Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2022 | Volume:24 | Issue:3 (83)|Papers Count:16

Background and Objective: Asthma is a chronic airway disorder with a rising prevalence. Dietary factors, antioxidant indicators and vitamin D deficiency are associated with the disease. Due to the presence of receptors for this vitamin in the lung, this study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D administration on lung function, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level and total serum antioxidant activity in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 patients with asthma were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (placebo recipient) and an intervention group (recipient of 2, 000 vitamin D capsules for 12 weeks). At the beginning and at the end of the study, 5 cc blood samples were taken from each patient, and spirometry test was performed. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), IgE and vitamin D parameters were measured. Results: The mean score of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC in both groups as well as the mean FVC in the control group did not change significantly after the intervention. The mean FVC score, vitamin D level and TAC in the intervention group increased significantly after the intervention, while the IgE levels reduced significantly. Conclusion: Taking vitamin D tablets could increase the antioxidant parameters in asthmatic patients.

Background and Objective: Type 2 diabetes is a common disease that could be prevented or managed with a healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to determine the effects of self-healing with mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on the health-promoting lifestyle profile of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This clinical trial was done on 45 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been referred to the Sedigeh Tahereh Clinic in Isfahan (Iran) in 2021. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups of 15 patients: a control group, a self-healing group (first intervention) and a mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy group (second intervention). Interventions for each treatment were held as a weekly 90-minute online session. Posttest was after 12 sessions and three months after the test was followed up. The research tool was a health-promoting lifestyle profile questionnaire with nutrition, exercise, health responsibility, stress management, interpersonal support and self-fulfillment components. The questionnaire was filled out by each group after the 12 sessions and three months after the last session. Results: Both the self-healing methods and the mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy increased the lifestyle scores of patients with type 2 diabetes compared to the control group (P<0. 05), and the effect was maintained in both intervention groups in the follow-up phase. No difference was observed between the two treatment methods compared with the control group. Conclusion: Self-healing and mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy is both effective in improving the health-promoting lifestyle profile of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background and Objective: Neuropathic pain is a large and difficult group of peripheral nerve diseases, which are complicated to treat. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on psychological well-being and pain perception among patients with chronic neuropathic pain. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 30 patients with chronic neuropathic pain who were referred to the Rohani Hospital and private clinic of a neurologist in Babol (Iran) in 2022. The patients were randomly divided into an interventional and a control group. The patients completed the psychological well-being scale (Ryff) and pain belief and perception inventory (Williams and Thorn) in the pretest. Then, ACT (120 minutes) was performed for the interventional group, 8 sessions a week. The patients completed the scales after the treatment course and 2 months after the posttest. Results: In the first follow-up, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of total score of psychological well-being (P<0. 05), the subscales of self-acceptance (P<0. 05), positive relationships with others (P<0. 05), autonomy (P<0. 05), environmental mastery (P<0. 05), purpose in life (P<0. 05), personal growth (P<0. 05), the total score of pain perception (P<0. 05), the subscales of belief in the stability of pain in the present (P<0. 05) and belief in the mysteriousness of pain (P<0. 05). The treatment results were maintained in the second follow-up phase. In the first follow-up, the subscales of belief in the continuation of pain in the future and belief in self-blame did not differ significantly between the two groups, but in the second follow-up, the subscales of belief in the continuation of pain in the future (P<0. 05) and belief in self–, blame (P<0. 05) differed significantly between the two groups. In addition, the average psychological well-being in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group, and the average pain perception in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group. Conclusion: This study shows the ACT could be an effective intervention for improving psychological well-being and pain perception among patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

