Study of drug wastage rate and knowledge of operating room employees toward drug wastage in Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Shahrekord, 2012-2013

زمینه و هدف: امروزه به علت افزایش هزینه اثر بخشی مراقبت های بهداشتی توجه قابل ملاحظه ای به هزینه های داروها شده است. این پژوهش با هدف تعیین میزان دور ریز برخی داروهای رایج مصرفی در اتاق عمل چشم، گوش و حلق و بینی (ENT) و همچنین بررسی آگاهی کارکنان اتاق عمل بیمارستان آیت اله کاشانی شهرکرد در خصوص دور ریز داروها انجام گردید. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مقطعی، میزان دور ریز برخی داروهای رایج اتاق عمل بیمارستان آیت اله کاشانی شهرکرد طی یک دوره سه ماهه بصورت روزانه بررسی و هزینه مالی آن ها برآورد گردید. همچنین آگاهی 100 نفر از کارکنان شاغل در اتاق عمل این بیمارستان در خصوص دور ریز دارو با استفاده از پرسشنامه محقق ساخته بررسی گردید. یافته ها: در این مطالعه در دسته آمپول ها، قطره ها و سرم ها به ترتیب آمپول پروپوفول با 4/22، قطره پیلوکاربین با 9/94 و سرم مانیتول با 3/59 بالاترین درصد دور ریز را به خود اختصاص دادند. کمترین درصد دور ریز متعلق به آمپول آتروپین (9) بود. از نظر مالی بیشترین بار مالی به ازای هر بیمار متعلق به پروپوفول (21000 ریال) و کمترین متعلق به آتروپین (1066 ریال) بود. نمره آگاهی آزمودنی ها در خصوص دور ریز دارو 82 برآورد گردید. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به وجود دوزهای متفاوت داروئی و روش های مختلف مصرف، این میزان دور ریز گزارش شده در این مطالعه قابل توجیه نمی باشد، لذا مسئولین علاوه بر توجه به مقوله تولید و تهیه دارو می بایست به مقوله مصرف نیز توجه بیشتری نمایند

Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity and Protection by Milk Thistle Extract in Rats

The protective effect of methanolic extract of milk thistle seeds and silymarin against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity in male rats after a single intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg kg(−1) cisplatin were studied. Over 5 days, cisplatin-treated rats showed tubular necrosis and elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). Pretreatment of animals with silymarin (50 mg kg(−1)) or extract (0.6 g kg(−1)) 2 h before cisplatin prevented the tubular damage. Rats treated with silymarin or extract 2 h after cisplatin had BUN and Scr significantly lower than those receiving cisplatin, but mild to moderate necrosis was observed. These results suggested that milk thistle may protect against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity and might serve as a novel combination agent with cisplatin to limit renal injury

Modeling triplet spike-timing-dependent plasticity using memristive devices

Triplet-based spike-timing-dependent plasticity (TSTDP) is an advanced synaptic plasticity rule that results in improved learning capability compared to the conventional pair-based STDP (PSTDP). The TSTDP rule can reproduce the results of many electrophysiological experiments, where the PSTDP fails. This paper proposes a novel memristive circuit that implements the TSTDP rule. The proposed circuit is designed using three voltage (flux)-driven memristors. Simulation results demonstrate that our memristive circuit induces synaptic weight changes that arise due to the timing differences among pairs and triplets of spikes. The presented memristive design is an initial step toward developing asynchronous TSTDP learning architectures using memristive devices. These architectures may facilitate the implementation of advanced large-scale neuromorphic systems with applications in real-world engineering tasks such as pattern classification

Performance of Surfactant-Type Polyoxometalate, [(C16H33) N(CH3)3]6 [PV3W9O40] in Oxidative Desulfurization of Gas Condensate and Straight Run Gasoil

A Novel hybrid surfactant-type polyoxometalate, [(C16H33)N(CH3)3]6 [PV3W9O40] was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, SEM and EDX analyze. Oxidation of sulfur compounds in gas condensate with H2O2 as oxidant using surfactant-type polytangestovanado phosphoric catalyst and acetonitrile as solvent was studied. The total sulfur content of the samples was determined by UV Fluorescence. The catalyst were evaluated for the oxidative desulfurization of gas condensate from Ilam Refinery Company and straight-run diesel from Kermanshah Oil Refining. Results show that the catalysts keep the Keggin structure. The sulfur level of a gas condensate can be lowered from a few hundred 1800 µg/g to 83 µg/g only at 5 min and the sulfur removal 98.83% was obtained at 15 min. Also, the desulfurization rate of straight-run diesel can be up to 82% at 30 min. In addition, the reusability of catalyst after five times showed that the catalytic activity had a few decrease from 97.22 to 92.11 percent sulfur removal of gas condensate

