Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:22 | Issue:135|Papers Count:18

Background: There is a long history of using physical activities and herbal medications to cure psychological diseases such as stress and anxiety. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of training, extract of Althaea kurdica flower and noise stress on the anxiety of Wistar male rats.Methods: Thirty-five male rats were randomly divided into five groups: the noise group (n=7), training+noise group (n=7), extract+noise group (n=7), training+noise +extract group (n=7), and the control group (n=7). The aerobic training was performed 5 days per week, for a 60-day period. The noise stress included exposure to traffic noise 5hrs/per day over a 60-day period (range: 95±15 dB). The althaea kurdica extracts (IP) (500mg/per kg of body weight) were injected 30 min prior to the plus maze test. The control group (n=7) was not exposed to any noise or exercise, and was kept away from the sources of stress; the rats were kept under the same conditions. For the statistical data analysis, one-way ANOVA and LSD tests were used (p£0.05).Results: The results showed that in the (noise+training+extract) and (training+extract) groups, the anxiety was less than and the noise group was higher than that of the control group (p<0.01). It seems that aerobic training and extract injections had eliminated the effect of noise stress, and apparently the effect of aerobic training was more significant than that of the extracts.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Pilates exercises on low back pain and abdominal and back muscle endurance in patients with chronic low back pain caused by disc herniation.Methods: For this purpose, 30 male and female patients with chronic low back pain due to disc herniation (age=51.28±5.16) were divided into experimental and control groups (n=15). The experimental group underwent 6-week Pilates exercises; whereas the control group received conventional treatment at the same time. Analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the data. VAS scale, trunk flexion endurance test, and modified Biering-Sorenson test were used to assess variables, abdominal muscle endurance and back muscle endurance, respectively.Results: Results showed that 6-week Pilates exercises caused a significantly low back pain reduction (p=0.001) and a significant increase in abdominal muscle endurance (p=0.001) and back muscles endurance (p=0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, Pilates exercises were effective in improving low back pain, abdominal and back muscle endurance in patients with chronic low back pain caused by disc herniation. Hence, cautious prescription of Pilates exercises for these patients would be beneficial.

Background: Although the presence of articular cartilage progenitor cells is already known, but due to lack of blood supply, its ability to heal is poor. In past, tissue engineering approaches has been mainly focused on the collection and culture of chondrocyte cells on biodegradable scaffolds such as polyglycolic acid in vitro and their autologous transplantation. Recently, due to the difficulties in collecting these cells, research have shifted to stem cells to chondrocyte production. Biological scaffolds with good mechanical properties are important factors for tissue engineering and to provide a suitable environment for optimal growth and differentiation of stem cells. In this study, the efficacy of three scaffolds including alginate, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and fibrin glue (FG) in creation of the perfect environment for the growth and differentiation of mesenchymal stem was evaluated.Methods: In this study, the alginate and PLGA and FG scaffolds were prepared and mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from adipose tissue. Then, these cells were cultured and differentiated on the three scaffolds, separately. After 2 weeks, chondrogenic gene expression analysis was performed for each scaffold by Real time PCR.Results: The results of this study showed that the highest expression of chondrogenic genes was in the FG compared to other scaffolds.Conclusion: It was seen that natural scaffolds have a huge potential for appropriate growth and differentiation of cells.

Background: Diabetes ever-increasing prevalence and the heavy burdens of controlling and treatment of the disease on people and the country have turned to be greatest challenges for governmental and healthcare authorities. Therefore, the disease prevention takes top priority and to do so the only possible way is detecting the effective parameters and controlling them. This study is about to foresee diabetes rates on the basis of some effective factors and using the artificial neural network.Methods: This study is conducted in 2014 by using R and SPSS software on 13423 participants of the study evaluation of risk factors of non-communicable diseases which was run in 2007. All the participants were older than 25 and with uncontrolled diabetes. A three-layer artificial neural network was used to evaluate the data, and to choose the best model the area under the ROC curve (AURC) and the prediction accuracy were applied. In this model both applied activation functions were Sigmoid.Results: The three-layer artificial neural network with the architecture of (53:20:2) was identified as the best model as the area under the ROC curve (AURC), the training prediction accuracy, and the test prediction accuracy were 72.7%, 92%, and 91.6% efficient, respectively.Conclusion: Since in artificial neural network there is no need for common assumption of classic statistical methods and its high prediction accuracy (53:20:2) it is highly recommended to apply this model in predicting diabetes. and factors affecting it, that requires a separate study and research.

