Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2015 | Volume:9 | Issue:4|Papers Count:13

Background and Objectives: The importance of oxidative stress has been known in the formation and the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The alterations of serum oxidant/antioxidant profile in ocular pathologies, has been also stated in reports. This study was conducted to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant profile in patients with primary closed angle glaucoma (PCAG) and healthy individuals.Methods: This analytical case-control study was performed on 56 patients with PCAG (26 men and 30 women) referred to Ophthalmology department of Farabi and Hazrat Rasoul Hospitals and 80 healthy subjects (37 men and 43 women) as the control group. The concentration of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) in red blood cells, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GLT), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were determined. Data were analyzed using independent t- and chi-square tests. The significance level was considered to be p£0.05.Results: The concentration of hemolysate MDA significantly increased in the patients with PCAG compared to healthy subjects (p=0.015), while the serum levels of TAC showed a significant decrease in these patients (p=0.016). Also, the serum level of AOPP levels significantly increased in patients with primary closed angle glaucoma compared to healthy subjects (p<0.019).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that increased lipid peroxidation and biological protein oxidation and also a significant decrease in total antioxidant capacity in PCAG patients compared to healthy subjects are indicative of the pathological role of increased oxidative damage in PCAG.

Background and Objectives: In ageing, physiological changes occur along with decreased MCT1 and MCT4 genes expression in skeletal muscles, howerver, this reduction can be modified by physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intermittent training and the role of age on MCT1 and MCT4 genes expression and lactate level in skeletal muscles of rat.Methods: In this experimental study, forty male rats were divided into two age groups of old (age, 27 months, weight, 389±31g) and young (age, 3 months, weight, 224±14g). Each group was randomly devided into two groups of experimental (n=10) and control (n=10). Training protocol was done intermittently on a treadmill, consisting of 10 bouts of 4 min running interspersed by 2 min of active rest, 6 times a week for 8 weeks. The rats were anesthetized, 24 hours after the last session of training, and their soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of toes were removed. The lactate level was measured by enzymatic method and the gene expression by real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey, and t tests. The significance level was considered p<0.05.Results: A significant reduction was observed in the lactate level of SOL and EDL muscles in the two experimental group (old and young) (p<0.05). In both age groups. MCT1 and MCT4 mRNA increased in the muscles. No significant difference was observed in gene expression in the two age groups.Conclusion: These results is indicative of the effect of intermittent training on the increase of MCT1 and MCT4 gene expression in skeletal muscles, and show that this effect is independent of age. Also, increased expression of MCT genes is of great importance for lactate clearance.

Background and Objectives: Genus Shigella is one of the main causes of diarrhea in human and Bacillus anthracis is the cause of anthrax (a zoonotic disease). IpaD protein is one of the most important virulence factors of Shigella. The cloning of N-terminal ipaD gene along with pa20 gene that have a role in immunization, can be considered as a recombinant vaccine candidate. In this study, we investigated the expression of the recombinant protein domain a-1 protective antigen (PA20) of Bacillus anthracis and N-terminal ipaD gene of Shigella in E. coli.Methods: In this experimental study, primers were designed for pa20 gene and PCR was performed to amplify this fragment. Then, the amplified fragment was cloned into pGEM-T Easy Vector Systems. The pa20 gene was cut using restriction enzymes EcoRI and XhoI and finally, pa20 gene was fused to ipaD gene. pET28a (+) Vector containing the gene cassette ipaD-pa20 was prepared and transformed into E. coli strain BL21 (DE3), and the expression of gene cassette was studied.Results: In this study, the ipaD-pa20 fusion genes in the expression vector pET28a(+), were confirmed by PCR and enzyme digestion. Also, the produced recombinant protein were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.Conclusion: Considering the detection of PA antigen by PA20 antibody and its apoptosis induction and immunization property of the produced IpaD antigen, it can be proposed as a recombinant vaccine candidate against types of Shigella and Bacillus anthracis.

Background and Objectives: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a nanoparticle, which is widely used in various fields as a healthcare composition to control microorganisms. The small size of this nanoparticle and its chemical composition and high reactivity, have potential risks for human health and the environment. Due to the abundant use of this nanoparticle over the recent centuries, the effect of the material on mouse intestine, was studied in this study.Methods: In this research, 12 male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups of 4 each. The first group as the control-sham, received HPMC at a dose of 1 mL, the second group received 1ml TiO2 and 10mg/kg HPMC, and the third group received 1ml TiO2 and 100ml/kg HPMC, intraperitoneally. After 35 days of treatment, the mice were weighed, and after anesthesia, their intestines were removed and studied by light microscopy after H&E staining. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test at the probability of p<0.05.Results: In this study, weight loss of mice, destruction of the epithelium of the duodenum, increased vacuolar cells, destruction of glycocalyx at the apical zone of the epithelium, and enlargement of ileum lymph nodes, were observed in mice treated with TiO2.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, TiO2 caused reduction in glycocalyx, increase in vacuolar cells, and destruction of intestinal villi.

