Journal of Knowledge & Health in Basic Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:9 | Issue:3|Papers Count:11

Introduction: HIV infection affects a person's life in all aspects of social, economic, health and mental health conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional schemas and resilience to HIV infection.Methods: 130 HIV infected people from the counseling center of behavioral illness of Imam Khomeini hospital were selected by convenience method. Data was collected using the resiliency and emotional schemas questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the statistical software (SPSS.18), Pearson correlation and stepwise regression methods.Results: Stepwise regression analysis showed that 38% of total variance of resiliency in HIV infected people is predicted by four emotional schemas; rumination, validation by others, simplistic view, and acceptance of feeling (P<0.05). There is a significant positive correlation between adaptive emotional schemas (such as expression, validation by others; simplistic view, higher value, agreement, and acceptance of feeling) and resiliency. Moreover, there is a negative correlation between maladaptive emotional schema such as rumination and resiliency.Conclusion: This study showed that the emotional schemas are significant predictors of resiliency in people living with HIV. Therefore, identifying and modifying maladaptive emotional schema through psychological intervention can be helpful in increasing resilience of people living with HIV.

Introduction: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important negative regulator of T-cell responses. The 49AG polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene may be associated with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) risk, but the results from previous published studies have been inconsistent. We carried out a meta-analysis search to assess this association more precisely.Methods: A systematic search of six electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, Iran doc, Iran Medex and SID (Scientific Information Database) was performed for relevant articles published between 1978 and 2011. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess the strength of the association. We evaluated both fixed and random effect models, depending on the presence of between-study heterogeneity. The data were analyzed using STATA software.Results: A total of 15 independent studies on the CTLA-4 gene 49AG polymorphism and SLE, including 1705 cases and 2299 controls were used in the meta-analysis. No significant association was found between 49AG polymorphism and SLE risk in the overall or subgroup analyses.Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed no significant association between 49AG polymorphism and SLE susceptibility. Large-scale and well-designed case-control studies are suggested.

Introduction: Adiponectin is one of adipocytokines secreted by adipose tissue that decreases with increased insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between serum adiponectin levels and lipid profiles, testosterone, and cortisol in sedentary men.Methods: In semi-experimental study, forty five young men, without experience of regular physical activity during past six months were selected. After 12 h fasting (at 8 A.M.), Venous blood samples were collected for adiponectin, testosterone, cortisol and lipid profiles assessment. Moreover general characteristics of subjects were assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software and the relationships were calculated by Pearson’s correlation analysis.Results: Adiponectin levels were negatively correlated to LDL cholesterol (r=-0.25, P=0.008), triglyceride (r=-0.30, P=0.003), and testosterone levels (r=-0.41, P=0.002) and positively correlated to HDL cholesterol levels (r=0.26, P=0.005). No significant correlations were observed between adiponectin levels with total cholesterol (r=-0.21, P=0.053) and cortisol levels (r=0.16, P=0.089).Conclusion: It seems that in sedentary men, lower adiponectin levels are associated with dyslipidemia and consequently increased risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in these subjects. Moreover, serum concentrations of adiponectin are directly correlated with testosterone levels, but it appears that there is no correlation between adiponectin levels and cortisol concentrations.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has major effects on various aspects of life in these patients. Moreover, the concept of ability to cope with illness could be important in the evaluation of patients’ quality of life. Therefore, understanding of the patient's adaptation seems to be necessary. The aim of the present study is to provide a deep understanding of the coping strategies used by patients with PCOS.Methods: This study is qualitative content analysis and in order to conduct the study, through an in-depth interview, twenty patients with PCOS were purposively selected.Results: The main themes derived from the data were centered thinking (religious beliefs, thoughts paradox), practical steps (positive steps such as information and treatment seeking and negative steps such as separation and hiding) and support seeking (family support, peer support, friend support).Conclusion: Patients in coping with PCOS were experiencing different conditions in various aspects of life: individual, family and social life. Some of these patients were not successful in effective coping and others were well adapted by support of others, religious and spiritual background and optimism. Given the high prevalence of physical, psychological and social problems in these patients, strengthening coping resources and identifying barriers can help to reconcile these patients to their disease and improve their quality of life.

Introduction: To use the large vessels of the body, the subclavian and jugular veins had the most applications and they are used in most cases. Since the advantages and disadvantages of each of these two catheterization methods are unknown, this study evaluated the effects of subclavian and jugular catheterization procedures among dialysis patients to determine the best method.Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial performed on all dialysis patients requiring venous catheter that referred to Imam Hossain hospital in the first half of the 2011 and approved participation in the project. In this study, patients were divided randomly into two groups of intervention (jugular catheter) and control (subclavian catheter), and after primary activities, in the operating room, venous catheter was placed for them by using the standard procedure. The shunt complications such as infection, heamothorax, and pneumothorax were investigated 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after surgery. In this study patients were divided into two groups, intervention group (52.9%) and control group (47.9%).Results: The average incidence of infection in intervention group was 6.9±5.3 and in control group was 7.3±6.1, and they were not significantly different. The average incidence of heamothorax in control group 6.4±4.1 was significantly higher than intervention group 4.2±2.5 (P<0.003). The average incidence of the complication of pneumothorax in intervention group was 10.7 ± 6.7 and in control group was 12.5±7.2 and there was no significant difference between them. Moreover the speed of surgery in the intervention group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that although both subclavian and jugular catheterization can be used according to the patients’ condition and the surgeon's experience, due to the lower heamothorax complication and faster speed of surgery, the jugular catheterization should be considered as the preferred method.

