Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:22 | Issue:134|Papers Count:13

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, resulting in chronic inflammatory lesion of the nerve or destruction of myelin, the white substance of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. This disease, like other autoimmune diseases are more common among young women in a way that most young people are affected with it. The disease affects older aged men in and is diagnosed in advanced stages. However, Isfahan has been reported as one of the high risk areas in this disease. In many studies the relation between this disease with metals such as zinc, copper and iron has been investigated. Researchers studying particular diseases have detected body element concentrations in these patients using blood or spinal fluid samples. The present study is an attempt to use the blood samples to investigate the relationship between the blood concentration of heavy metals in Isfahan area and their correlation with MS disease.Methods: To determine the selenium element level in blood of patients with MS, blood samples were obtained from 58 patients with the collaboration of MS department of Isfahan Ayatollah Kashani Hospital randomly within four weeks and were analyzed by neutron activation analysis method using t-test.Results: The results showed that selenium in the blood of MS patients are lower level than normal.Conclusion: Any deviation from the normal level of selenium can be one of the causes of multiple sclerosis, or at least it may play role in what kind of MS a patient could have.

Background: Different training regimes cause different physiological changes and adaptations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a four-week endurance and circuit resistance training on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Heat shock protein (Hsp70) levels in inactive college students.Methods: Twenty-four inactive males (Age: 22.67±4.3 yrs, Weight: 69.95±14.8 kg, BMI: 23.68±3.7 Kg/m2) were randomly divided into three groups including: endurance training, resistance training and control. The resistance-training group performed circuit resistance training at the intensity of 65-80% 1RM, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The endurance-training group performed 30-45 minute interval running at the intensity of %65-%80 of maximum heart rate. Before and 48 hours after experimental period blood samples were taken in order to assess serum levels of SOD and Hsp70. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test were used to analyze the data.Results: Circuit resistance training significantly increased serum SOD and Hsp70 levels in inactive males (p<0.05), but endurance training had no significant effect on SOD and Hsp70 levels (p>0.05). Moreover, in the present study we observed no significant difference between groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it could be concluded that changes in Hsp70 and SOD levels following circuit and resistance training may be different. Therefore, in a short period of four-week, resistance training was more effective than endurance training.

Background: Physical activity has been recognized as one of the non-pharmacological methods in the treatment of hypertensive disorders. This study aims to compare the effects of aerobic exercise performed and alternative (AI) and constant intensities (CI) in hypertensive individuals.Methods: In this semi-experimental study, subjects were 20 hypertensive women who were asked to fill in the questionnaire before being randomly distributed into two exercise groups, CI (10 individuals) and AI (10 individuals).The CI exercise consisted of 45 min at 60% of heart rate reserve (HRR) while the AI exercise consisted of 2 minutes exercise at 50% and 1 minute exercise at 70% of HRR. Blood pressure was monitored at each 30 min post-exercise recovery period up to 10 hours. Results were analyzed using independent T-test and ANOVA test.Results: Results revealed that a session of aerobic exercise with CI and AI has no significant effect on variation of average mean arterial blood pressure in middle-aged women.Conclusion: Although a session of constant and alternative intensity exercise had no significant effect on variation of average mean arterial blood pressure in middle-aged women, it led to a continual decrease in arterial blood pressure for 10 hours, which was more significant in CI exercise. As a result, aerobic exercise with CI can lower the blood pressure for a period of hours following the exercise.

Background: Physician-patient relationship can be evaluated from multiple angles. This study evaluates this issue from 'competitor' patient perspective.Methods: The method used in this research was conversation analysis in which 33 consultations from 50 clinical counseling were recorded at Shahid Faghihi Hospital and analyzed based on conversation analysis method. Accordingly, with descriptive-analytical method the conversational strategies of the physician and competitor patient with each other were extracted.Results: Results showed that the patients used four strategies namely: uncertainty, acceptance, search certainty, and haggling. Corresponding to each strategy, physicians used the feasibility/persuasive, admonition, certainty, and if…should strategies, too. Also, physicians used other three strategies namely reviewing, ignorance and crossing, and repulsion.Conclusion: The important point is that if the interaction between physician and patient is transparent and based on active engagement, the patient has more confidence in this relation, and 'acceptance' strategy for patient and 'admonition' strategy for physician is created. These strategies are the participatory approaches in which the patient and physician exchange the information and this helps in treatment process and especially helps the patient to subordinate.

