QOM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Year:2016 | Volume:10 | Issue:3|Papers Count:18

Background and Objectives: MicroRNA-1 (miR-1) is involved in various cellular processes, but the effect of endurance exercise on miR-1 expression in fast- and slow- twitch skeletal muscles has still remained unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of one period of endurance exercise on miR-1 expression in slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscles in male Wistar rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 14 rats weighing 113±20 grams were housed under controlled conditions (animal laboratory of Tarbiat Modares university, 2014), and after familiarization (weight, 231±24 grams) were randomly divided into two groups of control (n=7) and experimental (n=7) groups. The experimental group did an endurance activity program (30m/min, 50 min/session, 6 session/week for 14 weeks) on a treadmill and 48 hours after the end of the last session, was anesthetized and sacrificed together with the control group. Then, the soleus and EDL muscles were removed. The expression level of miR-1 was measured using real-time RT-PCR. In the following, data were evaluated and compared using t-test.Results: According to t-test results, The mean expression of miR-1 of soleus and EDL muscles in the experimental group, respectively, increased 2.77- and 4.48- fold, compared to the control group due to 14 weeks of endurance exercise, which these increases were significant at p<0.01 level.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that despite the difference in twitch type and muscle fiber properties, endurance exercise has the same effect on miR-1 expression in fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscles.

Background and Objectives: Decarboxylated phytocannabinoids activate endocannabinoid system in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues via activation of cannabinoid receptors. In this investigation, the effect of interaction between decarboxylated phytocannabinoids and capsaicin at the central level and naloxone at the systemic level, was investigated on inflammatory rat paw edema induced by by sub-plantar injection.Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar rats (200-250g) were used. To study the effect of interaction with opioid system, intraperitoneal administration of hydroalcoholic extract (dose, 50mg/kg), naloxone (dose, 2mg/kg) and co-administration of the extract and naloxone were performed. To investigate the effect of interaction with vanilloid system, intrathecal administration of extract (0.01mg/10ml), capsaicin (0.002mg/10ml) and co-administration of extract and capsaicin were performed. Paw volume was measured before and one hour after sub-plantar administration of formalin using plethysmometer method in order to assess inflammatory edema.Results: Intraperitoneal administration of extract alone or in combination with naloxone reduced the inflammatory rat paw edema volume (p<0.001). On the other hand, capsaicin increased rat paw edema volume (p<0.01), but intrathecal administration of extract alone and in combination with capsaicin decreased the inflammatory rat paw edema volume (p<0.01).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that decarboxylated cannabinoids in hydroalcoholic extract decrease the capsaicin-induced inflammatory rat paw edema through activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors and desensitization of TRPV1 receptor. On the contrary, administration of naloxone has not antagonized the reduction effect of extract on inflammatory paw edema, and it is likely that the effect of the extract has not exerted through opioid receptors.

Background and Objectives: Breast fissure is a common problem in lactating mothers, which causes early discontinuation of breastfeeding. This study was performed to compare olive oil with aloe vera extract and breast milk on pain severity and breast fissure in lactating mothers.Methods: In this clinical trial, 90 lactating mothers with breast fissure in Gonabad city (2015), were divided into three groups of 30 subjects using random allocation. In the first group, mothers rubbed 0.5ml of olive oil and in the second group 0.5ml of Aloe vera extract and 3-4 drops of their milk on nipple and areola 3 times a day, after each breastfeeding. The third group rubbed 3-4 drops of milk on the nipple and areola after each breastfeeding. The visual analog scale (for determining pain severity) and store scale (for determining intensity of breast fissure), were completed at the first day (before intervention), the third day (during intervention), and the seventh day (end of intervention). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests.Results: At the end of the intervention, there was significant differences among the three groups in terms of the pain severity and breast fissure, so that pain severity and breast fissure was least in the group received aloe vera extract. There was no significant difference between breast milk and olive oil groups.Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that olive oil, Aloe vera extract, and breast milk reduce pain severity and breast fissure in lactating mothers, but aloe vera extract is more effective than olive oil and breast milk.

