Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2023 | Volume:22 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Background & objectives: Due to the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and the presence of antibacterial compounds in plants, in this study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Physalis alkekengi on some pathogenic bacteria was investigated. Methods: In this experimental study, the dried fruits of the Physalis alkekengi were purchased from a medicinal plant shop and after extraction, the antibacterial effect of the aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of the plant against standard strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined using serial dilution and disk diffusion methods. Results: In the disk diffusion method, all concentrations of the methanolic extract of Physalis alkekengi had an inhibitory effect on Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. However, the inhibitory effect of the methanolic extract was considerably higher than the aqueous extract. The lowest inhibitory concentration of the methanolic extract was 12. 5 mg/ml, and the minimum lethal concentration was 25 mg/ml. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plant had the minimal effect on the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts showed different levels of antibacterial properties in a concentration-dependent method. Therefore, the inhibitory effects against each bacterium can probably be attributed to the activity of the active ingredients of the plant, the extraction method, and the properties of the solvent used.

Background & objectives: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is one of the most ancient and well-known medicinal plants, and its useful role has been well-established in treating of many diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Fenugreek on spermatogenesis, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in male diabetic rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats weighing approximately 200±, 20 gram were used. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of six. group1: control group, Group2: diabetic, Group3: diabetic+Fenugreek (8gram /kg diet), group4: diabetic+Fenugreek (2gram /kg diet). This treatment continued for 4 weeks. Blood glucose, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and sperm profiles were determined. Results: Blood glucose in diabetic rats which received Fenugreek significantly reduced compared with diabetic animals. Fenugreek also reduced body weight and MDA level of semen (p<0. 05). On the other hand, Fenugreek increased the total antioxidant capacity of semen (p<0. 05) and normalized sperm profiles (p<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the present results, it can be concluded that consumption of Fenugreek extract probably reduced MDA level, body weight, and normalized sperm profile thus, Fenugreek extract can be used to treat sexual dysfunction in males.

Background & objectives: There is evidence that COVID-19 may have some long-term effects on the patients' blood biochemical and hematological factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the changes in biochemical and hematological factors in adults with and without past history of COVID-19. Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study including 72 cases with a past history of COVID-19 (PCR+ test) and 52 controls without a history of COVID-19. All participants were from two prospective cohort studies, namely Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Shahedieh Cohort Study. Biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, lipid profiles, liver, kidney and hematological factors of cases and controls were extracted from the databases and analyzed. Results: The mean red blood cell count in patients with COVID-19 was significantly higher than in non-COVID-19 patients (p<0. 05), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 (p<0. 001). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of lipid and kidney profiles and liver enzymes. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients exposed to COVID-19 and patients not exposed to COVID-19 in terms of liver enzymes, lipid and kidney profiles, which probably indicate that COVID-19 has no long-term effect on these variables. However, a significant difference was observed between the two groups (p<0. 05) regarding the number of red blood cells and MCV.

Background & objectives: Even though clinical empathy is one of the clinical competencies of medical students and there is a high emphasis on teaching and learning, it decreases during medical education. This study investigated the relationship between burnout, quality of life and clinical empathy in medical students. Methods: this exploratory cross-sectional study used the Jefferson empathy questionnaire, WHO quality of life questionnaire and burnout inventory. All three questionnaires are standard, and their validity and reliability have been confirmed in various studies in Iran. The research population was the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences internship medical students, for which the census sampling method was used. Various statistical tests, such as Pearson and spearman correlation, Chi-square, etc., were used for data analysis. Results: Out of 130 students, 128 (98. 4%) completed all of the questionnaires. Data analysis showed that 98% of students suffered from moderate burnout and 2% of them had severe burnout. About 44% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with their health status and 33% of students were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The mean score of clinical empathy in students was 79. 46±, 9. 82. Data analysis showed a statistically significant inverse relationship between quality of life and burnout (p=0. 0001). Conclusions: Considering that the situation of students was not very favorable in terms of all three variables, non-curricular programs seem to be essential for improving student adaptation mechanisms to the job-related situations in medical students and promoting clinical empathy.

