Objective: This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China, the associated risk factors, and the effects on the pepsinogen and gastrin levels. Methods: Fecal samples (n = 590) were collected from four regions and analyzed using the standard floatation and sedimentation techniques. The serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels were also assessed as potential biomarkers for gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Results: Among 590 animals, 259 (43.9%; 95% confidence interval, 36.7–49.8) tested positive for at least one type of gastrointestinal nematode parasite. Among the positive animals, 38.6% were poly-parasitic, while 61.4% were mono-parasitic (p < 0.05). Cooperia was the predominant nematode among mono-infections, accounting for 10.8%, followed in order by Oesophagostomum (10.0%), Trichuris (9.6%), Trichostrongylus (8.5%), Dictyocaulus (6.9%), Ascarid (6.9%), Haemonchus (4.6%), and Strongyloides (3.9%). Among the poly-parasitic infected cattle, 22.7%, 9.3%, 4.2%, and 2.3% had two, three, four, and five parasite combinations, respectively. The risk factors, such as age, breed, area, physical condition, and presence of diarrhea, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Poly-parasitic infected cattle showed 49.1% higher (p = 0.013) serum pepsinogen levels than the control group, while the mono-parasitic ones exhibited a 28.33% increase (p = 0.030). Similarly, the serum gastrin levels increased by 99.2% (p = 0.004) and 71.3% (p = 0.015) in the poly-parasitic and mono-parasitic animals, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in Northern China, with an alarming rate of poly-parasitic infections. In addition, polyparasitic infections affect the enzymes pepsinogen and gastrin levels.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China, the associated risk factors, and the effects on the pepsinogen and gastrin levels. Methods: Fecal samples (n = 590) were collected from four regions and analyzed using the standard floatation and sedimentation techniques. The serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels were also assessed as potential biomarkers for gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Results: Among 590 animals, 259 (43.9%; 95% confidence interval, 36.7–49.8) tested positive for at least one type of gastrointestinal nematode parasite. Among the positive animals, 38.6% were poly-parasitic, while 61.4% were mono-parasitic (p < 0.05). Cooperia was the predominant nematode among mono-infections, accounting for 10.8%, followed in order by Oesophagostomum (10.0%), Trichuris (9.6%), Trichostrongylus (8.5%), Dictyocaulus (6.9%), Ascarid (6.9%), Haemonchus (4.6%), and Strongyloides (3.9%). Among the poly-parasitic infected cattle, 22.7%, 9.3%, 4.2%, and 2.3% had two, three, four, and five parasite combinations, respectively. The risk factors, such as age, breed, area, physical condition, and presence of diarrhea, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Poly-parasitic infected cattle showed 49.1% higher (p = 0.013) serum pepsinogen levels than the control group, while the mono-parasitic ones exhibited a 28.33% increase (p = 0.030). Similarly, the serum gastrin levels increased by 99.2% (p = 0.004) and 71.3% (p = 0.015) in the poly-parasitic and mono-parasitic animals, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in Northern China, with an alarming rate of poly-parasitic infections. In addition, polyparasitic infections affect the enzymes pepsinogen and gastrin levels.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China, the associated risk factors, and the effects on the pepsinogen and gastrin levels. Methods: Fecal samples (n = 590) were collected from four regions and analyzed using the standard floatation and sedimentation techniques. The serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels were also assessed as potential biomarkers for gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Results: Among 590 animals, 259 (43.9%; 95% confidence interval, 36.7–49.8) tested positive for at least one type of gastrointestinal nematode parasite. Among the positive animals, 38.6% were poly-parasitic, while 61.4% were mono-parasitic (p < 0.05). Cooperia was the predominant nematode among mono-infections, accounting for 10.8%, followed in order by Oesophagostomum (10.0%), Trichuris (9.6%), Trichostrongylus (8.5%), Dictyocaulus (6.9%), Ascarid (6.9%), Haemonchus (4.6%), and Strongyloides (3.9%). Among the poly-parasitic infected cattle, 22.7%, 9.3%, 4.2%, and 2.3% had two, three, four, and five parasite combinations, respectively. The risk factors, such as age, breed, area, physical condition, and presence of diarrhea, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Poly-parasitic infected cattle showed 49.1% higher (p = 0.013) serum pepsinogen levels than the control group, while the mono-parasitic ones exhibited a 28.33% increase (p = 0.030). Similarly, the serum gastrin levels increased by 99.2% (p = 0.004) and 71.3% (p = 0.015) in the poly-parasitic and mono-parasitic animals, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in Northern China, with an alarming rate of poly-parasitic infections. In addition, polyparasitic infections affect the enzymes pepsinogen and gastrin levels.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China, the associated risk factors, and the effects on the pepsinogen and gastrin levels. Methods: Fecal samples (n = 590) were collected from four regions and analyzed using the standard floatation and sedimentation techniques. The serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels were also assessed as potential biomarkers for gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Results: Among 590 animals, 259 (43.9%; 95% confidence interval, 36.7–49.8) tested positive for at least one type of gastrointestinal nematode parasite. Among the positive animals, 38.6% were poly-parasitic, while 61.4% were mono-parasitic (p < 0.05). Cooperia was the predominant nematode among mono-infections, accounting for 10.8%, followed in order by Oesophagostomum (10.0%), Trichuris (9.6%), Trichostrongylus (8.5%), Dictyocaulus (6.9%), Ascarid (6.9%), Haemonchus (4.6%), and Strongyloides (3.9%). Among the poly-parasitic infected cattle, 22.7%, 9.3%, 4.2%, and 2.3% had two, three, four, and five parasite combinations, respectively. The risk factors, such as age, breed, area, physical condition, and presence of diarrhea, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Poly-parasitic infected cattle showed 49.1% higher (p = 0.013) serum pepsinogen levels than the control group, while the mono-parasitic ones exhibited a 28.33% increase (p = 0.030). Similarly, the serum gastrin levels increased by 99.2% (p = 0.004) and 71.3% (p = 0.015) in the poly-parasitic and mono-parasitic animals, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in Northern China, with an alarming rate of poly-parasitic infections. In addition, polyparasitic infections affect the enzymes pepsinogen and gastrin levels.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate drug prescription indicators in outpatient services provided at Iran Social Security Organization (SSO) healthcare facilities. Methods: Data on all prescribed drugs for outpatient visits from 2017 to 2018 were extracted from the SSO database. The data were categorized into 4 main subgroups: patient characteristics, provider characteristics, service characteristics, and type of healthcare facility. Logistic regression models were used to detect risk factors for inappropriate drug prescriptions. SPSS and IBM Modeler software were utilized for data analysis. Results: In 2017, approximately 150 981 752 drug items were issued to outpatients referred to SSO healthcare facilities in Iran. The average number of drug items per outpatient prescription was estimated at 3.33. The proportion of prescriptions that included an injection was 17.5%, and the rate of prescriptions that included an antibiotic was 37.5%. Factors such as patient sex and age, provider specialty, type of facility, and time of outpatient visit were associated with the risk of inappropriate prescriptions. Conclusions In this study, all drug prescription criteria exceeded the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization. To improve the current prescription patterns throughout the country, it would be beneficial to provide providers with monthly and annual reports and to consider implementing some prescription policies for physicians.

