Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:30 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background & Aims: Learning disorder is one of the most common neuro-developmental disabilities in childhood that requires effective interventions. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of tDCS and play therapy on improving attention and psycho-motor function in children with learning disorder. Matherials & Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental (pre-test and post-test design with control group), and statistical population consisted of all the clients of Saqez educational center learning disorders in the academic year of 2016-2017. The research sample consisted of 30 primary and secondary school students who were selected by simple random sampling. Experimental groups received the intervention for 4 weeks (two sessions per hour per week) and the control group received their daily activities during the interventions. Before and after the end of the interventions, the attention and psycho-motor function of the subjects were measured by the continuous IVA test and Royan Oseretsky's motor test and the data were analyzed using the covariance test. Results: The findings showed that both methods increased the attention and psycho-motor function in children with learning disorder, but this improvement was more significant in the tDCS method(p<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, parents, teachers, and all therapists are recommended to place tDCS in the educational programs along with therapeutic games.

Background & Aims: Heterocyclic compounds are found be abundant in nature, these compounds have many biological properties, and many drugs also contain heterocyclic rings. In this study, antioxidant and anti-fungal properties of the seven pyrazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidine compounds has been studied that synthesized in Iran and their good antibacterial properties have been reported Materials & Methods: Antioxidant properties were evaluated using the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl) method. Antifungal property was evaluated using CLSI (Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institut) standard based on inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration and compared with anti-fungal drugs including Ketoconazole, Nystatin and Tolnaftate. Results: Concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 μ g/mL of the derivatives were prepared in methanol, after performing an antioxidant test with DPPH, the percentage of inhibition was reported, in addition, the IC50 was calculated for each compound, and finally the test for ascorbic acid was done and the results were compared. In the study of antifungal activity, after the preparation of specific concentrations of derivatives, the results of inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration were reported and the tests were performed for Ketoconazole, Nystatin and Tolnaftate drugs and finally the results of the derivatives with the drugs were compared. Conclusion: In this study, new synthetic compounds of pyrazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidine showed antioxidant activity. In addition, these compounds have strong antifungal properties, and even some derivatives have better results and effective than anti-fungal commercial drugs.

Background & Aims: Extracellular vesicles are double phospholipid layer vesicles releasing from several cells. These particles contain bio-molecules including mRNA, miRNA, DNA, proteins, and lipids which play a pivotal role in the cell to cell communication. Once delivered, they participate to change target cell function, fate, morphology, differentiation, and growth. The present study is a review article conducted to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the exosomes biogenesis and their therapeutic applications. Materials & Methods: In the present study, the articles indexed in Scopus, ISI, and PubMed databases were reviewed. Keywords such as extracellular vesicles, exosome, ESCRT, and MVB were used to search the studies. An assembly of 118 articles related to exosome published from 2000 to 2018, were studied. Results: Exosomes, nano-vesicles ranging from 30-120 nm, are a subfamily of extracellular vesicles secreting from almost cells. The interacted molecular mechanisms involve in the formation, secretion, and uptake of these vesicles. Previous studies showed that exosomes have a pivotal role in the physiological and pathophysiological condition. The findings suggest that exosomes could be used as biomarkers and shuttles of therapeutic agents, especially in the case of diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Conclusion: Exosomes actively participate in the control of biological processes. They can serve as a tool for diagnosis and therapy of various diseases. In spite of the progress in the biology of exosomes and their application, there are still more questions about their application.

Background & Aims: Acrylamide is an organic chemical with C3H5NO, which has been known to have carcinogens and fertility defects in male animals, humans and human nerves. This carcinogenic compound can be produced by heating the carbohydrates and high temperature cooked foods. Acrylamide can also be found in the main foods such as bread and potatoes, as well as in certain products such as chips, biscuits and etc. The average daily intake of this substance in body for males and females was 0. 49 and 0. 46 grams per kilogram of body weight, respectively. In spite of the requirement to measure this composition in the Food and Drug Administration, there is no method at this center for measuring this composition with the facilities available at the university. In this acrylamide design, the samples were first extracted and preconcentrated with modified cartridges and then they were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Materials & Methods: For this purpose, in this experimental method, a variety of breads, biscuits, chips and chocolates were prepared from the city supermarket and acrylamide extraction in the samples were measured using HPLC with UV detector. Results: Measurement of acrylamide in four types of products including chips, bread, chocolate and biscuits with 10 samples of each brand indicated higher amounts of acrylamide in some samples of chips and cacao biscuits and barbaric bread. It should be mentioned that amounts of acrylamide were at the limit and the highest amount of acrylamide was found in chips. Conclusion: Results indicated that acrylamide levels are acceptable in most samples and this method can easily measure acrylamide at a very low cost compared to the GC-MS method and can be implemented in the laboratory with an HPLC device with UV detector.

Background & Aims: Today substance abuse, as one of the chronic diseases of psychiatry, has become one of the major problems in the societies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in reducing craving in methamphetamine addict patients. Materials & Methods: This study used single-case experimental design in asynchronous manner. Three male methamphetamine addict patients that attended Welfare organization and the Addiction Withdrawal Center in Takab were selected by diagnostic and structured clinical interview and purposeful sampling method. Structured Clinical interview (SCID-5-RV), demographic characteristic questionnaire, urine test, Desire for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ), and Individual Therapy Protocol (ACT) were used to collect the necessary data. The achieved results were analyzed by the visual inspection, reliable change index (RCI), change percentage formula, clinical significance change and operational measurement. Results: Findings showed that acceptance and commitment therapyare statistically significant (P<0. 05) in reducing craving and its subscales. Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective in reducing the intensity of craving and its subscales in methamphetamine addict patients.

Background & Aims: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the components of the lifestyle in patients with ulcerative colitis in order to develop a particular educational package for them. Materials & Methods: The study was a phenomenological qualitative research with in-depth interviews. The participants were recruited (n=26) using purposeful sampling from the IBD outpatient clinic affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and the private office. The sampling was done in such a way to encompass greatest variation in diagnosis and duration of UC, age, and sex. Results: A total of 26 UC patients (with mean± SD age of 39. 41 ± 11. 8, (57. 6%) graduated from university, (84. 4%) married, mean duration of disease=7. 56y, and mean age of disease=31. 29y) were included in the study. Using seven-step Colaizzi method, data was summarized in four main concepts and ninecomponents. Conclusions: With the discovery of nine main components in relation to lifestyle and their impact on UC disease, a lifestyle-based educational package can be developed for UC patients. Some of the discovered components in this study did not get enough attention in the previous studies.

Background & Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness based cognitive therapy and attention bias modification onpsychological symptomsin patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials & Methods: This research is an interventional study. The research method was quasiexperimental design with pretest-posttest with control group. The statistical population of this study included all diabetic patients in Kerman. Convenient sampling method was applied for this research. According to the entry and exit criteria, 75 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups, two experimental and one control group. Data needed for this study was collected from Dot probe test and psychological symptom questionnaire (Dass-21) in the pre-test and post-test with demographic information, history and characteristics of diabetes. Then, the first group received mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and the second group received attention bias modification (ABM), but the control group did not receive any interventions. Finally, the subjects of the three groups were evaluated with research tools. In order to analyze the statistical data, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted using SPSS (version 23). Results: The results showed that mindfulness based cognitive therapy and attention bias modification caused significant decrease in psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the effectiveness of mindfulness based cognitive therapy and attention bias modification in psychological symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Critical Appraisal of "INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) ON DEPRESSION, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND ANXIETY IN MS PATIENTS": A letter to Editor