The Effect of Computer Literacy on the Participants’ Writing Ability in TOEFL iBT

One major concern in language testing relates to computer based and Internet based tests of second language. Performance on these tests is influenced by many different factors other than language ability. One of these factors relates to the participants’ speed to use the Internet. This study investigated the effect of computer literacy on TOEFL-iBT scores by comparing a paper-based and internet based test. The comparison of groups’ performance on both TOEFL-iBT and pBT revealed that computer literacy significantly affects writing performance on the exam. Writing skill of candidates with higher computer literacy was significantly better than those with lower computer literacy. Both groups’ performance was equally the same when they took the paper based type of test. Participants who lack proficiency in computer skills often might use most of their mental power and cognitive resources on working with the computer rather than focusing on what they are actually being tested on. This would lead to inability to perform fully on the language test and consequently to lower scores

Impacts of tomato extract on the mice fibrosarcoma cells

Introduction: The anticancer effect of tomato lycopene has been approved in some cancers. This study was aimed to determine the prohibitive and therapeutic effects of tomato extract on the growth of fibrosarcoma in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 3 groups of 10 male Balb/c mice were injected subcutaneously with 5&times;105 WEHI-164 tumor cells in the chest area. Prevention group was fed tomato extract (5 mg) for a 4 week period (from 2 weeks before tumor cell injection up to 2 weeks after injection) and the treatment group was fed simultaneously with tumor cell injection up to two weeks after injection daily by an oral gastric tube. The tumors areas were measured and recorded on days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The results showed that the tumor areas in control group were significantly more after the intervention than two groups of treatment and prevention (p&lt;0.05). The difference was not statistically significant between the two groups of prevention and treatment. Conclusion: With emphasize on antioxidant of tomato, it seems that tomato extract has an important role in prevention and control fibrosarcoma growth.</p

Epidemiology of prostate specific antigen(PSA) more than 4ng/ml in men over 50 years old referred to urology clinic and cardiology ward of Kashani and Hajar hospitals in 2000-2001

Background and aim: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men and is the second cause of men’s death due to cancer in the world. This form of cancer usually has no specific sign and can have definitive treatment if diagnosed in early stage. The easiest and most sensitive test for prostate cancer is serologic test for prostate specific antigen (PSA). Since this test has 43% predictive value and 67% sensitivity for PSA of more than 10 ng/mg, it is the first diagnostic method for the screening of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of PSA>4ng/ml. Methods: In this study a group of 120 patients over 50 years old with urinary problems (group A) referred to urology clinic of Kashani hospital compared with a group of 120 men over 50 years old with no urinary problems hospitalized in cardiology ward in Hajar hospital (group B). Blood sera from each group were collected and a questionnaire for each patient was completed. An ELISA test was carried out using IEMA WELL kit. The results then were statistically analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of PSA>4ng/ml was 19.2% and 8.3% in group A and B respectively (P4ng/ml and factors such as age, number of children and the severity of urinary blockage. Due to low information we could not find relationship between familial history of prostate cancer, BPH treatment and the pervious vasectomy. Besides there were no significant relationships between cigarette smoking or bone pain and PSA>4ng/ml. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study a screening program for testing PSA>4ng/ml in men over 50 years old especially for those with urinary problems is recommended

Epidemiology of prostate specific antigen(PSA) more than 4ng/ml in men over 50 years old referred to urology clinic and cardiology ward of Kashani and Hajar hospitals in 2000-2001

