Koomesh
Year:2015 | Volume:16 | Issue:3 (55)|Papers Count:29

Iron is a trace element that is important for many vital processes in the body. Iron role in oxidation-reduction reactions not only makes it an essential element for vital activities in almost all cells, also a potential carcinogenic factor. To this date no study has reviewed the results of studies in this particular field including the difference between carcinogenic effects of various types of iron and variation of iron effects on different types of cancer. Considering this background, this article is a review on the literatures, focusing on the role of iron overload and deficiency in developing and treatment of various cancers.Searching the data bases including: PubMed, Science direct, springer and Google scholar. In each database specific searching strategies were used. Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, clinical trials and observational studies that examined the relationship between iron, its reservoirs, nutritional sources, and chelators with different types of cancers were selected for this review. This review study explains that both iron deficiency and overload could have carcinogenic, protective or therapeutic effects. These effects are varied according to the type of cancer and/or the type of consumed iron.

Introduction: Treatment of forward head posture (FHP) is very important as it is the cause of muscle weaknesses and fatigues, decreased range of motions and impaired neck proprioception. So far, a number of interventions have been introduced for treating this disorder such as stabilization exercises. Though, until recently, the "tape" has not been used to treat this disorder. Hence, in this study we compared the effective ness of stabilization exercises and the tape in patients with FHP.Materials and Methods: Thirty-three females aged 18 - 40 years with FHP were randomly placed into three experimental groups including: stabilization exercises, tape, and no intervention (control) group. Participants were instructed to do stabilization exercises three times per week for 6 weeks. Tape was used on posterior neck and shoulder girdle. The degree of FHP which was measured by using plumb line and the craniovertebral angle was evaluated through lateral view photo taking before and after six weeks interventions and one month follow-up period.Results: Within group analysis revealed that stabilization exercises and taping were both effective in decreasing FH inclination and improvement of postural alignment (P <0.05). Between groups analysis showed no significant differences between stabilization exercises and taping (P >0.05). Consistency of interventions was evident between two groups after follow up (P >0.05).Conclusion: Stabilization exercises and taping are effective methods in FHP correction. In case of difficulty in accessing to clinical services or shortage of time for exercising, using taping alone with caution could be effective in treating FHP.

Introduction: Patients with low back pain usually suffer from reduction in the thickness of their transverse abdominis muscle. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of abdominal hollowing and bracing practices on the transverse abdominis muscle thickness in the population of the young women with non-specific low back pain.Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized-controlled clinical trial conducted in two groups of 60 women altogether (control and experimental) with recurrent non-specific low back pain. Subjects in the experimental group were randomly assigned to either perform abdominal hollowing or abdominal bracing. Exercises were performed 3 times a day, with 10 repeats for 6 weeks. Transverse abdominis muscle thickness was measured on both right and left sides, using ultrasonography, before and after six weeks of practice. Percent of ratio of changes in the transverse abdominis muscle thickness during contraction was also measured.Results: The result of one way ANOVA test revealed no significant difference between the changes of mean percent of transverse abdominal muscle thickness during the hollowing and bracing practices on both right and left sides (P=0.21).Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two practices mentioned, the mean percent of changes in the transverse abdominis muscle thickness ratio during abdominal bracing was greater than that during the hollowing practice. This latter finding may warrant more consideration in prospective clinical studies.

