Sudden cardiac death in athletes: A mini-review

Elite young athletes with clinically silent cardiovascular disorders are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in competitive sports activity. SCD is caused by a variety of conditions; in middle-aged/senior athletes, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease accounts for the vast majority of cases. In younger athletes, the spectrum of SCD causes is broader and includes inherited (cardiomyopathies) and congenital structural heart disease. Inherited ion channelopathies have been implicated also, with an apparently normal heart morphology identified at autopsy. SCD screening allows identification of athletes affected by occult conditions at a pre-symptomatic stage, and may lead to reduction of risk of SCD during sporting competition or training. The use of modern criteria for interpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) offers the potential to improve screening accuracy by reducing the number of false positives. Exercise testing in middle aged/senior athletes engaged in leisure sports activity is likely to be effective in screening significant coronary risk factors, while it is less effective in lower risk groups. Besides screening, the availability of automated external defibrillators at sporting environments is a preventative strategy to help intervene during unexpected cardiac arrest

Survey on air pollution and cardiopulmonary mortality in Shiraz from 2011 to 2012: An analytical-descriptive study

Background: Expanding cities with rapid economic development has resulted in increased energy consumption leading to numerous environmental problems for their residents. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between air pollution and mortality rate due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Shiraz. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study in which the correlation between major air pollutants (including carbon monoxide CO, sulfur dioxide SO2, nitrogen dioxide NO2 and particle matter with a diameter of less than 10 μ PM10) and climatic parameters (temperature and relative humidity) with the number of those whom expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz from March 2011 to January 2012 was investigated. Data regarding the concentration of air pollutants were determined by Shiraz Environmental Organization. Information about climatic parameters was collected from the database of Iran's Meteorological Organization. The number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz were provided by the Department of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. We used non-parametric correlation test to analyze the relationship between these parameters. Results: The results demonstrated that in all the recorded data, the average monthly pollutants standard index (PSI) values of PM10 were higher than standard limits, while the average monthly PSI value of NO2 were lower than standard. There was no significant relationship between the number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease and the air pollutant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Air pollution can aggravate chronic cardiopulmonary disease. In the current study, one of the most important air pollutants in Shiraz was the PM10 component. Mechanical processes, such as wind blowing from neighboring countries, is the most important parameter increasing PM10 in Shiraz to alarming conditions. The average monthly variation in PSI values of air pollutants such as NO2, CO, and SO2 were lower than standard limits. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the average monthly variation in PSI of NO2, CO, PM10, and SO2 and the number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz

Image-based models using crowdsourcing strategies

This paper aims to highlight the effectiveness of the collaboration between the modelling techniques that exploit the stereoscopic images of objects and the ability of the present-day technologies to generate images, both found in the web and gathered by other crowdsourcing techniques. Since nowadays the generation of models from images is a major low-cost resource, the whole strategy is aimed at obtaining benefits in the context of the documentation of Cultural Heritage (CH). Assuming that the documentation of CH is the basis of the protection and the conservation policies, the chances of finding images and using them to create 3D models is particularly effective when the assets in question are at risk in danger zones (wars or areas subject to natural disasters) or in areas that, for various reasons, are difficult to access. To demonstrate the advantage of using low-cost methods for the generation of 3D models of documentation with strategies that fall within the sphere of crowdsourcing, the case of the Vank cathedral modelling is presented. The Vank Cathedral in Isfahan in Iran is a building of the Safavid epoch (cent. XVII–XVIII) completely frescoed in the internal surfaces, where the architecture and especially the architectural decoration reach their peak. The experimental section of the paper also explores some aspects of usability of the digital output from the image-based modelling methods. The availability of orthophotos allows and facilitates the iconographic reading of the frescoes, adding to the radiometric data, there is the metric potentiality of reading the proportions and the compositions of the organisation of the frescoes. Furthermore, simplified and suitably schematised models can be even printed and can be used in a didactic environment, such as the knowledge dissemination intended by the museums and other cultural institutions

Assessment of microbiological quality of potable water distributed in buses of Karandish terminal

Background: Due to the lack of proper rail road and air transportation, most commutes in Iran are carried out by buses. In most cases, the water in the busses is used for passengers for drinking usage. Although this kind of water source has provided convince for the travelers, it could be a great risk in disease outbreak. The aim of this study is to determine the water quality in commuting buses of Shiraz Karandish terminal in winter 2011. Methods: The study is of descriptive-cross-sectional type. 48 samples were collected through quota sampling

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Training Program on the Level of Academic Stress and Academic Burnout in Students with Specific Learning Disability

