Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:22 | Issue:137|Papers Count:11

Background: Studies have shown that variation in light-dark cycle influences secretion of many hormones. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different periods of darkness on serum level of LH, FSH, testosterone and cortisol in male rats.Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (exposed to 12h light-12h dark), and experimental (exposed to13, 15, 18 or 21h darkness/day) groups, qand there were 6 rats in each group. After 8 weeks, blood samples were collected and following serum collection, the levels of LH, FSH, testosterone and cortisol were measured. The data were analyzed using ANOVA.Results: Serum LH, FSH levels significantly decreased in rats exposed to darkness for 18 and 21 h/day compared with control animals (p<0.05). Serum level of testosterone and cortisol was significantly decreased in all groups exposed to darkness compared to control animals. Serum level of DHEA significantly decreased in groups exposed to darkness for 15, 18 and 21 h/day compared with control animals.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that prolonged periods of darkness results in decreased serum level of testosterone, cortisol and DHEA and leads to increased LH and FSH; according to which, darkness can be considered as a factor leading to sexual disorders and disorders related to cortisol.

Background: Emotion cognitive regulation strategies and impulsivity are of affection factors in adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of the study was to compare adaptive and maladaptive emotion cognitive regulation strategies and impulsivity and its dimensions; motor, cognitive and non-planning in normal boy adolescents and with ADHD.Methods: This is a cross-sectional and post event study (causal-comparative method), and study population was all boy student of Amol town high school. The study sample comprised of 40 people (20 people with ADHD and 20 normal people) who were selected by convenient sampling method. Data were collected using Achenbach Youth Self-Report Scale (YSR), Garnefski & Kraaij emotion cognitive regulation questionnaire, Barrat Impulsivity Scale and clinical interview. To analyze the data Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t independent test and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used.Results: The mean age of the adolescents with ADHD was 15.05±0.60 and normal 15.10±0.71 years. Results revealed that mean scores of maladaptive emotion cognitive regulation strategies (ADHD: 17.65±4.95, normal: 14.35±4.45), general score impulsivity (ADHD: 69.20±11.04, normal: 56.80±8.10), motor impulsivity (ADHD: 22.65±4.22, normal: 18.15±3.97), cognitiver impulsivity (ADHD: 21.15±3.43, normal: 18.05±2.30) and non-planning (ADHD: 25.40±6.90, normal: 21.05±4.85) in adolescents with ADHD were greater than controls significan (p<0.05). However, scores of the two groups in the adaptive emotion cognitive regulation strategies (ADHD: 24.40±7.24, Normal: 24.90±4.78) were not significantly different (p<0.05).Conclusion: Based on the finding of the present study it can be concluded that adolescents with ADHD compared with normal adolescents use more maladaptive emotion cognitive regulation strategies and impulsivity.

Background: Knowing the expectations of supervisors may affect the quality of graduate students' theses. The aim of this study was to explore expectations of supervisors from PhD students in the process of performing PhD thesis as a qualitative content analysis design (conventional method).Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on 25 supervisor of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2014 which were purposefully selected and interviewed. All interviews were recorded and then transcribed.Results: The mean age of participants was 48.6 (SD=6.60) yr. old. After analyzing and coding of data supervisors had 3 expectations from PhD students. These expectations consists of the task of students in the process of performing thesis with 5 categories (including selection of subject, preparation and registration of proposal, data collection, writing and defense of thesis and acceptance process of the article), essential pre-requisites for performing thesis with 5 categories (included acceptance supervisor, academic pre-requisites, unrealistic expectations from supervisor, needed cognitive-psychological skills and considering the time) and finally communication with 2 categories (included method of communicate with supervisor and meet the expectations of department).Conclusion: Informing PhD students regarding the expectations of their supervisors, in the process of performing thesis may reduce unrealistic expectations and ultimately lead to an improved quality of thesis.

Background: Air Quality Index (AQI) quantifies the relationship between air quality and the level of health. The value of AQI may be predicted using neural network model for a day in advance, based on the meteorological variables and autocorrelation behavior of the index in Kermanshah, a city in western Iran.Methods: Data for air pollution and meteorological variables, collected during three years, were lagged for two proceeding days. The AQI for a next day was considered as dependent variable and other were used as predictors. The performance of model was assessed with correlation coefficient (r). The most important variables to predict the AQI were identified using sensitivity analysis.Results: The r coefficient for the training, validation and testing the model was 0.75. Among the meteorological variables, the horizontal view and precipitation had a greater impact on the AQI. One day proceeding precipitation can significantly reduce the amount of AQI for the next day. An inverse relationship was found between AQI and horizontal view.Conclusion: The proposed model can be used to predict the Kermanshah’s AQI index. Regarding to the issue of air pollution in this city, especially fine particulate pollutions; if such a model is used dynamically to predict the AQI, it can be useful tools for the declaration of an air pollution alert. The preparation of an online model-based system for the prediction of AQI index for Kermanshah city is suggested to be conducted in future studies.

Background: The goal of the current research was investigation of effect of aerobic exercise on glucose, insulin and insulin resistance in overweight-obese subclinical hypothyroidism women.Methods: This study was semi-experimental. After medical screening 23 women suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism disorder with age average of 41.08±6.56 years and BMI over 25 kg/m2 , were objectively selected and randomly divided into two groups: control (N=13) and experimental (N=10). Initially their height, weight, BMI, Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) and the serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin T4 and TSH were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated via HOMA-IR model. Then samples of experimental group performed aerobic exercise. The control group received no intervention and were just followed. After 12 weeks all variables were measured again. For intra group comparison of data depended t-test was used and for group comparison independent t-test was used (p£0.05).Results: After 12 weeks of symphonic aerobic exercise in experimental group body composition including weight, BMI, WHR, and also insulin levels, insulin resistance and TSH had significant reduction; no significant change in fasting glucose was seen and T4 levels had increased. In control group insulin and insulin resistance were significantly increased, too.Conclusion: The reduction of cardiovascular disease and reduction of insulin resistance among over weight-obese sub clinical hypothyroidism women is probably possible through weight decreasing with aerobic exercises.

