Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:13 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

Introduction: Asparagus (Asparagus of ficinalis L.) is a plant with high antioxidant properties that can be used asan effective alternative to chemical drugs. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the aqueous root extract of asparagus on serum progesterone and LH levelsin female rats.Materials and Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on 40 adult female Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g and aged 10 weeks. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8, including a negative control group, a sham control group and three experimental groups. The experimental groups received 100, 200 and 400 mg aqueous root extract of asparagus per kg of body weight through a gavage for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the rats' blood samples were collected from the heart and their LH and progesterone levels were measured. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc test.Results: The mean serum LH levels increased significantly in the experimental group receiving a 400mg/kg dose of asparagus extract while the mean serum progesterone levels increased signify cantlyin all the three experimental groups compared to in the control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Amino acid, sapon in and steroid compounds present in the aqueous root extract of asparagus must have stimulated the secretion of LH and progesterone.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a main cause of death across the world that are rooted in childhood and adolescence habits. High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) and the ratio of TG/ HDL-C and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are strong risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise on the lipid profile in obese adolescents for the ultimate end of preventing cardiovascular diseases in this age group.Materials and Methods: The present applied semi-experimental study was conducted on 22 non-athlete obese adolescent girls randomly divided into an experimental group (n=11) and a control group (n=11). The experimental group performed exercises for a total of eight weeks and for three 25-60 minutes sessions per week.Participants' lipid profile, body weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured twice in both groups; first, 24 hours before beginning the first training, and second, 24 hours after the last training session.Results: According to the results of the tests, the LDL, TG and TL levels, the ratio of TG/HDL-C, the weight and the BMI decreased significantly in the experimental group; however, HDL levels did not increase significantly in this group.Conclusion: The results showed that rhythmic aerobic exercise in obese adolescent girls improves the reverse cholesterol transport process as well as the blood lipid profile. Aerobic exercise can therefore be used as a preventive intervention for cardiovascular diseases in children and adolescents.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease rising in prevalence in recent years across the world.Although considered a low-risk zone for MS, the disease has been rising in prevalence over the past few years in the Middle East too. Iran is a Middle Eastern country with a medium to high prevalence of MS; however, the cause of this increasing prevalence has not yet been determined. The present study is anover view of potential factors involved in this increase in Iran.Materials and Methods: The present study examines potential factors involved in the prevalence of MS in Iran.Results: The main factors potentially in volvedin the increased prevalence of MS in Iran include lifestyle changes, increase urbanization and smoking.Conclusion: Although the discussed factors can be involved in the sudden increase in the prevalence of MS in Iran, they cannot be considered definitive factors for the incidence of this disease and further studies are required to confirm their role.

Introduction: The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland varying in size by gender and age group and based on the diseases affecting the individual. Knowing the normal size of a pituitary gland is therefore crucial in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases of the gland. The present study was conducted to measure the normal height and anteroposterior diameter of the pituitary gland in men and women aged 15 to 40 in Kerman.Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 119 subjects admitted to Fatemeh Zahra Imaging Center in Kerman selected through non-probability convenience sampling and who had no history of diseases of the sellar and parasellar region, pituitary gland disorders (especially those requiring surgery) or taking medications affecting corticosteroid or prolactin levels and who were not pregnant or lactating. The height and anteroposterior diameter of participants' pituitary gland was measured by a mid-sagittal T1 sequence MRI. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-19 using the ANOVA and the independent t-test.Results: The mean height of the pituitary gland was 5.72±1.21 mm in the female subjects and 5.65±1.28 mm in the male subjects; however, the difference between the genders was not significant (P=0.7). The evaluation of the pituitary gland by age group showed that the height of the gland decreases in women by the increase in age and that its mean height is significantly higher in the 15-20 age group (p=0.005) compared to in the other age groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the height of the pituitary gland in men by age group (P=0.37).The mean anteroposterior diameter was 9.96±1.44 mm in the female subjects and 10.02±1.18 mm in the male subjects, showing no statistically significant differences (P=0.8).The surface of the pituitary gland was flat in more than half of the cases, while it was concave or convex in the other cases.Conclusion: These measurements were performed on a healthy sample of the Iranian population from different age groups and can therefore be used as a point of reference for the evaluation of the pituitary gland in patients.