Delay presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia with gastrointestinal manifestations: A case report

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is usually accompanied by pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and other associated anomalies which result in high mortality rates in these cases. This condition occurs when there is a defect in the diaphragm (mostly to the left and posterolateral) from which herniation of the abdominal contents into the thorax can take place. Morgagni hernia is a less common CDH (only 5-10% of CDH cases), in which congenital herniation of the abdominal content through the triangular parasternal gaps of the anterior diaphragm happen. Morgagni hernia usually affects the right side, and the patients are usually asymptomatic. Herein, we present the case of a 15-month-old male infant with large Morgagni hernia resulting in poor weight gain. The presentation was unique due to its huge orifice, its gastrointestinal obstruction presentation and also its unremarkable radiologic findings. The patient was monitored by the follow up team for 12 months. The follow-up revealed no recurrence, and the patient had favorable weight gain without any gastrointestinal symptoms

The Role of Jewish Messianism in Israel's Hostile Foreign Policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran

Messianism is one of the most important concepts in Judaism. The Zionist movement succeeded in establishing a Jewish state in the land of Palestine based on the changes it made to the traditional meaning of this concept. On the other hand, Messianism is the only common concept on which all the various Jewish sects agree. Accordingly, after the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, Messianism entered into all aspects of Israeli domestic and foreign policies. Also, simultaneously with the Islamic Revolution in Iran, right-wing and religious groups came to power in Israel in 1977 after thirty years. One of the common traits of rightists is that they are Messianic; thus, the variable of Messianism in the foreign policy of Israel towards Iran became an objective factor and appeared in a hostile manner. Therefore, the present article uses the theory of constructivism, which in addition to material issues such as power, also considers immaterial variables such as religion to be important in international relations; it seeks to answer the question of how Jewish Messianism led Israel to pursue a hostile foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran

Crocin suppresses multidrug resistance in MRP overexpressing ovarian cancer cell line

Background Crocin, one of the main constituents of saffron extract, has numerous biological effects such as anti-cancer effects. Multidrug resistance- associated proteins 1 and 2 (MRP1 and MRP2) are important elements in the failure of cancer chemotherapy. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of crocin on MRP1 and MRP2 expression and function in human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and its cisplatin-resistant derivative A2780/RCIS cells. Methods The cytotoxicity of crocin was assessed by the MTT assay. The effects of crocin on the MRP1 and MRP2 mRNA expression and function were assessed by real-time RT-PCR and MTT assays, respectively. Results Our study indicated that crocin reduced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in which the reduction in proliferation rate was more noticeable in the A2780 cell line compared to A2780/RCIS. Crocin reduced MRP1 and MRP2 gene expression at the mRNA level in A2780/RCIS cells. It increased doxorubicin cytotoxicity on the resistant A2780/RCIS cells in comparison with the drug-sensitive A2780 cells. Conclusion Totally, these results indicated that crocin could suppress drug resistance via down regulation of MRP transporters in the human ovarian cancer resistant cell line

