Medical Sciences Journal of Islamic Azad University,Tehran Medical Branch
Year:2008 | Volume:18 | Issue:3 (53)|Papers Count:13

Background: Some studies have shown that glucocorticoids affect testis homeostasis by decreasing testosterone level. In this study the influence of dexametasone (Dex), a widely used glucocorticoid drug, was evaluated on expression of Bax protein in mice testicular germ cells and spermatogenesis process.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study thirty five adult male mice randomly divided into 5 groups. Test groups (T1-T4) received 2, 4, 7 and 10mg/kg Dex per day for 7 days, respectively. Control group received only saline daily for 7 days. Then the mice were sacrificed and their testes were incubated in formalin for immunohistochemistry and histology studies.Results: T1 and T2 groups, which received 7 and 10mg/kg Dex, showed significant decrease in the number of germ cells and somatic cells of testes, and also in the maturity of spermatogenesis (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical studies showed that Dex with doses of 7 and 10mg/kg significantly increased Bax expression at all stages of spermatogenesis cycle except stage IX.Conclusion: It seems that glucocorticoid drugs such as Dex induce apoptosis in testicular germ cells by affecting proapoptotic proteins and causing defect in spermatogenesis process.

Background: Anti- fatigue and physical stamina effects of many plants have been evaluated so far, and some are accepted in clinical use. In the present research, the anti-fatigue effects of Commiphora Mukul resin extract were studied on male rats.Materials and methods: A total of 40 male rats were divided into 3 experimental and one control groups. The resin extract (15, 30, 50 mg/kg) was orally administrated to experimental rats for two weeks. Forced swimming test (FST) was performed on days 1, 7 and 14 and blood samples were collected for measurement of Glc, TP, CK, LDH and BUN using an auto-analyser.Results: A significant reduction in immobility time in FST was observed in resin extract-fed groups, as compared with the control (p<0.01). In addition, levels of CK and LDH decreased significantly (p<0.01), the content of Glc was significantly increased, and the amount of BUN and TP did not show any significant changes.Conclusion: Commiphora Mukul Resin (Gugulipid), a well-known anti-hyper-lipidemic and anti-inflammatory drug, showed the potential of anti-fatigue effect in the present study.

Background: Tamoxifen is a nonstroidal antiestrogen agent which is prescribed for treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of tamoxifen on testosterone concentration and structure of testis in male Wistar rats.Materials and methods: In this experimental study One group of rats (45 days old and 90g body weight) received 800mg/kg b.w tamoxifen dissolved in solvent (consisted of ethanol (60%) and physiological solution) for 10 consecutive days. The sham group received the solvent and controls did not receive any drug or solvent. After treatment period, serum testosterone level of rats was measured by ELISA method and 5µm thickness tissue sections from testes were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin.Results: Results showed that testosterone concentration decreased significantly in group which received tamoxifen compared with control group (p<0.01). A significant decrease was observed in testis diameter, thickness of seminiferous tubules and the number of spermatid and sperm cells (p<0.001).Conclusion: According to these results, we concluded that the reproduction capability of adult male Wistar rats decreased significantly in animals which received tamoxifen in prepubertal stage.

Background: Shigella dysenteriae causes one of the most acute kinds of diarrhea which could be established as chronic infection with alternative periods of recurrence. Administration of normal doses of antibiotics will suppress microbial infections; however it is possible to control these infections by consumption of sub-MIC doses of certain antibiotics.Materials and methods: In this basic study, a strain of Shigella dysenteriae (PTCC: 1188) was used. After determination of MIC by microdilution method in Muller-Hinton Broth and MBC in Muller-Hinton Agar, the different dilutions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) of MIC were prepared in order to study the sub-MIC effects of ciprofloxacin on some traits of Shigella dysenteriae.Results: The results showed that different sub-MIC dilutions of ciprofloxacin could cause morphological changes in Shigella. The Shigella cells became filamentous in 1/2 MIC whereas this configuration was weaker in 1/4 MIC and 1/8 MIC. Meanwhile, the appearance of colonies was changed significantly due to the higher concentrations of sub-MIC. Some of the biochemical traits were affected by sub-inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin.Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin is a drug of choice for shigellosis. According to the results of this study, treatment of Shigella infections would be possible by lower doses of ciprofloxacin.

