Effect of ankle sprain on postural control and electrical activity of selected muscles after single-leg jump landing task

Background: Ankle joint plays an important role in restoring the balance of individuals. Ankle sprain injury effects on balance of affected individuals. The changes in the postural control and activity of the ankle muscle, because of ankle sprain, can put the patients at reinjure risk and lower extremity injuries, especially during dynamic activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrical activity of ankle joint stabilizer muscles and postural stability after single-leg jump landing in individuals with ankle sprain.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 30 non-athletic students were participated. They were divided in two groups of 15 people, in the form of accessible and purposeful. Subjects was asked to land on a force plate with Single-leg, by at least 80% of their maximum jump. The com-cop changes assessment was used as an indicator for postural control evaluation. After jump landing, muscles activity was recorded on the ankle joint by surface electromyography (EMG) device. MATLAB software was used to analyze data, and MANOVA test was performed to compare two groups.Results: The results showed a significant reduction in EMG of soleus, gastrocnemius, and peroneus longus muscles (p=0.03, p=0.01 and p=0.006 respectively). Tibialis anterior activity significantly increased (p=0.001) in patient group than to healthy group. Postural control was significantly lower in patient group than healthy group, in all directions (p=0.00 and p=0.00 respectively).Conclusion: Decreased postural control indicates changes in EMG of the stabilizer muscles of this joint in people with ankle sprain injury

Knowledge and attitude of medical interns about doping and its regulations

Objective: Doping is known as an important public health problem. Prominent sports events can be blemished due to doping. The role of general practitioners as an important part of the health system in the prevention of doping is obvious. Previous studies have shown they have been presumed themselves ill-prepared in dealing with this topic. This study set out to investigate the amount of knowledge and attitude among medical interns toward doping. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 medical interns in Taleghani hospital, Tehran, Iran Subjects were asked to complete a 35-item questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographic data, status of physical activity, knowledge, and attitude. Knowledge was measured by questions regarding identifying prohibited drugs, adverse effects of banned drugs, WADA as an original source of published list of prohibited drugs, and regulations related to anti-doping rules violation. The attitude was measured based on a 5-point Likert scale. The more negative attitude toward doping was shown by higher scores. Results: The mean age was 25.39+/-1.43. Only 8% of students were familiar with WADA as an original source of doping. Approximately 90% of students were not aware of sanctions of anti-doping rules infraction. 65%, 33% and 2% of our subjects had poor, good and very good knowledge respectively. The mean score of attitude was 19.68+/-2.88. Conclusion: Our findings revealed, the senior medical students had negative attitudes toward doping and also their level of knowledge was poor in this regard. &nbsp

Application of Epstein-Barr Virus for Optimization of Immortalized B-lymphocyte Production as a Positive Control in Genetic Studies.

BACKGROUND Infection of B-cells with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) leads to more and subsequent immortalization. This is considered as the method of choice for generating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Producing LCLs, although very useful but is very time consuming and troublesome, drives the requirement for quicker and more reliable methods for EBV-driven B-cell transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS After successfully production of LCLs, different parameters including temperature, serum concentration, type of culture medium, and CO2 concentration were evaluated on EBV-transformed B-cells. In this study, we were able to produce LCLs and optimize condition. RESULTS The best condition for generating LCLs was 37°C, 5% CO2, 20% fasting blood sugar, and RPMI 1640. The study results were to establish a reliable method for producing LCLs that can be used to produce immortalized B-cells from almost any sources. CONCLUSION This can help with tumorgenecity studies, as well as producing control material for rare genetic disorders and so on. The aim of this study was to determine optimized condition for reliable and reproducible LCLs from different sources

Molecular Identification of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Fetuses of Sheep, Cattle, and Goats in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

Background: We aimed to identify Neospora caninum DNA in the brain samples of aborted fetuses of cattle, goats, and sheep in Mazandaran, northern Iran, using PCR. Methods: In total, 133 aborted fetuses (51 sheep, 78 cattle, and 4 goats) were randomly collected from different stages of gestation in various regions of Mazandaran, Iran, from Mar 2016 to May 2017. The DNA was extracted from all the brain samples using phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol instructions. The Nc-5 gene was used for the detection of N. caninum DNA by nested-PCR assay. Results: The detection of N. caninum DNA was confirmed by the observation of a 227 bp band in 24 samples of 133 aborted fetuses (18.1%). The highest prevalence rate of N. caninum was detected in the cattle (20.5%) followed by the sheep (15.6%); however, no positive cases were reported in the goats. The highest and lowest prevalence rates of the infection were reported as 23.8% and 8.6% in Qaemshahr, and Behshahr, respectively. The prevalence rate of infection (32%) in the early gestational period was higher than those in the middle (15%) and late (3.8%) gestational periods. Conclusion: The obtained data of the present study indicated that N. caninum infection may partly be responsible for abortion and economic loss in livestock farming in Mazandaran Province

