Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Women of Childbearing Age Throughout Fars Province - Iran: A Population-based Cohort Study

Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) has been described as an important etiological agent of intrauterine infection in women of childbearing age that causes congenital malformation. In the present study we examined 844 serum samples from women of child-bearing age for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against hCMV by Elisa technique. 764 out of 844 (93%) of the cases were seropositive for hCMV-IgG and 45 (5.4%) cases were seropositive for hCMV-IgM. An increase in the rate of IgG seroprevalance was associated with an increase in age and parity. The IgG seroprevalance rate was inversely proportional to increasing abortions. Intrestingly seasonal variation affected IgG seroprevalance. There was an increasing trend in IgM positivity rate with age in women less than 29 years. hCMV seroprevalence rate was higher in women from rural as compared to those of urban areas. Finally hCMV primary infections occured in 2.4 % of all pregnancis and it is estimated that up to 0.3% of all congenital disorders, through out Fars province, were due to hCMV. We suggest a role of child to mother hCMV transmission and sexual maturity as the most probable epidemiological factors of hCMV seroprevalence among women of child bearing age

Effect of spiritual counseling on spiritual well-being in Iranian women with cancer: A randomized clinical trial

Objectives This study examined the effect of spiritual counseling on the spiritual well-being of Iranian women with cancer. Design and setting a randomized clinical trial was conducted on 42 female cancer patients who were randomized to either an 8-week spiritual counseling intervention (n = 21) or a control group that received routine education/care (n = 21). Spiritual well-being (SWB) was assessed before and after the 8-week spiritual counseling program using Paloutzian and Ellison's (1983) Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Results There were no significant differences on SWBS and its two subscales scores (RWB and EWB) between intervention and control groups at baseline (p >.05). After intervention, there was a significant mean difference in SWB (p =.001), RWB (p =.013) and EWB (p =.001) in two groups. Conclusions Spiritual counseling is associated with significant improvements in SWB in Iranian women with cancer. Interventions that acknowledge the spiritual needs of these patients should be incorporated into conventional treatments. © 201

Population abundance of pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae (Homoptera: Aphididae), predators in Southwest of Iran

Pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae Passarini (Hom., Aphididae) is an important pest of pomegranate in Iran. Predators play critical role in natural control of the pest. In this study, seasonal population dynamics of the aphid predators were investigated during two years (2016/2017) in Ilam province, southwest of Iran. Samplings were bi-weekly performed in an experimental pomegranate orchard. Four insect predators, Coccinella septempunctata L., Oenopia congelobata L. (Col., Coccinellidae), Xanthogramma pedisseguum Haris (Dip., Syrphidae) and Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neu., Chryspidae) were identified as predators of A. punicae in Ilam. The natural enemies occurred during March to May in both years. The highest and the lowest densities were belong to X. pedisseguum and O. congelobata, respectively. Results of the study can be used for developing integrated pest management program of A. punicae in pomegranate orchards

Effect of spiritual counseling on spiritual well-being in Iranian women with cancer: A randomized clinical trial

Objectives This study examined the effect of spiritual counseling on the spiritual well-being of Iranian women with cancer. Design and setting a randomized clinical trial was conducted on 42 female cancer patients who were randomized to either an 8-week spiritual counseling intervention (n = 21) or a control group that received routine education/care (n = 21). Spiritual well-being (SWB) was assessed before and after the 8-week spiritual counseling program using Paloutzian and Ellison's (1983) Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Results There were no significant differences on SWBS and its two subscales scores (RWB and EWB) between intervention and control groups at baseline (p >.05). After intervention, there was a significant mean difference in SWB (p =.001), RWB (p =.013) and EWB (p =.001) in two groups. Conclusions Spiritual counseling is associated with significant improvements in SWB in Iranian women with cancer. Interventions that acknowledge the spiritual needs of these patients should be incorporated into conventional treatments. © 201

High sensitivity micro-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometric temperature sensors with a high index ring layer

The influence of the high index ring layer (HIRL) in a tapered fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) on the interference observed, and thus on its potential applications in temperature sensing, has been investigated. The MZI was comprised of a tapered Ring Core Fiber (RCF), spliced between two single mode fibers (SMF). Since part of core mode from the SMF was converted into cladding modes in the RCF, due to the mismatch in the cores between the RCF and SMF, the residual power enters and then propagates along the center of the RCF (silica). The difference in phase between the radiation travelling along these different paths is separated by the HIRL to generate an interference effect. Compared with fiber interferometers based on core and cladding mode interference, the thin fiber HIRL is capable of separating the high order cladding modes and the silica core mode, under grazing incident conditions. Therefore, the optical path difference (OPD) and the sensitivity are both substantially improved over what is seen in conventional devices, showing their potential for interferometric temperature sensor applications. The optimum temperature sensitivity obtained was 186.6 pm/°C, which is ∼ 11.7 times higher than has been reported previously

