Journal of Ilam University of Medical Sciences
Year:2023 | Volume:32 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

2Introduction:  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the respiratory diseases in which inflammation plays a key role in its development. Exercise training has acritical role in improving chronic inflammation. Nonetheless, the effects of various exercise training on inflammatory markers in these patients are not clear. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the impact of exercise on the inflammatory markers, including IL-6, TNF-α, and c-reactive protein in patients with COPD. Material & Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and Google scholar databases for articles published until July 2023. A meta-analysis was performed for the impact of exercise on inflammatory markers in COPD patients. Effect size (SMD) and 95% confidence interval were calculated using random effect model. Moreover, I2 test was employed to determine heterogeneity, while Funnel plot test and Egger test were used to check publication bias. Results: The results of the data analysis of 11 studies on 578 patients with COPD demonstrated that exercise led to a non-significant decrease in circulating CRP values [SMD=-0.413 (-0.100 to 0.175), P=0.16], IL-6 [SMD=-0.164 (-0.69 to 0.36], P=0.54], TNF-α [SMD=-0.358 (-1.44 to 0.72), P=0.51) in COPD patients. Furthermore, the results of the subgroup analysis pointed out that aerobic training [SMD=-0.55, P=0.1] compared to resistance training [SMD=-0.09, P=0.7] led to a decrease in CRP in patients with COPD. Nonetheless, this difference was not significant. Discussion & Conclusion: The findings of the present meta-analysis illustrated that aerobic exercise is probably an effective exercise intervention to reduce CRP in patients with COPD.

2Introduction:  Nowadays, some aspects of neuroendocrine and immune systems intercalation are already known. Accordingly, it has been shown that certain immune cells, such as monocytes, can produce and store dopamine in their secretory vesicles. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dopamine on some immunological functions of the rat peripheral blood monocytes. Material & Methods:  In this experimental study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats were isolated by a ficoll-hypaque gradient. Afterward, the plastic adherent fractions were used as monocytes. Monocytes in the treatment group cocultured for 24 h with 5×10-7 M dopamine, and then their phagocytosis performance, respiratory burst, killing ability, nitric oxide production, neutral red harvest, vital ability, and NF-κB gene expression were investigated. Results: The results of this study showed that both control or treatment monocytes showed no significant difference in phagocytosis after the challenge with opsonized yeast. Nevertheless, the neutral red uptake, respiratory burst, and nitric oxide production after the challenge with opsonized yeast, and also the expression of NF-κB, were decreased in dopamine-treated monocytes compared to monocytes in the control group (P<0.05). The monocyte vitality of the treatment group did not show any significant effects compared to the monocytes of the control group. Discussion & Conclusion: It seems that dopamine dynamically creates an anti-inflammatory phenotype in the monocyte. Therefore, alongside a decrease in the lysosomal compartment activity, the monocytes produce lower levels of free oxygen and nitrogen radicals.

2Introduction:  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the buforin II gene on the expression of lncRNAs PVT1, EGOT and LINC00312 in ACHN kidney cancer cells. Material & Methods:  Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+) containing buforin II gene and empty plasmid pcDNA3.1(+) were introduced into E. coli strain TOP10 by heat shock method and then purified. Then both mentioned plasmids were introduced into ACHN cells by lipofection method and screening was done by neomycin antibiotic. Finally, real time RT-PCR reaction was performed in order to investigate the expression change of EGOT, PVT1 and LINC00312 lncRNAs. Results: After lipofection, the transfected cells grew in the culture medium containing neomycin antibiotic. The real time RT-PCR reaction showed that the expression of buforin II gene in ACHN kidney cancer cells caused a significant increase in the expression of lncRNAs EGOT (P=0.0033) and LINC00312 (P=0.0272) and a significant decrease in the expression of PVT1 (P=0.0278). Discussion & Conclusion: Considering that the presence of buforin II gene causes a significant change in the expression of lncRNAs EGOT, PVT1 and LINC00312, it is possible that it can activate cell pathways including apoptosis.

