Impact of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaffarian lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in hyperlipidemia patients.

Introduction: Hyperlipidemia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Each type of medication works differently and has different types of side effects. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties that help reducing the cardiovascular risk factors. Kelussia odoratissima is a flavonoid containing plant. Objectives: The aim of this study was investigating the effect of this herb on lipid and glucose profile in hyperlipidemia patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study performed on 61 hyperlipidemia patients. They assigned in control and intervention groups. The control group received 40 mg/day of lovastatin and intervention group received 40 mg/day of Lovastatin plus 2 g/day powder of Kelussia odoratissima. Before, two weeks and 1 month after the beginning of the study, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were measured. Data were analyzed by variance analysis with repeated measures, chi-square and t tests. Results: The reduction rate of cholesterol, TG, VLDL-C and LDL-C was similar in the control and intervention groups. The HDL-C rate was higher in intervention group compared to control group (P 0.05). The mean of FBS did not change between and within groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion:Kelussia odoratissima did not have a desirable effect on serum lipid profile and FBS in hyperlipidemic patients that use lovastatin, but is able to increase HDL-C significantly

The cross dominancy and structural disorders of head and vertebral column

زمینه و هدف: برتری متقاطع وجود چشم غالب در یک سمت و دست غالب در سمت دیگر بدن می باشد. این حالت می تواند سبب بروز اختلالاتی در وضعیت سر و ستون فقرات شود. هدف این مطالعه، بررسی ارتباط بین برتری متقاطع چشمی با ناهنجاری های ساختاری سر و ستون فقرات در دانشجویان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی زاهدان بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی،300 دانشجوی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی زاهدان به صورت تصادفی انتخاب و چشم غالب آنها با تست مایلز تعیین شد. سپس افراد به دو گروه با و بدون برتری متقاطع تقسیم شدند. وجود یا عدم وجود اختلالات ساختاری ستون فقرات و وضعیت قرار گیری سر با استفاده از صفحه شطرنجی و شاقول در دو گروه بررسی شد. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون کای دو تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: از 300 مورد، 76 نفر (3/25 ) دارای برتری متقاطع و 224 نفر (7/74 ) فاقد برتری متقاطع بودند. بین برتری متقاطع چشم و دست با اسکولیوزیس (001/0

The investigation of relationship between binocular vision status and migraine headaches

زمینه و هدف: با توجه به نتایج ضد و نقیض در مورد ارتباط بین سردردهای میگرنی و اختلالات دید دوچشمی، این مطالعه با هدف تعیین ارتباط بین برخی از پارامترهای دید دو چشمی با میگرن انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مورد- شاهدی، 30 نفر بیمار میگرنی که معیارهای ورود به مطالعه را داشتند به همراه 30 نفر بدون سردرد میگرنی مورد مطالعه قرار گرفتند. ابتدا بیماران با استفاده از پرسشنامه استاندارد سردرد غربال شده و تایید نهایی توسط نورولو‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ژیست انجام شد. عیوب انکساری به روش رتینوسکوپی تعیین و سپس نقطه نزدیک تقارب، تقارب پرشی، استریوپسیس، ذخایر فیوژنی، انحراف دور و نزدیک در دو گروه تعیین شد. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های من- ویتنی و رگرسیون لجستیک تک متغیره و چندگانه تحلیل شد. یافته ها: میانگین استریوپسیس در گروه مورد و شاهد به ترتیب 82/33±17/154 و 1/26±0/49 ثانیه بر کمان بود و به ترتیب در گروه مورد و شاهد میانگین فوریای نزدیک 72/6±3/8 و 85/2±5/6، ذخایر فیوژنی مثبت دور 76/2± 7/10 و 07/5±07/6، ذخایر فیوژنی منفی دور 7/4±2/18 و 37/7±0/11، ذخایر فیوژنی مثبت نزدیک 49/4±5/16 و 72/8±97/13 و ذخایر فیوژنی منفی نزدیک 22/5±7/22 و 25/9±67/14 پریزیوم دیوپتر بود. متوسط متغیرهای فوق و تقارب پرشی در دو گروه تفاوت معنی داری داشت (05/0>P) ولی متوسط سایر متغیرها در دو گروه معنی دار نبود. در رگرسیون لجستیک چندگانه فقط تقارب پرشی، تقارب فیوژنی مثبت در دور و نزدیک در مدل باقی ماند (05/0

Comparative analysis of agricultural water pricing between Azarbaijan Provinces in Iran and the state of California in the US: a hydro-economic approach

