Behnam M. Fomeshi. <i>The Persian Whitman: Beyond a Literary Reception</i>.

Review of Behnam Fomeshi, The Persian Whitman: Beyond a Literary Reception

The Effect of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation on Allodynia and Hyperalgesia in Neuropathic Animals: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Stem cell transplantation has been considered a possible therapeutic method for neuropathic pain. However, no quantitative data synthesis of stem cell therapy for neuropathic pain exists. Therefore, the present systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) transplantation on alleviating pain symptoms in animal models of neuropathic pain. In the present meta-analysis, controlled animal studies assessing the effect of administrating BMMSC on neuropathic pain were included through an extensive literature search of online databases. After collecting data, effect sizes were computed and the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was entered in all analyses. Random-effects models were used for data analysis. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate expected or measured heterogeneity. Finally, 14 study were included. The analyses showed that BMMSC transplantation lead to significant improvement on allodynia (SMD = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.09 to 3.03; I(2) = 99.7%; P < .001). The type of neuropathy (P = .036), time between injury and intervention (P = .02), and the number of transplanted cells (P = .023) influence the improvement of allodynia after BMMSC transplantation. BMMSC transplantation has no effect on hyperalgesia (SMD = .3; 95% CI, -1.09 to 1.68; I(2) = 100%; P < .001) unless it occurs during the first 4 days after injury (P = .02). The present systematic review with meta-analysis suggests that BMMSC transplantation improves allodynia but does not have any significant effect on hyperalgesia unless it is given during the first 4 days after injury

Glasgow Coma Scale and FOUR Score in Predicting the Mortality of Trauma Patients; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: Many scoring models have been proposed for evaluating level of consciousness in trauma patients. The aim of this study is to compare Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score in predicting the mortality of trauma patients.Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy study trauma patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) of 2 educational hospitals were evaluated. GCS and FOUR score of each patient were simultaneously calculated on admission as well as 6, 12 and 24 hours after that. The predictive values of the two scores and their area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were compared.Results: 90 patients were included in the present study (mean age 39.4±17.3; 74.4% male). Comparing the area under the ROC curve of GCS and FOUR score showed that these values were not different at any of the evaluated times: on admission (p=0.68), and 6 hours (p=0.13), 12 hours (p=0.18), and 24 hours (p=0.20) after that.Conclusion: The results of our study showed that, GCS and FOUR score have the same value in predicting the mortality of trauma patients. Both tools had high predictive power in predicting the outcome at the time of discharge

THE EFFECT OF THE SLUDGE RECYCLE RATIO IN AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF AMOL'S INDUSTRIAL PARK WASTEWATER

An activated sludge aeration tank and a sedimentation basin were used to treat Amol’s industrial park effluents originating from all industrial units. A continuous system was implemented and the kinetic parameters were measured.The parameters such as rate constant, substrate utilization rate constant, yield and decay coefficient were 2.12 d-1, 232.4 mg l-1, 0.33 g/g of substrate and 0.096 d−1, respectively. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) were in the range of 9 to 27 h. The sludge recycle ratios in the range from 0.3 to 1 were considered. The COD removal, SVI and DO were determined and the optimal values were obtained. It was observed that at HRT of 16 h and the sludge recycle ratio of 0.85, the COD removal and SVI were 95 and 85 %, respectively. The sludge recycle ratio greater than 0.85 had no significant effect on the COD removal

Evaluating the anti-leech effects of tobacco methanolic extract compared with succinyle choline and some other anti-parasite drugs

زمینه و هدف: زالوها جزء راسته آنالیدا هستند که50 نوع از آن از خون پستانداران تغذیه می کنند. آلودگی به زالو باعث عوارضی شامل: کم خونی شدید، خونریزی، افزایش حساسیت و واکنش آنافیلاکتیک می شود. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثر تعدادی از داروهای شیمیایی و گیاهی بر زالو گونه لیمناتیس نیلوتیکا انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی ابتدا تعداد 100 عدد زالو از جنس لیمناتیس نیلوتیکا تهیه و اثر عصاره متانولی تنباکو و داروهای مبندازول، سوکسینیل کولین، مترونیدازول، تریکلابندازول، لوامیزول، نیکلوزاماید و یک تیمار با آب مقطر بر زالو مطالعه شد. حرکات و اثرات داروها به مدت 720 دقیقه مورد مشاهده و بررسی قرار گرفت و زمان فلجی و مرگ زالو ثبت می گشت. یافته ها: با بررسی فلجی و مرگ زالو مشخص شد عصاره متانولی تنباکو با دوز 600 میلی گرم با میانگین 17 دقیقه باعث مرگ زالوها می شود. داروهای تریکلابندازول با میانگین 66/118 دقیقه، لوامیزول با 7 دقیقه، نیکلوزاماید با 66/18 دقیقه و مترونیدازول با 11/541 دقیقه باعث مرگ زالوها شدند. نتیجه گیری: میانگین زمانی نسبتاً کوتاه فلجی و مرگ زالو توسط عصاره متانولی تنباکو و داروهای لوامیزول، نیکلوزاماید، تریکلابندازول نشان از اثرات ضد زالویی این داروها می باشد و ممکن است بتوان از آنها در موارد آلودگی انسانی با زالو گونه لیمناتیس نیلوتیکا استفاده نمود