Background: Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) pathotypes are belonging to enterobacteriaceae family that is known as agent of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in under 5 year old children. This research is aimed to identify of EPEC pathotypes in diarrheal fewer than 5 years old children and study the patterns of antibiotic resistance of these strains in Tehran.Methods: 300 samples were collected from children with diarrhea visited in children Hospital in Tehran. Bacterial isolates confirmed as E. coli species on the basis of standard bacterial and biochemical tests. All isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of eaeA (intimin) gene in terms of EPEC pathotypes. Then, antibiogram test for EPEC pathotypes was performed using 16 different antibiotic disces by disc diffusion agar (Kirby-Bauer) method.Results: Among all specimens, 36 (12%) isolates bearing eaeA gene were confirmed as EPEC using PCR. 22 specimens (61.1%) of identified pathotypes were isolated from under 1 year old children. All pathotypes were sensitive to imipenem and meropenem. Antibiotic resistance toward amoxicillin and tetracycline 23 (63.9%) was higher than others. Also 24 isolates (66.7%) showed multi-resistant pattern toward several routine antibiotics.Conclusion: Since EPEC pathotypes are diagnosed as agent of diarrhea in children in our country, identification of these pathotypes showed be made through novel techniques.

Background: Diabetes is the most common metabolic disease in the world. The most important factor in controlling the disease is self-care. If there is interaction between patient and service providers, it would ultimately contribute to the better control of diabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between doctor and patient and self-care behaviors.Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional analysis. 500 out of 752 diabetic patients were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires containing demographic information, self-care behaviors, patient health and doctor and patient relationship. Frequency tables, chi-square, independent t and ANOVA tests were used to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics and self-care. Also, multiple linear regression was used to predict the affecting factors on the self-care.Results: There was a significant association between doctor and patient relationship and parameters like age, presence of diabetes complication and symptoms of depression. Doctor and patient relationship after the duration of diabetes was the strongest predictor of self-care behavior.Conclusion: Doctor and patient relationship could predict self-care behaviors in type II diabetes patients. One factor influencing the doctor-patient relationship is the patient’s lack of access to a specialist. Therefore, it is suggested to conduct a similar study in urban areas and examine the doctor-patient relationship and its impact on the self-care behaviors.

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: Factors such as lack of proper knowledge on health period of menarche leads to wrong behavior in this period. But we can transfer knowledge and basic skills to students by teaching and changing their behavior. Consequently, present study mainly aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on promotion of physical puberty health among the girls in Gonbad in 2014.Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental. In this study 102 girl students were selected using random sampling method. Data collection was performed through a designed questionnaire based on HBM model. We used test re-test to investigate the reliabity of the questionnaire and the questionnaire was evaluated by competent Professors in order to determine its content validity. The 30 participants filled out questionnaire before the intervention. Education intervention was performed for intervention group. Educational intervention in case group was a speech, along with group discussion, and application of pamphlet and educational booklet. Two groups filled out questionnaires three months after completion of intervention. The data were analyzed through SPSS v.22 software using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney, Mac-Nemar, Wilcoxon, t-test, and analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).Results: Findings of the present study showed that demographic variables were not significantly different in two groups. Before and three months after the education in the intervention group, Knowledge scores raised from 52.07±9.7 to 81.09±7.25, practice from 48.06±10 to 53.94±11.32, susceptibility from 61.72±10.4 to 79.6±9.6, severity from 66.33±7.98 to 77.5±6.88, benefits from 66.2±8.51 to 76.78±6.99, barriers from 58.84±11.81 to 43.64±10.57, cues to action from 26.61±16.85 to 46.21±16.05, and self-efficacy from 78.16±9.33 to 93.32±7.04. They were significantly different in the intervention group (p<0.05), but not in the control group (p>0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that the educational intervention strategy based on HBM Model could bring significant changes in the awareness and behavior of adolescent girls. Different types of training are recommended based on health educational models on promotion of physical puberty health.

Background: Various studies indicate that there is association between life style and various enzyme activities. This study was conducted to determine the effects of waterpipe smoking and immobilization on serum creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase activities in female rats.Methods: In this experimental study female Wistar rats were divided into control, waterpipe smoking, immobilized, and immobilized waterpipe smoking groups of 7 in each. Exposure to waterpipe smoke was performed 10 times/day for 10min with 5 min resting time interval and animals were chronically immobilized twice a day for 2 hr each time. After 7 weeks, blood samples were collected using cardiac puncture technique and enzyme activity was measured using spectrophotometry. The data were compared statistically between groups using ANOVA.Results: Serum creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in immobilized waterpipe smoking than immobilized or waterpipe smoking rats (p=0.009, 0.012 and 0.046, 0.047, respectively). Moreover, the enzyme activity was higher in waterpipe smoking than immobilized rats (p=0.031 and 0.048, respectively).Conclusion: Our findings indicate that prevalence of waterpipe smoking and immobilization in our society is a serious threat to health. The necessity to control these factors and publicizing the related information seems inevitable for public health.