INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Year:2018 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Introduction: Sinusitis is a serious health hazard that is caused by inflammation of the surrounding sinus. Bacterial infection due to Streptococcus pneumonia microorganisms, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus is one of the factors causing sinusitis and bronchitis. Medicago sativa is known as a precious medicinal plant. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antibacterial effect of Medicago sativa extract on common bacteria in sinusitis and bronchitis.Methods: In this experimental study, after root extraction of the plant by maceration method, first the quantitative Minimum Inhibitory growth Concentration (MIC) test was carried out and then disc diffusion quality test was performed with the observance of standard strains for Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Staphylococcus aureus.Result: The results showed that MIC of Medicago sativa root extract against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza and Moraxella catarrhalis was 125 mg/ml. Furthermore, the extract did not affect Staphylococcus aureus, and in all of the tubes turbidity and growth were observed. In the disc diffusion method, the diameter of the inhibition zone was 16 mm for Moraxella catarrhalis, 13 mm for Streptococcus pneumoniae and 10 mm for Haemophilus influenza, and for Staphylococcus aureus, no inhibition zone was found around the disk containing the extract.Conclusion: The results of this study showed the inhibitory effect of Medicago sativa root extract on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza and Moraxella catarrhalis. By extracting the important compounds of this plant, we can hope to make a suitable drug for the treatment of sinusitis.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affect 1-2% of people worldwide. Inflammation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of RA. Anti- Cyclic Citrullinated Peptid (Anti-CCP) antibody and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) are autoantibodies that promotes inflammatory reactions and have a crucial role in RA pathogenesis. Treg cells are necessary for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmunity. FoxP3 is essential transcription factor for development of these regulatory cells. In this study, we surveyed the effects of FoxP3 gene expression in peripheral blood on plasma levels of Anti-CCP and RF.Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 47 patients and 44 healthy subjects. Then plasma levels of Anti-CCP have been evaluated using ELISA method. Also RF was detected with latex agglutination test, and gene expression of FoxP3 analyzed by real time PCR.Result: The amount of Anti-CCP and RF were significantly higher in our patients in comparison with healthy subjects (P<0.001) and (P<0.001) respectively. Also significant reverse correlation between RF and Anti-CCP with gene expression of FoxP3 have been shown in our study (r: -0.630, r: -0.584) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Anti-CCP and RF was (89.1%, 86.95%) and (91.3%, 91.1%) respectively for the diagnosis of RA.Conclusion: Our data illustrated that FoxP3 gene expression have reverse significant correlation with plasma concentration of anti-CCP and RF.

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan that infects most warm-blooded vertebrates. Because of the immunodeficiency in hemodialysis patients, these individuals are at higher risk for reactivating chronic toxoplasmosis; therefore, a diagnosis of early and definitive in these individuals is highly desirable. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran during 2015-2016.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 160 participants, 80 hemodialysis patients (test group) and 80 healthy persons (control group) were randomly selected. IgG and IgM against T. gondii was measured by CLIA (Chemiluminescence) and ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests. To analyze the data from Chi-square test, and SPSS statistical software of version 21 was used.Result: In hemodialysis patients, 35 (43.8%) and 25 (31.3%) were positive for the antibody of IgG by ELISA and CLIA, respectively. In healthy individuals, a positive result of 22 (27.5%) and 13 (16.3%) were obtained by ELISA and CLIA, respectively. In hemodialysis patients, 5 (6.3%) and 4 (5%) was positive by ELISA and by CLIA, respectively. In healthy individuals, a positive of 4 (5%) were obtained by ELISA and CLIA. The antibodies of IgG in hemodialysis patients was significantly higher than healthy individuals by ELISA and CLIA (P<.05).Conclusion: The prevalence of Toxoplasma in hemodialysis patients was higher than healthy subjects. Our findings show a relatively high prevalence of the parasite among hemodialysis patients and healthy individuals in Ahvaz. So, the health authorities of Ahvaz city must pay more attention to control of the infection, especially in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Fatigue and muscle pain, is a common and prevalent experience after physical activity, especially exhausting activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic effects of supplementation of coenzyme Q10 on creatine kinase after exhausting aerobic activity in soccer players.Methods: Twelve male soccer players who did not have a history of muscular injury since six months ago volunteered to participate in the study. They were examined in three groups of acute, chronic and control. In order to induce muscle damage, a Bruce exhaustive test was performed and to determine the level of creatine kinase blood samples were taken before and after Bruce test. In the acute situation, one day before the Bruce test, two Q10 supplements (each 100 mg) and in chronic situation Bruce's test was performed after eight weeks of supplementation. To analyze the data, dependent t-test was used at a significant level of P<0.05.Result: Diagnosis of muscle damage was assessed by measuring the biochemical changes of the creatine kinase enzyme. Statistical analysis showed no significant changes in the level of creatine kinase in acute situation (p>0.05), but there was a significant decrease in chronic supplementation (p<0.05).Conclusion: Coenzyme Q10 supplementation seems to improve the level of the main markers of muscle damage.

