The antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene on DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes were studied using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis. Auraptene at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microM was tested under simultaneous treatment with 25 microM H(2)O(2). The data are expressed as % tail DNA and compared with ascorbic acid at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microM. Auraptene significantly reduced the genotoxicity of H(2)O(2 )at concentrations higher than 25 microM (p < 0.001). Interestingly, the antigenotoxicity activity of auraptene was higher than ascorbic acid (p < 0.01), however, at some concentrations (25, 50 and 200 microM) there was no significant difference between auraptene and ascorbic acid (p > 0.05). It seems that the significant antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene may be due to the prenyl moiety and also the suppression of superoxide anion (O(2) (-)) generation. This study suggests that the antigenotoxic property of auraptene is of great pharmacological importance and might be beneficial for cancer prevention.

BackgroundMigraine headache prevalence and triggers in type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were investigated in previous studies but the results are contradictory. Therefore, in this study we examined the prevalence of migraine headache in diabetic patients in comparison with non-diabetic persons and its predisposing factors in 2014.MethodsWe enrolled 147 volunteer patients with T2DM and 150 healthy persons referred to the Yazd Diabetes Research Center and the Central Laboratory of Yazd, respectively, in 2014. The data collection instrument was a self-conducted checklist. The checklist contained demographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics and migraine diagnostic questions according to International Classification of Headache Disorders Second Edition (ICHD-II) criteria. We compared prevalence of migraine between two groups, and also evaluated relationship between above characteristics and migraine prevalence in both groups.ResultsThe prevalence of migraine in participants of diabetic and non-diabetic was 27.9 and 26 %, respectively (p-value = .406). The prevalence of migraine headache among in diabetic persons was significantly correlated with family history of migraine, diabetes duration and hypoglycemia attacks. Also, the migraine prevalence was significant more prevalent in T2DM patients with duration 6–10 years (p-value = 0.031). The percentage of HbA1C, type of anti-diabetic medication, BMI value and age in diabetic patients did not show any significant association with migraine.ConclusionAlthough we observed no significant differences in prevalence of migraine between patients with T2DM and non-diabetic age and sex adjusted persons But, the occurrence of hypoglycemia attacks and T2DM duration were related to migraine prevalence. Decreasing hypoglycemia among long-time T2DM patients probably can decline migraine headache in this group of patients.

The protective properties of a prenylated coumarin, umbelliprenin (UMB), on the human lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy volunteers. DNA breaks and resistance to H(2)O(2)-induced damage were measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions (comet assay). Human lymphocytes were incubated in UMB (10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 microM) alone or a combination of different concentrations of UMB (10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 microM) and 25 microM H(2)O(2). Untreated cells, ascorbic acid (AA; 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 microM) and H(2)O(2) (25 microM) were considered as negative control, positive control, and the standard antioxidant agent for our study, respectively. Single cells were analyzed with "TriTek Cometscore version 1.5" software. The DNA damage was expressed as percent tail DNA. UMB exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in protection activity against DNA damage induced by 25 microM H(2)O(2) (from 67.28% to 39.17%). The antigenotoxic activity of AA, in the range 0-50 microM, was greater than that of UMB. However, no significant difference (p> 0.05) in the protective activity was found between UMB and AA at concentrations of approximately higher than 50 microM.

Background: Oncology nurses play a crucial role in cancer pain management and must be highly informed to ensure their effective practice in the cancer setting. The aim of this study was to determine the baseline level of knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses regarding cancer pain management. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was employed. The sample comprised 58 cancer nurses working in Shahid Sadoughi hospital, Yazd, Iran. The ''Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain'' (NKAS) tool and a demographic form were utilized to ascertain the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses working in oncology settings. Results: The average correct response rate for oncology nurses was 66.6%, ranging from 12.1% to 94.8%. The nurses mean score on the knowledge and attitudes survey regarding pain management was 28.5%. Results revealed that the mean percentage score overall was 65.7%. Only 8.6% of nurse participants obtained a passing score of 75% or greater. Widespread knowledge deficits and poor attitudes were noted in this study, particularly regard pharmacological management of pain. Conclusions: The present study provides important information about knowledge deficits in pain management among oncology nurses and limited training regarding pain management. Our results support the universal concern of inadequate knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding cancer pain. It is suggested educational and quality improvement initiatives in pain management could enhance nurses knowledge in the area of pain and possibly improve practice.

