A checklist of Acari type specimens deposited in the Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum, Karaj, Iran.

A checklist of the Acari type specimens deposited in the Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum (JAZM), Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran is given. From a total of 451 type specimens (which comprises 166 valid species names) cited in the list, 164 are available and two are lost. Based on the comparison of these type specimens, the following taxonomic change is proposed in this paper: Erythraeus (Zaracarus) ueckermanni is considered as a valid species and is not a junior synonym of Erythraeus (Zaracarus) budapestensis.

"Women and active life": An extended TPB-based multimedia software to boost and sustain physical activity and fitness of Iranian women.

Inactivity is prevalent in women, although regular physical activity (PA) has significant health benefits. Health education interventions based on multimedia software and the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) with planning may be efficacious in promoting PA. This randomized controlled trial, conducted in 2014, aimed to evaluate theory-based multimedia for increasing and maintaining PA and fitness of 130 military personnel's wives in Tehran, Iran. We randomly selected respondents by multistage cluster sampling. We designed a "Women and Active Life" self-taught DVD-Rom, based on the extended TPB model with action and coping planning. We analyzed theoretical constructs and health-related physical fitness at baseline and 3 and 6 months post-education. Administering educational software raised average developed TPB constructs, cardiorespiratory endurance, and muscular fitness (strength, endurance, and flexibility) in women in the intervention group, which was sustained at follow-up (p < .001). Also, mean body composition (body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, and body mass index) was reduced with retained reduction at follow-up (p < .001), although no significant change was found in these variables in the control group (p > .05). Using a new communication technology in TPB-directed multimedia led to improved and maintained PA, aerobic and musculoskeletal fitness, and body composition of women.

Determinants of physical activity based on the theory of planned behavior in Iranian Military Staff's Wives: a path analysis.

Level of physical activity as a key determinant of healthy lifestyle less than is required in individuals particularly women. Applying theories of behavioral change about complex behaviors such as physical activity leads to identify effective factors and their relations. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of physical activity behavior based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in military staff's wives in Tehran. This cross-sectional study was performed in 180 military personnel's spouses residing in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2014. The participants were randomly selected with multi-stage cluster sampling. The validity and reliability of the theory based scale evaluated before conducting the path analysis. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS16 and LISREL8.8. The results indicated the model explained 77% and 17% of intention and behavior variance. Subjective norms (Beta=0.83) and intention (Beta=0.37) were the strongest predictors of intention and behavior, respectively. The instrumental and affective attitude had no significant path to intention and behavior. The direct relation of perceived behavioral control to behavior was non-significant. This research demonstrated relative importance and relationships of Theory of Planned Behavior constructs in physical activity behavior of military personnel's spouses in Tehran. It is essential to consider these determinants in designing of educational interventions for promoting and maintaining physical activity behavior in this target group.

Evaluation of a health education program for head lice infestation in female primary school students in Chabahar City, Iran.

BACKGROUND: An important health problem in students is pediculosis capitis (head lice infestation) which causes physical, mental, and social complications. Social stigma induces feeling of shame, anger, and embarrassment for families and may prevent people from coming forward. METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental (case - control) study which was done during periods of 2008 - 2009. Data collection tools were questionnaire, checklist, and head examination. Two schools were randomly selected among female primary schools in Chabahar, where 153 students were divided into case and control groups. After collecting the data, an educational program was designed and performed in the experimental group and was evaluated after two months. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice of the students in the case group, before and after the intervention (P < 0.0001), but  in the control group it was not significant (P > 0.05) .The infestation rate was 69.3% in the case group before the intervention, and 82.1 % in the control group, which decreased to 26.7% in the case group after the education (P < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The health education program had a positive effect on the reduction of pediculosis capitis among students; thus, it is suggested to perform and evaluate educational programs in students and their parents.

Kiwifruit actinidin: a proper new collagenase for isolation of cells from different tissues.

Actinidin is a cysteine protease abundant in Kiwifruit. This enzyme is known as a meat-tenderizing protease. In this project, actinidin was purified from kiwifruit by salt precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. Collagenolytic effect of the purified enzyme was tested in four different buffer systems. Thereafter, the enzyme was used for isolation and culture of cells from three different tissues: endothelial cells from human umbilical vein, hepatocytes from rat liver, and thymic epithelial cells from rat thymus. Our results revealed that actinidin can hydrolyze collagen types I and II at neutral and alkaline buffers. Furthermore, actinidin compared with type II or IV collagenase isolated intact human umbilical vein endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and thymic epithelial cells with viability more than 90%. These results address a novel and valuable collagenase, which can be used efficiently for hydrolysis of collagen and isolation of different cell populations from various solid tissues.