Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Year:2021 | Volume:23 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: Diabetes mellitus can lead to histomorphometrical changes in the brain. Recent studies have shown that Aloe vera gel has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, which is independent of glucose-lowering effects. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of A. vera gel on histomorphometrical changes of cerebellum following streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats. Methods: A total of 25 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups as follows: (1) the control group received normal saline; (2) A. vera gel group; (3) diabetic group; (4) treatment group diabetic rats, which received A. vera; and (5) diabetic rats which received insulin. Asingle dose of STZ [60 mg/kg; intraperitoneal (IP)]wasused for the induction of diabetes in rats. All the treatments were administered daily for eight weeks. Subsequently, histomorphometrical changes were evaluated in the cerebellum of the rats. Results: The results showed that the number of granular and purkinje cells reduced in the cerebellum granulosa region, while the number of glial cells increased in the molecular region of the cerebellum in diabetic rats compared to the control group (P < 0. 05). These changes were improved in treated rats by insulin or A. vera. Also, the thickness of molecular, purkinje, granular, and white matter layers at the apex of lobules and depth of sulcus in the diabetic group had a significant reduction compared to other groups (P < 0. 001). Conclusions: Our results confirmed that improvement of the cerebellar tissue changes in diabetic rats following the use of A. vera gel is comparable to insulin. However, more investigations are required to determine the protective effects of A. vera gel against diabetes-induced cerebellum histomorphometrical changes.

Background: The prevalence of infertility in the world is increasing, and diagnosis of the cause of infertility help to better and faster treatment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection of tubal factor with hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic methods in infertile women referred to Ali ibn-e Abitaleb Hospital. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on women referred to the infertility clinic of Ali ibn-e Abitaleb Hospital of Zahedan. All patients underwent HSG and laparoscopy on days 6 to 12 of the menstrual cycle. The data were collected using information form and then analyzed by SPSS software. Results: In this study, 142 infertile women were studied. The mean age of the patients was 30. 6  5. 8 years old. In this study, HSG was normal and abnormal in 57. 7% and 42. 3% of the patients, respectively. Moreover, laparoscopy was normal and abnormal in 76. 1% and 23. 9% of the patients, respectively. There was a relative agreement between the results of HSG and laparoscopy (Kappa: 0. 326; P < 0. 001) so that 67. 6% of the patients, who were normal in HSG, were reported normal in laparoscopy and 73. 5% of the patients, who were abnormal in HSG, were reported abnormal in laparoscopy. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study show that there is a relative agreement between HSG and laparoscopy in defining the tubal factor, but since there is no complete agreement between HSG and laparoscopic results, it is recommended to evaluate infertile patients with these two methods that are considered a complement of each other and not as an alternative.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a rare and heterogeneous metabolic disorder with wide phenotypic distributions throughout the world. This study aimed to determine the genetic polymorphisms, contributing to the most common types of MPS in 19 unrelated Iranian patients. The sequence of the coding region and exon-intron boundaries of the MPS genes were analyzed by Sanger sequencing method. We used the biochemical and clinical characteristics of MPSsubjects for genetic analysis. A novel IDUA variant (c. 99T>C, p. H33H), a novel nonsense change (c. 514C>T, p. R172*) in exon 5 of IDS gene, c. 74G > A (p. p. R24H) in SGSH gene, and three variants including (c. 607C>T (p. R203*), c. 259G>C (p. A87P), and c. 683G>A (p. R228Q)) inNAGLU(n-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminidase) were predicted as novel pathogenic mutations. In conclusion, this study broadened genotypic spectrum of Iranian MPS patients, facilitating the definition of disease-associated mutations, which help to provide a more effective approach in MPS carrier detection.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are small, unstable, highly reactive molecules that can oxidize proteins, lipids, and DNA. It has been shown that ROS levels increase with aging, leading to loss of muscle mass and heart damage as well as muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy. However, proper exercise and antioxidant consumption like pumpkin seed (PS) can have protective effects against oxidative stress. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effects of resistance training (RT) and PS extract consumption in the rat’ s heart tissue exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were selected and divided into seven groups of six subjects, including (1) control (C); (2) treatment control (TC); (3) RT; (4) 1 g/kg PS (1PS); (5) 2 g/kg PS (2PS); (6) RT + 1PS; and (7) RT + 2PS. The groups 2 to 7 received 1 mg/kg of H2O2 peritoneally for eight weeks; groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 received ethanolic extract of PS at given doses by gavage; the groups 3, 6, and 7 performed RT (the initial weight selected was 50% of the rats’ body weight, which gradually increased by the end of the eight-week period and increased by 100% in the final week) three days per week. Forty-eight hours after the last RT and PS administration the rats were sacrificed, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) levels were measured in the heart tissue. Results: H2O2-induced oxidative damage significantly reduced ATP and GSH as well as increased MDA and PAB levels (P = 0. 001); RT significantly increased GSH and decreased MDA and PAB levels (P = 0. 001); 1PS and 2PS significantly increased GSH and decreased PAB levels (P = 0. 001); RT + 1PS and RT + 2PS significantly increased ATP and GSH as well as decreased PAB levels (P = 0. 001) also RT + 2PS had more effect on ATP increase and MDA decrease and PAB compared with RT, 1PS, 2PS, and RT + 1PS (P = 0. 001). Conclusions: It seems that RT simultaneously with PS administration compared with RT and PS alone have more protective effects in the heart tissue of rats exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative damage; also, effects of PS consumption are dose-dependent.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, one of the mostcommonelective surgical procedures, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for patients with gallbladder diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on coagulation tests among patients undergoing the surgery in Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Hospital in Zahedan. Methods: Following a quasi-experimental design, 21 cases scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for whatever reasons at Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Hospital in Zahedan (Iran) were selected. To study the serum levels of blood factors, blood samples were collected at three stages, i. e., before the surgery (time point 1), 30 minutes after pumping the carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen (time point 2), and 30 minutes after removing the last port from the abdomen (time point 3). Data were analyzed using repeated measures. Results: According to the findings, laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery only had a significant effect on the PT coagulation factor at the 99% confidence level. Also, PT was increased and significantly differed at time points 2 (30 minutes after pumping) and 3 (30 minutes after removing the port) compared to time point 1 (30 minutes before the surgery). Conclusions: Generally, it can beargued that despite observingsomevariations in the PT coagulation factor during the laparoscopic surgery, the INR level did not change. Hence, it can be considered as a safe surgical intervention for renal and liver functions.

