Journal of Knowledge & Health in Basic Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:6 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

Introduction: Acceptance and commitment therapy is a third generation behavior therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy in social phobia of students.Methods: This investigation is an experimental study. Twenty students with social phobia were selected based on clinical interview and social phobia and anxiety inventory from Shomal University of Amol and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups.Acceptance and commitment group therapy was administered to the experimental group in ten 90-minute sessions and control group did not receive any therapy. Pretest, posttest and one-month fallow up scores of the two groups were analyzed by multiple analyses of variance and independent t-test.Results: The result of analyses showed that in final of treatment social anxiety score of experimental group significantly decreased (P<0.05) and in one-month fallow up did not significantly differ (P>0.05).Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment group therapy is effective in the treatment of social phobia of students.

Introduction: Narcotic anonymous (NA) is an association of men and women who share their experiences to abstain from addiction and follow its 12 steps. This study examined the role of spirituality dimensions as predictors of quality of life in narcotic anonymous.Methods: In this expo facto study, 96 male members of NA with age range of 20-40, minimal clean 6 mounts from Shahrood completed World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQoL), and Spirituality Experience Scale. To analyze the data stepwise regression analysis with SPSS 16 was used.Results: Spiritual development and performance and socio-religious functions as subscales of spiritual experience were significant predictors of quality of Life in NA. Also spiritual development and performance subscale 0.25 (P<0.01, R2=0.25), and socio-religious functions subscale in compound with first subscale explained 0.34 (P<0.01, R2=0.34) variance of quality of life.Conclusion: It seems that active attendance in NA and following its 12 principles leads to the development of spiritual performance and socio-religious functions. Therefore, this development enhances quality of life.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has recently been reported as a marker gene for several cancers. With respect to our previous results about this gene, in the present study we compare the correlation between the plasma and serum MMP-9 levels and clinical features of breast cancer patients.Methods: In this case-control study, 114 breast cancer patients and 87 healthy controls were studded. MMP-9 level was quantitatively measured by zymography and Bio Rad kit (Bio-Rad, Richmond, CA).Results: Plasma MMP-9 level was significantly elevated in breast cancer patients compared with the control subjects (P<0.001). Also there was a correlation between the plasma MMP-9 level and lymph node metastasis (OR, 3.4, P=0.019) and venous invasion (OR, 4.14, P=0.033) of the patients. There was no correlation between the serum MMP-9 level and lymphatic metastasis or venous invasion of the patients.Conclusion: According to our findings, plasma MMP-9 level is a better marker than the serum MMP-9 level for early diagnosis of breast cancer metastasis.

Introduction: Plasma ghrelin is influenced by nutritional status and is thought to play a role in acute and chronic regulating of food intake and body weight. The purpose of this study was to compare GH, insulin resistance index, lipid profile, and cardiorespiratory function in obese and lean inactive young men and determine their relationships with plasma acylated ghrelin levels.Methods: Study design of this research was causal-comparative. Obese (n=19, BMI: 31.0 kg/m2) and lean (n=19, BMI: 18.5 kg/m2) young men, without experience of regular physical activity during the previous six months, were selected. After 12 h fasting (at 8 a.m.), blood samples were collected to determine blood parameter levels. Also, maximal oxygen uptake (as indicator of cardiorespiratory function) of subjects was assessed.Results: Insulin levels and HOMA-IR (insulin resistance index) were higher, and GH, acylated ghrelin and maximal oxygen uptake levels were lower in obese men compared to lean men (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles between obese and lean groups (P>0.01). Plasma acylated ghrelin concentrations were negatively correlated to body mass, body fat percent, body mass index, insulin and HOMA-IR, and positively correlated to GH levels and maximal oxygen uptake (P<0.01). No significant correlations were observed between plasma acylated ghrelin concentrations and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles in none of groups (P>0.01).Conclusion: Obese and lean inactive young men had different levels of acylated ghrelin, GH, insulin, insulin resistance index, cardiorespiratory function and body fat percent. Body fat percent, insulin, and GH levels appear to be the strongest determinant factors of acylated ghrelin levels.

