QOM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Year:2019 | Volume:12 | Issue:12 |Papers Count:14

Background and Objectives: Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant diseases worldwide. The incidence rate of this cancer has been reported three times more in men than in women. Matrix metalloproteinases play an important role in the development and progression of this cancer. In the current study, the polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene promoter and risk of to bladder cancer were investigated. Methods: In this case-control study, 141 patients with bladder cancer and 135 healthy subjects were studied. First, DNA extraction was performed, then, PCR was carried out using MMP-9 specific primers. RFLP method was used to investigate the-1562 C>T polymorphism. The association between MMP-9 polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer was determined using chi square method and GraphPad Prism software (version 6. 01). The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was calculated using POPGENE software (version 1. 32), Confidence Interval (CI), and Odds Ratio (OR). The significance level was considered to be p<0. 05. Results: In this study, there was no significant association between MMP-9 polymorphism and risk for bladder cancer (p>0. 05). No significant association was found between the genotypes and stage, grade of disease, and size of tumor. There was also no significant association between smoking and grade of disease, size of tumor, and stage of the disease. A three-fold risk of bladder cancer was associated with smoking. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, genetic variation in-1562 C>T polymorphism of MMP-9 gene promotor had no association with the risk of bladder cancer. Therefore, smoking should be considered as an important risk factor for bladder cancer.

Background and objectives: Aspartame is a low-calorie synthetic sweetener that is consumed by 200 million subjects worldwide. In recent years, negative effects of aspartame have been shown on various tissues of the body. This study aimed to investigate the effects of long term consumption of aspartame at different doses on histological and histometrical structure of ventral, anterior, and dorsal lobes of prostate gland in adult mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 20 adult male mice were divided into four groups, including control group (without treatment) and groups receiving aspartame (at doses of 40, 80, and 160mg/kg/bw) by gavage for 90 days. First, the mice were euthanized, then, blood samples and tissue of the prostate lobes, were collected for histomorphological and histochemical studies. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’ s post hoc test, were used to compare the means in the studied groups. Results: Histological and histometrical results were indicative of a significant decrease in cell count and epithelial height of the secretory units in ventral, anterior, and dorsal lobes of the prostate in aspartame groups compared to the control group (p<0. 05). Percentage of parenchyma to ventral lobe of prostate gland showed a significant decrease in aspartame groups compared to the control group (p<0. 05). A significant decrease was seen in serum testosterone in dose-dependent aspartame groups compared to the control group (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Aspartame has a negative effect (even at low doses) on the histopathological and histometrical structure of prostate gland, especially the ventral and anterior lobes. However, further clinical studies are required to evaluate the negative effects of aspartame in human.

Background and Objectives: Infertility is a reproductive disorder that a person has no reproductive ability, despite having a regular and unprotected sex for at least one year. Studies have shown that antioxidants can play an important role in improving infertility. The aim of this study was to summarize the data from clinical trial articles on the effects of lycopene supplementation on different parameters of sperm in infertile men. Methods: In the present systematic review study on the researches carried out on the relationship between lycopene and infertility, the studies on the effect of lycopene supplementation on male infertility, were investigated through PubMed, Scopus, ISI, and Google Scholar databases between 1990 and 2018 using keywords of lycopene, antioxidant, sperm parameters, male infertility, and semen parameters. Results: In most clinical trials, lycopene has a significant effect on the number, motility, and morphology of sperm, and also significant changes were seen with changes in antioxidant capacity and oxidative factors that have a significant role in changing sperm parameters. Changes in the surface of the receptors as well as oxidative enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were among other results observed in the studies. However, in some studies, no significant effect was found in sperm parameters. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that lycopene supplementation can have a positive effect on sperm parameters, antioxidant capacity, and antioxidant enzymes, but due to the low number of studies, especially in the human community, more trials are needed in this field.