Little is known about the genotypes of Echinococcus spp. and their life cycles in eastern Iran. We analysed the partial sequences of the nad1 and cox1 genes from 17 isolates from hydatid cyst-infected patients (n=9), camels (n=5) and sheep (n=3) in Birjand, eastern Iran. A new primer pair was also used to amplify the long fragment (1180bp) of the cox1 gene. All camel and eight human isolates were G6 strains of Echinococcus canadensis while one human isolate and the three sheep isolates were G1 genotypes (sheep strain) of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.). Nad1 and cox1 sequence analyses showed high G6 genetic homogeneity, similar to previously reported G6 strains from southeast and central Iran, Sudan and Mauritania. Low nucleotide and haplotype diversity similar to G6 strains from Russia (Altai republic) and Kazakhstan was also found, consistent with a bottleneck effect. In this study, G6 was the most common Echinococcus genotype. Genetic homogeneity of east, southeast and central Iranian G6 and its low genetic diversity may be due limited mobility and contact between humans and camels from other regions because of large, inhospitable deserts.

Background:Due to the high number of women affected by cervical cancer and the importance of an early diagnosis, combined with the frequent incidence of false-negative Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening results for this disease, several studies have been conducted in recent years in order to find better tests. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) tests, including the liquid-based thin layer method, have demonstrated the highest potential for reducing false-negative cases and improved sample quality. This study aimed to compare the strength of the Pap smear test with fluid cytology and conventional tests in detecting cervical dysplasia.Materials and Methods:This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 366 women who attended private laboratories for a Pap smear. The Pap smear sampling was conducted simultaneously using two methods: conventional Pap (CP) smear and LBC), from the cervix.Results:The mean age of the participants was 32 ± 8.8 years. Diagnostic results of endocervical cells, epithelial cells, vaginitis cells, and metaplastia were consistent with both conventional and liquid cytology smears, and the kappa coefficient was determined to be significant (P < 0.001). In total, 40.5% of diagnostic cases indicated bacterial inflammation 80.3% of the diagnoses in both methods were P1 and 3.9% of cases diagnosed were P2, the overall diagnostic consistency was 83.9% between the two sampling methods. The inflammation diagnosis was 40.5% and this was consistent in both methods of LBC and CP. There was one case of a false-negative diagnosis in the LBC method and 14 cases in the CP method.Conclusion:Results showed that the LBC may improve the sample's quality and reduce the number of unsatisfactory cases more than with the CP method.

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Objectives Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major public health problem worldwide. Slovenia is among the countries with highest prevalence of decreased susceptibility and resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) in Europe. Herein, the phenotypic and molecular characterization of Slovenian N. gonorrhoeae strains from 2008-2012 is presented. Methods N. gonorrhoeae isolates cultured [2008][2009][2010][2011][2012] in Slovenia (n = 138) were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility with Etest methodology for 8 antimicrobials (cefixime, ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin and spectinomycin). Furthermore, all isolates were investigated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) for molecular epidemiology, and sequencing of major ESC resistance determinants; penA, mtrR and penB. Results The overall prevalence of resistance and decreased susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone (MIC≥ 0.125 mg/L) was 16% and 7%, respectively. The resistance and decreased susceptibility showed an epidemic peak during 2009-2011 when it reached 28% for cefixime and 12% for ceftriaxone, however, the prevalence subsequently decreased to 6% and 4%, respectively, in the year 2012. NG-MAST sequence types 1407 (13% of all isolates), 21 (8%) and 225 (6%) were the most common STs during 2008-2012. ST1407, previously stated as an internationally spread successful clone with resistance or decreased susceptibility to ESCs, was most prevalent in 2009 (43%). However, the ST1407 prevalence declined in 2010 (15%) and 2011 (11%) and the clone was rare in 2012 (4%). Instead, in 2012 the ESC susceptible ST21 was the predominant ST (21%). During 2008-2012, a penA mosaic allele (mainly penA XXXIV, associated with ST1407) was detected in 25% of isolates. Conclusion The prevalence of gonococcal resistance to ESC in Slovenia has fluctuated, which is mainly due to the longitudinal prevalence of a few gonococcal clones. Fortunately, some ESC susceptible clones, such as ST21, now appear to replace the main ESC resistant clone ST1407, a replacement that is indicated in several European countries. pharyngeal swab on two visits, and had not been treated for this infection at first visit. Methods From 1/1/2008 to 14/7/2010, pharyngeal swabs from patients at risk for pharyngeal gonorrhoea were tested with the AC2 (Hologic-GenProbe) test. Since at that time PCt detection was not considered to represent an infection, PCt results were not reported and patients were not treated, unless they had a chlamydial infection at another anatomic site. We looked for patients who had a positive PCt test on two different occasions with an interval of at least 3 weeks. For inclusion in the study, patients were required to have no Chlamydia infections at other anatomic locations at first visit and therefore received no treatment. PCt typing was done by MLST on stored specimens. Results Sixteen patients could be included and paired pharyngeal samples from four of those patients contain...