The effect of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation on growth indices of healthy neonates

Abstract Therapeutic touch is emphasized by healthcare professionals for improvement of neonates' growth and development. However, inconsistencies exist regarding effects and methods of massage in neonates. The purpose of this clinical trial is to assess and comprise intervention and control groups regarding the effects of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation (TKS) by mothers on growth indices of healthy term neonates. Sixty healthy term neonates were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Mothers of neonates in the experimental group were trained to perform TKS for their newborns at home before feeding for at least 28 consecutive days, two times a day, and 15 min each time. Neonates in the control group were not required to receive this intervention. The neonates’ growth indices were measured within 24 h after birth, and then at days 14 and 28. During the study and the three consecutive measurements, no significant difference was found between the mean weights, heights, and head circumferences of the neonates in the two groups (p > 0.05). Keywords: Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation Growth indices Neonates Mother's touc

Growth and Viability of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines Display Different Sensitivities to Isoform-Specific Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Inhibitors.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) account for about 20% of keratinocyte carcinomas, the most common cancer in the UK. Therapeutic options for cSCC patients who develop metastasis are limited and a better understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in cSCC development/progression is crucial to identify novel therapeutic targets. Evidence indicates that the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks)/Akt pathway plays an important role, in particular in advanced cSCC. Questions remain of whether all four PI3K isoforms able to activate Akt are involved and whether selective inhibition of specific isoform(s) might represent a more targeted strategy. Here we determined the sensitivity of four patient-derived cSCC cell lines to isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors to start investigating their potential therapeutic value in cSCC. Parallel experiments were performed in immortalized keratinocyte cell lines. We observed that pan PI3Ks inhibition reduced the growth/viability of all tested cell lines, confirming the crucial role of this pathway. Selective inhibition of the PI3K isoform p110α reduced growth/viability of keratinocytes and of two cSCC cell lines while affecting the other two only slightly. Importantly, p110α inhibition reduced Akt phosphorylation in all cSCC cell lines. These data indicate that growth and viability of the investigated cSCC cells display differential sensitivity to isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors

Toxic heavy metals and nutrient concentration in the milk of goat herds in two Iranian industrial and non-industrial zones

This work aimed to explore the concentration of nickel, manganese, iron, copper, chromium, and lead in the milk of goat herds in the industrial area of Asaluyeh (southern Iran) and the non-industrial area of Kaki. The milk of 16 goat herds (each herd had at least ten goats) was collected in several villages in each area, and at the same time, the drinking water and forage of goats were sampled. The concentration of elements in the samples was determined by ICP-OES. The mean concentrations of chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and nickel in milk samples of the Asaluyeh area were 16.423 ± 0.349, 0.146 ± 0.118, 6.111 ± 0.501, 0.239 ± 0.016, 0.141 ± 0.030, and 1.447 ± 0.101 mg/kg, respectively. Concentrations of heavy metals (except for copper) in the milk of goats in the industrialized area of Asaluyeh were significantly higher than that of Kaki (P < 0.05). Also, the content of heavy metals was significantly correlated with lactose levels (P < 0.05). The hazard index for drinking the goat milk was computed to be 0.444 and 0.386 for the Asaluyeh and Kaki area, respectively, which shows a minimal effect of this exposure pathway

Potential of green/brown algae for monitoring of metal(loid)s pollution in the coastal seawater and sediments of the Persian Gulf: ecological and health risk assessment

The current investigation evaluates metal (loid)s biomonitoring using algae as well as the metal(loid) pollution of seawaters and sediments in the northern part along the Persian Gulf. Algae, seawater, and sediment samples were collected from four coastal areas with different land applications. The concentration of Ni, V, As, and Cd in abiotic samples (seawater and sediment) and four species of algae (Enteromorpha intestinalis, Rhizoclonium riparium, Cystoseira myrica, and Sargassum boveanum) was measured using an ICP-AES device. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements in seawater, sediments, and algae species followed the trend of “Ni˃V˃As˃Cd.” The area of Asaloyeh (with the highest industrial activity) and the Dayyer area (with the lowest industrial activity) provided the highest and lowest amounts of metal(loid)s pollution, respectively. The average concentrations of V and As in four algae species significantly differed for all sampled areas. Obtaining the bio-concentration factor (BCF) > 1 for seawater and Ganaveh>Bushehr>Dayyer. Algae species of C. myrica and E. intestinalis can often serve as suitable biological tools for monitoring seawater and sediment quality

