Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal
Year:2013 | Volume:12 | Issue:2 (83)|Papers Count:15

Background and Objective: For many years, a large number of studies showed that zinc has major role in biosynthesis, storage and function of insulin. The aim of this study is assessment of effects of zinc supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes Subjects and Methods: Body mass index (BMI), serum levels of zinc and HbA1c of 29 patients with type 1 diabetes at baseline were measured. Then patients received 50 mg/day elemental zinc for 3 months. At the end of the treatment period serum levels of zinc and HbA1c were investigated again.Results: After treatment, mean serum zinc level did not differ significantly with before levels. But the mean HbA1c levels from 8.5±.7 reached to 8.1±.7 after treatment with zinc supplementation (P<.001). HbA1c levels decrease mainly occured in women with a BMI<25 and men with BMI>25. As the higher the BMI, the percentage of reduction in HbA1c level was lower.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that administration of zinc can reduce the levels of HbA1c in patients with type 1 diabetes.However, this effects is dependent upon both gender and BMI of the patient.

Background and Objective: Upper limb peripheral nerve injuries due to secondary changes in cortical maps cause to long lasting or sometimes permanent sensory-motor impairments. Aim of this study was to determine feasibility and efficacy of constraintinduced movement therapy (CIMT) on upper limb function in patients with peripheral nerve injuries.Subjects and Methods: In a clinical trial, a convenience sample of 7 patients with median and ulnar nerve injuries (5 men, 2 women; mean age: 28 years) were measured. Following screening and signing informed consent, patients received an intensive practice program for 1.5 hours daily, 5 days per week, during 4-week period while their healthy hand was immobilized using a volar wrist and forearm splint during waking hours. Outcome measures including Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments (SWM), Nine-hole Peg Test (9-HPT), and Motor Activity Log (MAL) questionnaire were administered pre, and post, and 4 weeks after the treatment period.Results: Data analysis did not show any changes in touch perception at tip of the fingers in SWM at post-test session; however, affected hand motor performance in 9-HPT and affected hand’s amount of use in activities of daily living according to MAL were significantly improved at the post-test session (P<0.01) and this improvement was maintained at the follow up (P>0.05).Conclusion: CIMT can be considered as an appropriate technique in rehabilitation program for patients with peripheral nerve injuries.

Background and Objective: The increasing demand for esthetic posts and cores has led to the development of Metal–free post and core systems. Fiber–reinforced composite posts are one of them. The aim of this study was to evaluate bond strength of three adhesive–resin–cements to fiber posts using push– out test.Subjects and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study.Thirtyendodontically treated teeth were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each). Posts were luted with three resin cements (Rely x ARC, Multi link, Panavia F2). Cemented posts were sectioned in equal thirds using cutting machine. Each slice was polished by a soft and wet abrasive paper in order to get a 2mm thickness. Loading was performed by a testing machineat at a speed of 1mm/min until the post was dislodged. Data were analyzed using post hoc-test and ANOVA tests with P<0.05 as the level of significance.Results: The type of cement bond strength did not vary significantly between coronal and middle sections. However, there were significant differences between apical sections of Rely x ARC and Multi link groups (P=0.032).Conclusion: Bond strength to the fiber post was affected by the type of cement and root regions.

Background and Objective: Formaldehyde (CH2O) is one of the toxic volatile organic compounds which must be removed from polluted air. One of the techniques available to remove is by use of adsorbents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and adsorption capacity of modified black bone char (BBC) on CH2O vapor.Subjects and Methods: In this experimental research two types of BBC adsorbents (nomal and modified) were produced.Specific surface area and pore volume of the adsorbent materials were determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. The adsorbents structures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The composition of BBC and modified BBC were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurement. To investigate breakthrough characteristics and adsorption capacity according to inlet concentration of CH2O on bone chars, adsorption experiments were carried out at 25±1oC under the same conditions.Results: The specific surface area and pore volume for modified BBC (118.58m2/g and 0.374 cm 3/g) were higher than for BBC (105.24m2/g and 0.367 cm3/g). The EDX analysis showed that amount of calcium of the modified BBC was less than that of BBC. The results also showed that mean value of equilibrium time of modified BBC was longer than that of BBC (P<0.05).Moreover, the mean value of adsorption capacity of modified BBC was higher than that of BBC (P<0.05).Conclusion: The modification of black bone char promotes porosity and adsorption capacity and can increase the removal efficiency of CH2O in air.

