• 셀메드
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.22.1-22.7
• /
• 2015

Depression is an important medical problem in today's world. Despite its high prevalence, treatment of depression remains problematic, as its cause is still not fully understood. Of the ways recommended to tackle this problem is implementing the potentials of various medical schools. A medical school which has played an important role in the history of medicine in the world is Persian medicine. This study was intended to identify non-pharmacological interventions for depression in the most reliable references on Persian medicine, classify these interventions and compare them with the latest medical findings. The study was set to review the most reliable references on Persian medicine. In addition, relevant keywords were used to search the PubMed and Scopus databases. In Persian medicine sources, melancholia is categorized into three main types. One type is regarded as cerebral melancholia, which resembles modern psychiatry's depression closely. Therefore, some key points put forth by Persian medicine scholars regarding melancholia can be used to answer questions concerning depressive disorders and their etiology and treatment. Although recent studies have confirmed most approaches offered by Persian medicine physicians in ancient Persia, it is imperative to design and conduct clinical trial studies according to these approaches.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제55권3호
• /
• pp.279-285
• /
• 2017

The present study was performed to analyze molecularly the phylogenetic positions of human-infecting Trichostrongylus species in Mazandaran Province, Iran, which is an endemic area for trichostrongyliasis. DNA from 7 Trichostrongylus infected stool samples were extracted by using in-house (IH) method. PCR amplification of ITS2-rDNA region was performed, and products were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence data was performed using MEGA 5.0 software. Six out of 7 isolates had high similarity with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, while the other one showed high homology with Trichostrongylus axei registered in GenBank reference sequences. Intra-specific variations within isolates of T. colubriformis and T. axei amounted to 0-1.8% and 0-0.6%, respectively. Trichostrongylus species obtained in the present study were in a cluster with the relevant reference sequences from previous studies. BLAST analysis indicated that there was 100% homology among all 6 ITS2 sequences of T. colubriformis in the present study and most previously registered sequences of T. colubriformis from human, sheep, and goat isolates from Iran and also human isolates from Laos, Thailand, and France. The ITS2 sequence of T. axei exhibited 99.4% homology with the human isolate of T. axei from Thailand, sheep isolates from New Zealand and Iran, and cattle isolate from USA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권14호
• /
• pp.6067-6071
• /
• 2015

Background: Gastric cancer accounts for about 8% of the total cancer cases and 10% of total cancer deaths worldwide. It is the second lethal cancer after esophageal cancer and is considered the fourth most common cancer in north and northwest Iran. The bcl2 family has a key role in the regulation of apoptosis and change in its expression can contribute to cancer. This study initially scheduled to determine the expression of bcl2 gene in tissue samples of adenocarcinoma cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 10 samples of gastric adenocarcinoma and 10 of normal tissues from Sari hospital were selected and after DNA extraction from tissues, bcl2 gene expression assayed by real-time PCR. Results: Our results demonstrated higher expression of the bcl2 gene in control compared with cancer and marginal cancer tissues. Conclusions: On one hand BCL2 plays an important role as an oncogene to inhibit apoptosis; on the other hand, it can initiate cell cycle arrest at G0 stage. Our observed association between its expression and patient survival is quite conflicting and may be tissue-specific. The data suggest expression both tumoural and non-tumoral(marginal) groups have lowered expression than controls (P>0.05). Due to the low number of samples we could not examine the relationship with clinicopathological features. However, bcl-2 expression may be important for prognostic outcome or a useful target for therapeutic intervention.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.367-383
• /
• 2023