Background: One of the most important current health problems is hypertension. Many hypertensive patients dye or become disabled every year due to the complications of this disease. The first step in the treatment of this disease is lifestyle modification. Sweden massage as a kind of alternative medicine is a method for changing lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the effect of Sweden massage on blood pressure of hypertensive patients.Material and methods: In this semi-experimental study 30 individuals (15 males and 15 females) in the age range of 45-55 years were chosen with simple sampling method. Half an hour Sweden massage was performed in the mornings for back (17 minutes), neck (6 minutes), and chest (7 minutes) and blood pressure was measured and registered before and after the massage. Results: The results showed that Sweden massage reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of study subjects in each session (p<0.0001).Conclusion: This study recommends using Sweden massage as a non-medical method of treatment in hypertensive patients without any adverse effect. 

Background: Insulin resistance is a feature of a number of clinical disorders including type 2 diabetes, glucose intolerance, obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension clustering in the so-called metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on insulin sensitivity in subjects with metabolic syndrome.Material and methods: In this study 55 males (34.1± 8.9 years) with metabolic syndrome were studied. Blood pressure, waist circumference, body weight, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting blood insulin and insulin resistance indices (QUICKI or quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, HOMA-IR or Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and 1/HOMA-IR) were evaluated before and after 30 days of Ramadan fasting (2 meals at 12 hours intervals). The dietary intake was estimated by 24 h recall before and after fasting.Results: The total daily energy intake was decreased by 56±33.91 Kcal per day in the fasting period (p=0.005). 1/HOMA-IR, QUICKI and HDL-C were significantly increased (p=0.005, p=0.001 and p=0.004) and FPG significantly decreased (p<0.005) after fasting. Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated that HOMA-IR, 1/HOMA-IR and QUICKI were related to waist circumference after intervention (r=0.458, p<0.001; r=-0.396, p<0.05; r= -0.342, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that combined change in the number and timing of meals and portioning of the entire intake into only 2 meals per day might increase insulin sensitivity in subjects with metabolic syndrome even when the decrease in energy consumption was minimal.

Background: Exercise is a well known valuable factor in the field of mental health and survival. Physicians recommend 2 times exercises for 30-40 minutes per week. In this study the effects of aerobic and physical exercises on the PMS were compared.Materials and methods: The data of this controlled clinical trial were collected by PMS questionnaire through personal interview, observations and measurements with 57 women (18 physical exercises, 19 aerobic exercises and 20 controls) for 3 months. The results were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and repeated measurements.Results: The results showed significant decrease in PMS in different months in exercise group (p<0.001). The comparison between aerobic and physical exercises showed no significant difference (p>0.05).Conclusion: It is concluded that exercise is more effective than medical therapy for PMS sy7mptoms and have no side effects. 

Background: Nursing Roy adaptation model is concentrated on adaptation rate and has a positive role in health, quality of life. The aim of this study is the assessment of adaptation rate female patients with coronary artery disease in the aspects of physiology, self perception, role playing and independence/dependence.Materials and methods: In this correlation analysis study the method of sampling was randomized stratification. The study samples were 250 individuals and the data gathering tool was a questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version 13.Results: There was a significant difference between education level and the number of family members, the mean family income and adaptation rate (p>0.001) At the physiologic aspects, individuals according to self protective activities with 152 cases (61.2%), health behavior and protection against risk factors with 212 cases (84.8%) had a moderate adaptation. At the self-perception aspect 206 cases (82.4%) had a moderate adaptation. Meanwhile at the independence/dependence aspect 109 cases (43.6%) had a low adaptation. At the role playing aspect 224 cases (89.6%) had a moderate adaptation. Adaptation rate according to quadruple aspects of physiologic, self-perception, role playing and independence/dependence was significant (p>0.001)Conclusion: This study showed the value of using a nursing theory as an organized framework for assessment of life experiences in female patients with coronary artery disease. It can be useful for better adaptation of human with occurred changes.