Background and Objectives: Extract of mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L) leaves contains MLI protein that is a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP2) with lectin properties. Shiga toxin (STxB) has been considered as an immunoadjuvant and carrier, which binds to its cell surface receptor, Gb3, that is expressed on most of the body cells. In this study, the expression of ML1-stxB antigen and production of its antibody, were investigated in mouse. Methods: In this experimental study, ML1 gene containing pUC57 plasmid with enzymes sites of NdeI and SalI, was subcloned in the pET28a(+)-stxB expression vector, and then was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The expression of ML1-stxB gene cassette was induced by IPTG. After purification, the MLI– STxB recombinant protein was purified by nickel affinity chromatography and injected into mice four times. Results: In this study, the cloned ML1-stxB gene in expression vector of pET28a(+) was confirmed by PCR and enzyme analysis. The produced recombinant protein were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Then, the produced antibody was isolated from the serum of mouse and investigated using ELISA method. Conclusion: According to this study, ML1 protein has ribosome inactivating property and STxB has adjuvant and carrier functions, therefore, this recombinant protein can be a candidate vaccine against ML-1 toxin of Shigella dysentery, which its antibody can be used as identifier.

Background and Objectives: Researchers use various questionnaires to examine the sleep of patients admitted to intensive care units. This study carried out aiming to compare between Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire in order to assess the sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome hospitalized in CCU ward. Methods: The present study was performed as a descriptive correlational study on 72 patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to CCU of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Qom from May 2017 to July 2018. In addition to demographic characteristics, sleep quality was assessed using Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire, and psychometric properties of the two tools, were evaluated by the COSMIN Checklist. The correlation between the scores of two questionnaires was assessed using Spearman’ s correlation coefficient. Results: In this study, 72 patients (72. 2% male and 27. 28% female) with the mean age of 59. 59± 1. 17 (age range, 32-78 years) were studied. The COSMIN Checklist did not show all psychometric properties in both questionnaires and the correlation coefficient of the two questionnaires was weak (r=-0. 44, p=0. 23). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that both Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire are suitable for evaluation of the quality of sleep, but due to their high use in different studies, more researches are needed to be performed on these two questionnaires in order to determine all of their psychometric dimensions.

Background and Objectives: Congenital metabolic disorders are caused by a single enzyme deficiency due to abnormal synthesis or catabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations of congenital metabolic liver disease in patients referring to the Children Medical Center. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study on patients with congenital metabolic liver disease referred to the Children Medical Center during 2013-2015. Patients' information included history of the disease, anthropometric variables, gastrointestinal examinations, neurology, retina, and systemic examinations. Results: During the years 2013-2015, out of 87 children with congenital liver disease referred to the Children Medical Center Hospital, 48 children were female (55%) and 39 were male (45%). Pallor (90%), hepatomegaly (75%), abdominal pain (70%), vomiting (70%), and jaundice (70%), were the most commonly reported clinical signs in these patients, tyrosinemia was reported as the most common causes of metabolic liver disease (20 cases). Other causes included cystic fibrosis (15 cases), glycogen storage disease (12 cases), galactosemia (8 cases), and Wilson disease (7 cases). Conclusion: Considering the increasing incidence of congenital hepatic metabolic diseases, identification of clinical manifestations and etiologic factors is important in this disease. Currently, with the development of facilities and new screening tests at birth, inherited metabolic diseases could be recognized.

