JORJANI BIOMEDICINE JOURNAL
Year:2017 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

Background & Objective: The application of herbal medicine has been rising in recent years. Therefore, it is logical to revise and revive these traditional drugs while identifying their mechanisms of action can result in developing new treatments for many diseases. Curcumin is the most important component of Turmeric with numerous therapeutic properties. We aimed to review the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties of Curcumin and introduce it as a therapeutic molecule in the present article.Methods: In this review, 121 articles were selected from authenticated electronic resources and scientific library databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Sciencedirect, WOS, DOAJ, SID, Iranmedex, Magiran and Google Scholar search engine in which Curcumin (Turmeric) had been evaluated as a therapeutic molecule from differeny aspects.Results: Our findings from the literature revealed that immune responses against infectious and inflammatory factors could be fascilitated by Curcumin. However, the low solubility in water and minimal bioavailability which may lead to poor absorbance from gastrointestinal tract, quick metabolization and elimination from blood circulation are the most important problems during oral consumption.Conclusion: According to the results of the present review article, Curcumin possesses efficient antiinflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties. However, the low bioavailability of this substance has limited its treatment properties. Nowadays, several mechanisms have been proposed to increase the bioavailability which can improve its absorption.

Background and Objectives: Lead exposure exerts extremely damaging effects over reproduction system. Elettaria cardamomum has several medicinal properties. This study was aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Elettaria cardamomum L. (dried fruit) hydroalcoholic extract on serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone among lead acetate-induced adult male wistar rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 36 adult male wistar rats (220-250 gr) were randomly allocated equally into 6 groups. Animals in control group received 0.5 ml normal saline, while the other groups were; extract group 400 mg/kg, the group receiving lead acetate 500ppm in drinking water and experimental group receiving orally lead acetate 500ppm + extract group 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg. The duration of the test was 28 days. Treatment with the extract lasted for a week. In the end of examination, after anaesthetizing, blood samples were collected directly from heart and serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH hormones were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and one-way ANOVA P-values lower than 0.05 were considered to be significant.Results: The mean serum level of testosterone in experimental  groups receiving lead acetate 500ppm + Elettaria cardamomum L. hydroalcoholic extract was significantly increased in all three doses and  the mean serum levels of  LH and FSH was significantly decreased in comparison to the group receiving lead acetate. The effectiveness was markedly dose-dependent.Conclusion: The present study showed that Elettaria cardamomum L. hydroalcoholic extract have significant effects on the serum levels of testosterone and gonadotropins. However, more precise studies are needed to investigate the involved mechanisms.

Background and Objectives: Escherichia coli (E.coli) is one of the most common bacteria causing urinary tract infections which has become resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to the acquisition of plasmids encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). Here, we investigated the phenotype and genotype of Cefotaxsim-M (CTX-M) gene among ESBL-producing Escherichia coli among urine samples of patients reffering to Yahyanejad hospital of Babol city.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among all 1842 patients referring to Yahyanejad hospital since June to December of 2015. Disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the bacterial resistance to cefotaxime, meropenem, gentamicin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid. The resistant strains were also confirmed using a combination of cefotaxime-clavulanic acid and ceftazidime-clavulanic acid discs. The presence of CTX-M gene was evaluated among ESBL-producing strains by Real time PCR. SPSS 20 software and chi-square test were used to analyze data statistically.Results: A total of 84 E.coli isolates were detected in all specimens. The most sensitivities were against amikacin (91.67%), meropenem (96.43%), ampicillin/sulbactam (95.24%) and  piperacillin/tazobactam (94.5%). However, the highest resistancies were against nalidixic acid (83%), doxycycline/ salicilin (70%), ceftriaxone (46.63 %) and ciprofloxacin (51.2%). Twenty-nine isolates (34.5%) produced ESBL. The CTX-M positive ESBL-producing E-coli was 69%. There was a significant relationship between the presence of CTX-M gene and ESBL (P-value = 0.03).Conclusion: In the present study, the presence of beta-lactamase-producing genes (CTX-M) in E.coli strains were markedly high. Therefore, the consumption of antibiotics should be controled and further phenotypic and genotypic studies on bacterial pathogens should be conducted.

