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.

Primary intracranial mesenchymal neoplasms are rare tumors. These tumors are usually metastatic disease from other primary sites. We presented a 31-year-old man with a 6-month history of gradually enlarging frontal mass and positional headache. There was no other symptom demonstrating other organs’ involvement. The patient underwent an uncomplicated craniotomy with clear surgical margins. The pathology review and the immunohistochemistry staining confirmed leiomyosarcoma grade II. We prescribed radiation therapy with tumor dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with conformal treatment planning to the tumor bed. As this disease has a high potency for metastasis, we advised four courses of single agent doxorubicin chemotherapy 75 mg/m2 every 4 weeks starting one month after the end of radiotherapy. In the last follow-up visit 34 months later, the patient was disease free in physical exam and imaging findings.

Primary intracranial mesenchymal neoplasms are rare tumors. These tumors are usually metastatic disease from other primary sites. We presented a 31-year-old man with a 6-month history of gradually enlarging frontal mass and positional headache. There was no other symptom demonstrating other organs’ involvement. The patient underwent an uncomplicated craniotomy with clear surgical margins. The pathology review and the immunohistochemistry staining confirmed leiomyosarcoma grade II. We prescribed radiation therapy with tumor dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with conformal treatment planning to the tumor bed. As this disease has a high potency for metastasis, we advised four courses of single agent doxorubicin chemotherapy 75 mg/m2 every 4 weeks starting one month after the end of radiotherapy. In the last follow-up visit 34 months later, the patient was disease free in physical exam and imaging findings.

Background & Objective: This study aimed to find a biomarker to predict the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Serum levels of vitamin D3, C-reactive protein (CRP) and melatonin and their ratio were evaluated to find the valuable cut-off point. Methods: Serum levels of vitamin D3, CRP and melatonin were evaluated using commercial ELISA kit in newly diagnosed MS patients and compared with healthy controls. Results: Serum CRP level significantly increased and serum melatonin level significantly decreased in MS patients in comparison to controls. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for the cut-off point of CRP/melatonin ratio ≥ 78.29087 were 80%. Conclusion: CRP/melatonin ratio ≥ 78.29087 may be used for prediction of MS in an at risk population

BACKGROUND: Since the presence of a co-driver can be considered as a companion, partner, or friend for a driver through eliminating driver's loneliness, it plays a significant role in health and safety of drivers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of co-drivers on depression and occupational stress on male truck drivers. METHODS: This study was an interventional case-control study. Seventy truck drivers were selected and divided into two groups: case (33 truck drivers with co-drivers) and control (37 truck drivers without co-drivers). Two Goldberg depression inventories (for evaluating driver's depression) and the Karasek job content questionnaire (for evaluating driver's job stress) were used to collect data which were completed by interview. RESULTS: The results showed that job content values for the case group were higher in all dimensions except job nature. The comparison of the percentages showed significant difference between two groups. Depression rate in drivers with co-driver is truly less than depression rate in drivers without co-driver. There was significant positive relationship between dimensions of job content and depression rate. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be claimed that a co-driver decreases stress and loneliness of drivers, as well as increases work performance and job satisfaction, and, in turn, leads to a decrease in job-related depression.
Case-Control Studies ; Depression ; Equipment and Supplies ; Friends ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Loneliness ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Work Performance

Background: Work-related stress and its causes are among the most important issues which can seriously challenge organizational efficiency and employees' health. Different occupational environments and groups have different levels of job stress. The present study aimed to investigate relationships between job stress and its dimensions with three occupational groups (administrative, administrative-operational, and operational) among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company.Methods: The present study had descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional type and was conducted among 468 out of 503 employees (with entry condition of a year of work experience as well as an official and contractual membership) volunteered to participate in research. Data collection tools included demographic questions and job stress questionnaire as well as human resource department information to determine occupational group of employees. Descriptive statistics, statistical tests, Independent test, and one-way ANOVA in addition to SPSS 21 software were used for data analysis.Results: There were significant relationships between age, education levels, work experience and smoking with mean score of job stress (P-value <0.05). Mean score of employees' job stress in operational occupation group was significantly higher than other two occupational groups (P-value=0.004), and there were significant relationships between employees' occupational group variables with five dimensions of job stress (demand, relationships and role, managerial support, and peer support) (P-value<0.05). There were not any significant relationships between other variables and job stress (P-value>0.05).Conclusion: Exposure to different occupational harmful agents, facing with different safety risks, being far from family, heavy workload, and uncertain employee roles have significantly increased job stress in both operational and executive occupation groups compared to other two occupational groups; hence, there is a positive correlation between high job stress and operational jobs.