Population-Based Optimization Algorithms for Solving the Travelling Salesman Problem

[Extract] Population based optimization algorithms are the techniques which are in the set of the nature based optimization algorithms. The creatures and natural systems which are working and developing in nature are one of the interesting and valuable sources of inspiration for designing and inventing new systems and algorithms in different fields of science and technology. Evolutionary Computation (Eiben& Smith, 2003), Neural Networks (Haykin, 99), Time Adaptive Self-Organizing Maps (Shah-Hosseini, 2006), Ant Systems (Dorigo & Stutzle, 2004), Particle Swarm Optimization (Eberhart & Kennedy, 1995), Simulated Annealing (Kirkpatrik, 1984), Bee Colony Optimization (Teodorovic et al., 2006) and DNA Computing (Adleman, 1994) are among the problem solving techniques inspired from observing nature. In this chapter population based optimization algorithms have been introduced. Some of these algorithms were mentioned above. Other algorithms are Intelligent Water Drops (IWD) algorithm (Shah-Hosseini, 2007), Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) (Dasgupta, 1999) and Electromagnetism-like Mechanisms (EM) (Birbil & Fang, 2003). In this chapter, every section briefly introduces one of these population based optimization algorithms and applies them for solving the TSP. Also, we try to note the important points of each algorithm and every point we contribute to these algorithms has been stated. Section nine shows experimental results based on the algorithms introduced in previous sections which are implemented to solve different problems of the TSP using well-known datasets

Part 1: Simple Definition and Calculation of Accuracy, Sensitivity and Specificity

Emergency physicians, like other specialists, are faced with different patients and various situations each day. They have to use ancillary diagnostic tools like laboratory tests and imaging studies to be able to manage them. In most cases, numerous tests are available. Tests with the least error and the most accuracy are more desirable. The power of a test to separate patients from healthy ones determines its accuracy and diagnostic value. Therefore, a test with 100% accuracy should be the first choice. This does not happen in reality as the accuracy of a test varies for different diseases and in different situations. For example, the value of D-dimer for diagnosing pulmonary embolism varies based on pre-test probability. It shows high accuracy in low risk patient and low accuracy in high risk ones. The characteristics of a test that reflects the aforementioned abilities are accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive and negative likelihood ratios. In this educational review, we will simply define and calculate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of a hypothetical test

Role of Feedback during Evaluation in Improving Emergency Medicine Residents’ Skills; an Experimental Study

Introduction: Evaluation of students’ learning in clinical education system is one of the most important and challenging issues that facilities in this field have been facing. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of feedback during evaluation in increasing emergency medicine residents’ clinical skills.Method: The present experimental study was performed on all second year emergency medicine residents of two educational hospitals, Tehran, Iran, with switching replications design and before-after method. They were randomly allocated to two groups (with or without feedback) and evaluated three times regarding chest ultrasonography for trauma patients, using direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) and valid and reliable checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.Results: 30 emergency medicine residents with the mean age of 36.63 ± 30.30 years were allocated to two equal groups (56.7% male). Studied groups were similar regarding the baseline characteristics. In both groups, obtained scores showed a significant increase from the first to the third evaluation (p &lt; 0.001). Mean scores of first and second evaluations were 10.24 ± 0.77, 17.73 ± 0.46 in feedback receivers and 9.73 ± 0.77 and 12.13 ± 0.47 in others (p &lt; 0.001). Mean third score after switching groups were 18.53 ± 0.22 in feedback receivers and 18.99 ± 0.22 in others (p = 0.213).Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, giving feedback after evaluating the second year emergency medicine residents regarding chest ultrasonography for trauma patients, led to a significant improvement in their scores in future evaluations and consequently their skill

Characteristics of a Capable Teacher to Teach Effectively from Students' Perspective at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: In addition to educational conditions and facilities, the presence of a good and capable teacher is an effective factor in improving teaching and learning processes. The present study aimed to determine the characteristics of a capable teacher from students' perspective at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Materials: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 289 students at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences during the academic year of 2017-2018 using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and factors affecting the evaluation of capable teachers, including six domains, namely personal characteristics (10 questions), teaching method (14 questions), evaluation and personal communication skills (10 questions), teacher's scholarship (4 questions), and educational rules (5 questions). The data were then analyzed using SPSS. Results: The maximum and minimum mean scores were related to teaching methods (61.9± 6.5) and teacher's scholarship (16± 3.1) respectively. There were significant relationships between evaluation skills and students' residences, the field of study, and six domains of teacher evaluation and academic level, and six domains of academic satisfaction, evaluation skills, and scholarship. Conclusion: From the learners' perspective, the most important characteristics of a capable teacher included the teaching method, personal communication, and personal characteristics respectively. Awareness of learners' perspectives on education can help teachers to provide informed teaching planning. According to the results of the present study, the criteria of a capable teacher can be evaluated for achieving effective teaching. Keywords: Capable teacher; Teaching; Student; Shahroud