Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Year:2019 | Volume:10 | Issue:1|Papers Count:6

Background: Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is an important indicator for predicting adverse outcomes during pregnancy. It is derived from the division of the PI Doppler index from the middle cerebral artery (MCA) into the umbilical cord vessels. Objectives: To characterize the relationship between CPR and some factors such as diabetes, gestational hypertension, body mass index (BMI), PAPP-A, and drug use. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in Ahvaz in 2016. In this study, the CPR was evaluated in 230 pregnant women who were at 28-38 weeks of gestational age, except for pregnant women with severe Small for gestational age (SGA) and multiple pregnancies. In this study, a number of factors such as diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, BMI, PAPP-A, and drug use were investigated. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 19. Results: In this study, there is a relationship between CPR and diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, and maternal drug use. There is not a relationship between CPR and BMI and PAPP-A. Conclusions: Diabetes and gestational hypertension are two factors that influence the cerebroplacental ratio.

Background: High intensity interval training (HIIT) and circuit resistance training (CRT) have been introduced as useful strategies for weight management in overweight and obese individuals. However, little is known about their effects on inducing antiinflammatory cytokine response, and improving body composition and metabolic profile (lipid profile and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)) in overweight adolescents. Objectives: This study aimed at examining the effects of HIIT and CRT on serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), lipid profile, body composition and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in overweight male adolescents. Methods: Twenty overweight male adolescents were divided into two groups of HIIT and CRT. The blood samples were drawn from all participants before the beginning of exercise protocols and after one day the last session of the exercise protocols. Results: Following 6 weeks of both HIIT and CRT protocols, serum levels of IL-10 increased insignificantly in both groups (P > 0. 05). However, that of IL-10 showed a much more increase in HIIT group. Furthermore, unlike CRT protocol, six weeks of HIIT improved body composition, lipid profile and HOMA-IR in overweight male adolescents. Conclusions: By this study, it seems that HIIT has more potent impact than CRT on inducing an anti-inflammatory cytokine response. Moreover, HIIT is a more appropriate exercise modality than CRT to improve body composition and metabolic profile (lipid profile and HOMA-IR) in overweight male adolescents.

Background: Many studies have been conducted on the assessment of the mental health status of the labor force, but these results can’ t be generalized for employees working in the pharmaceutical industry. Objectives: This study was carried out aiming to investigate the mental health status and related demographic factors among the employees of a pharmaceutical factory located in the industrial site of Rasht (North of Iran). Methods: All employees present at the factory (n = 122) were selected during a cross-sectional survey using census sampling method. The 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used in order to assess mental health status and a score of  23 was used as cut-off point. Results: According to the results, 30 people (24. 6%) had somatic complaints, 26 people (21. 3%) had symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, 56 people (45. 9%) had social dysfunction, 6 people (4. 9%) had depressed mood and finally 21 people (17. 2%) were suspected of having a mental disorder. Also, younger employees (r =-0. 23, P = 0. 011) and those with no work experience (or having less work experience) may be more ( =-0. 210, P = 0. 031) at risk of mental disorders. There is no significant difference in terms of gender, the type of occupational unit (executive or supportive units) in terms of the different aspects of mental health, though. Conclusions: About one-fifth of the employees have symptoms of mental disorders. Necessary suggestions for mental health status improvement, especially for younger employees with less work experience, have been discussed.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been considered the leading cause of death and disability all over the globe where Bangladesh is not an exception. Early medical attention seeking behavior is decisive for saving valuable lives and reducing further complications. Objectives: Current research aimed to identify the factors related to delay in seeking medical care among AMI sufferers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by face-to-face interview from January 2017 to June 2018. A total of 120 patients were conveniently recruited from Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and Research Institute, which is a tertiary level hospital in Dhaka. Delay in medical care seeking time was investigated using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Data were evaluated by Statistical Package for the Social Science version 20 and the relationship was assessed by using t-test. Results: Respondents who lived in the rural area (P = 0. 01), whose pain duration less than 6 hours (P = 0. 01) and radiation of pain (P = 0. 02), took self-treatment (P = 0. 04), misinterpretation of symptoms (P = 0. 04), living long distance (P = 0. 01), lack of suitable transport (P = 0. 04), and faced traffic jam (P = 0. 00) showed significantly higher delay in seeking medical care. Conclusions: It is necessary to develop a strategy for reducing delay in medical care seeking in patients with AMI to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Proper education regarding major cardiovascular events could be an effective option.

Background: Several factors are involved in occupational accidents such as individual and environmental factors. Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and optimism are useful in the prediction of organizational behaviors as well as in the prediction of organizational virtuousness and job performance. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship among optimism, extra role behaviors or OCB, and occupational accident in working nurses and nursing aids at two hospitals in Qom, Iran, 2017. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals and was carried out among 177 nurses and nursing aids (response rate = 88. 5%). The instruments used included demographic, optimism and OCB questionnaires. A forward-backward technique was applied for OCB face validity assessment. SPSS V. 20 software was used to analyze data by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, t-test, ANOVA, and Poisson regression. Results: A total of 40. 6% of participants have experienced cases of occupational accidents. OCB’ s mean score was 62. 15 ( 12. 61). Average score of optimism was 10. 51 ( 2. 60). Based on Mann-Whitney results, optimism was different between men and women (P = 0. 004) and men had a higher level of optimism. Nursing aids experienced lower occupational accident (52. 4%) than nurses with the BSc degree. Shift workers had experienced lower occupational accident (34. 3%) than day workers. In addition, each unit increasing in optimism score was led to 6% increasing in the occupational accidents rate. Conclusions: According to the obtained results, the implementation of adjustment programs and reducing the load of mental and physical work as well as improving the nurse’ s organizational behaviors would be necessary. In addition, sufficient training to improve the nurses’ attitude toward safety is recommended.

Dear Editor, Curcumin is a natural product of Curcuma longa L (turmeric) plant, which has remarkable roles in various biological fields and its properties consist of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, anti-arthritic and anti-diabetic effects, lipid metabolism, protective role against cardiovascular diseases and ischemia, and the regulation of neural process (1). Recently, it has been suggested about the potential effects of Curcumin against pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses (2). According to the literature, Curcumin has anti-viral effects on virulent viruses such as HIV, HTLV-1, HBV, HCV, HPV, HSV, JEV, influenza, and Coxsackievirus. Although this yellow chemical could be taken into account as a unique antiviral herbal drug, especially for enveloped viruses, it has no toxic effects on the human cell-line viability. Moreover,