Identifying Challenges to the Public Financial Management System

The public financial management system in developing countries faces ongoing challenges. These challenges include ensuring the compatibility of budget planning and discipline with macroeconomics, resource allocation in accordance with poverty reduction strategies, and effectively implementing programs and activities while monitoring results. This research was conducted to identify the challenges of the public financial management system in the country. This qualitative study utilized the content analysis method to analyze data collected between 1400-1401. The required information was collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 experts to identify the challenges related to the country's public financial management systems. The challenges related to various public financial management sub-systems including the tax system, treasury system, asset and debt management system, budgeting system, accounting and financial reporting system, audit system, and performance evaluation system were identified in four elements, financial and non-financial resources, management and governance system, institutional framework, and support structures and in twelve dimensions including lack of financial resources, weak infrastructure and equipment, human resource problems, weakness in executive and operational processes, insufficient support of managers, influence and lobbying, lack of accountability, weak rules and standards, lack of transparency, weak training, non-implementation of accrual accounting, and weak performance budgeting. Identifying these challenges can provide a framework for improving the financial management system and help those involved in reforming the public financial management system.IntroductionStrong public financial management can reduce poverty, increase social justice, meet the information needs of stakeholders to assess accountability, and provide the basis for economic and social satisfaction, and contribute to sustainability in different dimensions. To achieve strong public financial management, there is a need to transform the public financial management subsystems.Studies have shown the necessity for reforming public finance management subsystems (Babajani, et al., 2012; Agha Mohammad et al., 2020; Nyamita, et al, 2015). To initiate reforms and strengthen the public financial management system, it is necessary to transition from traditional approaches to new ones that identify existing challenges and obstacles. By resolving them and building capacity, a foundation can be established for reforming the public financial management system. Therefore, the research question at hand is: What are the challenges facing public sector fiscal management?This research aims to introduce the literature related to the subject and explore the less-investigated issues associated with assessing financial management capacity and challenges within its sub-systems. In other words, the objective is to provide a deeper insight for responsible institutions and researchers to evaluate the capacity and challenges of public sector financial management.2-Literature ReviewThe research literature is presented in two parts: challenges related to public financial management sub-systems and assessing public financial management capacity.2-1: Challenges related to government financial management subsystems.Studies have shown that the tax system, treasury system, asset and debt management system, budgeting system, accounting and reporting system, audit system, and performance evaluation system are facing challenges.2-2: Assessing the capacity of public financial managementWhen assessing public financial management systems, the issue of capacity should be considered as crucial. Olander (2007) introduces four interdependent elements that need to be taken into account when assessing and developing public financial management capacity: management, resources, support structures, and the institutional framework. These elements represent the same challenges and limitations that must be identified and strengthened in the evaluation of public financial management. Doing so creates the necessary foundation for reforming and improving public financial management. MethodologyThis research employed a qualitative design. Data was collected through interviews, and the content analysis approach was utilized for analysis. A total of 15 individuals from the public sector were interviewed as part of the research. ResultsThe research results are presented in two parts.4-1) the codes extracted from the interviews are provided in Table.1, which consists of 7 main categories, 12 subcategories (dimensions), and a total of 70 concept elements (challenge factors).4-2) Research Concept Model.Drawing upon the research findings and recognizing that financial management comprises a comprehensive system of subsystems, the challenges associated with these subsystems also reflect the challenges of the overall financial management system. This is illustrated in Figure 1, which identifies 4 elements and 12 dimensions.  DiscussionThe challenges related to public financial management subsystems, namely the tax system, the treasury system, the asset and debt management system, the budgeting system, the accounting and financial reporting system, the audit system, and the performance evaluation system can be grouped into four elements: financial and non-financial‌ resources, management and governance system, institutional framework, and support structures. These challenges span across twelve dimensions, including: lack of financial resources, weak infrastructure and equipment, human resource problems, weakness in executive and operational processes, insufficient support of managers, influence and lobbying, lack of accountability, weak rules and standards, lack of transparency, weak training, non-implementation of accrual accounting, and weakness in performance budgeting. Identifying these challenges provides a framework for improving the financial management system and assists those involved in the reform of the public financial management system. ConclusionTo achieve the goals and capitalize on improvement opportunities, the financial management system must address several challenges. These challenges can be overcome through necessary reforms in the public financial management sub-systems, which require cooperation and coordination among executive bodies. The outcome of these reforms and the resolution of challenges will result in a robust public financial management system. This, in turn, will bring about stable financial income, resource discipline and efficiency, increased accountability and transparency, proper management of public funds, and ultimately good governance.However, it is important to acknowledge an important limitation: The breadth of dimensions and sub-systems related to the research subject. Limited access to experts and familiarity with all relevant topics presented a constraint. One potential solution to address the need for skilled human resources in the public sector is the establishment of a public financial management course. By developing the course curriculum in accordance with the actual needs of the public sector, this limitation can be mitigated

Use of Duck weed (Lemna minor) meal in Caspian Kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) diets and its effects on growth indices and carcass composition

