QOM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Year:2019 | Volume:13 | Issue:8 |Papers Count:13

Dear editor According to medical studies, cardiovascular diseases are the most common and most important risk factor for mortality and disability in Iran. Hence, the National Blood Pressure Control Program was implemented throughout the country from May 17, 2018 (coinciding with the World Blood Pressure Control Day) to July 6th. One of the important issues in blood pressure screening is the correct diagnosis of high blood pressure according to clinical standards. In this paper, the challenges of "National Blood Pressure Control Program” , has been criticized.

Background and Objectives: Active oxygen species (ROS) are direct or indirect causes of cell damage. Continuously active heart muscle as an oxidative tissue is one of the tissues susceptible to oxidative damage. Malondialdehyde is one of the lipid peroxidation products, which is considered in the studies as an indicator of oxidative damage level. Crocin is also a carotenoid extracted from Saffron, which can affect the damage level with its antioxidant properties. In this study, the effect of crocin supplementation on the alteration of Malondialdehyde and catalase cardiomyocyte, was investigated in male rats poisoned with hydrogen peroxide. Methods: In this study, 32 male Wistar rats (mean weight, 180± 20g) were randomly divided into four groups including: control, sham (saline injections), hydrogen peroxide, and Crocin and Hydrogen peroxide. For induction of oxidative stress in the H2O2 groups, 1mmol/kg H2O2, was injected to the rats intraperitoneally every other days for 3 weeks, and in the supplement group, the rats intraperitoneally received 12. 5mg/kg of crocin, every days. The alteration of MDA and CAT, was performed by ELISA technique. Data analysis was performed using one way ANOVA and Scheffe test. Results: In this study, induction of H2O2 caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde and a significant decrease in the activity of catalase enzyme, and crocin consumption led to a significant reduction in malondialdehyde and significant increase in the activity of catalase enzyme in the heart tissue (p<0. 01). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that supplementation with crocin leads to strengthening of antioxidant system and reduction of oxidative stress damages.

Background and Objectives: In various studies, different antioxidant effects of pomegranate extract, have been reported. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 30-day oral supplementation with pomegranate extract on inflammatory markers, blood lipids, and glycemic indices in overweight and obese individuals. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 48 obese and overweight participants, were randomly selected from adult individuals aged 30-60 years with body mass index (BMI) of 25-40 (to receive either 1000mg of pomegranate extract or a placebo for 30 days). At baseline and after 30 days of treatment, anthropometric parameters, dietary intake, plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and hyper sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the levels of serum lipids, glucose, and insulin were assessed. Data were analyzed using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: In this study, 30 days of supplementation with pomegranate extract resulted in a significant decrease in mean serum levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and plasma MDA, IL-6, and hs-CRP. Moreover, highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) significantly increased following supplementation with pomegranate extract compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: supplementation with pomegranate extract can be effective in the reduction of obesity and overweight related complications through ameliorating the systemic inflammation and lipid profile. Therefore, future studies with larger sample size are required to prove these results.

Background and Objectives: Hypertensive disorders are one of the causes of morbidity and mortality, which occur in 5% of pregnancies. One of the causes of preeclampsia, is inappropriate regulation of activator of placental Cyp27B1 enzyme, which is induced by vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the level of vitamin D with risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Methods: This case-control study, was performed on 140 pregnant women referred to Alzahra hospital of the Qom University, 70 patients with severe preeclampsia were included in the case group and 70 healthy pregnant women in terms of preeclampsia, were assigned to the control group. Blood samples were assessed in terms of vitamin D using immunoassay method from 2016 to 2017. Data analysis was performed by t test and Chi square test. Results: In this study, according to the results of t test, the mean serum level of vitamin D in preeclampsia group was 13. 77± 8. 53ng/ml and in the control group, was 16. 73± 6. 82ng/ml, which was statistically significant (p<0. 05). Conclusion: In the present study, the results showed that mothers with preeclampsia are at risk of vitamin D deficiency; therefore, adequate administration of vitamin D can be effective in the prevention of preeclampsia.

Background and Objectives: Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder after a stroke, which causes recurrent seizures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Memory deficits and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety are commonly seen in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Iranian Artemisia persica essential oil on memory deficits, depression, and anxiety in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindled male mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 70 male mice, were randomly divided into 7 groups: normal saline group, epilepsy model that received PTZ (35mg/kg) every other day with 48h intervals for 9 day and then the essential (at a dose of 60mg/kg) on the 10th day. treatment groups that received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (at doses of 50, 75, and 100mg/kg) daily, positive control group that received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (dose, 100mg/kg) daily and diazepam on the 10th day, 30 minutes before the injection of PTZ. Flumazenil group received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (dose, 100mg/kg) daily and flumazenil on the 10th day, 30 minutes before the injection of PTZ. One way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for data analyze. Results: Artemisia persica essential oil (dose, 50mg/kg) caused a significant increased delay in the onset of seizures in the mice that received PTZ (p<0. 05); also, the essential oil at a dose of 50mg/kg significantly decreased secondary latency time in the shuttle box test (p<0. 05). Different doses of Artemisia persica essential oil showed no significant effect on the immobility time in the tail suspension test, and the frequency of entry into the closed arms of the elevated plus maze in the group that received 50mg/kg of Artemisia persica essential oil, was significantly lower than that in the PTZ-treated group (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Iranian Artemisia persica essential oil (at a dose of 50mg/kg) effectively reduced seizure threshold, significantly increased the avoidance memory, and decreased anxiety in mice receiving PTZ.