Background and Objective: Hypoxia is one of the most common clinical stresses that occur during pregnancy, which has adverse effects on fetal development. Fish oil, with its antioxidant properties, prevents fetal disorders during pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of fish oil on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal dimensions caused by hypoxia during gestation in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 36 female pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of control, hypoxia, fish oil 0. 5 ml, fish oil 1 ml, hypoxia+fish oil 0. 5 ml, and hypoxia + fish oil 1 ml. Fish oil was administered by gavage, and the hypoxia model was established between 6 and 15 days of gestation by 3 hours of daily exposure to 10% oxygen and 90% nitrogen. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the embryos were removed from the uterus. First, the number of obtained embryos from each group was counted. Then, in terms of apparent abnormalities, the number of live fetuses and fetal resorption was evaluated. Finally, the length and weight of the fetuses were measured. Results: The frequency of embryos with apparent abnormalities in the hypoxia and control groups was 18. 18% and nil, respectively. The frequency of fetal resorptions in the hypoxia and control groups was 27. 27% and 1. 92%, respectively. Moreover, fetal weight and length were significantly reduced in the hypoxia group compared with the control group (P<0. 05). However, the average weight and length of fetuses in the hypoxia groups receiving fish oil showed a significant increase compared to the hypoxia group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Hypoxia during pregnancy in rats reduces fetal body dimensions and increases fetal abnormalities. However, fish oil can reduce the harmful effects of hypoxia on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal body dimensions during pregnancy.

Background and Objective: The liver is the main organ involved in the metabolism of various drugs and toxins. Thus, it is highly vulnerable to damage caused by drugs and toxins. Alpinia officinarum belongs to the Ginger family and has been used in traditional Iranian medicine for its therapeutic effects on the digestive system, including strengthening the function of the stomach and organs, improving digestion and reducing bloating. In addition, the plant has anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. This study investigated the hepatotoxic effects of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes aqueous extract in male Wistar rats. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 35 male Wistar rats that were randomly allocated into 5 groups of 7. Four groups received 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract for 28 days, while a group did not receive the extract (control group). Tissue sections (5 microns) were stained by hematoxylin and eosin at the pharmacology laboratory of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. The groups were examined for liver tissue pathology, and the level of liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was measured by Pars Azmoun ELISA kit. Results: Administration of the aqueous extract of Alpinia officinarum rhizome for 28 days by gavage increased the level of AST, ALT and ALP in the serum of rats. Tissue damage was observed in most groups receiving the extract. Conclusion: The results show that consumption of the aqueous extract of Alpinia officinarum rhizome at a dose of more than 100 mg/kg can cause liver damage and is lethal at a dose of 800 mg/kg.

Background and Objective: Chronic use of opioids leads to analgesic tolerance. Protein kinase C (PKC), adenylyl cyclase (AC), nitric oxide (NO) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β, ) are involved in morphine tolerance. Lithium activates the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway that inhibits GSK-3β,and reduces morphine-induced tolerance. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of lithium on morphine dependence symptoms and tolerance of its analgesic effects in Swiss mice by GSK-3β,signaling. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 56 Swiss male albino mice that were randomly allocated into 8 groups (each containing 7 mice). The intraperitoneal injection of morphine at different concentrations (50, 50 and 75 mg/kg) and different hours (08: 00, 11: 00 and 16: 00, respectively) was performed for 4 days, and a single dose 50 mg/kg was administered on the 5th day. The effects of three doses of lithium (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg) given orally, 45 min before morphine injections on morphine-induced analgesic tolerance were evaluated. To evaluate analgesia latency on day 1, 3 and 5, tail flick and hot plate tests were done. The brain of each animal was removed to measure nitrite levels, and histological evaluation and immunohistochemistry for p-glycogen synthase (p-GSSer640) were performed on the last day of the study. Results: Co-administration of lithium significantly increased the latency of analgesia in comparison with the morphine group on the 3rd and 5th day (P<0. 05). Lithium reduced the morphine-induced increase of nitrite levels and also reduced brain damage. In addition, immunohistochemistry assay of p-GSSer640 indicated a significant reduction of the morphine-induced phosphorylation of GS at S640 by GSK in the lithium-treated mice. Conclusion: Lithium administration can reduce morphine tolerance in adult male Swiss mice.

