The Effect of Monovalent Influenza Vaccine on the Risk of Hospitalization and All-Cause Mortality According to the Results of Randomized Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In recent years, various studies have been conducted to investigate the role of the influenza vaccine in reducing the risk of hospitalization and mortality; however, the results of these studies are clearly contradictory. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the effect of monovalent flu vaccines on the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Methods: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) studies published in databases (Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar) from 1980 to Dec 2022. All analyzes were performed by Stata15 statistical software and the significance level in this study was considered 0.05. Results: In the initial search, 375 articles were retrieved which, considering the study criteria, finally 8 RCT were included in the meta-analysis of the effects of monovalent Flu vaccine on the risk of hospitalization, and 10 RCT on the risk of all-cause mortality. Based on the results of meta-analysis, the overall Odds Ratio (OR) of hospitalization is equal to 0.71 (95% CI: 0.56-0.90; P <0.001) and the overall OR of all-cause mortality is equal to 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68-0.98; P=0.033). There was no publication bias in the study of the effect of monovalent flu vaccine on the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Getting the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization by 29% and the risk of overall death by 18%. Therefore, it may be promising to receive this vaccine as a preventive intervention for deaths and hospitalizations.

Communication and cooperation challenges in the online classroom in the COVID-19 era: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of COVID-19 affected all aspects of life, including education. Communication and interaction are vital in any form of education. This study explained health profession educators' and students' experiences regarding the challenges of communication and cooperation in exclusively online classrooms during the COVID-19 era. METHODS: The present descriptive explanatory qualitative study examined health profession educators' and students' experiences with exclusively online classrooms during the COVID-19 era. They were included in the study by purposive sampling. In-depth and semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to collect data. The content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. The present study employed four strength criteria: credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability. RESULTS: The results of the present study included communication and cooperation challenges in exclusively online classrooms related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two themes emerged from 400 open codes: lack of students' socialization and communication-related concerns, which each had subcategories. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of students' socialization and communication problems were identified as the participants' main experiences. Defects in teacher training due to the sudden transition to virtual education, acquiring a professional identity that is possible in in-person education was also flawed. The participants experienced challenges in their class activities, leading to a decrease in trust, a lack of motivation to learn from students, and teachers' teaching. Policymakers and authorities should adopt new tools and techniques to improve exclusively virtual education outcomes.

Individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown: Family members' experiences.

Introduction: Understanding the psychological and behavioral reactions to emerging infectious diseases is crucial in managing outbreaks. This study sought to explain family members' experiences of individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative research was conducted by content analysis in Lorestan province, Iran. The purposive sampling was continued by achieving data saturation, reaching 29 samples. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to family members who stayed at home during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The data was collected from October 2020 to February 2021. Content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings of this study contained 100 codes and five categories with its respective subcategories. Categories included taking advantage of opportunities (increasing intimate communication in the family; compensation and progress), coping mechanisms (creating fun and creativity at home; trying to spend leisure time; sports, reading books, music; increasing patience and tolerance; and forced Internet communications), social aspects (positive and negative), outcomes (gratefulness, pleasure, and happiness; concerns; psychological aspects; and damage and challenge to the foundation of families), and economic aspects (cost savings; recession/job loss/financial downturn; and low-income families' unaffordability to prepare electronics for education). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and its induced-lockdown have affected various aspects of family life and its pros and cons have been presented by the participants. Policymakers must design and implement programs in line with this change in the public's lifestyles so that families are not damaged.

Individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown: Family members' experiences

Introduction Understanding the psychological and behavioral reactions to emerging infectious diseases is crucial in managing outbreaks. This study sought to explain family members' experiences of individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative research was conducted by content analysis in Lorestan province, Iran. The purposive sampling was continued by achieving data saturation, reaching 29 samples. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to family members who stayed at home during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The data was collected from October 2020 to February 2021. Content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. Results The findings of this study contained 100 codes and five categories with its respective subcategories. Categories included taking advantage of opportunities (increasing intimate communication in the family; compensation and progress), coping mechanisms (creating fun and creativity at home; trying to spend leisure time; sports, reading books, music; increasing patience and tolerance; and forced Internet communications), social aspects (positive and negative), outcomes (gratefulness, pleasure, and happiness; concerns; psychological aspects; and damage and challenge to the foundation of families), and economic aspects (cost savings; recession/job loss/financial downturn; and low-income families' unaffordability to prepare electronics for education). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic and its induced-lockdown have affected various aspects of family life and its pros and cons have been presented by the participants. Policymakers must design and implement programs in line with this change in the public's lifestyles so that families are not damaged.