Background and Objectives: Today, trauma is a major cause of disability and mortality throughout the world. Since pre-hospital care is the first line of trauma care, thus, proper and desirable care can reduce traumatic injuries. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the clinical skills of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Jahrom city in the care of trauma patient. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, a total of 40 EMTs were selected randomly. The data collection tools were demographic questionnaire and clinical skill checklist containing 9 skills. The validity and reliability of the checklist, were confirmed by Shakeri et al. Data were collected by observing the skills of the EMTs and completing the clinical skills checklist. Data were analyzed using statistical independent t, ANOVA, and regression analysis tests at a significant level of p<0. 05. Results: In this study, 62. 50% of EMTs had good clinical skills in trauma care, but obtained poor score in both skills of using traction splint and endotracheal intubation. There was also a significant relationship between variables of age, educational level, EMS station, and number of missions per 24-hour shift and clinical skills in the field of trauma (p<0. 05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that EMTs of Jahrom city had good clinical skills in caring for trauma patients, but due to the significant difference between the obtained scores and the ideal level, further training in this field seems to be still necessary.

Background and Objectives: Academic burnout is defined as a feeling of insufficiency and mental fatigue, which students show against chronic stress due to lack of resources to support themselves. This study aimed to determine the academic burnout and its related factors in nursing students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 223 nursing students of Tehran Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were selected by quota and convenience sampling and entered the study. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics and academic questionnaires and Breso Academic Burnout Inventory. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multivariate stepwise linear regression tests. Results: In this study, the majority of students (71. 3%) reported moderate academic burnout. Marital status, age, GPA, interest in the academic discipline, employment status, and academic semester, were the factors related to the the students’ academic burnout. Entering the main and underlying variables into stepwise linear regression model indicated that interest in the academic discipline before entering the university and GPA, are predictor of the academic burnout, that these variables could predict 13% of the changes in academic burnout. Conclusion: Given the significant role of the interest in the field of education in the incidence of academic burnout among nursing students, identifying those who are interested at the time of students’ admission and providing solutions that can be effective in introducing and promoting the real status of the nursing profession in terms of professional, spiritual, and material, is of high importance in increasing the the public interest in this field of study.

Background and Objectives: Groundwater sources, as strategic sources of water supply, are of particular importance for human beings. Arsenic is a toxic and carcinogenic contaminant that has been reported to be widely found in groundwater sources. In recent years, adsorption property of nanoparticles has been used to remove arsenic. The present study was performed with the aim of assessing the arsenic reduction process in the aqueous environment under groundwater-like conditions using titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (anatase). Methods: In this experimental study, using batch experiments, the effect of changes of time, nanoparticles concentration, and pH factors, were investigated on the changes in arsenic concentration in aqueous solution. The specific surface area of the adsorbent was 200-240m2/g. Data were statistically analyzed by measures of central tendency. Results: In this study, more than 90% of arsenic concentration in the solution, was absorbed after about 30 minutes of exposure to anatase nanoparticles, however, it took 60 minutes to reach drinking water standard level of arsenic (10μ g/L). Increasing adsorbent concentration caused an increase in arsenic adsorption. In natural pH range of groundwater, TiO2 nanoparticle can absorb near 100% of arsenic (200μ g/l), but, increase in pH increased this ability. Also, adsorption of arsenic by anatase nanoparticles was more consistent with the Freundlich isotherm. Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that TiO2 nanoparticles are efficient adsorbents for removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions under natural groundwater conditions.

Background and Objectives: Jalili syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder, which so far, only 33 families with this disorder have been reported worldwide. Patients with this disease simultaneously develop cone-rod retinal dystrophy (CRD) and amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). In this study, a mutation causing Jalili syndrome, was investigated in an Iranian family. Case Report: The cases were two brothers with Jalili syndrome in an Iranian family, in whom, the sequence of causative gene (CNNM4), was identified. Their parents were not consanguineous and lived in a small village in East Azerbaijan, northwest of Iran. Both patients had enamel destruction since childhood. Ocular symptoms began in their adolescence and eventually led to photophobia, color blindness, and central vision loss amelogenesis imperfecta from childhood. Ocular symptoms began in adolescence with photophobia, achromatopsia, and central vision loss, which their vision gradually deteriorated in dim light and at night. Currently, the patients have very limited vision. In electroretinography of the proband, cone-rod degeneration, was diagnosed. A novel variant (c. 1220G>T) was found by Sanger sequencing of CNNM4 in proband, which is segregated in the pedigree. This change may be due to replacement of arginine 407 with leucine (Arg407Leu). Analysis by pathogenesis predictive softwares, confirmed the involvement of this change in the development of Jalili syndrome in this family (this variation was not reported in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) and 1000 genome databases. Arginine 407 has been conserved in several species.