Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2023 | Volume:28 | Issue:1 (124)|Papers Count:12

Background and Aim: Cell therapy is a feasible method for ehttreatment of spinal cord injury as well as other neurological disorders. Because of the cell death reported to be in the cell transplants, the use of +scaffolds can be useful to improve cell protection, resulting in an increase in their survival and growth, and differentiation. Since alginate hydrogel biopolymer was reported to be effective in entteert spinal cord lesions, in this study, we intended to evaluate the protectivity of alginate hydrogel against free radicals in the cultured neural stem cells (NSCs) induced into neuronal phenotype using valproic acid as inducer, and improvement of their survival will be assessed. Materials and Methods: Bone marrow stromal stem cell-derived neural stem cells encapsulated in alginate hydrogel, were used in this study. The encapsulated cells were induced by valproic acid and the cells etnt evaluated by immunocytochemical methods and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The induction of apoptosis was achieved by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and the cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The Protective Effect of alginate hydrogel in front of H2O2 was evaluated by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and MTT. The control groups were two-dimensional (2-D) cultured of the induced NSCs into neuronal phenotype by valproic acid as well as induction of apoptosis by H2O2 Results: The results showed that the viability of neuronal phenotype treated by H2O2 in alginate hydrogel was higher than that of cells cultured under the same condition in 2-D culture, also, the expression of Bcl2 and survivin was higher, while the expression of Bax was lower. Similar results were noticed with the FRAP technique Conclusion: The results showed that alginate hydrogel has a protective effect on the induced NSCs into neuron-like cells, following induction of apoptosis by H2O2. The results of gene expression and FRAPwere consistent with the above results.

Background and Aim: Candida species are opportunistic yeasts that can cause opportunistic infections when the host becomes debilitated or immunocompromised. Coriander is a plant belonging to the Umbelliferae family and its leaves and seeds are widely used in traditional medicine. Coriander essential oil (E. O. ) has shown antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effect of fluconazole alone and with coriander E. O on 39 Candida species isolated from the mouth of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive individuals. Materials and Methods: In this study, the broth microdilution tests according to the CLSI M27-S3 were applied to find the amount of Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole alone and together with coriander E. O (synergism) for each Candida isolate. For this purpose, the E. O. of Coriander seeds was extracted using a Clevenger apparatus by steam hydro-distillation, and then the synergism effect of E. O. and fluconazole on Candida isolates was investigated. Data were analyzed by SPSS-25 software. Mann-Whitney, and Tukey post hoc tests, and the one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the results. Results: Susceptibility of fluconazole was determined as follows: 69. 2% of the Candida isolates were sensitive, 17. 9% were resistant and 12. 9% were susceptible dosedependent (SDD). The MIC mean was 27. 3 μ, g/ml for fluconazole, 32. 7 μ, g/ml for coriander E. O, and 9. 39 μ, g/ml for the combined effect of fluconazole and Coriander E. O (synergistic effects). Conclusion: The fact that Coriander E. O has an inhibitory effect on all Candida isolates used in this study, it can be considered a capable antifungal, especially in combination with fluconazole (synergistic effects), and the antifungal effect of Coriander E. O is proposed to investigate in treating candidiasis for future clinical trials.

Background and Aim: Anticonvulsive effects of neurosteroids were shown in animal models. Endocannabinoids modulate neuronal excitability. In this study, we investigated the synergism of the simultaneous application of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) as an endocannabinoid and Ganaxolone as a neurosteroid, on tonic-clonic seizures induced by PTZ. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were used. The tonic-colonic seizure was induced through a single injection of PTZ (80 mg/kg) and seizure stages were monitored for 30 minutes. Ganaxolone (10 mg/kg) and PEA (40 mg/kg) dissolved in DMSO were injected alone and simultaneously intra-peritoneal 15 minutes before the PTZ injection. Delay to the seizure stages, duration of the stages, and mortality due to seizures were measured. Results: PEA had no significant effect on seizure indices. Ganaxolone significantly increased delay to seizure stages 1-4 and reduced the duration of stage 5, also mortality of seizures was reduced in comparison with PTZ group from 50% to 16%. Simultaneous injection of PEA and Ganaxolone significantly delayed seizure stages 1-5 in comparison with both PTZ and Ganaxolone groups and reduced the duration of stage 5. Also, mortality due to seizures was reduced in comparison with PTZ group from 50% to 0%. Conclusion: PEA injection with Ganaxolone increased the anticonvulsive effects of Ganaxolone, and reduced mortality due to seizures.

