Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:30 | Issue:6|Papers Count:10

Background & Aims: Preventive treatment of migraine headaches is performed after careful and complete examination of the number and quality of headaches in the patient to improve the patient's quality of life and avoid unpleasant side effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two drugs of levetiracetam and sodium valproate on preventive treatment of migraine headaches. Materials & Methods: In this prospective study, 35 patients with migraine headache who met the preventive treatments criteria and underwent at least 12 weeks of sodium valproate treatment at a dose of 1000 mg daily and did not responded to treatment were randomly selected and included in the study and their drug was changed to levetiracetam at a dose of 500 mg daily. All patients were visited 6 weeks and 12 weeks later in terms of the number, severity, duration and quality of headaches and the data was recorded in the relevant forms. Finally, all data was entered into SPSS software and analyzed. Results: 35 patients participated in this study, among which 40% were male and 60% were female. The mean age of the patients was 32. 51 ± 10. 90 years. In this study, according to the results of the repeat measure, it was concluded that levetiracetam drug reduces both the severity and the number of migraine headaches in the patients who have shown resistance to sodium valproate (P = 0. 001). Conclusion: It seems that levetiracetam is an appropriate option to treat migraine headache in the patients who have shown resistance to sodium valproate or the probability of side effects of sodium valproate is high in the disease.

Background & Aims: Clarifying the psychological and educational status of motivation for progress and resilience has highlighted the importance of using semantic and meta-cognitive approaches to strengthen these two basic skills. Besides, it is considered as one of the most reguired human needs today and a new scientific service to expand the field. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group psychology and metacognition of group therapy on the persistence and motivation of the progress of female students of the Islamic Azad University of Naghadeh. Materials & Methods: The present study is an applied and semi-experimental research method. The statistical population consisted of students of the Department of Educational Sciences of Azad University of Naghadeh with a volume of 120. The sample was determined using a representative sample of 40. The sample was divided into two experimental and control groups and resiliency and developmental motivation questionnaires were used. Then, the experimental group received 8 sessions of teaching psychometric and 10 metacognitive sessions. For statistical analysis, one-way covariance analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that 68% of changes in the level of vibration and 78% of changes in the level of motivation for students' progress were due to group meaning therapy. Also, 66 percent of variations in the level of vibration and 77 percent of the variations in the motivation for student progress were due to metacognition. Conclusion: According to the statistical results, all the assumptions of the research were confirmed and the overall result of the study indicated that group meaning therapy and metacognition of group therapy affect the resilience and motivation of the progress of female students of Islamic Azad University of Naghadeh.

Background & Aims: Quorum Sensing is a mechanism by which orchestrate the expression of many genes in bacteria. Therefore, any interference with the system will inhibit bacterial infections. The principal purpose of the research was to evaluate the potential of anti-quorum sensing of Rosa damascena and Stevia rebaudiana against Staphylococcus aureus. Materials & Methods: Ten isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were collected and identified. Plant species were collected from gardens of Fars province and extracted using 96% ethanol. The effect of anti-QS properties of the plant extracts was evaluated using Chromobacterium Violaceum CV026 biosensor. Furthermore, Biofilm production of the strains was investigated through the microtiter plate. In addition, the phytocompounds of Rosa and Stevia were identified by GC-MASS. Results: The results showed that Rosa damascene (19± 0. 5) and Stevia rebaudiana (17± 0. 5) extracts significantly (P<0. 05) possess anti-QS activities. Moreover, both extracts had antimicrobial activity and anti-biofilm properties. The results of the GC-MASS analysis also disclosed that the extract of rosa contains compounds such as Geraniol, β-Citronellol and Linalool, and also the extract of Stevia has compounds similar to Furfural, Terpinen-4-ol, Linalool, and α-Pinenem which could interfere with bacterial QS. Conclusion: According to the anti-biofilm and anti-QS properties of Rosa and Stevia extracts, the active compounds of the extracts, with an accurate evaluation, could be considered as an appropriate approach for bacterial treatment.

Background & Aims: In this study, a magnetic molecular imprinted polymer was used to measure the diltiazem drug. Based on the structure and pharmaceutical agent group, methacrylic acid was selected as a monomer for Diltiazem. Ethylene glycol de-methacrylate and azobisisobutyronitrile were used as cross-linkers and polymerisation initiators, respectively. Also, chloroform was used as a porogenic solvent. In order to investigate the polymer absorption capacity, a high-performance liquid chromatography system was used which had an absorption capacity of 9. 59 mg / g. This allows the measurement and analysis of this drug in biological fluids and separates them from various wastewater. Materials & Methods: Methacrylic acid (MAA), ethylene glycol de-methacrylic acid (EGDMA), and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were obtained from Sigma Aldrich while Diltiazem was obtained from Sobhan-Dar Company. Serum samples were prepared from the medical diagnostic laboratory in Urmia. High-performance liquid chromatography with UV detector was used to determine the concentration of drug in existing samples by experimental method. Results: The results indicate that this drug is well absorbed by the synthetic polymer, and shows the results of repeated etiology and re-use of this polymer for the drug. It is possible to use this polymer for 5-6 times and it has a capacity of 9. 50 mg / g of drug per gram of polymer. Conclusion: Polymer molecular membrane can act as a good absorbent for absorbing and measuring this drug with respect to the structure of the drug. Therefore, methacrylic acid has been used as polymerization monomer and has shown good results for drug absorption.

