Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2016 | Volume:9 | Issue:11|Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Atorvastatin has multiple effects independent of lipid lowering, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The present study was performed with the purpose of determining the effect of atorvastatin on renal function and oxidative stress response in experimental model of diabetic nephropathy.Methods: In an experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (N=24): normal, normal treatment, diabetic, diabetic treatment. The rats were made diabetic by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) and the treated rats received atorvastatin for 8 weeks (at dose of 40 mg/kg/day). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to measure glucose and creatinine levels. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of renal catalase were assessed.Results: Chronic uncontrolled hyperglycemia (blood glucose& gt; 500mg/dl) significantly increased the blood creatinine in diabetic group (1.70±0.30mg/dl) compared to normal animals (0.40±0.07mg/dl), (p& lt; 0.05). Also, hyperglycemia caused a decrease in the activity of catalase enzyme (57%) along with an increase in the MDA concentration (0.15±0.02nmol/mg protein) compared to normal group (0.04±0.02nmol/mg protein). Atorvastatin significantly decreased the blood creatinine of diabetic animals (0.70±0.20mg/dl) compared to normal group (p& lt; 0.05). Finally, in the treated diabetic animals, renal activity of catalase enzyme increased (52%) and MDA concentration decreased (0.03±0.01nmol/mg protein).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that atorvastatin is able to strengthen the renal antioxidant system during diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, it appears that atorvastatin prevents hyperglycemia-induced nephropathy through the inhibition of free radical production.

Background and Objectives: Phenylhydrazine (PHZ), as a known hemolytic agent, causes toxicity in different tissues at various levels. The aim of the current study was to examine the possible protective effects of royal jelly (RJ) against PHZ-induced histological injuries of small intestine in mice.Methods: In this experimental study, adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups of 8 mice each. PHZ was administered intraperitoneally to two groups of mice (at a dose of 60mg/kg) every 48 hours for 35 days. One of the groups received RJ (100mg/kg) orally 4 hours before PHZ administration. The third group only received RJ, and the forth group was considered as control. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, different segments of small intestine were dissected out, then histological sections were prepared and quantitative morphometric assessments were performed. To compare the groups, one-way ANOVA and multiple comparative Tukey tests were used. The significance level was considered to be p& lt; 0.05.Results: In this study, PHZ caused significant decreases in depth of duodenal crypts, distribution rate of the goblet cells in ileal villi, width of duodenal and jejunal villi, and height of villi in all three segments of small intestine. Co-administration of RJ partially improved the changes in the above parameters.Conclusion: From results of this study, it seems that RJ as a free radical scavenger could reduce PHZ-induced intestinal toxicity in mouse.

Background and Objectives: Endurance exercise induces cardiac remodeling. Also, myh6 gene is affected by cardiac remodeling. This study was performed with the objective of determining the effect of endurance activity on cardiac myh6 gene expression.Methods: In this study, 14 rats (weight, 231±24g), after familiarization with endurance trainings, were randomly divided into two groups of control and experimental (7 animals each). The experimental group performed a training program (30m/min, 50min/session, and 6 session/week, for 14 weeks) on treadmill. Forty-eight hours after the end of the last session, the animals of the experimental and control groups were anesthetized and anatomized, then, the heart and subsequently the left ventricle, were removed. Real time PCR and sonography methods were, respectively, used to assess the expression levels of myh6 gene and structural changes in left ventricle. Data were analyzed using t-test.Results: In this study, endurance exercise significantly increased heart weight to body surface area ratio (p=0.002), also final diastolic diameter increased (p=0.008) in experimental group compared to control group. The results showed 124 fold and significant (p=0.011) increase in myh6 gene expression in the experimental group compared to control group.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, endurance exercise along with structural and functional changes in the left ventricle, induces changes at the gene level and thereby increases heart contractility power.

Background and Objectives: Adipose tissue as a source of energy, is known as an important endocrine organ that releases various hormones including resistin. Resistin plays an important role in regulation of energy homeostasis and metabolism. The effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on resistin concentration in individuals is not clearly defined. The present study aimed to determine the effect of 10- weeks of HIIT on plasma resistin levels in male non-athlete students.Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 26 male non-athlete students were randomly selected and divided into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group performed interval trainings, in a 10-week training program (3 times a week) according to the training program with the intensity of 85-100% HRmax. Blood samples were taken after 14 hours of fasting at different stages and similar conditions, and plasma levels of resistin were measured using a resistin kit (BOSTER Company, USA). The data were analyzed using independent and dependent t-tests at the significance level of a<0.05.Results: In this study, 10 weeks of HIIT caused a significant decrease in the plasma levels of resistin in the experimental group compared to the control group (p≤0.05).Conclusion: From the obtained results, it can be said that HIIT, as a new and effective training method, has a preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases through a significant reduction of resistin.

