Neuroscience Journal of Shefaye Khatam
Year:2016 | Volume:4 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gallic acid on hippocampal level of brain derivative neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in trimethyltin chloride (TMT) - intoxication rats after eight weeks of endurance training.Materials and Methods: Seventy Sprague-dawley male rats were selected and randomly divided into seven groups, including: (1) Control, (2) Sham, (3) Gallic acid 50, (4) Gallic acid 100, (5) Endurance training (4), (6) Training+Gallic acid 50, and (7) Training+Gallic acid 100.Hippocampal degeneration was induced by TMT (8 mg/kg) in all groups except control animals. During eight weeks, rats of groups 3, 6 and 7 ran on treadmill’s without incline at a speed of 15 to 20 meters per minute for 15 to 30 minutes per session, five times weekly.In addition, groups 4 and 6 were treated with gallic acid (50 mg/kg) and groups 5 and 7 with gallic acid (100 mg/kg) every day for 14 days.Results: The findings showed that hippocampal levels of BDNF in all test groups was significantly higher than sham group.Conclusion: Endurance training and gallic acid as well as the combination of them increase the level of hippocampal BDNF in a model of TMT-intoxication.

Introduction: Rumination is defined as a series of repetitive thoughts to the negative mood or events and reflection is dispositional self-attentiveness motivated by intellectual interests. The purpose of the present study was to develop a Persian version of Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire designed by Trapnell & Campbell and examine its reliability and validity.Materials and Methods: A group of 143 students from Azad University, Garmsar Branch were selected by available sampling during2014-2015. Results: The findings showed that reliability coefficients for the11 remaining items of Rumination-Reflection scale were0.73, which determine 71.78% of the variance of rumination test with 3factors of reflection, introspection, and brooding. Conclusion: The Persian version of questionnaire can be used to measure the rumination among Iranian subjects.

Introduction: Recent studies on theory of mind (ToM) in patients with bipolar disorder have revealed deficits of ToM ability during episodes. This study was aimed to assess deficits in levels of ToM in patients with bipolar disorder type 1 in remission Period.Materials and Methods: Thirty men with bipolar disorder and 30 healthy men were selected by available sampling method. The questionnaires included Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and theory of mind picture stories task.Results: Our results indicated a significant difference between bipolar disorder patients vs. healthy individuals with regard to the total score of theory of mind picture stories task. Regarding ToM’s levels, there was a significant difference between bipolar disorder patients and healthy individuals in five subscales included: second-order false beliefs, third-order false beliefs, reciprocity, deception, and detection of cheating. However, data indicated that there is no significant difference in first-order false belief.Conclusion: Bipolar patients spent their remission period showed a weaker performance in complex ToM’s levels and false belief than healthy people. They were weak in cognitive understanding of others’ mind states, like opinions and ambitions, and emotional mind states, like feelings and emotions. The deficit in complex levels of ToM in bipolar patients in remission period can be the result of the malfunction of cognitive infrastructures in the brain.

Introduction: Infertility is a personal crisis. There are different assisted reproductive techniques in the treatment of infertility. Anxiety and stress have been shown to be markedly higher in infertile couples. This study was aimed to compare the frequency and intensity of stressors in infertile couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment, Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment and without treatment (control group). Materials and Methods: Thirty seven infertile couples undergoing IUI, ICSI and without treatment were selected by non-random convenient sampling from the cases admitted to Rooyan Infertility Clinic. They completed demographic information sheet, and the Stressors Scale.Results: The results showed that there was no significant correlation between duration of infertility with frequency and intensity of stressors. There was no significant correlation between frequency and intensity of stressors with infertility factors. There was also no significant difference in the frequency and intensity of stressors between men and women. There were no differences in the frequency and intensity of stressors between ICSI and IUI with control group. Data showed that there was a significant difference in the frequency of stressors with the group of IUI treatment as well as in the frequency of stressors between ICSI and IUI with control group. Findings demonstrated that there was significant difference between IUI with and without ICSI groups in the frequency and intensity of stress.Conclusion: IUI, ICSI and control groups as the assisted reproductive techniques can be stressful. Long-term planning of mental health services for infertile couples, identifying couples at risk, convincing couples to refer for psychological assessment, psychotherapy by clinical psychologists, and drug therapy by psychiatrists are suggested.

Introduction: Sex-dependent changes of behavioral responses in humans and animals has been widely investigated. There are also controversial reports regarding the role of sex hormones in memory and learning. The present study carried out to compare spatial learning of male, female and ovariectomized (OVX) rats in Morris water maze.Materials and Methods: Twenty four rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) male, 2) female, 3) OVX.The animals were ovariectomized under ketamine anesthesia (150 mg/kg, I.P.). The same procedure as OVX rats was performed on the female and male rats except the wound was closed without removing the ovaries.8 weeks later, the animals of all groups were tested in Morris Water Maze. The escape latency, traveled path lengh and swimming speed to reach the platform were compared between groups.Results: Time latency in both OVX and male groups was significantly higher than female group. However, path length in OVX group was higher than female group, there was no significant difference in path length between male and female or between male and OVX groups. The swimming speed in male group was lower than female group.Conclusion: It might be concluded that endogenous estrogen has an important role in sex dependent differences of spatial learning.