Exploring the barriers related to the healthcare system in implementing quality intravenous chemotherapy: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore barriers related to the healthcare system (HCS) in implementing quality intravenous (IV) chemotherapy (CT) from the perspectives of cancer patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). METHODS: Using an explanatory descriptive qualitative method, this study was conducted in 2019. Forty-one participants (6 patients, 5 family caregivers, 12 oncologists, and 18 nurses) were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews and field notes were conducted to collect the data, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Lincoln and Guba's criteria of rigor were employed to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. RESULTS: Data analysis showed two categories, each with three subcategories: barriers related to healthcare professionals (HCPs) comprised of "educational and communication barriers," "failure to establish trust," and "unskilled healthcare professionals"; barriers related to the health care system management (HCSM), which consists of "inadequate physical and care infrastructures to provide services," "lack of support in the disease trajectory from diagnosis to rehabilitation," and "mismanagement of CT wards/procedures." CONCLUSION: The identification and removal of the barriers related to HCPs and HCSM in routine care are crucial. Education of and communication with cancer patients and their family caregivers are two important pillars in the quality of intravenous chemotherapy (IV CT) and this education and communication should be based on individualized care and tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

Non-communicable diseases in the southwest of Iran: profile and baseline data from the Shahrekord PERSIAN Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Critical inter-provincial differences within Iran in the pattern of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and difficulties inherent to identifying prevention methods to reduce mortality from NCDs have challenged the implementation of the provincial health system plan. The Shahrekord Cohort Study (SCS) was designed to address these gaps in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, a province of high altitude in the southwest of Iran, characterized by its large Bakhtiari population, along with Fars and Turk ethnicity groups. METHODS: This ongoing cohort, a prospective, large-scale longitudinal study, includes a unique, rich biobank and was conducted for the first time in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in Iran. SCS is a part of the PERSIAN (Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN) cohort. The study began in 2015, recruited 10075 participants (52.8% female, 47.2% male) from both urban (n=7034) and rural (n=3041) areas, and participants will be annually followed up for at least 15 years. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from the SCS, using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Data analysis was performed using Stata software. RESULTS: The prevalence of NCDs was 9.8% for type 2 diabetes, 17.1% for hypertension, 11.6% for thyroid disease, 0.2% for multiple sclerosis and 5.7, 0.9 and 1.3% for ischemic heart disease, stroke and myocardial infarction, respectively. The prevalence of multimorbidity (≥2 NCDs) was higher in women (39.1%) than men (24.9%). The means (standard deviations) of age, BMI, systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were 49.5 (9) years, 27.6 (4.6) kg/m2, 115.4 (17.3) mmHg and 96.7 (27.3) mg/dL, respectively. Logistic regression models showed that older age, female gender, living in an urban area, non-native ethnicity, high wealth index, unemployment, obesity, low physical activity, hypertriglyceridemia, high fasting blood sugar, alkaline urine pH and high systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with increased prevalence of NCDs. CONCLUSIONS: The SCS provides a platform for epidemiological studies that will be useful to better control NCDs in the southwest of Iran and to foster research collaboration. The SCS will be an essential resource for identifying NCD risk factors in this region and designing relevant public health interventions.

Interaction mechanisms of polyphosphoric acid and nano clay in bituminous composites.

It has been reported that adding polyphosphoric acid (PPA) to bitumen modified with Montmorillonite clay (MMT) makes the bituminous composite less prone to swelling and more resistant to moisture damage, thus improving two major causes of pavement distress. There has been no in-depth study on the underlying mechanism for such a synergistic effect between MMT and PPA. Here, we used laboratory experiments and computational modeling to study how PPA moderates the intermolecular interactions in bitumen modified with MMT. The results showed that PPA had notable interactions with both MMT and bitumen components (BCs); however, PPA's preferential adsorption to MMT was verified by a significantly higher binding energy (-127.3 kcal/mol) for PPA-sealed MMT than for PPA-BCs (-85.9 kcal/mol). The higher binding energy for PPA-sealed MMT caused PPA to be strongly adsorbed on the MMT surface in the first stage, causing partial intercalation into the clay gallery and blocking subsequent entry of water. PPA's affinity to interact with BCs then allowed PPA to be a bridge between MMT and BCs, leading to more intermolecular interactions and better sealing for MMT. The calculated binding energies for interactions of BC with pre-adsorbed PPA on MMT were higher than those for interactions of BC with PPA alone. In both dry and wet laboratory conditions, bitumen modified with PPA-sealed MMT had higher values of shear thinning and G*/sin(δ) than bitumen modified with MMT.

