The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is an outcome measure for disability based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The FIM was cross-culturally adapted and validated into Persian language. The Persian version of the FIM (PFIM) is reliable and valid for assessing functional status of patients with stroke. The PFIM can be used in Persian speaking countries to assess the limitations in activities of daily living of patients with stroke.
The aim of this study was assess the factor structure, reliability and construct validity of the Children Participation Assessment Scale in Activities Outside of School-Parent Version (CPAS-P). The participants of this study were 700 parents of children aged 6-12 years. For data analysis, the confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were conducted. Convergent validity was calculated by correlation with the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale. The results indicated the CPAS-P has good internal reliability. Overall, Cronbach's alpha for the participation measures ranged between 0.87 and 0.91, indicating good homogeneity, and Spearman correlations for convergent validity was acceptable. The temporal stability of the CPAS-P was supported with Intra-Class Correlations ranging from 0.79 to 0.94. Therefore, the CPAS-P, which evaluates all eight areas of occupation (i.e., activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, play, leisure, social participation, education, work, and sleep/rest) has demonstrated good psychometric properties; and can be used as a reliable and valid measure to assess children's participation at the age of 6-12 years.
The reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale in the measurement of ankle plantarflexor spasticity in adult patients after stroke was insufficient for routine use in clinical settings and research.
SUMMARYIllicit drug use can be an important cause of male infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an Iranian illicit drug, Kerack, on sperm parameters, testicular structure and CatSper genes expression of mice. In this study, 25 male mice were divided into five groups consisting of control, sham and three experimental groups. All animal in experimental groups were addicted to Kerack for 7 days. These experimental groups include experimental I which was given Kerack at a dose of 5 mg/kg, experimental II, 35 mg/kg and experimental III, 70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally twice a day for a period of 35 days. Mice were then sacrificed and spermatozoas were removed from cauda epididymis and analyzed for count, motility, morphology (normal/abnormal) and viability. Right testes were removed, weighed and processed for light microscopic studies whereas left testes removed were subjected to total mRNA extraction for using in real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The results were analyzed by performing ANOVA (Tukey's tests) and Pearson correlation coefficient. Sperm parameters and seminiferous epithelium thickness were decreased in experimental groups (dosedependently) vs. sham and control groups (p < 0.05). RT-PCR results showed that CatSper 2, 3, 4 genes expressions were reduced with 35 and 70 mg/kg injected Kerack when compared with control testes (p ≤ 0.05). However, CatSper1 expression was only reduced with high dose injected Kerack (70 mg/kg) in comparison to control testes (p ≤ 0.05). This study shows the deleterious effects of Kerack used in Iran on testis structure and sperm parameters in general, and particularly sperm morphology in adult mouse. It could down-regulate the expression of CatSper genes, resulting in depression of sperm motility.
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