Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2015 | Volume:9 | Issue:9|Papers Count:11

Background and Objectives: Contrast agent is widely used in angiography and coronary interventions. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third most common cause of acute renal failure in hospitalized patients, which affects the rate of morbidity and mortality and healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the preventive effects of sodium bicarbonate on CIN in high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography.Methods: In this clinical trial study, 100 patients with at least one risk factor, such as, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, age>65 years, or renal failure were equally assigned to one of the two groups of bicarbonate or saline. Angiography was performed with Omnipaque (350mg1/ml). Serum levels of creatinine, blood urea, and urine acidity were measured at baseline and 48 hours after angiography. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. CIN was defined as a≥25% increase in serum creatinine 48 hours after exposure to the contrast agent.Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in baseline clinical laboratory parameters and medications (p>0.05). Forty-eight hours after exposure to the contrast agent, serum creatinine level significantly increased in the saline group (p=0.039), while the increase was not significant in the bicarbonate group (p=0.624). The incidence of CIN was 12% in the bicarbonate group and 14% in the saline group (p=0.7).Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, bicarbonate could be a treatment of choice in the prevention of CIN.

Background and Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling disease in young adults, which occurs due to inflammatory demyelinating process in the central nervous system that are manifests with different clinical signs. The aim of this study was to investisate the effect of resistance exercises on the motor function and balance in women with multiple sclerosis.Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study of practical purpose. The statistical community consisted of 20 women with MS with the mean age of 30.9±6.95 at low and intermediate levels of disease, EDSS≤4. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups (resistance training and control, 10 patients each). The training period was 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, and each session consisted of 3 phases: warm-up, main workout, cool down. Timed up and go (TUG) test was used to measure motor function, and functional reach (FR) test was used to measure the balance of the two groups before and after training. Data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov, dependent t-, and independent t- tests.Results: In this study, there was a significant difference between the scores of motor function and balance in patients with MS, before and after the resistance training period (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between resistance and control groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, resistance training can improve motor function and balance in individuals with MS. Therefore, these exercises could be used as a complementary therapy along with medicinal treatment for MS patients.

Background and Objectives: Cerebral ischemia refers to an interruption or reduction of blood flow to the brain or other parts of the nervous system. About 80% of strokes are of ischemic type. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) belongs to Apiaceae family containing tannin and cumin aldehyde, which are strong antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cumin on reducing cerebral edema caused by stroke.Methods: In this experimental study, 5 groups of 6 male rats were used. The Groups included sham, control, and 3 experimental groups that were orally received cumin extract at doses of 25, 50, and 100mg/kg bw for 30 days. In the sham group, induction of cerebral ischemia was not performed. The control group received distilled water.2 h after the last gavage, the animals of the control and experimental groups underwent surgical MCAO to measure brain edema. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.Results: In this study, there was a significant differences in cerebral edema in the group that received the extract compared to the control group, and in edema between the right and left hemispheres in the control groups compared to the groups that received the extract at doses of 25 and 50, but the difference was not significant in the group that received the extract at the dose of 100mg.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, pretreatment with Cuminum cyminum oral extract (dose, 100 mg/kg bw) could reduce cerebral edema caused by ischemic stroke and induce neuroprotection.

Background and Objectives: This study was carried out with the aim of predicting pain intensity and acceptance and level of quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the feature of interpersonal forgiveness.Methods: This research was conducted as a correlational study. In this study, of the patients with irritable bowel syndrome referred to Isfahan Digestive Health Center, 123 subjects were selected by census method during a certain period of time. IBS was diagnosed by a gastroenterologist based on ROME III criteria. To collect information, the scales of the interpersonal forgiveness (IF), pain intensity (PI), chronic pain acceptance questionnaire (CPAQ) and quality of life (SF-36), were used. Data were analyzed using statistical methods of Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression.Results: Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the forgiveness and pain intensity, and a positive correlation between forgiveness and the variables of pain acceptance and quality of life. However, multiple regression analysis showed that the resentment control factor was the best predictive factor for pain intensity and quality of life.Conclusion: The feature of interpersonal forgiveness and its related concepts can be evaluated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and there is a relationship between this feature and important aspects of life that are associated with chronic pain. Hence, in Iranian society whose culture is intertwined with religious teachings, the implementation of forgiveness-based interventions, in order to control negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, can be effective in improvement process of physical symptoms and quality of life of patients.

