The impact of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in phase II cardiac rehabilitation program on the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass surgery is the leading cause of change in the quality of life and pulmonary function of patients. One strategy to enhance lung muscle strength and improve overall quality of life is pulmonary rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating a pulmonary rehabilitation program into phase II cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study included 53 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad between September 2019 and March 2020. The research participants were selected based on specific inclusion criteria and divided into two groups. The control group followed the routine rehabilitation program, whereas the intervention group underwent a pulmonary rehabilitation program for 20-30 min after each session of the cardiac rehabilitation program. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire and the Ferrans and Powers' quality of life index. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, Spearman correlation, Wilcoxon test, and SPSS25. RESULTS: The mean quality of life score in the intervention group(20.7±1.8) was significantly higher than that of the control group (18.8±2.3)(P < 0.05). Furthermore, the intervention group exhibited significantly higher mean scores in the physical, psychological-spiritual, and family dimensions than the control group(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study results demonstrate the positive impact of incorporating a pulmonary rehabilitation program into cardiac rehabilitation on the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20190707044132N1.

Stress-Induced Grain Refinement in Hard Magnetic Mn52Al45.7C2.3 Fabricated Using the Ball-Milling Method.

Mn52Al45.7C2.3 flakes with different sizes were prepared with two distinct surfactant-assisted ball-milling methods using cylindrical and barrel containers. Different microstructure and magnetic properties were measured based on the sequence of the container shape and different ball-milling times (2, 5, and 10 h). Morphology investigations showed that for powders milled in a barrel container, the amount of τ-phase was more compared to the samples milled in a cylindrical container. Moreover, in the powders milled with barrel containers, considerably higher magnetic properties were obtained in terms of saturation magnetization (Ms) and remanent magnetization (Mr) compared to those powders milled with cylindrical containers. Magnetic properties were found to be a function of the ball-milling time. High remanent magnetization and saturation magnetization have been found for powders milled in barrel containers, whereas only mediocre remanent magnetization and saturation magnetization have been measured in the case of milling in cylindrical containers. The highest Ms = 52.49 emu g-1 and Mr = 24.10 emu g-1 were obtained for the powders milled in barrel containers for 2 h. The higher magnetic properties taken from the milling in barrel containers is due to the higher shear stress and more uniform strain distribution induced by the barrel configuration, resulting in the stable τ-phase at a reasonably low-strain microstructure.

Evaluation of anti-malaria potency of wild and genetically modified Enterobacter cloacae expressing effector proteins in Anopheles stephensi.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is one of the most lethal infectious diseases in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Paratransgenesis using symbiotic bacteria offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy to combat this disease. In the study reported here, we evaluated the disruption of malaria transmission in the Anopheles stephensi-Plasmodium berghei assemblage using the wild-type (WT) and three modified strains of the insect gut bacterium, Enterobacter cloacae. METHODS: The assay was carried out using the E. cloacae dissolvens WT and three engineered strains (expressing green fluorescent protein-defensin (GFP-D), scorpine-HasA (S-HasA) and HasA only, respectively). Cotton wool soaked in a solution of 5% (wt/vol) fructose + red dye (1/50 ml) laced with one of the bacterial strains (1 × 109cells/ml) was placed overnight in cages containing female An. stephensi mosquitoes (age: 3-5 days). Each group of sugar-fed mosquitoes was then starved for 4-6 h, following which time they were allowed to blood-feed on P. berghei-infected mice for 20 min in the dark at 17-20 °C. The blood-fed mosquitoes were kept at 19 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 5% relative humidity, and parasite infection was measured by midgut dissection and oocyst counting 10 days post-infection (dpi). RESULTS: Exposure to both WT and genetically modified E. cloacae dissolvens strains significantly (P < 0.0001) disrupted P. berghei development in the midgut of An. stephensi, in comparison with the control group. The mean parasite inhibition of E. cloacaeWT, E. cloacaeHasA, E. cloacaeS-HasA and E. cloacaeGFP-D was measured as 72, 86, 92.5 and 92.8 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The WT and modified strains of E. cloacae have the potential to abolish oocyst development by providing a physical barrier or through the excretion of intrinsic effector molecules. These findings reinforce the case for the use of either WT or genetically modified strains of E. cloacae bacteria as a powerful tool to combat malaria.

The different aspects of attractive toxic baits containing fipronil for control of the German cockroach (Blattella germanica).