Introduction: Emotion have an important role in brain's cognitive functions and information processing such as visual words' recognition rate. Emotion is considered to have two different dimensions: Valence and Arousal. Only a few studies have considered both of these aspects and it is not yet clear if they are either separated aspects or have correlation with each other. On the other hand, word's recognition speed is influenced by some lexico-semantic features too. Finding correlation between affective dimensions and lexico-semantic features is important in studying the distinctiveness of affective dimensions.Materials and Methods: 100 university students scored to 300 words in the questionnaire related to affective dimensions and lexico-semantic features, based on Likert rating scale. Then data correlation was studied by linear and quadratic regression tests.Results: There was a strong positive correlation between valence and arousal as valence was increased by arousal increments. Negative words were significantly more arousal than the positive ones. There was a moderate positive correlation between the valence and the familiarity of the words. Also, there was an equal week correlation between the imaginability and valence and the imaginability and arousal, which means words with higher arousal or valence, are more imaginable.Conclusion: In spite of significant correlation between the arousal and valence, they are distinct variables; since the sense of arousal was different for positive and negative words, while, each emotional dimension correlated with different lexico-semantic feature. This independency should be considered in future studies. The Persian affective words' list, which was used in this study and rated for both lexico-semantic and emotional dimensions, could also be used as a primary tool in future studies.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare early maladaptive and appearance schemas in obse and and normal-weight subjects.Materials and Methods: The method of the study was causal- comparative and groups were included 30 obese (BMI³35) and 30 normal-weight adults (BMI<25). All participants completed Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Version (YSQ-S) and appearance schema Inventory (ASI) questionnaire.Results: Obse subjects showed significantly higher scores in compare to control group in self-sacrifice and emotional inhibition schemas. In addition, severity of appearance schemas in body-image vulnerability and self-investment subscales were significantly greater in obese subjects than in control group.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that some early maladaptive and appearance schemas are associated with obesity and therefore, theoretical conceptualizations and psychological interventions should address the above thesis constructs.

Introduction: Nurses are exposed to various work related risk factors that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess work postures and their association with musculoskeletal complaints in nursing profession.Materials and Methods: A number of nurses from Damghan Velayat educational hospital participated in this cross-sectional and descriptive study. Subjects were included; 48 employed nurses from ICU (n=12), CCU (n=12), surgery (n=11), and emergency room (n=13). Work postures were observed during practice and an adapted Nordic Standard Questionnaire was used to collect musculoskeletal complaints and symptoms. Data was analyzed using chi square test.Results: Data analysis showed that there was a high level of musculoskeletal disorders risk among those nurses (Risk Level 2 and 3). Musculoskeletal complaints were frequently made in relation to the lower back (58.3%), neck (50%), knee (33.3%), shoulders (10.41%), wrist (10.41%), back (8.3%), ankle (6.25%) and femur (4.16%). There was not any correlation between musculoskeletal symptoms and independent variables such as age, BMI and work experiences of nurses.Conclusion: Incorrect work postures may put the nurses at any risk levels of musculoskeletal disorders, regardless of body parts locations. The importance of work postures must be considered in training programs of safe working procedures to nurses in order to prevent the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Introduction: The severity of illness scoring systems have been used to predict mortality rate in patients who were admissions with a wide variety of diagnoses in the Intensive Care Unit. The aim of this study was to compare the APACHE IV and SAPS II in predicting mortality rate in intensive care unit patients.Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients who admitted to the intensive care units of two teaching hospitals of Mashhad, Iran_were included in the study over three months. We collected data from 150 patients with demographic characteristics questionnaire, APACHE IV and SAPS II. The data were analyzed using standard methods.Results: The mortality rate was 33.3. Mean and SD of APACHE IV in patients who survived and patients who died were 51.60 ± 20.23 and 77.96 ± 19.38 respectively (p =0.001). The predicted mortality rate was 22.61 for APACHE IV and 27.17 for SAPS II. Logistic regression results showed that with increasing every point in predicted mortality rate based on the APACHE IV and the SAPS II, the chance of observed mortality was increased by 8 percent (OR=1.082) and 4 percent (OR=1.048) respectively.Conclusion: The results showed that the APACHE IV and SAPS II were able to predict mortality rate in the intensive care unit patients but APACHE IV was more effective and useful tool.

