Medical Sciences Journal of Islamic Azad University,Tehran Medical Branch
Year:2012 | Volume:22 | Issue:2|Papers Count:16

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative, age-related disease characterized by dementia and the loss of neuronal cells in the brain.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the male wistar rat were studied in five groups: control group: intact rat, sham group: NBM destructed rats by ibotenic acid and receiving salin for 14 days via gavage, experimental groups 1, 2 and 3: rat with destructed NBM and receiving 1mg/kg, simvastatin 1mg/kg, and atorvastatin and simvastatin each 0.5mg/kg via gavage, respectively, for 14 days. Learning and memory of all groups were examined by the shuttle box. In order to histological surveys, the brain were removed completely and transferred to formalin 10%.Results: STL (duration of stay in the clear) was significantly increased in the experimental groups compared with control and sham groups (P<0.001).Statin caused significant decreasing (P<0.001) of TDC (duration of stay in the dark) in the experimental groups in comparison of control and sham groups.Histological studies of brain showed significant increasing of the granular cell in the DG area and also the significant increasing of the pyramidal cell CA1 area in group 2 (P<0.001) and group 3 (P<0.01).Conclusion: This study showed that statins may result in improving learning and memory and repair of hypo camp in male Alzheimer rats.

Background: The rat pheochromocytoma cell line, (PC12) will differentiate through in vitro condition by some factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and convert into neuron-like cells. Bee venom (BV) contain different components such as phospholipase 2 (PLA2) which has differentiational effect on PC12 cells by itself but the effect of BV as a whole biological product has not been well known, So, in this study, the effects of bee venum on differentiation of PC12 was studied.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the PC12 cells were seeded in the culture medium (RPMI-1640) at 5×103 cell/well in poly-D-lysine (0.05 mg/ml) coated 24-well culture plates, and were treated with NGF with the concentration of 50 ng/ml and the bee venom with the concentrations of 1 µg/ml and 3 µg/ml. The viability of PC12 cells were analyzed by using MTT assay, and cell differentiation were surveyed morphologically and the neurite outgrowth were measured and the neuronal like cells were confirmed by enzymatically method (AChE activity assay).Results: The results confirmed the differentiotional effect of BV at the low dosage and this effect was increased when the BV and NGF were used together. We conclude that BV and NGF may use in cell therapy to induce differentiation of undifferentiated cells.Conclusion: This study showed that BV at the low dosage lead to cell death and at the high dosage convert PC12 cells to neuronal- like cells.Concurrent use of BV and NGF may use in cell therapy to induce differentiation of undifferentiated cells.

Background: Citrus aurantium extract (C. aurantium) is a native and high intake plant of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C. aurantium on antioxidant activity and testosterone level of male healthy mice.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Twenty- eight healthy adult male Balb/C mice were divided into four groups; each group includes seven mice. Two milliliter distilled water, C. aurantium extract with low concentration (0.01 mg/kg), C. aurantium extract with medium concentration (0.02 mg/kg), and C. aurantium extract with high concentration (0.04 mg/kg) were given daily for seven weeks by gavage to mice in the first, second, third, and fourth groups, respectively. Level of testosterone, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the degree of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: A significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) level (p<0.01) and marked increases in glutathione (GSH) (p<0.01), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p<0.05) and catalase (CAT) (p<0.01) activities were observed in mice treated with different doses of C. aurantium. Testosterone level significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.01 and p<0.05).Conclusion: It seems there is a negative relation between C. aurantium consumption and testosterone level.

Background: The learning and short memory are the most important parts of nerve system, and the interruption of these systems have always been very interested subject to the scientists and researchers. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of cinnamon extract on learning and short memory of mouse.Materials and Methods: This lab trial was done on twenty mice in laboratory. The study was carried out on four groups of mousse by using Shuttle Box equipment, the mice were divided into four groups and one group used as a reference and the other three groups were used as a result of study. The data was analyst by ANOVA and Scheffe methods using SPSS ver.14.Results: After three days, mean score of learning was 67.9±7.7 that decreased to 49.9±8.8 in mice taking cinnamon with dose of 500 mg/kg (p<0.022). Also, mean score of short memory was 84.5±10.6 that decreased to 49.2±21.4 in mice taking cinnamon with dose of 500 mg/kg (p<0.024).Conclusion: This study showed that cinnamon will effectively decrease the learning and short memory parts of nerve system. It is recommended to set more studies with more samples to approve more reliable findings.

