Stability of pharyngeal airway dimensions: tongue and hyoid changes after treatment with a functional appliance

Because stability is known as the fundamental key of the successful outcome of orthodontics treatment, this study investigated the stability of tongue, hyoid bone and airway dimensions at least two years after active treatment with Faramand functional appliance in patients with class II div 1 malocclusion. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that treatment with functional appliance has the potential to increase pharyngeal airway dimensions and changes in tongue and hyoid position. Importantly, these achieved changes seemed to be maintained in long-term, up to 4 years on average.     

Job satisfaction among Iranian hospital-based practicing nurses: examining the influence of self-expectation, social interaction and organisational situations

ravari a ., bazargan m ., vanaki z . & mirzaei t . (2012) Journal of Nursing Management  20, 522–533 Job satisfaction among Iranian hospital-based practicing nurses: examining the influence of self-expectation, social interaction, and organisational situations Aim The influence of self-expectation, social interaction, and organisational situation on job satisfaction among nurses is examined. Background Understanding determinants and correlates of job satisfaction are important factors that help to reduce the problem of nurse attrition. Methods Utilizing the Hybrid Model of concept development, job satisfaction was examined in three phases: (1) the theoretical phase, a working definition and the dimensions of job satisfaction were established; (2) the fieldwork phase, a qualitative semi-structured interview was employed to capture participants’ perceptions of the concept; and (3) the analytical phase, the experiences of nurses were evaluated using the conceptual model. Results The results indicate that personal beliefs, rather than social interaction or organisational situation, constitute the core of job satisfaction. Conclusions Despite the variety of dissatisfaction factors rooted in social interaction and organisational situation, participants achieved the highest job satisfaction when trusting in self-value systems and the spiritual value of their job objectives. Implications Intervention is needed to increase organisational and professional support for nurses. However, highlighting the sacred and spiritual value of the nursing profession, which is rooted in religious values and culture, provides additional reinforcement for enhancing the job satisfaction among this segment of health care providers.     

Comparing the effect of IL-12 genetic adjuvant and alum non-genetic adjuvant on the efficiency of the cocktail DNA vaccine containing plasmids encoding SAG-1 and ROP-2 of Toxoplasma gondii

Various methods are available for enhancing the potency of DNA vaccines, including employment of different forms of adjuvant. The current study was carried out to evaluate and compare the effects of genetic and non-genetic adjuvants on the immune response stimulated by DNA vaccine. Thus, two adjuvants, IL-12 (genetic adjuvant) and aluminum hydroxide (alum, non-genetic adjuvant), were used with cocktail DNA vaccine containing plasmids encoding complete rhoptry antigen 2 (ROP-2) and surface major antigen 1 (SAG-1) of Toxoplasma gondii. The efficacy of pcROP2+pcSAG1 in stimulation of the immune response against toxoplasmosis with and without adjuvant was evaluated in female BALB/c mice by measuring the level of total IgG antibody and cytokines. The results obtained indicated that after challenging the mice with the fatal RH strain of T. gondii, the survival rates of mice immunized with pcROP2+pcSAG1 (DNA cocktail), pcSAG1+pcROP2+alum, and pcSAG1+pcROP2+IL-12 were significantly greater than that of the control groups (p<0.05). Moreover, measurement of total IgG antibody indicated the significant difference between the control and experimental groups (p<0.05). Finally, the results obtained by measurement of cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-4) showed high levels of IFN-γ and low levels of IL-4 in groups vaccinated with pcROP2+pcSAG1 (DNA cocktail), pcSAG1+pcROP2+alum, and pcSAG1+pcROP2+IL-12 as the experiment groups, in comparison with the controls groups (PBS, pc-DNA3, alum+PBS, and pCAGGS-IL-12+pcDNA3). The results of the study showed that use of adjuvants (IL-12 and alum) coincident with DNA cocktail leads to significant change in the survival rates of the experiment groups in comparison with control groups. Also, there is no significant difference between adjuvants to induce immune responses.