Background and Objectives: With the advent of increasing resistance of microorganisms to synthetic antibiotics, researches has been carried out to replace chemical drug by traditional medicinal plants. This study has been conducted with the purpose of determining the inhibitory effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cordia myxa on a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.Methods: Antimicrobial activity of extract was determined by four methods: pour plate, disk agar diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Analysis and mean comparison were performed using Duncan’s test and one-way analysis of variance at a confidence level of a=95% (p<0.05).Results: In this study, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cordia myxa fruit were effective on gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The highest values of MIC and MBC for aqueous extract were obtained 64 and 256mg/ml, respectively, and for ethanolic extract were 32 and 256 mg/ml, respectively, for Salmonella typhi, so this bacterium has been known as the most resistant strain against the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cordia myxa fruit.Conclusion: In this research, only one method of extraction was used for the evaluation of antimicrobial effect, so application of other methods of extraction and study of antimicrobial effect of other organs of the plant are necessary to obtain more precise results.

Background and Objectives: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties, which prevents tissue damages induced by free radicals by their neutralization. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin E on burn wound healing in rats.Methods: In this study, 16 mature male rats weighing 260±10g were used in two groups of 8 each. After induction of anesthesia and shaving their head hair, certain area of their back was exposed to 95oC water for 8 seconds to induce wet burn. The intervention group received water-soluble vitamin E (300mg/kg) through gavage for 15 consecutive days. The comparison of the changes of skin parameters between intervention and nonintervention groups was performed on the 16th day after burn. Data were analyzed by unpaired t-test. The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.Results: Epithelialization and angiogenesis in burned skin were higher in the vitamin E-treated burn group compared to non-treatment, which was statistically significant (p<0.01). Also, the number of hair follicles was higher in the burn and vitamin E group compared to another group (p<0.05), however, there was no significant difference between the studied groups in the percentage of wound healing in different days.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that vitamin E can be effective on wound healing indices, and consumption of vitamin E during burn time could accelerate the burn wound healing process.

Background and Objectives: Oral and dental hygiene plays an important role in provision and promotion of social health. The present study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the rate of availability of oral and dental health services and its effect on oral and dental health in 6-7 years old children in Qom city.Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study on 281 children in Qom province. The sampling method was Stratified sampling from rural and urban children. Data were collected using a checklist and analyzed by logistic regression model.Results: 56.2% of the samples were boys and the remaining were girls. 88.6% resided in urban areas and 11.4% in rural areas. The mean±SD of decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) and DMFT-ratio were 6.04±3.86 and 35.9±23.62%, respectively. From all children under study, 173 (61.2%) had a history of use of dentistry services and 167 (61.9%) had access to the services. There were significant associations between the use of oral and dental health services and DMFT variables, socioeconomic status, and access to the services. Also, there was a significant association between type of received services and socioeconomic status.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that due to the non-availability of free dental care in Iran, some of the barriers to using the services, especially the role of preventive services can be reduced through increased access to the services in rural and urban areas as well as increased parental awareness of the importance of primary teeth in the health of permanent teeth and physical health of children.

Background and Objectives: Nosocomial infections are known as an important public health problem worldwide, which impose a significant burden on patients and health care system and cause serious complications and problems. The present study aimed to determine the rate of nosocomial infections in patients hospitalized in Nekoei-Hedayati Hospital of Qom city.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 12668 patients hospitalized in wards of the Nekoei Hospital of Qom in a one-year period from April 2012 to March 2013. Data were collected based on the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNIS) questionnaire to diagnose main nosocomial infections (respiratory, urinary, blood, surgical site, and burn). The significance level was considered as p<0.05.Results: In the present study, of total 12668 patients admitted during months of year 2012, 97 patients (mean prevalence, 0.76%) were diagnosed with nosocomial infections. The highest rates of infection respectively belonged to the surgical site infection (53.9%) and respiratory infection (35%). The lowest rate of infection were reported for urinary tract infection (6%), burn infection (5.1%), and blood infection (with no reported cases). The highest rate of infection was related to ICU with incidence of 6.56% (42 cases) and burn unit 5.64% (17 cases).Conclusion: Considering that more than half of cases of nosocomial infections in inpatients are allocated to surgical site infection, therefore compliance with nosocomial infection control guidelines and use of invasive therapeutic procedures, only if necessary, along with health education could be helpful in the prevention of such infections.

Background and Objectives: Production of a model of hepatic failure is used to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of alternative methods of liver transplantation. This study aimed to determine the appropriate dosage of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce acute hepatic failure in NMRI mice.Methods: In this study, at first, a mixture of CCl4 dissolved in olive oil was administered intraperitoneally to 5 groups of 6 mice. After 24 hours, serum level of liver enzymes and the status of liver tissue were evaluated. To investigate the survival of mice, CCl4 (at doses of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 ml/kg.bw) was administered to 6 new groups of mice, and these animals were monitored for 4 days. To assess the effect of the toxin in the next days, the determined dose was administered to 24 new mice, and serum and histological evaluations were repeated.Results: The serum level of liver enzymes and the degree of hepatic lesions were significantly increased with increased dose of CCl4. Values more than 1ml/kg of CCl4 induced acute liver damage. Also, the value of 1ml/kg decreased mortality rate and values more than 2 ml/kg increased mortality rate. Maximum increase in serum levels of liver enzymes was observed 24 hours after injection of CCl4 (at the dose of 1.5ml/kg), which decreased gradually. The degree of liver damage in days after the injection was the same until the fourth day, but the liver regeneration phasewas initiated after 72 hours.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, a single intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 at the dose of 1.5mL/kg CCl4 could be an appropriate dosage for the production of a model of acute hepatic failure in NMRI mouse.