The use of Attractive Toxic Baits (ATBs) is considered to be a low-risk practical method for controlling cockroaches. This study evaluates the attractiveness of a lab-made, fipronil-containing bait, and its effect on the food consumption and mortality of the German cockroach Blattella germanica, under field and laboratory conditions. Different developmental stages of the cockroach were used to determine their preferred carbohydrate/protein rich foods and examine the effectiveness of lab-made baits. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's Test was determined using SAS 9.1 and GraphPad Prism software programs. The significance level was considered at p<0.05. The most-consumed foods were carbohydrate-rich foods (biscuit and banana powder) and food consumption rate was highest in non-gravid females. The most attractive bait ingredients were 20% roasted peanut butter, 50% biscuit and 30% banana powder. The highest lethality was recorded from the baits containing 0.02% fipronil under laboratory conditions, while infested houses baited with the lab-made bait showed 76.5% and 100% decline, respectively, in cockroach numbers in the first- and fourth-week post-baiting. In conclusion, palatable foods with a pleasant odour, like biscuit powder, banana powder and peanut butter were the most effective ingredients for the ATBs. The ATBs impregnated with 0.02% fipronil provide a promising approach for control of the German cockroach. However, there is a need to evaluate the potentials of the lab-made baits, under laboratory and field conditions, in the control of other health-important cockroaches.

A Comparative Study on the Biodiversity and Species Richness of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Kermanshah and Khuzestan Provinces of Iran.

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases in many parts of the world. The main objective of this study was to determine the biodiversity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Khuzestan and Kermanshah Provinces of Iran. Methods: Sampling was conducted in Khuzestan and Kermanshah Provinces using sticky paper traps and CDC light traps. The samples were then stored in 96% alcohol-containing vials, mounted, and identified. Afterward, the alpha diversity (using Simpson's, Shannon-Weiner's diversity, evenness, Maghalef's, Menhinick's, Hill N 1 and N 2 indices) and beta diversity indices (using Sorensen's and Jaccard's coefficients) were calculated. Results: A total of 4302 sand flies were caught and identified which comprised mostly of Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. alexandri and Ph. sergenti. It was found that among the four counties of Ahvaz, Shush, Shushtar and Dezful in Khuzestan Province, Shush had the lowest, and Shushtar, the highest amount of species diversity and evenness. In the four studied counties of Kermanshah Province, species diversity in Kermanshah County had the lowest amount and Sarpol-e-Zahab, the highest. The species richness in Kermanshah County was the lowest, while Qasr-e-Shirin County had the highest amount. Conclusion: An overview of the biodiversity of phlebotomine sand flies in Kermanshah County in Kermanshah Province, and Shush County in Khuzestan Province, showed less stability in community structure of these vectors, which can be counted as an alarm for emerging dominant vectors among the studied counties and have the potential to increase the prevalence of leishmaniasis.

Molecular Identification of Leishmania Species in Phlebotomus alexandri (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Western Iran.

BACKGROUND: Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are common in some areas of Iran and consider as health problems. Phlebotomus alexandri has been incriminated as a suspected vector for the both form of leishmaniasis. METHODS: This study was carried out in 4 western provinces of Iran. Sand flies were collected using sticky traps and light traps from indoor and outdoor resting places. Nested PCR was employed to detect Leishmania parasites among collected sand flies. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty two P. alexandri females were collected and pooled in 179 batches. Results of nested PCR showed, out of 9 samples from East Azerbaijan Province, only one sample was infected by Leishmania infantum. Of 34 individual and pooled samples from Kermanshah Province, only one pooled sample was infected with Leishmania major and among 30 individual and pooled samples in Fars Province, five specimens were infected by L. major, L. infantum, Leishmania donovani and Leishmania tropica. Furthermore, out of 108 individual and pooled samples from Khuzestan Province, 10 samples showed infection with L. major and L. infantum. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that P. alexandri is more active in hot zones than in moderate zones and this species may be considered as a permissive species.

Experimental Study on Plasmodium berghei, Anopheles Stephensi, and BALB/c Mouse System: Implications for Malaria Transmission Blocking Assays.

