Feyz Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2014 | Volume:18 | Issue:3|Papers Count:17

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disorders of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Long-term use of the blood glucose lowering drugs can cause side effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the alcoholic extract of E. cyparissias on the level of brain antioxidant enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 adult male Wistar rats (250±20 gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups: 1) control; 2) streptozotocin-induced diabetic; 3) treatment1: received 500 mg/kg of the extract and 4) treatment 2: received 250 mg/kg of the extract. The two treatment groups received the alcoholic extract through gastric gavages for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, the blood glucose and levels of brain antioxidant enzymes (TAC, MDA, SOD and GPX) were determined.Results: Results showed that the MDA level was significantly increased in brain tissue in the diabetic group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Furthermore, the levels of TAC, SOD and GPX were significantly decreased in brain tissues in the diabetic group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Similar results were obtained for the blood glucose level.Conclusion: It can be concluded that oral administration of E. cyparissias alcoholic extract has the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: There are many researches on the relationship between the stress and depression with migraine, but yet experimental evidence is needed to validate such a view. So, the aim of this study was to examine the experimental effects of mood and stress induction on pain intensity among the migraine patients.Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 60 patients suffering from migraine were selected from Baghiatallah hospital (Tehran) and randomly assigned to three groups: the positive and negative mood-induced and control groups. A computerized task was used to elicit stress and different types of films were presented to induce mood. The pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale in 3 stages (at baseline, after the computerized task, and after showing film).Results: Results showed that the pain intensity of all participants was significantly increased after presenting the computerized task (P<0.0001). Pain intensity in the negative and positive mood-induced and control groups was increased from 17.75 to 24, 13.4 to 27.9 and 11.55 to 33.65, respectively. The results showed that the induction of depressed mood increased the pain intensity (38.7), while the induction of positive mood significantly reduced it (15.15) (P<0.04). No significant difference was seen in the control group.Conclusion: The stressors can lead to increase pain intensity in migraine patients and thus being in the sad and happy conditions can increase and decrease the pain intensity in migraine patients.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe disorder that has a significant impact on the psychological and social functioning of children and adolescents. Considering the current limitations in the treatment of this disorder; the present study aimed to examine the effect of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine on the treatment of child and adolescent depression.Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial study, 40 children and adolescents with MDD referred to child psychiatric clinic of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (during 2013-2014) were randomly divided into the fluvoxamine and fluoxetine groups. Data were collected using the children’s depression inventory, children's global assessment scale, and drug side effect questionnaire. The participants were evaluated at the beginning and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the beginning of the treatment.Results: The mean age of children and adolescents was 12.40±2.63 years. The mean scores of CDI in the flouxetine and fluvoxamine groups were significantly decreased from 25.65±10.49 to 11.55±3.23 and from 28.45±7.61 to 8.05±4.87, respectively. Moreover, the mean scores of CDI in the flovaxamine group demonstrated a significant decrease at weeks 4 and 8 compared to the fluoxetine group (P=0.03 and P=0.005, respectively). In the 8th week the response rates to treatment were %85 and 55% in the fluvoxamine and fluoxetine groups, respectively. No serious side effect was observed in the participants and no suicidal attempts were reported during the study.Conclusion: Considering that there is a significant reduction in the depression score in the fluvoxamine group compared to the fluoxetine one, fluvoxamine can be used as an effective and safe drug in the treatment of MDD in children and adolescents.

