Validity and reliability of the movement assessment battery second edition test in children with and without motor impairment: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundExamining the reliability and validity of the second edition movement assessment battery test (MABC-2) in children with and without motor impairment.Materials and methodsIn this prospective cohort study, the MABC-2 test and developmental coordination disorder questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ′07) were completed by children and their parents. By using 95% confidence intervals, minimal detectable change (MDC95) was calculated, and concurrent validity was investigated. By applying the MABC-2 test as a reference standard (cut-off fifth centile), sensitivity and specificity were examined.Results273 children (mean age: 6.3 ± 2.3 years; 70% male) with and without motor impairment completed the investigation. For test-retest reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) was >0.89 for the MABC-2 test. The MDC95 value for the motor skill test was 5.76. There was a significant correlation between the MABC-2 test and DCDQ′07 (r = 0.60, P < 0.001) and the Go/No-Go test (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). Overall, the sensitivity was very high (90%), the specificity was low (46%), and positive and negative predictive values were high (69% and 81%, respectively).ConclusionThe MABC-2 test can be considered a valid and reliable motor skill assessment tool for children with and without motor impairment

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions in COVID-19 Pandemic Management; a Systematic Review

Introduction: Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions in management of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, systematic search was carried out on the basis of a search strategy on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and WHO databases on COVID-19. The impact of travel ban, personal protective equipment, distancing, contact tracing, school closure, and social distancing and the combined effect of interventions on COVID-19 were assessed. Results: Of the 14,857 articles found, 44 were relevant. Studies in different countries have shown that various non-pharmacological interventions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel ban, either locally or internationally in most of the countries, movement restriction, social distancing, lockdown, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quarantine, school closure, work place closure, and contact tracing had a significant impact on the reduction of mortality or morbidity of COVID-19. Conclusion: Evidence shows that the implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), for example, social distancing, quarantine, and personal protective equipment’s are generally effective and the best way to prevent or reduce transmission. However, this study suggests that the effectiveness of any NPI alone is probably limited, thus, a combination of various actions, for example, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, distancing in the workplace and use of personal protective equipment, is more effective in reducing COVID-19

Determining the amount of Acrylamide in Potato Chips Using Xanthydrol as a Derivative Representative with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Background and Objectives: In the production process of foods rich in carbohydrates and some other foods containing precursors of acrylamide formation, there is the possibility of acrylamide creation, which is a mutagen and carcinogen material. This study aims to introduce and optimize a new method for determining acrylamide in potato chips using xanthydrol as a derivative representative with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Materials and Methods: Important factors in the derivatization and measurement processes were optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method. The peak areas were assumed as the GC-MS response to evaluate the extraction efficiency of acrylamide, and optimization for all tests was performed two times. Figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated. The amount of acrylamide in four potato chips samples, obtained from the market in Tehran city, was determined using the proposed method. Results: The optimum amounts of effective parameters, including derivatization temperature at 25oC, derivatization time (40 min), xanthydrol volume (40 &micro;L), extracted solvent volume (500 &micro;L) and pH=7 were determined. The figures of merit for the proposed method were at the ideal range. The maximum and minimum amounts of acrylamide in the chip samples were also measured. Conclusions: The performance and reliability of proposed method as a simple, efficient and rapid method for determining acrylamide in potato chip samples were demonstrated

Molecular Detection and Identification of Zoonotic Microsporidia Spore in Fecal Samples of Some Animals with Close-Contact to Human

Background: Microsporidia species are obligatory intracellular agents that can in­fect all major animal groups including mammals, birds, fishes and insects. Whereas world­wide human infection reports are increasing, the cognition of sources of infec­tion particularly zoonotic transmission could be helpful. We aimed to detect zoono­tic microsporidia spore in fecal samples from some animals with close – contact to human. Methods: Overall, 142 fecal samples were collected from animals with closed-con­tact to human, during 2012-2013. Trichrome – blue staining were performed and DNA was then extracted from samples, identified positive, microscopically. Nested PCR was also carried out with primers targeting SSU rRNA gene and PCR products were sequenced. Results: From 142 stool samples, microsporidia spores have been observed microscopi­cally in 15 (10.56%) samples. En. cuniculi was found in the faces of 3 (15%) small white mice and 1 (10%) laboratory rabbits(totally 2.81%). Moreover, E. bieneusi was detected in 3 (10%) samples of sheep, 2 (5.12%) cattle, 1 (10%) rabbit, 3 (11.53%) cats and 2 (11.76%) ownership dogs (totally 7.74%). Phylogenetic analysis showed interesting data. This is the first study in Iran, which identified E. bieneusi and En. Cuniculi in fecal samples of laboratory animals with close – contact to human as well as domesticated animal and analyzed them in phylogenetic tree. Conclusion: E. bieneusi is the most prevalent microsporidia species in animals. Our results can also alert us about potentially zoonotic transmission of microsporidiosis

A Genetic Variant of KOZAK Region in Annexin-V Gene in Premature Myocardial Infarction: A Case Control Study

Purpose: Atherosclerosis is the major underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. Recently has been revealed a genetic role in the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Annexin V is one of the genes which may play roles in early-onset CAD and has anti-coagulatory roles. The aim of this study was to determine the association between -1C>T polymorphism of KOZAK region in annexin-V gene and premature CAD. Methods: This case-control study was done on 100 patients with premature acute myocardial infarction, patients matched with healthy people with sex and age-matched and some other cardiovascular risk factor. Genomic DNA was extracted from WBC and then the polymorphism was genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS. Significant findings: There was no significant difference between genotypes of annexin-V gene and occurrence of premature CAD (P = 0.840) and there is a significant difference between alleles of the annexin-V gene (C and T) and occurrence of premature CAD in case and control groups (P = 0.013). Conclusions: According to the results derived from this study, it seems like the existence of the genotype carrying the mutated allele (CT+TT) in -1C>T of KOZAK region in the annexin-V gene is not associated with an increased risk of premature myocardial infarction