Antifungal effects of the extract of the Withania somnifera on Candida albicans

Background and aims: Withania somnifera (W. somnifera), commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. Candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic fungal diseases in humans. In fact, the most important fungal disease in women is vaginal candidiasis. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal effects of the extracts of the W. somnifera on Candida albicans (C. albicans). Methods: In this experimental research, 9 vaginal samples were collected using the sterile swap and Falcon tube by the gynecological specialists. The extracts of the shallot and artichoke were prepared using a rotary device. The inhibitory concentration against C. albicans was determined using incubation in media. Results: The results of this study suggested that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against C. albicans, which is equivalent 50 ppm to 250 ppm has the highest concentration of inhibitor. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the antifungal activity of wind cheese against C. albicans is good, so it can be used as a drug to treat infections caused by C. albicans

Investigating the Effectiveness of Positivism Group Psychotherapy in Depression, Stress and Anxiety of Dialysis Patients

The aim of conducting this research was to investigate the effectiveness of positivism group psychotherapy in depression, stress and anxiety of dialysis Patients referring to Modarres hospital in Iran. This is a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-tests. The research sample included 26 patients (13 patients in the experimental and control groups). The patients in the experimental group took part in six weeks of group sessions for one and a half months. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was utilized for data collection. The obtained results showed that positivism group psychotherapy is effective n reduction of depression, stress, and anxiety of dialysis patients. Therefore it is recommended that oncologists use the positivism group psychotherapy to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety of dialysis patients

Investigating the Effectiveness of Positivism Group Psychotherapy in Life Expectancy and Psychological Well-Being of Cancer Patients

The aim of conducting this research was to investigate the effectiveness of positivism group psychotherapy in life expectancy and psychological well-being of cancer patients referring to Taleghani hospital in Tehran, Iran. This is a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-tests. The research sample included 26 patients (13 patients in the experimental and control groups). The patients in the experimental group took part in six weeks of group sessions for one and a half months. The Adult Trait Hope Scale and Ryff’s psychological well-being scale were utilized for data collection.  The results showed that positivism group psychotherapy was effective in promoting life expectancy and psychological wellbeing of cancer patients. Therefore it is recommended that oncologists use the positivism group psychotherapy to increase life expectancy and promote psychological well-being of cancer patients

Study the Effect of Environmental Scanning on the Relationship Between Individual and Organizational Factors and the Use of Information by the Electronic Publishing Managers

Objetive. To investigate the effect of environmental scanning on the relationship between individual and organizational factors and the use of information by the electronic publishing managers. Method. The current research is completely practical. The survey-analytical method was applied on 152 managers which were active in the electronic publishing industry. Data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. Results. As the average results indicate, individual factors (information awareness = 16.21 and information disclosure =7.039), organizational factors (information climate = 7.105 and external attention = 9.96), T value in environmental scanning (50.197) and the use of information (62.92) are above the average level. The analysis and explanation of the findings in this case reveals that after imposing of a mediator, the β value was changes subsequently from (β=0.576) and (β=0.0383) to (β =0.267) and (β=0.341). This means and reinforces the trivial but crucial effect of the mediator. Conclusions. The positive attitudes toward the informational based activities, intermittent interaction with experts with high and enriched informational backgrounds and resources, the amount of conditional and organizational access to information and finally the reciprocal action with the environment has a great impact on the amount of environmental scanning and information to which the managers use.

The Effectiveness of Positivism Group Psychotherapy Based on Frisch's Theory in Promoting Happiness and Life Satisfaction of Breast Cancer Patients

The main objective was to investigate the effectiveness of positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's Theory in promoting happiness and life satisfaction of breast cancer patients referring to counseling centers in Iran. We conducted a quasi- experimental design of pre- and post-test in which experimental and control groups were utilized. The statistical populations were people referring to three counselling centers in Iran in 2016. The experimental group received the psychotherapy intervention based on Frisch’s approach. At the end, both groups took the post-test. The quality of life questionnaire OL-BC, the Oxford Happiness Inventory, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as the measurement tools. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) procedure by SPSS. Results showed that there is a significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental and the control groups in post-test. This means that the positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory was effective in promoting happiness and life satisfaction of breast cancer patients (P< 0.01). Furthermore, the results showed that the positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory increased post-test scores of the experimental group in variables of life satisfaction and happiness (P <0.05). Results confirmed that the positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory can be used as an effective intervention to promote life satisfaction and happiness of breast cancer patients

A CBCT Assessment of Apical Transportation in Root Canals Prepared with Hand K-Flexofile and K3 Rotary Instruments

