Evaluation of Confounders in Toxoplasmosis Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Assay

Background: The IFA test is one of the most usual methods for detecting anti-Toxoplasma antibod­ies, although it has not any unique standardization. It seems that the microscopic judg­ment of results is an important confounder in IFA test. Therefore, we conducted the present study to clarify the role of microscopic observer, and other confounders on the test.Methods: Eighty sera were collected from patients suspicious to toxoplasmosis for detection IgG anti-T. gondii by this test. Samples were examined against different series of antigens, IgG anti-human conjugates, and observers.Results: There were no significant differences between the two series of antigens and conjugates. For the observers groups the kappa coefficient of the test results in the experts group (0.97, 0.94-1.00) were significantly higher than the less experienced observers (0.77, 0.68-0.87).Conclusion: We recommend the IFA test to be performed only in reference laboratories and by laboratory technicians that have enough experience for this test. Otherwise, we suggest the substitution of this test with other tests like ELISA for the diagnosis and epidemiological studies

The C5a/C5a receptor 1 axis controls tissue neovascularization through CXCL4 release from platelets

Platelets contribute to the regulation of tissue neovascularization, although the specific factors underlying this function are unknown. Here, we identified the complement anaphylatoxin C5a-mediated activation of C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) on platelets as a negative regulatory mechanism of vessel formation. We showed that platelets expressing C5aR1 exert an inhibitory effect on endothelial cell functions such as migration and 2D and 3D tube formation. Growth factor- and hypoxia-driven vascularization was markedly increased in C5ar1(−/−) mice. Platelet-specific deletion of C5aR1 resulted in a proangiogenic phenotype with increased collateralization, capillarization and improved pericyte coverage. Mechanistically, we found that C5a induced preferential release of CXC chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4, PF4) from platelets as an important antiangiogenic paracrine effector molecule. Interfering with the C5aR1-CXCL4 axis reversed the antiangiogenic effect of platelets both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we identified a mechanism for the control of tissue neovascularization through C5a/C5aR1 axis activation in platelets and subsequent induction of the antiangiogenic factor CXCL4

Synthesis of Poly(para-aminostyrene) from 4-Chloromethyl Styrene Homopolymer and Its Styrene Copolymer

4-Chloromethyl styrene homopolymer and its copolymers with styrene were prepared from their corresponding 4-chloromethyl styrene and styrene monomers at 1:0, 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 mole ratios. These homo- and copolymerswere synthesized by radical polymerization in presence of AIBN as initiator and dry toluene as solvent. Then, chloromethyl groups were converted into azidomethyl groups on the homo- and copolymers by substitution nucleophilic reaction in the presence of sodium azide (NaN3) and dry dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent.Finally, poly(para-amino styrene) homopolymers with different mole ratios of amino group on the polymer chain were prepared by reaction of Schmidt rearrangement in the presence of 3-fluoromethane sulfonic acid from the homopolymer and its corresponding styrene copolymers having all azido methyl groups. Structures of the obtained homopolymers and copolymers were characterized by FTIR,  1H NMR, and 13CNMR spectroscopy. Solubility of the homopolymer and copolymer products wastested in some organic solvents

Studies on Electroactivity, Conductivity and Solubility of 2-Anilinoethanol Homopolymer and its Aniline Copolymers Using Oxidation andElectrochemical Methods

Copolymerization of aniline and 2-anilinoethanol was carried out by electrochemical and chemical polymerization. Homo and copolymer thin films were synthesized electrochemically, under cyclic voltammetric conditions in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid as electrolyte at room temperature. The films were deposited on the surface of working electrode [Glassy Carbon ()GC)(] versus Ag/AgCl electrode in solution containing 0.1 M mixture of monomers and 1M H2SO4 as electrolyte by applying sequential linear potential scan rate of 25 mV/s between -0.1 to 0.9 V. The cyclic voltammograms CVs)( of obtained copolymer illustrate the formation of copolymer. The homo- and copolymers of aniline ()ANI)( and 2-anilinoethanol 2-ANE)( with different feed ratios of monomers were prepared in 1M H2SO4 in presence of ammonium persulfate [()NH4)(2S2O8] as an oxidant. FTIR spectroscopy and conductivity measurement using four-probe technique were applied for the characterization of the products. The solubility of copolymers was tested in various organic solvents

Investigation of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Newborns, after NRP Protocol Changing

Meconium is a thick green-black odorant substance, which is produced in the embryo's gut at the 12th week of gestation, and then stored in the colon throughout the pregnancy. Meconium can lead to pulmonary injury by various mechanisms, which in the presence of respiratory distress and other radiological findings in neonates born with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF), are defined as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Given the frequent need for newborns to be resuscitated at birth, educated people are needed to resuscitate them. In the United States, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is a training guideline for newborns. The purpose of the NRP is to provide the cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills needed to resuscitate neonates after delivery.Due to the changes of NRP 6 and 7 guidelines in using PPV, Tracheal intubation and suctioning and using both guidelines in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini and Taleghani hospitals of Ilam, during 2015-2019, we decided to compare these two methods in terms of infant mortality and morbidity over the mentioned years. In this study, we aimed to determine the Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in neonates, born between the years 2015 and 2019, in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini and Taleghani Hospitals of Ilam, before and after the NRP protocol change

Comparison of Marital Satisfaction of Nurse Couples and Those Whose Spouse is not a Nurse and Predicting Factors that Determine their Marital Satisfaction

Context: The nature of the nursing profession is one of the effective factors in the marital satisfaction of nurses. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the level of marital satisfaction in nurse couples in comparison to those whose spouse is not a nurse and predict factors that determine their marital satisfaction. Methods: Following a cross-sectional design, a total of 252 nurses working in educational hospitals in western and northwestern cities of Iran were recruited for this study. Participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire: (1) items related to socio-demographic characteristics; and (2) items related to ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 21.0. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 32.4 (6.39) years. Marital satisfaction was higher among employed nurse couples, those with rotating shifts, those with a lower number of night-work shifts per month, those with personal housing, and those whose spouse was a nurse. Also, a significant association was found between income level and marital satisfaction (P = 0.002, F = 6.67). Conclusions: According to the findings, nurse couples had higher marital satisfaction in comparison to those whose spouse was not a nurse. Nurses reported their marital satisfaction as moderate. Paying attention to the livelihood conditions of nurses, providing more flexibility, and giving nurses the right to choose to set a monthly work schedule can improve their marital satisfaction. © 2022, Author(s)

Million visual analogue scale questionnaire: Validation of the persian version

Study Design Descriptive cross-sectional study. Purpose To validate the Persian version of the Million Visual Analogue Scale Questionnaire (MVAS), a self-administered low back pain (LBP) questionnaire. Overview of Literature The majority of LBP questionnaires translated into Persian evaluate the impact of LBP on daily living. The MVAS is one of the most commonly used self-administered LBP questionnaires, and was developed to assess a different direction and effect of activities of daily living on LBP intensity. Methods The questionnaire was translated into Persian with the forward-backward method and was administered to 150 patients randomly sampled from an occupational medicine clinic in Tehran in 2017. Results Cronbach’s alpha for all subscales ranged between 0.670 and 0.799. Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate construct validity of the Persian version of the MVAS, with root mean square error of approximation 0.046, goodness of fit index 0.902, and comparative fit index 0.969. Other indexes were satisfactory. Conclusions The Persian MVAS is a valid and reliable instrument that can assess the effect of various daily activities on the intensity of LBP