In vitro proliferation and differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts on nanocomposite scaffolds based on bioactive glass (64SiO2-31CaO-5P2O5)-poly-l-lactic acid nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning method.

Electrospinning method was employed for fabrication of SiO2-CaO-P2O5 bioactive glass (BG) nanofibers, poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibers and nanocomposite scaffolds fabricated from as-prepared nanofibers. Characterization of the prepared nanofibers and scaffolds by XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques revealed the formation of nanofibers with mean diameter of about 500nm and fully fibrous scaffolds with porous structure and interconnected pores. The growth, viability and proliferation of cultured human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the fabricated nanofibers and bioactive glass-poly-l-lactic acid (BG-PLLA) nanocomposite scaffolds were studied using various biological assays including MTT, ALP activity, calcium deposit content, Alizarin red staining, and RT-PCR test. Based on the obtained results, incorporation of BG nanofibers in the nanocomposite scaffolds causes the better biological behavior of the scaffolds. In addition, three-dimensional and fibrous-porous structure of the scaffolds further contributes to their improved cell behavior compared to the components.

Antiapoptotic effects of cerium oxide and yttrium oxide nanoparticles in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

Type I diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease caused by the impairment of pancreatic ß-cells mainly mediated through oxidative stress and related apoptosis. Islets transplantation seems a promising treatment for these patients, but during islets transplant, various types of stresses related to the isolation and transplantation procedure compromise the function and viability of islets. We recently hypothesized that the combination of cerium oxide (CeO2) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles with a potential free radical scavenger behavior should be useful to make isolated islets survive until transplanted. In the present study, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in isolated rat pancreatic islets exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the protective effects of CeO2 and Y2O3 nanoparticles were investigated. Exposure of islets to H2O2 (50 µm, 2 h) increased intracellular oxidant formation such as reactive oxygen species and subsequently apoptosis and decreased viability, glucose-induced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Pretreatment with CeO2 and/or Y2O3 nanoparticles reduced the oxidant formation and apoptosis and increased viability, glucose-induced ATP production and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These results suggest that this combination may protect ß-cell apoptosis by improving the oxidative stress-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Effect of education on the incidencerate of occupational exposure resultingfrom sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluidsof patients among nursing personnel of Valiasr Hospital- Fassa, 2008 / Efecto de la educación en la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional por objetos cortopunzantes y por contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales en enfermeros del hospital de Vliasr-Fassa / Efeito da educação na taxa de incidência de exposição ocupacional por objetos perfurantes e por contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais em enfermeiros do hospital de Valiasr-Fassa

Objective. To determine the effect of education on the incidence rate of occupational exposure esulted from sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients among nursing personnel of Valiasr Hospital- Fassa, 2008. Methodology. Interventional study. Samples consisted of 120 nurses (60 as study group and 60 as control group) selected by systemic randomized allocation. The study group was trained in occupational exposure for a period of ten hours. The data collecting tool was an occupational exposure questionnaire that was completed forboth groups, before and two months after education. A knowledge test was also applied to both groups before and after education. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics, frequency, mean and standard deviation, inferential statistics, x², T-test and paired t, and a level of significance p<0.05 was statistically accepted. Results. Results of the research, indicated an increase of the knowledge level and a reduction of the incidence rate of occupational exposure among the study group in such a way that, the knowledge mean score of this group went from 8.1 before education to 14.1 after education (p<0.05). The incidence rate of occupational exposure resulting from sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients was also reduced after education in the case group (p<0.05). Conclusion. The results of the study indicated improvement of knowledge and practice level in the the case group, concerning occupational exposure due to sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients after the training intervention. In addition, continuous education in this respect is necessary because its effect lowers with time-lapse.

Objetivo. Determinar el efecto de la educación en la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional por objetos cortopunzantes y por contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales en enfermeros del Hospital de Valiasr en Fassa (Irán) en 2008. Metodología. Estudio de intervención. Se tomó una muestra de 120 enfermeros (60 en el grupo de estudio y 60 en el grupo control) asignados por aleatoriazación sistemática. El grupo de estudio recibió 10 horas de capacitación en prevención de exposición ocupacional. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario, el cual fue completado por ambos grupos antes y dos meses después de la capacitación, igualmente se aplicó un examen de conocimientos a ambos grupos antes y después de la capacitación. Resultados. Los resultados del estudio indicaron aumento del nivel de conocimiento y disminución de la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional en el grupo de estudio de tal manera que el puntaje de la media del nivel de conocimiento de este grupo alcanzó un puntaje de 8.1 antes de la capacitación a 14.1 después de la capacitación, (p<0.05). Conclusión. El programa educativo se asoció a mejores prácticas preventivas del riesgo de exposición a objetos cortopunzantes y contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales de pacientes.

Objetivo. Determinar o efeito da educação na taxa de incidência de exposição ocupacional por objetos perfurantes e por contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais em enfermeiros do Hospital de Valiasr em Fassa (Irã) em 2008. Metodologia. Estudo de intervenção. Tomou-se uma mostra de 120 enfermeiros (60 no grupo de estudo e 60 no grupo controle) atribuídos por escolha aleatória sistemática. O grupo de estudo recebeu 10 horas de capacitação em prevenção de exposição ocupacional. Para a recolha de dados se utilizou um questionário, o qual foi completado por ambos os grupos antes e dois meses depois da capacitação igualmente se aplicou um exame de conhecimentos a ambos os grupos antes e depois da capacitação. Resultados. Os resultados do estudo indicaram aumento do nível de conhecimento e diminuição da taxa incidência de exposição ocupacional no grupo de estudo de tal maneira que a pontuação da média do nível de conhecimento deste grupo atingiu uma pontuação de 8.1 antes da capacitação a 14.1 depois da capacitação, (p<0.05). Conclusão. O programa educativo se associou a melhores práticas preventivas do risco de exposição a objetos perfurantes e contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais de pacientes.