زمینه و هدف: سرطان پروستات، شایع ترین سرطان مردان جهان و دومین علت شایع مرگ و میر ناشی از سرطان مردان در جهان است. این سرطان معمولاٌ علامت اختصاصی ندارد و تنها در صورت تشخیص زود هنگام، قابلیت درمان قطعی دارد. آسانترین و حساس ترین تست بیماریابی سرطان پروستات، تست سرولوژی سنجش (PSA=Prostate Specific Antigen) در سرم می باشد. این تست ارزش پیشگویی مثبت 43/0 و حساسیت 67/0 برای PSA بالای ng/ml 10 دارد. لذا به عنوان اولین تست تشخیصی در برنامه غربالگری سرطان پروستات به کار می رود . هدف از این مطالعه تعیین سطح PSA بیشتر از ng/ml 4 سرم بیماران مراجعه کننیه به بخش ارولوژی بیمارستان هاجر شهرکرد در مقایسه با گروه کنترل و تعیین رابطه آن با سرطان پروستات می باشد. روش مطالعه: مطالعه حاضر مقایسه شیوع ng/ml 4PSA> در گروه 120 نفری مراجعه کنندگان مرد بالاتر از 50 سال به کلینیک ارولوژی بیمارستان کاشانی شهرکرد با مشکل ادراری (گروه A) و در گروه 120 نفری مردان بالاتر از 50 سال بستری در بخش قلب بیمارستان هاجر بدون شکایت از مشکل ادراری (گروه B) را بررسی و رابطه ng/ml 4PSA> را با عوامل خطر زای کانسر پروستات و علائم ادراری مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار داده است. از افراد مورد مطالعه ضمن تکمیل پرسشنامه، نمونه سرم تهیه شده و PSA آن به روش ELISA و با استفاده از کیت IEMA WELL تعیین و اطلاعات به دست آمده توسط Chi-square مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفتند. نتایج: شیوع ng/ml 4PSA> در گروه A 2/19 و در گروه B 3/8 بود که از نظر آماری اختلاف معنی دار بود. به علاوه سن و تعداد فرزند و شدت علائم انسدادی ادراری رابطه مستقیم با شیوع ng/ml 4PSA> داشتند. از سابقه فامیلی کانسر پروستات و درمان BPH و وازکتومی قبلی به علت تعداد کم اطلاعات، وابستگی با ng/ml 4PSA> به دست نیامد. بین مصرف سیگار و درد استخوانی با ng/ml 4PSA> رابطه معنی داری مشاهده نگردید. نتیجه گیری: بر اساس یافته های این پژوهش تست غربالگری PSA برای مردان بالای 50 سال به خصوص افرادی که علائم ادراری دارند پیشنهاد می گردد

Effect of royal jelly on sterile wound healing in Balb/C mice

Introduction & Objective: Wound healing is the process of repairing following injury to the skin and other soft tissues. Following injury, inflammatory response occurs and the cells below the dermis begin to increase collagen production, later on, the epithelial tissue is regenerated. Royal jelly (RJ) is a bee product. There are many reports on pharmacological activity of RJ on experimented animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of RJ on the induction of wound healing of sterile incision in Balb/C mice. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study which was conducted at Shahr-e-kord University of Medical Sciences in 60 female Balb/C mice (8 weeks old) were selected. The mice were anesthetized with ether. The dorsal fur of the animals was shaved and sterilized with alcohol, and then a longitudinal para vertebral full thickness incision of 10mm long was made. The animals were then divided into six equal groups. In group one (negative control), nothing was applied to the wound. Group 2 (positive control) was treated with nitrofurazon ointment, group 3 was treated with RJ 200 mg/kg daily, group 4 was treated with RJ 200 mg/kg every two days, group 5 was treated with RJ 300 mg/kg daily, group 6 treated with RJ 300 mg/kg every two days. Royal jelly was topically used on the wounds. The wound length was measured with vernier capilar every two days until the complete healing was occurred. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 11.5 using Kruscal Walis tests. Results: There was a significant difference between groups 1, 2 with the other groups (p< 0.015). RJ promoted wound healing activity significantly in group 3, 5 compared to negative and positive control groups. There was no significant difference between the dosage of 200mg/kg with 300 mg/kg of RJ (p>0.015). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that daily application of RJ possesses betters wound healing effects than nitrofurazon

