The psychometric properties of the Iranian version of revised prenatal coping inventory (Nu PCI) in healthy pregnant women: a confirmatory factor analysis

The Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory (Nu PCI) is a self-report instrument that focuses on the coping styles of pregnant women during the prenatal period. The present study aimed to translate the scale and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Nu PCI in healthy pregnant women. Beaton’s recommendations have been used for the translation and cultural adaptation of this scale. Reliability, content, and face validity were performed to assess the psychometric properties of the scale. The results indicated that the Nu PCI was successfully translated into the Persian language, with both the total scale and subscales exhibiting both content validity and internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the conceptual three-factor structure of the measure had good fit indices. Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency. Cronbach Alpha coefficient was 0.92 and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.91. Therefore, the Nu PCI is a reliable instrument to measure prenatal coping patterns in primigravida healthy pregnant women.     

The effect of fenugreek on the gene expression of arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes

The main bioactive compounds of Trigonella foenum graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds are protodioscin, trigoneoside, diosgenin and yamogenin, which have anticarcinogenic potency through inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. The effect of fenugreek on ALOX and COX genes was examined in AKR/J H‐2^k mice exposed to dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA), a potent carcinogen. The expression pattern of these genes was determined by detecting the mRNA expression in various tissues (the lungs, liver, spleen and the kidneys) in four groups of mice. Two groups were fed with normal and two of them with fenugreek containing nutriment. Each group divided into DMBA treated and control groups. Mice were autopsied on day 7 after DMBA treatment for mRNA isolation. Fenugreek consumption itself did not change gene expression compared with the control group. DMBA could increase the expression of ALOX12, ALOX15, ALOX5 genes mainly in all organs. Fenugreek consumption was generally protective in each organ in a different manner. DMBA treatment increased COX2 gene expression, but fenugreek was protective in all tissues examined. In COX1 gene, the fenugreek diet could suppress the expression, except for spleen, independently from carcinogen exposure. Therefore by inhibiting the arachidonic acid metabolism fenugreek may prevent tumorigenesis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Association between cigarette smoking and socio-demographics, lifestyle and mental health factors in a sampled Iranian population

The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between cigarette smoking and socio-economic variable in an Iranian male population. Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) is a community oriented health study from which we obtained our data regarding male subjects. Socio-demographic variables--sex, age, marital status, educational level, occupation, and income--and physical activity level were derived from the questionnaire. Nutritional status was asked by the Food Frequency Questionnaire and the general dietry index (GDI) was calculated. A general health questionnaire (GHQ) comprised of 12 items was used to assess mental health. Smoking status was investigated by a self reported questionnaire as a dependent variable. A logistic regression model was used for statistical analysis. Current smokers comprised 26.2% of respondents while 8.5% were ex-smokers. High income (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.13-3.67), GDI (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.44-2.32) and high stress (GHQ > or = 4 OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.48-2) were associated with smoking. Older age (OR 0.991; 95% CI 0.985-0.998), university education level (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.37-0.77), unemployment (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.64-0.99) and obesity (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.55-0.73) were associated with non-smoking status. Our findings confirm an association between socio-demographics, lifestyle and mental health variables with smoking in the Iranian population, consistent with other studies worldwide. These factors should be considered when developing smoking cessation strategies.     

Early post-transplant immune monitoring can predict long-term kidney graft survival: Soluble CD30 levels,anti-HLA antibodies and IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies

This study aimed to investigate the predictive power of anti-HLA antibodies, sCD30 levels and IgA-anti-Fab autoantibody before and early after transplantation in relation to long-term kidney allograft survival. Pre- and post-transplant sera samples of 59 living-unrelated donor kidney recipients were tested for above risk factors by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. 15 out of 59 cases experienced rejection episodes (failure group). Pre- and post-transplant high sCD30 levels were significantly associated with graft failure (P = 0.02 and P = 0.004) and decreased 4 year graft survival (P = 0.009 and P = 0.001). Higher frequency of post-transplant HLA class-II antibody in the absence of class-I antibody was observed in failure group (P = 0.007). Patients with post-transplant HLA class-I and class-II antibodies either alone or in combination showed significant lower 4 year graft survival. Recipients with high sCD30 levels in the presence of HLA class-I or class-II antibodies within 2 weeks post-transplant had poor graft survival (P = 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). High levels of post-transplant IgA-anti-Fab antibody was more frequent in functioning-graft patients (P = 0.00001), correlated with decreased serum creatinine levels (P = 0.01) and associated with improved graft survival (P = 0.008). Our findings indicate the deleterious effect of early post-transplant HLA antibodies and increased sCD30 levels dependently and protective effect of IgA-anti-Fab antibodies on long-term renal graft outcomes.     

