Social Capital Among Older Iranian Adults: Demographic And Socioeconomic Differences

Social capital makes it easier to access resources and to create well-being in older people through a sense of connectedness. This study aims to explore the dimensions of social capital that are most prevalent and to identify the relationships that exist between demographic characteristics and social capital among elderly Iranian people. In this cross-sectional study, over a six-month period, data were gathered from 320 elderly people aged 60 years old or older. The participants answered a questionnaire containing two sections, which included items that measured variables relevant to demographic status and social capital (consisting of 32 questions in eight dimensions). The data were analysed using SPSS software, version 19. The findings showed that the participants consisted of 193 men and 127 women with a mean age of 67.03 ± 5.51 years old. The question with the uppermost mean of social capital was "How many people did you talk to yesterday?" (M = 2.96). The highest degree of response of social capital reported by the participants was for pro-activity in a social context (70.9 percent), followed by feelings of trust (67.8 percent). Only 10.9 percent provided responses regarding participation in community components. There were strong correlations between almost all of the demographic variables and social capital dimensions, particularly education and income. Age was rather consistently negatively correlated with social capital measures; education, in contrast, was a strong contributor to social capital

Arbutin attenuates behavioral impairment and oxidative stress in an animal model of Parkinson's disease

Objective: Arbutin has been shown to have antioxidant and free-radical scavenging properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of arbutin administration on behavioral impairment, and oxidative and nitrosative stress in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: PD model was developed by 4 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of MPTP (20 mg/kg) with 2 h intervals in mice. Experimental groups received once daily injection of saline as vehicle (control group) or arbutin (50 mg/kg, i.p.) one week before MPTP injections and this protocol was continued seven days post lesion. Behavioral deficits were evaluated using locomotion test, hanging wire test and forepaw stride length. Parameters indicating the oxidation levels including lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS), nitrite, protein carbonyl levels and antioxidant activity including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were assessed in serum and midbrain samples. Results: Treatment with arbutin improved motor functions in an MPTP-induced PD model compared to control group (

Practical Anatomy as an Advance Organizer for Anatomy Lectures: Effectiveness in Learning Facilitation for Dental Students

Introduction: Several approaches are introduced to facilitate anatomy learning. One of them is to present practical course before the theoretical one. This study compared the effect of presentation of practical class before lecture on enhancement of learning among dental students of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: Thirty eight students of first semester in school of dentistry of Babol University of Medical Sciences, whom were admitted in year 2009, were randomly divided into three groups to pass the course of Head and Neck anatomy. One group (N=13) received new method of education and 2 groups (N=13 & N=12) were taught using traditional method. Having the instruction finished the midterm examination was held for the three groups. After midterm examination, both groups were instructed using traditional method. Midterm examination scores achieved by experiment and control groups were compared. At the end of the semester, students of experiment group were given a questionnaire containing attitude questions in order to assess their attitude toward traditional and new method of education in comparison and considering their role in facilitating learning of anatomy. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean of midterm scores achieved by experiment and control groups (P<0.05). Assessing students’ viewpoints toward the two educational approaches, showed that they believed presentation of practical course before the lecture leads to a better feeling (69.2%) about anatomy course, facilitates and deepens the understanding (92.3%), and results in more learning (84.6%) as well. Conclusion: Based on the results of current study, despite of no significant differences between mean scores of students taught via two different methods, students showed a better attitude toward the presentation of practical course before the lecture compared to traditional method. Therefore it may be suggested to present practical course for anatomy before the lecture

An overview of Treatment options for urinary stones

Urolithiasis has become a worldwide problem with the prevalence of the disease increasing over the past few decades. While various treatment modalities have evolved over the years, discrepancies exist regarding the clinical indications and the efficacy of each of these treatment options. In the present review, we aim to review the current treatment modalities for urinary tract stones to provide a better understanding on the therapeutic approaches as well as their clinical indications

Histological changes of kidney in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of chronic renal disorders and end-stage kidney disease in developed countries. It is the major cause of dialysis and transplantation. Failure in renal function causes wide disorders in the body. Diabetes results in wide range of alterations in the renal tissue. It is believed that early histological changes in diabetic nephropathy are detectable 2 years after diabetes is diagnosed. The glumerular alterations are the most important lesions in the diabetic nephropathy (DN). The Renal Pathology Society provides a new pathological classification for the detection of histopathology of DN. It divides diabetic nephropathy into four hierarchical glomerular lesions. Alloxan or streptozotocin induced diabetic rat is the one most widely used specie to study DN. Histological changes in the rat DN closely resemble the human disease and the most information of this review was obtained through the study of rat DN. All cell types of the kidney such as mesangial cells, podocytes and tubulointerstitial cells are liable to be affected in the event of DN. Severity of renal lesions is associated to the clinical aspect of renal outcome, but the aim of this article was only to review the histological changes of kidney in diabetes mellitus