Background and Aim: Aluminum phosphide poisoning has a high mortality rate because of the production of phosphine gas and refractory hypotension. Based on the effect of dihydroxyacetone on the treatment of hypotension and reduction of cytochrome C oxidase, the effects of dihydroxyacetone on the level of oxidative stress factors and histology of heart and liver tissue in aluminum phosphide-poisoned male rats were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this study, 24 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including control (corn oil), aluminum phosphide (15 mg/kg), dihydroxyacetone (50 mg/kg) and also poisoned and treated group (aluminum phosphide (15 mg/kg) + dihydroxyacetone (50 mg/kg)). After 24 hours, the animals were sacrificed and the blood, plasma, heart, and liver samples were collected then oxidative stress factors and histology of the heart and liver were investigated. Results: Aluminum phosphide poisoning increased lipid peroxidation in red blood cells (p=0. 001) and liver tissue (p=0. 023) and also increased protein carbonylation in plasma (p =0. 005) and red blood cells (p=0. 001). After administration of dihydroxyacetone, lipid peroxidation in red blood cells (p=0. 001) and liver (p=0. 001) and carbonylation of proteins in red blood cells (p=0. 003) and plasma (p=0. 019) decreased. No significant change was observed in total plasma antioxidant capacity, carbonylation levels of the liver and heart, and lipid peroxidation in heart tissue. In addition, treatment with dihydroxyacetone significantly improved the histological changes in liver and heart tissue. Conclusion: Dihydroxyacetone not only prevents phosphine-induced deaths but also improves oxidative stress and histology of liver and heart tissue.

Background and Aim: Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat many rheumatic diseases. This drug has been widely used, especially in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. One of the most important side effects of these drugs is retinopathy and changes in the visual field. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ocular complications caused by hydroxychloroquine and its related factors. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 505 patients were investigated. These patients underwent complete ophthalmological examinations periodically every six months. If patients had impaired visual field in the perimeter, the visual field examination was repeated two weeks later. If there were specific findings, it was recorded as retinopathy and visual field defect. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was performed for patients if the perimeter findings in the retest were nonspecific. Results: Several of the 51 cases (10. 09%) had eye problems, and 24 (4. 75%) had problems other than retinopathy. Problems in perimetry or visual field defects were reported in 27 patients (5. 34%) who had recurrent perimetry and 15 patients reported specific drug-related perimetry findings. The results showed that in terms of the underlying disease and its relationship with the incidence of ocular complications in patients, a significant relationship was observed between chronic renal failure and the incidence of complications (P=0. 022). Conclusion: The incidence of hydroxychloroquine-induced retinopathy appears to be relatively high in our region. Due to the significant association with chronic renal failure, screening should be done more carefully in these patients.

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is one of the most common infectious diseases between humans and livestock in Iran. Because of the diagnostic problems of brucellosis, especially in endemic areas, the use of new diagnostic methods is of great importance. Therefore, this study was performed to compare BrucellacapT sensitivity and specificity with the standard Wright tube agglutination test in the diagnosis of Brucella. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 sera from a patient with suspected symptoms of brucellosis and without laboratory confirmation were studied. Wright, Coombs wright, and BrucellacapT tests were performed at diagnostic threshold titers of 1. 160 and 1. 80 Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated and finally, data were analyzed with SPSS software version 14. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, of which 45% were female and 55% were male. In titrate 1. 160 positive Wright test as a diagnostic threshold, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the BrucellacapT test were 97. 95, 86. 27, 87. 27, and 97. 97 percent, respectively. In titrate 1. 80 positive Wright test as a diagnostic threshold, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of BrucellacapT test were 98. 43, 97. 50, 95. 45, and 97. 05 percent, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that the BrucellacapT test in the studied cut points has acceptable sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of brucellosis and the diagnostic and accuracy of this test in the titrate 1. 160 is very close to the Coombs Wright test.