Introduction: The most important and specific known action for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast is producing ethanol by alcohol fermentation and that is probably due to its high efficiency for absorption and fermentation of hexose sugars. The S. cerevisiae express 20 genes that encode hexose transporter proteins, including hxt1-hxt17, gal2, snf3 and rgt2. Among all those gene families, hxt1-hxt7 have important role in alcohol production. It has been shown that increasing the expression hxt1-hxt7 accelerates alcohol fermentation and therefore, ethanol production. The aim of this study was to identify and isolate hxt7 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome, using PCR and cloning it into a vector containing suitable expression promoter in order to produce recombinant yeast by transformation.Materials and Methods: Isolation of hxt7 by specific primers was achieved via PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into pGEM-T vector and transformed into Escherichia coli and finally, the recombinant plasmids were sent to sequencing.Results: The nucleotide sequence of open reading frame in gene was revealed a 1713 bp long with a deduced amino acid of 570 residues. The estimated molecular mass and the predicted isoelectric point of the deduced polypeptide were 62.725 kDa and 7.89, respectively.Conclusion: The deduced protein sequence showed a high similarity to hxt7 sequences registered in NCBI and with the highest percentage of similarity to Hxt7p S. cerevisiae S288C recorded at NCBI with access code NP010629.3.

Introduction: Tapering is a method for improving the performance of athletes by reducing the risk factors produced by intense exercise. In this study, the effect of 2 to 3 weeks tapering followed by a 6 weeks of severe interval training was investigated on the lower respiratory tract remodeling in the maturing rat.Materials and Methods: 80 male rats within the age of 5 weeks were used in this study. After 6 weeks of intense interval training (IIT) (6 sessions per week for 30 min at speed of 15-70 m/min) rats were divided into 8 groups. Two IIT and control group were sacrificed at the beginning of the taper. Other 6 IIT groups were divided into repetition, frequency and intensity tapering for 2 and 3 weeks of interval performance. In the end, the animals were sacrificed and lungs were removed, weighed and sized. For histology, lungs were fixed in formalin and stained by H&E methods.Results: Our results showed that the lung wet weight was increased in taper frequency group compared to IIT in the third week of exercise. Also taper exercise significantly reduced the longitude height of bronchial epithelial and thickness of tunica adventitia in taper groups compare to IIT group (P£0.05). The reduction was larger in the third weeks of tapering than the second week.Conclusion: Taper training for three weeks reduced lower respiratory tract disorders caused by intense exercises in rats. Taper techniques may also have the same beneficial effects on the athletes’ respiratory system.

Introduction: Pervious studies indicate an important role for amygdala in stress. In addition, glutamate inputs to the amygdala are activated during stress. In the present study, the effects of amygdala NMDA glutamate receptors inhibition on metabolic symptoms induced by chronic stress in male NMRI mice were investigated.Material and Methods: Intra-amygdala uni- or bi-lateral cannulations were performed. Seven days after recovery from surgery animals received different doses of memantine (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mouse) five minutes before inducing stress. Stress was applied for seven consecutive days. Changes in the amount of food and water intake and delay in eating and defecation were considered as indicators for stress.Results: Stress reduced food, while increased water intake and delayed the time of eating and defecation. Intra-amygdala memantine injections exacerbated the effects of stress on food intake except with the medium and high doses in the right side of the nucleus. Memantine also inhibited the effects of stress on water intake except with the medium doses in the right side. Also, reduced delay in the time of eating significantly. On the other hand, memantine inhibited or increased effects of stress on defecation, in a dose- and side- dependent manner.Conclusion: Stress activates glutamatergic systems in the amygdala and impacts the metabolic functions. This effect is probably based on the concentration and the side of neurotransmitter action in the nucleus.

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae, is one of the most important bacterial pathogens and a member of viridians streptococci group. Accurate identification and differentiation of this form of bacteria from other relative streptococci, is the base of epidemiological study of this type of organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in clinical laboratories in Tehran, by using phenotypic and genotypic methods.Materials and Methods: A total number of 110 isolates, identified as pneumococci by some clinical laboratories in Tehran, were collected between March 2010 to May 2012.After isolating the colonies, biochemical identification tests by optochin susceptibility (Mast) and bile solubility (direct method) methods were performed. After DNA extraction, PCR was performed to define lytA gene as a molecular identification for Streptococcus pneumonia.Results: After re-identifying the isolates, fifty of them were determined as true pneumococci, and other remaining sixty isolates were identified as: three gram negative coccobacilli, seven non alpha hemolytic streptococci, and fifty Viridans streptococci. Most of misidentifications were related to respiratory and eye infecting streptococci. Unlike non pneumococcal isolates, all 50 pneumococcal isolates were positive for lytA gene.Conclusion: There was 55% error in detection of pneumococci in this study. The use of optochin susceptibility test as the sole detection tool and also lack of supplemental tests and proper quality controlling, are the main causes of failure in diagnosing pneumococci in Iran. Misidentifications may result in incorrect epidemiological data gathering, unnecessary treatment, and false increased antibiotic resistance reports for this organism. Regarding the high incidence of inaccuracies in defining this specific type of microorganism, we suggest the presence of a clinical microbiologist in the hospital laboratories to perform the right diagnostic tests and quality controlling would be essential.