Background: Blood cancer (leukemia) is the cancer of blood tissue and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is the third most prevalent type in Iran. Survival time after diagnosis and its risk factors are one of the most important indicators for assessing the treatment.Methods: Data for this prospective study belong to Valiasr 2 (Imam Khomeini Hospital) AML patients during 2008-2013. A total of 85 patients were enrolled and death time was considered as failure event for them. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were used to identify the risk factors of patient’s survival. The SPSS v.21 and SAS v. 9.2 were used for analysis of data and a=0.05 was considered as significant level.Results: Of 85 patients, 46 (54.1%) were male. The mean age at diagnosis time was 41.38 yr., and median survival time was 17.27, and 53 patients died. Age at diagnosis, marital status, smoking, bone marrow transplants, disease history, region, lodging and resistance to treatment, and some laboratory factors (such as the number of white blood cells and red blood cells, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, sodium, potassium and calcium) were significant on survival time of patients.Conclusion: Because of the importance of leukemia, especially the role of AML type in mortality, an emphasis on age at diagnosis, marital status, smoking, bone marrow transplant, disease history, region and resistance to treatment and some laboratory factors are very important in the prognosis of death in patients.

Background: Based on the limited and inconsistent results about the effects of acute methylxanthine component on exercise-induced inflammatory response, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of acute different doses of caffeine intake on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) response in male volleyball players following one-session of exhaustive resistance exercise.Methods: Thirty male volleyball players (aged 21.47±1.45 years, fat 10.47±3.11%, and BMI 23.15±1.26 kg.m2) in a quasi-experimental, randomized and double-blind design were allocated equally into three randomized groups: supplement groups (Caffeine intake: 6 or 9 mg.kg-1) and placebo group (Dextrose intake: 6 mg.kg-1). About 45 min after the supplementation subjects were participated in a one-session resistance weight-exercise (7 stations in 3 sets per station with 80% of one repetition maximum until exhaustive). Changes in inflammatory index (serum IL-6) were determined in three phases (baseline, 45 min after the supplementation (before exercise) and immediately post-exercise protocol).The normal data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni at a£0.05.Results: The results show that the acute ingested caffeine doses of 6 and 9 mg-1 has significant effect (p£0.05) on the basal changes in serum IL-6. Moreover, both ingested caffeine dosages of 6 and 9 mg-1 in interaction with the resistance exercise worsened the inflammatory indices as compared to placebo group (p£0.05).Conclusion: Based on the present results, it can be concluded that acute different doses of caffeine intake at baseline induces low grade inflammation (increase in the serum IL-6) and also cannot decrease the undesirable inflammatory indices response induced by one-session of resistance exercise in male volleyball players.

Background: Improving the performance of HIV diagnosis assays is one of the most important ways to reduce HIV transmission. Because of the high mutation rate of HIV, it is critical to use the conserved proteins to develop diagnostic immunoassay methods. Because integrase is one of the most conserved proteins of HIV, it may be a good target for this purpose. In this paper cloning, purification and immunogenicity evaluation of integrase are studied.Methods: Integrase coding sequence was cloned in pET28a expression vector. After transformation of recombinant plasmid to E. coli, protein expression was induced by IPTG. Immunogenicity of recombinant integrase was evaluated by western blotting. The protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.Results: Induction by IPTG leads to expression of integrase. The expression level after optimization of conditions was about 40% of total proteins of E. coli. Western blotting showed specific immunoreactivity of recombinant integrase to HIV infected sera. The yield of produced protein was 75 mg per one liter of bacterial culture.Conclusion: The produced protein retains antigenic properties and can be used in diagnostic immunoassay methods. Optimization of culture and protein expression conditions results in recombinant bacteria producing high yields of protein which may be used in industrial purposes.

Background: Students’ research belief has important influence on their avoiding or doing an investigation. The aim of this study was the comparison of MSc and PhD students’ viewpoints in regard to research self-efficacy.Methods: This descriptive-cross sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 140 MSc and PhD students in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, using simple random sampling. Sample size was determined by a pilot study and calculating sample variance. Data collection tool was standardized self-administered research self-efficacy questionnaire. Statistical analysis of data was done by using SPSS- 17 software as well as independent T-test for comparison. The 7 items of the questionnaire included statistical and analytical, conceptualization, method and implementation, qualitative research, writing report, skills and proficiency and ethics.Results: Significant difference was observed between MSc and PhD students’ viewpoints regarding statistical and analytical, conceptualization, method and implementation, qualitative research, report writing and skills and proficiencies of self-efficacy scales (p=0.008, p<0.001). But no significant difference was observed in ethics scales (p=0.176).Conclusion: PhD students as compared to Msc students had more positive viewpoint in regard to research self-efficacy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors affecting components of social capital in female-headed households by using path analysis.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was carried out on female-headed households. In this study, all female-headed households were referring to the two areas of Tehran Town Hall. The data were collected using the Word Bank Social Capital (SC-IQ) which it’s validly and reliability has been confirmed. The questionnaire contains 6 components with 39 questions. Data analysis was used by software SPSS (version 22) and the software AMOS (version 22) for path analysis.Results: The average age of participants was 40.6(±9) years. The majority of women heads of household (%60.3) were unemployed. The results showed that among the components of social capital, participation in group work were significantly association with educations of women heads of household. Also, income significantly association with all components of social capital, except political empowerment. In this study, the political empowerment component was not found significantly association with any of the demographic variables (p>0.05).Conclusion: Income and education variables effect on female-headed households’s social capital in the Tehran city. By providing these indicators, especially in the field of promotion of women households; can increasing the physical, psychological and social relationship promote of women and ultimately diminish the negative charge of these groups in our society.

