JOURNAL OF ISFAHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL (I.U.M.S)
Year:2019 | Volume:37 | Issue:531|Papers Count:5

Background: Acoustic cavitation, which occurs at high intensities of ultrasound waves, can be fatal for tumor cells. On the other hand, the existence of nanoparticles in a liquid decreases the acoustic cavitation onset threshold. In this study, the combined effects of ultrasound and gold nanoparticles on breast carcinoma tumor model in BALB/c mice were studied. Methods: The tumor-bearing mice were divided into 4 groups of control, gold nanoparticles, ultrasound, and ultrasound in the presence of gold nanoparticles. Therapeutic effects on tumors were evaluated by measuring relative tumor volume, doubling time, and 5-folding time for tumor volume. Findings: The 5-folding time showed a significant difference between ultrasound in the presence of the gold nanoparticles and the other groups. The maximum doubling and 5-folding times were found in the ultrasound in the presence of gold nanoparticles group. Conclusion: Combined effects of ultrasound and gold nanoparticles can be used as a method for increasing the efficiency of the treatment of carcinoma tumors.

Background: Some studies showed that two factors of calcium score and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) are related with coronary artery disease, but no definitive theory has been provided. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum level of HS-CRP and calcium score with coronary artery disease. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 200 patients who were candidates for computed tomography (CT) angiography were studied. The level of HS-CRP and coronary artery calcium scores were measured and their correlation with the intensity of coronary artery disease were evaluated. Findings: There was a direct and significant correlation between calcium score and HS-CRP level (r = 0. 25, P < 0. 001). Multivariate analyzes showed that the odds ratio of coronary artery disease was 3. 5 fold more for male sex, 3. 7 fold for smokers, 7. 6 fold for positive family history, 5. 8 fold for high blood pressure, 1. 4 fold for calcium scores, 11. 8 f fold or high HS-CRP, 1. 8 fold for hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: Our results show that HS-CRP level in patients with coronary artery disease is higher than those without coronary artery disease, and there is a direct and significant correlation between this index and calcium scores. HS-CRP seems to be a good indicator for predicting the risk of coronary disease. At the same time, further studies in this field are suggested.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent inflammatory demyelinating disease that involves central nervous system. Cognitive disorders are common complaint of patients with MS. Hippocampus is a part of brain that plays significant role in cognition, and is highly sensitive to inflammatory changes induced by MS. This study was the first study conducted to assess hippocampal angle in cognitive disorders occur in patients with MS. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 39 patients with MS referred to university hospitals in Isfahan City, Iran, during 2015-17. Patients were divided to two groups of with cognitive and without cognitive disorders based on Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychology Questionnaire (MSNQ). Patients' age, gender, and Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) were evaluated. Then, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hippocampal angle, bifrontal diameter (BFD), and third ventricle width (3VW) was measured based on their imaging. Findings: Cognitive dysfunction was significantly in association with patients age (P = 0. 013; B =-0. 164) and EDSS (P = 0. 005; B = 1. 23). No association was found between cognitive impairment and hippocampal angle (P = 0. 270), and EDSS was not significantly correlated with hippocampal angle as well (P = 0. 500, r = 0. 317). In addition, BFD and 3VW were not statistically in correlation with cognitive impairment (P > 0. 050). Conclusion: Based on findings of our study, there was no association between hippocampal angle and neurocognitive function of patients with MS. In addition, this angle was not affected by patients' age and gender as well. Further studies with larger sample populations and consideration of drug regimen and duration of disease are recommended.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality types and organizational commitment with job satisfaction among librarians. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all librarians of school libraries in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, who were about 43, were enrolled using census method. Personality types, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction questionnaires were used to assess the variables studied in this research. Findings: There was an inverse relationship between dimensions of personality type of neuroticism with organizational commitment and job satisfaction (P < 0. 050). In other dimensions of personality type, there was direct relationship with organizational commitment and job satisfaction; but, only the correlation coefficient between the acceptability with job satisfaction (0. 303) and accountability with organizational commitment (0. 157) were significant (P < 0. 05). Moreover, organizational commitment had a direct and significant relationship with job satisfaction (0. 198) (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: Paying more attention by organizations to the personality traits of individuals, and the development of an environment in which people feel more committed to the organization, can provide the groundwork for better performance of employee and, consequently, a higher degree of commitment to the organization.

Background: Infertility is recognized as one of the major medical problems in the world. Infertility treatment is a complex, long, and stressful process, and may lead to unsuccessful treatment. It seems necessary to follow up the patients after unsuccessful treatment, to identify their needs and desires, and to provide health services for their health promotion. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to investigate the needs and preferences of infertile couples after unsuccessful treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Methods: In this systematic review, searching was performed without time restrictions in PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science databeses, as well as Google Scholar search engine, and Iranian databases including Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranpsych, Clinical key, and Iranmedex. Keywords included infertility treatment, assisted reproductive techniques, needs, expectations, unsuccessful treatmen, t and their equivalent words. The relevant articles were retrieved from English and Persian databases. The articles were independently evaluated by two researchers, and disagreements were discussed with the third author. Findings: 24 eligible studies (16 cross-sectional and 8 cohort studies), published between the years 1980 and 2019, were included in the study. The needs expressed by infertile patients in these studies includes educational-informational needs, the need to psychological counseling, supportive needs, men's special needs, the need to strategies for stress management, the need for couples counseling, and the need for receiving respect and empathy from health care staff. Conclusion: Infertile couples' needs included a wide spectrum of needs including educational, psychological, supportive, and counseling needs as well as men's special needs. Recognition of this vulnerable group’ s needs can help policymakers and programmers to plan and implement counseling services in fertility clinics. In such a way, the quality of health services in these clinics would be improved and infertile couples' needs would be met.