2Introduction:  Consuming a high-fat diet causes obesity, which is one of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. The present study aimed to assess the effect of aerobic training and capsaicin supplementation on the expression of lipogenic genes SREBP-1c and FASN in the liver tissue of obese rats Material & Methods:  For this experimental research, 40 eight-week-old male Wistar rats weighing 181.5±2.3 grams were selected as samples. Thereafter, eight rats were fed a normal diet (ND), and 32 rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and randomly assigned to five groups: normal diet, high-fat diet, high-fat diet-training, high-fat diet-capsaicin, and high-fat diet-training-capsaicin. The exercise groups performed an incremental aerobic exercise program (15-25 m/min, 30-60 min/day, five days/week) on a treadmill for eight weeks. Capsaicin (4 mg/kg/day) was taken orally by gavage once a day. Results: Induction of obesity was associated with increased expression of SREBP-1C (P=0.001) and FASN (P=0.001). It was also revealed that aerobic exercise with capsaicin supplementation significantly decreased SREBP-1C and FASN gene expression in the experimental groups compared to the obese group. Finally, this reduction trend was significant in the combined group compared to the supplement group. Discussion & Conclusion: It is possible that the use of capsaicin, along with aerobic physical activity, is an effective strategy to neutralize the markers of hepatic lipogenesis.

2Introduction:  The COVID-19 crisis exerts a marked impact on the quality of life of individuals experiencing grief. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of life quality improvement treatment and emotion-focused therapy on the cognitive flexibility and vitality of individuals affected by grief due to COVID-19. Material & Methods:  This research employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with two experimental groups and one control group. In 2021, 30 individuals affected by grief were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to three groups: life quality improvement treatment, emotion-focused therapy, and the control group. Data were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The first experimental group received emotion-focused therapy (Leslie Greenberg, 2012), while the second experimental group received life quality improvement treatment (Fresch, 2006). Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 27) using analysis of covariance. Results: The results demonstrated that both emotion-focused therapy and therapy based on improving quality of life had a positive effect on behavioral flexibility and social vitality, and the effectiveness of therapy based on improving quality of life on the vitality of bereaved people was more than emotion-focused therapy. Discussion & Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of both treatments on the flexibility of action and the effectiveness of the treatment to improve the quality of life and vitality of people with grief, psychotherapists can benefit from both two treatments to improve the quality of life and vitality of people with the experience of grief to take.

2Introduction:  Gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori is one of the common diseases in humans, which is transmitted through eating and drinking. This bacterium has the ability to settle in the stomach of some animal species, including dogs and cats. In some cases, the carrier animals are the source of infection for humans. The present study aimed to assess the amount of Helicobacter pylori infection in people having contact with pets, and the pets themselves in Isfahan. Material & Methods:  To dis end, 115 fecal samples were taken from the owners of domestic dogs and cats and microbial culture and polymerase chain reaction tests were performed to identify Helicobacter pylori. Results: The results indicated that 36% of domestic dog owners, 80% of domestic cat owners, and 8% of dogs themselves were infected. In addition, no positive cases of infection were observed in cats. In the chi square test (Pearson's test), the infection of domestic dogs and cats showed a significant relationship with the infection of their owners (P<0.05). Discussion & Conclusion: The relatively significant infection of dogs to Helicobacter pylori and the possibility of its transmission to humans makes the observation of health care more important more than ever.

2Introduction:  Increased nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in neuroblastoma cells may represent an autocrine system to support cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the simultaneous effect of aerobic exercise and nano curcumin supplementation on the expression of BDNF and NGF genes in rats with brain tumors. Material & Methods:  A total of 35 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups of five: healthy base control, healthy control of 4 weeks, base cancer control, four weeks of cancer control, cancer+nanocolumns, cancer+aerobic, and cancer exercise+aerobic exercise+nanocolumns. After injecting cancer cells into the mice's forehead cortex, with 80 mg/kg supplement gauges for 28 days, five days a week, enter the main aerobic exercise program on the rotating tape for four weeks, three days a week. At 18 m/min, they were 25-40 minutes. In the end, the mice were sacrificed, and data were collected. Results: The expression of the BDNF gene in the training+nano curcumin group was significantly decreased compared to the baseline cancer control and 4-week cancer (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of the NGF gene in the exercise group showed a significant decrease compared to the baseline cancer control and 4-week cancer (P<0.05). Nonetheless, no significant difference was observed in the nano curcumin group and nanocurcumin +exercise (P>0.05). Discussion & Conclusion: It seems that aerobic exercise along with nanocurcumin can possibly increase neurogenesis in rats with brain cancer by reducing BDNF and NGF gene expression through receptors.