Background and Objective: Neurogenesis is the process through which neurons are generated from neural stem cells. This process has been shown to occur in special zones of the adult brain including the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Gonadal steroids affect different steps of neurogenesis, and cell proliferation seems to be increased by estrogens. This study aimed to investigate the neurogenic changes in the SVZ at different phases of the estrous cycle. Methods: In this experimental study, 26 NMRI mice were used. The mice were identified by vaginal smear and then divided into 4 groups including proestrus (n=5), estrous (n=7), metestrus (n=7) and diestrous (n=7). Different stages of the estrous cycle were determined by staining vaginal smears. Also, the qualitative assessment of cell proliferation in the SVZ was performed by cresyl fast violet staining and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry at different stages of the estrous cycle. Results: In microscopic sections stained with cresyl violet, it was observed that cell density in the proestrus stage of the estrous cycle was greater than in any other stages of the estrous cycle. A comparison of sections stained with anti-GFAP showed that the density of astrocytes in proestrus was significantly higher than in other groups. Conclusion: Proestrus stage of the estrous cycle is associated with increased cell proliferation and density of astrocytes in the SVZ of mice. Neurogenesis is correlated to changes in sex hormonal levels at different phases of the estrus cycle.

Background and Objective: One of the ways to correct kyphosis is to use braces. This study was done to determine the effects of two types of simple and sensor thoracolumbosacral braces on ground reaction force components during walking in males with kyphosis. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 15 males with kyphosis did three walking trials on the force platform without a brace, with a simple brace and with a sensor brace. Ground reaction force data were collected using Bertec force plates. Results: There was no difference in peal forces, free moment and loading rate values during walking with and without braces. Conclusion: Using a brace does not affect walking kinetics in males with kyphosis.

Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and breast cancer. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 210 women (105 breast cancer patients and 105 healthy individuals) aged 20-89 years in Azadshahr (Iran) in 2019. Nutritional status was assessed using a researcher-made checklist. Results: The majority of cancer patients were in the 40-54 years age group (49. 5%). There was a significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of consumption of solid oil (49. 5% vs. 31. 4%), hot food (19% vs. 9. 5%), carbonated drinks (29. 5% vs. 21%) and the average number of servings of fried foods per week (3. 2±, 1. 79 vs. 2. 3±, 1. 73) (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of consumption of vegetables, type and amount of meat, animal oil, legumes, salt and tea. Conclusion: The consumption of solid oil, hot food, carbonated drinks and fried foods could be associated with the risk of developing breast cancer.

Background and Objective: Factors involved in the formation of thoughts and suicide attempts with the complexity of social interactions and increasing the likelihood of its occurrence in different societies have led to a global effort to control and improve this social problem. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of personality traits in suicide attempts among patients referred to the emergency departments in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 80 individuals who attempted suicide and 80 healthy people who had been referred to emergency departments in Gorgan (Iran) in 2020. Demographic information was recorded and personality type was determined based on the NEO Personality Inventory. Results: The prevalence of neurological disorders and previous history of suicide in the person and family of the patients who attempted suicide was significantly higher than that in the control subjects (P<0. 05). Neuroticism was significantly more prevalent in patients who attempted suicide (P<0. 05), but the tendency to extroversion, conscientiousness, openness and agreeableness in patients who attempted suicide was significantly lower compared with the control group. Conclusion: Given the role of personality traits, especially neuroticism, in suicide attempts, attention to personality traits on suicidal behavior provides important data for improving the treatment.

