the economic burden of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (hiv/aids) is far greater than its direct medical costs. this study estimated annual indirect costs of the hiv/aids epidemic in islamic republic of iran in 2006-2007 from societal perspective. a patient cost diary in sets of six booklets covering a total of 6 months (from october 2006 and fallowed until march...

abstract background and objective: snake venom is a complex of several toxic elements and enzymes. it has the agents with the ability to destroy cellular and subcellular membrane and to bring about hemolysis of red blood cells (rbc). two types of direct and indirect hemolytic activity are known in snake venom in that phospholipase a2 is responsible for the indirect lysis. the aim of this study ...

How much can a constituency influence the power of its representative in the legislature? We develop a theoretical model of the constituency basis of legislator influence. The key players in the model are interest groups who may receive targeted transfers from the legislature. The model predicts that the amount of transfers that such groups receive is increasing in their ability to help a party...

To evaluate ultrasonographically determined intima-media thickness as a measure of early atherosclerosis, three studies were performed. Ultrasound measurements of intimamedia thickness in the carotid artery were directly validated by comparing the same thickness measured by light microscopy. The values were closely correlated (r=.82, P<.001). Intima-media thickness determined by light microscop...

Immunofluorescence is a valuable auxiliary diagnostic tool for autoimmune bullous diseases and inflammatory disorders, since their clinical and histopathologic findings may be inconclusive. It is a feasible laboratory method that requires experienced technicians and detects in situ and circulating immune deposits that may be involved in the pathogenesis of such skin diseases.

purpose: to compare the results of two methods of canalicular laceration repair. methods: this clinical trial was performed on 50 eyes of 50 patients with lacerated canaliculi who were randomly assigned to two groups. direct reanastomosis of the lacerated canaliculus was performed using 8-0 vicryl suture (25 eyes) and indirect repair was performed by reapproximation of the overlying orbicularis...

How can a constituency continue to receive targeted benefits even without a representative in the legislature? We provide a theoretical model to demonstrate why constituency groups linked to specific candidates would receive politicized government transfers even when the group loses its representative in the legislature. The model also suggests that the amount of transfers a group with a repres...