Background: Many studies have been shown association between low level of Adiponectin hormone and insulin resistancy, obesity and increased risk of colorectal cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate prevalence of polymorphism of Adiponectin gene rs 2241766 in Tehran, Iran and to check the role of this polymorphism in increased risk of colorectal cancer.Materials and Methods: In this case- control study, genotyping of the Insulin gene were determined in 107 colorectal cancer patients and 107controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assays (PCR-RFLP).The statistical analysis was done using SPSS ver.16.Results: Polymorphism of Adiponectin rs 2241766 was not a predisposing factor to increased risk of CRC (p=0.29). The genotype GT compared with TT, was not associated with increased risk of CRC (OR=1.02, CI=0.52-1.97; p=0.95), but GG versus TT (OR=0.015, CI=0.29-0.78; p=0.025) was associated with decreased risk of CRC. Frequency of mutant allele hadn' t significant difference between patients and controls (OR=7.34, 95% CI=0.45-1.19; p=0.21).Conclusion: These findings suggest that polymorphism of adiponectin rs 2241766 isn' t associated with increased risk of CRC.

Background: Genetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of Coronary artery disease (CAD). Among many polymorphisms of the eNOS gene, the Glu298Asp variant has implications in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between CAD risk and Glu298Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene.Materials and Methods: In this case- control study, the eNOS gene polymorphism was analyzed in 92 Iranian patients with coronary artery disease and 93control subjects. The Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.Results: There were significant differences between the control and patient groups for the eNOS3 genotypes. In addition, the family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia and eNOS TT genotype were independent risk factors of coronary artery disease. Those with TT genotypes hd 3.5 times (odds ratio=3.57) risk of coronary artery disease compared with the control group.Conclusion: These results suggest that coronary artery disease is associated with the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in our population.

Background: STSD (secondary traumatic stress disorder) is a disorder caused by the negative influences of secondary confrontation to traumatic accidents among the relatives of PTSD patients. The clinical symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the patients who have been in direct contact with the accident. The object of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of training cognitive behavioral strategies in the reduction of STSD symptoms and psychological problems among devotees' wives with chronic PTSD.Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental design pretest-posttest study with control group, 28 devotees' wives with chronic PTSD due to the war were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained in ten sessions of two hours and 30 minutes. The participants were evaluated by secondary traumatic stress scale, depression, anxiety stress scale, dysfunctional attitude scale, and automatic thoughts questionnaire. Data were analyzed by t-tast using SPSS software.Results: Training cognitive-behavioral strategies were effective in reducing the symptoms of STSD and the variables of Intrusion, avoidance and arousal, and also reducing the symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, dysfunctional attitudes, as well as frequency and belief of negative automatic thoughts (p<%05).Conclusion: Findings of this study proves that the ten training cognitive-behavioral sessions is effective in the reduction of the symptoms of stress disorder after secondary traumatic stress and psychological problems of the devotees' wives with chronic PTSD.

Background: Processing and auditory discrimination is defected in Down syndrome children. On the other hand, they are outfitted with the strong visual sense. According to crossed modality, auditory and visual processes match together. In addition, by considering the role of mirror neurons in transmission information from visual to auditory, researchers set these as essential reasons for demonstration visual stimulations in accordance to effect auditory skills in this study.Materials and Methods: 60 persons with Down syndrome were randomly into two groups of experimental and control (each 30 subjects). We took WEP MAN test from all of them and gave ten sessions of visual model to the experiment group and then we took WEP MAN test again.Results: There were significantly association between the function of mirror neurons and auditory discrimination skill of Down syndrome persons (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that visual stimulation can reinforce the auditory discrimination skill among Down syndrome persons.