Background: Pentachlorophenol is an organic compound and one of the primary pollutants and is carcinogenic. Extensive use of pentachlorophenol in the world has created a lot of pollution in soil and water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of pentachlorophenol removal process using UV/ZnO and investigate the influence of parameters is to remove pentachlorophenol.Methods: This is a fundamental study, which was conducted in the laboratory scale. Factors affecting such as concentrations of pentachlorophenol, pH, time and ZnO dose in removal pentachlorophenol from aqueous solution selected and evaluated. The measurement of pentachlorophenol was done by high-performance liquid chromatography. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS v.16 software.Results: The results showed that by reducing the pentachlorophenol concentration and pH, increasing the amount of nanoparticles, pentachlorophenol removal efficiency has increased (89% for pH=3 VS 60% for pH=8). According to the results, UV radiation alone has little effect on the removal of pentachlorophenol. Ultraviolet radiation on zinc oxide nanoparticles, pentachlorophenol removal efficiency increases by about 90%. The kinetic analysis of the photoreduction showed that the removal of PCP is according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model (R2=0.979). The adsorption isotherm data (in the first 30 min without UV) were fitted to Freundlich isotherm model. FTIR analysis revealed that O-H and C-O-H play an important role in the sorption of pentachlorophenol.Conclusion: According to the results, the photocatalytic process UV/ZnO in acidic conditions can be used as an effective method for removal of pentachlorophenol from water sources.

Background: It is better to use agricultural by-products or waste for microbial production to reduce costs in the industry. Whey is one of the by-products that are rich in nutrients like vitamins, proteins and essential amino acids. Low-intensity ultrasound stimulation can improve membrane permeability and also help optimize the growth and reproduction of cells. According to high efficiency of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the fermentation industry, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound and the use of whey as alternative substrate carbohydrate substrates on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Methods: PDB medium was formulated by adding a certain amount of dextrose and 1% whey. Ultrasound was applied to the medium containing yeast with three powers (2, 6 and 10 W) at different time periods (10, 20, 30 sec). The amount of cell mass was measured after fermentation process for control and treated samples.Results: Optimum operating conditions obtained from RSM was the power of ultrasound 6 W, sonication time of 20 seconds and Add 10% glucose. Results showed that ultrasonic waves (with a power of 6 kW and 30 seconds) and medium containing whey increased the growth of yeast (from 8.14 to 6.64 mg).Conclusion: Based on the results, the low-power ultrasound can expedite fermentation process up to 4 times, also using nutritious compounds in whey new media could be created to increase fermentation output and prevent possible pollutions. Whey is used as a novel and applied method to enhance the growth of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which will ultimately increase the growth efficiency of the microorganisms.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that adiponectin may play a role in bone metabolism. However, little is known about the effect of doing exercise in this relationship. The aim of this study was to determinate the relationship between the adiponectin levels and bone mineral density in 50-70 years old active and non-active men.Methods: This is an analytical study. Thirty active and thirty non-active 50-70 years old men took part in this research. Bone mass density of femur and lumbar vertebras were measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and adiponectin was measured by ELISA method. Data were analyzed through independent t-test and Pearson correlation.Results: Femur (p=0.02) and lumbar (p=0.03) bone mass density and adiponectin were significant higher in athlete group. There was negative significant relationship between adiponectin with bone mass density in active and non-active men.Conclusion: Regular participating in exercise training can increase both bone mineral density and adiponectin in 50-70 years old men but it seems that the negative relation between bone mineral density and adiponectin is not affected by exercise.

