Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:12 | Issue:3|Papers Count:11

Introduction: The revitalizing properties of medicinal herbs have long been an interest of human beings. Oak (Quercus castaneifolia) is a tree that is widely used in herbal medicine in addition to boasting some nutritional values. Given that some medicinal plants have certain side effects, the present study investigates the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk on liver function in rats.Materials and Methods: In the present study, 50 Wistar rats weighing approximately 200 ± 15 g were taken and housed under standard conditions. After determining the lethal dose of the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk and consequently its preparation, 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg/w.bt doses of the extract were selected and injected intraperitoneally to the treatment rats on a daily basis. The rats were divided into five groups, including the negative control group (receiving no treatments), the sham control group (receiving oak fruit husk solvent) and three treatment groups. After 21 days, the blood samples of rats were collected and the serums were biochemically analyzed. Data obtained were then analyzed in SPPS-17 software using the ANOVA test and the groups were compared with each other using Duncan's post hoc test.Results: According to results obtained, the serum levels of all three liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) had significantly increased in the treatment groups compared to the negative and sham control groups (p<0.01). In the treatment group, with the maximum dose of the extract, protein, cholesterol and LDH had significantly decreased.Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk disrupts liver function, and this disruption appears to be due to the doses used. It is therefore recommended to remove the oak fruithusk from the acorn prior to consumption.

Introduction: Given the high prevalence of pre-menstruation syndrome in the community and its negative economic, social and educational outcomes, finding a simple and inexpensive way for treating or reducing its symptoms is essential. Studies have shown that exercise can be effective in the treatment of this syndrome. As the effects of resistance and endurance exercise on this syndrome have not been studied yet, the present study was conducted to compare the effects of endurance and resistance exercise on physical and psycho behavioral symptoms of pre-menstruation syndrome.Materials and Methods: The present clinical trial with before/after design was conducted on 30 patients with pre-menstruation syndrome who were randomly divided into three groups, namely the resistance exercise group, the endurance exercise group and the control group. The severity of physical and psycho behavioral symptoms of the syndrome was investigated through a questionnaire before and then 8 weeks after the implementation of the protocol. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the covariance and post hoc LSD tests at the level of 0.05 using SPSS-18 software.Results: There were no differences between the subjects in terms of age, weight, height and physical and psycho behavioral symptoms before starting the protocol. Performing the resistance or endurance exercises for 8 weeks significantly reduced the physical and psycho behavioral symptoms of premenstruation syndrome in the case groups compared to the control group.Conclusion: Exercise can reduce symptoms of pre-menstruation syndrome and there are differences in this regard between resistance and endurance exercise.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections are among the most common infections in human beings. The inappropriate prescription of antibiotics for treating these infections increases resistance of pathogens to them. The purpose of the present study is to determine the frequency and antibiotic resistance pattern of gramnegative bacilli in adult patients with urinary tract infection admitted to Vali Asr Hospital of Fasa Clinical Laboratory in 2012-13.Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 1108 adult outpatients with a positive urine culture admitted to Vali Asr Hospital of Fasa Clinical Laboratory. Urine samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey's agar media. The bacteria grown on the plates were then identified by conventional biochemical methods. The disc diffusion antibiotic sensitivity test was then conducted according to CLSI standards.Results: In 92.12% of the cases, urinary tract infection was caused by gram-negative bacilli. The isolated bacteria showed the highest resistance to the antibiotics cotrimoxazole (54.7%), cephalothin (55.6%), cefixime (45%) and nalidixic acid (43.6%). The bacteria showed the highest sensitivity to the antibiotics ciprofloxacin (74%), gentamicin (56%), nitro furantoin (64.9%) and ceftriaxone (58.2%) .Conclusion: The present study showed that gram-negative bacilli, particularly Escherichia coli, are the most common bacteria causing urinary tract infections and the majority of strains were resistant to the antibiotics commonly used in treatments.

Introduction: Ginseng is a medicinal herb. Cyclophosphamide is also an anti-cancer drug with side effects on the ovaries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of ginseng on detoxifying cyclophosphamide in the ovary tissue of adult female rats.Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on 56 adult female rats. The rats were randomly divided into 7 groups of 8 each, including the negative control group, the sham control group and the experimental groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The negative control group received no drugs, while the sham control group was given solvent. Experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 received a daily dose of 5 mg/kg/bw cyclophosphamide and an additional dose of 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg/bw ginseng extract. Experimental group 4 received a daily dose of 5 mg/kg/bw cyclophosphamide and experimental group 5 received a daily dose of 2 g/kg/bw ginseng extract. Their ovary tissue sections were then prepared and examined.Results: In experimental group 1, follicular atresia occurred to a great extent; however, in experimental group 2, the extent of follicular atresia and tissue destruction was observed to be lower than in experimental group 1. In experimental group 3, follicular atresia reduced compared to in experimental groups 1 and 2, but in experimental group 4, follicular atresia occurred to a much greater extent. In experimental group 5, the number of graafian, primary and secondary follicles increased compared to the negative control group.Conclusions: Cyclophosphamide increases the extent of follicular atresia, while the hydroalcoholic extract of ginseng prevents the side effects of cyclophosphamide from setting in and thereby reduces the extent of follicular atresiafollicles.