Iranian water authority has recently announced that one of the effective ways to avoid unprecedented high water consumption in Iran’s agriculture sector is to increase water price. This paper analyzes the feasibility of this policy by using a hydro-economic approach with the aim to consider the role of water pricing in agricultural water management. Such an analysis was conducted through comparing price of water consumed for producing selected agricultural crops (i.e. wheat, sugar beets, onion, tomato, barley, potato, corn, alfalfa hay and watermelon) in a case study on two provinces (East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan) in Iran to that in the state of California (CA) in the USA. According to the paper, the method uses the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) Index for the first time to analyze the water prices of agricultural crops in the case study due to the specific regional circumstances in the Case Study (i.e. severe fluctuations and continuously changing currency) that prevent using the norm of Nominal Exchange Rate Index (NERI). The results show there is no significant difference between the water price for producing the selected crops in West Azarbaijan (W.AZ) and East Azarbaijan (E.AZ) provinces and that in the state of California if PPP Index is applied. Water price for producing each kilogram of some crops such as wheat, sugar beet, onion and watermelon (except potato and barley) is estimated to be between 60–80 percent of that in the state of California. However, this ratio is ironically equal to 116% for alfalfa hay and 105% for corn. As a result, considering the obtained results, one may realize that the whole problem can be hardly attributed to the low price of agricultural water in our case study and raising agricultural water price would never be effective for reducing water consumption in the studied area unless price adjustment accompanies developing necessary infrastructures. Unlike the views that advocate raising water prices, there are two distinct views: The first declares that agricultural water should be free of charge to the farmers because it returns to the hydrological cycle. The second view stipulates that instead of raising water prices in agriculture sector, the cost of water supply for agriculture should be reduced by new technologies. It is advised that before adjusting agricultural water price, institutional reforms are required based on the experiences of other countries and establishing local water distribution cooperatives

The Role of Strategic Regions in International Cooperation and the Development of International Regimes

The end of the Cold War led to development of new cooperation among the states. International regimes are one of the types of cooperation. The presence of emerging powers in the region such as China and India as well as countries like Afghanistan and Iran with the common historical past, cultural values and economic cohesion, provide an appropriate ground for the development of an international regime in the region. The strategic port of Chabahar could be the hub of this regime. In this regard, this piece of research work is an attempt to address the main question as to what capacities does Chabahar have to become an international regime and how do the common elements of cooperation in West Asia facilitate the development of this regime? The hypothesis to answer the question is based on the fact that Chabahar due to its geo-economic and geostrategic location could become an international economic regime and the historical relations as well as common values among the countries of the region facilitate the development of this regime. This research is done through explanatory-analytical method by using secondary data including articles and books and internet sites

A study of the required sustainability‑driven institutional and behavioural mechanisms to tackle the anticipated implications of agricultural water price shocks: a system dynamics approach

Economic policies for managing agricultural water use are often complicated by the challenge of using water prices as an efficient economic tool when other non-economic concerns are involved in the decision-making process. This study aims to analyse the impact of water pricing policies on preserving agricultural water resources in Iran. This study applies a system dynamics approach to simulate the system performance and behaviour of stakeholders and the economic implications. Our finding shows that water pricing policies will likely fail due to low water price elasticity and if there are lack of institutional and physical infrastructure, alternative professions, manufacturing technology, education, and training opportunities. The results also illustrate how agricultural water price increase (AWPI) fails to reduce water consumption in the absence of an adequate institutional arrangement. Also, it shows how the lack of advanced institutional infrastructure in the presence of physical infrastructure enhances pervasive overuse and destructive competition among stakeholders by increasing the area under cultivation. In the discussion, the paper portrays a way out of the decision-making body by following AWPI effects on water conservation in the agricultural sector as the most significant water consumer. It investigates the absence and subsequent presence of specific institutional conditions and evaluates training and enhancing farmers’ skills and alternative career source with higher income and technology as the architecture of good environmental governance. Finally, it concludes that a series of inclusive measures must be considered to increase the elasticity of the water price. These measures must stimulate farmers towards pursuing the goals of global sustainable development and enhancing social welfare

The relationship between binocular vision symptoms and near point of convergence

Aim and Background: Due to the relatively high prevalence of binocular vision anomalies, a regular examination including tests for assessment and determination of these anomalies is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between near point of convergence (NPC) and near binocular vision symptoms and finding of an NPC cutoff point for symptoms in university students. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 124 students of different majors of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. If they met the inclusion criteria, they were divided into two groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) according to the convergence insufficiency symptom survey questionnaire. For NPC measurement, a small isolated letter "E" of approximately 20/30 size on a metal rod was used. After data collection, data were analyzed in SPSS.17 software (SPSS for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) using descriptive and analytical statistics, including Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The mean NPC findings in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were 11.7 ± 5.0 and 8.4 ± 3.4 cm, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The ROC curve suggests an NPC cutoff point of 9.5 cm for the presence of symptoms with the testing procedures used in this study. Conclusion : The determination of NPC is helpful in the differentiation of symptomatic from asymptomatic subjects

An overview of the comparison of inhalation aromatherapy on emotional distress of female and male patients in preoperative period

Many patients experience anxiety and stress before surgery. Anxiety is also different in men and women so that the prevalence of anxiety disorders in women is higher than men. The present study aimed to compare the effect of inhalation aromatherapy on emotional distress of men and women before surgery. This study conducted as a randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled, prospective and clinical trial. It was performed in hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. 90 patients were selected as candidates for surgery and were divided into two intervention groups and one control group. Patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire before the intervention. Patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire (STAI) after 20 min of intervention. Then the data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16. The significance level in all testes was set at <0.05. Relatively severe anxiety was not observed in men after intervention with lavender and spring orange. In women, relatively severe anxiety was not observed after the intervention with lavender, but in the spring orange group, only in 6.7% of people, relatively severe anxiety and traits were observed, which has decreased compared to before the intervention. In addition, the severity of anxiety in women in the control group increased after placebo intervention (p<0.05). The results showed that inhalation of Citrus aurantium and lavender aroma reduces anxiety in male and female patients