Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infection in human and other warm-blooded animals. Serological methods are reliable techniques actually used for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. ...Comparison of sensitivity of ELISA and DIG-ELISA for diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis was the main objective of the present work. 68 human serum samples (48 positive sera and 20 negative sera) were tested using ELISA and DIG-ELISA (Diffusion in Gel-ELISA). Among three dilutions of sera (1:1, 1:10 and 1:100) tested for evaluation, the serum dilution 1:100 was selected as cut off. In this dilution, diameter of reaction zone was 6.08mm. In ELISA, 1:200 serum dilution was selected as cut off and at this dilution OD was 0.735. The sensitivity and specificity of DIG-ELISA for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis at 1:100 serum dilution were 93.37% ,100% respectively while the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA (at 1:200 serum dilution) were 91.66% , 85% respectively. The results of present study indicated that, DIG-ELISA in 1:100 serum dilution, in comparison with ELISA proved higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.
Background: TSA (thiol-specific antioxidant antigen) is the
immune-dominant antigen of Leishmania major and is considered to be
the most promising candidate molecule for a recombinant or DNA vaccine
...against leishmaniasis. The aim of the present work was to express a
plasmid containing the TSA gene in eukaryotic cells. Methods: Genomic
DNA was extracted, and the TSA gene was amplified by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR). The PCR product was cloned into the pTZ57R/T vector,
followed by subcloning into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3
(EcoRI and HindIII sites). The recombinant plasmid was characterised by
restriction digest and PCR. Eukaryotic Chinese hamster ovary cells were
transfected with the plasmid containing the TSA gene. Expression of the
L. major TSA gene was confirmed by sodium dodecyl
sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting.
Results: The plasmid containing the TSA gene was successfully
expressed, as demonstrated by a band of 22.1 kDa on Western blots.
Conclusion: The plasmid containing the TSA gene can be expressed in a
eukaryotic cell line. Thus, the recombinant plasmid may potentially be
used as a DNA vaccine in animal models.
This article reports the steps of an educational intervention, which is designed to change livestock breeders' preventive behavior in terms of vaccinating their livestock against brucellosis. The ...study has been conducted in a rural area in a country with the second highest brucellosis prevalence in the world.
In a quasi-experimental study and applying PRECEDE-PROCEED model, 45 livestock breeders were trained through basket method, accompanied with constructive feedback from researchers and peers and a brief interactive lecture at the end. The livestock breeders' awareness, attitude and practice level in the intervention group was compared with those of other 45 livestock breeders in a control group, 1 and 6 months after the intervention. According to the results of the Rose Bengal tests (RBTs), as a rapid and simple screening test, the presence or absence of Brucella antibodies in the animals' serum was investigated.
Immediately and 1 month after the intervention, the mean scores of knowledge, awareness and practice of livestock breeders in the intervention group were significantly higher. Six months after the intervention, the results of the RBTs were positive in more livestock in the intervention group compared to the animals in the control group. The positive result of RBT after educational intervention, in livestock whose test results were negative immediately before intervention, accompanying the results of observation indicating a good general condition of livestock was considered as a probable evidence of the success of the educational intervention.
The model-driven educational intervention could significantly increase livestock breeders' awareness, attitude and practice regarding prevention of brucellosis and vaccination of their livestock against brucellosis; however, a period of non-continuous reinforcement and gradual reduction of the number of the reinforcements by health educator workers is recommended in order to increase the maintenance of the learnt behavior.
Conducting this study was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( IRCT20180304038945N1 ). Registered 24 December 2018. The proposal was registered before enrollment of the first participant.
Given the importance of screening pregnant women's distress, it was intended to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS-P) for ...screening pregnancy distress.
This methodological psychometric study was conducted with participation of 360 pregnant women. The TPDS was translated into Persian. Factor analysis was used to investigate the construct validity. The results of the correlation test between the results of the two questionnaires, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and TPDS-P, were used to determine the criterion validity of TPDS-P. Internal consistency of the items was calculated by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Stability of the results was examined by test-retest method and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Examining the structure of the factors derived from exploratory factor analysis, fitness of the model was done through confirmatory factor analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software.
Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was 0.846 (p = 0.001). Sixteen items of TPDS-P accounted for 51.42 percent variances. The TPDS-P exhibited appropriate fitness. There was poor to moderate but significant direct correlation between the subscales of DASS-21 and TPDS-P. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the TPDS-P was 0.81 and ICC was 0.70.
TPDS-P, with appropriate validity and reliability, can be used as a practical scale to evaluate women's distress during pregnancy in Farsi-speaking societies.
The purpose of the present study was to determine psychometric properties of the Persian version of Postpartum Distress Measure Scale (PDM Scale).
