training program on quality of life of patients with heart failure. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted during May to August 2011. Forty four participants with heart failure referred to Shahid Madani's polyclinics of Tabriz were selected through convenient sampling method and were randomly allocated to two groups. The intervention group (n = 22) received ongoing training including one-to-one teaching, counseling sessions and phone calls over 3 months. The control group (n = 22) received routine care program. Data on quality of life was collected using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire at baseline as well as three months later. Results: The statistical tests showed significant differences in the physical, emotional dimensions and total quality of life in intervention group. But in control group, no significant differences were obtained. There was not any significant association in demographic characteristics and quality of life. Conclusion: Ongoing training programs can be effective in improving quality of life of patients with heart failure. Hence applying ongoing educational program as a non-pharmacological intervention can help to improve the quality of life of these patients

The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone in the Neo-Tethyan suture, western Iran: Zircon U-Pb evidence of late Palaeozoic rifting of northern Gondwana and mid-Jurassic orogenesis

The Zagros Orogen, marking the closure of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean, formed by continental collision beginning in the late Eocene to early Miocene. Collision was preceded by a complicated tectonic history involving Pan-African orogenesis, Late Palaeozoic rifting forming Neo-Tethys, followed by Mesozoic convergence on the ocean\u27s northern margin and ophiolite obduction on its southern margin. The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone is a metamorphic belt in the Zagros Orogen of Gondwanan provenance. Zircon ages have established Pan-African basement igneous and metamorphic complexes in addition to uncommon late Palaeozoic plutons and abundant Jurassic plutonic rocks. We have determined zircon ages from units in the northwestern Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (Golpaygan region). A sample of quartzite from the June Complex has detrital zircons with U-Pb ages mainly in 800-1050 Ma with a maximum depositional age of 547 ± 32 Ma (latest Neoproterozoic¿earliest Cambrian). A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 336 ± 9 Ma from gabbro in the June Complex indicates a Carboniferous plutonic event that is also recorded in the far northwestern Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. Together with the Permian Hasanrobat Granite near Golpaygan, they all are considered related to rifting marking formation of Neo-Tethys. Scarce detrital zircons from an extensive package of metasedimentary rocks (Hamadan Phyllite) have ages consistent with the Triassic to Early Jurassic age previously determined from fossils. These ages confirm that an orogenic episode affected the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone in the Early to Middle Jurassic (Cimmerian Orogeny). Although the Cimmerian Orogeny in northern Iran reflects late Triassic to Jurassic collision of the Turan platform (southern Eurasia) and the Cimmerian microcontinent, we consider that in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone a tectonothermal event coeval with the Cimmerian Orogeny resulted from initiation of subduction and closure of rift basins along the northern margin of Neo-Tethys

Employed nurse's awareness about nursing sighted tasks

Setting the nurse's sighted tasks and clarifying communicative lines and their purposes help effectively to establish appropriate working conditions. Approved nurse's sighted tasks are sensible and necessary for all nursing rankings and levels. Regarding this, a research for determining the nurses' awareness about nursing sighted tasks was conducted in internal and surgical wards in Tabriz selected hospitals. This survey was a descriptive study. 298 nurses were studied through a questionnaire that contained 40 questions in the form of self - reporting check list. 21 questions of 40 questions of the questionnaire were nursing sighted tasks; 19 ones were not. Reliability of the test was analyzed by SPSS14 statistical software during the study on 20 nurses. Inner correlation coefficient of questioner was 0.88. Most of the nurses were female (90.3%) and 69.5% married. 98.7% bachelor in nursing, and 90.9% of the nurses had BSc in nursing, 60.7% were under the professional responsibility insurance, and worked as nurses, respectively. The averages of nurses' ages and working background in nursing profession were 5.9 +/- 33.6 years and 73.13 +/- 108.3 months, respectively. Most of the nurses had average awareness about nursing sighted tasks, and Just 7.4% and 11.4% had low and good awareness. 67.4% and 29.9% of the subjects had known the presence of nursing duties composition very necessary and necessary. Overall, 97.3% of them have known the presence of duties composition very necessary and essential, and so these ones tended to be aware of their duties composition. Just 24.2% of the nurses had stated that there exists nursing duties composition. These cases can indicate the low level in-service education periods and also low nurses academic educations in this field. There are often ambiguous points in nursing activities which are arisen from working interferences with the other medicine professions in hospitals. Nurses are expected to do some procedure which is not their sighted tasks or they have not been trained enough about. Nurses ` activities in the affairs out of their sighted tasks and have done by system pressure have frequently led to complain of the nurses, and so this issue faces the nurses with so many difficulties. Esmaeili Vardanjani SA, Mohajjel Aghdam AR, Sohrabi M, Malekpoor P, Dadkhah D, Alinejad H. Employed nurse's awareness about sighted tasks. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):5501-5505] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 81