Background: This research is a descriptive study about training needs of MS patients who are members of Iran's MS Society and aims at presenting a proper training model for these patients in 2007.Materials and methods: In this study 174 patients referred to Iran's MS Society were chosen with simple randomized method from patients who fulfilled required criteria. Data were collected through questionnaire containing 4 parts. First part contained 16 questions about personal information, second part was about patients views to their training needs, third part contained 8 questions surveying patients willing to know more about the disease nature, and in the fourth part there were 41 questions about their training demands in relation with physical, psychologic, and socioeconomic categories.Results: The results revealed that the age range of most cases (26.4%) was between 32-39 years, 71.3% were female, 59.8% were married, and 27.7% of patients had a history of less than 3 years of being afflicted with the disease. The results related to the first part of the study showed that 39.1% of cases had high training needs. Findings revealed that as for the second part of the study, 0.6% of cases had high training requirements for knowing about disease nature. In relation to the third part, findings showed that 94% of cases had sexual dysfunctions and needed more training accordingly. The study findings in fourth part implied that 61.5% of cases had training needs about anxiety control methods. Findings in fifth part showed that 61.5% of cases required some training about difficulties facing in procuring medicine. Findings related to sixth part showed that there was significant relation between patients training needs about somatic issues and the education level (p=0.027). Also there was significant relation between training demands in psychologic category and the education level (p=0.003). There was significant relation between training demands in psychologic category and accepting the illness (p=0.035). There was significant relation between patients training needs about somatic issues and frequency of being hospitalized (p=0.004). There was significant relation between patients training needs about psychologic issues and frequency of being hospitalized (p£0.001).Conclusion: The final conclusion shows that some characteristics potentiate training requirements and there must be some more concern about somatic issues training needs.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a systemic disorder which is associated with hypertension and proteinuria and may develop from 20 weeks of gestation. Pre-eclampsia affects different organs of the body. The present study is an attempt to check the effect of pre-eclampsia on retina using electroretinography.Materials and methods: A total of 82 pregnant subjects divided in 2 groups (41 normal pregnant subjects as control and 41 pre-eclampsia pregnant patients as case group). The total population was undergone electroretinographic examination in Qods center. ERG is a technique to examine the retina. Latency and amplitude of b wave of ERG were recorded and compared in 2 groups.Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference between the age of the two groups (p>0.05 for 24.56±3.5 in control and 25.33±3.9 in case group). Mean latency and standard deviation of ERG b wave in control and case groups were 128.77±24.85 and 125.10±22.56 msec, respectively. Mean amplitude and standard deviation of ERG wave in control and case groups were 43.27±2.3 and 43.44±2.7 µr, respectively. Therefore no significant difference (p >0.05) was obtained in two groups.Conclusion: It was concluded that pre-eclampsia had no adverse effect on retina and more research is needed to perform to reach a certain conclusion.

Late hemorrhagic disease of Newborn (LADN) is a bleeding problem that occurs in the newborn between 2-8 weeks but can occur at anytime in the first year. In this report we introduce a 4.5 months girl with right lower extremity swelling and hematoma with limited motion and persistent crying.The patient was admitted to Imam Hossein hospital. In clinical examination, she had a 4×6cm tender mass in right lower extremity, without erythema or inflammation. Laboratory findings were Pt>60", PTT>180", PLT=221000 and Hb=10.8 mg/dl at the time of admission. In ultrasonography of mass, there was 20cc fluid without any solid material. She was treated with 2 g vitamin k injection and after surgical consultation the mass was drained. She discharged after 2 days of observation with the diagnosis of idiopathic type of LHDN.