Comparison of Morphometric Aspects of Light and Electron Microscopy of the Hypoglossal Nerve between Young and Aged Male Wistar Rats

Objective: Age-related changes occur in many different systems of the body. Many elderlypeople show dysphagia and dysphonia. This research was conducted to evaluatequantitatively the morphometrical changes of the hypoglossal nerve resulting from theaging process in young and aged rats.Materials and Methods: Through an experimental study ten male wistar rats (4 months: 5rats, 24 months: 5 rats) were selected randomly from a colony of wistars in the UWC. Aftera fixation process and preparation of samples of the cervical portion of the hypoglossalnerve of these rats, light and electron microscopic imaging were performed. These imageswere evaluated according to the numbers and size of myelinated nerve fibers, nucleoli ofSchwann cells, myelin sheath thickness, axon diameter, and g ratio. All data were analyzedby Mann-Whitney, a non-parametric statistical test.Results: In light microscope, numbers of myelinated nerve fibers, the mean entire nerveperimeters, the mean entire nerve areas and the mean entire nerve diameters in youngand aged rats’ were not significantly different between the two groups.In electron microscope, numbers of myelinated axons, numbers of Schwann cell nucleoliand the mean g ratios of myelinated axon to Schwann cell in young and aged rats werenot significantly different. The myelinated fiber diameters, the myelin sheath thicknesses,myelinated axon diameters and the mean g ratio of axon diameter to myelinated fiberdiameter in young and aged fibers were significantly differentConclusion: The mean g ratio of myelinated nerve fibers of peripheral nerves stabilizes atthe level of 0.6 after maturation and persists without major change during adulthood. Thisratio of axon diameter to fiber diameter (0.6) is optimum for normal conduction velocity ofneural impulses. Our study indicated that the g ratio of myelinated nerve fiber of the hypoglossalnerve decreased prominently in aged rats and can be a cause of impairment innerve function in old age. Thus, prospective studies concerning electrophysiological andconductive properties of the peripheral nerve could be useful to clarify further the effectsof aging on peripheral nerves

Exploring the effect of adding low dose human chorionic gonadotropin on oocyte maturation in women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A randomized control trial

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of adding low dose human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on oocyte maturity and hyper-stimulation syndrome in women undergoing Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Methods: In a randomaized clinical trail, 150 eligible patients undergoing a long GnRH agonist protocol were randomly divided into three groups of 50 women. The women in the first group received recombinant FSH alone (rFSH). The women in the second group received rFSH by 100 IU hCG daily. All participants in the three groups received rFSH by 200 IU hCG daily. The mean numbers of mature oocytes retrieved (MII oocytes) for normal responders as the primary outcome, and the occurrence ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) as the secondary outcome were measured for each group. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference in the comparison of the incidence of mature oocytes formation among the three groups. The number of OHSS was significantly lower in third group compared with those of the other groups (6% vs 14% and 18%, respectively; P = 0.03). Conclusion: The addition of 200 hCG to recFSH throughout the stimulation in a long GnRH agonist protocol only benefited a lower number of OHSS

Nitric Oxide-Induced Apoptosis in Human Granulosa Cells

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) acts as an important factor in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including reproductive function. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether NO might significantly induce any apoptotic changes in cultured human granulosa cells. Material and Methods: The granulosa cells (GC) were obtained from women taking part in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. After 48h culture, 1mM DETA/NO was added to the culture medium and then the apoptosis of granulosa cells was evaluated by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) immediately and after one hour culture. Results: Nitric oxide significantly increased apoptotic index after one hour in human granulosa cell culture (p<0.024), but it did not significantly affect the controls and the group which apoptotic index was calculated immediately after NO donor addition. Conclusions: These results suggest that, apoptosis of human granulosa cells is mediated by DETA/NO, and this effect is directly proportional to the duration of the exposure

Seasonal variability in the pregnancy rate of women undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Technique

Background: It is evident that seasonal changes can affect the function of animal reproductive system, and human reproductive system is no exception in this regard. These changes can be attributed to the effect of light during different seasons, especially on the reproductive system of females. There are, on the other hand, many reports that indicate no significant relation between seasons and the fertility rate of pregnancy and implantation. The aim of the present study was to clarify different views in case of seasonal effects on the rate of fertility and pregnancy. Methods: The present study was conducted on 1287 couples at the Infertility Center, Babol University of medical sciences. The couples received embryos after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was included in the study. The participants were divided into five groups based on their age (18-23, 24-28, 29-33, 34-38 and 39-43). The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Women who received embryos were between the age range of 18 and 43. It should be mentioned that the range of pregnancy in different seasons was different, and that the maximum number of pregnancies happened in autumn. Most pregnancies happened in 28 to 33 year olds. The quality of embryos was better in autumn than other seasons. Conclusion: The results indicated that seasonal changes can have an effect on the pregnancy rate through ICSI technique