Targeted Co-Delivery of Docetaxel and cMET siRNA for Treatment of Mucin1 Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells

Purpose: Targeted treatment of breast cancer through combination of chemotherapeutic agents and siRNA had been drawing much attention in recent researches. This study was carried out to evaluate mucin1 aptamer-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles containing docetaxel and cMET siRNA on SKBR3 cells. Methods: Nano-drugs were characterized by transmission electron microscope, Zetasizer and loading efficiency calculation. siRNA entrapment onto nanoparticles, stability of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles and conjugation of mucin1 aptamer to nanoparticles were evaluated via separate electrophoresis. Cellular uptake of the targeted nanoparticles was evaluated through GFP-plasmid expression in mucin1+ SKBR3 vs. mucin1- CHO cells. Protein expression, cell viability and gene expression were assessed by Western Blotting, MTT assay, and Quantitative Real Time-PCR, respectively. Results: Characterization of nano-drugs represented the ideal size (110.5± 3.9 nm), zeta potential (11.6± 0.8 mV), and loading efficiency of 90.7% and 88.3% for siRNA and docetaxel, respectively. Different gel electrophoresis affirmed the conjugation of aptamers to nanoparticles and entrapment of siRNA onto nanoparticles. Increased cellular uptake of aptamer-conjugated nanoparticles was confirmed by GFP expression. cMET gene silencing was confirmed by Western Blotting. The significant (p ≤0.0001) impact of combination targeted therapy vs. control on cell viability was shown. Results of Quantitative Real Time-PCR represented a remarkably decreased (p ≤0.0001) expression of the studied genes involving in tumorigenicity, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis (STAT3, IL8, MMP2, MMP9, and VEGF) by targeted combination treatment vs. control. Conclusion: The mucin1 aptamer-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles, containing docetaxel and cMET siRNA, is suggested for treatment of mucin1+ metastatic breast cancer cells. However, further studies should be conducted on animal models

Structure and tectonic evolution of palaeozoic-mesozoic rocks: Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Western Iran

The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone is part of the Zagros Orogen in western Iran. The study area (June area) occurs in the middle part of this zone and consists of: Permian marble and metadolomite; Middle to Late Triassic marble, metadolomite, schist, quartzite, and amphibolite; Late Triassic - Jurassic phyllite and metaigneous rocks; Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous intermediate volcanic rocks; and Aptian-Albian limestone. Two major episodes of deformation are recognisable in the study area and in adjoining regions. The first is characterised by east-northeasterly plunging tight folds with axial plane schistosity and associated prograde amphibolite to greenschist metamorphic facies. The second deformation is the major event and is characterised by west-northwesterly-trending tight folds with an axial plane schistosity dipping steeply towards the north-northeast. These folds are overturned with south-southwest vergence and plunge moderately to the east. Low-grade (greenschist) metamorphism is associated this event. This deformation was caused by dextral transpression with the deformation partitioned into two domains. One domain contains schist and marble, which are ductilely folded and cut by abundant thrusts. In the second domain, a mylonitic foliation is formed in mylonitic rocks and syn-deformational granitic plutons. Dextral shearing is defined by abundant shear-sense indicators. The Galeh-Doz pluton has had its emplacement controlled by S-shaped fissures produced by dextral transpression. A new subdivision is recognised for the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone and consists of from southwest to northeast: (1) the radiolarite sub-zone with Late Triassic to Late Cretaceous shallow to deep-marine rocks; (2) the Bistoon sub-zone with Late Triassic to Late Cretaceous shallow-marine carbonates; (3) the ophiolite sub-zone with Late Cretaceous ophiolites; (4) the marginal sub-zone with a Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous volcanic arc succession deposited in shallow-marine environments; and (5) the complexly deformed sub-zone with the late Palaeozoic - Mesozoic passive margin succession of the northeastern side of Neo-Tethys and overlying convergent margin assemblages. Deformation in the complexly deformed and marginal sub-zones was related to subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust and was associated with arc volcanism during the Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous. Subsequently, oblique collision occurred in the Late Cretaceous producing dextral (pure-shear dominated) transpression and deformation partitioning. Collisional tectonics in a regime of dextral transpression was renewed in the Neogene