In severe injuries that led to the destruction of peripheral nerve, repair cannot be spontaneously carried out and medical intervention is required for successful regeneration of damaged nerve. In these cases, the common treatment method is use of nerve autografts, whereas this method has many limitations, nerve regeneration researchers seek to provide alternative methods. So far, one of the important methods that have been proposed to the retreatment of peripheral nerve injury is the use of biological scaffolds. In the meantime, many researchers believe that due to the important role of extracellular matrix in promoting the reconstruction, making scaffolds from the components of extracellular matrix can provide the appropriate mates for growth of axons via simulating the physical and chemical structures of the normal extracellular matrix. Therefore, understanding the role of the extracellular matrix components in the process of peripheral nerve reconstruction is necessary for researchers in the fields of nerve regeneration and tissue engineering. However, in the present study we tried to prepare an overview on the major components of extracellular matrix in peripheral nerve regeneration process.

Background: With regarded to the increase in predisposing of infection with herpes simplex viruses in newborns from mothers who have primary infection in genital region, and few studies done in this object, we aimed to assess the amount of IgM antibody against herpes simplex viruses type II in pregnant women admitted to obstetrician clinic of Rasoul Akram Hospital. Importance of this study underlies in estimation of infection in pregnant women, which is helpful in health management and selection of best delivery method.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were pregnant women admitted to obstetrician clinic of Rasoul Akram Hospital from May 2014 to August 2014. Questionnaires were completed by 17 pregnant women. Serum samples were collected from these pregnant women for measurement of HSV-2 IgM antibody.Results: In this study, of 151assessed samples, 11.3% (n=17) had IgM antibody against Herpes simplex type II, while bb.7% (n=134) had no IgM antibody. In this study IgM antibody has been more frequent in 10-20 years age group and women from poorer social and economic status and without literacy.Conclusion: Genital herpes and increase in the number of deliveries are two important risk factors regarding the amount of IgM antibody against herpes simplex viruses type II.

Background: Scapula displacement has a noticeable impact on the muscles’ function around the shoulder girdle and scapular stabilizer muscles in particular. Current study aims to compare the strength of shoulder’s complex muscles between elite female volleyball players with regard to the scapula positioning.Methods: Twenty four elite female volleyball players who were selected randomly (ranging from 20 to 30 years old) and 5 years' experience of premier league, after matching considering hight, weight and shoulders width, divided into two groups consisted of athletes with retracted scapula and protracted scapula. Those with 16 to 18 cm scapular distance categorized as retracted scapula subjects and those with higher than 18 cm classified as subjects of protracted scapula. The lateral scapula slide test (LSST) method was applied to determine scapular positioning, and the performance of shoulder complex muscle strength was examined using an isometric myometer (MIE). Descriptive statistics were implemented and a normal distribution was confirmed. Student's paired t-test and independent t-test were used to assess the differences between the two groups and between dominant and non-dominant sides (p<0.05).Results: This study indicated significant difference between the two protracted and retracted groups in retraction movement (p=0.001). This means that the abducted scapula group had higher retraction movement than retracted scapula players. In addition, the dominant side of both groups exhibited higher strength than the non-dominate side (p<0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in relative strength of agonist to the antagonist muscles, except in the protraction to retraction movement, which implies higher strength of the retracted scapula players (p=0.001). Comparison of scapular distance in both groups had no effect on dominant side; both groups had higher strength in dominant side.Conclusion: Findings indicate that among the implemented movements by the two elite athletics groups, significant difference is observed only in the retraction movement of the protracted scapular group and the ratio of protraction to retraction in the retracted scapular group. Moreover, the distance of scapula had no significant impact on the dominant and non-dominant side, because the dominant side had more strength rather than the non-dominant side in the both groups.