A coupled wall consists of two or more reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls (SWs) connected by RC coupling beams (CBs) or steel CBs (hybrid-coupled walls). To fill the gap in the literature on the plastic hinge length of coupled walls, including coupled and hybrid-coupled shear walls, a parametric study using experimentally validated numerical models was conducted considering the axial stress ratio (ASR) and coupling ratio (CR) as the study variables. A total of sixty numerical models, including both coupled and hybrid-coupled SWs, have been developed by varying the ASR and CR within the ranges of 0.027-0.25 and 0.2-0.5, respectively. A detailed analysis was conducted in order to estimate the ultimate drift, ultimate capacity, curvature profile, yielding height, and plastic hinge length of the models. Compared to hybrid-coupled SWs, coupled SWs possess a relatively higher capacity and curvature. Moreover, increasing the ASR changes the walls' behavior to a column-like member which decreases the walls' ultimate drift, ductility, curvature, and plastic hinge length. Increasing the CR of the coupled SWs increases the walls' capacity and the risk of abrupt shear failure but decreases the walls' ductility, ultimate drift and plastic hinge length. However, CR has a negligible effect on hybrid-coupled walls' ultimate drift and moment, curvature profile, yielding height and plastic hinge length. Lastly, using the obtained results two equations were derived as a function of CR and ASR for calculating the plastic hinge length of coupled and hybrid-coupled SWs.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.253-265
• /
• 2023

In this research, the gene expression programming (GEP) technique was employed to provide a new model for predicting the maximum loading capacity of concrete-encased steel (CES) columns. This model was developed based on 96 CES column specimens available in the literature. The six main parameters used in the model were the compressive strength of concrete (f_c), yield stress of structural steel (f_ys), yield stress of steel rebar (f_yr), and cross-sectional areas of concrete, structural steel, and steel rebar (A_c, A_s and A_r respectively). The performance of the prediction model for the ultimate load-carrying capacity was investigated using different statistical indicators such as root mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and relative square error (RSE), the corresponding values of which for the proposed model were 620.28, 0.99, 411.8, and 0.01, respectively. Here, the predictions of the model and those of available codes including ACI ITG, AS 3600, CSA-A23, EN 1994, JGJ 138, and NZS 3101 were compared for further model assessment. The obtained results showed that the proposed model had the highest correlation with the experimental data and the lowest error. In addition, to see if the developed model matched engineering realities and corresponded to the previously developed models, a parametric study and sensitivity analysis were carried out. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that the concrete cross-sectional area (A_c) has the greatest effect on the model, while parameter (f_yr) has a negligible effect.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제51권1호
• /
• pp.28-41
• /
• 2024

Objective: Chronic scrotal hyperthermia (SHT) can lead to serious disorders of the male reproductive system, with oxidative stress playing a key role in the onset of these dysfunctions. Thus, we evaluated the impact of caffeine, a potent antioxidant, on cellular and tissue disorders in mice with chronic SHT. Methods: In this experimental study, 56 adult male NMRI mice were allocated into seven equal groups. Apart from the non-treated control group, all were exposed to heat stress. Two groups, termed "preventive" and "curative," were orally administered caffeine. The preventive mice began receiving caffeine immediately prior to heat exposure, while for the curative group, a caffeine regimen was initiated 15 consecutive days following cessation of heat exposure. Each treated group was subdivided based on pairing with a positive control (Pre/ curative [Cur]+PC) or a vehicle (Pre/Cur+vehicle). Upon conclusion of the study, we assessed sperm characteristics, testosterone levels, stereological parameters, apoptosis, antioxidant and oxidant levels, and molecular markers. Results: Sperm parameters, testosterone levels, stereological parameters, biochemical factors (excluding malondialdehyde [MDA]), and c-kit gene expression were significantly elevated in the preventive and curative groups, especially the former, relative to the other groups. Conversely, expression levels of the heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ) genes, MDA levels, and apoptotic cell density were markedly lower in both caffeine-treated groups relative to the other groups, with more pronounced differences observed in the preventive group. Conclusion: Overall, caffeine attenuated cellular and molecular abnormalities induced by heat stress in the testis, particularly in the mice treated under the preventive condition.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.371-390
• /
• 2020

