The Vague Position of the Dissertations in the Curriculum of the General Medical Doctorate Course

Although in the general medical doctoral training program approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2017, one of the professional duties of the graduates of this field is to participate in all educational and research activities approved by the competent authorities. However, in the main competencies and skills expected by the graduates of this field, there is no reference to research competencies (1). In this program, there are 293 credits, of which six are related to the dissertation. The study of this program shows that only the courses "Research Methods and Evidence-Based Medicine", "Medical Statistics", and "Principles of Epidemiology" are about how to conduct research, search for articles, basic principles of vital statistics, and types of studies (1). It is suggested that the following issues be considered before the next review of this program – Cont

Study of zinc deficiency in pregnant women

Zinc is one of the elements necessary for growth and health in human. Some evidences indicate that the zinc deficiency is one of real difficulties for the public health in developed and developing countries. Since the pregnant women are more at risk by the zinc deficiency, and this can cause many problems, in this study we tried to find out the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women within the region. This research project was analytical-descriptive study which was done on the 400 pregnant women whom referred to Zahedan Ghods hospital. A questionnaire was set up for each case which contained the following items, mother age, pregnancy age, numbers of deliveries, education, and consumption of iron tablet during pregnancy. The serum zinc level in each mother in this project was determined by atomic absorption technique. Prevalence of zinc deficiency among the pregnant women was 49%. Statistical analysis indicated that zinc deficiency had correlation with mother age, term of pregnancy and iron consumption. But zinc deficiency showed no correlation with numbers of deliveries and education. © Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Effects of influential factors on entrepreneurial intention of postgraduate students in Malaysia

Entrepreneurship leads to massive economic benefits, such as economic growth, reduction in unemployment, and development of economies. Understanding the factors that impact on entrepreneurial intention is the primary and critical step towards predicting and developing entrepreneurial activities. Due to economic and social developments, entrepreneurial intention is gaining more importance in developing countries like Malaysia. The aim of this study is twofold; first, to find out the relationship between respondents' attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, education, previous experience and age with intention to own a business; and second, to examine what particular factors are more influential on entrepreneurial intentions of postgraduate students in Malaysia. The study was carried out with master students. Data was collected from 380 male and female master students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) who were in their final year of study and were considered appropriate for a decision in entrepreneurship. The analysis of the results showed that, firstly, attitude has direct effect on entrepreneurial intention but age has inverse effect. Secondly, it was concluded that these two variables were more important than others in modeling and predicting entrepreneurial intention among postgraduate students in Malaysia

Cytoxicity of root canal antiseptics used in dental practice on L929 fibroblasts: calcium hydroxide powder vs. 2% chlorhexidine solution

Background & Objective: Chlorhexidine solution is one of the widely used mouth antiseptic liquid that prevents teeth tissue damage and also has application as a root canal antiseptic. In this study, cytotoxicity of 2% chlorhexidine solution is compared with another root canal antiseptic, calcium hydroxide powder.Materials and Methods: Cell cytotoxicity of both chemicals was assessed on cultured L929 fibroblastic cell line for 1,12, 24, 48 and 72 hours using MTT assay (Methyl tetrazolium bromide assay). Untreated L929 cells were used as a negative control group. MTT results were recorded by ELISA reader and analyzed using one-way ANOVA statistical tests.Results: Cytotoxicity of studied chemicals showed significant difference in various dilutions and times (1, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h). The highest cytotoxic effect of 2% chlorhexidine solution was observed in concentration of 0.016% for 72 h. Treatment of cells with 0.016% of 2% chlorhexidine liquid and calcium hydroxide powder for 72 hours showed 80% and 45% cytotoxicity, respectively.Conclusions: Cytotoxicity of calcium hydroxide is significantly less than 2% chlorhexidine liquid and then application of calcium hydroxide powder as root canal antiseptic is recommended

The Interns' Learning Assessment in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

SummaryObjectiveOne of the aims of management priorities in medical universities is the evaluation of learning in educational departments in order to prevent educational retardation and to improve the quality of education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interns' learning in the obstetrics and gynecology (O&G) department at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS).Materials and MethodsThe study was performed in ZUMS, Iran, in 2002–2003 on all interns at the O&G department, including 30 men and 40 women. For data collection, a questionnaire was used and included some questions regarding the common emergencies and diseases in O&G, together with different learning indicators such as reading, observation, hearing, management, and the capability of management. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tables, t test, and chi-square test using the SPSS software.ResultsThe mean percentages of learning indicators of observation, bedside teaching, supervised management, and personal management in the common emergencies and diseases of O&G in male interns were significantly lower than those in female interns. Also, the mean percentages of managing capabilities were 12% and 70.5% in common emergencies and 14.2% and 59.3% in common diseases for male and female interns, respectively. The chi-square test showed a significant difference between the mean percentages of the managing capabilities in male and female interns for the majority of the common emergencies and diseases. Also, the chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between the learning indicators and the interns' managing capabilities for common emergencies and diseases.ConclusionSome learning indicators in the male interns were very low. This needs urgent improvement of the learning quality in the O&G department, especially for the male interns, particularly those who are supposed to work in the deprived areas of the country after graduation in the public service