Objectives: Specific learning disability (SLD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders that leads to many psychological consequences for students with such disorders. The present study aimed to determine the effect of acceptance and commitment training programs on the level of academic stress and burnout in students with SLD. Methods: This study was a quantitative research conducted with a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design and a control group. The research population consisted of female students with SLD in Tabriz, Iran, selected through random cluster sampling method. The data were collected using Gadzella’s Student-Life Stress Inventory (SLSI) and School Burnout Inventory (SBI). Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Given the results of the data analysis, the application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was seen to reduce the amount of academic stress and academic burnout in students with SLD. Since acceptance and commitment training can reduce academic stress and burnout in this group of students, it could be considered an effective intervention to reduce students’ psychological distress. Conclusions: The present findings will pave the way for further research in the field of interventions associated with the psychological problems of students with SLD

Evaluation of the relationship between disability and pain severity with anxiety and depression in chronic low back pain patient: Research and review

Background: Chronic disabling physical and mental symptoms contribute to substantial health-care costs and reduced human productivity. Low back pain (LBP) and depression are leading causes of years lived with disability in every country. Almost half of chronic LBP individuals have comorbid depression and anxiety conditions with a higher risk in female gender. This is a very common comorbidity, and the psychological comorbidities have a negative impact on chronicity of LBP symptoms. Psychological distress and depressed mood have been reported to be correlated with chronicity and persisting disability of chronic LBP. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of pain and disability and associated factors in a subgroup of depressed and anxious individual with chronic LBP (CLBP). Materials and Methods: A total of 74 CLBP participants in a university pain clinic with depression or anxiety diagnosis were enrolled. Hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) for depression and anxiety, visual analog scale for pain severity, and Oswestry disability index were recorded for disability evaluation. Correlation and regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of different factors on disability and depression. Results: Around 49 women and 25 men participated in this study. Duration of CLBP was 12.97 ± 9.27, and scores of depression and anxiety were 14.24 ± 3.41 and 12.95 ± 2.74, respectively. Disability and pain severity was 32.62 ± 9.9 and 5.67 ± 1.34, respectively. There was a significant relationship between disability and other scores. Pain and depression had a signifi cant correlation with disability, and the eff ect of depression (β = 0.357) on disability was more than pain (β = 0.331). Conclusion: Due to our results, there is a signifi cant relationship between psychiatric (depression and anxiety) and clinical factors (disability and pain) in patients with CLBP. The score of disability was higher than pain intensity and depression was the most important predictor factor of disability which must be recognized and treated in CLBP patients. Our results support that depression can predict disability and to some extend pain severity in CLBP patients

Evaluation of the Association between Serum Levels of Vitamin D and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): A Case-Control Study

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPV) is the most common cause of the high prevalence of vertigo. Today, BPV is caused by the separation of autochthonous particles from the macular atrial. As a result, these particles float in a semicircular canal and change position by gravity. The majority of vertigo causes arise from the inner ear. Aim: This study aims to measure the vitamin D level in patients with BPPV who visited Loghman Hakim Hospital clinics and compare the results with controls. Methods: This comparative study evaluated the effect of vitamin D on reducing BPV. Demographic information of patients was collected through interviews. The physical examinations were recorded through a questionnaire. For the group with BPPV, we did the Epley maneuver and measured the vitamin D level. We compared the vitamin D levels of these patients with the matched control group. Results: In this study, 148 patients were evaluated. Sixty-three patients were male, and 85 patients were female. All case and control patients were tested for vitamin D levels. Of 93 patients with benign vertigo, 39 (41.9%) patients had normal vitamin D levels, and 54(58.1%) patients had below normal. In the control group, 43 (78.2%) patients had normal vitamin D, and 12 (21.8%) patients had less than normal. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The present study indicated that BPV was more prevalent in people with vitamin D deficiency, and vitamin D treatment could effectively control and reduce the prevalence of this disease

Micropropagation and assessment of somaclonal variation in Galanthus transcaucasicus in vitro plantlets

In vitro culture of twin-scaling explants of Galanthus transcaucasicus with different concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) including 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg L-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 benzyladenine (BA) was studied. After 18 weeks, the number of regenerated bulblets and intensity of callus was measured. Subsequently, bulblets were transferred to a medium with 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 NAA and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 BA and, after 15 weeks, the bulblets length and diameter were measured. The highest intensity of callus was obtained on 4 mg L-1 NAA or 8 mg L-1 NAA with 1 mg L-1 BA. The highest number of regenerated bulblets was detected with 6 mg L-1 NAA and 2 mg L-1 BA. The highest diameter of bulblets occurred on four mgL-1 NAA (9.4 mm), while the lowest was observed on 0.5 mg L-1 BA (1.83 mm). The analysis of genetic variation using ISSR revealed that there was no somaclonal variation among the regenerated plants from BA and low level of NAA, but there was a significant somaclonal variation at high concentrations of NAA