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium berghei is a rodent malaria parasite and has been very valuable means in the progress of our understanding of the essential molecular and cellular biology of the malaria parasites. Availability of hosts such as mice and vectors such as Anopheles stephensi has made this parasite a suitable system to study the parasite-host and vector-parasite relationships. METHODS: This study was performed at Medical Entomology and Parasitology laboratories of the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2016. The investigation was carried out to describe life cycle and parameters influencing maintenance of the parasite within the mice or the mosquito. RESULTS: Results have revealed details and addressed some parameters and points influence maintenance of various life stages of the parasite including merozoites, macrogametocytes, ookinetes, oocysts and sporozoites in the laboratory model P. berghei-A. stephensi-BALB/c mouse. Injection of fresh infected blood results in higher gametocytemia in the animals. The more injected parasites result in earlier and higher parasitemia and exfelagellation centers in the mice blood. However, the highest number of infected mosquitoes and oocysts formation were observed when the parasitemia and exflagellation centers per microscopic field were 9% and 3.6 in the infected mice respectively. The infected mosquitoes should be maintained on 8% (w/v) fructose, 0.05% (w/v) PABA at 20±1 °C and 50%-80% relative humidity. CONCLUSION: This study helps to understand the biology of vertebrate-parasite and mosquito-malaria interactions that may aid in the development of a new generation of drug/vaccine and vector-based measures for malaria control.

Larval Habitats Characteristics of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in North-East of Iran.

BACKGROUND: There are unorganized, published documents about the ecology of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in northeastern part of Iran. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution and characteristics of larval habitats of Culicidae in Kalaleh County. METHODS: Larvae were collected using dipping method and adults by human landing catch technique during April-October, 2012. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded such as vegetation status, and sunlight, water situation. Lacto-phenol and de Faure's media were used for conserving and mounting samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software, version 11.5. RESULTS: Out of the 395 larvae collected, 332 were adult mosquitoes comprising; Culiseta, Culex, Anopheles and Ochlerotatus genera and 14 species including An. superpictus, An. maculipennis s.l., An. hyrcanus, An. psudopictus, An. claviger, Culex pipiens, Cx. theileri, Cx. perexiguus, Culiseta longiareolata, Cs. subochrea, Ochlerotatus caspius, Oc. echinus and Oc. geniculatus. Culex pipiens larvae were predominant (27.6%) and Cs. subochrea (1%) was found as the lowest species in terms of number. In the adult form, Cx. pipiens (28.9%) was predominant whereas, Cs. subochrea and Cx. perexiguus were reported to have had the lowest frequency. CONCLUSION: The larvae of An. superpictus and An. maculipennis species as the main vectors of malaria in north of Iran were reported in permanent habitats with clear water and vegetation, full and partial sunlight situations and muddy as well as sandy substrates that are important in larvicide application programs. Exclusive studies are necessary to diagnose An. maculipennis species complex using molecular and morphological analysis in the future.

Faunistic Study of the Aquatic Arthropods in a Tourism Area in Northern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Aquatic insects are very abundant and divers groups of insects that are associated with an aquatic or semiaquatic environment in one or more of their life stages. These insects have been, in some cases, well studied because they are vectors of several diseases. This is the first comprehensive faunistic study of aquatic insects from Babol County. The results may provide basic data for further taxonomic and ecological studies of aquatic insects as biological control agent or classification of water quality for the country. METHODS: The specimens were collected using different methods including: D-frame net collector, standard mosquito dipper (350ml), Sweep-Netting and plastic pipette. Sampling carried out in different part of breading places in several times. RESULTS: During this study a total of 196 aquatic specimens were collected from different habitats and were morphologically identified including 18 families classified in 6 orders: Diptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Hemiptera and Odonata. Babol and Amol district in Mazandaran Province are located in humid climate regions with suitable ecological factors of humidity, moderate temperature and the variety of plant species. There are different species of aquatic insects in different habitats. CONCLUSION: The results will provide information for biodeveristy, species richness, their role for biological control as well as calcification of rivers based on abundance of aquatic insects. Therefore the understanding of ecological specifications of aquatic insects could provide a clue for further Arthropod-borne disease control. Additionally aquatic insect could be used for classification of water bodies.