Tectono-stratigraphy and structure of the northwestern Zagros collision zone across the Iraq-Iran border

Tectono-stratigraphic units within the Zagros Orogen in northeast Iraq (foreland) and northwest Iran (hinterland) are correlated to provide an integrated map along the collision zone. Access to this part of Iraq during the past four decades has been limited due to geopolitical situation. Structural cross-sections across the Zagros Suture Zone in this area reveal the relationships between the tectonic terranes of various ages and different origins. Terranes of oceanic affinity have accreted onto the Arabian plate during collision-accretion events that started in the Late Cretaceous. The collision resulted in closure of the Neotethys Ocean and the construction of a structurally complex suture zone. Jurassic-Cretaceous deep ocean radiolarites of the Qulqula-Kermanshah terrane and ophiolitic mélange serpentinites were structurally accreted against the Arabian passive margin during an ophiolite arc-continent collision event in the Late Cretaceous. The overthrust radiolarites and ophiolitic mélange terranes initiated the development of the foreland basin overlapping flysch (turbidites) and molasse assemblages on the now active Arabian margin. Eocene-Oligocene volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Walash-Naopurdan-Kamyaran terrane developed as an intra-oceanic island-arc within the intervening Neotethys Ocean. They now structurally overlie the older ophiolite mélange and radiolarite terranes as a result of continued convergence onto the margin of the Arabian Plate. These younger thrust sheets and nappes have been transported over the Miocene molasse unit of the Tertiary Red Beds in the flexural foreland basin and covered the Late Cretaceous accretionary complex terranes and foreland basin assemblages. The Qulqula-Kermanshah terrane is exposed in a tectonic window in the northeastern part of the mapped area indicating that the Late Cretaceous accreted terranes occur below the Walash-Naopurdan-Kamyaran thrust sheet. A Late Cretaceous ophiolite-bearing terrane named the Upper Allochthon (i.e. Gemo-Qandil nappe, 97-118 Ma) was emplaced by younger thrust sheets over the Eocene-Oligocene Walash-Naopurdan-Kamyaran terrane by out-of-sequence thrusting. Mesozoic metamorphic rocks from the hinterland, including volcanic and intrusive rocks of the active Iranian continental margin (Sanandaj-Sirjan zone), were emplaced during continent-continent collision and occur in the youngest nappes and klippes along the Zagros Suture Zone. Keywords: Iraq; Iran; Neotethys; Tectonic; Zagro

An investigation into the fault patterns in the Chadegan region, Iran: evidence for dextral brittle transpressional tectonics in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone

The NW–SE trending Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is the internal part of the Zagros continental collision zone, which mainly consists of metamorphic rocks deformed in a dextral transpressional zone. This dextral transpression is attributed to brittle deformation related to late Cenozoic Arabia–Eurasia oblique continental collision. Major NW-trending faults, including the Dalan, Garmdareh, Yasechah, Sheida, and Ben faults, are reverse faults with a dextral strike-slip component. These faults were displaced by NW-trending synthetic and NE-trending antithetic faults. There are also E-trending thrusts and N-trending normal faults developing in directions that are, respectively, almost normal and parallel to the major shortening direction. The NW-trending Ben, Yasechah, and Sheida faults are NE-dipping faults, and the Dalan and Garmdareh faults are SW-dipping faults. These faults indicate the presence of a transpressive flower structure zone that probably led to the exhumation of Jurassic high-grade metamorphic rocks, such as eclogite, in the central part of the study area