Introduction: Caring is the most important feature of the nursing profession and provides a crucial role in improving the patient’s health, process of recovery and their satisfaction. Circadian type is defined as the capability of individuals to adapt to shift works. Nurses’ performance in caring the patients can be potentially under the influence of their circadian type. Based on that, the present study was performed to examine the relationship between circadian types and nurses’ caring behaviours.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlative study, 573 nurses were participated from different hospital units associated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences and based on the clustering method. The data were collected from morning and evening types (MEQ) and caring behaviour questionnaires, and analysed by using standard methods.Results: The findings showed a significant relationship between circadian types and caring behaviour subscales with the exception of attentiveness to other’s experience subscale. Furthermore, the caring behaviours of fixed-morning shift nurses were more professional and effective than those of rotation and fixed-night shift nurses.Conclusion: A significant relationship between circadian types and caring behaviours showed that morning types have better caring behaviours than evening types. Because evening type nurses usually show lower emotional balance and self-esteem compared to those of morning types, therefore, providing them with more attention and training can increase their qualifications and skilfulness in caring patients. Furthermore, it is important to consider nurses’ circadian type in determining their work shifts.

Introduction: Shigella and E. coli bacteria are the most common cause of Diarrhea, though as yet no effective vaccine against them has been produced. IpaD protein plays an important role in invasion and infection caused by Shigella. Another major virulence factor in Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and E. coli O157: H7 is Shigella enterotoxin or (STxB). IpaD protein in combination with STxB can produce a suitable candidate vaccine. In this study, the nasal STxB and STxB-IpaD fused recombinant proteins antibody titers and their immunogenicity were assessed and compared in rats.Materials and Methods: (pET28- stxB) and (pET28-ipaD-stxB) vectors were prepared at Biology center of the Imam Hussein University (AS). Transformation of these plasmids into E. coli BL21 DE3 bacteria were confirmed by PCR and enzymatic digestion. Production of recombinant proteins were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Expression of fused STxB-IpaD and STxB antigens were performed under induction of IPTG. After protein purifications, using affinity chromatography, antigens were prescribed nasally to five groups of rats in four consecutive sessions. Later the polyclonal antibodies produced in rat sera were measured.Results: ELISA showed that antibody titers were increased by the combination of IpaD to STxB compared to that produced against single STxB antigen. The immunized Rats with StxB antigen were able to tolerate up to six fold of LD50, while rats that were immunized with STxB-IpaD combined antigens were able tolerate up to tenfold of LD50 for E. coli O157: H7 Shiga toxin.Conclusion: The protein produced from the fusion of ipaD and stxB genes, can increase the effect of single STxB antigen immunogenicity. Recombinant proteins fused with STxB protein without chemicals adjuvants can be recommended in the form of nasal drops as possible candidates for vaccines against E. coli and Shigella types.

Introduction: Menstrual low back pain (LBP) in young females may reduce daily activity and cause functional disability that may highlight the importance of suitable treatment to reduce pain and disability. Regarding the progresive application of kinesiotaping (KT) in pain reduction and functional corrections, this study has been designed to investigate the efficiency of the lumbar vertebral column KT in young female students with menstrual LBP.Materials and Methods: 32 young female student with menstrual LBP participated in this two way crossover studies and divided randomly in two experimental groups. While the first group received KT during their first menstrual cycle and spent their next menstrual cycle without KT, the other group spent their first mentrual cycle without KT and received KT during their next menstrual cycle. At the end of the third day of menstrual cycle, all subjetcs comleted Oswestry disability index and McGill pain questionnaire with VAS of pain.Findings: Comparing the pain and disability between two conditions of using and not using KT during mense, showed that using KT significantly reduced pain (P=0.005) and functional disability (P<0.0001).Conclusion: Our results showed that KT may effectively reduce pain and functional disability. These findings may support the clinical application of kinesiotaping in young females with menstrual LBP.

