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Background and Aim: Onychomycosis or nail fungus infection has an increasing prevalence with many effects on patients’ social life and mental health dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophyte molds are among the best known agents of fungal infections of nails. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of non-dermatophyte molds using morphological (direct examination and culture) and molecular (PCR) methods in patients referring to Medical Sciences Mycology Laboratory in Tehran, Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this study, samples were taken from 170 patients. For direct microscopic examination (DME), 15% KOH solution was used for the culture of samples, Sabouraud dextrose agar media (S) was applied together with chloramphenicol (SC) and chloramphenicol and cycloheximide (SCC). Meanwhile, differential tests were done for mycological diagnosis (slide culture), and 28SrDNA amplification and sequencing were performed for suspect or unknown samples.

Results: Of the 170 patients, 74 cases (43.5%) had onychomycosis, of which 53 cases (71.62%) were female and 21 cases (28.38%) were male. Also, of the 74 cases of onychomycosis, 40 cases (54.05%) were reported candidiasis, 21 cases (28.37%) non-dermatophyte molds, and 12 cases (16.21 %) dermatophytes.

Conclusion: The prevalence of onychomycosis in this study was 43.5% and the application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in cases of false positive, false negative and long-term culture was valuable meanwhile, given that all the samples that had positive results in DME with negative cultures were positive in molecular tests, this study reveals the power of molecular techniques compared with culture method.

Background and Aim: In medical centers, after obtaining visceral clinical samples in suitable containers under certain circumstances, they are sent to mycology laboratory. Since sometimes it is impossible to test specimens immediately, therefore, they should be kept in the refrigerator. Thus, possibility of keeping samples, the confidently time of samples keeping in a refrigerator and the appropriate guidelines for the maintenance of visceral samples for clinical centers have a particular importance for practical purposes and are the aim of this study.

Materials and Methods: At first, the specimen was examined by KOH direct microscopic examination for detection of fungal elements. After primary culture of visceral samples on the Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol (SC) medium, the samples were sequentially placed in a refrigerator at temperature 2-8 ºc for 1, 2, 24 and 48 hs and each sample with the specific mentioned time culturing was performed on the Sabouraud dextrose agar (S) and SC media. Then the results of growth were recorded.

Results: From 100 samples, 79 samples had grown, 20 samples with lack of growth and in 1 sample reduced growth were observed.

Conclusion: After 48 hours of cold temperatures (2-8 ºc) visceral fungal clinical samples are able to grow in culture media. So samples which were not tested immediately, could be stored at temperatures 2-8 ºc in the refrigerator.

Background and Aim: InterProfessional Education (IPE) and collaboration is an inseparable part of professional team work to render efficient patient care. In addition, the readiness of medical students to take part in InterProfessional (IP) activities and considering IPE in undergraduate medical curriculum positively affects the IPE. This descriptive cross-sectional study aims to adapt the RIPLS for these contexts.

Materials and Methods: Permission to translate the questionnaire was secured from its developers (Parsell and Bligh). The questionnaire was translated to Persian and its face and content validity was confirmed by an expert panel (N=10). The adapted version was distributed among a random group of senior medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (N=40). Finally, Test- retest was performed and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was applied to assess reliability and internal consistency of the instrument. The Cronbach’s alpha’s cut-off point was 0.7 in this study.

Results: Experts confirmed face and content validity of the questionnaire, and it was internally consistent. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.92. The intra-class correlation (ICC) was above 0.7 in each subscale.

Conclusion: This study indicates that Farsi version of RIPLS questionnaire is valid and reliable and it can be used to assess interprofessional readiness in Iranian contexts.