One of the most common strategies for retrofitting as-built reinforced concrete (RC) columns is to enlarge the existing section through the application of a new concrete layer reinforced by both steel transverse and longitudinal reinforcements. The present study was dedicated to developing a comprehensive model to predict the seismic behavior of as-built RC jacketed columns. For this purpose, a new sectional model was developed to perform moment-curvature analysis coupled by the plastic hinge method. In this analysis-oriented model, new methodologies were suggested to address the impacts of axial, flexural and shear mechanisms, variable confining pressure, eccentric loading, longitudinal bar buckling, and varying axial load. To consider the effective interaction between core and jacket, the monolithic factor approach was adopted to extent the response of the monolithic columns to that of a respective RC jacket strengthened column. Next, parametric studies were implemented to examine the effectiveness of the main parameters of the RC jacket strategy in retrofitting as-built RC columns. Ultimately, the reliability of the developed analytical model was validated against a series of experimental results of as-built and retrofitted RC columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.453-465
• /
• 2020

Influences of different variables that affect the effective flexural rigidity of reinforced concrete (RC) members are not considered in the most seismic codes. Furthermore, in the last decades, the application of steel fibers in concrete matrix designs has been increased, requiring development of an accurate analytical procedure to calculate the effective flexural rigidity of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) members. In this paper, first, a nonlinear analytical procedure is proposed to calculate the SFRC members' effective flexural rigidity. The proposed model's accuracy is confirmed by comparing the results obtained from nonlinear analysis with those recorded from the experimental testing. Then a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of different parameters such as varying axial load and steel fiber are then investigated through moment-curvature analysis of various SFRC (normal-strength concrete) sections. The obtained results show that increasing the steel fiber volume percentage increases the effective flexural rigidity. Also it's been indicated that the varying axial load affects the effective flexural rigidity. Lastly, proper equations are developed to estimate the effective flexural rigidity of SFRC members.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제23권5호
• /
• pp.517-527
• /
• 2017

In this paper, the effect of active confinement on the compressive behaviour of circular steel tube-confined concrete (STCC) and concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns is investigated. In STCC columns the axial load is only applied to the concrete core, while in CFST columns the load is carried by the whole composite section. A new method is introduced to apply confining pressure on fresh concrete by laterally prestressing steel tubes. In order to achieve different prestressing levels, short-term and long-term pressures are applied to the fresh concrete. Three groups of STCC and CFST specimens (passive, S-active and L-active groups) are tested under axial loads. The results including stress-strain relationships of composite column components, secant modulus of elasticity, and volumetric strain are presented and discussed. Based on the elastic-plastic theory, the behaviour of the steel tube is also analyzed during elastic, yielding, and strain hardening stages. The results show that using the proposed prestressing method can considerably improve the compressive behaviour of both STCC and CFST specimens, while increasing the prestressing level has insignificant effects. By applying prestressing, the linear range in the stress-strain curve of STCC specimens increases by almost twice as much, while the improvement is negligible in CFST specimens.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.167-179
• /
• 2018

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is a type of ultra-high strength cement-based material with a dense microstructure, which is made of ultra-fine powders. RPC demonstrate a very brittle behavior, thus adding fibers improves its mechanical properties. In this study, it was attempted to investigate the effect of using steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers as well as their combination on the properties of RPC. In this regard, hooked-end crimped steel fibers together with short PVA fibers were utilized. Steel and PVA fibers were used with the maximum volume fraction of 3% and 0.75%, respectively, and also different combinations of these fibers were used with the maximum volume fraction of 1% in the concrete mixes. In total, 107 concrete specimens were prepared, and the effect of fiber type and volume fraction on the physico-mechanical properties of RPC including compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, density, and failure mode was explored. In addition, the effect of the curing type on the properties of compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and density of RPC was evaluated. Finally, coefficients for conversion of cubic compressive strength to cylindrical one for the RPC specimens were obtained under the two curing regimes of heat treatment and standard water curing.