Introduction: Classification and identification of parasite species Leishmaniasis has been mainly based on the clinical features, geographical distribution and size of the parasite. Noting the limitations of this division, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological status and accurately determine the dominant parasite species based on molecular methods in the infected area in Golestan province as one of the foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis wet type (rural) in Iran.Methods: This is a descriptive analytical study that was performed on the 63 patients suspected with ulcers of leishmaniasis and referred to the laboratories of rural health centers from 2004 to 2007. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire containing demographic variables, such as age, sex and residence as well as clinical variables such as shape, type, location, number and size of ulcers, previous history of oscar, the number and location of the scar. Along with the completion of questionnaires, direct samples from the wounds of patients and were taken and cultured in medium biphasic NNN (Novy, McNeill, Nicole).After the parasite growth in the culture, then DNA was extracted and PCR experiments were performed.Results: Statistically significant relationship was found between species of Leishmania and ethnicity and gender (P<0.05). 100% (N=54) in the Turkmen ethnicity had Leishmania major, 100% (N=3) of patients of Sistani ethnicity had leishmania tropica. The 33.3% (N=2) of Fars ethnicity patients had major species and 66.7% (N=4) had the tropica. Most patients were from rural areas of Gonbad. The disease was observed in both sexes. The number of males (57.1%) was higher than women (42.9%).Conclusion: The study showed the dominant species of parasites in the infected area in Golestan Province was Leishmania major and its cutaneous leishmaniasis was of the rural type.

Introduction: Systemic injections of morphine have been shown to elicit analgesic responses in formalin test. However, the locations of central sites that may mediate these effects have not been clearly elucidated. This study assessed the ant inociceptive action of morphine after microinjection into the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis lateralis (LPGI) in the formalin test in rats. Formalin-induced behaviour is characterized by two phases relevant to acute and tonic.Methods: In this behavioral study, Inflammatory Pain Model by formalin was used in white rats with weight range of 200-300g. Using a stereotaxic apparatus, canulla was inserted into the LPGI. After 1 week recovery, animals were initially submitted to the injection of 50 ml of 2% formalin solution in hind paw.Results: Intra-LPGI microinjection of morphine produced robust inhibition of formalin-evoked behaviour in phase 1, interphase and phase 2 (P<0.001), however, exogenous injection of morphine in the LPGI had no effect on reducing formalin induced nociceptive behaviors Conclusion: The results suggested that morphine plays an anti-nociceptive role in LPGI in phase 1, interphase and late phase of formalin test in rats, which suggests that opioid receptors in the LPGI may be involved in the LPGI -mediated depression of formalin test as inflammatory pain.

Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the important health problems throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, which has undesirable effects on mental and physical health of children. Multiple research studies showed malnutrition is a problem in Iran but little research is available on the nutrition-status of children in deprived areas.Methods: This cross sectional and descriptive analytical study was done on 1211 school children aged 7-14 years in five deprived regions, selected through multistage cluster sampling methodology. The data were collected through measuring of weight and height. To study malnutrition, three indices were used, namely "weight to age" (underweight), "weight to height" (wasting) and "height to age" (stunting). The obtained data was analyzed by means of chi-square test, SPSS software and EPI-Info 2000, and a=0.05 was taken as the significant level.Results: Of the 1211 subjects, 54.2% were males and the rest were females. The prevalence of under nutrition among children was as follows: underweight (70.6%), stunting (70%), wasting (20%). With the increase in education levels of mothers, stunting and under weight significantly decreased in children (P<0.001).Conclusion: The results revealed that a high percent of children suffered malnutrition. Increasing the education of mothers and promoting nutrition status of children are recommended in deprived areas.

Introduction: Today, one of the most important environmental issues is dental solid wastes that because of the presence of hazardous, toxic and pathogen agents have special importance. In this study, solid waste produced in Shahroud general dental offices was studied.Methods: In this descriptive study, all dental offices in Shahrood were selected. From each office 3 samples were analyzed at the end of successive working days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Samples were manually sorted into different 64 components and by means of laboratory scale were measured. Then, measured components were classified on the basis of characteristic and hazardous potential as well as material type.Results: Total annual waste produced in dental offices in Shahrood is 2425.48 kg. Production percentages of infectious, domestic type, chemical and pharmaceutical, and toxic wastes were 46.0%, 43.8%, 9.2% and 1.0%, respectively.Conclusion: For the proper management of dental waste, it is suggested that in addition to educating dentists in waste reduction, separation and recycling inside the offices, each section of dental waste be managed separately and according to related criteria.