Introduction: High auditory stimulation puts preterm infants at high risk for adverse health effects. Present study was conducted with this aim to determine the effect of noise modifying in NICU on premature infants’ behavioral responses.Methods: Research samples were 110 premature infants that divided in experiment and control groups. These infants had 28 days age, hospitalized in NICUs more than 2 days, below 37 week gestational age and below 2500 gram birth weight without mechanical ventilation. In the first section of time, each infant with inclusion criteria, inserted in control group and then in second section of time, infant with inclusion criteria placed in experiment group. In first section, educated nurse measured the LAeq, LC, LA and infants’ behavioral responses. In second section, noise modifying interventions implemented in experimental group for 6 weeks, and then LAeq, LC and LA and infants’ behavioral responses were measured with the same methods.Results: No statistical significant differences were observed in two groups in the mean frequency of crying, sleeping and startle. Moreover, recorded mean LC in experiment group (P=0.021) as well as mean LA (P=0.008) was lower than control group. In addition, no statistical significant difference was observed in LAeq between two groups.Conclusions: This study showed that noise in studied NICUs was higher than standards and had reached to psychological damage. Since, change in NICUs environment in order to modifying noise, had no effect on premature infants’ behavioral responses, as well as, the observed reduction in LC and LA is clinically negligible; it seems that, more research is needed in this area.

Introduction: Model of planned behavior (PBM) is a useful framework for predicting health behaviors. Adding self-efficacy construct to PBM can increase predictability of behaviors by the model. Therefore, the present research was conducted to assess the effect of educational program based on “Integrated model of planned behavior and self-efficacy” (PBSEIM) on health promotion behaviors of female workers in reproductive age.Methods: It was an experimental research. A total of 70 women working in the Fruit roll-ups plant (35 individuals in intervention group and 35 individuals in control group) were randomly selected. Data was completed by the valid and reliable "inventory for assessment of female workers health promotion behavior" questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed once before and once after the educational intervention. Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The results showed that before the intervention in all domains (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, intention and behavior), no significant difference between the intervention and control groups were observed (P≥0.05). But after the intervention, the mean scores of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, intention and behavior toward health promoting behaviors increased in the intervention group (P≤0.05). Also, the greatest mean difference was in self-efficacy construct.Conclusion: "Integrated model of planned behavior and self-efficacy" as an acceptable model for the design of interventions to improve the health promoting behaviors of female workers is recommended.

Introduction: Spermatogonial stem cells are regarded as the continual generator of sperms in males. They possess the potential to regenerate themselves, provided by the niche, which is necessary for substituting the old sperms with the new ones and their population’s maintenance. There are demanding efforts conducted often on spermatogonial stem cells, and some special growth factors with the capability of reestablishment of this niche under experimental circumstances, but there have been few studies on poultries in this respect.Methods: In the present study, the impact of adult mice and roosters testes extracts on colony-formation potential of chicken spermatogonial stem cells in the course of four days, as compared to those of three conventional growth factors (LIF, bFGF and GDNF) was investigated. After determination of the optimum concentrations of growth factors, OCT4 gene expression was measured as one of spermatogonial stem cell activities’ signature via Real-time RT-PCR technique during two weeks treatment.Results: The results of colony forming activity show that in vitro treatment by the mice and roosters testes extracts and the three mentioned growth factors (GDNF, bFGF and LIF) had a considerably discrepancies in terms of the number of created colonies compared to the control group (without adding any factor) after four days. Moreover, the OCT4 over-expressed extremely by these biological impulses after two weeks.Conclusion: The results indicated that the testes extract would be a valuable substitute for non-economical industrial growth factors.

Introduction: Intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin leads to learning and memory impairment. Different mechanisms such as oxidative stress and insulin signaling disruption has been proposed for streptozocin induced learning and memory deterioration. As these changes occur in Alzheimer's disease, this model is widely used to assess Alzheimer's disease. Agmatine is a polyamine derived from L-arginine decarboxylation. Agmatine is shown to have various effects such as neuroprotective role. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the plausible protective effect of agmatine against streptozocin induced memory impairment.Methods: Male sprague-dawely rats weighing 200-250 g were used in this study. Within surgery the canules were implanted bilaterally into lateral ventricle. Streptozocin was injected on days 1 and 3 (3 mg/kg in divided doses). Agmatine administration (40 and 80 mg/kg) was started from day 4 and continued in an alternate manner till day 14. The animal’s learning and memory capability was assessed on days 15-18 using morris water maze. The animals were trained during 3 days, and on day 4, the probe test was done. In order to assess the effect of drugs on motivation and sensorimotor coordination, a visible platform test was performed after the probe trial.Results: While streptozocin injection led to learning and memory disability, agmatine treatment in dose 80 mg/kg but not 40 mg/kg restored this memory impairment.Conclusion: It seems that agmatine might be beneficial for memory impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Introduction: Renal ischemia reperfusion (IR) is a common cause of acute renal failure. Renal IR induces remote organ dysfunction such as lung, heart and liver. The aim of this study was to assess the role of leukocytes on the hepatic tissue glutathione as a liver antioxidant index after renal IR injury.Methods: Inbred mice were subjected to either sham operation (sham donor) or bilateral renal IR injury that undergoes 50 min ischemia followed by 3h reperfusion (IR donor). Mice were then anesthetized for collection of blood and liver samples. Leukocytes isolated from blood and then were transferred to two recipient groups: recipient mice that received leukocytes from sham-operated control mice and intact recipient mice that received leukocytes from IR mice. After 24h, recipient mice were anesthetized and blood and liver samples were collected.Results: Hepatic glutathione (GSH) decreased significantly in intact recipient mice that received leukocytes from IR mice in comparison to intact recipient mice received leukocytes from sham-operated control mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that leukocytes are one of the possible factors that contribute to liver damage after renal IR injury and this damage is partly due to the induction of oxidative stress.