Background and Objective: Puberty is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood which is accompanied by physiological changes. Menarche age is an important puberty indicator for assessing growth status. Growth and maturity of the genitals are essential for a girl's reproductive health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between uterine sonographic characteristics and dimensions with menarche and puberty in girls. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 76 healthy girls (aged 9-16 years) who were referred to the endocrinology clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan (Iran) during 2017-2020. Height, weight and age were recorded and uterine and ovarian dimensions were measured by pelvic sonography. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between menarche age (r=0. 79, P=0. 001) and ovarian length (r=0. 81, P=0. 007), ovarian volume and the length of the largest side of the uterus (r=0. 77, P=0. 001). Height had a significant positive association with menarche age (b=0. 082, P=0. 002) and ovarian length in the second place (b=0. 097, P=0. 004). But there was an inverse relationship between menarche age and girls' weight. Conclusion: An increase in the menarche age increases the size of the uterus and its volume.

Background and Objective: Stroke has a high prevalence and is associated with a high premature mortality rate. Thus, it is important to identify the effective factors in increasing the incidence of stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of seasonal changes and environmental factors in the occurrence of stroke. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 3, 639 patients including 3, 102 (85. 3%) with ischemic stroke, 472 (12. 9%) with intracerebral hemorrhage and 65 (1. 9%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. After measuring environmental factors such as air temperature, air pressure, humidity and geomagnetic field, admission data of stroke patients between 2015-2019 were extracted from the Sayyad Shirazi Hospital information system. Results: The mean occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage was highest in winter, especially in January and March, and lowest in summer, especially in July and August. Intracerebral hemorrhage had a positive significant correlation with air pressure (P=0. 001, r=0. 452) and a negative correlation with ambient temperature (P<0. 001, r=-0. 457). Subarachnoid hemorrhage and ischemia were not related to the season or the month. It was also found that ischemic stroke had a significant positive correlation with geomagnetic field fluctuations. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was not associated with any of the variables, but intracerebral hemorrhage was significantly positively associated with air pressure and inversely associated with temperature. Conclusion: This study illustrated that winter, low temperature, high air pressure and high geomagnetic fluctuations are associated with a higher risk of stroke. Therefore, the underlying physiopathological causes of this relationship should be carefully investigated in future studies.

Background and Objective: Trametes versicolor is important for its medicinal rather than nutritional value. Given the various pharmacological activities of this plant, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the aqueous extract of T. versicolor. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, an aqueous extract of T. versicolor was prepared. Antioxidant activity, flavonoid content and total phenol were measured by diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power (RP) methods, aluminum chloride (AlCl3), and Folin-Ciocalteu assays. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the aqueous extract of T. versicolor on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Fusarium thapsinum was determined by the disk diffusion method. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ciprofloxacin and amphotericin-B were used as positive controls for antioxidant activity and bacterial and fungal strains, respectively. Results: Total phenolic content was 27. 6±, 0. 38 (mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content was 4. 2±, 0. 04 (mg QE/g). Based on DPPH radical scavenging activity, the extract of T. versicolor showed strong scavenging activity (93. 8±, 1. 2 %) with IC50 of 103. 9±, 0. 8 μ, g/mL when compared with the standard BHT (IC50 of 30. 0±, 0. 6 μ, g/mL). In addition, it was observed that increasing the concentration of aqueous extract of turkey tail increased the reducing power of iron. The zone of inhibition around the extract ranged from 13. 0±, 0. 65 mm (in F. thapsinum at 75 mg/ml) to 21±, 0. 73 mm (in S. aureus at 300 mg/ml) (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The aqueous extract of T. versicolor contains a significant amount of phenolic compounds and also has strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Background and Objective: Reaction time measures have considerable potential to aid neuropsychological assessment in a variety of healthcare settings. One such measure, the intra-individual reaction time variability is of particular interest as it is thought to reflect neurobiological disturbance. The present study aimed to investigate the intra-individual changes in reaction time to visual stimuli in dominant or non-dominant binocular and monocular vision. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 12 volunteers with an average age of 30. 08±, 1. 448 years in 2021. The subjects consisted of the students and staff of Golestan University of Medical Sciences (5 female and 7 male). The reaction time was recorded automatically by the hand reaction time device of Danesh Salar Iranian Company based on the time of presentation of visual stimulation on the computer screen and the person's reaction, i. e. pressing the buttons of the handles by each of the two hands. All experiments were performed between 10 and 11 am and following at least 2 hours of fasting. Data collection was done following training trials for correct performance of the 2-choice reaction time test. After completing the reaction time tests for each volunteer, the dominant eye was determined by the hole-in-card method. Results: In 4 volunteers, the dominant eye was left and in the rest of the volunteers, the dominant eye was right. The dominant eye did not differ between men and women. The number of reaction times recorded in right monocular vision left monocular vision and binocular vision were 902, 911 and 893, respectively. The mean reaction time in right monocular vision, left monocular vision and binocular vision was 306. 81±, 3. 310, 304. 28±, 3. 339 and 312. 95±, 4. 569, respectively, and the range of reaction times in these three states was between 194-1750, 178-1587, and 155-1797 ms, respectively. Intra-individual reaction time variability in the dominant left eye and left hand were significantly lower compared to the dominant right eye and right hand, respectively (P<0. 05). No difference was observed between the reaction time of the right monocular vision, left monocular vision, and binocular vision. Conclusion: The alignment of the dominant left side in the eye and hand reacts faster than the dominant right side in the eye and hand. The mechanism of this phenomenon may be related to the overall process that determines the dominant left hemisphere in approximately 90% of the population.

