Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2013 | Volume:20 | Issue:109|Papers Count:13

The nucleus of mature sperm contains a complex population of transcripts such as mRNAs and miRNAs which expressed and accumulated during process of spermatogenesis, however in spermatozoa, transcription is inert. The spermatozoa do not have cytoplasmic ribosomal compounds and translation apparatus. However, spermatozoa can translate cytoplasmic mRNAs de novo, using mitochondrial polysomes. Important roles of spermatozoa RNAs include chromatin repackaging, paternal genomic imprintingand gene silencing. Recent information of transferred spermatozoa RNAs into oocytes during fertilization and RNA mediated epigenetic effect contribute extra genomically to early embryonic growth.Furthermore, regardless of the biological roles of spermatozoal RNA and embryonic growth, the differences in profile expression of spermatozoa RNAs from fertile and infertile men, provide potential spermatozoa markers in assessment male fertility and infertility. In this review, presence of RNAs in mature sperm, diversity and functions of gene transcripts in male fertility and embryonic development are discussed.

Background: Chronic urticaria is a common skin disorder with incidence of 0.3 to 11.3 percent people. Up to 20 % of general population affected it in their life span. There is not known etiology in the most cases of chronic urticarial. The aim of this study was to detect clinical manifestation, laboratory tests and demographic of 274 patients with chronic urticarial in Sari, Iran.Methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, we evaluated 274 patients (195 female and 79 male) with chronic urticaria who were referred to allergic centers (Booali and Tooba clinics) in Sari, for 4 and half years (Dec 2008tillMarch 2012). All of them had ages between 2 to 75 years. We evaluate demographic characteristics, different laboratory tests such as CBC, ESR, CH50, C3, C4, IgE, and anti-thyroid and helicobacter pylori antibodies in them.Results: Chronic urticaria is more common from 20 to 40 years of age in both genders (55%). Physical urticaria was found in 42 patients, with more common cases of dermographism (n=21). Angioedema was seen in 144 patients (52.5%). Total IgE increased in 128 of cases (46%). History of allergic disorders were positive in 128 cases (46%).Anti thyroid antibodies increased in 50 cases (18.24%) with 4 patients with abnormal thyroid function tests. Helicobacter Pylori antibodies, IgG and IgA were increased in 69.23% whom 90% were above 18 years old. Antinuclear antibody, CH50, C3, C4, Stool exam were normal in all of them.Conclusions: In Chronic urticaria often laboratory tests including CBC, liver and kidney functions are normal and better not to be recommended.

Background: Oral mucosa of cigarette and hookah users is more susceptible for malignant changes, so the purpose of this study is to assess the impact of cigarette and hookah on morphometry features of oral mucosa.Methods: In this Historical Cohort study, Cytological smears prepared from three regions of oral mucosa (Buccal mucosa, lateral border of tongue and floor of the mouth) in 40 smokers, 40 hookah users, 40 non-smoker and non-hooka users were stained by Papanicolaou method. A quantitative and qualitative change in cytology smears was evaluated in each slide. Quantitative evaluation of 50 cells per slide was performed with Motic Plus 2 software. Practitioners were matched with age and sex.Results: Increased nuclear size, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, Ferret ratio, reduced size of cytoplasm was observed in cigarette users, hookah users, non-smokers and non hookah users respectively (p<0.001). No Significant difference in karyorrhexis, multilobed nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuolization in buccal mucosa, tongue and floor of the mouth of cigarrete, hookan users (p=0.8) and non smoker-non hookan users was seen. (p3=0.9) but inflammation (p<0.001) and candidiasis (p=0.002) were more in smokersand hookah users than non smoker and non hookah users respectively.Conclusions: Cigarette and hookah are effective in cyto-morphometric changes of oral mucosa, but in this area, The effect of cigarette is more than hookah.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), the most common type of UI, is the involuntary leakage of urine from the urethra with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) dysfunction in women may lead to SUI. Thus, one of the effective managements in SUI is Pelvic Floor Muscle Training. PFM strength has a strong relationship with abdominal muscles work, therefore, in the present study, a combination training of PFMT and core exercises is used for the management of SUI.Methods: The study was a semi experimental control trail which was approved by the Ethical Committee of Medical Sciences/Tehran University, Main participants were 22 women with proven stress urinary incontinence, VAS score, IQOL questionnaire, PFM strength, PFM static and PFM dynamic tests were evaluated pre and post intervention. The subjects were conducted a three-weekly training program under supervision.Results: Conservative management & exercise therapy is recommended as a first line treatment for SUI. The results of this study showed that combined exercise training of core muscles & PFM was associated with the improvement of SUI, in reducing incontinency, increasing the score of IQOL questionnaire, improvement of the PFM strength and endurance in a short duration. There were significant differences in our variables pre and post intervention, including 60% increasing of the total score of IQOL questionnaire, 57% reduction in VAS score and 76% increase in pelvic floor muscle strength.Conclusions: Our findings showed the positive effects of this new exercise protocols in improving the physical condition and quality of life in all participants.