A New Iterative Method for Finding Approximate Inverses of Complex Matrices

This paper presents a new iterative method for computing the approximate inverse of nonsingular matrices. The analytical discussion of the method is included to demonstrate its convergence behavior. As a matter of fact, it is proven that the suggested scheme possesses tenth order of convergence. Finally, its performance is illustrated by numerical examples on different matrices

Empirical cumulative entropy as a new trace elements indicator to determine the relationship between algae-sediment pollution in the Persian Gulf, southern Iran

In this paper, the amount of 19 elements in three species of algae and associated sediment in the northern margin of the Persian Gulf was investigated. A sampling of algae was performed on the coast with a length of 5 km in each station and surface sediment was sampled at the same time in low and middle intertidal zones. The values of elements in the samples were measured by using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) device. Then, the amount of bioaccumulation factor in algae tissue relative to sediment (biota-sediment accumulation factor, BSAF) was determined. The value of BSAF was compared with the empirical cumulative entropy (ECE). ECE is based on comparing the element information in algae with those in sediments. The results showed that BSAF was very closely related to the ECE factor so that significant correlations were obtained for algae species of P. gymnospora (ECE = 0.477 BSAF, R2: 0.967), H. hamulosa (ECE = 0.542 BSAF, R2: 0.979), and C. membranacea (ECE = 0.356 BSAF, R2: 0.976). The ECE values > 0.4 were similar to those obtained for BSAF > 1, exhibiting that the element accumulation in algae was higher than in sediments. Based on ECE, to determine the vanadium accumulation in the environment, the C. membranacea algae are more appropriate than H. hamulosa. Overall, the data showed that ECE is a good alternative to BSAF in estimating marine pollution

The Study of Experiences of Chemical Victims of Iraq–Iran Conflict in Terms of Nature and Structure of Suffering Sources

Introduction: Suffering is a subjective phenomenon that affects all dimensions of an experiencing person, family members and health team. Relieving suffering of each individual is a principal goal of health team. It seems that chronic process of disease and numerous physical problems, along with psychological, social and economical problems in the chemical victims, each can by itself involves a source of suffering in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to clarify chemical victims' experiences of the Iran-Iraq war in terms of nature and structure of suffering sources. Methods: This is a qualitative study with phenomenological method. Twelve military chemical victims were selected based on purposive sampling with the maximum variety. The study data were gathered through in-depth and non-structured interviews and, thus were analyzed by “Parse” method. Results: The findings of this study are summarized in these core concepts: “Suffering as a value resource” , “Physical problems as a source of suffering”, “society as a source of suffering”, “The economic problems as a source of suffering”, “Disturbance in family comfort as a source of suffering”. Conclusions: Participants' experiences reflect that victims need to be understood by health team, officials and members of the society. Moreover, some steps can be taken to reduce the suffering including increasing social respect, supporting family clubs. Also providing other social supports such as educational programs to improve their caring of themselves and offering appropriate facilities proportionate with needs of victims can be mentioned

Occurrence, distribution, and potential sources of antibiotics pollution in the water-sediment of the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf, Iran