Objective: The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of novel radiofrequency modulation (RM) therapy with a tailored physiotherapy course for patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) of myofascial origin, also known as myofascial pelvic pain syndrome (MPPS). Methods: We enrolled 46 patients with myofascial CPP to compare the effectiveness of a 10-session routine physiotherapy course versus a 6-session RM with an integrated device (HIGGS) in alleviating MPPS morbidity and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation. The primary outcome was reduction in pelvic pain after the final session and in the follow-up period 3 months after the final intervention session. Results: The 6-session therapy in the RM group and the manual, biofeedback, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapies in the physiotherapy group were similarly effective in reducing pain and improving PFM endurance after the final intervention session in each group, whereas perineometer readings and PFM strength were associated with greater improvements in the physiotherapy group. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated comparable effectiveness of RM in the management of MPPS and improvement of PFM function compared to routine physiotherapy programs with fewer sessions of therapy.

Introduction: The aim of this exploratory sequential mixed methods study was to develop an oral presentations assessment tool for postgraduate students’ oral presentations. Methods: First, a literature review and the ideas of 319 experienced professors were used to identify domains and potential items to develop the desired tool. Then the psychometric properties of the preliminary tool were measured using face and content validity, inter-rater agreement and test-retest reliability. Results: The qualitative phase indicated there should be four domains in the developed Oral Presentations Assessment Tool: subject knowledge, delivery, content and organization, and ergonomics, and that items in the developed tool should be weighted according to importance for the efficacy of a presentation. The final version included 19 items across four domains. Mean content validity index and content validity ratio scores were 0.93 and 0.76, respectively. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the two evaluation periods was 0.92. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.78. Conclusion: The Oral Presentations Assessment Tool has appropriate psychometric properties and can be used as a valid and applicable instrument to assess postgraduate students’ oral presentations. Important cognitive factors in oral presentations in the form of an ergonomic domain was included for the first time, as part of this new comprehensive tool.

Drug resistance is a great challenge in cancer therapy using chemotherapeutic agents.Administration of these drugs with siRNA is an efficacious strategy in this battle.Here,the present study tried to incor-porate siRNA and paclitaxel(PTX)simultaneously into a novel nanocarrier.The selectivity of carrier to target cancer tissues was optimized through conjugation of folic acid(FA)and glucose(Glu)onto its surface.The structure of nanocarrier was formed from ternary magnetic copolymers based on FeCo-polyethyleneimine(FeCo-PEI)nanoparticles and polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol(PLA-PEG)gene delivery system.Biocompatibility of FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA(NPsA),FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-Glu(NPsB)and FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA/Glu(NPsAB)nanoparticles and also influence of PTX-loaded nanoparticles on in vitro cytotoxicity were examined using MTT assay.Besides,siRNA-FAM internalization was investi-gated by fluorescence microscopy.The results showed the blank nanoparticles were significantly less cytotoxic at various concentrations.Meanwhile,siRNA-FAM/PTX encapsulated nanoparticles exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 and BT-474cell lines.NPsAB/siRNA/PTX nanoparticles showed greater effects on MCF-7 and BT-474 cells viability than NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX.Also,they induced significantly higher anticancer effects on cancer cells compared with NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX due to their multi-targeted properties using FA and Glu.We concluded that NPsAB nanoparticles have a great potential for co-delivery of both drugs and genes for use in gene therapy and chemotherapy.

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.