Relationship between antifungal susceptibility profle and virulence factors in Candida albicans isolated from nail specimens

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate some virulence factors in Candida albicans isolates from patients with onychomycosis and determine the correlation between these factors and the antifungal resistance profle Methods: Seventy species of C. albicans were confrmed using polymerase chain reaction amplifcation of the HWP1 gene. According to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, the susceptibility profle of four antifungal agents was investigated, and the production of aspartyl protease, phospholipase, haemolysin, and bioflm was determined. The correlation between these profles was also investigated Results: The isolates indicated different levels of resistance and production of virulence factors. Signifcant correlations were observed between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole/itraconazole and bioflm production, between phospholipase production and fluconazole/ itraconazole MIC, and between fluconazole MIC and hemolytic activity in C. albicans isolates. The results also showed significant correlations between phospholipase activity and bioflm production Conclusions: Our fndings will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of C. albicans and characterize the relationship between virulence factors and antifungal resistance, which may suggest new therapeutic strategies considering the possible involvement of the virulence mechanism in the effectiveness of treatment. Keywords: Candida albicans. Virulence factors. Bioflm. Antifungal agents

Organic Removal Efficiency of the Nanofiltration and Adsorption Hybrid System in High Strength Wastewater

Surface and groundwater resources are increasingly jeopardized by discharges from pharmaceutical, chemical, and detergent plants. The high pollutant load of the effluents from these industries requires specific treatments. The objective of this research was to study and compare the nanofiltration and adsorption hybrid system with the plain nanofiltration system in wastewater treatment.For this purpose, a pilot nanofiltration system with a capacity of 7.6 m3/d using 1 and 5 micron filters and a FILMTEC NF90-4040 membrane was used in the first phase of the study. In the second phase, granular activated carbon cartridges were used. Inluent and effluent discharges as well as the COD removal were measured in both systems under variable times and organic load conditions. The results showed that COD removal efficiency was higher in the hybrid system than in the plain naonofiltration one. In the hybrid system, the Maximum in the hybrid system, the COD removal efficiencies achieved for organic loads of 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/L were 99%, 95.86%, and 92.93%, respectively. The same values for the plain nanofiltration system were 87.34%, 50%, and 29.41%, respectively. It was found that polarization and membrane fouling decreased both the effluent flow and the COD removal efficiency with time. Fouling of the membrane was, however, lower in the hybrid system compared to the plain nanofiltration; thus, the hybrid system was associated with higher values of COD removal and delayed membrane fouling

Investigation of the Relationship between Genetic Polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1 Genes and Susceptibility to Lung Functional Abnormalities in Workers Exposed to Air Pollutants at Isfahan Steel Plant

Introduction: Gaseous air pollutants can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to lung damage by inducing inflammation. Polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including lung disease. Two glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) genes belong to this family, in which deletions occur and the resulting alleles are unable to produce active enzymes. Materials and Methods: In this study, 41 steel plant workers with impaired lung function were selected. Multiplex PCR technique was used to identify the genotyping of GST M1 and T1. Results: The results of the frequency of gene deletion among 41 patients showed that there were 10 individuals (17.2%) with deletion of GSTM1 gene, 4 individuals (11.8%) with deletion of GSTT1 gene. The results of the frequency of gene deletion among 50 healthy individuals (control group) also showed that there were 8 individuals (8.5%) with deletion of GSTM1 gene, and 12 individuals (8.3%) with deletion of GSTT1 gene. There were 7 individuals (14%) without deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 removal. The results of Chisquare test between healthy and sick groups showed no significance at the level of p < 0.05. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the sensitivity to lung function abnormalities in steel workers is directly related to the duration of employmen

Shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index of orthodontic brackets bonded to enamel using adhesive systems mixed with TiO2 nanoparticles

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is recently suggested that titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles can be added to bracket luting agents in order to reduce bacterial activity and protect the enamel. However, it is not known if this addition can affect the shear bond strength (SBS) below clinically acceptable levels. Therefore, this study examined this matter within a comprehensive setup. Methods: This in vitro experimental study was conducted on 120 extracted human premolars randomly divided into four groups (n=30): in groups 1 and 2, Transbond XT light-cured composite with or without TiO2 was applied on bracket base; in groups 3 and 4, Resilience light-cured composite with or without TiO2 was used. Brackets were bonded to teeth. Specimens in each group (n=30) were divided into three subgroups of 10 each; then incubated at 37°C for one day, one month, or three months. The SBS and adhesive remnant index (ARI) were calculated and compared statistically within groups. Results: The SBS was not significantly different at one day, one month or three months (p>0.05) but composites without TiO2 had a significantly higher mean SBS than composites containing TiO2 (p0.05). Conclusions: Addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to Transbond XT decreased its SBS to the level of SBS of Resilience without TiO2; thus, TiO2 nanoparticles may be added to Transbond XT composite for use in the clinical setting