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases. It affects 5-8% of Iranian population and nearly 177 million people worldwide. The disease predisposes to multiple micro vascular complications such as neuropathy; retinopathy and nephropathy. Of these; Neuropathy is the most common complication. 7% at the time of diagnosis and 50% in the patients with 25 years history of disease suffer from neuropathy.Neuropathy can lead to sensory disturbances; foot ulceration; cellulitis; steomyelitis; gangrene and amputation. Some people with diabetes experience painful neuropathy leading to impairment of daily function. Autonomic dysfunction is another debilitating complication of the diabetic neuropathy. In this study the relationship between diabetic neuropathy and a number of risk factors was evaluated.Subjects and Methods: 150 patients with type 2 diabetes randomly referred to diabetic clinic of Golestan hospital; Ahvaz, based on Michigan Neuropathic Diabetic Scoring and the nerve conduction study were divided into two groups with and without neuropathy and their relationship with risk factors was evaluated.Result: From 150 patients with diabetes; 39 patients experienced neuropathy and prevalence of neuropathy was 26%.in the study of neuropathy and various risk factors; Significant correlation between neuropathy and Age (p<0.006); duration of disease (p<0.001); BMI (p<0.05) and MNDS (p<0.001) was ststistically remarkable.Conclusion: the study reports concluded statistically significant relationship between age; MNDS; duration of disease; retinopathy; hypertention and BMI; thus controlling of blood pressure and weight control; resulting in weight loss and subsequent better control of glucose; can be causative in delation of diabetic neuropathy.

Background and Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the possible use of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in parietal bone regeneration.Subjects and Methods: Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel combustion method using citric acid as combustion agent. The calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, citric acid and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and deionized water with the proper stoichiometry were used. The nanoparticles were studied by the TG/DTA, XRD, FT-IR, SEM and TEM techniques. XRD. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify different bond groups in the structure of the samples. The hydroxyapatite Nano powders were used on of adult male Sprague Dawley rats for parietal bone regeneration.Results: The product had a hexagonal structure. SEM images showed morphology and mean nanoparticles size.Conclusion: The results showed that the bone repairing with HA nanoparticles occur similar to typical repairing by commercially available (Bio Oss) and even it takes place with minimal tissue inflammation.

Background and Objective: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which leads to myelin distraction and disfunction in nerve conduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12-week progressive resistance training on balance, disability and fatigue in women with MS.Subjects and Methods: Based on a quasi experimental method, 24 women with MS (30.5±5.9 years old, 68±11 kg, height 160±7.6 cm) with 1 to 4 Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) degree participated and randomly divided into two control and experimental groups. Experimental group carried out a 12-week resistance exercise program for 45 to 60 min 3 times/week. Control group did not participate in any routine exercise regimen. Berg Balance Scale test (BBS) was used to assessment of balance. In addition, fatigue severity scale (FFS) and EDSS questioners were used to evaluate fatigue and disability respectively. Data were analyzed by Multiple Analyses Of Variance (MANOVA) method with SPSS software at P<0.05.Results: A significant difference in average scores of balance and fatigue between control and experimental groups (P<0.05), However, no significant difference was found in average scores of EDSS (P>0.05).Conclusion: 12-week resistance training increases balance and decreases fatigue in MS patient; however, has no positive effect on disability.

Background and Objective: In order to measure the absorbed dose due to electron beam irradiation at the reference point of a medium, part of this medium is replaced by a cylindrical ionization chambers. Thus changes will appear in attenuation and scattering of the radiation. In order to assess the displacement effect, an effective point of measurement uses as the reference point. This effective point is taken upstream of the geometrical center of the chamber.This effective point of measurement depends on every detail of the chamber design, energy and field size. So, in the different researches on this point, various values have been reported for cylindrical ionization chamber. The purpose of this study was to analyse the dosimetric information of electron beams and determine the analytical effective point of measurement in CC13 ionization chamber.Subjects and Methods: In this study a CC13 ionization chamber was used for dose determination of 9, 12 and 15MeV electron beams of Varian accelerator of Ahwaz Golestan hospital in different field sizes of 6×6cm2up to 25×25cm2 applicators. Measurement was made in blue phantom, up to 30mm depth. The PDD curve was plotted separately for all treatment electron fields. The table curve 2D software was used for analyzing experimental data. Then critical point for each curve was calculated.Results: The torsion area is caused by changing environment from air to phantom (water) during measuring of ionization.Also, with increased energy and field size, mean effective point of measurement is altered.Conclusion: For CC13 ionization chamber, the mean value is obtained as 0.9r.