Occurrence and frequency of six most prescribed antibiotics (tetracycline, norfloxacin, azithromycin, anhydro erythromycin, cephalexin, and amoxicillin) were assessed in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and in water and sediments of the Persian Gulf at Bushehr coastline, Iran. The antibiotics concentration in the influent and effluent of septic tank (the hospital WWTP), activated sludge (the hospital WWTP), and stabilization pond (municipal WWTP) ranged between 7.89 and 149.63, 13.49–198.47, 6.55–16.37 ng/L, respectively. Conventional treatment resulted in incomplete removal of most of the studied antibiotics. Furthermore, the activated sludge was more effective in terms of antibiotic elimination compared to the stabilization pond or septic tank. The mean concentration of antibiotics ranged 1.21–51.50 ng/L in seawater and 1.40–25.32 ng/g in sediments during summer and winter. Norfloxacin was the dominant detected antibiotic in seawater, sediments, and influent of two hospital WWTPs. Seasonal comparisons showed significant differences for erythromycin and amoxicillin concentrations in seawater. Spatial variation indicated the role of physicochemical properties on distribution of antibiotics in seawater and sediments. The results emphasize the need to pay attention to antibiotic contamination in water and sediments of the Persian Gul

Effect of Self - Care Education on Quality of Life in Patients With Primary Hypertension: Comparing Lecture and Educational Package

Background: Hypertension is a dangerous risk factor for public health. It profoundly affects the patients’ quality of life. However, there is lack of agreement on the best method for self-care management in patients with hypertension. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the effect of lecture and educational pamphlets on quality of life (QOL) in patients with primary hypertension. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed on 90 patients with chronic primary hypertension referred to two outpatient clinics in Kashan city. Patients were randomly divided into three groups including lecture group, educational package group, and control group. The participants’ quality of life was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire at the beginning of the study, and two months later. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and Chi-Square tests. Results: No significant differences were observed between the three groups for demographics characteristics and QOL before the intervention except for marital status. Mean scores of QOL dimensions of the intervention groups were increased at the end of the study, except for the dimension of bodily pain. Tukey post-Hoc test showed that except for general health, the two intervention groups were not significantly different in other dimensions, and significant differences were observed between the control group and the two intervention groups (P < 0.05). At start and the end of the study, the mean differences in the general health dimension in three groups were 2.25 ± 0.1, 0.07 ± 0.01, and -1.70 ± 0.01 respectively. There were significant differences among groups (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Lecture and educational package can both improve some dimensions of the QOL in patients with hypertension. However, as pamphlets are cheap and easy to use, this method may be used as an effective method for self-care education in health care settings in Iran, where the system is faced with nursing shortage

Heavy metals concentration in mangrove tissues and associated sediments and seawater from the north coast of Persian Gulf, Iran: Ecological and health risk assessment

We evaluated the concentration of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), and cobalt (Co) in the mangrove tissues (leaf and root) and adjusted sediments, as well as seawater samples in the north coast of the Persian Gulf from three counties (Mahshahr, Bord Khun, Asaluyeh). Assaluyeh and Mahshahr were selected because of their proximity to the oil and petrochemical industries and Bord Khun was considered for being away from pollution sources. The metal detected in highest concentration in mangrove leaves and roots was Cu (Asaluyeh: 1.507 μg/g and 1.198 μg/g, Bord Khun: 1.812 and 1.756 μg/g, and Mahshahr: 0.880 and 1.617 μg/g, for leaves and roots, respectively). For sediments, Cr (among the metals) had the highest concentration (1.325 μg/g) in Asaluyeh, whereas in Bord Khun and Mahshahr Ni was predominant: 2.542 and 2.237 μg/g, respectively. For seawater, Cu was the most abundant metal and Hg was the one with the lowest concentration. The bio-concentration factor for Zn and Cu revealed that mangroves in the study areas have suitable potential for phytoremediation of these two metals. Translocation factors from the roots to leaves also indicated higher transportability for Zn and Cu through the plant tissues, compared to the other metals. Ecological indexes quantified the contamination of sediments and revealed a low level of heavy metal accumulation in sediments of the north of the Persian Gulf. Human risk hazards appeared low in all the areas under study. Gas and petrochemical activities can be considered as a potential source of the discharge of heavy metals into the aquatic environment