Prognostic impact of risk factors in patients with gastric cancer in Iran

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one the most common causes of death worldwide. Despite the decreasing rate of GC in the world through recent years, it is still the most common cancer in men and the fourth in the general population in Iran. This study aimed to assess the survival of patients with GC and to determine prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: A total of 471 patients with GC were followed from 21 March 2003 to 21 March 2007 in the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital. The patients’ survival rate was determined by periodical refers. The survival period considered as the time from diagnosis up to death or the end of the study. The effects of gender, age at diagnosis, tumor site, pathologic stage of disease, type of treatment used, and metastasis were evaluated by log-rank test in a univariate analysis. In addition, all the variables were evaluated simultaneously by the Cox proportional hazard (PH) model. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Results: 357 (75.8%) out of 471 patients were male and 153 cases (32.5%) experienced death. The mean and median ages at diagnosis were 58.5 and 60.7 years respectively. Also, the survival mean and median were 41.8 ( 3.1) and 27 (1.7) months respectively. Gender, type of treatment, pathologic stage, the degree of differentiation were significantly related to survival. Conclusions: There was a potential effective role of age at diagnosis, gender of patients and pathologic stage of disease in cancer therapy in this part of Iran. Therefore, to reduce the risk of death in patients with GC, early diagnosis of patients at a younger age and also in primary stages must be targeted.     

Prediction of time to recurrence and influencing factors for gastric cancer in Iran

Background: The patterns of gastric cancer recurrence vary across societies. We designed the current studyin an attempt to evaluate and reveal the outbreak of the recurrence patterns of gastric cancer and also predictionof time to recurrence and its effected factors in Iran. Materials and Methods: This research was performed fromMarch 2003 to February 2007. Demographic characteristics, clinical and pathological diagnosis and classificationincluding pathologic stage, tumor grade, tumor site and tumor size in of patients with GC recurrent werecollected from patients’ data files. To evaluate of factors affected on the relapse of the GC patients, gender, ageat diagnosis, treatment type and Hgb were included in the research. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meierand logistic regression models. Results: After treatment, 82 patients suffered recurrence, 42, 33 and 17 by theends of first, second and third years. The mean ( SD) and median ( IQR) time to recurrence in patients withGC were 25.5 (20.6-30.1) and 21.5 (15.6-27.1) months, respectively. The results of multivariate analysis logisticregression showed that only pathologic stage, tumor grade and tumor site significantly affected the recurrence.Conclusions: We found that pathologic stage, tumor grade and tumor site significantly affect on the recurrenceof GC which has a high positive prognostic value and might be functional for better follow-up and selecting thepatients at risk. We also showed time to recurrence to be an important factor for follow-up of patients.     

The burden of pure anisometropic amblyopia: a cross-sectional study on 2800 Iranians

Purpose

To assess the proportion of pure anisometropic amblyopia in a sample Iranian (white) population.

Methods

A total of 2800 consecutive individuals who presented at a referral eye clinic for any reason were examined for the presence of pure anisometropic amblyopia. Anisometropia was reported when a spherical equivalent refraction difference of at least 1.0 D with or without a cylinder refraction difference of at least 1.0 D was present between the two eyes. Amblyopia was defined as the best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 or worse or a two-line interocular visual acuity difference between eyes that could not be attributed to any structural ocular pathology or visual pathway abnormality.

Results

Subjects were 1528 females and 1272 males with a mean age of 30.25 ± 14.93 years (range, 5–65). Amblyopia was diagnosed in 192 cases (6.9%), significantly more frequent among females (7.9 vs. 5.7%, p = 0.02). Pure anisometropic amblyopia was present in 6.1% of the study population, significantly more common in patients with spherical hyperopic anisometropia (37.7%) compared to patients with spherical myopic anisometropia (21.3%), cylindrical myopic anisometropia (4.1%), and cylindrical hyperopic anisometropia (15%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pure anisometropic amblyopia is a common finding in Caucasians seeking eye care, particularly when anisometropia is of spherical hyperopic subtype.