Background and Objectives: Blindness is a serious condition, which can affect mental balance and general organized personality of blind person. This study was carried out with the purpose of explaining the lived experience of self-care in blind individuals.Methods: in this study, interpretive phenomenology was used to conduct the study. Through a purposeful sampling, 8 in-depth semi structured interviews were performed for 8 participants, which their duration was between 50-120 minutes. The method introduced by van Manen was used to perform the research and extract the concepts.Results: Analysis of the data led to three concepts, including “Being through discipline”, “independent through discipline”, and “protection of discipline”, which finally caused the appearance of the main concept, “self-care through a disciplined life”.Conclusion: Blind individuals benefit from a disciplined lifestyle to have an independent life, and also expect this kind of discipline from others. Therefore, it is necessary that family members and health care providers consider the concept of disciplined life.

Background and Objectives: Nanotechnology is an interesting research area due to production of nanoparticles of different sizes, shapes, chemical compositions, dispersity, and their numerous applications for human being. Creation, manipulation, and use of metallic nanoparticles is of great importance due to reduction of dimensions, and thus having unique thermal, optical, and electronic characteristics. The biosynthesis methods of nanoparticles are prioritized compared to chemical and physical procedures because of lower energy and time costs. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is an eco-friendly method, in which natural solvents are used. In this study, the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by Malva neglecta, was investigated.Methods: The extract of Malva neglecta was used as a reducing agent for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. By adding silver nitrate in concentration of 20mM to the extract, the reaction was done at room temperature, that the color change of the extract from pale yellow to dark brown showed the generation of silver nanoparticles.Results: In this study, the formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed (by the presence of an absorption peak at 450 nm) using a spectrophotometer. The size and morphology of silver nanoparticles were determined using scanning electron microscopy. The shape of particles was spherical and their average size was about 20nm.Conclusion: The results of this research showed that silver nanoparticles can be produced by an eco-friendly biological method and without using any harmful chemicals.

Background and Objectives: Tube feeding is one of the supportive nutritional methods in intensive care units (ICU), which is associated with some complications, despite numerous advantages for patients. Nurses’ knowledge and performance play an important role in preventing and causing tube feeding’s complications. The present study was performed with the intention of determining knowledge and comparing the performance of ICU nurses in regard to tube feeding with existing standards in educational and treatment centers of Qom University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In this descriptive study, 68 eligible nurses working in ICUs of hospitals of Qom University of medical sciences (2014), were entered into the study using two-stage sampling. Data collection was carried out using a researcher-made questionnaire and and a standard checklist was used for. Data were analyzed by statistical tests of independent t, one sample t-, and analysis of variance. The significance level was considered 0.05.Results: The mean score of knowledge and performance in ICU nurses was average. There was a significant difference between the performance scores of male and female nurses (p<0.001). A significant statistical difference was observed in the performance scores of tube feeding between nurses below and above 30 years of age. The comparison of performance score with the standard showed that the mean score of performance (56±15.2) had a significant difference from the standard score at level less than 0.001.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that the mean score of nurses’ performance for tube feeding was average and significantly lower than the standard. Therefore, training measures and in-service training seem to be necessary for nursing staffs.

Background and Objectives: Proper nutrition has a significant role in prevention of chronic disease and health promotion. Psychological factors play an important role in making food choices and subsequently dietary habits and in this context, personality is considered as a key factor. The present study was performed with the purpose of determining the correlation between personality traits and dietary habits in female students.Methods: The present research was conducted as a descriptive-correlational study on 224 female students aged 18-30 years in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (2013-2014). Personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) were assessed using NEO Five-Factor Inventory and dietary habits were were assessed by a dietary habits questionnaire containing 20 questions about dietary habits. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise regression test. The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.Results: In this study, high neuroticism and openness were correlated with low score of dietary habits (p<0.01). Higher level of conscientiousness was significantly correlated with high score of dietary habits (p<0.01). Based on the stepwise regression analysis, personality traits can predict the score of dietary habits (p<0.01).Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that neuroticism and openness are correlated with unhealthy dietary habits, and conscientiousness is correlated with healthy dietary habits. Therefore, appropriate nutritional educations based on the personality traits of students are recommended to modify dietary patterns and prevent chronic diseases.