Effect of rosa damascene aromatherapy on anxiety and sleep quality in cardiac patients: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety and sleep disorders are the most common disorders of patients admitted to the cardiac care units. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Rosa damascene fragrance on anxiety and sleep quality of hospitalized patients in the cardiac care units. METHODS: In this Randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who had the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled and randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Patients were enrolled in the study 24 h after hospitalization. Those diagnosed with dysrhythmia, ACS, and CHF were included. Patient recruitment lasted from October 2018 to December 2019. In these groups, in addition to the routine care, the intervention was performed for three consecutive nights from 22:00 to 06:00. In the experimental group, patients inhaled five drops of Rosa damascene essence 40% in distilled water, while in the control group, patients inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. In both groups, anxiety and sleep quality were examined before and after three consecutive nights using the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SMHSQ) and the Spiel Berger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the use of Rosa damascene aroma in patients hospitalized in the cardiac care unit significantly reduces anxiety and increases the improvement of sleep quality in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The significance level for anxiety and sleep quality was (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy with Rosa damascene reduces anxiety and increases the sleep quality of patients hospitalized in the cardiac care unit. Therefore, along with other treatment measures, Rosa damascene can be used as a complementary method to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

The Perceived Health Needs of Primiparous Mothers Referring to Primary Health Care Centers: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Since the first step in meeting the health needs of primiparous women involves understanding their conditions, the present study aimed to determine the health needs of primiparous women from their own viewpoints. METHODS: This study had a qualitative approach based on the conventional qualitative content analysis method, in which the purposive sampling method was used. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. Data saturation was achieved by interviewing 12 participants. To ensure the study was rigorous, the four criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were taken into account. RESULTS: The findings of this study consisted of 150 codes, 19 subcategories, and 6 categories, as follows: 1) the intense need for social support, 2) the need for prior preparation for pregnancy, 3) fears and worries, 4) the necessity of the availability of the needed infrastructures and requirements in the health center, 5) falling in love with the baby, and 6) seeking information from appropriate sources. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that primiparous women need to receive more social and psychological support from family members and healthcare workers and that it is essential to improve the available infrastructures and services in healthcare centers and to provide the needed counseling to pregnant mothers to enable them to go through the pregnancy period smoothly.

Non-Covalent π-Stacking Interactions between Asphaltene and Porphyrin in Bitumen.

In recent years, the dominant organizing role of non-covalent π-stacking interactions in the association of asphaltenes and porphyrins was criticized and replaced with cooperative forces that are mostly covalent in nature. Here, we show the significant contribution of non-covalent forces in stabilizing the π-stacking of asphaltenes and porphyrins. To understand the binding chemistry of metalloporphyrin-asphaltene, the interaction of nickel octaethylporphyrin with a series of model fragments for asphaltene was studied in two different pathways: axial coordination and π-stacking. Nickel octaethylporphyrin was specifically studied because a main fraction of vanadium and nickel metals in petroleum residues are chelated with porphyrins, and the refining processes in petroleum industries are affected by the significant detrimental impact of these metal compounds. The results of the extended transition state-natural orbital of chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) technique provide strong evidence that the bonding interaction in the π-stacking configuration is much preferred to the axial coordination. Energy decomposition analysis verifies the significant contribution of non-covalent forces in stabilizing the π-stacking of asphaltene-porphyrin, showing that there are other forces driving the formation of asphaltene-porphyrin stacks. Indeed, a non-negligible portion of these stabilizing forces is contributed by strong orbital mixing interactions through charge transfer between active centers; this contribution is mostly overlooked in π-stacking interactions. This matter includes the π-stacking interactions of asphaltene-asphaltene. Isosurfaces of deformation density (Δρ) provide better insights into the π-stacking preference. NOCV deformation densities are delocalized over the entire complex in the π-stacking conformer, leading to the multi-centric charge transfer zone; Δρ isosurfaces of axial coordination are mostly localized on the limited centers involved in chemical bonding.