Background and Objective: Dogs are associated with more than 60 types of common diseases with humans, among which parasitic diseases play an important role in public health. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of gastrointestinal helminths fauna among dogs in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 70 dogs (37 male and 33 female) consisting of 40 shelter dogs, 18 pet dogs and 14 guard dogs in Gorgan (Iran) from November 2019 to January 2020. Age, gender and housing places of the dogs were recorded, and dogs' fecal samples were examined for gastrointestinal helminths by flotation method with Sheather's solution. Results: The eggs of gastrointestinal helminths were detected in 41 dogs (58. 6%), including Toxocara canis (29. 3%), Echino-taenia (26. 8%), hookworms (24. 4%), Trichuris vulpis (7. 3%) and Toxascaris leonina (12. 2%). The highest and lowest rates of infection were related to Toxocara canis (31. 8%) in female dogs Trichuris vulpis (5. 3%) in male dogs, respectively. Also, in female dogs, 69. 7% of the samples were infected with at least one gastrointestinal parasite, and there was a significant relationship between parasitic disease and female gender (P<0. 05). Also, the highest infection rate was observed in shelter dogs (61%). Conclusion: The frequency of gastrointestinal helminths among dogs in Gorgan is high, particularly among female dogs.

Background and Objective: Any factor that disrupts the tear duct can cause epiphora, one of the most prevalent causes for patients to go to ophthalmology clinics. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction can be congenital or acquired. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, which can be operated using external or endonasal approaches, is the standard treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. This study was carried out to assess the success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy surgery for patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 38 patients (29 females and 9 males), aged over 18 with an average age of 43. 07±, 13. 83, suffering from epiphora referring to 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan (Iran) between 2015 and 2018. The success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy surgery for epiphora treatment was evaluated 6 months after the surgery. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the complications of the surgery and the connection to the CT scan results, endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy surgery was assessed. Results: The surgery was successful for 36 patients (94. 74%). The extent of the nasolacrimal duct obstruction of the right eye and the left eye was measured at 63. 2% and 36. 8%, respectively. Slight and heavy bleeding during the surgery was observed in 76. 3% and 7. 9% of the cases, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage and orbital injury during the surgery were not seen in the patients. According to the CT scan findings, deviation of the septum was seen in 76. 3% of the patients, while septoplasty was operated on in 41. 37% of the patients during the surgery. Moreover, half of the patients were suffering from chronic sinusitis for whom, the involved sinuses were opened and sinuses drainage was performed. Conclusion: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy surgery is an acceptable and successful method for treating epiphora, especially for patients with sinusitis or nasal septum deviation.