In this psychometric explorative study, the data ...were collected using a questionnaire containing demographic information, PDM Scale, and Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The content, face and construct validity of the questionnaire was examined with participation of ten experts, 10 and 150 women referring to health care centers, who were under common care during their postpartum period, respectively. The concurrent validity of the tool was evaluated using DASS-21. The reliability of the items was evaluated with the participation of 30 women, calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intra-class correlation coefficient.
The Content Validity Index, Content Validity Ratio and Impact Score of the Persian version of the PDM were 0.94, 0.73, and 2.97, respectively. The ten items of the questionnaire were loaded in two factors (general distress and obsessive compulsive symptoms subscale). Those two factors explained 50.78% of the total variance of women's distress. Internal consistency of the items and stability of the results were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha of 0.72 and Intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.75.
According to the study results, the Persian version of PDM Scale has acceptable psychometric properties. Care providers and researchers can use it as a tool for screening anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder in women.
The present study aims to evaluate self-management status in Iranian patients with hypertension and its relationship with social determinants.
This study was carried out in 2017-2018 in health care ...centers affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
A total of 240 patients with hypertension, who referred to health care centers of Tabriz, were invited to fill out the self-management (researcher made) and social determinants of health questionnaires.
Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship between self-management score and its items with items of social determinants of health questionnaire. Also, Pearson correlation Student
-test was used.
In this research 197 patients were studied. Mean age of the participants was 56.6 ± 10.1 years. The mean ± SD (standard deviation) of self-management score was 81.51 ± 13.16. The correlation coefficient of self -management with financial ability of securing the education expenses, nutrition and fruits, and health care expenses were 0.228 (
= 0.001), 0.149 (
value <0.05), and 0.28 (
< 0.001) respectively. Also, the correlation coefficient of age with self-management was - 0.206 (
value = 0.004). Item level analysis showed strong significant associations between social determinants and three items related to lifestyle and two items related to monitoring of blood pressure (BP) at home.
Overall self -management status of the patients was very good. Health centers that plan self -management support programs for patients should consider the social determinants of life style modification and monitoring of BP at home by hypertensive patients.
Background
:
Health professions students often experience stress and potential burnout while completing their entry-to-practice education; therefore, detecting and monitoring burn out among these ...students is paramount. This study compared motivation domains and determined the relationship between motivation and academic burnout among students of the Dental Faculty at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
Methods
:
This analytical study was conducted longitudinally with dental students at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences beginning from 2012, the first semester of the participating first-year students and then in the final semester when the same students graduated in 2017.All students (N = 110) were invited to participate. Academic motivation was assessed using the Valler and Academic Motivation Scale. Comparison between first and last semester motivation scores and the relationship between academic motivation level and burnout subscales was determined using independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
:
Gender had a statistically significant effect on extrinsic motivation and a motivation: in both the first and last semesters, male students were less extrinsically motivated (
P
< 0.05).Pearson’s correlation coefficient test found a significant inverse correlation between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of students in their final semester and the academic efficacy (EF)subscale (r = -0.25,
P
= 0.015; r = -0.21, P = 0.03, respectively).
Conclusion
:
Results showed that although there was a decrease in motivation level, students had high motivation and low burnout level in their final semester compared to their first semester. Extrinsic motivation was higher than intrinsic at both stages
Background: A Based on the World Health Organization's reporting, over 1.25 million people die annually in traffic accidents worldwide. Traffic accidents are the ninth main cause of death worldwide, ...with an average age range of victims of 15 to 29. Broadly speaking, 90% of traffic accidents happen in the lowand middle-income countries that comprise 82% of the global population, and these countries account for half of the world's vehicles. One of the goals of the National Road Traffic Knowledge Development Trustee is to plan and implement training courses (content design, design and implementation and evaluation) for target groups. To achieve this goal and due to the lack of academic programs on traffic safety in Iran, a single-credit course, "Safety and Traffic," was developed to be run as a compulsory academic course in all universities across the country.Methods: This course was administered as a national pilot study in four phases and in 17 medical universities across the country. All experts and national authorities in the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education were requested to provide feedback. Afterwards, the results and comments were forwarded to the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution for further investigation. Upon approval of the Council, the course will be implemented in all universities across the country.Results: Results from the pre-test showed that the level of students' knowledge was low before attending the training courses. Surveys also revealed that the two items of "pedestrian safety" and "first aids in RTCs" were the most useful and applicable subjects. The percentage of wrong answers ranged from 61 to 98%.Conclusion: Considering the importance of traffic accidents and people's role in traffic-related issues, it seems that it is necessary to provide university courses for traffic safety education.
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