PURPOSETo accurately assess the mechanism, type and severity of injury in Iranian multiple trauma patients of a trauma center.

METHODSPatients with multiple traumas referring to the emergency department of Hasheminejad University Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, entered this cross sectional study from March 2013 to December 2013. All the patients with injury severity score (ISS) > 9 were included in this study. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software (Version 11.5) and P values less than 0.05 were considered as significant differences.

RESULTSAmong the 6306 hospitalized trauma patients during this period, 148 had ISS>9. The male female ratio was 80%. The mean age of the patients was (33.5 ± 19.3) years. And 71% of the patients were younger than 44 years old. There were 19 (13%) deaths from which 68.5% were older than 44 years old. The mean transfer time from the injury scene to hospital was (55 ± 26) minutes. The most frequent mechanisms of injury were motorcycle crashes and falling from height, which together included 66.2% of all the injuries. A total of 84% of hospital deaths occurred after the first 24 h of hospitalization. Head and neck were the most common body injured areas with a prevalence of 111 cases (75%).

CONCLUSIONMotorcycle crashes have high frequency in Iran. Since most victims are young males, injury prevention strategies should be considered to reduce the burden of injuries.

Accidents, Traffic ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Trauma ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Trauma Centers ; Young Adult

Objective To assess the spatiotemporal trait of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Fars province, Iran. Methods Spatiotemporal cluster analysis was conducted retrospectively to find spatiotemporal clusters of CL cases. Time-series data were recorded from 29 201 cases in Fars province, Iran from 2010 to 2015, which were used to verify if the cases were distributed randomly over time and place. Then, subgroup analysis was applied to find significant sub-clusters within large clusters. Spatiotemporal permutation scans statistics in addition to subgroup analysis were implemented using SaTScan software. Results This study resulted in statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters of CL (P < 0.05). The most likely cluster contained 350 cases from 1 July 2010 to 30 November 2010. Besides, 5 secondary clusters were detected in different periods of time. Finally, statistically significant sub-clusters were found within the three large clusters (P < 0.05). Conclusions Transmission of CL followed spatiotemporal pattern in Fars province, Iran. This can have an important effect on future studies on prediction and prevention of CL.

Objective: To assess the spatiotemporal trait of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Fars province, Iran. Methods: Spatiotemporal cluster analysis was conducted retrospectively to find spatio-temporal clusters of CL cases.Time-series data were recorded from 29 201 cases in Fars province,Iran from 2010 to 2015,which were used to verify if the cases were distributed randomly over time and place. Then, subgroup analysis was applied to find significant sub-clusters within large clusters.Spatiotemporal permutation scans statistics in addition to subgroup analysis were implemented using SaTScan software. Results: This study resulted in statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters of CL (P<0.05).The most likely cluster contained 350 cases from 1 July 2010 to 30 November 2010. Besides, 5 secondary clusters were detected in different periods of time. Finally, statistically significant sub-clusters were found within the three large clusters(P<0.05). Conclusions: Transmission of CL followed spatiotemporal pattern in Fars province, Iran.This can have an important effect on future studies on prediction and prevention of CL.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with caregiver burden among primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study conducted in 2012 on 150 main caregivers of patients with breast cancer who came to the oncology clinic of Shahid Ghazi hospital in Tabriz, Iran. A questionnaire which included caregiving-related factors and the Zarit Burden Interview was used for data collection after its validity and reliability were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software with descriptive and analytic statistics. The association between significant variables and the dependent variable with an observation of the effects of other variables was assessed using the multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 39.60 ± 13.80 years old, and 77 (51.3%) of them were men. The mean score of the Zarit Burden Interview was 30.55 ± 19.18. In the regression model, the mean score of activities of daily living, level of education, gender, and financial status were identified as the determining factors of the burden of caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers need to be financially supported by the relevant organizations. Care skills training and providing palliative care seem helpful in reducing the pain and the burden of family caregivers for patients with breast cancer.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*psychology ; Caregivers/*psychology ; *Cost of Illness ; Family/psychology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Iran ; Male ; Marital Status ; Middle Aged ; Socioeconomic Factors