Background and Aim: Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are a group of non-coding RNAs involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. This study intended to evaluate the expression of long non-coding RNAs NEAT1, H19, and MALAT1 in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) before and after treatment with budesonide and fexofenadine in comparison with fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 53 patients with allergic rhinitis (including 29 patients treated with budesonide and fexofenadine and 24 patients treated with fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine) before and one month after the initiation of treatment. The mRNA expression levels of NEAT1, H19, and MALAT1 were measured by the Real-Time PCR method. Results: Our results showed that mRNA expression levels of H19 and MALAT1 significantly increased after treatment with budesonide and fexofenadine (p= 0. 001, p = 0. 002, respectively), while mRNAs expression levels of NEAT1 and H19 significantly decreased after treatment with fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine (p= 0. 014, p= 0. 036, respectively). Conclusion: The combination of budesonide and fexofenadine by increasing the expression levels of MALAT1 and the combination of fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine by decreasing the expression level of NEAT1 and H19 were effective in reducing the clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis patients.

Background and Aim: Most studies showed that low cord blood pH was associated with short-term mortality as well as long-term neurological disorders, but few studies showed associations between high cord blood lactate and adverse short-term outcomes. This study aimed to determine the association between umbilical cord blood lactate during the first hour of birth in infants with 5th-minute Apgar scores <7 and short-term neonatal complications. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 49 pregnant women over 37 weeks gestation referred to the maternity wards of Academic Hospitals of the Mashhad university of medical sciences with the onset of labor, whose neonates scored below 7 in 5th-minute Apgar, were included after obtaining informed consent, by convenient sampling method. Preliminary information was recorded. Also, a blood sample was taken from the umbilical artery and its pH, pCO2, bicarbonate, and lactate levels were measured. The neonatal outcomes and complications and outcomes (discharge or infant death) were evaluated. Results: Overall, 25 male (51. 0%) and 24 female neonates (49. 0%) with a mean gestational age of 39. 3±, 1. 1 weeks were studied. Cord blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, intubation-ventilation, hypothermia, meconial aspiration, NICU admission, and those who died compared with the opposite groups (P<0. 05). The best lactate cut-off point for predicting hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and intubation was 4. 55mg/dl, while for predicting neonatal death it was 6. 19mg/dl with 100% sensitivity and 97. 4% specificity. Conclusion: Umbilical cord blood lactate measurement can be a highly accurate measure of neonatal outcome and early complications that can greatly help with the health status assessments of infants with adverse Apgar scores at birth, their prognosis, and management.

Background and Aim: Prolonged pregnancy is associated with many complications for both mother and fetus. The onset and progression of labor require cervical ripening. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of oral evening primrose capsules on the ripening of the cervix in primiparous women referring to selected centers in Sanandaj, 2020. Materials and Methods: This study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial That was performed on 80 primiparous women referring to selected centers in Sanandaj in 2020 with a gestational age of 39 weeks to 39 weeks and 6 days. Subjects were randomly assigned to intervention (evening primrose) and control (placebo) groups. The outcome of the study was the ripening of the Cervix which was evaluated for both groups during the period before the intervention, one week after the intervention, and the time of hospitalization. A Bishop scoring table was used to evaluate was ripening of the Cervix. Data analysis was performed using STATA software version 14 and independent t-tests, Fisher's exact test, and Repeated measure ANOA. Results: Bishop score one week after taking the capsules in the intervention group (3. 73±, 0. 90) was not significantly different from the control group (2. 88±, 1. 35) (P>0. 05), But the bishop score at the time of admission of the intervention group was higher than the control group,The bishop score in the intervention group was 4. 56±, 1. 29 and in the control group was 3. 13±, 1. 22 and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0. 005). Conclusion: the use of oral capsules of evening primrose is effective on bishop score and cervical ripening And it can be used for cervical ripening.

