36 research outputs found
Designing formal semantics of geo-information for disaster response - PhD Research Proposal
No full textGIS TechnologyOTB Research Institute for the Built Environmen
Birth Prevalence of Neural Tube Defects in Iran: A Systematic Review
No full textContext: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common birth defects with a high rate of mortality. Several studies have shown the reduction of the rate of NTD due to preconceptional usage and flour fortification with folic acid.
Objectives: The aim of this systematic literature review was to assess the appropriate information about the prevalence of Neural Tube Defects among the Iranian population, geographic areas of Iran.
Data Sources: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and data banks in Iran, such as the scientific information database (SID), Magiran, and Barekat knowledge network system from January 1969 to February 2017. The following keywords were used to search all fields in the above databases (“Neural Tube Defects” OR “NTD” AND “Iran”).
Study Selection: NTDs were classified as given by Moore to include anencephaly, spina bifida, encephalocele, iniencephaly, and craniorachischisis. Primary outcomes of interest for estimating the prevalences were the total number of births (including live and stillbirths if available separately) and the total number of NTD affected births (including live and stillbirths if available separately).
Data Extraction: Data extracted from selected studies, included: first author, study design, city, sample size, duration of studies, and the prevalence of NTDs and subtypes of neural tube defects.
Results: A total of 429 studies were initially identified in the databases. After excluding duplicate studies, 244 articles were retrieved and reviewed based on their titles and abstracts; 221 articles were excluded. Twenty-three articles were selected for a more detailed review. There were some publications of the same study, data were extracted from the most complete and up-to-date publication. Four articles were added by reference searching and one forthcoming article was added. Finally, 21 articles have been included in the study.
Conclusions: The surveillance of NTD in Iran is currently limited due to the fact that provinces have established systems to report national and local NTD prevalence. However, when data are available, reported NTD prevalence, which varies by geographic region from 1.01 to 8.29 per 1000 live births, is in some areas of Iran
Biomechanical signals and the C-type natriuretic peptide counteract catabolic activities induced by IL-1? in chondrocyte/agarose constructs
No full textIntroduction: The present study examined the effect of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the anabolic and catabolic activities in chondrocyte/agarose constructs subjected to dynamic compression. Methods: Constructs were cultured under free-swelling conditions or subjected to dynamic compression with low (0.1 to 100 pM) or high concentrations (1 to 1,000 nM) of CNP, interleukin-1? (IL-1?), and/or KT-5823 (inhibits cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase II (PKGII)). Anabolic and catabolic activities were assessed as follows: nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, and [3H]-thymidine and 35SO4 incorporation were quantified by using biochemical assays. Gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), aggrecan, and collagen type II were assessed with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Two-way ANOVA and the post hoc Bonferroni-corrected t tests were used to examine data. Results: CNP reduced NO and PGE2 release and partially restored [3H]-thymidine and 35SO4 incorporation in constructs cultured with IL-1?. The response was dependent on the concentration of CNP, such that 100 pM increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation (P < 0.001). This is in contrast to 35SO4 incorporation, which was enhanced with 100 or 1000 nM CNP in the presence and absence of IL-1? (P < 0.001). Stimulation by both dynamic compression and CNP and/or the PKGII inhibitor further reduced NO and PGE2 release and restored [3H]-thymidine and 35SO4 incorporation. In the presence and absence of IL-1?, the magnitude of stimulation for [3H]-thymidine and 35SO4 incorporation by dynamic compression was dependent on the concentration of CNP and the response was inhibited with the PKGII inhibitor. In addition, stimulation by CNP and/or dynamic compression reduced IL-1?-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression and restored aggrecan and collagen type II expression. The catabolic response was not further influenced with the PKGII inhibitor in IL-1?-treated constructs. Conclusions: Treatment with CNP and dynamic compression increased anabolic activities and blocked catabolic effects induced by IL-1?. The anabolic response was PKGII mediated and raises important questions about the molecular mechanisms of CNP with mechanical signals in cartilage. Therapeutic agents like CNP could be administered in conjunction with controlled exercise therapy to slow the OA disease progression and to repair damaged cartilage. The findings from this research provide the potential for developing novel agents to slow the pathophysiologic mechanisms and to treat OA in the young and old. <br/
Effects of epidemiology learning software on nursing and midwifery students