Background: Rapid and efficient diagnosis is one of the crucial issues in the control of tuberculosis. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a simple and rapid technique for nucleic acid amplification. In this study, we evaluate a LAMP assay targeting IS6110 gene for diagnosis of M. tuberculosis in clinical samples.Materials and Methods: 155 clinical sputum specimens were collected from suspected patients with tuberculosis. Six specific primers were designed for LAMP assay. LAMP reaction was performed under optimal condition. Sensitivity and specificity of LAMP were determined.Results: A successful LAMP reaction with newly designed primers was carried at 66oC for 60 minutes. The detection limit of LAMP was 5fg DNA per tube. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay in clinical sputum samples were 100% and 95.9%, respectively.Conclusion: LAMP is a rapid, sensitive and low cost technique that can be suitable for routine usage in diagnosis of TB.

Background: Good nutrition and regular physical activity are health promoting behaviors. Therefore, encouraging adolescents for following good nutritional behavior and having regular physical activity is one of the health priorities of community. This study was performed to determine the effect of educational programs related to nutritional behaviors and physical activity on self- efficacy of middle school students in Kerman.Materials and Methods: In this quasi experimental study, 120 students of private and public middle schools were selected through multi- stage cluster random sampling and were assigned into two groups of experimental and control.Data was gathered using a questionnaire. After performing a pre-test, experimental group received eight 60-minute sessions of educational program on healthy nutrition and physical activity and their importance were hold through giving lecture and providing question and answer time and educational booklet.The data from before and after of intervention in experimental group were compared with control group by paired t-test, Mann-whitney U, Wilcoxon, Chi-square, Fisher and independent t-test.Results: Self-efficacy in all domains of nutritional behavior has a significant difference in experimental group (38.92±10.59) compared to the control group (-1.78±0.33) (p<0.0001). There was also a significant difference in the self- efficacy in physical activity between the experimental group (15.97±6.01) and control group (-0.87±1.5). All two groups showed significant difference in the promotion of nutritional behavior and physical activity following the educational program (P<0.001).Conclusion: Educational programs on nutritional behavior and physical activity have positive effects on students’ self-efficacy. Therefore, providing educational programs for promotion of self-efficacy in various health issues and prevention is highly required.

Background: Drug abuse is a world-wide health problem and its prevention is surely simpler than treatment; so we tried to study about the personal aspects of drug abusers for detection of more effectively preventive cares.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlative study, 200 drug abusers referred to Semnan addiction recovery center were selected via the convenience sampling method. Minimult questionnaire was used containing 71-question Minnesota multi-aspect personality identification form (M.M.P.I).Results: Frequency of antisocial personality disorder, schizophrenia, paranoid personality disorder and hypomania were 75.2%, 56.4%, 70.3% and 54.5%, respectively among drug abusers. There was a significant relationship between gender, occupational situation, multi-drug abuse and addiction duration and paranoid, antisocial personality disorders and schizophrenia (P<0.005).Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of antisocial personality disorder among drug abusers, psychiatric interventions seem to be necessary in recovery centers added to therapeutic drugs.

Background: chronic hepatitis C infection is a major health problem in hemophilia patients. There is no enough evidence about the long term outcome and efficacy of treatment in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, biochemical and virologic outcome of chronic hepatitis C treated with peg interferon alfa2-a and ribavirin in hemophilia patients during a five- year follow up.Materials and Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 35 hemophilia patients with chronic HCV infection who were treated by peg interferon and ribavirin were studied. The efficacy of therapy was expressed as sustained virologic response (SVR: undetectable HCVRNA after six month of standard therapy). Association of efficacy of therapy and genotyping were analyzed by chi-square using SPSS ver.15 software. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: twenty seven patients (93.1%) achieved SVR, six patients did not respond. Follow up after 3 and 5years of treatment showed the same results.No evidence of virologic, biochemical and clinical relapse were detected. None of the patients were demonstrated hepatitis decompensating or hepatocellular carcinoma.Conclusion: It seems that sustained virologic response and the absence of clinical, virologic relapse after long term follow up (5 years) means the rescue from the fetal hepatitis infection.