Introduction: Using non-medical methods such as exercise can be effective for reducing the number of physical and mental disorders that occur after kidney transplantation. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a period of regular physical activity of choice as a non-medical method for reducing blood pressure, stress, anxiety and depression in patients with kidney transplants.Materials & Methods: Fifty kidney transplant patients (21 males and 29 females) volunteered as the study subjects and were randomly divided into two groups -an exercise group (n=30) and a control group (n=20). The exercise group partook in a progressive exercise program for ten weeks with three sessions of 60-90 minutes each week while the control group did not partake in any regular physical activity Psychological data of participants as well as their blood pressure before and after the 10-week period were collected using the DASS21 questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the t-test with the gain score method.Results: Exercise significantly reduced stress, anxiety and depression (P<0.001) as well as systolic blood pressure (P=0.007) in the exercise group compared to the control group.Conclusion: 1Partaking in ten weeks of a light-intensity exercise of choice can improve stress, anxiety and depression and control blood pressure in patients with kidney transplants.

Introduction: AIDS, a new viral disease, and viral hepatitis, one of the 5 infectious causes of premature death in humans, incur huge costs on the society and individuals. Various studies have found barbershop activities to be effective in the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus., that is, if they do not observe the principles of infection control. The present study was therefore conducted to examine knowledge, attitude and performance in male barbershops of Shiraz concerning compliance with the principles of infection control.Materials & Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 200 male barbers selected through the cluster sampling method were interviewed on the principles of infection control. Data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-18 and Excel 2007.Results: The findings showed that 82% of the barbers had a primary school degree or above and only 8% were illiterate.4%, 71% and 25% of the barbers had good, average and weak knowledge, respectively.96% of them had a positive attitude and 4% had a negative attitude.51.5% and 48.5% of them had good and average performances, respectively. The knowledge of 1.5%, 14%, 10.5% and 74% of the barbers on symptoms of HIV was excellent, good, average and weak, respectively.Conclusion: The results of the study showed that improving knowledge, attitude and performance in male barbers of Shiraz requires holding training courses, implementing health programs and increasing control.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections are among the most common medical conditions in women. Due to changes in the body during pregnancy, pregnant women are more prone to be infected. Urinary tract infection is a very serious issue due to its potential side effects for the mother and the fetus. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of education based on the theory of planned behavior in promoting preventive behaviors of urinary tract infections in pregnant women.Materials and Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted on 110 pregnant women admitted to health care centers in the city of Karaj who were randomly divided into the case and control groups. Data collection tools composed of a urine culture test and the questionnaire designed based on the theory of planned behavior, the validity and reliability of which had been approved prior to the study. The initial data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney statistical test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient in SPSS-18 software. The educational content was then designed and implemented based on the analyses.Three months after the educational intervention, the second test was conducted using the same questionnaire and the data were once again analyzed.Results: After the educational intervention, the mean score of the constructs of the theory of planned behavior (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention) significantly increased in the case group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the incidence of urinary tract infection was 3% in the case group and %11 in the control group after the educational intervention, suggesting a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05).Conclusion: The health education program designed based on the theory of planned behavior was effective in promoting preventive behaviors of urinary tract infection. The control, monitoring and follow-up of training are recommended in the implementation these programs.

Introduction: Liver is the largest gland in the body that secretes different substances. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme is one of these secretions. The purpose of this study is to histopathologically investigate the effect of alkaline phosphatase enzyme on adult male Wistar rats' liver tissue based on enzyme inhibition by LHomoarginine enzyme.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 35 adult male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 7 each, namely the negative control group, the sham control group and the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The negative control group was given food and water but was not fed or injected any specific test substances. The sham control group was injected only the solvent. Experimental group 1 received an injection of 0.2 mg/ml alkaline phosphatase, experimental group 2 an injection of 2 mg/ml the inhibitor L-Homoarginine and experimental group 3 first received an injection of 2 mg/ml LHomoarginine, and then after 2 hours, 0.2 mg/ml alkaline phosphatase enzyme. All injections were given for 5 days. At the end of the period, in order to assess the ALP enzyme (as an indicator of liver damage), liver tissue sections were prepared. The data obtained were analyzed using the ANOVA test at a significance level of P<0.05 and in SPSS-15.Results: Results of the study showed that alkaline phosphatase damages the liver tissue and L-Homoarginine, which inhibits alkaline phosphatase activity, partly prevents liver cell damage.