Background: The aim of the study is to assess knowledge and behavior of participants about dietary fats pattern. Also, our goal was to design a nutrition education program about dietary fat intakes which is relatively brief and low cost in terms of time and material.Methods: In this experimental study we recruited three groups of household women under the cover of health centers of Tabriz city as Random-cluster sampling method. Group A (n=90) participated for 3 sessions and group B (n=86) for 5 sessions education intervention about dietary fat pattern. Also group C (n=90) were allocated as control group. We randomly selected some partners (n=65) of intervention groups (group A and B), as reinforces factors, the other control group. For evaluation, a knowledge and behavior questionnaire was administrated to all groups. Furthermore, the effectiveness of education was compared among two intervention groups with different attendance classes.Results: For mean scores knowledge, no significant difference existed between groups. Mean score of behavior were less than 50% in all groups [group A: 49.3±16.5, group B: 44.3±17.7, group C: 43.57±13.5 and group M: 50.51±18.66]. Mean scores of knowledge and behavior showed a significant difference in the intervention groups (post-test versus pre-test) [group A: 79.4±23.6 and group B 83.22±21.5, p<0.001]. Different impacts of class attendances have not significant effectiveness for knowledge and behavior to compare two intervention groups (groups A and B), but significant compared control group (group C) (p=0.0001).Conclusions: Women had low knowledge about optimal dietary fat pattern and behavior levels were poor. Short time education program was effective for household women.

Background: Tocotrienolswhich were neglected in the past, today get attentions due to their antioxidant and none-antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 8 weeks consumption of 15 ml T3 enriched canola oil (200mg/day T3) on glycemic controlandoxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: Thisclinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (FBS>126 mg/dl) who were randomly assigned in two (intervention and control) groups. Intervention group (n=25) received 15 ml T3 enriched canola oil (200mg/day T3) or pure canola oil. Blood samples of patients were collected to measure fasting blood glucose (FBS), fasting insulin, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Malon Di Aldehyde (MDA) levels and Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Physical activity levels and nutrients intake were evaluated before and after intervention and were compared between the groups.Results: FBS, TAC, and MDA were declined significantly by 20, 25 and 35% respectively, in T3 treated group. At the end of the study, intervention group had significantly lower FBS, MDA than control group. A non-significant decrease was also observed in HOMA-IR in intervention group with no changes in insulin levels.Conclusions: These data suggest that tocotrienols may improve glycemic status, oxidative stress indicators, in diabetic patients but the effects on insulin sensisivity need to investigate more in future.