Background: Some scientific data have been reported the positive effects of caffeine compounds on modulating the signs of delayed onset muscle soreness. The present study was conducted to identify the effect of different doses of caffeine on some serum markers of muscular damage in male volleyball players after a single session of exhaustive exercise.Materials and Methods: In a randomized double-blind study, 30 male volleyball players (mean age 21.47±1.45 years, fat percent 10.47±3.11% and BMI 23.15±1.26 kg.m2) were allocated into three equal groups: the supplement (6 and 9 mg.kg-1 caffeine) and placebo (6 mg.kg-1 dextrose) groups. After the supplementation, all subjects were participated in a single session of resistant weight-training (80% until exhaustion). Changes in the muscular damage indices including total serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were determined in three phases (baseline, immediately and 24 hours after the training).Results: The results showed that the different doses of caffeine had no significant effect on the increased levels of serum enzymes of muscular damage immediately after exercise compared to the placebo group (P³0.05). Moreover, different doses of caffeine had no effect on the increased levels of muscle damage markers 24 hours after the exercise (P³0.05).Conclusion: Although the different doses of caffeine cannot significantly prevent further muscular damage, it cannot lead to the further deterioration of indirect indices of muscle damage.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the self- efficacy, self-esteem, social anxiety, shyness and aggression among the high school students with different levels of assertiveness.Materials and Methods: In this study, 311 first and second grade high-school students were selected from the five regions of Tehran (North, South, Central, East, and West) through cluster sampling. The low, high and moderate-assertive participants were recognized based on the mean and standard deviation of assertiveness. Multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was used to compare the research variables in the three groups.Results: The results showed a significance value of F for Wilks lambda (F=4.12, P=0.001) indicating the overall differences in different levels of assertiveness. There was a significant difference in self-efficacy (P<0.001, F: 13.77) and self-esteem (P<0.001, F: 4.80) in three groups of assertiveness. Moreover, a significant difference was found in aggression (P<0.001, F: 12.1), social anxiety (P<0.001, F: 5.24) and shyness (P<0.001, F: 8.65) among the high, low and moderate-assertive students.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the high-assertive students had the higher levels of self-efficacy and self-esteem and lower levels of social anxiety, shyness and aggression as compared to the low and moderate-assertive students.

Background: One of the important topics in the field of health psychology is the personality traits of individuals suffering from diabetes. The present study aimed to compare the behavioral activation (BAS) and behavioral inhibition systems (BIS) and personality traits among diabetic and non-diabetic women.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-comparative study, 40 diabetic women referred to Sina diabetes center in Tabriz (during 2011-2012) were compared with 40 non-diabetic ones. Data were collected through the BAS/BIS scale and Eysenk personality questionnaire.Results: The scores of neurosis (N) in diabetic women were higher than those for non-diabetic women (P<0.001). Results also showed that the level of BIS in diabetic women were significantly higher than that for non-diabetic women; however, the levels of BAS and BAS subsystems (impulsivity/fun seeking, drive, and reward responsiveness) in diabetic women were lower than those for non-diabetic women.Conclusion: It can be concluded that neurosis and high levels of BIS sensitivity can facilitate diabetes outbreaks. Thus, these factors along with several other factors can be effective to predict the prevalence of diabetes.

Background: Cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) plays an important role in regulating T cell activation. CTLA-4 gene polymorphism is related to genetic susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to evaluate the role of CTLA-4 polymorphism at positions-1661AG in patients with SLE.Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 180 SLE patients referred to 5th Azar educational hospital (Gorgan, Iran, during 2010-2011) and 304 ethnically-and age-matched healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the genotype and allele frequencies of this polymorphism.Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the studied genotypic and allelic frequencies between the SLE patients and healthy controls. Moreover, no significant correlation was found between the different risk factors (e.g., age, ethnicity, history of the disease and the parents' relationship) and the different genotypes.Conclusion: Results suggest that the -1661AG polymorphism in the promoter region of the CTLA-4 gene has no role in the genetic susceptibility to SLE.

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a major public health problem worldwide. An important way to prevent hepatitis infection, especially among the high-risk populations including healthcare workers is vaccination. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the post- vaccination immunologic response of health staff in Kashan University of Medical Sciences during 2012-2013.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 227 staff randomly selected from the ones received the last dose of vaccine three months ago. Their blood samples were tested for Anti-HBs and Anti-HBc using the ELISA and RAPID tests, respectively.Results: Among 227 subjects, 167 (75.6%) cases were female and 56 (24.4%) male (mean age, 31.35±7.85 years). Ninety-five percent of the women responded to the vaccine (10.8% hypo-response; 14.4% intermediate-response and 70.1% hyper-response). On the other hand, 95.3% of the men responded to the vaccine (20.4% hypo-response, 20.4% intermediate- response and 55.6% hyper-response).Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the appropriate immune responses to vaccine one year after the vaccination. Although among the subjects the immunologic response to vaccine after one period of vaccination has not been 100%, the current protocol for hepatitis B vaccine yields the remarkable response.