Background and Objectives: Compliance of hand hygiene among staffs is one of the most important ways of hospital infection control. Existance of a uniform method for the measurement of hand hygiene in hospitals could have a major impact on the prevention of infection. In this study, the rate of hand hygiene in ICU personnel of Kamkar hospital, was investigated.Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study on all ICU personnel of Kamkar Education, Research and Treatment Center of Qom in 2014. To collect the data, a checklist sent from the Ministry of Health (recommended by the World Health Organization) was used.Results: In this study, the mean compliance of hand hygiene in ICU was 44.5%, of which the highest percentage was allocated to the nurses. Also, use of alcohol solution for hand rubbing was more than water and soap, and the highest rate of hand hygiene compliance was reported for situations after exposure to blood and patient’s body fluids. The least compliance was related to the situations before contact with patient.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, It is necessary that more trainings be given to improve hand hygiene compliance, some arrangements be made to avoid overwork of personnel, and the equipments needed for this health behavior be provided.

Background and Objectives: Adolescents as a high-risk group are prone to addiction. This research aimed to investigate the role of depression, family relationships, and self-efficacy in the prediction of susceptibility to addiction among adolescents.Methods: The present research was a descriptive-correlational study carried out on 546 adolescents of Lorestan province’s high school in school year 2014-2015. The samples were selected through multiple cluster sampling method. Participants responded to demographic characteristics, addiction potential, depression, family relationships, and self-efficacy questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple linear regression.Results: In this study, depression, family relationships, and self-efficacy was significantly correlated with addiction potential (p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that depression, family relationships, and self-efficacy significantly predicted 37.2%, 2%, and 2.1% of addiction potential variance, respectively (p<0.0001).Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that depression, family relationships, and self-efficacy are important in the prediction of addiction potential, so that these factors can explain the high degree of variability of addiction potential among adolescents.

Background and Objectives: Posture analysis methods are used for risk assessment of work activities in the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders. It is expected that the level of assessed risk for a certain job will be the same with different methods. This study aimed to investigate the correlation among three methods of RULA, QEC, and REBA.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on workers of 28 job groups in a steel complex. To evaluate the body position and postural stresses imposed on the workers, after taking pictures of different tasks, images were analyzed using RULA, QEC, and REBA methods and the risk levels were determined.Results: The correlation coefficient between RULA method and QEC and REBA methods was, respectively, 0.63 and 0.69, and it was calculated to be 0.56 between QEC and REBA methods, which was significant in all cases (p<0.01). Kappa agreement coefficient between RULA method and QEC and REBA methods was, respectively, 0.71 and 0.65, and it was calculated to be 0.36 between QEC and REBA methods, which was significant in all cases (p<0.01).Conclusion: The results of the present study provides a better understanding of different observational assessment methods of musculoskeletal disorders. These results could be beneficial, especially for ergonomic specialists in choosing assessment methods before adopting beneficial intervention measures.

Background and Objectives: Lack of a constructive and appropriate communication between medical universities authorities and students’parents can lead to problems for students and universities. In this study, attitudes and challenges of communication between parents and medical universities were investigated from the point of view of medical and nursing students.Methods: The study was persormed as a cross-sectional study on nursing and medical students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire containing 18 questions about attitude and challenges of students about communication between parents and medical University. Data were analyzed using t- and Pearson correlation tests.Results: A total of 102 students responded to the questionnaire (85%). The general attitude of students towards the communication between parents and university was positive, and there was no significant relationship between students' attitude score and sex, course of study, and marital status. Thirty percent of the students mentioned that University Counseling Center plays the greatest role in this communication.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the attitude of the students towards the relationship between their parents and university is positive, thus creating communication centers could be effective in improving the quality of students’ education and areas of cooperation between their parents and the university.

Background and Objectives: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) show different reactions to the disease according to their personality traits, which can affect their quality of life. In this research, the mediator role of coping styles was investigated in the relationship between personality traits and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: Of all individuals with MS, who were member of MS Society of Qom province, 170 persons were selected using probability convenient sampling. All the patients were investigated using a general questionnaire in addition to 3 international approved standard tools (including Stress Coping Styles, Quality of life, and Personality Traits) questionnaires. Data analysis was performed by descriptive-analytical statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The significance level was considered as p<0.05.Results: The mean age of the patients was in the range of 18-59 years, 32.34±8.71, of whom 138 subjects (83.2%) were female. In this research, there was a significant correlation between coping styles and quality of life and its dimensions in MS patients. The correlation between coping styles and personality traits, was significant. There was a significant correlation between personality traits and quality of life and its dimensions in MS patients. In this study, path analysis results proved the mediator role of coping styles in the relationship between variables of quality of life and personality traits.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, there is a significant correlation between personality traits of the individuals with MS and type of the used coping styles, which can affect the quality of life in these patients.