Background: The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) influences a wide range of behavioral and reward function. In this study, we evaluated electrical stimulation and inactivation of DRN on morphine conditioned place preference (CPP). Methods: The rats were anesthetised (n = 7 for each group) and the electrode and cannula were implanted into the DRN by stereotaxic instrument. Electrical stimulation (100μA) and reversible inactivation by lidocaine were induced into DRN and then morphine-induced CPP was investigated. Results: The stimulation of DRN in combination with effective dose of morphine showed a significant decrease only on expression phases 20s (SD 33.7) when compared with morphine group 119.85s (SD 23.7) (One way ANOVA, Tukey’s; P = 0.036). Also, this stimulation in combination with ineffective dose of morphine showed a significant increase only on acquisition phases 67.5s (SD 41.2) of CPP compared with morphine group -46s (SD 18.51) (P = 0.034). Also, there were not significant differences in inactivation of DRN by lidocaine on different phase of CPP (P = 0.091). Conclusion: It is possible that electrical stimulation of the DRN with changes in concentration of serotonin or involving other transmitters such as glutamate and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) would be involved to these changes of CPP.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the experiences of nursing students being trained to perform vaccinations. METHODS: The grounded theory method was applied to gather information through semi-structured interviews. The participants included 14 undergraduate nursing students in their fifth and eighth semesters of study in a nursing school in Iran. The information was analyzed according to Strauss and Corbin's method of grounded theory. RESULTS: A core category of experiential learning was identified, and the following eight subcategories were extracted: students' enthusiasm, vaccination sensitivity, stress, proper educational environment, absence of prerequisites, students' responsibility for learning, providing services, and learning outcomes. CONCLUSION: The vaccination training of nursing students was found to be in an acceptable state. However, some barriers to effective learning were identified. As such, the results of this study may provide empirical support for attempts to reform vaccination education by removing these barriers.
Education ; Humans ; Iran ; Learning* ; Nursing* ; Problem-Based Learning ; Schools, Nursing ; Students, Nursing* ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) are a widespread disease. Thus, blocking stone formation and finding new therapeutic methods is an important area of study. Diosmin (a major component of the bile) is known to have antioxidant as well as renoprotective effects. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of diosmin on renal tissue protection in rats with ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group one (control) did not receive any treatments. In groups two and three, nephrolithiasis was induced by 2.5% (V/V) ethylene glycol + 2.5% (W/V) ammonium chloride (2 mL/d). The second and the third groups received distilled water or diosmin (80 mg/kg/d) by gavage for 21 days. RESULTS: Stereological estimation of the renal structures revealed that the average volume of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in the nephrolithiasis+diosmin rats was -63% less than in the rats with untreated nephrolithiasis (p<0.01). The volume of the glomeruli, proximal and distal convoluted tubules, Henle's loop, collecting ducts, and vessels was reduced -32% to 58% after the induction of nephrolithiasis (p<0.001). In the nephrolithiasis+diosmin rats, on average, -70% to 96% of the glomeruli, proximal convoluted tubules, Henle's loop collecting ducts, and vessels remained intact (p<0.01). Degeneration of the cortical tissue was 5-fold that of the medulla. In the nephrolithiasis+diosmin rats, degeneration in the renal cortical tissue and medulla was reduced -70% and 44%, respectively, compared with that in the untreated nephrolithiasis group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Diosmin reduces CaOx deposition and the degeneration of glomeruli and tubules in a rat model of nephrolithiasis.
Ammonium Chloride ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Diosmin ; Ethylene Glycol ; Ethylenes ; Kidney Calculi ; Nephrolithiasis ; Rats ; Water

Coronary artery disease is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is a risk factor for contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI), a complication of cardiovascular procedures that require contrast administration (e.g., coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]). CA-AKI has a major impact on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare resource utilization. The incidence of CA-AKI is particularly high in patients with pre-existing CKD, advanced age and comorbidities that increase the likelihood of CKD. The focus of the present review is to provide a brief overview on the assessment of the risk for and prevention of CA-AKI in patients undergoing angiography and PCI, including recognition of the important patient- and procedure-related factors that may contribute to CA-AKI. Preventive and treatment strategies, the mainstay of which is volume repletion by normal saline, are briefly discussed. The main focus of the review is placed on technical details of contrast minimization techniques, including ultra-low contrast angiography and zerocontrast PCI. Operator competence in such techniques is important to ensure that procedural challenges in patients with CKD, like vessel calcification, multivessel disease and complex anatomical subsets, are effectively addressed by PCI while minimizing the risk of CA-AKI.