Background: Increasing the prevalence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, emphasizes on health policy, priority setting and preventing cardiovascular diseases deaths. This study aimed to assess Potential Impact Fraction of modifying selected risk factors on burden of cardiovascular disease in Iran.Methods: To calculate Potential Impact Fraction (PIF) of risk factors WHO comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was used. Data on the Prevalence of the risk factors were obtained from 3rd national Surveillance of Risk Factors (Diabetes, hypertension, central obesity, Hypercholesterolemia) of Non-Communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD-2007) and data on corresponding measures of effect were derived from Tehran Lipid Glucose Study (TLGS). Then joint effect of risk factors was calculated.Results: The joint effect of modifying selected risk factors to the theoretical minimum risk level i. e. zero for adult female 59.4% (95% uncertainty intervals: 30.0-76.0) and for males 37.0% (95% uncertainty intervals: 21.7-50.2) of burden of cardiovascular disease are avoidable. The corresponding value was greater than in females at plausible and feasible minimum risk levels.Conclusions: Our study results which were reported based on attributable burden support the rational for implementing a national- wide and repeated screening for risk factors among adults.

Background: Women's health is the base of family and society's health. Self-efficacy is one of the factors which would lead to promotion of general health in women.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional- analytical study, general health status of 130 women referring to health center No.2 in Chalus were selected by simple random sampling.They were asked to complete a standard General health questionnaire (GHQ-28) and standard Self-efficacy questionnaire (General Self-Efficacy Scale-GSE) (Schwartzer & Jerusalem).Results: Mean and standard deviation of general health and self-efficacy were 20.92±14.09 (desirable) and 29.76±6.07 (moderate). Also 34.6% of women complained from physical symptoms, 36.2% had anxiety and sleep disorder, 53.1% had impairment in social functioning, and 14.6% had some symptoms that indicated depression. In general, 27% of women had some kind of health problems. There were signification relationship between general health and marital status, between marital status and depression, and between general health and self-efficacy.Conclusions: General health and self-efficacy in these women are inadequate and planning educational program for promoting general health based on self-efficacy theory is necessary.

Background: Brucellosis is an important zoonosis that constitutes a serious hazard to public health. Control and eradication programmes have been implemented in many countries where brucellosis exists. Vaccination is the best method for controlling the infection and this must be the first step for the elimination of the disease. In Iran, Malta fever was first recognized in 1932 and control of animal brucellosis began in 1949. Our aim was to investigate the effects of animal vaccination in Iran from 1983 to 2008 on the incidence of human brucellosis.Methods: In this descriptive study, the relationship between the domestic animals vaccination with the incidence of human brucellosis was assessed with the SPSS software, which Pearson correlation coefficient was used for this purpose.Results: Statistical analysis showed that Pearson correlation coefficient of cattle vaccination and human brucellosis (r=-0.48), sheep and goat vaccination and human incidence rate (r=-0.44) are negative (p<0.05).Conclusions: Animal vaccination seemed to have decreased the human incidence. The control of brucellosis can be achieved if the animal population's resistance to disease would be increased. It is accepted that vaccination is more acceptable and effective than other methods applied for this purpose. Combination of health education and animal vaccination programs for control of human brucellosis are very important.

Background: It is believed that overweight and obesity are involved in the etiology of menstrual problems by changing the balance of steroid hormones and sex hormone binding globins. This study examined the association between anthropometric indices with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its severity in female students.Methods: This cross-sectional study involving 365 women living in student dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences,, was conducted in 1391. Sampling was random cluster. Seca stadiometer and scale to measure height and weight at standard conditions and non-elastic tape to measurewaist and hip circumferences were used. Then waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and index Conicity (C-Index) were calculated. To assess PMS and its’ severity provisional diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome form and Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool-PSST were employed. Data was analyzed with statistical software SPSS v.16 using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. To investigate the relationship between variables Spearman correlation coefficient was usedand 0.05>P-value was considered significant.Results: There was a significant correlation between waist circumference (P-value:0.046, r:0.123) WHR(P-value:0.043, r:0.125), and WHtR (P-value:0.045, r:0.123) and PMS risk, but there was no significant association between other indicators and PMS.Conclusions: Increase in waist circumference, WHR, and WHtR associated with increased risk of PMS and its severity.