Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2018 | Volume:12 | Issue:9 |Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: There are several reports regarding the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on inflammatory factors and lipid profile. However, different sources of this kind of fatty acids have not been much studied. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of consumption of walnut (plant source of omega-3 fatty acid) salmon fish (marine source of omega-3 fatty acid) and their combination on inflammatory factors and serum levels of lipids in overweight and obese women. Methods: In this clinical trial study, 99 overweight and obese women underwent three weight reducing interventions, including diets with fish (300g per week), walnut (18walnuts per week) or combination of fish and walnut (150g fish and 9walnuts per week) for 12weeks. Inflammatory factors and serum lipids were measured at baseline and the end of the study. ANCOVA test was used to analyze the data. Results: The decrees in LDL (p=0. 03), hs-CRP (p<0. 01), TNF-α (p=0. 01), and IL-6 (p<0. 01) and increase in HDL (p<0. 01) in the combination of fish and walnut group was significantly higher compared to fish group and walnut group. A decrease was also observed in triglyceride (TG) in the fish group compared to other groups (p=0. 07), although this difference was not significant. Changes in weight and waist circumference in the combination of fish and walnut group was relatively significant compared to other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the effect of combined use of plant and marine sources of omega-3 fatty acids on the reduction of inflammatory factors and improvement of the lipid profile, is more beneficial than the separate consumption of fish or walnut.

Background and Objectives: Application of carbon nanotubes in medicine may bring about toxicity of these compounds. In the present study, the effects of carbon nanotubes were studied on liver tissue through creating oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, concentrations of 10 and 20mg/kg of multiwall carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxyl groups (10-20nm), were intraperitoneally injected into male rats in 21 stages and the control group received normal saline. Blood sampling and animal dissection were performed in two stages (24hours and 144hours after the last injection). Histological sections were prepared from the liver by hematoxylin-eosin staining and examined by optical microscopy. The concentration of thiol groups and malondialdehyde were measured and analyzed using one way ANOVA test. Results: Histological studies revealed disorders, such as hyperemia in the centrilobular vein, accumulation of inflammatory cells, abnormalities of sinusoids and vacuolation of hepatocytes, which were significantly higher with the dose of 20mg/kg and 144 hours after the treatment compared to the other groups. In the first blood collection, the plasma levels of thiol groups significantly increased with the dose of 10mg/kg (p<0. 05) compared to other groups and in the second stage, the level of malondialdehyde showed a significant increase in both doses compared to the control group (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Carbon nanotubes probably cause liver tissue disorder by aggregation and binding to various cellular components in the liver and creating oxidative stress; but, given the lack of mortality in animals, these disorders may decrease over time.

Background and Objectives: Performing physical activity is one of the inexpensive and available interventions in the field of self-care of gestational diabetes. Changing and modifying health behaviors in individuals can lead to preventing or delaying the disease and its complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of physical activity counselling based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on glycemic indexes in women with gestational diabetes. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, the effect of counselling based on TPB was investigated in 50 women with gestational diabetes. The eligible subjects were assigned to two groups (control and intervention) using randomized block design; then, glycemic indexes were measured (pre-and post-intervention). Data were analyzed using independent and paired t-test. Results: In this study, the mean FBS (p=0. 028), hemoglobin A1C (p=0. 008), 2-hour postprandial blood sugar (p=0. 002) and the number of admission (p<0. 001) in the intervention group decreased compared to the control group, and the mean physical activity at home (p<0. 001), sports fields (p<0. 001), transportation (p=0. 015), tendency to physical activity (p<0. 001), attitude toward physical activity (p<0. 001), abstract norms (p=0. 001) and perceived control (p<0. 001) significantly increased. Conclusion: Considering the positive effects of intervention on controlling glycemic indexes, physical activity counseling can be considered as one of the effective strategies for controlling gestational diabetes, especially using health education theory.

Background and Objectives: Studies have shown that Scrophularia striata has various treatment effects. For this purpose, in this study, the cytotoxic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Scrophularia striata was investigated on MCF-7 cell line, and BAX and KAI1 genes expression was assessed. Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, at first, extract of the plant was prepared using maceration method. The effect of different concentrations of the extract (0. 001, 0. 001, 0. 1, 1, and 10mg/ml) was investigated on the viability of MCF-7 cells using MTT assay method. Also, the effects of doses of 1, 0. 1, and 0. 01mg/ml of the extract, was evaluated on BAX and KAI1 genes using real-time PCR. The data were analyzed using one way AN0VA test. Results: . In this study, all concentrations of the extract caused a significant decrease in viability of MCF7 cells compared to the control group (p<0. 001). On the one hand, the relative expression level of antimetastasis KAI1 gene and BAX apoptotic gene significantly decreased in the groups that received 0. 1 and 1 mg/ml of extract compared to the control group (p<0. 001). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Scrophularia striata has cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells, which, in this regard, can induce of BAX gene dependent apoptosis. Moreover, this extract has antimetastatic effects on breast cancer cells through increasing the relative expression level of antimetastasis KAI1 gene.