Background and Objectives: The main mission of the Health System is improving the level of health and meeting the needs of the society and its correct implementation also plays a very important role in the Health and Treatment System. This study aimed to investigate Patients’ satisfaction during their treatment process following implementation of Health System Reform Plan at selected treatment centers affiliated to the Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 550 patients who were hospitalized in different wards of hospitals in Qom city in 2017. Sampling was performed by stratified random sampling using the table of random numbers. The data were collected using the standard questionnaire prepared by the Ministry of Health, and the questionnaires completed by the clients of different wards of selected public hospitals in Qom city, were evaluated. Results: In the present study, the total satisfaction level of the patients during their treatment process was 72%, which this satisfaction was reported to be 78% at Shahid Behshti hospital, 72% at Nekouee Hospital, and 61. 5% at Karmkar Hospital. Moreover, the highest level of satisfaction was reported in the areas of drug provision (95. 5%) and franchise and lack of informal payment to doctors (93. 5%) and the lowest level of satisfaction was in the complaints management (53%) and discharge process (58%) areas. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the execution of the Health System Reform Plan in the treatment centers is effective in the promotion of patients’ satisfaction. Thus, it is suggested that the weak points should be paid attention, and the quality of services be promoted and the program be continued in order to increase the level of satisfaction.

Background and Objectives: Nurses as the largest group of health services provider must be away from psychological strain in order to provide patients with a desirable care. Hence, this research was conducted with the objective of assessing the role of fatigue severity, sleep quality, and occupational hardiness dimensions in the prediction of psychological strain among nurses working in hospitals of Bandar Abbas and Haji Abad. Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive correlational study on all nurses working in hospitals of Bandar Abbas and Haji Abad in 2018. A total of 126 subjects were selected using available sampling method. The used collection tools included Psychological Strain Questionnaire (PSQ), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Occupational Hardiness Questionnaire (OHQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression tests. Results: The results was indicative of poor sleep quality in the nurses. Based on the regression analysis, the fatigue severity, sleep quality, and the components of challenge and control of occupational hardiness can explain 61. 6% of the variance of psychological strain, but the commitment component of occupational hardiness could not predict psychological strain (p>0. 05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, training and intervention on improving fatigue severity, sleep quality, and occupational hardiness of nurses can be suggested as an effective way in the reduction of their psychological strain.

Background and Objectives: Lack of academic progress is considered as one of the major problems in the quality of higher education institutes, which leads to waste of time and cost and causes psychological problems in the students. The current study was conducted to determine the correlation between academic self-efficacy and learning anxiety in medical students studying at Qom Branch of Islamic Azad University. Methods: This research was performed as a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study on 131 students in Islamic Azad University of Qom city. Sampling was census method. The data were collected using two questionnaires of College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES) and self-reporting Pekrun Learning Anxiety. Finally, data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests, Pearson correlation, and t-test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 22. 25± 2. 80, the mean academic self-efficacy score was 104. 29± 17. 00, and the mean learning anxiety score was 33. 14± 6. 69. There was no significant differrence between three demographic characteristics of gender, marital status, and place of residence with academi self-efficacy score (p>0. 05), but, there was a significant relashionship between gender and marital status with learning anxiety score (p<0. 05). There was no significant relationship between the mean score of learning anxiety and dormitory and non-dormitory residence (p=0. 684). There was a significant direct correlation between academic grade point average and academic self-efficacy (r=0. 261, p=0. 003). There was a significant inverse correlation between academic self-efficacy and learning anxiety (p=0. 001, r=-0. 388). Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that there is a significant inverse correlation between the learning anxiety variable and academic self-efficacy in students; accordingly, reduction of the source of stress and stress-coping training should be paid attention to improve the students’ academic self-efficacy beliefs.

Background and Objectives: Nasal bone hypoplasia is a rare hereditary disorder, which seems to be related to other anomalies. This disorder may clearly appear in the appearance of a person by increasing age, and in terms of nasal and psychological functions, which its manifestations are different depending on the severity of the disorder. Case Report: The case was a 36-year-old woman who was referred to Beheshti Hospital of Qom city in 2016 with a chief complaint of dissatisfaction of the shape her nose. The patient had no previous surgery internal diseases, and trauma of head and face. She had no respiratory complaints, sleep apnea, nasal congestion, or rhinorrhea, but she complaint of recurrent sinusitis in the past. In the examination, her nose was cartilaginous and nasal bone impalpable on both sides. This article discusses a case of nasal bone hypoplasia, which was repaired by temporalis muscle fascia in the operating room.