Background: Shortened mid-trimester cervical length in the mid-trimester period can predict very early spontaneous preterm birth. On the other hand, bacterial vaginosis, as a risk factor of the preterm labor, can increase the vaginal pH. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cervical length and vaginal pH on the prediction of preterm labor in low risk population during the mid-trimester to prevent the preterm labor using the appropriate interventions.Materials and Methods: This cohort study was performed on 438 pregnant women between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The vaginal pH, cervical length and delivery gestational age were determined. The risk of preterm labor was evaluated based on pH and the cervical length and then the predictive values of them were determined.Results: The odds ratio of preterm labor in alkaline toward acidic vaginal pH was more than 3 times (OR=3.06). Moreover, a significant relationship was seen between the cervical length and preterm labor. The chance of preterm labor in women with a cervical length less than 30mm was increased 14 times compared to those with a normal cervical length. More than 71% of the women had preterm labor.Conclusion: The risk of early preterm labor in alkaline vaginal pH is higher than the late preterm and the risk of late preterm labor in short cervix is higher than the early preterm.

Background: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is one of the most important etiologic agent of urinary tract infection (UTI). UPEC strains have various types of virulence factors such as adhesins, toxins and iron uptake systems. Virulence genes are located on transmissible genetic elements and/or in particular locus on the chromosome called pathogenicity islands (PAI). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of UPEC and the virulence factors among the UPEC isolates.Materials and Methods: Of 370 urine samples collected from hospitalized patients with UTI in Kashan Shahid-Beheshti hospital, a total of 150 E.coli strains were isolated between December 2012 and June 2013. Biochemical and standard microbiological techniques were used to identify the E.coli followed by screening for virulence genes using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: The prevalence of UTI infection was 40.5% and the frequency of UPEC virulence genes was traT (74%), aer (30.7%), PAI (61.4%), sfa (0%), pap (16.7%), cnf1 (0%), afa (0%) and hly (4.5%).Conclusion: Our study showed that the traT, PAI and aer virulence genes were highly prevalent among the UPEC strains isolated from hospitalized patients in our region; therefore, these genes could be studied as targets for medical interventions.

Background: Due to the high prevalence of epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs are widely prescribed for the epileptic patients. One of the major side effects of these drugs is their negative effect on thyroid function. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sodium valproate and phenobarbital on thyroid function in children.Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on children with the first epileptic experience or those epileptic children who had not received any medication. The participants were allocated into three groups: the sodium valproate (31 cases), phenobarbital (22 cases), and control (60 cases) groups. Serum level of TSH and T4 before the treatment and 1 and 3 months later were measured and analyzed.Results: Mean age of the children (60 male and 53 female cases) was 3.83±2.01 years. No difference was found among the three groups regarding the age and sex. In the valproate group, the level of TSH was increased only within 3 months after the treatment, while no change was detected in T4. There was no detected change for the thyroid hormones in the phenobarbital group as well.Conclusion: Phenobarbital had no effect on thyroid tests, while sodium valproate appeared to increase the TSH in the epileptic patients. Therefore, further studies are recommended in this regard with the consideration of the relevant clinical signs.

Background: Congenital chylothorax is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid within the pleural space. Cases unresponsive to conservative management usually require surgery. Although octreotide has been used successfully to treat chylothorax, the exact mechanism of its action is uncertain and it is believed to reduce the lymphatic drainage through a direct action on splanchnic lymph flow.Case Report: We report two cases of congenital chylothorax who did not respond to supportive therapy (nutritional support and drainage) and where surgery service was avoided with the compassionate trial of octreotide. The first case was a 50-day-old infant with Noonan syndrome phenotype and another was an 18-day-old neonate with idiopathic congenital chylothorax. Treatment was associated with prompt respiratory improvement soon after starting the octerotide treatment and in the first and second cases the clinical symptoms resolved completely in 12 and 10 days after the onset of the treatment, respectively. Octreotide infusion was started at an initial dosage of 3 mg/kg/hour and increased daily by 1 mg/kg/hour to maximum 8 mg/kg/hour. The patients were well 2 months after the treatment.Conclusion: Octreotide infusion appears to have a good safety profile in newborns and remains a promising alternative to surgery for recalcitrant cases of chylothorax. Further studies are required to ascertain its true value in congenital chylothorax.