Journal of Inflammatory Diseases (The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Science)
Year:2013 | Volume:17 | Issue:4 (69)|Papers Count:10

Background: Electromagnetic waves of cell-phone as an integral part of life make different biological effects.Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cell-phone-like waves on a mouse epilepsy model induced by pentylenetetrazole.Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 75 male mice (weighing 25-30g) that were divided to 5 groups (n=15). Except for control group, they were exposed to 950 MHz magnetic waves with an antenna power density of 3 or 6 mW/cm2 and modulation of 100 or 217 KHz for a week. Then, 75mg/Kg of pentylenetetrazole was injected intraperitoneally to all mice. Seizure onset, duration of tonic and tonic-clonic seizures and total seizure duration (from start to finish of the seizure) were measured. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test.Findings: The seizure onset in treatment groups was not significantly different from control group. The duration of tonic seizures was significantly increased in the group which was exposed to 6 mW/cm2–100 KHz waves (P<0.01). The duration of tonic-clonic seizures was significantly increased in the group which was exposed to 6 mW/cm2-217 KHz waves (P<0.05). The total seizures duration was also significantly increased in the groups which were exposed to 6 mW/cm2 and 217 KHz waves (P<0.01).Conclusion: Electromagnetic waves of cell phone may increase duration of seizures. In this process, the effect of wave's power is more than wave’s modulation. It is recommended for those prone to seizure to minimize their exposure to electromagnetic waves.

Background: The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP-1) gene encodes a protein which finally kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Susceptibility to tuberculosis may be influenced by mutations in this gene.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of NRAMP-1 gene polymorphisms among tuberculosis patients and control group in Zahedan.Methods: This molecular epidemiologic study was conducted on 82 tuberculosis patients and 150 healthy controls referred to Booali Hospital in Zahedan, during 2012. After Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR products were treated by AvaII, FokI and ApaI restriction enzymes and were evaluated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to determine the NRAMP-1 gene polymorphisms at INT4, D543 and 3' UTR loci. Data were analyzed by Fisher Exact test and descriptive statistics.Findings: The heterozygote patterns at INT4 (G/C), D543 (G/A) and 3¢ UTR (+/del) loci were more prevalent in the controls than in patients while the homozygous patterns at these loci were more prevalent in patients.Conclusion: This study showed that individuals with homozygous type mutation have an increased risk of developing tuberculosis compared to heterozygote ones.

Background: The memory deficit or forgetfulness hypothesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been used to explain the maintenance of repetitive behaviors in patients, yet the majority of studies focusing on memory show inconsistent results.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the working memory capacity of women with OCD and control group.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 52 subjects in Zanjan, 2010.26 female patients and 26 healthy controls were entered the study and were matched for sex, age and educational level. They were examined using Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and Daneman & Carpenter’s working memory test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent T-test.Findings: Obsessive-compulsive patients were weaker in processing capacity and total capacity of the working memory compared to the control group (P<0.001). No significant differences were found between two groups in terms of storage capacity.Conclusion: It seems that repetitive behaviors of Obsessive-compulsive patients are the result of their inability to remember previous behaviors and the inability to inhibit recurrent intrusive thoughts.

Background: Community participation is considered as one of the essential determinants of the health promotion and sustainable development in communities.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the facilitating and hindering factors of the community participation in the health promotion in Tehran citizens.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted by content analysis approach in the second region of Tehran municipal, during 2009-2010. Data were collected by semi structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.35 employees of governmental and non-governmental organizations (that were active in the field of health promotion and social welfare) and residents of Sattar-Khan region were participated in the study. Data were analyzed by latent content analysis approach.Findings: Based on the qualitative analysis of the data, 337 codes were derived in four main categories, consist of: “participants’ attributes”, “attributes of the organizational stakeholders”, “contextual conditions” and “policies and functions of the organizations”. These categories included the factors related to the community participation in the health promotion.Conclusion: The Community participation in the health promotion can be achieved through establishing and improvement of community participation culture from the family to school and community context, effective public education and improvement of public awareness, training participating people, establishment of organizations and structures that facilitate community participation by effective planning and policymaking.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. Sleep complaints are common in chronic diseases like rheumatologic diseases. Sleep disturbances may be due to pain, inactivity and medication. Sleep quality disturbances in turn can aggravate physical, behavioral and psychological problems and can cause interpersonal problems.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: In this case-control study 85 rheumatoid arthritis patients and the same number of healthy controls were studied. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprised of two parts: demographic data and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pain and disease severity were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and DAS28, respectively. Data were analyzed by Ttest and Chi-square test.Findings: There were 10 males and 75 females in each group. The mean age of patient and control groups was 49.5±12.1 years and 48.8±12.4 years, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age and Body Mass Index (BMI). According to PSQI, sleep quality was poor in the patient group compared to healthy controls (7.5±2.8 in patients and 4.6±±3.1 in controls). The mean DAS28 score was 2.62±1.21 in patients with good sleep quality and 3.33±1.22 in patients with poor sleep quality and this difference was statistically significant.Conclusion: It is recommended that sleep quality assessment should be performed in follow-up examinations of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Mental health and physical health of students are of important objectives of every society, because their health ensures scientific progression and development. Quality of life, quality of sleep and general health are variables that have an important role in optimal social-physicalpsychological organization of human.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise on general health, quality of sleep and quality of life in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad students.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 48 students (24 female and 24 male) were selected by convenience sampling method from Ferdowsi university of Mashhad students during 2009-2010. They were randomly allocated to 4 groups (12 male and 12 female in 2 experimental groups-12 male and 12 female in 2 control groups). Experimental groups exercised at least three sessions per week for three months. Data were collected using Pittsburg quality of Sleep Index, General Health and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, independent T-test and one way Analysis of Variance.Findings: There were no significant differences between four groups in terms of general health, quality of life and quality of sleep before intervention. Three months after intervention, differences between experimental and control groups were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion: With regards to the results, it is recommended that students participate in health promoting behaviors. The authorities are also expected to increase student sports facilities and welfare facilities.