Background and Objectives: Given that the lumbar region is an area of great importance in the spinal cord, and any deviation in its curvature and surrounding soft tissues is one of the major causes of back pain; therefore, existence of a valid and reliable index to record these changes is of great importance before any treatment interventions. This study was conducted with the objective of designing and introducing a new clinical method with appropriate validity and reliability for therapists’ use.Methods: This study was performed as a descriptive-correlation study on 36 subjects [28 (77.7%) females and 8 (22.3%) males] aged 16-84 years, with the mean age of 42±14.9 years. The lumbosacral lordosis was measured using a flexible ruler and compared manually and by computer, and the obtained angle was compared manually and by computer. The obtained angle, as a new method, was compared with sacral inclination angle on the X-ray radiography image of the same patient. Then, Data were analyzed with Pearson correlation test.Results: The correlation coefficient (r) between the computer method and radiography and manual method were obtained 0.99 and 0.68, respectively, and between the manual calculation method and radiography was 0.70, which was significant for all (p=0.001). The correlation between inter-therapist and intra-therapist were high and significant in the manual calculation.Conclusion: The method suggested in this study can be a valid and accurate method for measuring lumbar lordosis, because of reducing time, cost, and risks of exposure to X-ray.

Background and Objectives: There is always a question of “what is the effect of iron supplement intake on sports performance in female athletes”. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 8-week combined exercise along with Feroglobin supplement consumption on some physical fitness factors in female athletes.Methods: In this experimental study, 18 female volleyball players with the mean age of 25.3±4.3 years, BMI 22.5±2.3 kg/m2 were randomly divided into two groups of supplementation-train (ST) and placebo-train (PT). The training program consisted of 90 minute exercise for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, and the intensity of aerobic exercises was 60-80% of maximum heart rate. Plyometric, speed, and skill exercises were the other part of the program. Feroglobin supplement was consumed in double blind manner before each exercise session. The data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and independent t-tests. The significance level was considered less than 0.05.Results: There were significant differences in strength, agility, and aerobic power between ST and PT groups (p≤0.05), whereas there were no significant differences in speed and explosive power between ST and PT groups (p˃0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that Feroglobin supplementation after combined exercises could be useful to promote strength, agility, and aerobic power in female athletes.

Background and Objectives: Given that fasting can reduce calorie intake, and on the other hand, starvation and reduction of calorie intake are related to immune system, this study was conducted with the purpose of assessing some blood biochemical factors, which sre related to immune system in fasting individuals.Methods: This experimental study is a before-after study. This investigation was performed on 75 male and female fasting individuals aged 25-50 years. Blood samples were obtained once at the beginning of Ramadan and once at the end of Ramadan. The levels of C3, C4, blood sugar, serum leptin, cortisol, and WBC and RBC counts, were measured in the blood sample.Results: In this study, the levels of C3, C4, level, cortisol, and blood sugar were significantly increased during fasting period, but leptin level and blood cells counts had no significant changes.Conclusion: Due to a significant increase in some components of complement system, it seems that the immune system is strengthened by fasting.

Background and Objectives: Professional ethics and accountability are of considerable importance for professionals who provide professional services. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of personality traits in professional ethics and individual accountability.Methods: This study was performed as a descriptive-correlational study on all counselors and psychologists working in Tabriz city in 2014. The samples (N=110) were selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected using standard questionnaires. Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regressions tests.Results: In this study, there was a significant positive correlation between personality traits and individual accountability (p<0.05). Forty-one percent of the professional ethics variance was related to the independent variables of conscientiousness (B=0.55, p<0.001) and agreeableness (B=0.23, p<0.001) and 17 percent of accountability variance was related to the independent variables of conscientiousness (B=0.33, p<0.001) and agreeableness (B=0.18, p<0.04).Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that personality traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness are related to the improvement of accountability and professional ethics to clients. Therefore, these findings can help health planners to provide conditions for creating the necessary ground for more compatibility of counselors with these traits in order to improve their performance. Moreover, it is suggested that in future studies on professional ethics and accountability of counselors, personality aspects also be taken into account.