Background and objectives: Deregulation in the expression of microRNAs is involved in the pathogenesis of various malignancies. Impaired microRNAs processing pathway is one possible mechanism for global deregulation of the miRNAs. Exportin 5 (XPO5) is a key member of this pathway that links nuclear and cytoplasmic steps of miRNAs biogenesis together. XPO5 deregulation has been reported in some cancers but very little is known about its role in breast cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression of XPO5 in breast cancer in an Iranian population.Methods: In this case-control study, 30 tumoral tissues and 30 tumor-free margins were collected from breast cancer patients. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, XPO5 mRNA expression level was assessed using quantitative Real-Time PCR.Results: Our results showed that XPO5 was overexpressed in 53.3% of tumoral tissues but the difference in the gene expression level between tumoral tissues and tumor-free margins was not statistically significant (P-value=0.834). XPO5 expression level showed no statistically significant correlation and association with clinical and pathological parameters.Conclusion: Overexpression of XPO5 in large percent of patients indicates that high level of XPO5 expression may be a tumorigenic factor for breast cancer which needs to be investigated more deeply.

Background and Objectives: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is known as the etiologic agent of cervical cancer and second common cancer among women. HPV viruses with the elevated risk of infection have more potentiality to cause cancer. The carcinogenesis in these viruses is accomplished by oncoproteins such as E7. Employing DNA vaccines which code specific antigens such as E7 is a novel therapeutic approach against such cancers.Methods: In the present study, plasmid coding HPV16 E7 was administered intracutaneously to C57BL/6 tumoric mice models for investigation of its immunostimulating potential. PcDNA3.1+ vector was used as control vector. After immunization, spleen of animals were removed. Then, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was evaluated to address the cytotoxic activity (CTL) induced by cellular immunity in spleenocytes. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokines were also analyzed as profiles of Th1 and Th2, respectively. Anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were also investigated in tumor microenvironments.Results: Our results showed that CTL activity was higher among samples receiving HPV16 E7 coding vector in comparison to the group receiving pcDNA3.1+ control vector (P < 0.05). Levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were also higher in the group receiving HPV16 E7 plasmid in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, IL-10 levels were significantly lower in tumor carrying mice groups receiving HPV16 DNA vaccine compare to PBS and pcDNA3.1 receiving control groups.Conclusion: HPV16 E7 expressing DNA vaccine could increase the release of LDH due to immune system CTL activity. Elevation in IFN-γ and IL-4 levels as well as IL-10 reduction indicates an increase in both Th1 and Th2 profiles resulted by using potent DNA vaccine coding HPV16 E7 in tumor animal model.

Background and Objectives:  Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of genital cancer among women in developing countries. Addicted women are among the high-risk group of patients who suffer from cervical cancer. Health Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is one of the theories that emphasizes on fear effects of health risks (such as diseases) on attitudes and health behaviors. Thus, this study was performed to determine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening behavior using PMT on addicted women referring to addiction treatment center of Hamedan in 2015.Methods: The current study was conducted on 56 addicted women referring to Hannah's Methadone Therapy Counseling Center in June 2015. A researcher-made questionnaire which comprised of three sections (demographics, knowledge and assessment of the PMT constructs) was used to collect data.The validity of questionnaire was evaluated using content validity method and test-retest test was used to measure reliability. Data were analyzed statistically by SPSS version 16 and using T-test, Chi-Square and ANOVA tests.Results: The mean age of all participants was 46.48±10.82 years. The average duration of addiction was 8.11±7.22 years. Of all samples, 53.6% had never done any Pap smear test. There was not a  significant relevance between test performance (screening method) and the marital status, income or the last pregnancy method. However, there was a significant relationship between test performance and education (P=0.041), awareness level (P<0.001), structures of motivation (P<0.001), perceived costs (P=0.031), perceived rewards (P=0.001), self-efficacy (P<0.001) and efficient response (P<0.001).Conclusion: We showed that there was a significant relevance between test performance and the level of awareness and various domains of PMT. Thus, it is recommended that PMT could be used during educational interventions and counseling procedures.