Background: Not only favorable disinfection and sterilization are inevitable in terms of medicine, but are crucial in controlling costs and reducing mortality.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare face-to-face and distance learning methods on knowledge, attitude and practice of washing and disinfection of surgical instruments among operating room staff.Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 60 operating room staff that were allocated to three groups (control, face-to-face learning and distance learning) in 2012. All 3 groups completed a self-developed questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of washing and disinfection of surgical instruments before, one month and two months after intervention. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.Findings: One month after intervention, the differences between three groups were statistically significant in terms of knowledge, attitude. Two months after intervention, the differences between three groups were statistically significant in terms of knowledge, attitude and practice. Two months after intervention, mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice was increased significantly in face-to-face learning group compared to other groups.Conclusion: Face-to-face learning had a great influence on knowledge, attitude and practice of washing and disinfection of surgical instruments in operating room staff.

Nowadays, with the increased prevalence of depression in the societies, researchers have focused more attention on the long term effects of antidepressant medications on reproduction and sexual function. In vitro studies have shown that tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine and nortriptyline impair sperm motility. Also, Serotonergic antidepressants such as fluoxetine and venlafaxine reduce male reproduction indirectly via effects on sexual desire (libido), erection and ejaculatory ability. Mechanisms of antidepressants are still unknown for changes in sperm function. Only neuroendocrine factors regulating the activity of the chemical mediators may have an effective role in the male sexual function. Most of the chemical mediators affect on hypothalamichypophyseal- gonadal axis and influence the spermatogenesis in men by this way. They can affect sexual arousal, erection, ejaculation and orgasm by sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation control and may influence fertility by their side effects on cholinergic and adrenergic receptors. In this review, the relationship between antidepressant medications and male reproduction, effects of antidepressant medications on the male sexual function and androgens levels will be discussed.

Fractures around the elbow joint in children often occur following falling down but concomitant fractures of distal humerus lateral condyle and olecranon are rare. In this report, a six–year–old boy referred to emergency department of Shafa yahyaian hospital is presented who suffered from pain and swelling of the left elbow following falling down. The neurological, vascular and skin examination was normal. Radiographic images showed displaced and concomitant fractures of left distal Humerus lateral condyle and Olecranon. The patient was treated by open reduction and pin fixation with posterolateral approach and then was immobilized with a long-arm splint. After 5 weeks, pins were removed. After 7 weeks, the patient had a painless elbow with full range of motion.

This descriptive study was conducted on 183 children with bacterial pharyngitis aged 5-15 years old referred to Bahrami hospital emergency in 2010. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of streptococcus pyogenes. Group A b-hemolytic streptococci colonies were isolated from the patients and penicillin and erythromycin susceptibility tests were carried out by disk diffusion method. Of 45 group A b-hemolytic streptococcus-positive children, 24 (53.3%) were female and 21 (46.7%) were male with mean age of 8.02±2.19 years. Most of them were admitted in winter (53.03%) and in spring (31.1%), respectively. Only 3 patients (6.7%) were resistant to penicillin and 8 patients (17.8%) were resistant to erythromycin which shows that penicillin can be prescribed in the treatment of bacterial pharyngitis without need to wait for antibiogram result.