Study of Healthcare Service Recipients\' Perceptions Regarding Observance of Patient Privacy and Medical Confidentiality in Teaching Healthcare Centers Affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2015-2016, Iran

Background and Objectives: Medical confidentiality and maintenance of patient personal privacy are considered two important moral obligations in medical ethics with a long history in medicine. To be efficient, a healthcare system needs active participation of and appropriate cooperation between the recipients and providers of healthcare services. This study was conducted to investigate healthcare service recipients' perceptions regarding observance of patient privacy and medical confidentiality in teaching healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study that was conducted in 2015-2016, 380 patients referred to teaching healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences were enrolled according to randomized sampling. Data were gathered by a researcher-developed questionnaire according to Patient Rights Charter and analyzed by descriptive and nonparametric statistics test in SPSS 16. Results: Patient privacy and confidentiality were not observed from the perspectives of 26.3% of them, partly observed from the perspectives of 50%, and fully observed from the perspectives of 23.7%. Alongside observance of patient privacy, the most important item, from the healthcare service recipients' perspectives, was observance of client orientation, which was observed from the perspectives of 24.5% of them, partly observed from the perspectives of 50.4%, and not observed from the perspectives of 25.1%. Conclusion: From half of the patients' perspectives in the healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences, patient privacy and medical confidentiality were partly observed. Therefore, the authorities can take necessary steps to set priorities and appropriately plan for improving observance of the patient privacy and medical confidentiality as well as to respect the patients' territory and rights in all areas, especially nursing, administrative, educational, and research

Evaluation of the ZnO Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Amaranthus Ruentus on the Expression of Apoptotic Genes (Bax and Bcl-2) in Breast Cancer Cells (MDA-MB-231)

Background & Objective: Cancer is a kind of genetic disease caused by DNA mutation which makes disorder in normal pattern of division and differentiation of cells and eventually formation of a neoplasm. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of death in women aged 35-55 years. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the common methods of controlling cancer, but the side effects and lack of positive results especially in metastatic tumors has led us discover new treatments. Nowadays, nanotechnology has helped us to find and develop new therapies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the antioxidant and apoptotic properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized by Amaranthus cruentus plant on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Materials & Methods: The Zinc oxide nanoparticles were green-synthesized by the extract of Amaranthus cruentus leaves. Size and morphological characteristics of ZnO NPs determined by DLS tests, FESEM and TEM. To investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on induction apoptosis, cancer cells were seeded in T25 flasks and treated with different concentrations of nanoparticles (15, 30 and 60 μg/ml). After 48 hours, gene expression changes of Bax and Bcl-2 was investigated by Real time PCR technique. SPSS software and one-way ANOVA test were used to analyze the data. At the end, comparison of means did by least significant differences (LSD) method. Results: The DLS test showed the average size of the synthesized ZnO NPs is about 30 to 38 nm. The results of gene expression by Real time PCR technique showed that ZnO nanoparticles reduced anti-apoptosis gene expression Bcl-2 and increases pro-apoptotic gene expression in MDA cell line. Conclusion: In general, the results obtained from this study can claim that ZnO nanoparticles have anti-cancer properties and can be introduced after further studies as candidates for cancer treatment in the field of medicine and pharmacy

Evaluation of Anti-angiogenic Activity of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis by Rubina tinctorum L (Ru-AgNPs) Using Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Assay

Abstract Background: Angiogenesis occurs in physiologic (wound healing) and pathological conditions and plays an important role in tumor growth, progression and metastasis. Therefore, the inhibition of angiogenesis can be an important approach to treat cancer diseases. In recent years, the use of nanoparticles has been developed to control cancer cells and prevent tumor growth. Various studies have shown the role of nanoparticles in reducing angiogenesis and inhibition of cancer cells. So, in this study, the anti-angiogenic effect of silver nanoparticle synthesis by Rubina tinctorum L (Ru-AgNPs) on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) was investigated. Materials and Methods: In an experimental study, 60 eggs were randomly divided into 6 groups including control, laboratory control and 4 treatment groups (10 eggs/group). On the second day of incubation, a window was created on the eggs. On the 8th day, the chorioallantoic membrane of samples was treated with different concentrations of nanoparticles and on the 12th day, the image was taken from all samples. Finally, the number and length of vessels on the chorioallantoic membrane and following that weight and length of the embryo from crown to squattiest were measured. Quantitative data were analyzed using LSD-test. Results: The results showed that the Ru-AgNPs significantly reduced the length and number of blood vessels in the treated groups compared to the control group. Also, the comparison of length and weight of embryos in treated samples with control group showed that the Ru-AgNPs had an inhibitory effect on the length of the embryos, but the weight did not differ significantly in the treatment with the control group. Conclusion: Considering the inhibitory effect of the Ru-AgNPs on the angiogenesis of the chorioallantoic membrane, with further studies, this compound can be used to control and inhibit pathological angiogenesis in many diseases such as cancers

Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Direct Red 81 Biosorption onto Modified Silk Maze as an Economical Biosorbent

In this study, the potential of biosorbent obtained from silk maze, was investigated for the batch biosorption of Direct red 81 (DR 81) in aqueous solution. The effects of temperature, biosorbent amount, contact time, initial dye concentration and ultrasonic irradiation were also evaluated. Furthermore, experimental equilibrium and kinetics data were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, respectively. Kinetic experiments revealed that the biosorption of DR 81 onto modified silk maze can be described with a pseudo second-order model while the equilibrium isotherm data were well described by the Freundlich model. The negative thermodynamic values of ΔHoand ΔGoshowed that the biosorption is an endothermic process and occurs spontaneously in the nature.The results presented that this waste material may be a suitable biosorbent for removal of industrial effluents due to its low cost and high efficiency