Background & Aims: Substance use is one of the most widespread and expensive health problems in current society. Usual medical treatments are often not therapeutic and a relapse is prevalent. This research aimed to investigate and compare the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (MBSAT) on improving craving and emotional dysregulation in adolescents with substance use disorders. Materials & Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The population includes all adolescents (21-18 years) with substance use disorder in the Ardabil city. A total of 60 boys with substance use disorders were selected with convenience sampling method from adolescent camps under the supervision of the Welfare Organization according to including and excluding criteria. Then, they were selected and were randomly divided into three groups: transcranial direct current stimulation (n=20), mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (n=20), and control group (n=20). To collect data, we utilized the craving and emotional questionnaire. Ttreatment with direct electrical stimulation of the brain (tDCS) was applied for10 sessions (15-min) and included anodal stimulation of F3 region, and kathodal stimulation of F4 region with a current of 1. 5 mA and mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (MBSAT) sessions included 12 sessions (twice a week). Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the groups in the craving (p=. 006) and emotional dysregulation (p=. 013). Data analysis showed that there is no significant difference between the two therapeutic methods in the level of effectiveness on the variables in the research(p>. 05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the efficacy of TDCS and mindfulness therapy for improving craving and emotional dysregulation in adolescents with substance abuse disorder is confirmed. Therefore, these interventions can be used for treating addicted subjects.

Background & Aims: The use of siRNA to silence gene expression is increasingly expanding today. The aim of this study is to bioinformatically and experimentally investigate the inhibition of the HMGA2 gene and its corresponding effects on downstream genes expression rate in MDA-MB-231 cancer cell treated by shRNA and siRNA specific to HMGA2. Materials & Methods: To perform this bioinformatic and experiment study, first microarray data were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and then analyzed by Probabilistic neural networks (PNN) in MATLAB 2018a software as a bioinformatics tool. Next, the HMGA2 siRNA was designed and obtained. SiRNA transfection was carried out using lipofectamine as a carrier. The expression of HMGA2 gene, oncogene, and tumor suppressor genes were evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: The bioinformatics result revealed that HMGA2 gene can nearly correlate with downstream genes (oncogene or tumor suppressor genes). Transfection of siRNA into MDA-MB231 cancer cells significantly (p< 0. 05) inhibits HMGA2 gene expression in comparison with the control group. In addition, following HMGA2 gene suppuration, the oncogene (TERT) and tumor suppressor gene (DEDD) expressions were significantly (p< 0. 05) reduced and increased, respectively. Conclusion: The HMGA2 gene due to wide correlations with oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes is a reasonable option for targeting and silencing specific siRNA. The successful inhibition of HMGA2 gene expression and impressing of TERT and DEDD expressions after transferring specific siRNA finding is in accordance with bioinformatics results.

Background & Aims: Exercise with modulation of hepatokine counteracts pathological abnormalities of the liver due to fat accumulation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity continuous training (HICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and moderateintensity continuous training (MICT) on Fetuin-A, FGF-21 and liver enzymes of the obese rats with high-fat diet. Materials & Methods: A total of 25 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: 1) healthy control; 2) high-Fat Diet (HFD) control; 3) HICT; 4) HIIT and 5) MICT. Except for the healthy control group, all rats were subjected to the high-fat diet for 12 weeks and then the training rats were trained for 12 weeks, 5 sessions a week. Fetuin-A and FGF-21 values were measured by the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by dependent t-test and one-way ANOVA at a significance level of P≤ 0. 05. Results: The results of the ANOVA test showed that there is a significant difference between groups in Fetuin-A (P = 0. 001 and F=7. 670) and FGF-21 (P= 0. 010 and F=4. 394). It was also found that different training modalities had a different effect on hepatokine (MICT: a significant reduce in Fetuin-A and HICT: a significant increase in FGF-21) and had the same effect on ALT and AST. The HFD control significantly increased liver enzymes (P= 0. 001). However, all the exercise types significantly decreased these enzymes (for all groups, P= 0. 001). Conclusion: MICT exercises are more capable of controlling liver negative hepatokine such as FetuinA that prevent insulin resistance. However highintensity exercises such as HICT can increase the positive factors, such as FGF-21, that modifies the activity of the liver enzymes. As a result, it seems that obese subjects can use moderate to high-intensity exercises to prevent fatty liver.

Background & Aims: Deaths from cancer metastases are rising, and the process involved in metastasis is the transmission of epithelial to mesenchymal mood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of interval training on the expression of mesenchyme biomarkers, cachexia, and tumor volume in mice with breast cancer. Materials & Methods: Thirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Exercise-Tumor-Exercise, Rest-Tumor-Rest, Rest-Tumor-Exercise, and Exercise-Tumor-Rest. Interval training was performed six weeks before and four weeks after the tumorigenesis. All mice were cancerous by subcutaneous injection of the 4T-1 cell line. Real-time PCR method was used to evaluate the expression of TGF-β . Also, weight test and the Inverted Screen Test were carried out to estimate muscle functions in mice. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and HSD-Post Hoc test with P ≤ 0. 05. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in gene expressions of TGF-β in Exercise-TumorExercise group in comparison with the Rest-Tumor-Rest group (P=0/005). Remarkable reduction of tumor volume was also observed in two training groups (Rest-Tumor-Exercise, Exercise-TumorExercise) compared to the control group (Rest-Tumor-Rest) (p=0/0001). According to function tests' results, muscle functions were diminished due to cancer (p=0/003). But it should be indicated that interval training can keep muscles in a normally-functioned state in cancer (P=0/045). Conclusion: Considering final results, a period of interval training can be used not only as a prevention method, but also to help cancer treatment and impede cachexia by tumor volume reduction, decrease mesenchymal biomarker gene expressions, and increase muscle strength functions.

Dear Editor: Several factors are associated with residency programs (1). For the assessment process of the residency program, applicants’ official transcripts, curriculum vitae, personal letters, references, and performance at interviews are usually used (1). . .