Background and Objective: How brain hemispheres control movement is one the most challenging in neuroscience and is faced with opposite views. Comparing dominant and non dominant hand is of the methods used to investigate hemispheres function. The goal of this study was to compare implicit and explicit motor learning with dominant and non dominant hand.Subjects and Methods: Sixty students of Shahid Beheshti university were divided into two groups (n=15 each): implicit and explicit, participated in this study. One group performed the task with dominant hand and the other with non dominant hand. The task used in this study was Serial Reaction Time Task in which participants in explicit group were aware of the sequences of stimulants and those of implicit group were unaware.Results: Comparing response error and time in regular blocks in explicit and implicit learning tasks with dominant and non dominant hand showed no significant differences except in implicit and explicit learning speed of dominant hand. Speed of explicit learning was higher than in implicit learning (P=0.016).Conclusion: Implicit and explicit motor learning of dominant and non dominant hand are similar. Therefore it may be possible that brain parts involving in implicit learning overlap with those of explicit learning. More explicit learning in right hand may be the result of left hemisphere dominance in explicit learning.

Background and Objective: Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental impairment. Most people with Down syndrome experience difficulties in verbal communication and abnormal voice quality in these children reduces their opportunities for good communication. The aim of this study was to estimate the acoustic parameters in children with Down syndrome and normal children in order to achieve a quick indicator for assessment and treatment.Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive analytical study. In this study the voice samples of 20 children with Down syndrome and normal children between 4-8 years (average =4.6, SD=1.46 years). Normal children matched for age and sex.Voice samples were analyzed by using Praat software. To investigate the difference between data, independent samples tests were used.Results: The mean of fundamental frequency (F0) in children with Down syndrome were significantly lower than the control group (P =0.009). Comparison of Jitter in the two groups showed a significant increase in this parameter in children with Down syndrome than in the control group (P=0.004). Comparing the results of shimmer parameter was the same as jitter (P ‹ 0/000) and the Harmonic-to-Noise Ratio (HNR) parameter in children with Down syndrome than in the control group showed a significant decrease.Conclusion: The results show that during the assessment and treatment acoustic evaluation can improve the accuracy and speed.And also use of acoustic parameters can lead to accurately plan treatment and direct focus on the defects.

Background and Objective: This study was designed to determine sensitivity, specificity, PPV (positive predictive value), NPV (negative predictive value) and accuracy of sonography in comparison to non-contrast CT scan for diagnosis of urinary tract calculi.Subjects and Methods: Total 131 patients with urinary calculi detected by noncontrast CT scan underwent sonography on the same day without bowel preparation and in blinded fashion from Sep 2011 to March 2012. CT scan and sonography findings including location and size of stones were gathered.Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of sonography in detection of caliceal calculi were 91.7%, 72.9%, 80.5%, 87.8% and 83.2 %, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of sonography in detection of renal pelvis calculi were 85.7, 100, 100, 97.3 and 97.7 %, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of sonography in detection of ureter calculi were 53%, 93.8%, 89.7%, 66.3% and 73.3 %, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of sonography in detection of bladder calculi were 84.6%, 100%, 100%, 98.3% and 98.5 %, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of sonography in comparison to CT scan, for detection of all urinary tract calculi were 78.7%, 91.7%, 91.9%, 87.4% and 88.2 % respectively.Conclusion: Sonography is a reliable method in detection and confirmation of renal pelvis and bladder stones but is not reliable for detection of ureter and caliceal stones. Overall results show that sonography is the safe and first method for detection of renal calculi. However multislice CT scan remains second choice if sonography results are not sufficiently clear in patients with clinical doubt of ureter and caliceal of<3mm stones

Background and Objective: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is the most poisonous of ochratoxins, with nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity toxic effects. This study was carried out to identify and determine the concentration of OTA in wheat flour produced by four factories in Ahvaz city using HPLC method.Subjects and Methods: In order to separation and quantification of OTA in produced wheat flour of 4 factories in Ahvaz, 8 times, each time, one composite samples from wheat flour of each factory which comprising 20 grab samples was taken. An adequate of each sample mixed with methanol- phosphate buffer, filtered; an aliquot of the filtered was diluted and purified by running through an immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with water; then OTA was eluted by methanol. The eluted was concentrated to dryness under a gentle nitrogen stream. Finally, the residue was dissolved in mobile phase and analyzed by HPLC using column (150 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 mm C18 stationary phase) with a fluorescence detector (excitation and emission wavelength was 333 nm 460 nm respectively), mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-glacial acetic acid (49.5: 49.5: 1) and at flow rate of 1.5 mL/min The limits of detection and quantification were 0.0075 and 0.025 ng/g, respectively.Results: Thirty (93.75%) out of 32 samples were contaminated with OTA, at concentration ranging from 0.004 to 0.809 ng/g, with an average of 0.09 ng/g.Conclusion: The results showed that all of the samples had lower levels of OTA than maximum tolerable limit of 5 ng/g assigned by Institute of Standard and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) for wheat and WHO guidelines.