No full textBackground: Being informed of new methods of teaching and comparing their outcome help teachers use more effective and efficient methods in developing and implementing new training courses. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of epidemiology learning software on learning epidemiology courses. Methods: This quasi-experimental study included 101 nursing and midwifery students taking epidemiology course in two separate classes. One of the classes was selected as intervention group (taught via software) and another one as the control group. At the end of the semester, scores of the courses were analyzed using covariance analysis. Results: After adjusting the effect of grade point average, covariance analysis indicated a significant difference in epidemiology scores between the two groups (p<0.001). The students taught through the software obtained significantly higher scores compared to the students in traditional group. Conclusion: By means of this training software, teachers can use several strategies for presenting lessons and increasing training efficacy, leading to active learning in students
Maternal Risk Factors for Oral Clefts: A Case-Control Study
No full textIntroduction: A cleft lip with or without a cleft palate is one of the major congenital anomalies observed in newborns. This study explored the risk factors for oral clefts in Gorgan, Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was performed in three hospitals in Gorgan, Northern Iran between April 2006 and December 2009. The case group contained 33 newborns with oral clefts and the control group contained 63 healthy newborns. Clinical and demographic factors, including date of birth, gender of the newborns, type of oral cleft, consanguinity of the parents, parental ethnicity, and the mother's parity, age, education and intake of folic acid were recorded for analysis. Results: A significant association was found between parity higher than 2 and the risk of an oral cleft (OR= 3.33, CI 95% [1.20, 9.19], P> 0.02). According to ethnicity, the odds ratio for oral clefts was 0.87 in Turkmens compared with Sistani people (CI 95% [0.25, 2.96]) and 1.11 in native Fars people compared with Sistani people (CI 95% [0.38, 3.20]). A lack of folic acid consumption was associated with an increased risk of oral clefts but this was not statistically significant (OR = 1.42, CI 95% [0.58, 3.49]). There were no significant associations between sex (OR boy/girl = 0.96, CI 95% [0.41, 2.23]), parent familial relations (OR = 1.07, CI 95% [0.43, 2.63]), mother's age and oral clefts. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that higher parity is significantly associated with an increased risk of an oral cleft, while Fars ethnicity and a low intake of folic acid increased the incidence of oral clefts but not significantly
The study of health, cultural and social conditions of the Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary province’s rural population in 2007
No full textزمینه و هدف: شناخت مشکلات و سختی های خاص جمعیت روستایی، می تواند در برنامه ریزی های بعدی مفید و موثر باشد. از آنجا که شناخت وضعیت موجود اولین قدم در برنامه ریزی های توسعه اقتصادی، اجتماعی و فرهنگی می باشد، لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی جنبه هایی از وضعیت بهداشتی، فرهنگی و اجتماعی ساکنین مناطق روستایی استان چهارمحال و بختیاری انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی - مقطعی، 1638 نفر از سرپرستان خانوارهای روستایی استان چهارمحال و بختیاری بوسیله نمونه گیری در دسترس انتخاب شدند. روستاهای منتخب در این پژوهش حدوداً 90 روستا بود که اردوی طرح هجرت سال 1386 در آن مناطق برگزار شد. داده ها به کمک پرسشنامه چند قسمتی (آلفای کرونباخ 89) با 47 سوال شامل اطلاعات دموگرافیک، وضعیت آموزش، اشتغال، توان اقتصادی، تنظیم خانواده، تغذیه، فشارخون، دخانیات و بهداشت فردی جمع آوری و توصیف گردید. یافته ها: بیکاری در مناطق روستایی استان 6/31 بود. 86 دارای منزل شخصی، 30 دارای خودرو شخصی و 87 دارای توالت و حمام بهداشتی در منزل بودند. 22/43 تمایل به مهاجرت داشتند. میزان آگاهی از مشکلات ناشی از عدم رعایت تنظیم خانواده 74/75 و بیشترین روش مورد استفاده قرص خوراکی (1/45) بود. بالاترین میزان استفاده از گوشت قرمز (09/46)، مرغ (23/36) و ماهی (56/62) 1 تا 5 مرتبه در ماه بود. میزان ابتلاء به پرفشاری خون، 25/26 بود. میزان آگاهی از مضرات دخانیات 81/91 و میانگین سنی فرد استفاده کننده، 51/14±81/57 سال بود. وجود فرد حادثه دیده زیر 10 سال در خانواده 65/16 و بیشترین جنسیت فرد حادثه دیده (70) مذکر بود. نتیجه گیری: وضعیت بهداشتی، فرهنگی و اجتماعی ساکنین مناطق روستایی استان در برخی زمینه ها در سطح مطلوبی قرار ندارد و ریشه یابی آن نیاز به مطالعات بیشتری دارد
Systematic review of violence against women
No full textAim: Violence against women (VAW) all over the world threatens their physical, mental, and social status. This study attempts to systematically review VAW. Methods: First, a search strategy was designed based on keywords and Mesh system. Then, different search engines such as ScienceDirect, Pubmed, World Health Organization, Google Scholar, Iranmedex, Magiran, and SID were used to carry out an extensive search. Quality assessments were done on the results of the search and finally, articles in different groups were classified based on the analyzed subjects and result contents. Findings: After the quality of articles was analyzed, 270 articles were selected which were within the research framework. Of these articles, 125 articles were in English and 140 articles were in Persian. The articles were categorized into four groups. All these articles examined the issue of VAW. 172 articles were about VAW and its effect on health, 26 articles were in areas of VAW and juridical and legal aspects, 36 articles were about VAW and its cultural aspects and 31 articles were related to VAW and its economic repercussions. Conclusion: VAW was observed in all countries and nearly in all social, economic, racial, geographical classes and among all age groups. Although this issue has been examined in its different aspects and by different organizations, it is continuously occurring all over the world. The results of this study showed that these articles did not offer any appropriate strategy to deal with this predicament. Thus, national and international research about the present issue and interventional and practical studies are still required
Rapidly progressive osteoarthritis (RPOA) in companion animals treated with bedinvetmab (Librela™): an expected pathophysiological phenomenon or a cause for concern?
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