Objective: Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common problem in today’s stressful lifestyle and have physiological consequences, including reproductive dysfunction and infertility. As an antioxidant, olive oil may be effective in reducing testicular and spermatological damage by decreasing the production of free radicals. Methods: This study investigated the effects of olive oil on sperm quality and testicular structure using stereological methods to assess rats with SD. Results: When comparing SD group to grid floor+distilled water (GR) group, we found that the sperm count and motility, as well as the percentage of slow progressive sperm was significantly lower in SD group (p<0.05), but the percentage of immotile sperm was higher (p<0.01). However, no improvement was observed in sperm count or motility after concomitant treatment of SD group with olive oil. Stereological examinations revealed no significant change in the total volumes of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue, and germinal epithelium in the study groups. Conversely, the total number of testicular cell types was significantly lower in SD group than in GR group. Although the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells was significantly higher in the SD+olive oil group than in the untreated SD group, no significant difference in the total number of other testicular cell types was observed between the two groups. Conclusion SD potentially induced structural changes in testis that affected sperm count and motility. However, olive oil only improved the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells in the animals with SD and did not improve sperm count and motility.

Objective: The strong antioxidant activity of Commiphora mukul prompted us to conduct the present study to explore whether treatment with C. mukul extract (CME) would have any protective influence on sperm parameters, testosterone levels, and plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, control animals treated with CME, diabetic animals, and diabetic animals treated with CME. CME extract (300 mg/kg) was administered for 60 days by daily gavage. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg STZ. The epididymal sperm count, weight, motility, morphology, viability, and serum testosterone and glucose levels were determined. Results: In the diabetic animals, CME decreased blood glucose levels (p<0.05), increased the total sperm count (p<0.05), and decreased the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology (p<0.05). Diabetes reduced sperm motility (p<0.001), and CME supplementation partially reversed this effect of diabetes (p=0.003). Furthermore, in diabetic animals, CME decreased the proportion of immotile sperm (p<0.001). In rats, diabetes caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum testosterone levels (F[3, 28]=3.283, p=0.035), but treatment of diabetic animals with CME increased serum testosterone levels. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that C. mukul possesses proandrogenic activity and exerts a beneficial effect on sperm parameters in diabetic rats.

Background: Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods: Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results: Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06x10-1 mg.(kg - day)-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3x10-4 and 7.26x10-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5x10-2mg.(kg - day)-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8x10-6) and non-cancer (2.3x10-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

Background: Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods: Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results: Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06x10-1 mg.(kg - day)-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3x10-4 and 7.26x10-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5x10-2mg.(kg - day)-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8x10-6) and non-cancer (2.3x10-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

PURPOSE: Healthcare staff educate nursing students during their clerkships at community health nursing programs. Their teaching methods play an important role in nursing students' acquisition of competencies; however, these methods have not been studied thoroughly. Thus, this study aims to describe, interpret, and understand the experiences of healthcare staff's teaching methods in clerkships at a community health nursing program. METHODS: This study was conducted using purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews with 13 members of the staff of three urban healthcare centers in Iran. The data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Multiplicity of teaching was identified as the main category of teaching method, and the five subcategories were teaching through lecture, demonstration, doing, visits and field trips, and readiness. The most common method used by the healthcare staff was lecturing. CONCLUSION: The healthcare staff used multiple methods to teach students in the nursing clerkship of the community health program, which was the strength of the course. However, they should be familiar with, and utilize additional methods, such as discussion rather than lecture.
Clinical Clerkship ; Community Health Nursing* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans ; Iran* ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Teaching*

OBJECTIVES: Free flaps are widely used to reconstruct head and neck defects. Despite the improvement in the surgical techniques and the surgeons’ experiences, flap failures still occur due to thrombotic occlusion after small vessels anastomosis. To reduce the possibility of flap loss as a result of thrombotic occlusion, various anticoagulants have been used. In this study we decided to evaluate a new protocol for anticoagulation therapy and its effect on flap survival and complications. METHODS: In this interventional study, 30 patients with head and neck cancer underwent surgical defects were reconstructed by microvascular free flap between 2013 and 2014. In the postoperative period patients have taken aspirin (100 mg/day) for 5 days and enoxaparin (40 mg/day subcutaneously) for 3 days. The flap survival was followed for three weeks. RESULTS: Given that there was no complete necrosis or loss of flap, the free flap success rate was as much as 100%. The need for re-exploration occurred in 3 patients (10%). Only in one patient the need for re-exploration was due to problem in venous blood flow. CONCLUSION: The aspirin-enoxaparin short-term protocol may be a good choice after free flap transfer in reconstruction of head and neck surgical defects.
Anticoagulants ; Aspirin ; Enoxaparin ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Head* ; Humans ; Methods* ; Neck* ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Period