2Introduction:  Irritable bowel syndrome is a type of digestive dysfunction characterized by chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements and is somehow related to psychological factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of emotional-focused therapy in the difficulty of emotional regulation and the severity of symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).. Material & Methods:  in this study, a pretest-post-test, quasi-experimental method with a control group was used. The statistical population of the present study was all patients with IBS referred to specialized and subspecialty centers of hospitals and clinics in Arak in the spring of 2023, of whom 30 eligible people volunteered to participate in the research. They were selected by purposeful sampling. The participants in the research completed the difficulty of emotion regulation questionnaire and the symptoms of irritable bowel. Results: The results demonstrated that emotional therapy has an effect on the difficulty of emotion regulation and the severity of symptoms in patients with IBS. Discussion & Conclusion: Traditional medical management is often unsatisfactory and does not address critical issues. Results suggest that it is essential that psychological treatments target IBS-specific factors for change, including emotion regulation. Therefore, one of the effective treatments for IBS can be emotional therapy.

2Introduction:  Laser treatment has been highly regarded for removing root canal microorganisms, which are the main causes of treatment failure. This study aimed to assess the effect of 810/980 nm diode laser irradiation on the reduction of Candida albicans (C. albicans) in the root canal. Material & Methods:  In this experimental study, 25 healthy single-rooted human teeth were assigned to 20 test groups (two groups of 10), and 5 teeth were assigned to negative control groups. In the first group of the test, a rotary system and in the second group, a rotary laser diode were used to reduce the number of C. albicans. Two microliters of standard microbial suspension were added to each tooth and the samples were incubated (one week, 37°C, aerobic). Samples were taken from the teeth before and after instrumentation and cultured. The results were analyzed using Paired T-Test and T-Test. Results: The results pointed out that the number of yeasts showed a decrease of 92.2% (P<0.001) and 94.5% (P<0.001), respectively, after instrumentation with the mentioned systems compared to before. On the other hand, there was a significant difference (P<0.01) between the rotary system and rotary laser after instrumentation. Discussion & Conclusion: Both methods effectively reduced the number of C. albicans from dental root canals, and the rotary laser system exhibited a significant (P<0.01) reduction in the number of yeasts compared to the rotary method.

2Introduction:  Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida yeasts in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to assess antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Candida species to ketoconazole and nystatin by broth microdilution. Material & Methods:  In this descriptive-analytical study, 377 clinical isolates of Candida species were collected from different regions of Iran. The species were identified using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The antifungal susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of Candida species to ketoconazole and nystatin was performed using broth microdilution according to standard protocol CLSI (M27-A3 and M27-S4). The standard strain of Candida parapsilosis was used as the quality of control. The minimum inhibitory of concentrations was determined after 24h at 37 ºC. Results: Based on molecular identification, Candida albicans 266 (70.7%), C. krusei 64 (17%), C. parapsilosis 40 (10.7%), and C. tropicalis 6 (1.6%) were identified. The MIC90 and MIC50 values of ketoconazole and nystatin for all isolates were 0.063 µg/ml, 0.031 µg/ml, 2 µg/ml, and 4 µg/ml, respectively. Discussion & Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, antifungal susceptibility testing along with the identification of fungi at the species level would certainly be very useful in selecting primary antifungal agents for treatment, especially in invasive fungal infections. According to our findings, ketoconazole was much more effective on Candida spp. than nystatin.