Background & objectives: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is an important medical disorder and one of the most common heart diseases worldwide, which causes disability and economic burden. The medical and research community is increasingly interested in computer-aided coronary heart disease diagnosis through the use of machine learning methods. This study aimed to diagnose coronary heart disease using a discriminant analysis algorithm in active elderly men. Methods: This analytical study was conducted on 351 patients of Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Tehran. This work used discriminant analysis algorithm to diagnose coronary artery disease. Python software was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that by using 14 characteristics as risk factors related to the subjects' laboratory, personal and lifestyle information. The discriminant analysis algorithm could distinguish healthy and sick people with 94. 4% accuracy and 88. 9% precision. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that this system can probably be used as an effective and intelligent method along with other diagnostic methods by cardiologists to predict coronary artery disease. Also, new data mining methods can be effective in reducing invasive risks.

Background & objectives: Obesity and vitamin D (VD) deficiency is associated with poor sleep quality (SQ), and lifestyle changes can effectively improve SQ. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval running training (HIIRT) with VD intake on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and SQ in young women with VD deficiency. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 52 women with an average age of 25. 98±, 1. 95 years, body mass index of 27. 54±, 1. 13 kg/m2 and low VD status. After being selected by the available sampling method, the subjects were randomly divided into control, running training, VD and combined groups. HIIT performed in 12x1-min running bouts at 80-90% HRmax interspersed with one minute of active recovery. VD was consumed weekly with a dose of 50, 000 units. SQ was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and paired t-test (p<0. 05). Results: After 8 weeks, the levels of BDNF in the experimental groups increased and the SQ score decreased significantly (p<0. 05). But the combined intervention had more effect on the change of SQ scales (p<0. 05) and BDNF (p<0. 001) compared to the other two interventions (p<0. 05). In addition, no significant difference was observed between the changes in the SQ score of the running training and VD groups (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Lifestyle changes such as HIIT, VD intake, and combined intervention can lead to improvement of SQ through the up-regulation of BDNF in women with overweight and VD deficiency. Also combined intervention may have more potent effects on improving these variables.

Background & objectives: Due to the existence of various issues and limitations associated with traditional buccal drug delivery systems such as the disability to consume food whilst using topical drugs in the mouth cavity, unpredictable drug release profile, undesirable taste, low patient adherence to therapy, and accelerated drug removal with saliva, these conventional methods are now rapidly becoming replaced with oral thin films as more precise and novel oral drug delivery platforms. The current study aims to discuss the design and characterization of betamethasone-loaded oral thin films with the aim of improved drug delivery in mouth cavity diseases. Methods: In this study, oral thin films with and without betamethasone were fabricated through the solvent casting method as a common, fast, and affordable technique prior to being evaluated for different physiochemical characteristics including weight, width, surface pH, disintegration period in vitro conditions, and swelling rates as well as drug release profiles at different intervals. Results: Obtained oral films were demonstrated to possess adequate homogeneity, flexibility, and mechanical resistance. Accordingly, the average surface pH for films without and with betamethasone was equal to 6. 75 and 6. 66, respectively, which are in notable compatibility with the neutral pH of the oral cavity. Betamethasone-loaded films’,disintegration duration appeared to be superior to that of films without betamethasone and was in close correlation with their higher swelling rates. Further experiments revealed 25-30% drug release in the initial 20 minutes, followed by more than 90% betamethasone release in 360 minutes in a sustained manner. Conclusion: These results are indicative of betamethasone oral films’,satisfactory physiochemical properties and potential applicability as a sufficient oral drug delivery platform in mouth cavity diseases such as oral lichen planus or recurrent mouth sores. By sticking to the mouth mucosa, these films can significantly reduce drug removal with saliva and thus ameliorate sufficient delivery of therapeutic agents to specific mouth lesions. Moreover, they can alleviate some of the issues and limitations of traditional topical oral drug delivery and improve treatment or control of disease symptoms.

A severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 infection (COVID-19)was identified in December 2019 and caused a massive pandemic that claimed millions of lives worldwide. The Chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine is one of the few vaccines against coronavirus disease in 2020. This case report introduces, a patient who developed thrombocytopenia, fever, and lethargy nine days after vaccination with the chimpanzee adenovirus carrier vaccine. The patient was admitted to the hospital and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) symptoms appeared during hospitalization.