The Study of Quality of Life in Aphasic Stroke Patients in University- Medical Centers of Hamedan

Background and ObjectivesAs clinical improvement of patients surviving stroke is frequently incomplete and is followed by residual neurologic deficit, evaluation of the consequent function of these patients in three respects i.e; physical, social and emotional, which are considered as quality of life is useful in decision making for health care providers. Since few studies have been carried out in this regard, the aim of the present study was to obtain the average life quality score in four levels in aphasic stroke patients and comparing it with the quality of life score of the healthy population which is 5.Methods This study was a descriptive-cross sectional research carried out on 105 aphasic stroke patients referring to medical centers in Hamadan, Iran. Their diagnoses were confirmed by clinical and radiological findings. These patients were eligible for the study and had survived the stroke for at least six months. Sampling was non randomized and goal-oriented. Dependent variables included psychological, communicational, energy and physical status of the patients measured quantitatively. Data were gathered using the SAQOL-39 questionnaire.Results In this study the female population (58.1%) was greater than the male. The greater number of the aphasic patients (42%) was between 71 to 85 years old and the smallest number (6.7%) was between 39 to 50 years old. The greatest average score of life quality in the studied patients was related to the psychological state (2.17), while the smallest was related to the energy state (1.49). Average score of the life quality in the total population of the studied patients was calculated to be (1.88).ConclusionThe findings of the present study can lead to special supportive measures with the aim of improving life quality in aphasic stroke patients. We suggest that life quality of the patient after stroke should be compared to his/her own quality of life before stroke. Because there is no special service for care providers of stroke patients, an international program should be planned so that by reducing stress, they could have a better relation with the patients.Keywords: Life Quality; Stroke; Aphasia

Reverse staining: Effective method for purification of HIV-1 Nef protein in prokaryotic expression system

Background: Nef protein is one of the HIV regulatory proteins. This protein has various conserved epitopes inducing the efficient immune responses in HIV-1 infected individuals. Thus, Nef protein has been proposed as a suitable candidate for vaccine design. In current study, our goal was the cloning and expression of Nef protein in prokaryotic expression system and its purification using the reverse staining method. Materials and Methods: The coding sequence of Nef protein was amplified from pUC19-nef vector by PCR. Then, nef gene was inserted into the pGEX6p2 expression vector. This construct was transformed into the E.coli BL21 E.coli strain and subsequently protein expression was induced by IPTG anti-repressor. The protein expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot using anti-Nef antibody. Protein purification was performed by reverse staining method. Results: The PCR and digestion analysis showed a clear band of 648 bp in agarose gel indicating the correct cloning of HIV-nef in pGEX6p2 expression vector. In addition, the detection of a clear 50 kDa band in Western blotting using Anti-Nef antibody suggests the Nef protein expression induced by IPTG. Finally, the purified protein was obtained by reverse staining method. Conclusion: The recombinant Nef protein expressed in E.coli was purified by reverse staining method. The Nef protein has the potential of antigenicity for vaccine designing against HIV infections

strategic Assessment of Agricultural cooperatives in the Hamedan province (Case study poultry cooperatives)

Cooperative was one of the most successful economic and social patterns in the world and one of the most major institutions that have major effect in sustainable development and justice.In developing countries،cooperative considered as a tool for promoting national programs.The main purpose of this study was to analyze strengths،weakness،opportunities and threats of active agricultural cooperatives using SWOT analysis in the poultry sector in the Hamedan province in 2010.The research type was the applied-descriptive that data were gathered by admeasurment method.To determine the validity of the questionnaire،opinions of professors and spicialists were used and its reliability using Cronbach Alpha were confirmed(0.89).sample size is 56 which are selected using the census.SWOT analysis show that cooperatives despite having considerable strengths،but they have weaknesses and threats which attaining their goals are faced difficulties.Factors such as Grotesqueness of the product purchase price with final price ،high cost of poultry equipments،Inability of cooperatives to repay funds and Lack of the capital are weaknesses.However the main strengths and opportunities including proper hygienic position in poultry units high level of technical cognition and knowledge of members،timely access to a veterinarian and vaccinated poultry،members participation in various stages of decision makhng in cooperative،increasing the consumption of poultry instead of red meat،importance of poultry products as food in consumption pattern،and strong scientific support in the field of poultry sciences.Finally،based on results،the four strategies SO،ST،WO and WT ARE PRESENTED