Gondwanan Eoarchean-Neoproterozoic ancient crustal material in Iran and Turkey: zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic evidence

The Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone is a basement culmination northeast of the Neo-Tethys suture in Iran. In this zone near Azna, granite has a magmatic zircon U–Pb age of 568 ± 11 Ma, with 900–800, ca. 2400, and ca. 3600 Ma inherited cores. The ca. 3600 Ma inherited zircon is the oldest crustal component yet detected in Iran. Near Chadegan, orthogneiss has a magmatic zircon U–Pb age of 637 ± 15 Ma, and carries ca. 1000 and 2000 Ma inherited zircons. Inherited 900–1000 Ma zircons have juvenile initial εHf values of ca. +8 to +9, whereas the younger 630 and 568 Ma magmatic zircons show lower initial εHf values; however, the 3600 Ma core has initial εHf = 0.0. A Neoproterozoic rim on the inherited 3600 Ma core has the most extreme initial εHf value of −18. The Hf isotopic data indicates generation of the magmatic protoliths from a mixture of juvenile Neoproterozoic and Archean sources. Previous studies showed that in Turkey the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex is underlain by Neo-Eoarchean rocks, the Menderes Massif contains Neoproterozoic granitoids, and that central Iran’s basement and the northern Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone contain Neoproterozoic granitic rocks. This basement terrane is from Gondwana, and was transferred across Paleo-Tethys to dock against Eurasia’s southern margin. Occurrence in Iran and Turkey of Eoarchean crust raises the possibility of sinistral migration of this terrane in the closure of Tethys because the nearest known early Archean crust occurs in northeast India

Formation and evolution stages of gold rich Barika massive sulfide deposit, east of Sardasht, northern Sanandaj-Sirjan zone: based on structural, textural and fluid inclusion studies

Barika gold (and silver) rich massive sulfide deposit is located 18 km east of Sardasht, north western part of Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone. Rock units outcropped in this area are Cretaceous metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks in green schist facies, and include association of meta-andesite, meta-tuffite, phyllite and slate rocks, where the meta-andesitic unit (Kmv1) is host rock to the deposit. Barika deposit is composed of stratiform ore and stringer zone. Stratiform part contains massive and banded sulfide and barite associated with subordinary silica bands underlain by stringer silicic zone. The massive and banded ore is surrounded by an extensive zone of silicic stringer veins and disseminated mineralization within strongly altered and deformed andesitic volcanic rocks. Ore mineral assemblages in stratiform part of the deposit are quite variable and consist of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, stibnite, a variety of sulfosalt minerals and gold (electrum). Ore mineral assemblages in silicic veins in the stringer zone are simpler and consist of pyrite, galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrrite and trace chalcopyrite. Average gold and silver grades in stratiform ore are 8.3 and 420 g/t respectively and in silicic stringer veins are 0.7 and 30 g/t. Base metal content in both parts of the deposit are less than 1%. Based on our research, Barika is an immature Kuroko type massive sulfide deposit, which contains only black ore. The Barika deposit underwent low-grade metamorphism and high grade deformation after the ore deposition event. Geologic processes appear to control the mode of occurrence of gold in the deposit. In synvolcanism stage, deposition of a gold–bearing low temperature (140-200°C) and low salinity (1-9.6 wt% NaCl) hydrothermal fluid formed a Kuroko black ore type deposit. In the stage of mineralization, invisible gold was concentrated in framboidal pyrite and other sulfide minerals. The main effect of progressive metamorphism (D1) on gold mineralization is recrystallization of the framboidal pyrite and migration of submicroscopic gold to the crystal boundary to form electrum under low to moderate strain. Highly strain and deformation (D2) on the deposit caused the remobilization of gold and accompanied َAs, Sb, Ag, and Pb minerals and continued to form coarse-grained electrum (up to 3 mm) in open space fractures. The formation of barren silica veins (D3) and high angle normal faults (D4) are the results of retrograde metamorphism