Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:20 | Issue:5 (107)|Papers Count:10

Background and Aim: There are several reports on immune modulating properties of chitin and chitosan microparticles. To determine the feasibility of using chitinous microparticles as an adjuvant in vaccination against Leishmania, the influence of chitin and chitosan microparticles on interferon-gama (IFN-γ) and interlkine-5 (IL-5) production by Leishmania infected cell suspension were studied.Materials and Methods: Balb/c mice were intradermally infected with 2×105 stationary phase of L. major promastigotes into their base of the tail and two weeks later, leishmania infected lymph nodes cell suspensions of the mice were isolated. Small sized chitinous micro-particles (<40 micron) were prepared by sonication and passing the filter and after size determination by master sizer, used to cell stimulation. Finally, ELISA measured concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-5 and nitrite oxide levels were measured by Griss method in cell culture supernatants. The ability of cell proliferation induction of microparticles was also evaluated by thymidine uptake method.Results: Chitin and chitosan microparticles were caused cell proliferation, but no one has been able to stimulate the production of nitrite oxide from the Leishmania infected cell suspension. In stimulation with chitin microparticles, increase the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-5 was observed.Conclusion: Chitin micro-particles are able to stimulate the production of IFN-γ in the Leishmania infected cell suspension and in the lymph nodes cell suspension can stimulate some cells to proliferation. Chitin seems to be utilized as an immunoadjuvant in Leishmania vaccine.

Background and Aim: Recruitment of fast twitch muscles cause an increase in muscle mass and strength but these muscles are recruited in high intensities. Old people or persons in rehabilitation process couldn’t do intense training. On the other hand, it has been told that training with blood flow restriction could recruit fast twitch muscles in low intensity. Therefore, we decided to investigate the acute effect of isometric exercise with different load with and without blood flow restriction on fast twitch fibers engagement.Materials and Methods: 10 male college students participated in this clinical cross over trail. The study protocol was consisted of six 10-second isometric contractions, and between every two sets participants had 60 seconds of rest. Lactate concentrations were measured before, immediately after and 10 min later. IEMG index was recorded during every exercise session.Results: Lactate concentrations and IEMG were significantly different between exercise with 65% MVC with and without blood flow restriction and these indexes was higher in exercise with 65% MVC with blood flow restriction. Lactate concentrations and IEMG were similar in exercise with 65% MVC with blood flow restriction and 100% MVC without blood flow restriction.Conclusion: It seems that in same intensity isometric exercise with blood flow restriction can cause more engagement of fast twitch fiber than exercise without blood flow restriction and engagement of fast twitch muscle in exercise with 65% MVC with blood flow restriction was same compared with exercise with 100% MVC without blood flow restriction.

Background and Aim: The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTW) phenotype proposed as a diagnostic tool for visceral obesity and also lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a simple index for lipid over-accumulation in adults. Phytochemicals are known as bioactive non-nutrient plant chemicals found in high amounts in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes. The aim of our study is determination of the phytochemical index (PI) score effect on the incidence of hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTW) phenotype and lipid accumulation product (LAP) index in adults.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of third phase of Tehran lipid and glucose study 2006–2008. Dietary data were collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 168 food items. The PI was calculated based on the modified method developed by McCarty. The odds ratio of occurrence of HTW phenotype was calculated across PI quartile categories.Results: The mean PI was 53.3±15.2. Mean LAP was 34.6±22.6 at baseline, and 43.2±29.9 after 3 years. Mean WC at baseline and 3-year changes were 87.2±13.2 and 4.9±7.1 cm, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, dietary PI were inversely associated with changes in waist circumference (b=-0.08, p<0.01), serum triglycerides (b=-0.07, p<0.01) and LAP (b=-0.09, p<0.01) after 3 years. Risk for occurrence of HTW phenotype in participants with highest compared to lowest dietary PI was significantly reduced (OR=0.5, 95% CI=0.26-0.96).Conclusion: Higher phytochemical intake is associated with lower occurrence of HTW phenotype.

Background and Aim: Calorie and fatty food consumption, and an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, increases the risk of obesity and chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate psychological determinants of consumption of fast foods using the theory of planned behavior in high school students in the city of Khoy.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 high school students. Sampling was multistage random sampling. For the collection information were used from the reliability and validity of the questionnaire "Planned Behavior" that consists of three parts: a) demographics, b) questions related to the constructions of the theory of planned behavior and c) behavior questions. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and linear regression to predict the behavior in a significant level of p<0.05.Results: The results of this study showed that fast food consumption among students was 98.1 percent, which among them 23.8 percent once a week and 10.6 percent 2-3 times a week used fast foods. Also, results showed that behavioral intention and beliefs of behavioral are able to predict 54% of variations behavior of fast foods consumption. Between the structures of the theory of planned behavior the most important predictor of behavioral intention, evaluation of behavioral outcomes was that together with economic situation were able to predict 45% of behavioral intention.Conclusion: This study showed a high consumption of fast foods in school children of Khoy. In designing nutrition education interventions aiming at decreasing fast food consumption in this group, it is better to put more emphasis on strategies to promote behavioral intention and beliefs of behavioral students.