Introduction: Fever is one of the most concerning issues in public health, which occurs fairly frequently and is a precursor for the occurrence of seizure in childhood between ages of 6 months to 6 year children. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the effect of education based on Health Belief Model (HBM) in mothers about preventive behaviors regarding febrile convulsion in children.Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized clinical trial in which 200 mothers (were divided to intervention (case) and control groups randomly) with children 6 months to 3 years referring to health centers in Rezvanshahr participated. The data collection instruments is a questionnaire developed based on HBM. This survey included questions on knowledge, aspects of health belief model, and performance. After needs analysis that was done in the pretest, the educational program was designed and implemented in the experimental condition based on the aspects of the model.Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic variables (P>0.05). The average knowledge score, aspects of the model, and performance increased significantly in the case group (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the design and implementation of an educational program based on HBM and based on the predictive beliefs and culture and education of the mothers was effective in preventing febrile convulsion.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. Increased drug resistance has identified the need to evaluate antibiotic resistance patterns to improve experimental therapy. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial agents and determine their drug resistance pattern in patients referring to the Neka diagnostic laboratories.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to April 2017 in patients referred to the Neka Diagnostic Laboratories. Morphological study and identification of isolated bacteria by using hot dyeing and differential biochemical tests were performed. Antibiotic resistance of bacteria was determined by Disc diffusion method in Muller Hinton Agar medium.Result: Of the 573 patients, the most commonly isolated bacteria in the urine included 258 isolates of Escherichia coli (45%), 69 isolates of Enterobacter (12%), 18 isolates of Klebsiella (3.14%), and 7 Pseudomonas isolates (1.22%). Escherichia coli isolates showed the highest and lowest resistance, respectively, to Sulfamethoxazole (30.23%) and Norfloxacin (0.39%) and to the highest sensitivity to Gentamicin (56.59%).Conclusion: The results of this study indicate an increase in the resistance of the strains of E.coli to the Sulfamethoxazole and Ciprofloxacin antibiotics, which may be due to the overdose of these antibiotics. The report of antibiotic susceptibility to commonly occurring organisms in this area can be considered by physicians in experimental treatments.

Introduction: The first step for cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness and ultimately to formulate the operational budgeting is cost analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost of kidney dialysis services in hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2016.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 9 dialysis clinics of hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in the first half of 2016. In each hospital all dialysis cases were selected by census method. The costs were included personnel costs, medication, medical supplies, filters, solvent and powder, consumables and energy carriers. Data collected from documents available in the hospital information system (Ghasedak). Data was computed and presented as the mean and absolute numbers using Microsoft Excel software.Result: In terms of dialysis clinic gross income per the number of active hemodialysis beds Dehgolan dialysis center with 656205 thousand Rials had the highest income and Qorveh dialysis center with 296216 thousand Rials had the lowest. The average income per dialysis session Bijar dialysis center with 3033 thousand Rials had the highest income and Tohid hospital dialysis center with 1500 thousand Rials had the lowest. Average personnel payment per dialysis session in Kamyaran dialysis center with 621 thousand Rials had the lowest and Bijar dialysis center with 1317 thousand Rials had the highest payment. In terms of medicine and supplies Divandareh dialysis center had the highest and Boali hospital dialysis center had the lowest. Calculating cost-income per each dialysis session showed that Tohid hospital, Saghez, Divandareh and Dehgolan dialysis centers were losers.Conclusion: The cost of dialysis services in the dialysis centers of hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences were not the same as tariffs of insurance organizations. Therefore, the tariffs of dialysis services in the dialysis centers of hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences should be managed or increased or the dialysis services provide by private sector.

Introduction: Heart failure is a chronic disease that requires special lifelong self-care behaviors. These patients require to have self-care behaviors to confront their disease problems. Therefore, this study was designed and conducted to determine the status of self-care behaviors and its related factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients with chronic heart failure who were chosen purposively and were hospitalized in the cardiac wards of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj. Data collection tools included two questionnaires. The first one was a demographic questionnaire and information about the disease. The second one was the European scale of self-care behaviors of heart failure patients which were completed through patient interviews. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS (Ver 16).Result: The average rate of self-care behaviors by most patients was (39.54 ± 7.22) and it has correlation with factors such as: Level of education, place of residence and education about the disease (P<0.05). However, its relationship with age, gender, occupation, marital status, class of patients, smoking, drugs and alcohol was not statistically significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the level of self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure was moderate. Therefore, it is required to train and educate patients with chronic heart failure.

Thalassemia are a group of inherited blood disorders caused by the decrease or absence of beta-globin chain synthesis will be determined with decrease in erythrocyte hemoglobin, decreased production of erythrocytes and anemia. More thalassemia is inherited as recessive autosomal. According to this fact that which one of the chains are involved, they invide into two type including alpha and beta thalassemia, which each of them including several types. Thalassemia major is more extensive and patient needs to blood transfusion, but thalassemia minor is slight. The most important problem in this patient include iron overload, cardiac arrhythmia, hepatitis, osteoporosis and endocrine disorder however there are typical signs and symptoms of anemia. Treatment including Change of expression and production of HbF, Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and Maintenance Treatment such as chelators therapy, Induction of fetal hemoglobin production by using Hydroxia urea, use of immunomodulator agents and Molecular Therapy by targeting of genes involving in HbF expression.in this article we review the thalassemia disorder and discuss on molecular basis, clinical features and treatment.