Chronic Diseases Journal
Year:2018 | Volume:6 | Issue:1|Papers Count:7

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is vital for development of normal tissue and wound healing; but it play an important role in development of some diseases such as different types of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors (VEGFR) are two important key factors in this process. Previous studies have shown that downregulation of VEGFR1 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and vascular permeability of endothelial cells. So, blocking VEGF and VEGFR1 have been considered as a target to prevent the growth of tumors. METHODS: In this study, VEGFR1 gene expression was suppressed in AGS and SNU5 cancer cells using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Down-regulation of VEGFR1 was assessed at mRNA and protein levels using realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and western blot methods. Moreover, the viability and apoptosis of these cells were analyzed using MTT and flow cytometry techniques. RESULTS: VEGFR1 expression was significantly down-regulated both in mRNA and protein levels. MTT and flow cytometry results revealed that down-regulation of VEGFR1 inhibited cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis of these cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that VEGFR1 could play an important role in cell proliferation and tumor growth; and it could be considered as a valuable target for controlling tumor cells, and cancer therapies.

BACKGROUND: Mental health is considered as one of the most important factors in the promotion and development of people. This is very important, especially in students. This study aimed to determine the students' mental health status in Sanandaj City universities, Iran, during the year 2016. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the samples were 1100 students in Kurdistan University, Islamic Azad University of Sanandaj, and Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. The samples were selected using stratified random sampling method with proportional allocation. The data were collected using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) including 28 questions to assess mental health status. RESULTS: The average score of mental health among the students was 32. 10 ± 12. 00. The highest and the lowest frequency of mental disorders were related to aspects of social functioning (11. 24 ± 3. 62) and depression (5. 53 ± 5. 24), respectively. The students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences had better mental health than the other students in all aspects of mental health. There was a significant relationship between mental health with gender (P = 0. 060), and marital status (P = 0. 010). CONCLUSION: The findings of the study showed that parents, educational environment, economic situation of families, and students’ current home have important role in their mental health.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, one of the most important methods for evaluation of treatment and care in diabetes mellitus, as a chronic disease, is to assess the death anxiety. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between cognitive fusion and cognitive distortion with death anxiety in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this descriptive correlational study, the statistical population consisted of all patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ardabil City, Iran, in year 2016. 110 patients with diabetes mellitus were selected as the statistical sample using the convenience sampling method. For data collection, the cognitive fusion scale, cognitive distortion scale, and death anxiety scale were used. Data analysis was made using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis at the significant level of P < 0. 050. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between the cognitive fusion (0. 59) and cognitive distortion (0. 62) with death anxiety in patients with diabetes mellitus. Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that cognitive fusion and cognitive distortion could predict the death anxiety among the patients with diabetes mellitus (0. 48). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that cognitive fusion and cognitive distortion are considered among the predicting variables related to death anxiety among the patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who undergo hemodialysis have many complications; one of the most important of which is malnutrition, which affects these patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum albumin and body mass index (BMI) as nutritional indicators, and their relationship with dialysis adequacy in patients under hemodialysis. METHODS: In this study, 100 patients who underwent hemodialysis in Razi Hospital, Qaemshahr City, Iran, in 2016 were selected via convenience sampling method. The data were collected using demographic questionnaire, albumin test, and measuring height and weight of patients. Data were analyzed using linear regression and correlation coefficient tests. RESULTS: The correlation between the hemodialysis adequacy with albumin was 0. 634, which was significant (P < 0. 050). For the second hypothesis, the quality of dialysis with BMI was not positively correlated. The correlation between the hemodialysis adequacy with BMI was-0. 007, which was not significant (P > 0. 050). Although, in the third hypothesis, the regression between the adequacy of hemodialysis, as a dependent variable, and serum albumin and BMI, as independent variables, indicated significant relationship between serum albumin and hemodialysis adequacy; but there was no significant relationship between BMI and adequacy of hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Adequacy of hemodialysis is in relationship with malnutrition and improving the KT/V dialysis adequacy may have a significant effect on the malnutrition control in these patients.

BACKGROUND: Non-medical use of prescription drugs is a growing global health concern. The real scale of the problem is unknown. Statistics indicate that taking painkillers and sedatives leads to dependency and addiction to the drugs administered. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of drug abuse for causing lethargy and sedation in the population with the age of over 18 years in Sanandaj City, Iran. METHODS: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in year 2015. The sample size was 1750 people, and cluster sampling method was performed from all health care centers in Sanandaj City. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire to assess intractable consumption and tranquilizer drug abuse, and addiction to these medications. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to identify sociodemographic and risk behavior correlated with abuse tranquilizer or sedative drugs. RESULTS: 80% of the participants had intractable consumption, and 18% of those with intractable consumption had dependency to these drugs (having two symptoms of withdrawal and denial of medications according to DSM-IV). The factors affecting consumption and drug abuse can be arbitrary, job, availability of pharmaceuticals, insurance, family history of addiction, marital status, physical or mental illness, and conflict in the family. CONCLUSION: Dependency to lethargy-inducing drugs and tranquilizers was high in the study population. So, planning to make people aware of the consequences of taking drugs, especially tranquilizers and lethargy-inducing drugs, is very important.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is considered as a prominent health care issue. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of infertility and certain factors relevant to it. METHODS: The current study was performed on every couple who visited the infertility center of Besat hospital located in Sanandaj City, Iran, in a period between 2014 and 2015. The study population was comprised of 579 patients. A certain questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using STATA Ver. 11 software. Descriptive statistics as well as chi-square, t, and Fisher’ s exact tests were used. RESULTS: Out of 579 cases, 372 ones (64. 3%) showed primary infertility, and 207 cases (35. 7%) had secondary infertility. The most prevalent cause of infertility in women was found to be in relationship with ovarian factors (33. 5%), and in men, male factors were the first cause (30. 2%). Other observed causes of infertility were uterine factors (5. 5%), tubular factors (12. 8%), and unknown factors (18%). No significant relationship could be found between women’ s age groups and the male factors of infertility (P = 0. 813); while there was in fact a meaningful statistical relationship between women's age groups and ovarian factors (P = 0. 001). CONCLUSION: The current study shows that prevalence rates of primary and secondary infertilities were 64. 3% and 35. 7%, respectively. Most commonly found causes of infertility in men were male factors, and in women, tubal, ovarian, and unknown factors.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the world, and besides the malignant type that has a high mortality rate, other cancers causes many complications and deaths as well. The incidence of skin cancer has increased over the recent decades. The present study aimed to assess the incidence of skin cancers in the city of Kermanshah, Iran, in a period between 2003 and 2012. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study, for which all the data was collected from the Cancer Registry Health Center in Kermanshah Province. The study population consisted of 2, 660 individuals that had been diagnosed with skin cancer between the years 2003 and 2012. Analysis of obtained data was performed using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The prevalence of skin cancer in Kermanshah was 2, 660 people over the last ten years. Skin cancer had a uniform trend, but it had increased from 212 individuals to 282 over the past decade. Although this cancer could be found in all ages, but in 2004, it was mostly diagnosed in the seventh decade of life. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the prevalence of skin cancer is in fact high. Given that skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, it is necessary to take steps toward reducing the risk factors of this cancer by management and proper planning.