CURRENT RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2016 | Volume:1 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:8

Background and Objective: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most important cause of congenital viral infections that can lead to sensorineural hearing loss and mental retardation in children. After infection of the human, CMV remains latent and can be transmitted to others. This study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of CMV infection among the students of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 178 students of Babol University of Medical Sciences during 2009-2012. After obtaining the informed consent, demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Anti-CMV IgG antibody titers were measured by ELISA. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS and statistical tests. Findings: Of the participants, 37 (20. 8%) were male and others were female. The mean age was 21. 29+2. 91. About 96% of the subjects (171 students) were positive for anti-CMV IgG, of whom 33 (19. 3%) were male and others were female. There was no significant association between anti-CMV antibodies and demographic variables including gender (p=0. 74), marital status (p=0. 684), residency status (p>0. 05), and field of study (p=0. 95). Conclusion: According to the high prevalence of CMV among the medical sciences students and the importance of congenital diseases caused by CMV, expansion of prevention programs and essential trainings, especially for the seronegative healthcare workers (e. g. physicians, nurses and midwives) and women in the marriageable age, seems necessary.

Background and Objective: Many neurotransmitters, such as arginine, vasopressin and oxytocin, are involved in learning and memory processes. These neurotransmitters are synthesized by paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei (PVN and SON) of hypothalamus. The present study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the effects of PVN on memory acquisition and retrieval in a passive avoidance task. Methods: In the present experimental study, adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into sham (without any treatment), control saline and lidocaine groups of seven. Cannulation was performed by stereotaxic method. To inactivate the PVN, 0. 5 μ l of 2% lidocaine was microinjected into the nucleus through the cannula using the Hamilton syringe. Behavioral studies were done to assess the acquisition and retrieval memory using shuttle box, and the step through latency (STL) was recorded. Findings: Data analysis showed that no significant differences exist in STL (P>0. 05) between the group receiving lidocaine and the other two (the sham group and the saline group) during the acquisition phase, but retention test results showed significant reduction in STL in the group receiving lidocaine (18. 14± 3. 8) compared to the sham group (31. 14± 11. 7) and the saline group (33. 7± 12. 1) (p=0. 03 and p<0. 01, respectively). Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the PVN may be involved in the retrieval of learning, whereas the given nucleus seems to have no important role in the acquisition of learning and memory.

Background and Objective: Hospital as a health care services provider, is affected by noise pollution sources. This problem can have negative impacts on health and well-being of patients and staff. Therefore, this study was performed to measure noise levels in Public Hospitals of Sari, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four public hospitals of Sari in spring 2015. Sound pressure level was measured in operating rooms, intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency department during ordinary days and holidays in two shifts (morning from 8 to 12 AM and afternoon from 14 to 18 PM), using a sound level meter. Sound threshold limits were defined as 35 and 30 dBA in day and night, respectively. Findings: In this survey, Imam and Fatima Zahra Hospitals were the noisiest and the quietest ones with the mean sound levels of 55. 88+7. 18 dB and 50+4. 64 dB, respectively. Also, the operating room of Bu-Ali Sina Hospital and the ICU of Fatima Zahra Hospital were the most crowded and the quietest wards with 67 dB and 46. 5 dB sound intensities, respectively. There were no significant differences between the average sound levels measured in the morning and in the evening of ordinary days and holidays (p<0. 07). Conclusion: According to the results, the sound levels in the hospitals of Sari are higher than the standard limits. Informing and training the personnel can play an important role in controlling the sound, and therefore, in improving the quality of medical services in care centers.

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in the world with high rates of mortality, which makes it of great importance to be efficiently cured. Aurora kinase family (including Aurora A, B, and C) regulate several phases of cell cycle in mammalian cells. Aurora-B is overexpressed in various types of solid tumors and leukemia, and in that case, the prognosis is poor. AZD1152 is a selective inhibitor for Aurora kinase B. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of AZD1152 and its mechanism of action on two CRC cell lines. Methods: In this experimental study, two cell lines including Caco-2 and HCT-116, were used as models of CRC. Trypsin was utilized for passaging the mentioned cell lines. AZD1152 was provided with primary concentration of 1000 μ M and diluted to achieve specific concentrations. Antitumor properties of AZD1152 on cell lines were investigated using MTT (Microculture Tetrazolium Test) and clonogenic assays. Student's t-test was also done to perform statistical analyses. Findings: The results of MTT assay indicated that 50 nM and 500 nM of AZD1152 effectively decreased metabolic activity in HCT-116 and Caco-2 cell lines by 25% and 50%, respectively. Also the mentioned drug inhibited clonogenic activity in the given cell lines. Conclusion: Altogether, this study suggests AZD1152 as a novel potential chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of CRC. However, more investigations are needed to uncover action mechanisms of AZD1152 in CRC treatment.