Common elements of parent management training programs for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder.

Parent management training is a general set of interventions used as a part of a variety of clinical approaches to reduce behavioral problems of children. These behavioral problems in children with special needs (such as autism spectrum disorder) take a more complex form. The objective is to present elements, needed to develop parent management training program to reduce behavioral problems in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. At first, all parent management training programs for reducing behavioral problems of preschool children were collected. Subsequently, all programs were reviewed from the perspective of having a systematic review or meta-analysis, confirming the effectiveness of this program at preschool age. After that, interviews with experts and parents were conducted to identify effective elements on development of this program. In the next step, a set of components was obtained using information about parent management training programs as well as items obtained from interviews with experts and parents. At this stage, 10 experts were asked to rate the items according to their importance using the Delphi method. The items that achieved the required scores were introduced as main items. The number of them was 13 and included items such as full assessment of the child and appropriate communication with the child. Considering the characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder will require changes in some parts of parent management training program, therefore, it is necessary to develop a specific program for these children to cover all of their characteristics.

Using Fundamental Material Properties to Predict the Moisture Susceptibility of the Asphalt Binder: Polarizability and a Moisture-Induced Shear-Thinning Index.

Many biomodifiers have recently been introduced to the asphalt industry to improve the performance of asphalt mixtures, rejuvenate aged asphalt, and/or partially replace asphalt binder. It is critical to screen these biomodifiers for their susceptibility to moisture damage before they are used in construction. This study develops a computational approach and a laboratory technique to predict the moisture susceptibility of modifiers used in asphalt binder mixtures. The computational approach uses the "polarizability" factor, which is one of the conceptual descriptors in density functional theory. Polarizability is indicative of the formation of instantaneous dipoles that are oriented in the applied field. A lower polarizability indicates a lower propensity of the chemical species to interact with other species in their chemical environment. The laboratory method defines a moisture-induced shear-thinning index. Moisture-induced shear-thinning measures the loss of interfacial bonds between the asphalt binder and siliceous surfaces due to water exposure. Both proposed indicators are used to evaluate and compare biomodifiers from four sources: waste vegetable oil, swine manure, algae, and a co-liquefied blend of swine manure and algae. In a comparative study, waste vegetable oil with a high content of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids showed the highest polarizability and the highest moisture-induced shear-thinning index, indicating the highest susceptibility to moisture damage. In contrast, the chemical composition of the biomodifier produced from the co-liquefaction of swine manure and algae showed the lowest polarizability and the lowest moisture-induced shear-thinning index, indicating the highest resistance to moisture damage.

Multiscale Characterization of a Wood-Based Biocrude as a Green Compatibilizing Agent for High-Impact Polystyrene/Halloysite Nanotube Nanocomposites.

This paper investigates merits of using a wood-based biocrude (WB) from aspen wood to improve the compatibility of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with high-impact polystyrene to develop nanocomposites with desirable thermomechanical properties. Morphological, thermal, and rheological properties of the resulting nanocomposite are used as indicators of the compatibility and dispersion of the modified HNT within the polymer matrix. Computational modeling using density functional theory is used along with laboratory experiments to provide a multiscale characterization of the above biocrude and nanocomposites. Studies performed through dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations show that the active functional groups of WB molecules including carbonyl, hydroxyl, and carboxylic interact with the HNT surface, while their aromatic tails interact with the phenyl groups of the polystyrene. Furthermore, the studies reveal how WB molecules act as bridges between the hydrophobic polymer and the hydrophilic clay improving the compatibility. The latter was confirmed by Hansen solubility parameters and was evidenced in improved dispersion of clay within the polystyrene matrix observed by microscopy. Rheological and thermal analyses of the modified HNT and nanocomposites showed physical interactions of WB with HNT surface as well as interactions between the WB-modified HNT and the high-impact polystyrene. The WB was found to be a strong candidate as a green compatibilizing agent for HNT in high-impact polystyrene. The study results can provide insights for formulators and manufacturers looking for green compatibilizing agents in conventional nanocomposites for construction and manufacturing applications.

