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Considering the importance of fungal genera in producing compost from piling organic matter or biodegradable waste, this study aimed to identify the fungal species and their negative effect on human health during the compost production by windrow method. In this descriptive study, 99 compost samples were collected from the composting research site at Kashan University of medical sciences within 63 days from Oct 3 to Dec 4, 2010. Sixty-six samples were cultured to determine the fungal species and 33 samples were transferred to the laboratory to determine the physical and chemical parameters. Twenty-five fungal species were identified during the compost process including 15 saprophytes, 8 dermatophites, 1 opportunistic and 1 yeast fungi. Identified fungal species during the compost process according to their frequencies were Aspergillus spp (34.45%), Microsporium spp (18.89%), Trichophyton spp (8.89%), Yeast sp (6.67%), Mucor sp (5.56%), Penicillium sp (4.45%), Rhizopus sp (4.45%), Fusarium sp (3.34%), Cladosporium sp (3.34%), Curvularia sp (3.34%) and also other fungal species (6.62%), respectively. Considering the presence of various pathogenic fungi during the composting process, the employees of the compost factory should use individual protective devices and also due to the presence of 11 fungal species in the mature compost and their pathogenic effect, preventive measures should be taken by persons involved in the production of compost especially farmers, in order to prevent successive inhalation of spores.

Objective: This study investigated the perspective of clinicians about the effect of information technology (IT) on healthcare improvement. Methods:This cross-sectional study conducted in 2014-15, developed a questionnaire to evaluate of the perspective of 281 employees at two general hospitals affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences to measure the effect of IT on improving the healthcare system. The data was analyzed using the descriptive Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis tests. One-way ANOVA was used to compare groups. Results:The overall attitude of the research population about the effect of IT on healthcare was positive, with an average score of 3.29 ± 0.90. The most influential effects of IT on the healthcare were accelerated diagnosis and treatment. The use of standardized messaging was the most effective approach for improving the healthcare system. Developing a standard mechanism for protection of data and establishing clear rules for acceptance of computer documentation by the judicial authorities were the most influential cases to increase IT effects in the healthcare system. Conclusion:Physicians play important roles in the successful implementation of IT because they are directly involved in the treatment of patients. Their opinions should be considered when providing or creating any type of system. The importance of budgeting for IT should be considered, because applying these systems can be capital intensive. Because application of such systems requires acceptance by legal circles of the information obtained, it is necessary for preparations to be made.

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BackgroundCorpus Callosum (CC) plays a significant role in hemispheric communication and in lateralized brain function and behaviors. Structural abnormalities in the corpus callosum of schizophrenic patients were reported. However, previous studies regarding the relationship between morphology of CC in patients with schizophrenia and healthy people are controversial.ObjectiveTo evaluate the morphological differences of the CC between patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy people and to examine the relationship between the characteristics of the CC and schizophrenia severity.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 patients with chronic schizophrenia (the case group) referred to Kargarnezhad Psychiatric Hospital in Kashan, Iran, and 63 healthy people (the control group) between January 2013 and December 2014. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. Shape, anteroposterior length, and area of the CC were measured and compared in both groups. The severity of the symptoms occurring in patients with schizophrenia was evaluated using the positive and negative syndrome scale. In this study, we employed Chi-square test, t-test, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient test, bivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to test the association between different variables using SPSS software version 20.ResultsResults showed that the most common shape of the CC in each group was splenial bulbosity. The length and area of the CC in patients with schizophrenia were less than those of the control group and were greater in men compared with women in both groups. Although there was a significant difference in the surface area of the CC between the schizophrenic and control groups (p<0.001), no significant difference was seen regarding the anteroposterior length of CC (p=0.75). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the surface area and anteroposterior length of the CC (p<0.001 and p<0.014, respectively).ConclusionsMorphologic characteristics of the CC can be helpful to anticipate schizophrenia especially in patients’ family, and it can be used for suitable and faster treatment to prevent progressive cognitive dysfunction.

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