Background: Mucocutaneous lesions in the oral cavity have similar clinical features andhistopathological examination of the lesions is important for reaching a correct diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses in mucocutaneous lesions of the oral cavity during 10 years (2003-2012) in Babol Dental School.Methods: In this retrospective study, records related to 150 patients with mucocutaneous lesions were analyzed in Babol Dental School from 2003 to 2012. Patient's data including age, gender, location of lesions, first, second and third clinical diagnosis that listed and histopathological diagnosis were recorded. Data analysis was done by SPSS software and Kappa and Mac Nemars tests.Results: Present study showed that in 132 cases (88%) with oral mucocutaneous lesions, there was agreement between clinical and histopathological diagnoses. This concordance was 96.4% about lichen planus. Regardless of a case of lupus that clinically was not diagnosed, the highest percentage of inconcordance was found about lichenoid reaction in 53.3% of cases.Conclusion: In order to reach a more accurate diagnosis of mucocutaneous lesions, clinical and histopathological features of lesions is needed.

Background: The use of medicinal plants is important in reducing pain. Extracts obtained from the leaves of Lavandula officinalis (Lamiaceae) are used in Iranian folk medicine as remedies for anti-nociceptive effects. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of pretreatment with different doses of Lavandula officinalis ethanolic extract on hot plate induced nociception in male Wistar rats.Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 28 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g. Acute pain was investigated using a hot plate test with set point 52.8oC and cut off time of 60 seconds. In this experiment rats were divided into 4 groups. Control group received distilled water and three treatment groups received different doses of lavender ethanolic extract (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, respectively) 1 hour prior beginning of experiment via gastric gavage. The data were compared using one way ANOVA (post hoc LSD).Results: Lavender extract with 400 mg/kg dose significantly increased latency to respond to heat stimulus 5 and 15 minutes after beginning of the experiment.Conclusion: Although further studies are needed, the results indicate that lavender extract might be beneficial in patients suffering pain.

"Medicalization" occurs when the non-medical issues are defined and treated in the medical field. The purpose of this study was to develop the concept of medicalization and the transition of the concept from patient to the customer, truth to wishes and treatment to trading. The study is a review research conducted through reviewing the library and electronic resources to develop medicalization’s concepts. This research is focused on the prominent authors' findings on causes and consequences of medicalization.One of the consequences of medicalization is that the patients become to customers. In addition, there is a growing number of health issues which may be treated based on patients' wishes not reality. On the other hand, pharmaceutical companies efforts to develop artificial market, and to convince people to use their products.Considering human problems as medical problems is a mistake we commit about the nature of the world. To this regard, we must distinguish between body and mind, and in treatment consider the mind and social problems as well. We should not consider human as a machine that can be repaired, and attempt to treat patients when symptoms of malfunctioning is observed.

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of this century. Retinopathy and makulopati are two most important implications of diabetes. In this study, Bayesian logistic regression is used to assess the factors affected on diabetic- retinopathy.Methods: Study population of this cross-sectional study contains all diabetic patients in Tehran of which 623 of them were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Age, BMI, hemoglobin, cholesterol, hypertension, duration of diabetes, etc were measured and the status of diabetes were assessed. Bayesian logistic regression was applied using SAS 9.2 software.Results: Of 623 diabetes patients, 54.4% (339 patients) were female and 45.6% (284 patients) were male. In 38% (n=236) of patients diabetic retinopathy were occurred and mean (±SD) age of females and males were 59.5±11.05 and 60.5±11.65 years, respectively. Using Bayesian logistic regression, statistically significant associations were revealed between diabetic retinopathy and age, sex, type of insulin, duration of diabetes and macular edema.Conclusion: Estimates from Bayesian and classical logistic regression were almost similar in magnitude and direction, but, Bayesian model were provided shorter confidence intervals.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors affecting components of social capital in women -headed households (WHH) by using confirmation analysis.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was carried out on all WHH. The data were collected by using the Word Bank Social Capital (SC-IQ) which its validity and reliability have been confirmed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and AMOS version 22 for confirmation analysis and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Among the 300 WHH which were investigated, 181 (60.3%) were unemployed with the average age of 40.6 (9.5±) years old. The results showed that among the components of social capital, participation in group work were significantly in association with education of WHH. Income had a significant association with all components of social capital, except political empowerment. The political empowerment component did not have a significant association with any of the demographic variables (p>0.05).Conclusion: Income and education variables had effect on WHH’s social capital in the Tehran. Thus, by providing these indicators, especially in the WHH as a vulnerable group in society, the physical, psychological and social will be promoted.