Background: There are controversies regarding the diagnosis of lupus nephritis. Also, its clinical manifestations and severity are different from one patient to another. Objectives: The current study aimed to interpret clinical and laboratory features of lupus nephritis according to the results of the biopsy. Methods: Following a retrospective design, 30 patients with lupus, who were candidates for renal biopsy and undergoing kidney biopsy, were studied. Clinical findings (blood pressure and limb edema) and laboratory findings (Cr, ESR, CRP, BUN, C3, C4, CH50, Anti-ds DNA, and hematuria) were gathered. Finally, the diagnostic value of clinical and laboratory findings was interpreted according to the biopsies and the staging of samples in the pathology. Datawere analyzed using SPSS. Quantitative variables are displayed using mean and quartiles. Fisher’ s exact test was used to compare study groups. Also, independent samples t-test and Levene’ s test were used to evaluate variances of quantitative variables. Results: Of 30 cases, 5 had a biopsy of 3 and FSGN. Also, 8 cases were on stages 3 and 4, 9 had a stage of 4 biopsy, and 8 cases were on stage 4-5, 5, and 5-6. The association between age, Limp edema, ESR, and biopsy was statistically significant (P < 0. 05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the usefulness of clinical and laboratory findings to determine the severity of the disease in the shortest time, mainly due to its easy, non-invasive access and early preparation of the results, which will facilitate the initiation of treatment.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan with worldwide distribution. Recent studies have shown that the transmission of T. gondii is facilitated by its ability to modify the host’ s behavior. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of T. gondii infection on anxiety in an animal model and determine the levels of cortisol and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rats. Methods: In this study, 40 rats were randomly allocated to four groups, namely uninfected animals as the control group, infected group, infected and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)-treated group, and infected and dexamethasone-receiving group. Thirty days after the infection, the rats were subjected to behavioral tests utilizing the plus maze. The cortisol and IL-17 levels in the serum of the infected rats were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The infected rats had a significantly higher number of entries to the open arms, and the mean spent time in the open arms was higher than that of the control group (P < 0. 01). The dexamethasone-receiving and TMP-SMX-treated rats had a lower number of entries to the open arms, and the mean spent time in the open arms was less than that of the infected group; however, there were no significant differences in closed arm entries between different groups and the control group. Regarding the total activity, the infected rats had significantly higher values than the controls, dexamethasone-receiving rats, and TMP-SMX-treated rats; nevertheless, the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was observed that T. gondii had anxiolytic effects, and IL-17 and cortisol levels increased in the serum of the infected rats.

Background: Although the relationship between childhood trauma and fear of happiness (FOH) is well-documented, little attention has been paid to the mediating factors of this relationship. Objectives: This research aimed to investigate the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between childhood trauma and FOH. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-eight students participated in this descriptive correlational study. The participants were selected by the convenience sampling method among all the students of the Islamic Azad University of Kashmar during 2017-2018. Data were collected by the Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire (CERQ), the Childhood Trauma questionnaire (CTQ), and Fear of Happiness scale (FHS). All data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The relationship between childhood trauma and FOH is mediated by cognitive emotion regulation. The fitness rates of the indices of GFI, CFI, NFI, IFI, NNFI, AGFI, RFI, and RMSEA were equal to 0. 90, 0. 96, 0. 94, 0. 96, 0. 95, 0. 87, 0. 93, and 0. 074, respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study supported the proposed conceptual model in which the relationship between childhood trauma and FOH was mediated through positive and negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Therefore, it is necessary for psychologists and other specialists to pay attention to these variables.