Crystalloid versus colloid fluids for reduction of postoperative ileus after abdominal operation under combined general and epidural anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to compare the effect of perioperative administration of crystalloid versus colloid solutions and its impact on reversal of ileus after resection with primary anastomosis of intestine. We hypothesized that inclusion of colloids will improve the return of intestinal motility. METHODS: In a double-blinded clinical trial, 91 the American Society of Anesthesiologists I to III patients undergoing abdominal operation for resection with anastomosis of small or large intestine were randomized to receive either lactated Ringer solution crystalloid group or 6% hydroxyethyl starch colloid group to replace intraoperative fluid loss (blood loss + third space). The time to resume normal intestinal motility was the primary end point and the prevalence of composite postoperative complications was the secondary end point. RESULTS: Average duration of ileus was 86.7 ± 23.6 hours in crystalloid group and it lasted 73.4 ± 20.8 hours in colloid group (P = .006). While there was no difference in the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting between the 2 groups (P = .3), the actual vomiting occurred less frequently in colloid group (P = .02). Serum concentrations of potassium ion decreased significantly in both groups, whereas the degree of potassium changes was more remarkable in colloid group compared with crystalloid group (P = .03). Postoperative ileus did not correlate with sex, age, and the duration of operation. Duration of hospital stay was similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that administration of colloids as a part of perioperative fluid management improves intestinal motility and shortens the duration of ileus after gastrointestinal operations. This may improve the tolerance for enteral feeding and reduce ileus-related symptoms.

Dynamics of Transgenic Enterobacter cloacae Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein Defensin (GFP-D) in Anopheles stephensi Under Laboratory Condition.

BACKGROUND: Enterobacter cloacae bacterium is a known symbiont of the most Anopheles gut microflora and nominated as a good candidate for paratransgenic control of malaria. However, the population dynamics of this bacterium within An. stephensi and its introduction methods to the mosquitoes have not yet been explored. METHODS: Enterobacter cloacae subsp. dissolvens expressing green fluorescent protein and defensin (GFP-D) was used to study transstadial transmission and the course of time, larval habitat, sugar, and blood meal on dynamics of the bacterium in the mosquito life stages in the laboratory condition. The bacterial quantities were measured by plating samples and counting GFP expressing colonies on the Tet-BHI agar medium. RESULTS: The E. cloacae population remained stable in sugar bait at least for eleven days whereas it was lowered in the insectary larval habitat where the bacteria inadequately recycled. The bacterium was weakly transmitted transstadially from larval to adult stage. The bacterial populations increased smoothly and then dramatically in the guts of An. stephensi following sugar and blood meal respectively followed by a gradual reduction over the time. CONCLUSION: Enterobacter cloacae was highly stable in sugar bait and increased tremendously in the gut of female adult An. stephensi within 24h post blood meal. Sugar bait stations can be used for introduction of the transgenic bacteria in a paratransgenic approach. It is recommended to evaluate the attraction of sugar bait in combination with attractive kairomones as well as its stability and survival rate in the semi-field or field conditions.

A Pictorial Key for Culex pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) In Iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to design pictorial key and taxonomic literature of Culex pipiens complex in Iran. METHODS: Larvae were collected using standard dipping methods in 13 randomly selected areas of Bushehr, Hamedan, Kerman, Khorasan-e-Razavi, Khuzistan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Sistan and Baluchistan and Yazd Provinces from April 2009 to October 2010. The data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 11.5. RESULTS: Culex pipiens larvae were identified based on the Seta 1 of the abdominal segments III-IV in north and central parts of Iran. This diagnostic character had some variation among the Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from south of the country. The identification value of intersection of costa, subcosta and bifurcation of R2+3 of female veins, was calculated as 90-100 % for Cx. pipiens. This diagnostic character was varied among the Cx. quinquefasciatus specimens. The male genitalia found as the main characters to distinguish of Cx. quinquefasciatus from Cx. pipiens. CONCLUSION: It is necessary more studies on the behavior and genetic variations of Cx. pipiens complex in Iran.

Antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of 11 herbal plants from Hyrcania region, Iran.

In the present study, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, and total phenolic contents of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of various parts of Allium paradoxum, Buxus hyrcana, Convolvulus persicus, Eryngium caucasicum, Heracleum persicum, Pimpinella affinis, Parrotia persica, Primula heterochroma, Pyrus boissieriana, Ruscus hyrcanus, and Smilax excelsa were investigated. These plants, which mostly serve as food flavoring, were collected from Hyrcania region, Sari, Iran. Some extracts of H. persicum, S. excels, P. boissieriana, P. persica, and P. heterochroma exhibited significant antidiabetic activities in α-amylase and α-glucosidase assays, more effective than acarbose (concentrations that cause 50% inhibition = 75.7 µg/mL and 6.1 µg/mL against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively). Also, C. persicus, P. boissieriana, and P. heterochroma showed strong antioxidant activities, compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (concentration that causes 50% inhibition = 16.7 µg/mL). In conclusion, this study can recommend these plants as good candidates for further investigations to find potent antidiabetic natural products or probable lead compounds. Statistical analysis showed significant correlation between the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and total phenolic contents (r = 0.711, p < 0.001).