The influence of inclusions of vitamin E and corn oil on semen traits of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Reported was an investigation of the effect of vitamin E (Vit.E) and corn oil on semen traits of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). From 8 to 20 wk of age, birds were raised on corn-based diets supplemented with corn oil (0 and 3%) and Vit.E (National Research Council (NRC) recommended 25mg/kg/day/dry matter and 150 mg/kg/day/dry matter) in a 2×2 factorial manner. The diet was supplemented with corn oil and Vit.E (E2C2) which provided additional n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of 20:4n-6 and 22:4n-6 in spermatozoa phospholipid. The left testes weights were increased (P<0.01) in groups that received Vit.E in the diet (3.95 and 4.12 g, respectively) (P=0.03) and combined testes weight was the greatest in E2C2 group (7.57g) (P=0.02). Semen volume increased throughout the experiment in the E2C2 group. E2C1 and E2C2 birds had the greatest (90.05% and 92.1%, respectively) live sperm percent by comparison with other groups. The susceptibility of semen to lipid peroxidation in vitro was increased in quail fed E1C1 and E1C2, but was reduced when 150 mg Vit.E kg/day/dry matter feed was provided in the diet. The amount of Vit.E in the seminal plasma of E1C1 and E1C2 groups was (P<0.01) less than that in the other two groups (E2C1 and E2C2). From this study, it may be concluded that increasing diet n-6/n-3 ratio can be beneficial for semen traits, however, this application increased sperm peroxidation sensitivity but it can be controlled by inclusion of antioxidant such as Vit.E (150 mg/kg/day/dry matter) to diet.

Local magnetic effects of interface alloying in Fe/Co superlattices.

Effects of interface alloying and the thickness dependence of magnetic properties of Fe/Co(001) multilayers have been investigated. The thicknesses of the Fe layers have been varied between two and 14 monolayers while the Co layers have been held constant at 7 ML. From conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements and electronic structure calculations it is found that the magnitude of the Fe magnetic hyperfine field is larger close to the interface and smaller in the middle of thick (≥9 ML) Fe layers. For a thinner Fe layer (≤5 ML) the largest field is found in the centre of the Fe layer. By modelling the effects of interface alloying from earlier data for bulk Fe-Co alloys, and comparing with the experimental results, the degree of interface alloying is estimated to be 2-3 ML at each interface.

Annuality of birth, delivery types and sex ratio in Tehran, Iran.

616,638 births during 1967-1983 from a maternity hospital in Tehran (Iran) have been considered for the present study. The mean rate of normal delivery was 92.59%, that of Caesarean was 3.09%, that of wantose was 1.52% and finally that of forceps was 1.31%. Caesarean and wantose (vacuum extractor) delivery types showed an increasing trend, whereas the normal and forceps delivery types showed a decreased trend during the period under study. The secondary sex ratio was the highest in 1977 and the lowest in 1983 with a mean of 105.18. The twinning rate showed a decreasing trend during the above period.

PIP: 616,638 births during the 1967-83 period in a maternity hospital in Tehran, Iran, were studied in an effort to report various types of delivery and sex ratio as well as the rate of multibirths over this 17-year period. Table 1 shows the annual births for males and females during 1967-83. It is evident that the highest birth numbers occurred in 1974--41,196--and the lowest in 1978--29,344. Table 2 shows the types of delivery. Normal delivery ranged from 95.68% in 1969 to 88.18% in 1978 with a mean of 92.59%. Cesarean delivery increased from 1.80% in 1967 to 6.36 in 1983. Forceps delivery type showed different frequencies--from 0.23% (1970-71) to 2.80% (1967). Wantose delivery type also showed different frequencies from nil (1976) to 3.84% (1979). Figure 1 shows the changes of the secondary sex ratio. The secondary sex ratio ranged from 102.67 in 1982 to 107.26 in 1977 with a mean of 105.18. Table 3 shows the rate of multibirths. The rate of twins has had different frequencies--from 1/75.13 births (1967) to 1/115.45 births (1982 with a total mean of 1/94.42 births. Twin births decreased over the period. The triplet births also showed different rates--1/4552.89 births (1968) to 1/302,207 births (1978) with a total mean of 1/14,014.5 births. Quadruplets occurred only once (1979). The study shows that the birth number depends on the economic and political factors--a high number in 1971 which was nearly the beginning of the economic development in Iran and by the lowest number in 1978 which was the prerevolutionary period. Sex ratio increased during 1976-78 because of the migration of the rural population to Tehran. Consequently, the changes of the secondary ratio over the 17-year period have been influenced by the said factors of the time of insemination and the couples' sexual activity. These factors are influenced by the economic, geographic, and psychic environment, nutrition, and other cultural factors. Many social factors for sex ratio and the rate of the secondary sex ratio are responsible for influencing the trend of delivery types, especially for the decreased trend of normal delivery and the increased trend of Cesarean delivery types.