Investigation of the Challenges Faced by Iranian Students with Learning Disabilities to Enter Universities

Introduction: The term “a learning disabled university student” has been hardly ever used in Iran. It may be supposed that Iranian students with learning disabilities do not enter universities. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by Iranian students with learning disabilities to enter universities. Method: Due to the lack of a center to identify and have access to high school students with learning disabilities, qualitative research method was used in this study. The research population included high school students or graduates whose learning disabilities were diagnosed at primary school. The sample size consisted of 8 teenagers with learning disabilities along with their mothers who were selected through purposive sampling method. In addition, 3 learning disabilities experts were included using purposive sampling method. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Results: It was revealed that individual factors, school environmental inhibiting factors, and environmental inhibiting factors related to learning disabilities centers, all play a restrictive role for these students in entering universities. Nevertheless, school inhibiting environmental factors can be the main challenge for the Iranian students to enter universities. Conclusion: Apart from identifying inhibiting factors, this study offers suggestions to address these environmental barriers, among which equipping schools with therapeutic programs for students with learning disabilities is of great importance

Mutation analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Iranian high risk breast cancer families

Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesises telomeres after cell division and maintains chromosomal stability leading to cellular immortalization. Telomerase has been associated with negative prognostic indicators in some studies. The present study aims to detect any association between telomerase sub-units: hTERT and hTR and the prognostic indicators including tumour's size and grade, nodal status and patient's age. Methods: Tumour samples from 46 patients with primary invasive breast cancer and 3 patients with benign tumours were collected. RT-PCR analysis was used for the detection of hTR, hTERT, and PGM1 (as a housekeeping) genes expression. Results: The expression of hTR and hTERT was found in 31(67.4%) and 38 (82.6%) samples respectively. We observed a significant association between hTR gene expression and younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.019) when comparing patients ≤ 40 years with those who are older than 40 years. None of the benign tumours expressed hTR gene. However, the expression of hTERT gene was revealed in 2 samples. No significant association between hTR and hTERT expression and tumour's grade, stage and nodal status was seen. Conclusion: The expression of hTR and hTERT seems to be independent of tumour's stage. hTR expression probably plays a greater role in mammary tumourogenesis in younger women (≤ 40 years) and this may have therapeutic implications in the context of hTR targeting strategies

The effect of hydroalcoholic matricaria chamomilla extract on cutaneous burn wound healing in albino Rats

Background & Objective: On the bases of the antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) extract. This study was design to determine the effect of topical hydroalcoholic chamomile extract on burn wound healing in albino Rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 30 male albino Rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups, as sham, control (olive oil) and treatment. Second degree burning was induced in 20% of whole surface area of animal body by diving the back of animal into boiling water for 8 seconds. Animals of control group received no treatment. Animals of olive oil and treatment groups were treated topically by olive oil and hydroalcoholic extract dissolved in olive oil twice a day respectively from the first day of burn induction to complete wound healing. Results: The results showed that there was not significant difference between olive oil and sham groups in all days of experiments. Also there was significant difference in wound healing (p<0.05) between olive oil and treatment groups (62.96±2.70 versus 74.77±2.50) from the day of 20 to the end of experiments. Conclusion: This study showed that the hydroalcoholic chamomile extract has a treatment effect on burn wound healing in animal model

Dietary saffron reduced the blood pressure and prevented remodeling of the aorta in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats

Objective(s):The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutritional saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigma hydroalcoholic extract on blood pressure (BP) and histology of the aorta in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Materials and Methods:   Saffron (200 mg/kg/day) was given orally for 5 weeks to normotensive and hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 40 mg/kg/day) administration in drinking water, and BP was measured weekly. Histological examination of the thoracic aorta included staining with hematoxylin and eosin, orcein, and periodic acid Schiff methods. Results:  Saffron had no effect on normotensive rats, but on hypertensive rats, prevented BP elevation form the third week of treatment (

Local effect of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel on skin incisional wound healing in Rat

Background and Objective: Aloe barbadensis Miller plant was used for treatment of wound healing in traditional medicine. However it has different and sometimes contradictory effects. In this study the effect of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel on skin incisional wound healing in Rat was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty male wistar Rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups including: sham operated, control and two treatment groups. Under deep anesthesia, an incision (3cm, full thickness) was made over skin of the back in Rats. The animals of sham group received no treatment. Control group received topical cold cream twice per day (from beginning to end of experiment) and treatment groups' similarliy received topical Aloe barbadensis Miller gel mixed with cold cream (25% and 75%). For computing the percent of wound healing, the area of wound measured at the days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 after beginning of experiments. Results: Aloe barbadensis Miller gel at concentration 25% and 75% significantly improved wound healing at 12th day and 8, 10 and 12th days, respectively in comparison with control group. Conclusion: This study indicated that local administration of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel, accelerate the skin incisional wound healing in Rat. This healing is related to the gel concentration