Introduction: Beta thalassemia major (BTM) is a hereditary severe and fatal hemolytic anemia associated with organ failure and iron overload. Cardiac complications are the major cause of morbidity and death in BTM. The purpose of this study was to assess early diagnosis of cardiac involvement by echocardiography.Material and Methods: This is a case-control study on 80 patients with BTM and 80 age and sex matched healthy children as control group from September 2002 to December 2003 in AliAsghar hospital of Zahedan> Complete echociirdiographic study was done and diastolic function indices compared with control group statistically.Results: From 80 patients 42 patients was male .The meaning age was 14.3±2.3 years. In compare with control group: The mean of ElA Ratio of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) was 1.81±0.35 and 1.33±0.33 respectively that increased significantly (p< 0.05). The mean of deceleration time (DT) of mitral and tricuspid valves was 144.67±23, 134/87±25 msec respectively that decreased only significantly in RV. (P<0.05) Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was the most frequent abnormal diastolic index increased significantly in both ventricles (p<0.05). The mean of pre ejection period/Ejection time (PEP/ET) ratio of LV and RV was 0.33±0.06 and 0.31±0.06 respectively. Although increased significantly in both ventricles (p<0.05) but abnormal PEP/ET was more frequent in RV. Only 9 patients had LV systolic dysfunction.Conclusion: In patients with BTM, diastolic dysfunction especially in RV was more frequent. and begun earlier than LV systolic dysfunction. In creased IVRT, PEP/ET ratio and decreased DT had more sensitivity in early diagnosis especially in RV. Therefore assessment of diastolic function in addition to LV systolic function is mandatory and leads to early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction.

An elastic-perfectly plastic middle crack tension aluminum 2024-T3 alloy was used under plane stress, plane strain and 3D analysis to determine stabilized crack-opening stresses for different R-ratios and stress levels. The stabilized crack-opening stresses of a 3D analysis locate between those values of plane stress and plane strain conditions. Using the above strategy, one can determine crack-opening stresses for any desired thickness value using interpolating scheme. Two and three dimensional programs were developed based on small strain elasticity theory incorporating linear strain isoparametric elements. The plasticity part of the analysis uses initial stress approach. The crack was extended one element size as the applied load reached the maximum value of each load cycle. Crack opening and closure stresses of nodes on the crack surface plane after some cyclic crack extensions are demonstrated. Based on the obtained results, for the three-dimensional finite-element analysis, the calculated stabilized crack opening stresses always locate between those of plane stress and plane strain conditions.

A characteristic of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is to allow individual decision making units (DMUs) to select the factor weights which are the most advantageous for them in calculating their efficiency scores. This flexibility in selecting the weights, on the other hand, deters the comparison among DMUs on a common base. For dealing with this difficulty and assessing all the DMUs on the same scale, this paper proposes using a multiple objective linear programming (MOLP) approach based on scalarizing function for generating common set of weights under the DEA framework. This is an advantageous of the proposed approach against general approaches in the literature which are based on multiple objective nonlinear programming.

Background: Based on the studies which have been done till now, resynchronization of ventricular contraction results in clinical improvement in patients who suffer from moderate to severe heart failure with intraventricular conduction disturbance. and using this method is increasing in our country. Study in this filed seems to be necessary.Material and methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients with advanced heart failure, NYHA Class III and IV, LV ejection fraction (EF)£35%, QRS³120 were studied before and 3 months after CRT. Mean age was 60, 57 and 8 patients with NYHA class III and IV respectively. All patients received furosemide, spironolactone, carvedilol, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II –receptors blockers at the optimal tolerated dosage. Mean LVEF was 20.83%. Echocardiographic (Tissue Doppler Imaging), ECG and function class (NYHA) were assessed at baseline before implantation and 3 months after.Result: LV ejection fraction increased +6.8% (21.10±7 vs. 27.93±8.4%, P<0.001). Mitral valve regurgitation severity reduced (P<0.013). Interventricular mechanical delay reduced (53.83ms±18.45 vs. 26.53ms±13.90 P=0.000) and also Intra ventricular mechanical delay reduced (62.53ms±25.08 vs. 45.55ms±13.47, P=0.000). Dilated cardiomyopathic group has more mean changes in LVEF than Ischemic group (+9.06%±7.3 vs. +4.08%±6.5, P=0.01).Conclusion: Biventricular pacing results in significant clinical improvement in patients who have moderate to severe heart failure.

Objective(s): To validate Persian version of the FSFI and to determine its diagnostic cut off score. Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study. To fill in the Persian version of the FSFI. In addition clinical interviews were carried out by a psychiatrist on DSM-4 criteria. Women divided in two age and educational matched groups: the control group (n=28) who have not sexual dysfunction and the case group (n=53) who have sexual dysfunction. Data were analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha and validity was assessed by comparing mean scores of two groups. Optimal cut off score determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The findings showed satisfactory results for full scale and each subscale with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.66 or above for sexually dysfunctional sample and 0.70 or above for sexually active sample. Discriminant validity confirmed the ability of both total and domain scores to differentiate between active and inactive women. On the basis of sensitivity and specificity analyses we found that the optimal cut off score was found to be 28 for differentiating women with and without sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: The findings showed that the Iranian version of Female Sexual function Index (FSFI) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring sexual function in women.