Introduction: Due to the trunk muscle weakness after chronic low back pain (CLBP), the evaluation of their function is an important part of rehabilitation protocols for CLBP. Therefore, providing the appropriate tools to measure trunk rotation torque is important. This study has been designed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the attached instruments to Biodex 4Pro for the measuring of isometric and isokinetic torque of trunk rotator muscles.Materials and Methods: 17 patients with CLBP and 17 healthy subjects (aged and sex matched) participated in the study. The isometric and isokinetic torques of trunk rotator muscles to the left and right were evaluated in 3 sessions with 7 days interval by 2 different examiners. The Persian version of disability Oswestry questionnaire was used to evaluate the validity of instrument.Results: The findings showed that isokinetic and isometric torque of trunk rotator muscles are significantly lower in patients with CLBP than healthy subjects (P=0.013). The findings also indicate a good inter-tester reliability (r=0.62 to 0.82, P<0.01) and intra-tester reliability (r=0.53 to 0.84, P<0.01) of designed attached instrument. Intraclass correlation coefficient calculation between the disability score and trunk rotator muscle torque data from CLBP patients showed a high degree of reverse correlation (ICC= -0.596 to -0.812, P<0.01).Conclusion: The results of present study indicated that the attached instrument has a good validity and reliability to measure trunk rotator muscle torque in patients with CLBP. According to these findings, it is advisable to use of the designed device to evaluate the change of trunk rotator muscle torque after applying the treatment protocols for CLBP patients.

Introduction: Ankle sprain is one of the most prevalent traumatic injuries in joints, which can lead to instability, osteoarthritis and functional deficit in the ankle. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute and late effects of kinesio taping (KT) on the postural sway in patients with ankle sprain.Material and methods: Fifteen subjects with history of ankle sprain (7 men and 8 women) were participated in this study including two periods of taping and non-taping sessions. The measurements included: displacement the centre of pressure (COP), speed of COP displacement and the standard deviation (SD) of COP displacement in the anteroposterior and lateral directions, with and without perturbation. All parameters were measured twice with one day interval before taping, immediately and 24 hours after taping, and immediately after tape removal.Results: There were not any significant differences in the mean and SD of COP displacement, the speed of COP displacement and KT and No-KT situations.Conclusion: This study’s findings indicate that KT may not improve the balance performance in subjects with ankle sprain.

Introduction: Reactivation of a stabilized memory induces a second wave of consolidation process which is now called as reconsolidation. Recently, a late consolidation process was proposed, suggesting that memory after learning within a delayed time window was labile. This late memory consolidation needs protein synthesis in the hippocampus. The aim of this study was to test whether the re-stabilized memory after reactivation also requires a late-phase protein synthesis in the hippocampus. We also investigated whether memories become increasingly resistant to disruption with age.Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were trained in a one trial passive avoidance task (1mA, 3s). In the first experiment, cycloheximide (CYC, 2.8 mg/kg, i.p.) administrated 15 minutes before the memory reactivation and also 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after the memory reactivation. In the second experiment, the same dose of CYC administrated to rats with memory age of 7, 14, 28 or 56 days. In the third experiment, CYC administrated (4 mg or 8mg/ml) into hippocampus. In the last experiment, CYC administrated (8mg/ml) into hippocampus of rats with memory age of 7, 14, 28 or 56 days. In all experiments, memory test was done 2 and 7 days after memory reactivation.Results: Results indicated that systemic administration of CYC only 12h after memory reactivation significantly impaired memory retention. With increasing the age of memory, no effect of CYC was found. This impairing effect also was found when CYC was injected into hippocampus. This impairing effect also was found on memory age with 7 days.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that protein synthesis, particularly in the hippocampus, plays an important role in the late memory reconsolidation and with increasing the age of memories, they become resistant to disruption.