Background: There is a large overlap among various etiologic agents of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a novel agent which could cause a similar clinical picture as RSV which necessitate more evaluation in developing countries.Methods: In this cross sectional study, pharyngeal swabs from admitted kids with LRTI under 5 years of age were analyzied by RT-PCR methods with standard methods for both viruses and clinical and laboratory parameters were compared by appropriate statistical methods.Results: 32 cases with mean age of 14.31mo (+/-14.98) were enrolled including 9 cases of Hmpv and 23 cases with RSV infections. 56% cases were female. There was a significant difference between two group regarding mean age [RSV cases were younger (p=0.026)]. Lymphocyte percentage were also significantly different (p=0.02). Also mean body temperature and frequency of cough were different (P values were 0.02 and 0.015 respectively). All RSV cases survived but 2 out of 9 cases of hMPV died.Conclusion: There are some different clinical and demographic issues which may help to differentiate these two viruses. More prospective studies will be helpful to clarify other possible differences among these viruses.

Background: Recombinant human Calprotectin is a protein that has inhibitory effect on the growth of cancer. This substance could use as a marker or therapeutic agents for cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor property of recombinant human Calprotectin on K562 cell line.Methods: Recombinant human Calprotectin was cloned and purified in E. coli. Then, different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 100 mg/ml) were prepared in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) and its antitumor property against K562 was assayed by MTT method at the presence of Doxorubicin as positive standard.Results: Results showed recombinant human Calprotectin has antitumor property against K562 cell line in a concentration and time dependent manner. Statistical analysis revealed recombinant human Calprotectin significantly (P= 0.0231) has inhibitory effect on the growth on K562.Conclusion: Based on this finding we conclude that recombinant human Calprotectin has anti-cancer properties, but its application needs further studies.

Background: Although cough is the defensive mechanism of the host for cleaning tracheobronchial tree, it is sometimes protracted and not useful. For cough suppression anti-tussive drugs is used. Thyme (Zatara Multiflorian) suppress cough. In this study the therapeutic effect of Thyme (Zatara multiflorian) and its side effects was compared with Dextrometorphan.Methods: In this double blind clinical trial study 80 patients with acute nonproductive cough were enrolled with 40 patients in Dextrometorphan group and 40 patients in thyme group. Information was encoded before and 7 days after treatment and analyzed with EP16 software.Results: Complete recovery rate was higher in Thyme group, but partial improvement was higher in Dextrometorphan group which was not significant (p<0.05). Side effects such as drowsiness, vertigo, headache, nausea and abdominal pain were not different between the 2 groups. Irritability, convulsion, vomiting and skin allergy were not seen in 2 groups.Conclusion: Therapeutic effects of thyme is similar to Dextrometorphan.

Background: Our body is under the influence of a 24-hour period which regulates body temperature, blood pressure, metabolism, hormone secretion and their functions. Thus, it is probable that while doing exercise or following that; the function of the body varies in different parts of the day. The goal of the present study was to assess the effect of the time of exercise (morning or evening) on the amount of Troponin T in men with cardiovascular diseases.Methods: To carry out this semi-experimental study, 15 men with cardiovascular diseases were selected as the participants of the research. On the day of the test, the participants gave a blood test at 7 o’clock in the morning and then carried the exercise protocol out in presence of a physician. Then, the participants gave blood tests immediately after exercising and 3 hours after that. A week later the participants took the same steps with the same method but at 7 o’clock in the evening. Through SPSS v.20, the data were analyzed using dependent T test for comparing average of pretest and posttest of anytime (morning and evening) and comparing both tests in both morning and evening.Results: The results of the present study revealed that there was no significant difference in the amount of Troponin T in the morning and evening before (p=0.15), immediately after and 3 hours after the same maximum exhaustive exercise (p=0.22, p=0.30).Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the circadian rhythm and day-and-night cycle are not affected by intense exercise in response to the myocardial tissue. Consequently, patients with cardiovascular diseases can exercise either in the morning or in the evening as they wish.