Anthropometric indices in individuals infected with ascaris lumbericoids in Iran

Context: Ascaris Lumbericoids infection is more common in children and teenagers and in areas with poor sanitation or crowded living conditions. Largest of all the parasites inhabiting the human intestine it is also the most common of parasitic infections in developing countries. It has been reported to infect about one-fourth of the world population. Chronic ascariasis has been reported to adversely effect the growth rate and anthropometric indices in infected individuals of growing age. Aims: The goal of this research was to evaluate the anthropometric indices in individuals infected with Ascaris in Hamedan province of Iran. Settings and Design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. Methods and Material: Six hundred fourteen randomly selected individuals who were inhabitants of Hamedan province of Iran were chosen for this study. Stool samples of these individuals were collected and then experimented with Formel-Ether method to determine Ascaris Lumbericoids infection. Height and weight of these individuals were measured and compared with the indices related to NCHS. Demographic information of these individuals was entered into questionnaires and ultimately was analyzed with SPSS software. Results: Out of the total study population, 16.5% of individuals were found to be infected with Ascaris. Out of the individuals infected with Ascaris, 1% were underweight. In the age groups of 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 years, 3.5%, 5.1% and 3.5% were found to be suffering from malnutrition, respectively. Conclusion: Malabsorption in children might result in malnutrition. In this study, few individuals infected with Ascaris had malnutrition, thus Ascaris infection may not be an important cause of malnutrition among children in our area

New Concepts of Fluorescent Probes for Specific Detection of DNA Sequences: Bis-Modified Oligonucleotides in Excimer and Exciplex Detection

The detection of single base mismatches in DNA is important for diagnostics, treatment of genetic diseases, and identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms. Highly sensitive, specific assays are needed to investigate genetic samples from patients. The use of a simple fluorescent nucleoside analogue in detection of DNA sequence and point mutations by hybridisation in solution is described in this study. The 5′-bispyrene and 3′-naphthalene oligonucleotide probes form an exciplex on hybridisation to target in water and the 5′-bispyrene oligonucleotide alone is an adequate probe to determine concentration of target present. It was also indicated that this system has a potential to identify mismatches and insertions. The aim of this work was to investigate experimental structures and conditions that permit strong exciplex emission for nucleic acid detectors, and show how such exciplexes can register the presence of mismatches as required in SNP analysis. This study revealed that the hybridisation of 5′-bispyrenyl fluorophore to a DNA target results in formation of a fluorescent probe with high signal intensity change and specificity for detecting a complementary target in a homogeneous system. Detection of SNP mutations using this split-probe system is a highly specific, simple, and accessible method to meet the rigorous requirements of pharmacogenomic studies. Thus, it is possible for the system to act as SNP detectors and it shows promise for future applications in genetic testing

Prevalence of zoonotic intestinal parasites in household and stray dogs in rural areas of Hamadan, Western Iran

Abstract. Zoonotic parasitic infections are a major global public and veterinary health problem and widespread among dogs. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray and household dogs in the rural areas of Hamadan district. During 2012, 1,500 fresh fecal samples from 243 household and 1,257 stray dogs were examined by using direct wet mount, simple zinc sulfate flotation, and Lugol's solution staining. Of 1,500 dogs, 20.4% were positive for intestinal parasites. Helminthes eggs were more frequently found in fecal samples than protozoan cysts or trophozoites (15.9% vs. 4.5%, respectively). Toxocara canis was the most frequently detected parasite, with a prevalence of 6.3%, followed by Taenia/Echinococcus spp. (2.9%), Isospora spp. (2.7%), and Toxascaris leonina (2.6%). Helminthes and protozoa were significantly more prevalent in household dogs than in stray dogs (P<0.001). There were significant differences in the prevalence of Isospora spp., T. canis and D. caninum among three age groups (P<0.05). The wide range of isolated parasites indicated that people residing in this area are at risk of exposure to these potentially hazardous zoonotic pathogens. Mass education of the general population is highly recommended to increase awareness of the potential for horizontal transmission of these parasitic infections from dogs to humans

Comparison of quadruple and triple Furazolidone containing regimens on eradication of helicobacter pylori