The Ecological Aspects of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to survey the specific factors, which cause to decrease blood feeding of mosquitoes important to succeed vector control. METHODS: Larval collection was carried out from fixed and variable breeding places of Yazd County, central Iran in 2009. Autogeny-Anautogeny, Stenogamy-Eurygamy, and blood preference of Culex pipiens were studied using standard mosquito cages blood meal source for Cx. pipiens females considered as the chickens and human and fed females were kept in insectary condition (16:8 L: D, 27±3 °C and 70±10% RH). The data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 11.5 soft ware. RESULTS: Totally, 96 females' mosquitoes were tested for Stenogamy versus Eurygamy and 122 for blood preference assay. In the small cages (20 × 20 × 20cm) and large cage (60 × 40 × 60cm), the ability of mating and insemination rates were 60.0 and 67.0%, respectively. In spite of Cx. pipiens fed from sucrose 5%, none of them laying eggs in 60 × 40 × 60 cages during the study. This finding indicated the Anautogeny behavior of this species. This species was found of low tendency to human blood and almost 4 fold fed on chicken. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of Steno-Eurygamy, Anautogeny, and Ornithophilic behaviors of Cx. Pipiens was noted. More studies need to be carried out about the bionomics of this species to gain more data about the ecophysiological and behavioral characteristics in other parts of Iran.

Chemotaxonomic importance of the essential-oil composition in two subspecies of Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. from Iran.

The hydrodistilled essential oils obtained from aerial flowering parts of Teucrium stocksianum ssp. stocksianum (TSS) and T. stocksianum ssp. gabrielae (TSG) from Iran were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The oil analysis of two subspecies led to the identification of 65 compounds that accounted for 93.3 and 95.1% of the total oil compositions, respectively. Sesquiterpenoids (52.9%) constituted the main compounds in the essential oil of TSS represented mainly by cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (12.0%), followed by epi-ß-bisabolol (6.6%), guaiol (5.4%), and ß-eudesmol (4.4%), whilst monoterpenoids (61.2%) were found to be the major components of the oil of TSG, represented by α-pinene (23.0%), ß-pinene (13.0%), myrcene (6.3%), and sabinene (6.3%). The principal component in both subspecies, TSS and TSG, was α-pinene (22.0 and 23.0%, resp.) and ß-pinene (6.5 and 13.0%, resp.). epi-α-Cadinol, myrcene, and sabinene, which were detected as principal compounds of TSG, were characterized in lower amounts (<1.5%) in the oil of TSS. Seven components were identified in the oil of TSS corresponding to 25.9% of total oil, which were totally absent in the oil of TSG, of which cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (12.0%), guaiol (5.4%), and ß-eudesmol (4.4%) were in considerable amounts. Taxonomic position of the subspecies is discussed on the basis of phytochemical data.

The morphological variations of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in central Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the variations in morphological characters of Culex pipiens complex and identify the species complex. METHODS: A study was carried out from April to October 2009 in Yazd Province, Iran. This study was performed in two randomly selected rural villages in Yazd County using different sampling methods such as larval collection, hand catch, pyrethrum space spray, light trap, and pit shelter collections. The data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver. 16. ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test was used to compare the ratios of the samples. RESULTS: The average of the DV/D ration was 0.090±0.007 and the range was 0-0.33. The average D/V ratio was 1.07±0.02, with maximum 1.6 and minimum 0.6. The costa and subcosta intersection were observed beyond the bifurcation of R2+3 in most of the specimens. The bifurcations of R2+3 and M1+3 veins were not on one direction in all samples. The range of the R-Cell/R2+3 ratio was 2.42-7.91. The average ratio of cross wing was 2.25±0.04 with a range of 1.36-3.70. CONCLUSIONS: More populations of Culex pipiens from different areas of Iran need to be studied to gain complete information about the taxonomy and ecology of the species.