Introduction: Organizational trauma theory is perhaps one of the newest theories in organizational behavior and management fields, which is aimed to investigate the psychological and physical side effects of organizational trauma for individual and group in an organization.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of organizational trauma on the skills of employees working in Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran.Materials and Methods: PLS and organizational trauma questionnaires were used. The effects of this trauma on different skills of hospital staffs were investigated.Results: Our data revealed a significant correlation between organizational trauma and staff skills in different dimensions.Conclusions: Organizational trauma can reduce employee skills in workplace. If this trauma lasts for a long period, it can affect organizational productivity.

Introduction: The regeneration capacity of the central nervous system (CNS) is very limited in the traumatic and non-traumatic injuries. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the most common traumatic injuries in the CNS. Cell therapies have been tested to repair the neurodegenerative conditions of the CNS by different type of stem cells. Cell Therapy approaches focused on targeting the pathophysiology of SCI, in particular to replace lost neuronal and/or glial cells, provide a more favorable growth environment and neutralize inhibitory molecules. Neural stem/progenitor cells, glial precursors, olfactory ensheathing glial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and Schwann cells are commonly used as the traditional cell transplants in experimental SCI studies, which may induce some advantages and/or disadvantages. It has been indicated that cellular transplantation had positive effects on animal models of some neuronal diseases.However, potential limitations and some concerns regarding the immunity of cell therapy are considered.Conclusion: The various stem cells candidates for cell therapy may provide positive therapeutic effects in SCI. These cells have some advantages and disadvantages.Among these cells, well-differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives in vitro can be used as an autologous source in SCI patients.

Introduction: Sensory experiences could be impacted the emotional state. Perception is the process that the brain selects and interprets sensations. Each perception has two physical and emotional parts.The physical part is memorized in the hippocampus and emotional part is saved in the amygdala. New perceptual experience is mixed with rehearsal memory that saved previously. Several related perceptions in different times and spaces make a concept. The collection of concepts makes beliefs. The decision making is based on their beliefs which lead to selective attention. It can be changed during the time.The amount of reward or punishment of behaviors determines the value of beliefs. If the result of action is followed by reward, the positive mood is reinforced and the emotional circuit is activated. But the cognitive system is employed if the action is followed by a punishment or conflict. The cognitive centers inhibit the emotion in a reciprocal function.Conclusion: This study reviewed data on the regions and models of emotion-cognition interaction. It was concluded that metastable model of emotional system may be a factor to produce different emotional state according to a same sensation experimentation.

Introduction: Due to lack of replacement of lost cells and neural factors in the affected area, regeneration and repair in the nervous system is complicated and has been of interest to researchers in recent years. Extensive studies in this field, such as cell therapy and tissue engineering methods, have provided novel approaches for nerve regeneration. The use of neural stem cells and scaffolds with sub-micron and nano-sized fiber structure similar to the natural extracellular matrix are the perfect choice for nervous tissue engineering. To this end two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures have been used.2D cell culture has been performed in hundreds of laboratories during the last two decades. This method of culture is elementary and does not reproduce the anatomy or physiology of a tissue for useful study.Therefore, a new method is needed to mimics the cell function and tissue architecture. Although design of 3D cell culture systems is more relevant, there are still several hurdles that must be overcome. When to be mentioned the 3D, investigators require for consider the design of matrix for supporting and proliferation of the cells. In general, scaffolds have been categorized in three groups, including natural, synthetic, and hybrid (natural & synthetic). Scaffolds combined with any chemical or physical properties are suitable for tissue engineering of the central nervous system if they are non-toxic, with size fiber of200-600 nm, with the gradual degradation of the scaffold after implantation in the body, and with capability of cell growth and proliferation.Conclusion: Recent investigations demonstrated that 3D culture is more mature and relevant to human and animal physiology than 2D cell culture. The hybrid scaffolds are best choice for fiber diameter size and high capacity of cell proliferation. The purpose of this review is to provide a general overview of scaffold design by natural and synthetic polymers and their effects on regeneration of the central nervous system.

Introduction: Road traffic accidents account for approximately 186, 300 children deaths annually as well as millions of injuries; including brain and spine trauma. Road accidents may lead to several disabilities and chronic disease, such as refractory epilepsy and cognitive impairments. In low-income and middle-income countries, road traffic accidents account for about two-thirds of these casualties and injuries. To address the importance of public health and sustainable development issue of child road safety in Iran, The Fifth International Road Safety and Pediatric Trauma was held on January 20-22, 2016 in Tehran, Iran.Conclusion: During three days of discussion between several experts from Europe as well as Iranian scientists, physicians, health educators, and traffic police on different aspects of children road safety, the followings seven points were suggested for for the improvement of children traffic safety: 1) declaration of road safety as a national health problem, 2) adoption of technical safety standards for cars and child seats, 3) codification of law for mandatory use of seat belt and child seats, 4) implementation of enforcement measures for checking seat belt and child seat use, 5) enhancement of accident research and data monitoring system country wide. Furthermore, emphases were given to protection of child pedestrians, bicyclists, 6) obligatory education on children road safety in schools, and 7) emphasizing the role of media on improvement of children road safety.