Current Status of English Instruction at Medical Universities in Iran: Zooming in on Teachers

Introduction: English language is now an indispensable part of higher education, and a good command of English, like in many parts around the globe, is of special importance for Iranian university students who want to continue their education toward a higher degree. Yet, the English language instruction they receive after entering university throughout their studies is in need of constant investigation and improvement. Materials and Methods: The present survey study tried to examine the current status of the English language courses and their instructors in the Iranian universities of medical sciences in different cities of the country nationwide using questionnaires. Results: Regarding course instructors, of a total of 485 English language instructors at 31 universities of medical sciences, only 61 (12.57%) were English language faculty members. The remaining 424 (87.43%) instructors were either medical specialists who taught English language courses (191; 39.3%) or non-faculty part-time (guest) lecturers (233; 48%). As for the courses, a significant number of ESAP (499 credits; 39.5%) and general English (61 credits; 5.15%) course credits were taught by medically-oriented faculty members (content specialists). Conclusion: The results highlight the need to assess the quality of EAP instruction in Iran through drawing on multiple sources of data and taking into account the perspectives of all the stakeholders, especially those of the students

Review of the Books of Persian Literature in the High School of the Old System and the Second Medium of the New System

Many educators believe that the intellectual, national, cultural, religious, and literary foundations of each generation are laid in childhood and adolescence. An important part of this is the responsibility of each country's education system. Textbooks are one of the most important tools in this formation. Persian books are a means of narrating human thoughts and imaginations due to their attention to fiction. The present article is a research on the books of Persian literature of the old educational system and Persian of the new educational system. In this study, we intend to examine the books of Persian language and literature of the old system and the Persian books of the second secondary school in the new educational system. Classical literature, contemporary literature, poetic, prose and fusion literature, Iranian and world literature are some of the components that are examined in this research. The authors appear to have focused on the text in older books and to pay more attention to self-examination in new books. This indicates that the new books emphasize greater student engagement

Stimulatory effect of methyl jasmonate and squalestatin on phenolic metabolism through induction of LOX activity in cell suspension culture of yew

Cell suspension cultures of Taxus baccata were treated with 2 elicitor compounds, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and squalestatin (S), individually and in combination for 7 days to determine if they mediated the enhancement of biosynthesis of endogenous jasmonate through induction of lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total antioxidants, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and LOX activities in 5-month-old yew cell cultures were studied. Our results showed that MeJA and S could stimulate production of phenol derivatives in cell suspension cultures of T. baccata. In parallel to the induction of phenolic production in elicited cells, results showed that activities of PAL and PPO enzymes and total antioxidants significantly increased in Taxus cells in response to MeJA and S. Maximal activities of lipoxygenase were obtained 48 h after treatment with MeJA (100 mu M), S (0.1 mu M), and the combination of the 2 elicitors. Results showed that MeJA and S are effective elicitors for increasing phenolic production in Taxus cell suspension cultures, likely through increasing LOX activity followed by an increase in endogenous jasmonate

Squalestatin-induced production of taxol and baccatin in cell suspension culture of yew (Taxus baccata L.)

Various elicitors have already been reported to enhance the production of taxol and related taxanes. In this study, effects of a fungal metabolite, squalestatin, on production of taxol and baccatin III were studied. Expressions of 4 key involved genes, ts, dbat, bapt, and dbtnbt, in suspension cultures of Taxus baccata were also detected using qPCR. Results showed that application of squalestatin significantly increased taxol and baccatin III yields. Increased expressions of the genes were in accordance with measures of taxol and baccatin accumulations in cells and medium. Production of H2O2 has significant positive correlations with both gene expression and taxanes, indicating that the increase in H2O2 might be involved in the upregulation of the taxane production in yew under squalestatin treatment. Our results suggest that H2O2 is a key signaling component in the stimulation of taxane production in T. baccata cells induced by squalestatin

Gender difference in motor impairments induced by chronic administration of vinblastine

Objective(s): Neurotoxicity of anticancer drugs complicates treatment of cancer patients. Vinblastine (VBL) is reported to induce motor and cognitive impairments in patients receiving chronic low-dose regimen. Materials and Methods: The effects of VBL treatment on motor, learning and memory functions of male and female Wistar rats were studied by behavioral related tests. Animals were given chronic intraperitoneal injections of VBL (0.2 mg/kg/week for 5 weeks) from postnatal day 23 to 52. Motor function was evaluated using grasping test and balancing was evaluated by the rotarod. Spatial learning and memory and anxiety-like behavior were determined using Morris water maze (MWM) task and open field test, respectively. Results: Administration of VBL caused severe damage to motor and balance function of male rats in comparison to female rats treated with VBL and rats treated with saline. Memory and locomotion were affected in both male and female rats compared with saline treated rats, while a sex difference was also observed in these parameters; male rats showed more impairment compared with female ones. Both male and female rats showed cognitive impairments in MWM task and no sex differences were observed in these functions. Conclusion: Results revealed that VBL is a potent neurotoxic agent and despite the profound effect of VBL on motor and cognitive functions, it seems that male rats are more susceptible to motor deficits induced by VBL

Effect of Rational Emotive Behavioral therapy on irrational beliefs of semi-professional adolescents rock climbers

The extraordinary human ability to think about how to think is perhaps his most unique and humane characteristic. From the point of view of Ellis's irrational beliefs, as human beings with imaginary and illogical thoughts, gives themselves anxiety and worry, they can rid themselves of their troubles through proper thinking. The purpose of present study was examining the effect of Rational Emotive Behavior therapy on irrational beliefs of semi-professional adolescent rock climbers. The study was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and a one month follow-up with control group. 60 climbers were selected through available sampling and were assigned randomly to two experimental and control group. Data was collecting using Jones irrational belief questionnaire (1969). Data was analyzed by Covariance. The Result of present study provide a great support of this method. Result showed REBT has a significant effect in reducing irrational beliefs and increasing rational beliefs of athletes (P<0/05). Follow up results were the same. REBT is suggested as an important framework for understanding and developing mental health in athlete

Date Fruit Extract Is a Neuroprotective Agent in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats: A Multimodal Analysis

Background. To study the effects of an aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae) diet on diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. Methods. The effects of a date fruit extract (DFE) diet on diabetic neuropathy in STZ-induced diabetic rats were evaluated and compared with a nondiabetic control group, diabetic control group (sham), and vehicle group with respect to the following parameters: open field behavioral test, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), and morphological observations. Results. In the model of STZ-induced of diabetic neuropathy, chronic treatment for 6 weeks with DFE counteracted the impairment of the explorative activity of the rats in an open field behavioral test and of the conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve (MNCV). In addition, pretreatment with DFE significantly reversed each nerve diameter reduction in diabetic rats. Conclusion. DFE treatment shows efficacy for preventing diabetic deterioration and for improving pathological parameters of diabetic neuropathy in rats, as compared with control groups