Background and Objective: At present, malaria is considered as one of the most important health problem in many countries. The present study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of malaria in Babol, Mazandaran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2010. The required information of disease and demographic characteristics of patients were collected from the Vice-Chancellery for Health of Babol University of Medical Sciences. SPSS v16 software were used to analyze data and create tables and graphs. Findings: A total of 262 malaria cases were reported during 1986 to 2009, that 79. 4% of them were male and others were female. The highest incidence rate of the disease was observed in cases more than 15 years old (88. 5%), in 1986 (18. 3%), with a peak in July. ABER (Annual Blood Examination Rate), API (Annual Parasite Incidence) and SPR (Slide Positivity Rate) indicators have declined over the years. The strongest positive correlation was observed between malaria incidence and minimum air temperature (r=+0. 991, p<0. 05). In contrast, the incidence of malaria had the strongest negative correlation with the relative humidity at noon (r=-0. 863, p<0. 05). Conclusion: The findings show a downward trend in the malaria incidence rate in Babol. Regarding the malaria eradication program in Iran until 2025, similar studies are recommended in the other parts of the country, particularly in endemic areas of the South and South-Eastern areas.

Background and Objective: Yeasts, as important endogenous pathogens, can be transmitted to patients in hospitals by the route of inhalation. The present study was performed to investigate the presence of such microorganisms in Ayatollah Rohani Hospital in Babol, considering the role of light in the growth of colonies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, fungal spores were collected from six of the hospital wards air using the Anderson equipment in 2016. Plates were incubated at room temperature for maximum 1 week. After the growth of colonies, they were assessed in terms of macroscopic and microscopic morphology. Vesicle (chlamydoconidia) and germ tube formation tests were also performed to differentiate between Candida albicans and other species. The light intensity for the given wards was measured in lux units (lumen/square meter). Findings: In total, nineteen yeast colonies grew. The most contaminated ward was the hematology section (57. 9% of total colonies). By contrast, there was not any contamination in the surgery ward air during the sampling period. The light intensity in the fourth surgery section of the operating room was the highest in comparison with other sections (with 884 and 878 lux in morning and afternoon sampling times, respectively). Conversely, the rooms of internal ICU were the darkest parts. In this study, no significant association was found between the light intensity and the growth of the colonies (p>0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, the most contaminated hospital ward was the hematology section. Control measures to reduce the population of yeasts can improve the quality of health in hospitalized patients.

Background and Objective: Hepatitis B is one of the most common health problems in the world, especially in developing countries. It is necessary to understand and be aware of what infected people experience in their lives with this phenomenon. The purpose of the present study was to determine the experiences of concealment of the disease perceived by these patients. Methods: This study was a qualitative content analysis. The data was collected through 18 unstructured and in-depth interviews with hepatitis B carriers in healthcare centers and consultation centers for liver and digestive diseases in Amol, Babol and Tabriz, during 2014-2015. The sampling was purposive and all of the interviews were recorded, transcribed word by word and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Findings: The data analysis led to extraction of concealment of disease, as the major theme, along with three sub-themes, including feigning normal social behavior, minimization of the disease and disease concealment (living with secrets). Analysis of participants’ experiences showed that one of the common and important experiences among them was concealment of disease to persist their interactions, which existed as different forms in various states and situations of their lives. Conclusion: According to the results, patients infected by hepatitis B virus have to hide their diseases from other people in order to continue their normal lives and protect themselves against the negative and humiliating glances of others. Consequently, it should be emphasized on the necessity of educational and consultation programs regarding the different aspects of this disease, as well as appropriately informing the society.

Dear Editor Garlic is one of the most widely used medical plants. Several compounds of it demonstrate the wide intervals of advantageous effects as immunomodulatory and antimicrobial, as well as anti-inflammatory role and antitumor effects in vitro or others. This natural plant treats illnesses including diverse viral, bacterial and fungal infections, in other words, many researches corroborate that garlic has provided antibiotic properties (1)...