Sharing the power through promoting heart health literacy: A participatory action research in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Low health literacy can act as a barrier to effective disease self-management. The study aimed to promote heart health literacy in Iranian society. METHODS: This study was conducted as a participatory action research (PAR) based on Zuber-Skerritt Model to design and implement a program for promoting heart health literacy in Iranian society. Participants were selected among adults with heart diseases and their family members, as well as their health care providers in Chamran Hospital, Isfahan Heart Friends association and researchers, and Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran. Data collection was conducted using interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the data to promote heart health literacy. Promoting of heart health literacy was implemented in different levels in Isfahan from March 2017 to October 2017. The effect of the program was evaluated based on interviews, feedback, and focus groups at the individual level. RESULTS: Finally, at the World Heart Week, a healthy heart campaign was formed with the slogan "Share the power". At the end of this program, participants experienced significant empowerment during the project to promote heart health literacy. The three main themes indicating this feeling of empowerment were "Being worried about the hearts of others", "Sensitization to the care of the heart", and "General understanding of heart health". CONCLUSION: PAR can be an effective way to promote heart health literacy in Iranian society. It integrates the voices of the marginalized group promoting heart health literacy in Iranian society.

Multiscale Evaluation of Moisture Susceptibility of Biomodified Bitumen.

This paper studies the selective adsorption and dewetting processes of various biomodifiers with respect to siliceous surfaces to determine dominant moisture damage mechanisms in bitumen doped with biomodifiers. Accordingly, it introduces four different biomodifiers made from various biomasses while explaining their differential effects on moisture susceptibility of bitumen when they are introduced to bitumen as a modifier to make commonly used biomodified binders. The biomodified binders studied here are made from extracts of biomass: wood pellets, miscanthus, corn stover, and animal waste. The moisture effect on biomodified bitumen was evaluated through contact angle measurement followed by molecular-level binding energy based on density functional theory (DFT). The change of contact angle between each biomodified bitumen and a silica surface when exposed to water was used as an indicator of the propensity for dewetting. The biomodifiers from animal waste showed the least change, followed by corn stover, wood pellet, and miscanthus. This aligns with our results of in situ Fourier transform infrared analysis, which showed that the biomodifier from miscanthus has the lowest adsorption affinity, while the one from animal waste has the highest adsorption onto siliceous stones. The higher adsorption efficiency of animal-based biomodifier is also verified by DFT-based molecular modeling, showing that the lipid and protein contents of animal waste, containing highly polar small compounds, exhibit a better adsorption to silica nanoparticles compared to carbohydrate of terrestrial plants.

Investigating molecular interactions and surface morphology of wax-doped asphaltenes.

The nature and origin of bee-like microstructures (bees) in asphalt binders and their impact on asphalt oxidation have been the subject of extensive discussions in recent years. While several studies refer to the bees as solely surface features, some others consider them to be bulk microcrystalline components that are formed due to co-precipitation of wax and asphaltene molecules. In this study, we use a rigorous theoretical and experimental approach to investigate the interplay of asphalt components (mainly asphaltene and wax) and their impact on bee formation. In the theoretical section, quantum-mechanical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) are used to evaluate the strength of interactions between asphaltene unit sheets in the presence and absence of a wax component, as well as the mutual interactions between asphaltene molecules (monomers and dimers) and paraffin wax. The results of this section reveal that paraffin waxes not only do not reinforce the interaction between the asphaltene unit sheets, they destabilize asphaltene assembly and dimerization. AIM (Atom in Molecules) analysis shows the destabilizing effect of wax on asphaltene assembly as a reduction in the number of cage and bond critical points between asphaltenes. This destabilization effect among interacting systems (asphaltene-asphaltene and wax-asphaltene) does not support the hypothesis that interaction between paraffin waxes and non-wax components, such as asphaltene, is responsible for their co-precipitation and bee formation. To further examine the effect of wax component on asphalt microstructure experimentally, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the surface morphology of an asphalt sample doped with 1% to 25% paraffin wax. In agreement with the conclusions drawn from the DFT approach, our experiments indicate that paraffin wax tends to crystallize separately and form lamellar paraffin wax crystal inclusions with 10 nm thickness. Moreover, the addition of 3% wax into asphalt results in a significant increase in surface roughness from 0.5 nm to 4.1 nm and an increase in bee wavelength from 651 nm to 1038 nm.

Reactivity of the free and (5,5)-carbon nanotube-supported AuPt bimetallic clusters towards O2 activation: a theoretical study.