Introduction: Paracetamol is a pre-acetaminophen drug that has been administered for analgesic and antiinflammatory effects. In addition to having analgesic properties, it is associated with fewer complications. The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic effect of paracetamol for pain relief during and after surgery of the upper limb.Materials and Methods: The present study, double-blind and trial Randomized controlled, was performed on 44 patients from 15 to 55 years old, all with ASA1 and candidates of the upper extremity orthopedic surgery. The method of anesthesia was the same in all patients, and 22 patients were divided randomly into two equal 22-member groups. The first group received 15 mg kg paracetamol and the second group was the control group that did not receive any medication.Results: According to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test on the distribution data, the pain before surgery was normal (p-value<0.05,), while was not normal after surgery (p-value<0.05). The results of Mann-Whitney test (Mann-Whitney Test) showed that the average drug consumption between the two groups during the whole study had no significant difference (P-value>0.05).Conclusions: Paracetamol is not enough to reduce severe pain after orthopedic surgery of the upper limb. However, its analgesic effect brings out a 40 percent drop in drug use 1 hour after the end of surgery; so, paracetamol can be used as an aid to reduce pain.

Introduction: Reproductive problem is one of the most complex issues in medicine. In traditional medicine, the herbal drugs are used to treat infertility. This study aims to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Salep on the serum levels of FSH and estrogen hormones in the female rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult female Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups: control (no drug), sham (which received 1 ml distilled water), the experimental group 1 (recipient of 20 mg / kg aqueous extract of Salep), the experimental group 2 (recipient of 40 mg / kg aqueous extract of Salep) and experimental group 3 (recipient of 80 mg / kg aqueous extract of Salep).In the experimental groups the extract was injected intra peritoneally for 28 days. At the end of the experimental term, the mice were bled to examine the serum level of the FSH and estrogen hormones (p<0.05).Results: Injecting the aqueous extract of Salep caused a significant increase in the serum level of FSH and estrogen hormones compared to control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Salep can play a positive role in the process of ovulation in females, through increasing the serum levels of FSH and estrogen hormones.

Introduction: Cryptosporidium is a coccidian protozoa that is considered a major cause of diarrhea in animals and humans, especially in young children. Despite the reports on Cryptosporidium infection in several regions of Iran, this parasite is not examined in routine parasitological tests performed across the country. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in children with acute diarrhea in Jahrom, Iran.Materials & Methods: A total of 106 stool specimens from children with acute diarrhea under the age of 12 admitted to diagnostic clinical laboratories in Jahrom in 2014 were checked for Cryptosporidium infections. Samples were first concentrated with Formalin-Ether and then stained with the modified acid fast method and examined under an optical microscope.Results: Only 2 children (1.9%), a boy aged 1 and a girl aged 3, were diagnosed with Cryptosporidiosis in the present study.Conclusion: The present study was the first to show cryptosporidium infection in children in Jahrom. The very low percentage of infection with this parasite in Jahrom shows that Cryptosporidium is not yet considered a public health problem in this region.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women that affects one out of every eight. Given the less invasive treatments available in cases of early diagnosis and their consequent higher life expectancies, the present study was conducted to examine the prevalence of focal asymmetric density in screening mammography in women with an early diagnosis of breast cancer and to compare it with their sonographic findings.Materials & Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on all the women admitted to Be' sat Radiology Clinic in Kerman between Sep.23rd 2013 and 2014 for undergoing a screening mammography. Of the total 900 women admitted to the clinic during this period, 105 were diagnosed with a focal asymmetric density. After performing an ultrasound and collecting the samples through simple nonprobability sampling, the sonographic findings were compared with the mammography results.Results: Participants had a mean age of 44±7.3, a minimum age of 29 and a maximum age of 61. A total of 105 (11.6%) were diagnosed with a focal asymmetric density in their mammography. According to the sonographic findings, 30 (28.6%) patients had no lesions, 2 (1.9%) had malignant lesions and 73 (69.5%) had benign lesions. A total of 52 (49.5%) patients had lesions in the right breast, 50 (47.6%) had lesions in the left breast and 2 (2.7%) had bilateral breast lesions.Conclusion: When used alongside clinical examinations, imaging techniques are useful for the screening of breast cancer; however, given the diagnostic limitations of ultrasound imaging and mammography, a biopsy is also required in cases of a cancer suspicion.