In this study, in a completely randomized experimental design, the effects of different levels of duck weed (Lemna minor L.) meal in Caspian kutum diet on growth indices, carcass composition were investigated in an 8- week period. Different replacement levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15% were consisted the treatments in triplicates. Fingerlings with the mean initial weight of 2.02 ± 0.08 g were distributed in the experimental tanks. The results indicated that addition of duck weed powder in kutum diet more than 5% up to 15 caused a significant decrease (p 0.05). It was concluded that with increasing the duck weed levels in diet, lipid, protein and ash contents did not show any significant differences in fish carcasses compared to control (p>0.05), however moisture increased with increasing the rates of duck weed in the diet. Getting the same results of growth indices in treatment containing 5% duckweed and control (p>0.05), confirmed that duck weed can be used at the level of 5% in the kutum diet

Theoretical Synthesis of Iran’s Foreign Policy: The Case of Iran–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Introduction In humanities, especially within the field of international relations, the application of theory to the analysis of events or phenomena in foreign policy and the international system is widely recognized as a salient approach. The application of theories allows us to gain a more profound understanding of the actions and reactions of countries’ foreign policies in the international system. In this line, the present study aimed to develop a model to gain a better understanding of Iran–China relations. The research sought a clearer insight into Iran–China comprehensive strategic partnership by employing a set of theories at the levels of international system, foreign policy, and domestic scene of policy formulation and decision-making. At the level of international system, it is necessary to consider the convergence between Iran and China in the context of US-led Western hegemony and counter-hegemony. At the level of foreign policy, it is crucial to consider cognitive approaches in foreign policy analysis. At the domestic level, one must take into account Iran’s prevailing economic circumstances and its challenges stemming from the US- imposed sanctions, which have prompted the Look to the East policy. China also seeks to export the surplus of its production and advance the Chinese model through partnerships. Delving into these issues, the present article investigated both theoretical considerations as well as various dimensions of Iran–China relations in practice.Literature ReviewRekabian et al. (2021) assert that Iran and China have actively pursued closer cooperation in regional and international organizations as a countermeasure against Western interventions. Shafiei (2022) posits that China’s comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran is primarily motivated by its own strategic objectives, while Iran engages extensively with China out of its specific needs and requirements. Corneliussen (2020) suggests that the Iran–China agreement has the potential to reshape the strategic and geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East. Figueroa (2022) highlights that Western sanctions stand as the primary hurdle to the realization of the 25-Year Iran–China Agreement and the enhancement of economic ties between the two countries. Scita (2022) argues that Washington is actively attempting to manage the contradictions arising from these roles through continuous mediation efforts. According to Loft et al. (2022), China is actively pursuing control over critical technological and industrial sectors, essential infrastructure, strategic resources, and supply chains.Materials and Methods The present study used a descriptive method to offer an analysis of Iran–China partnership.Results and Discussion The approach taken by Iran and China in establishing their comprehensive strategic partnership can be seen as a form of convergence between the two countries. China, in particular, seeks to advance its own strategic goals through these partnerships. It is also important to recognize that there are shared identity constructs between Iran and China, which can be characterized as the power of ideas evolving within the realist framework in the international system. In addition, this partnership has emerged from a nuanced understanding and recognition of the geopolitical landscape, especially within the context of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is pursuing its first significant international partnership and agreement in the last century. Beyond addressing domestic needs and fulfilling economic, political, and military requirements, the Iran–China agreement is rooted in a strategic grasp of counter-hegemony as a pivotal factor in forging such agreements.ConclusionTo gain a deeper insight into the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership, it is essential to explore various aspects and variables, ranging from domestic factors to the perceptions of their leaders, decision-makers, and policymakers, and to the dynamics of the international system. Comprehending and recognizing the positions held by the leaders of both nations within the international arena can facilitate the identification of national interests, commonalities, differences, and potential conflicts. Therefore, to enhance our understanding of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China requires an analysis of both domestic and foreign factors and variables. This approach offers valuable insights into the rationale and strategies that underlie the Iran-China partnership. The partnership is shaped not only by domestic and international circumstances but also by the perceptions of decision-makers and authorities in each country. Moreover, the resistance to a third party, such as the US, can exert a significant influence. All of these factors lead to a realist perspective in the international arena, which can contribute to more informed and effective decision-making processes for both countries involved in the comprehensive strategic partnership