Background and Objectives: Children with cancer often have signs and symptoms that lead to negative impacts on their interaction with parents and impairs child’s adaptation to the disease. The present research aimed to determine the factors causing adaptation of mothers to disease of child with cancer based on Roy adaptation model.Methods: In this descriptive-correlational research, 119 mothers of children, who referred to the Oncology ward of the Hazrat-e-Masoumeh Educational Treatment Center, were investigated using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through demographic characteristics, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, parenting styles, Methods of Religious Coping, Lazarus & amp; amp; Folkman Adaptation Styles, and Goldberg’s General Health questionnaires.Results: In this study, there were significant relationships between social support, parenting, and religiousness with adaptation of mothers of children with cancer. According to regression equation, the highest change in adaptation was associated with increased social support. Also, a significant relationship was observed between diagnosis time and mothers’ adaptation (r=0.460) (p& lt; 0.01).Conclusion: According to the findings of this study on the factors associated with adaptation of mothers of child with cancer, these efforts should be improved and programing should be done to help the adaptation of the mothers.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major cause of death in women and men worldwide, while these disease are largely preventable if necessary measures are taken. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease, based on Health Belief Model in women referred to health treatment centers in Qom city.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 204 women referred to health treatment centers of Qom city in 2014. Sampling was done by cluster sampling method, and data were collected using Health Belief Model-based questionnaire. Data analysis was crried out using statistical tests, including Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, independent T, and linear regression. The significance level was considered as p<0.05.Results: In This study, among the Health Belief Model constructs, perceived susceptibility (p=0.005), perceived severity (p=0.042), and self-efficacy (p=0.003), 20% of variance of preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease was predicted in women referred to health treatment centers in Qom city.Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, in order to design preventive programs for cardiovascular diseases, considering the perceptions, such as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and self-efficacy, increase the likelihood of interventions’ success.

Background and Objectives: Todays, oxidative stress that leads to change in the quality of food and incidence of various diseases, such as cancer and other diseases in the human body, has drawn attention. In this study, antioxidant effects and profile of amino acid composition of products were investigated.Methods: In this study, protein hydrolysate was produced from oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) by papain and trypsin enzymes. The antioxidant activity of the product was measured using free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), chelating activity, and iron reduction activity in two different concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/ml protein. Also, the amino acid composition of the products was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the chemical score was calculated.Results: The highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity, chelating activity, and iron reduction power for papain products were respectively determined to be 67.66±0.31%, 88.34±0.12%, and 0.99±0.12 and for trypsin products were estimated 52.17±0.22%, 77.11±0.09%, and 0.65±0.02, respectively. The highest antioxidant activity was seen in the concentration of 1mg/ml (p<0.05). The highest percentage of the essential amino acids was for histidine, lysine, leucine, and methionine. The chemical index for histidine, lysine, and methionine was above 1 and for the other essential amino acids was determined below one.Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the protein hydrolysate produced from oyster by the papain and then trypsin enzymes, showed a good antioxidant activity, in which the appropriate hydrophobic amino acid composition involves. The products could be used for pharmaceutical exports after clinical trial.

Background and Objectives: Egg directly affects family nutrition health. The main contaminants of this product is presence of pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.Methods: After culturing and isolation processes, S. aureus, E. coli, and Salmonella bacteria were isolated from contents and shell of eggs. Then, antibiotic resistance was determined by agar disk diffusion method.Results: In this study, 22% of the egg shell samples were infected with S. aureus, 4% with E. coli, and 5% with Salmonella, also, 2% of contents samples were infected with S. aureus, 1% with E. coli, and 1% with Salmonella. In evaluation of antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from content, the highest resistance in S. aureus was to ampicillin and gentamicin and in E. coli isolates was to ampicillin, clindamycin, and penicillin. Salmonella isolates showed resistance to all the antibiotics used. In evaluation of antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from shell, S. aureus isolates showed the highest resistance to clindamycin, and penicillin, in E. coli it was to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and piperacillin. Salmonella isolates had a very high mean resistance to all the disks used.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that lack of attention to important points in the use and storage of egg can lead to the transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Also, due to the high antibiotic resistance of isolated bacteria, excessive and unconscious use of antibiotics in chickens’ diet, which increases antibiotic resistance, must be prevented.

Background and Objectives: Wheat flour as an organic allergen particle has an extensive respiratory exposure in milling industry and related industries. Simultaneous exposure to flour dust and fungal spores causes infectious disease, cancers, and impaired pulmonary function tests. This research was carried out with the aim of assessing the concentration of respirable flour particles, determining the type, and concentration of fungal spores in breathing air of workers in milling industries.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 42 area samples were collected on filter and analyzed gravimetrically. Using a specific sampling pump, sampling of bioaerosols and sabro dextrose agar medium of fungal spores, was performed. Microscopic analysis was applied to detect and quantify microorganisms as colony per cubic meter.Results: The mean and standard deviation of total respirable particles in the breathing air of workers was 6.57±1.69 mg/m3, which exceeded occupational exposure limit. The concentration of fungal spores in workers’ breathing air ranged from 42 to 310 colony per cubic meter. The percentage of respirable to total dust particles produced in sieve vibration, bagging, and milling sections, were determined 67.83%, 32%, and 62.2%, respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the concentration of respirable particles in wheat milling process exceeded the recommended level and the concentration of fungal spores was at the average level of occupational exposure according to ACGIH recommendation. Therefore, engineering controls are required in flour milling process to reduce the exposure of workers.

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy in low age has been proposed as one of the important factors causing risks and adverse outcomes.One of these complications is low birth weight (LBW), which is an important health indicator in any countries. In this study, texts related to Environmental and Biological Factors Influencing Infant’s Low Birth Weight in teenage mothers was reviewed.Methods: In the present study, articles indexed in the databases Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, were used.Results: In the present study, a total of 22 articles related to teenage pregnancy and low birth weight were studied. Also, all factors influencing infants’ low birth weight in teenegers were evaluated in the areas of biological and environmental factors.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that environmental and biological parameters are factors influencing low birth weight in teenage pregnancy. Thus, to reduce social problem of low birth weight and to improve this indicator in both environmental and biological issues, health intervention is necessary.