Levamisole augments the natural cytotoxicity in mice

سیتوتوکسیسیته طبیعی ( cytotoxicity=NC Natural) به واسطه رسپتورهای NC-1.1 و NC-2، یکی از بازوهای ایمنی ذاتی بر علیه سرطان می باشد. حذف رسپتورهای فوق توسط آنتی بادی ضد NC-2 و NC-1.1 در موش منجر به رشد سریع تر برخی از سرطان ها می گردد. لذا از مواد تقویت کننده سیتوتوکسیسیته طبیعی می توان به عنوان داروهای ضد سرطان استفاده کرد. این پژوهش تاثیر داروی لوامیزول را بر تقویت سیتوتوکسیسیته طبیعی سلول های NC-2+ و کنترل فیبروسارکومایWEHI-164 موش های نژاد BALB/c مورد بررسی قرار داده است. تزریق لوامیزول به موش، سیتوتوکسیسیته طبیعی سلول های طحال را در کشتن سلول های توموری رادیواکتیو شده با کرومیوم 51 در محیط آزمایشگاه افزایش داده، به طوری که تزریق 10 میلی گرم لوامیزول بر هر کیلوگرم وزن بدن به موش های BALB/c پس از 48 ساعت، رشد سلول های توموری WEHI-164 را به طور معنی داری کاهش داده است. تجویر آنتی بادی ضد NC-2 حذف اثر لوامیزول را در پی داشت. این مطالعه نشان می دهد که اثر ضد توموری لوامیزول (حداقل بخشی از آن) توسط سلول هایNC-2+ سازماندهی می گردد

Risk factors of Atopic dermatitis in Shahrekord schoolchildren

Background and aim: Atopic dermatitis is one of the common skin diseases of childhood that creates considerable side effects on patients, their families and the health care system. This study was carried out to identify both prevalence rate and risk factors of the disease in Shahrekord schoolchildren in 2003. Methods: In a cross-sectional study from all Shahrekord schoolchildren, 1500 students (750 female, 750 male) were randomly selected and the questionnaires of atopic dermatitis were distributed among the selected students and then collected after being filled by their parents then all selected students were examined by a general physician. Suspected students were examined by a dermatologist and an ophthalmologist. The serum IgE of students with any evidence of AD was then serologically tested and the collected data were analyzed with both X2 and student-t test. Results: The mean ages of students participated in the survey was 9.2±1.4 years. According to AD criteria, the prevalence rate was 2.1 percent (32 students). There was no significant statistical relationship between sex and age with atopic dermatitis prevalence rate, but there was significant statistical relationship between AD prevalence rate and signs and symptoms of asthma, allergic renitis, family history of the atopic dermatitis and atopy (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results showed that atopic dermitis was more frequently seen in those individual with asthema, allergic renitis, familial history for atopic eczema or familial history for atopic dermitis. But no relationship between atopic dermitis and age as well as sex was observed

Rate of satisfaction and evaluation of medical students (interns and externs) from the quality of clinical education in the Shahre-kord university of medical sciences-2005

Introduction: Revolution of information in medical sciences as one of the important parts of knowledge has made the attention to medical education more critical. This study was performed to evaluate the satisfaction of Shahre-kord university medical students (interns and externs) from the quality of education in clinical courses. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the rate of satisfaction of 77 medical students (interns and externs) from the quality of education in Shahre-kord university clinical courses was evaluated using a locally standardized questionnaire. The findings were classified as: high, moderate and low. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 11). Results: A total of 77 students completed the questionnaire. The high rate of satisfaction from the quality of education in different clinical clerkship periods was reported as follows: Internal medicine 25/7, surgery (general surgery and orthopedic) 27/4, pediatric medicine 17/5, gynecology 6/3, infectious disease 54/5, neurology 36/5, ENT 54/5, ophthalmology 47/5, poisoning 21/2, psychiatry 37/7, urology 6/3, health science 17/6. In addition, high rate of satisfaction from professional skills teaching was reported by 17.4 of the students. The most satisfaction rate in internal and pediatric courses was from morning reports and in surgery clerkship period, from outpatient clinic and theory courses. In gynecology period the lowest rate of satisfaction was reported from outpatient clinic and theory courses. High rate of satisfaction in minor clerkship periods was reported from ENT, infectious disease, psychiatry, and neurology periods respectively. Conclusions: In major clerkship periods, the students were unsatisfied from teaching rounds, outpatient clinic and theory courses. In contrast, high rate of satisfaction was belonged to morning report programs. Due to the low rate of satisfaction from gynecology, poisoning and urology courses and also un-satisfaction from CPR and labor management teaching, reviewing the educational programs by teaching managers is recommended