Background and Objectives: Chironex. fleckeri is the most toxic and dangerous marine species. CfTX-2 is one of the antigenic proteins of jellyfish venom that has been suggested for stimulation of the immune system, for treatment, and as a candidate for vaccine. The purpose of this study was designing, optimization, synthesis, and expression of the N-CfTX-2 gene in E. coli and investigation of the production of antibodies and immunization in mice. Methods: In this experimental study, the complete sequence of N-CfTX-2 gene was obtained from NCBI (with accession number AFQ00677. 1). After optimizing the codon of E. coli host, other bioinformatics studies needed for better gene expression were performed, such as protein stability and mRNA structure. The gene sequence was ordered for synthesis and replication in the pET21a (+) vector. The recombinant vector was transformed into E. coli BL21 and protein expression was induced by IPTG. After purification of the protein, the obtained antigen was injected into the mice in four steps and the amount of antibody produced in their serum, was measured. Then, the produced antibody was isolated from the serum and confirmed by ELISA assay. Sixty days after the first injection, the mice were challenged by the Chironex fleckeri jellyfish venom. Results: The N-CfTX-2 gene sequence cloned in the expression vector pET21a (+) was confirmed by PCR, and the produced recombinant protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Moreover, the immunized mice tolerated jellyfish venom 50 x LD50. Conclusion: Given the antigenic properties of N-CfTX-2 and antibody production in laboratory animal, this protein can be used as a vaccine candidate in future studies.

Background and Objectives: There is some evidence that happiness may be affected by the cognition under the influence of physical and social environment of a person’ s habitat. The purpose of this study was to assess the level and correlates of happiness among paramedical, nursing and midwifery students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 343 eligible students of paramedicine, nursing and midwifery schools of Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2017. The subjects were entered into the study through multistage random sampling method. The data were collected using demographic and Oxford Happiness questionnaires. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Results: The mean score of happiness was obtained 38. 5± 13. 3 for paramedical students and 36. 2± 16. 7 for nursing and midwifery students. According to the result of independent t-test, there were significant differences between the score of happiness and marital status, age, and educational level (p<0. 05). Also, the result of one-way ANOVA showed a significant difference between score of happiness and students’ education major (p=0. 003). According to the result of Pearson test, there was a direct and significant correlation between age and happiness score of the students (r=0. 146, p=0. 007). Conclusion: The results of the present research revealed that paramedical, nursing and midwifery students of Qom University of Medical Sciences had an acceptable level of happiness. The variables of age, gender, educational grade, and major, were also known as the correlates of happiness.

Background and Objectives: Healthy and satisfying sexual life is one of the important elements of welfare in women and their quality of life. In this study, the correlation of sexual knowledge and attitude with sexual function in female nurses, was investigated. Methods: This research was performed as a descriptive correlational study on female nurses in hospitals of Kermanshah city. A total of 109 subjects were selected from three hospitals using available sampling. Data collection was carried out using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Scale. Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient and regression statistical tests. Results: In this research, there was significant correlation between sexual knowledge and sexual desire, arousal, humidity, orgasm, and total sexual function (0. 001); also, there was significant correlation between sexual attitude and sexual desire and total sexual performance (0. 05), and between sexual attitude and arousal and orgasm (0. 001). The predictive variables together explained 0. 32 of the sexual function (F=25. 6, R2=0. 32, R=0. 57). Sexual knowledge alone can predict sexual function in nurses (p=0. 001, ß =0. 5). Considering the correlation between sexual attitude and sexual function, this variable alone could not predict sexual function.

Background and Objectives: Splenic hematoma is one of the common complications following abdominal blunt trauma, but non-traumatic splenic hematomas are not common and occurs in some cases, such as hematologic disorders and/or infections. Idiopathic splenic hematoma that occurs spontaneously without an underlying disease, is a rare occurrence, which its diagnosis needs strong clinical suspicion. Case report: The patient was a young man who referred to the emergency department with sustained lower abdominal pain during the past day. The pain aggravated by bending and was worsened by lying down. The patient reported no specific concomitant symptoms. His past medical history and drug history were negative. Chest x-ray and laboratory tests did not show any abnormal finding. In the upright radiograph of the abdomen, the shadow of the spleen seemed larger than the normal size. Abdominal sonography showed extensive subcutaneous hematoma of the spleen, which was confirmed by CT scan. The patient was under observation in the intensive care unit for 48 hours, that due to the pain intensification of the candidate, the splenectomy was performed. Pathologic study of splenic tissue was normal and he discharged within one week with satisfactory general health condition.