Background and Aim: Identifying the faculty members’,educational needs is an indispensable activity in planning faculty development curricula. Materials and methods: In this qualitative content analysis, data were collected through group discussions and individual in-depth interviews among the faculty members of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Data analysis was done concurrently with data collection using the content analysis method. Results: Five major themes, 16 categories, and 11 subcategories were obtained from the data analysis. The themes included personal development, planning and management, a favorable atmosphere for academic interactions, a suitable academic environment, and facilities and equipment. Conclusion: Faculty members are one of the main and important factors in the educational structure of the country, so paying attention to their needs in various aspects of education, management, and welfare is a fundamental and necessary step. The concepts extracted here opened many windows of a professor's needs to the research team. A faculty member can perform his or her job description perfectly if there are support structures in the social, organizational, psychological, and psychological dimensions. Identifying educational needs is an important step in planning faculty development programs and plays an important role in improving the quality of education.

Background and Aim: Infections of antibiotic-resistant bacteria make their treatment difficult and sometimes impossible. So, scientists are looking for new solutions to fight these bacteria. Phage therapy can replace antibiotic therapy, especially in multidrug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, we aimed to isolate bacteriophage that is effective against common gramnegative bacteria. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 250 ml of hospital and municipal wastewater samples were gathered. The samples were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes, the supernatants were filtered through a 0. 22 μ, m filter. To phage enrichment, 50 ml of filtered water twice the volume of nutrient broth and host bacteria were incubated at 37 C for 24 hours in a shaker incubator. The double-layer agar method was used to see bacteriophage plaque. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the characteristics of the isolated bacteriophage. Results: Lytic bacteriophage effective to Shigella sonei was found by testing on municipal wastewater. Electron microscopy showed that the bacteriophage belonged to the family Microviridae. However, bacteriophage against other Gram-negative bacteria was not found in the test on hospital wastewater samples. Conclusion: The found bacteriophage had a specific lytic effect against Shigella sonei, this bacteriophage could be used for the study of phage therapy for Shigella infection with antibiotic resistance.

Background and Aim: Amoxicillin antibiotic is one of the antibiotics which is used in medicine and veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infectious diseases. In this study, a special electrochemical cell design was used as it could integrate the process units and the operation units to reduce COD and amoxicillin antibiotic residues from the wastewater of Alimoradian Hospital. Also, to optimize the operational parameters, the central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM) was used. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted in two parts. In the first stage, synthetic wastewater was prepared from Amoxicillin antibiotics to investigate the effect of various parameters such as reaction time, initial antibiotic concentration, current density, and pH on the efficiency of the method. In the second stage, the efficiency of the method in removing the antibiotic and reducing COD from the actual wastewater of Alimoradian hospital was evaluated. Results: Using the RSM, the optimal conditions of the laboratory findings were determined as follows: reaction time = 30 min, pH = 7. 5, current density = 2. 31 mA/cm2, and initial concentration of amoxicillin = 54. 66 mg/L. Under these conditions, the removal amount of amoxicillin was 90. 56%. The results also showed that under optimal conditions, the removal rate of COD and TOC from synthetic wastewater is 65. 5% and 44. 5%, respectively, and in the effluent of Alimoradian hospital is 47. 7% and 38%, respectively. The reason for this difference is probably due to the presence of some resistant compounds in the real wastewater. Conclusion: This experimental study showed that the combined electrocoagulation process can be a more effective method in removing the amoxicillin antibiotic and COD from aqueous solutions and hospital wastewater.