Density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations were carried out to predict the geometry, energy and electronic structures of the small bimetallic AumPtn (2 ≤m + n≤ 4) clusters deposited on a single-wall (5,5)-carbon nanotube (CNT). The chemical reactivity of these supported bimetallic clusters towards O2 reduction reaction was also considered. The calculations indicate that Au atoms tend to avoid the CNT atoms, whereas the opposite occurs for Pt atoms, a behavior which can be rationalized through analyses of the density of states plots. Compared to isolated clusters, the supported counterparts are found to have significant superiority in catalytic activity towards O2 reduction. The adsorption configuration and identity of the metal (Au or Pt) exposed to the O2 molecule adsorption are the dominant factors in determining the catalytic activity of the supported particles. Most notably, high catalytic activity of the supported clusters is associated with a drastic decrease in adsorption energy of the O2 molecule.

The incidence of hypertension and the follow-up rate in a sample of population over 30 years old in kashan 2013.

INTRODUCTION: Studies indicate that hypertension is prevalent in Iran, however, the reports are heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of hypertension and the rate of follow-up in a sample of population over 30 years old in Kashan city. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted on people screened for hypertension in the project of "monitoring the health of Iranian population" in Kashan city at April 2013. Among all completed screening forms, 5000 forms were selected randomly. Required data were extracted from these forms and were recorded on a checklist that was consisted of 9 questions on demographics characteristics and 10 questions about follow-up. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, paired t-test and pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Totally, 5% of the enrolled people had a systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg and a diastolic pressure over 90 mmHg. Only 92 subjects with high blood pressure were available via telephone. Also, 42.42% of cases refused to answer. From all subjects who were available and answered the study questions, 50% had been referred to a physician after 5.17 (6.05) days. Of these, 52.2% were diagnosed as being hypertensive. Lacking time was the main reason for non-referral. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hypertension was less than other studies but the rate of follow-up was low. Nurses and Iranian nursing organization are suggested to conduct a nationwide screening and follow-up project to improve the rate of early diagnosis and help people in better management of hypertension.

Cluster and Principal Component Analysis of Human Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Tumor Proteome.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) or grade IV astrocytoma is the most common and lethal adult malignant brain tumor. Several of the molecular alterations detected in gliomas may have diagnostic and/or prognostic implications. Proteomics has been widely applied in various areas of science, ranging from the deciphering of molecular pathogen nests of discuses. METHODS: In this study proteins were extracted from the tumor and normal brain tissues and then the protein purity was evaluated by Bradford test and spectrophotometry. In this study, proteins were separated by 2-Dimensional Gel (2DG) electrophoresis method and the spots were then analyzed and compared using statistical data and specific software. Protein clustering analysis was performed on the list of proteins deemed significantly altered in glioblastoma tumors (t-test and one-way ANOVA; P< 0.05). RESULTS: The 2D gel showed totally 876 spots. We reported, 172 spots were exhibited differently in expression level (fold > 2) for glioblastoma. On each analytical 2D gel, an average of 876 spots was observed. In this study, 188 spots exhibited up regulation of expression level, whereas the remaining 232 spots were decreased in glioblastoma tumor relative to normal tissue. Results demonstrate that functional clustering (up and down regulated) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has considerable merits in aiding the interpretation of proteomic data. CONCLUSION: 2D gel electrophoresis is the core of proteomics which permitted the separation of thousands of proteins. High resolution 2DE can resolve up to 5,000 proteins simultaneously. Using cluster analysis, we can also form groups of related variables, similar to what is practiced in factor analysis.

Deformation density and energy decomposition to describe interactions between (η5-C5H5)M and highly reactive molecules C4H4 and (C3H3)-.

Using DFT calculations, an energy decomposition analysis (EDA) combined with natural orbitals for chemical valence (NOCV), EDA-NOCV approach was used to describe the nature of the interaction between η5-cyclopentadienyl metal complexes (η5-C5H5)M, with M=Co, Rh, and cyclobutadiene (Cb) and cyclopropenyl anion (C3H3)- molecules, which are highly reactive molecules in their free state. EDA-NOCV draws a covalent picture for these interactions. With this interpretation of interactions, the character of aromaticity could be the result of the delocalization of six electrons in π orbitals of the (η5-C5H5)M fragment and Cb/C3H3(-1) ligand. This description of the bonding interaction might also justify the experimental observation that, in complexes of CpM-Cb (M=Co, Rh), the viability of the Friedel-Crafts acylation and other electrophilic substitutions on the four-membered ring is greater than that of the five-membered ring.