Background and Objectives: Family-centered empowerment model is one of the patterns in the area of empowering patients in modification of risky behaviors. According to extensive health and economic consequences of brucellosis in the community, we decided to evaluate the effect of this pattern in risk behavior modification in patients with brucellosis.Methods: The current study was a quasi-experimental study that was performed on 76 individuals with brucellosis in Chalderan County, 2013. All of the patients were allocated in intervention and control groups using stratified randomiztion. Data was collected using a standardized researcher-made questionnaire based on family-centered empowerment model in five structures including knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, self-esteem and behavior in two phases. The first stage was before the educational intervention and the second stage was performed two months after the intervention. To analyze data statistically, descriptive statistics and paired and independent t tests with the significance level of 0.05 were used.Results: Mean and standard deviation of the patients' ages was 37.9±14.7. Paired t-test results showed that the mean scores of knowledge (p<0.001), attitudes (p<0.001), self efficacy (p<0.001), self-esteem (p<0.001) and behavior (p<0.001) were significantly increased within the intervention group. However, the changes were not significant in the mean scores of knowledge (p=0.293), attitudes (p=0.106), self efficacy (p=0.225), self-esteem (p=0.105) and behavior (p=0.303) in the control group. According to the results of independent t-test, the mean scores increased considerably in all structures within the intervention group in comparison to the control group after the educational intervention (p<0.05).Conclusion: Regular interventional programs and applying educational theories could be an effective method  in high risk behavior modification in patients with brucellosis. Therefore, such  programs should be implemented in a wide range.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac massage is the first and most important step during Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Effective massage restores blood flow to the brain and heart and plays a remarkable role in a successful CPR. Exhaustion of treatment team during resuscitation is one of the factors which may lead to reduced quality of resuscitation massages or failure in some cases. The aim of this study was to design, construct and evaluate a new cardiac massage facilitator to improve the quality of CPR in adult patients.Methods: In this study, the massage facilitator was designed and registered as a glove which was worn by rescuers during cardiac massage (number of invention: 80797). A load cell sensor was placed under the surface of the glove and the facilitator could be displayed number and depth of massage in centimeters. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the designed system, an experimental study was conducted among 30 emergency students. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 19 software using Pearson correlation and independent sample t-test. P-values lower than 0.05 were considered to be significant.Results: The mean age of all participants was 23.41±2.02 years, the mean height was 175±4.43 centimeters and the mean weight was 65.45±5.02 kilograms. The instrument validity was evaluated using standard validation method of concurrent validity. Our findings revealed a significant correlation between the cardiac massage facilitator and Sim Pad system (more than 0.9). Accordingly, the validity of cardiac massage facilitator was confirmed. While assessing the efficient massage criteria during cardiac massage facilitator utilization, the massage possessed suitable depth (less than 5 cm) in 98% of participants. The numbers of massages were at least 100 massages per minute in 93% of participants.Conclusion: The results showed that designed system could be used as an effective tool to improve quality of cardiac massage in CPR.

Background and Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common hematologic problem during pregnancy. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women referring to health care centers in Bandar Turkmen city in 2013.Methods: In the present descriptive study, 544 pregnant women were enrolled using census method of samplinig from urban health centers of Bandar Turkmen city. Data was collected using a check list and was analyzed by spearman correlation, linear regression, kruskal wallis and Wilcoxon descriptive and analitical tests using SPSS 15.Results: Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed among 13.4% of pregnant women during 6-10 weeks of pregnancy. Spearman correlation results showed a positive significant correlation between age and hemoglobin level in the secound stage. Wilcoxon results showed a significant difference between hemoglobin levels of first and secound stages. Linear regression results showed a significant correlation between age and iron deficiency anemia, while kruskal wallis results revealed a significant relationship between Hematocrit levels within Trimesters.Conclusions: According to the high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women, especially during secound and trimesters, pregnant women should be educated in terms of lifestyle modification and compensating nutritional deficiencies.