Introduction: Regarding the increasing number of non-food poisoning in Iran and its financial burdens on the health system, a systematic and Meta analytical study of related documents might lead us toward more precise ideas for our future plans and strategies.Materials and Methods: The reviewed articles for this analytical study were included; related subjects in Iranian and international journals, final report of research projects, papers presented at the congresses and thesis review with using standard and sensitive keywords related to the subject. Most of the articles published between 1991-2013 years with inclusion criteria after quality control using random model, were chosen for Meta-analysis.Results: The findings in this study show the best estimate of the prevalence of intentional non-food poisoning, 46.11%, and accidental non-food poisoning in Iran, 53.88%. The research also found a substantial heterogeneity in using meta regression method. The main causes of this heterogeneity were participants, sample size and average age of the samples.Conclusion: the simple review of national documents show that morbidity and mortality rate produced by different ways of poisonings, still is high in Iran. It seems that the study of the pathological bases of these incidents with the aim of setting the evidence-based policies and with the approach of changing the attitudes and awareness of people more than before, are the most essential subjects in this field of study.

Introduction: Recent studies indicated that serotonergic receptor can modulate of acute stress' and corticosterone effects on behavior processes especially learning and memory. The aim of this study determines the role of serotonergic receptors (5HT6) on effects of acute stress and corticosterone on fear-based memory retrieval and extinction in passive avoidance task.Materials and Methods: Male adult mice were trained and tested in an inhibitory avoidance task (footshock, 1mA 3s). For retrieval assessment, 30 min before corticosterone injection or application acute stress and one hour before retention test (48 hr after training) the animals received SC203575 as a 5HT6 receptor agonist or SB271046 as an antagonist of 5HT6 receptors. For assessment memory extinction, one hour before memory reactivation (48 hr after training) animal received the above drugs and then received corticosterone or acute stress. Memory retention test was done 2, 5, 7 and 9 days after memory reactivation.Results: The results show that injection of corticosterone or application of acute stress before memory riactivation impaired memory retrieval and facilitated extinction of memory in subsequent tests. Pre-treatment with serotonergic receptors (5HT6) agonist and antagonist inhibited the effects of corticosterone or acute stress on memory retrieval and extinction, respectively.Conclusion: These findings indicate that the effects of glucocorticoids or acute stress on memory retrieval and extinction modulated at least, in part, by 5HT6 receptors.

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia is among the most common nutritional deficiency in children and accordingly, the use of iron supplementation is one of the strategies to cope with it. This study has been investigated the mothers, practice about usage of iron supplement in infants 6-24 months.Material and method: 400 mothers referred to health centers in Semnan (Iran) in 2013 were selected via convenience sampling and their practice in the fields of feeding supplement to infants, onset time, its amount, and quality of care during supplementation was assessed. The favorable practice of feeding supplement was considered as feeding it in day prior to referring, on time start as onset of it from 6 months( for infants with normal weight) and upon reaching double weight of birth weight( for low birth weight infants), and about the amount of supplementation, as the amount of 15 drops. On the other hand to perform all precautions during supplement feeding was regarded as good practice.Results: 73%, 94.5% and 89.4% of mothers participating in this study, had a favorable practice, in terms of the administration of iron supplement, the onset of supplementation and the amount of it respectively. The chance of feeding supplements to infants by mothers who had regular referring to health center for infant care was 4.56 times of mothers who had irregular referring (OR=4.56, 95% CI: 2.94-8.33, P<0.001). Also with increasing the rank of birth, the chance of feeding supplements was decreased (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.90, P=0.009). There was a significant relationship between mothers, practice about start time supplement and fathers, job (OR=5.2, 95% CI: 1.10-24.2, P=0.037).The most common cause of unfavorable mothers, practice about feeding iron supplement was amnesia (54.2%). Related to the quality of performance of precautions during supplement feeding, 46.6% of mothers had good, 23.6% had moderate and 29.8% had poor practice.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that mothers' practices, particularly related to the regular feeding supplement to infants require to be upgraded. Raising awareness and monitoring of mothers especially those who have irregular referral to health centers, have children with higher birth rank and those who have worker husbands is necessary.