Slides with English text that are explained in Persian

The common pattern of presentation in the Iranian medical community is lengthy English text in slides that are presented orally in Farsi, both in conferences and classrooms. In this paper, we aim to further explore this phenomenon based on a theory in the domain of cognitive science named the cognitive load theory (CLT). According to Atkinson and Shiffrin's model introduced in 1968, human memory consists of three parts: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. Information first enters the sensory memory, and if received adequate attention and reaches the level of consciousness, it enters the working memory, which, unlike the other two memories, i.e, sensory and long-term memory, has a limited capacity (1). Interestingly, working memory has two separate and independent channels for processing visual and auditory information with a limited and predetermined capacity (dual-channel theory). As a result, the speed of learning in humans restricts (2). In 1988, Sweller proposed a theory of learning called the CLT, in which the three key components of the cognitive structure, i.e. memory systems, learning processes, and types of the cognitive load imposed on the working memory, were merged. According to this theory, because of the limited capacity of the working memory, any factor that imposes an excessive load on this memory will disrupt the learning process (2). Here three types of loads are introduced: 1. Intrinsic load is related to the task. The more complex the information that must be processed by the working memory, the greater the load imposes. – Cont

Differentiation of definitive endoderm from human induced pluripotent stem cells on hMSCs feeder in a defined medium

Background: The Definitive Endoderm (DE) differentiation using the undefined media and non-human feeders can cause contaminations in the generated cells for therapeutic applications. Therefore, generating safer and more appropriate DE cells is needed. This study compared five different methods to establish an appropriate method for inducing an efficient DE differentiation from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) on an appropriate feeder in a more defined medium. Methods: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) were cultured on inactivated feeders. Passaged hiPSCs, without feeder, were incubated for three days with Activin-A and different endodermal differentiation media including 1-FBS, 2-B27, 3- ITS and albumin fraction-V, 4-B27 and ITS and 5-like the third medium. The feeder cells in the first four methods were Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEFs) and in the fifth method were human adult bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs). DE markers FOXA2, SOX17 and CXCR4 and also pluripotency marker OCT4 were evaluated using qRT-PCR, as well as FOXA2 by the immunocytochemistry. Results: QRT-PCR analysis showed that after three days, the expression levels of DE and pluripotency markers in the differentiated hiPSCs among all five groups did not have any significant differences. Similarly, the immunocytochemistry analysis demonstrated that the differentiated hiPSCs expressed FOXA2, with no significant differences. Conclusion: Despite this similarity in the results, the third differentiation medium has more defined and cost effective components. Furthermore, hMSC, a human feeder, is safer than MEF. Therefore, the fifth method is preferable among other DE differentiation methods and can serve as a fundamental method helping the development of regenerative medicine. © 2016, Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology. All rights reserved

Effect of combination of vitamin B1 and B6 on leg cramps in pregnancy

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: گرفتگی عضله انقباض دردناک غیر ارادی و موضعی یک عضله یا قسمتی از یک عضله است. بین 5 تا بیش از 30 زنان از گرفتگی عضلات پا حین حاملگی شکایت دارند. منیزیم رل مهمی در متابولیسم و فعالیت عضلانی بر عهده دارد، بدلیل نبودن ترکیب مناسبی از منیزیم در ایران و ارتباط و تداخل عملکرد منیزیم و ویتامین های B1 و B6 و همینطور بی خطر بودن مصرف ویتامین ها در حین حاملگی، این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثر درمانی ترکیب ویتامین B1 و B6 روی گرفتگی عضلات پا حین حاملگی انجام گرفت. روش بررسی: در این کار آزمایی بالینی آینده نگر دو سوکور 63 زن مبتلا به گرفتگی عضلات پا از نظر تعداد، شدت درد و زمان وقوع گرفتگی مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. سپس به آنها به صورت تصادفی یک قوطی محتوی 56 کپسول حاوی 250 میلی گرم ویتامینB1 و 240 میلی گرم ویتامینB6 و یا 56 کپسول مشابه محتوی نشاسته داده شد و به ایشان گفته شد برای چهار هفته روزانه دو کپسول میل کنند. سپس بیماران مجدداً از نظر تعداد، شدت درد و زمان وقوع گرفتگی و ارزیابی آنها از اثر درمان بررسی شدند. یافته ها: پس از اتمام درمان تعداد و شدت درد گرفتگی عضلات پا در گروه دارو به طور معنی داری از گروه دارو نما کمتر بود (05/0>p). ولی تفاوت معنی دار بین دو گروه در زمان وقوع گرفتگی ها دیده نشد. در این مطالعه هیچ عارضه جانبی با مصرف دارو یا دارو نما دیده نشد. نتیجه گیری: به نظر می رسد که تجویز ترکیب ویتامین های B‏1 و B6 در کاهش تعداد و شدت درد گرفتگی عضلات پا حین حاملگی مؤثر باشد

Persian literature course in the undergraduate medical curriculum

A serious criticism of contemporary medicine is that it is dehumanized, meaning that it ignores the patient and his/her experiences, values, and priorities as an individual human and only seeks treatment based on the latest findings in the biomedical sciences. To modify and improve this situation, the field of "medical humanities" was formed, which seeks to include human considerations in clinical practice. One of the important domains of the field of “medical humanities” is "Literature and Medicine". Literature and medicine are now taught in medical schools at all undergraduate (both in basic sciences and clinical periods) and residency levels. Broadly speaking, the reasons for this implementation are threefold. The first concerns the patient: such courses teach physicians how to listen more wisely to their patients’ narratives and how to emphasize with the patient’s and family members’ points of view on the experience of illness and treatment. The second reason concerns the physician: Reading literature enhances personal awareness and fosters the habit of self-scrutiny. The third concerns ethics: literature and literary skills empower physicians to think both empathetically and critically about moral issues and dilemmas in daily clinical practice. By reviewing the texts in the field of literature and medicine, we come across various educational programs in medical schools around the world. One of the courses in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum of Iran is Persian literature (code: 16) which three theoretical units (51 hours). This course, for which a lesson plan has not been designed in the curriculum, is usually offered to students in one of the first year. Since the Persian literature course is in the general courses section, like other courses in this section such as philosophy of ethics, Islamic ethics, and familiarity with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, – Cont