Background: The effectiveness of classic standard triple therapy regimen of helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has decreased to unacceptably low levels, largely related to development of resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin. Thus successful eradication of H. pylori infections remains challenging. Therefore alternative treatments with superior effectiveness and safety should be designed and appropriately tested in all areas depending on the native resistance patterns. Furazolidone has been used successfully in eradication regimens previously and regimens containing furazolidone may be an ideal regimen. Methods: H. pylori infected patients with proven gastric or duodenal ulcers and /or gastric or duodenal erosions at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari/Northern Iran, were randomly allocated into three groups: group A (OABF) with furazolidone (F) (200 mg bid.), group B (OABM-F) metronidazole (M) (500 mg bid.) for the first five days, followed by furazolidone (F) (200 mg bid.) for the second five days and group C (OAF) with furazolidone (F) (200 mg tid.). Omeprazole (O) (20 mg bid.) and amoxicillin (A) (1000 mg bid.) were given in all groups; bismuth (B) (240 mg bid.) was prescribed in groups A&B. Duration of all eradication regimens were ten days. Eight weeks after treatment, a 14C-urea breath test was performed for evaluation of H. pylori eradication. Results: A total of 372 patients were enrolled in three groups randomly (124 patients in each group); 120 (97) patients in group A (OABF), 120 (97) in group B (OABM-F) and 116 (93) in group C (OAF) completed the study. The intention-to-treat eradication rates were 83.7 (95 CI= 77.3-90.4), 79.8 (95 CI= 72.6-87), and 84.6 (95 CI= 78.2-91.1) and per-protocol eradication rates were 86.6 (95 CI= 80.5-92.8), 82.5 (95 CI= 75.6-89.4), and 90.5 (95 CI= 85.1-95.9) for groups OABF, OABM-F, and OAF, respectively. No statistical significant differences were found in case of severe drug adverse effects between the above mentioned three groups (p> 0.05). The most common side effects, namely nausea and fever, occurred in all groups, but more frequently in group C (OAF) (p< 0.05). Conclusion: In developing countries such as Iran, furazolidone-based regimens can substitute clarithromycinbased regimens for H. pylori eradication because of a very low level of resistance, low cost and high effectiveness. Considering per-protocol eradication rate of ten days OAF regimen, and the acceptable limit of ninety percent, we recommend this regimen in developing countries such as Iran to be substituted of classic standard triple therapy. In order to minimize rare serious adverse effects, one week high dose OAF regimen should be taken into consideration in other studies

Developing students' leadership skills at higher educational institutions for their successful adaptation at the labor market

Our paper investigates key tools of developing students' leadership at higher educational institution for their successful adaptation in the labor market. The key problems facing the youth labor market today are: a high rate of real youth unemployment, the problem of neet-youth, discrimination in the labor market on the ground of age, etc. The article substantiates the urgency of studying the phenomenon of leadership, highlighting the most important leadership qualities and searching for ways of their formation and further development in young people. It also gives a brief description of leadership as a social phenomenon, provides basic approaches to leadership, and highlights key qualities of today's leaders. The paper presents summarized results of a survey conducted among modern international higher educational institution students on the necessary qualities of a leader among students of a modern international university, during which there were named the following key qualities (self-confidence, independent character, public-speaking abilities, riskiness, sense of humor) and the least important from students' point of view (tact, adaptability, insight into human nature, and sympathy). It also emphasises the main methods of developing young people's leadership, among which we should mention: creative and project activities, trainings and master classes on leadership, meetings with experts, self-management, special courses in leadership within educational programs, competitions, participation in R&D, extracurricular activities, leadership schools. We place particular emphasis on the importance of comprehensive approach to the development of leadership qualities of students at modern institutions of higher professional education, covering all tools for developing leadership skills

Development of students' leadership competencies: a case of summer schools

Our paper focuses on summer schools as a tool of building leader's competencies, intelligent and creative abilities in present-day students of higher vocational school. It deals with main concepts of summer schools based on the study of issue-related publications, presents the most complete and extended classification of summer schools, and analyzes them in the educational services market in a number of countries of the world. The paper investigates summer schools, both from those operating on a multidisciplinary basis and those specialized ones in Russia, CIS countries, and some well-known summer leadership schools in the global educational services market. This paper is based on the classifications of summer schools presented in modern academic and practical literature. Moreover, the paper presents the findings of our own unique survey on young people's perception of a modern leader. It also substantiates the role of summer schools in the development of leadership skills and qualities in young people according to the concept of continuous education (i.e. life-long learning)

Peculiarities of Leadership Perception by Modern International University Students

The article analyzes the way students perceive leadership and leader’s personality qualities at the modern international university. The article provides the results of the author’s original questionnaire survey of students in the Economics Faculty of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) on the perception of leader’s personal qualities, the key characteristics of the modern leader, and the priorities for training leaders in the institution of higher professional education. For example, students consider self-confidence, independent nature, willingness to risk, public speaking skills, and a good sense of humor as the most important leader’s merits. The students indicated the lectures delivered by the well-known heads of companies, practical trainings provided by training companies, and specialized courses in leadership within the university curriculum as the basic necessary measures to develop leadership skills at the university. The respondents described the following as the leadership skills, which need to be developed: self-confidence, independent nature, public speaking skills, willingness to risk, and good intuition. The survey resulted in conclusion that most students consider it advisable to purposefully develop leadership skills and demonstrated their willingness to participate in the process of their leadership formation within the framework of higher professional education. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

Personnel Development of Leadership Capacity Management in Organizations

Our paper analyses staff development in the organizational system of leadership capacity management. We investigate the correlation between the human resources (HR) development and other personnel technologies, such as trainings, work with the talent pool, career management, evaluation and certification of personnel, motivation to work and develop, or recruitment and selection. The paper describes the purpose, objectives and stages in staff development as personnel management technology. We distinguish a preparatory stage, development stage and final stage, which, in their turn, include a number of "sub-stages." In the paper, the traditional methods of staff development in the HR development system and modern methods of development are highlighted, among which there are modular training, distance learning, shadowing, secondment, buddying and others. We single out the most expensive training methods (lectures and master classes of well-known specialists, distance learning in prestigious training companies and centres of professional development, coaching) and cheaper ones (briefing, independent learning, tutorship). Moreover, we emphasize that the choice of the development method depends on the goals that the company pursues in a particular period of time, logistics of the company, its financial capabilities, trainee's individual characteristics, the company's past experience in the field of training employees, time available for training, as well as other relevant factors