Background and Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine psychometric properties of the Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (BAFT) in a students population.Materials and Methods: To this end, 324 university students from Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences were selected via cluster sampling method and participated in the present study through complete believability of anxious feelings and thoughts questionnaire, cognitive fusion questionnaire, acceptance and action questionnaire-II, social anxiety-acceptance and action questionnaire, social interaction anxiety scale, valued living questionnaire and quality of life. Factor analysis by principle component analysis method, internal consistency analysis, convergent and divergent validity was conducted to examine the validity of the BAFT. To calculate the reliability of the BAFT, Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability were used.Results: Results from factor analysis yielded three factors that were named somatic concerns, emotion regulation and negative evaluation. The three-factor solution explained 50.72% of the variance. Evidence for the internal consistency was obtained via calculating correlations between BAFT and the subscales. Support for the convergent and divergent validity of the BAFT via its positive correlations with the cognitive fusion questionnaire, acceptance and action questionnaire-II, social interaction anxiety scale, and negative correlations with social anxiety- acceptance and action questionnaire, valued living questionnaire and WHOQOL-BREF was obtained. Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest coefficients BAFT were yielded 0.82 and 0.81, respectively.Conclusion: The Iranian version of the BAFT has acceptable levels of psychometric properties. This questionnaire is a valid and reliable measure to be utilized in research investigations and therapeutic interventions.

Background and Aim: Given the importance of test anxiety among gifted students, the present research was conducted to study the relationship between perception of parent’s affection and attachment styles with test anxiety.Materials and Methods: By means of simple random sampling, 300 subjects were selected out of all the gifted students in Khorramabad. Test Anxiety, perception of parents affection, and attachment styles questionnaires were used for collection data.Results: To analyze the data, Pearson correlation and regression were applied. The results showed that anxiety and avoidant attachment style and perception of father love predict test anxiety among both boys and girls in gifted student's school. However, there was not a meaningful relationship between attachment style and perception of mother love with test anxiety. Moreover, totally the results indicated that 9 percent of changes in test anxiety were predicted by attachment styles and perception of parent’s affection. And anxiety attachment style and perception of father love predict test anxiety.Conclusion: According to the results if an individual has an avoidant attachment style he will experience the higher level of test anxiety.

Background and Aim: Free-living amoebas (FLAs) are eukaryotic protozoans that can be found in different environmental resources such as fresh and saline water, soil, and dust. These amoebas include various families and genera such as Acanthamoeba, Vermamoeba and Vahlkampfiids, and some of them are pathogenic to human. As there were no previous study on isolation of Vermamoeba and Vahlkampfiids in water sources of Jolfa county, the aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Vermamoeba and Vahlkampfiids according to morphological characteristics in water resources of Jolfa County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the years 2013-2014. In the present study 50 samples were collected from water resources of Jolfa County including tap water, ponds of recreational places, hot springs and swimming pools. After transferring to laboratory the samples filtered thought cellulose nitrate filters and after that cultured on 1.5% non-nutrient agar medium containing Escherichia coli bacteria at room temperature. Finally, after 1 week the cultured samples were investigated by microscopic method and investigation continued up to 3 months. Eventually, using SPPS V22.0 software and descriptive method obtained data analyzed.Results: Based on the morphological characteristics and page key 18 samples out of a total of 50 samples (36% of samples) were found positive. Vermamoeba genus according to round and small cysts and wormy shape trophozoites and Vahlkampfiids according to double separated layer cysts and trophozoites morphology with lobopodia were identified. 10 samples belonged to Vermamoeba genus, 6 samples belonged to Vahlkampfiids and 2 samples had mix contamination.Conclusion: Since a high percentage of water resources of Jolfa County were contaminated with potentially pathogen amoebas; therefore, adopting the appropriate methods including warning signs at the side of water resources of Jolfa County, periodic assessment of tap waters and recreational waters and people awareness seems necessary to prevent FLAs related illnesses. More researches in this area are recommended.

Background and Aim: Campylobacter belongs to Campylobacteraceae family and is one of the most important intestinal pathogenic bacteria. The aim of the present study was to isolate and characterize the Campylobacter spp. of poultry origin in order to assess the rate of antimicrobial resistance and to investigate the presence of integron genes.Materials and Methods: In this study, 70 rectal swab samples from chicken carcasses were collected from a slaughterhouse in Tehran. After enrichment, 39 Campylobacter spp. were isolated, which were identified by convention biochemical tests and confirmed by a genus (cadF) and species (asp, hipO) specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the primers int1 and hep2 were used to identify the class1 and class2 integrons, respectively. Moreover, antibiogram was performed by disc diffusion method, and the resistance pattern of isolates was interpreted according to the CLSI guidelines.Results: The results showed that all of the isolates were C. coli (100%), and the integron genes were negative among all of the isolates. Among 10 antibiotics were used, the maximum resistance was seen to Co-trimoxazole (97.36%) and Nalidixic acid (94.8%), Ciprofloxacin (87.7%), Streptomycin (89.72%), and Tetracycline (97.4%). No resistance was seen to Gentamicin.Conclusion: The results indicated that strains under study showed high resistance to antimicrobial agents. Regarding the absence of integrons, it can be concluded that they do not play an important role in the resistance to these Campylobacter isolates. However, it can be proposed that other resistance mechanisms are involved in the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotype in this genus.