No abstract

Background: vaginal infections are common among women referring to gynecological clinics worldwide, but treatment modalities cannot provide complete remission of the disease. Laboratory diagnosis of vaginal infections using more sensitive and specific methods is essential for the best treatment options. Objectives: In this study, diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was investigated. Methods: vaginal samples were collected from 635 symptomatic women referring to gynecology clinics in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran, in 2017. All samples were then diagnosed using microscopy, culture, and PCR methods. Results: Of 635 symptomatic women, 200 cases (31.4%) were diagnosed with BV according to the culture method using the PCR method. However, 3.9% of samples who were negative based on the culture method, were diagnosed to have BV based on PCR results. Conclusions: PCR is more sensitive than culture and microscopy methods for the diagnosis of BV.

Purpose: Many studies have analyzed acoustic voice characteristics (AVC) of Parkinson's disease patients (PDP) by linear or non-linear methods. The aim of this study is to compare the linear and non-linear approaches in acoustic voice analysis of Persian speaking PDPs. Method: This cross sectional, non-experimental study was done on 27 (15 males, 12 females) PDP and 21 healthy age-sex matched subjects (11 males, 10 females). Patients were chosen from attendants of movement disorders clinic using convenience sampling. All of patients evaluated in "on" medication period. AVC consisting average fundamental frequency (f0), standard deviation of f0, mean percentage of jitter, shimmer, and HNR in prolongation of all Persian vowels /a, e, i, o, u /. Praat 5.1.17 software (as a linear tool) and Matlab (as a non-linear method) used to evaluate AVC. Result: There was not any significant difference between PDPs and normal subjects except for jitter /æ /(0.041) and / e/ (0.021). According to non-linear characteristics of Wavelet entropy coefficient, and by mother wavelet with coif1 (in Matlab), all of AVC of patients differentiated from normal. Conclusion: It seems that non-linear analysis is more detailed method to discriminate dysarthric voice from normal voice. Keywords: Acoustic voice analysis, Parkinson's disease, linear, nonlinear.

Background:Due to numerous difficulties in patients suffering from varieties of cleft lip and palate, their therapeutic management involves interdisciplinary teamwork. This study was conducted to compare the age of commencing treatments such as speech therapy, secondary palate and alveolar bone grafting and orthodontics between those who sought treatment early and late.Materials and Methods:In this retrospective study, 260 files of patients with cleft lip and palate based on their age at the time of admission to a cleft care team were divided into two groups: The early admission and late admission. Both groups compared based on four variables including the mean age of beginning speech therapy, palatal secondary surgery, alveolar bone grafting, and receiving orthodontics using t-test.Results:Based on the results, among 134 patients admitted for speech therapy, the mean age of initiating speech therapy in early clients was 3.3 years, and in the late ones was 9 years. Among 47 patients with secondary surgery, the mean age in early clients was 3.88 years, and in the late clients was 15.7 years. Among 17 patients with alveolar bone grafting, the mean age in the first group was 9 years, and in the other was 16.69 years. Among 24 patients receiving orthodontic services, the mean age in early clients was 7.66 years, and in the second group was 17.05 years.Conclusion:There was a significant difference between the age of performing secondary surgery and alveolar bone grafting and the age of beginning speech therapy and receiving orthodontic services in early references and late references to the team.