     

The possible relationship between onco/suppressor gene expression and carcinogen exposure in vivo: evaluation of a potential biomarker in preventive and predictive medicine

An understanding of the molecular changes occuring during exposure to a carcinogen enhances the possibility of cancer prevention. Molecular genetic-biological screening methods offer the potential for early diagnosis of high-risk groups, and identification of specific signals, as a major step in primary prevention. Recent investigations have suggested that oncogene or oncosuppressor gene expression investigation at the RNA level is a proper and early molecular epidemiological biomarker of carcinogen exposure and a tool for risk assessment. This is one way by which the high-risk groups could be recognized. At the protein level, the investigation of gene expression is very useful in molecular diagnosis and in molecular pathology.     

Peripheral distributions of IL-4-producing CD4 + T cells and CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + T cells (Tregs) in rheumatoid arthritis patients with poor response to therapy are associated with HLA shared epitope alleles and ACPA status

Specific profiling of CD4?+?T cell subsets in the circulation and inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may have therapeutic implications. This study aimed to evaluate the peripheral distributions of Th2 and Treg cells in relation to HLA-shared epitope (SE) alleles and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPAs) status in patients with good response (GR) and poor response (PR) to treatment. The frequencies of IL-4-producing CD4?+?T cells (Th2) and CD4?+?CD25?+?Foxp3?+?T cells (Tregs) were determined by flow cytometry in 167 RA patients including 114 GR and 53 PR cases. CD4?+?T cell subsets were also analyzed based on HLA-SE and ACPAs statuses. One hundred nine of 167 patients were positives for HLA-SE, 63.4% for ACPAs, 43.7% for SE/ACPAs and 14.9% were negatives for SE/ACPAs. Higher frequencies of Th2 (P?=?0.001) and Treg cells (P?=?0.03) were found in the patients versus controls. Increased and decreased frequencies of Th2 and Tregs cells were observed in the PR versus GR patients respectively (P?=?0.003 and P?=?0.004). Higher proportions of Th2 cells were observed in the SE⁺RA versus SE^?RA (P?=?0.001), in ACPA⁺RA versus ACPA^?RA (P?=?0.005) and in the SE⁺ACPA⁺RA versus SE^?ACPA^?RA patients (P?=?0.002). Treg cells frequencies decreased in the SE⁺RA versus SE^?RA (P?=?0.03) and in SE⁺ACPA⁺RA versus SE^?ACPA^?RA (P?=?0.02). ACPA⁺GR and SE⁺PR patients showed higher proportions of Th2 cells than ACPA^?GR and SE^?PR patients respectively (P?=?0.02 and P?=?0.01). Analysis of the CD4?+?T cell subsets profiles in conjunction with genetic background and autoantibodies patterns can be useful for precise therapeutic response monitoring in the RA patients.

     

Mixtures of Uncaria and Tabebuia extracts are potentially chemopreventive in CBA/Ca mice: a long‐term experiment

A long‐term experimental animal model was developed by our research group for the evaluation of potential chemopreventive effects. The inhibitory effects of agents on carcinogen (7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced molecular epidemiological biomarkers, in this case the expression of key onco/suppressor genes were investigated. The expression pattern of c‐myc, Ha‐ras, Bcl‐2, K‐ras protooncogene and p53 tumour suppressor gene were studied to elucidate early carcinogenic and potential chemopreventive effects. The consumption of so‐called Claw of Dragon tea (CoD? tea) containing the bark of Uncaria guianensis, Cat's Claw (Uncaria sp. U. tomentosa) and Palmer trumpet‐tree (Tabebuia sp. T. avellanedae) was able to decrease the DMBA‐induced onco/suppressor gene overexpression in a short‐term animal experiment. In a following study CBA/Ca mice were treated with 20 mg/kg bw DMBA intraperitoneally (i.p.) and the expression patterns of onco/suppressor genes were examined at several time intervals. According to the examined gene expression patterns in this long‐term experiment the chemopreventive effect of CoD? tea consumption could be confirmed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.