Introduction: Apical transportation changes the physical shape and physiologic environment of the root canal terminus. The aim of the present experimental study was to determine the extent of apical transportation after instrumentation with hand K-Flexofile and K3 rotary instruments by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods and Materials: Forty mesiobuccal root canals of maxillary first molars, with 19-22 mm length and 20-40° canal curvature, were selected and assigned into two preparation groups. The first group was prepared with K-Flexofile with passive step-back technique and the second group was prepared with K3 rotary instruments. Pre and post instrumentation CBCT images were taken under similar conditions. The amount of root canal transportation was evaluated by Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test was used for the qualitative evaluation. Results: The amounts of apical canal transportation with the K3 and K-Flexofile instruments were 0.105±0.088 and 0.150±0.127 mm, respectively with no statistically significant differences. In the manual technique, 25% of the canals had no apical transportation; while 30% of the canals in the K3 group were transportation free. Conclusion: Both systems were able to preserve the initial curvature of the canals and both had sufficient accuracy. Preparation with K3 rotary instruments resulted in apical transportation similar to that of K-Flexofile

Investigating the Effectiveness of Positivism Group Psychotherapy Based on Frisch's Theory in Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients

The aim of conducting this research was to investigate the effectiveness of positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory in quality of life of breast cancer patients referring to the counseling centers in Mashhad, Iran. This is a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-tests in which experimental and control groups were utilized. The statistical populations were breast cancer patients in Iran in 2016. The research sample included 30 breast cancer patients who were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the psychotherapy approach based on Frisch’s theory in eight weekly sessions. The quality of life questionnaire in patients with breast cancerOL-BC was used as the measurement tool.  The data which were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) procedure, considered statistically significant (P>0.5). Results showed that there is a significant difference between the mean scores of experimental and control groups in the post-test. This means that the positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory was effective in promoting the quality of life of breast cancer patients (P> 0.01). Furthermore, the results showed that positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory increased post-test scores of experimental group in aspects of  physical, mental, social and environmental health (P <0.05). Results confirmed the positive effect of positivism group psychotherapy based on Frisch's theory on breast cancer patients’ quality of life

Designing and Introducing a New Artificial Feeding Apparatus for Sand Fly Rearing

Background: Due to strict ethical rules, the risk of accidental disease transmission and the most importantly, inconven­ience regarding using of live animals, artificial feeding apparatus has been developed for colonization of haematophagous insects. Rearing of sandfly is more difficult than other haematophagous insects. Methods: In the current study, a new apparatus for membrane feeding of Phlebotomus papatasi was designed, made and compared with available apparatus in Sand Fly Insectary, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2014. Results: In comparison to other apparatus designed for artificial feeding of other arthropods, our designed apparatus had the highest performance which after up to 1h, the majority of sand flies landed and took blood and among tested membranes, chicken skin was proved the most efficient membrane. Conclusion: Sand fly artificial feeding apparatus can be used at least for rearing of Ph. papatasi

Optic Nerve Head Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings after Coronavirus Disease

Purpose: To quantify the microvasculature density of the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) analysis in patients recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional, observational study, patients recovered from COVID- 19 whose initial diagnosis was confirmed by an rRT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal sample were included in this study. OCTA of ONH was performed in included patients and normal controls. Vascular density (VD) of the all vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) inside the disc and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network density was measured in COVID-19 recovered patients and compared with similar parameters in an age-matched group of normal controls. Results: Twenty-five COVID-19 patients and twenty-two age-matched normal controls were enrolled in the study and one eye per participant was evaluated. The mean whole image SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.31 ± 1.93) was not statistically significantly different from that in the control group (49.94 ±. 2.22; P = 0.308). A decrease in RPC VD was found in all AV and SV VD measured, which became statistically significant in whole peripapillary SV VD, peripapillary inferior nasal SV VD, peripapillary inferior temporal SV VD, peripapillary superior nasal SV VD, and grid-based AV VD inferior sector (P < 0.05). Inside disc SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.43 ± 4.96) was higher than in the control group (45.46 ± 6.22) which was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Conclusion: Unremarkable decrease was found in ONH microvasculature in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. These patients may be at risk of ONH vascular complications. Increase in inner disc SV VD may be an indicator of ONH hyperemia and edema

Comparison of antibacterial effect of methanolic and hydro-alcoholic ziziphus spina-christi extract with 2.5 sodium hypochlorite on enterococcus faecalis: an in vitro study

Introduction: Root treatment will not be successful, without a proper root canal irrigation with less disadvantages and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to compare antimicrobial effect of cedar extract and 2.5%NaOCl on E. faecalis. Materials & Methods: In disk diffusion test, a standard suspension of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) was cultured on plate and different concentrations (0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45 g/ml) of methanolic or hydro-alcoholic extracts, 2.5% NaOCl and physiologic serum (as negative control) were infused on paper disks. The inhibition zone measured after 48 h. In microdilution test, serial dilution of methanolic and hydro-alcoholic extracts, 2.5% NaOCl and physiologic serum in 1:2 proportion was performed in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) culture medium. Then, standard suspension of E. faecalis was added to each well of micro plate. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts had antibacterial effect on E. faecalis. Inhibition zone of 2.5% NaOCl was significantly higher than that of other extracts (p<0.001). In microdilution test, E. faecalis bacterium was sensitive to both hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts but it was more sensitive to 2.5% NaOCl. Conclusion: Totally, 2.5% NaOCl had the highest antibacterial effect on E.faecalis followed by hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts. NaOCl is an effective irrigant in root treatment until the studies like this can find a good alternative for it