Armaghane Danesh
Year:2020 | Volume:24 | Issue:6 (137)|Papers Count:11

Background & aim: Lead is an environmental contaminant and capable of making major changes to the structure and function of the human brain, especially children. Chronic exposure to low levels of lead affects and causes changes in the function of the central nervous system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of chronic exposure to low levels of Pb on learning in the active rat avoidant conditional approach. Methods: In the present experimental study which was conducted in 2018, 24 adult male mice were randomly divided into four equal groups for analysis. The drinking water of the test groups was contaminated with one concentration of 0. 1, 0. 33 or 1 g / L of lead acetate for 28 days. The experiments were carried out in a semi-dark place. On day 29 for adaptation, each animal was housed separately for 10 minutes without any stimulus in the shuttle box and was free to move. On days 30, 33, and 36, the experiments were performed 40 times (ie, 120 times in total) in each rat for 80 seconds as followed: a 60-second light escape (conditioned stimulus), a 5-second light pause, an active avoidance period consisting of 10 seconds of sound (unconditioned stimulus) with light, and then a warning period of 5 seconds without light and sound. The variable considered was the number of times of the 40 tests that the animal took refuge in the safe cell during each of the above three stages. Data were analyzed using Tukey test. Results: The results indicated that in the warning period, concentration of 0. 1 g / L of lead acetate in drinking water considerably weakened learning and showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (p <0. 05). In the active avoidance period, on the other hand, the animals receiving the highest doses of lead acetate (1 g / l) showed a significant increase in their learning compared to the control group (p <0. 05), but in the escape period, concentrations of 0. 1, 0. 33 and 1 g / L of lead acetate made no significant change in learning rate compared to the control group. Conclusion: According to the findings, lead contamination has an effect on learning in the mouse model. However, this effect mainly leads to impaired learning and the type of animal response varies depending on the period and dose used.

Background & Aim: Cholestasis is a type of liver disease due to structural damage and dysfunction of hepatobiliary system which at first results in accumulation of bile acids and other toxins in plasma and hepatic tissue. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible hepatoprotective effects of rosmarinic acid against oxidative stress and liver injury in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced cholestatic rats. Methods: In the present experimental study, twenty-four male Wistar rats (200± 25 g) were randomly divided into three groups; control (N=6), cholestatic (N=9), cholestatic + rosmarinic acid at dose of 20 mg/kg/day (N=9). Biochemical tests (including aspartate amino transferase, AST; alanine amino transferase, ALT; alkaline phosphatase, ALP), oxidative stress markers (such as protein carbonyl, PCO; total thiol, TSH and ferric reducing antioxidant capacity; FRAP) and antioxidant enzymes (including catalase, CAT; super oxide dismutase, SOD; and glutathione peroxidase, GPx) activity were estimated. Also, hematoxylin and eosin staining were determined in the hepatic tissue. Results: There was a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP and CAT activity, as well as plasma PCO and FRAP level in cholestatic group as compared to control rats, while the level of TSH, FRAP and GPX in hepatic tissue significantly decreased (P <0. 05). Administration of the rosmarinic acid in the cholestatic group significantly decreased activity of ALT and ALP, however it had no a significant effect on oxidative stress markers. As determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, BDL considerably induced the liver necrosis which markedly alleviated by rosmarinic acid. Conclusions: In summary, the results indicated that rosmarinic acid administration attenuated liver damage in BDL rats by decreasing common biochemical tests such as ALT, ALP activity and histopathological indexes. However, in spite of significant increase in oxidative stress markers such as PCO and the significant reduction of TSH, FRAP and GPX in the BDL group, rosmarinic acid at a dose of 20 mg /kg had no significant effect on these oxidant/ antioxidant balance parameters.

Background & aim: Intense and prolonged exercise and physical activity are the factors that can disrupt the balance of free radical production, antioxidant systems of the body and decreased leptin levels. It has also been suggested that zinc acts as a mediator in leptin production while affecting superoxide dismutase activation and food intake. The purpose of the present study was to determine and evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of incremental aerobic training with zinc supplementation on muscle superoxide dismutase activity, serum leptin level and weight changes in male Wistar rats. Methods: In the present experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (control, exercise, exercise + zinc and zinc). The training protocol consisted of incremental aerobic exercise on the treadmill for 8 weeks (5 days a week). In the zinc supplement group, 227 mg of zinc sulfate was dissolved in 100 ml of edible water and made available to the animals. 48 hours after the last training session, blood and tissue samples were collected and leptin concentration and the amount of superoxide dismutase activity was measured by ELISA and spectrophotometrically respectively. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests. Results: no significant difference was observed after eight weeks of training with zinc supplementation in skeletal muscle superoxide dismutase activity among groups (p<0. 05), but serum leptin and weight changes in the groups Zinc supplementation and exercise group consumed significantly less zinc supplementation than the control group (p<0. 05) In the control group (P=0. 04, R=0. 71) and in the exercise group (P=0. 03, R=0. 75), there was an inverse correlation was observed between serum leptin level and muscle superoxide dismutase activity. Conclusion: according to the results of the present study, it was concluded that zinc supplementation has been shown to control weight, decrease leptin and reverse the correlation between serum leptin and superoxide dismutase activity.

Background & aim: Glioblastoma tumors are one of the most invasive brain tumors of neural tissue origin. The low success rates of these types of tumors require the search for new treatment options. Glaucium flavum is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry because of its high content of alkaloids. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the toxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Glaucium flavum glioblastoma and non-cancerous nerve cells. Methods: the present research was an experimental study carried out in the cell culture research laboratory of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2019. A pregnant rat was used in this study for cell isolation. The Glaucium flavum extract was first extracted and nerve progenitor cells then extracted from the brain cortex of 17-day-old pregnant mouse embryos by enzymatic digestion. Cells were then treated with Glaucium flavum at concentrations of 100, 300, 500, and 1000 μ g/ml for 24 and 72 h. After treatment, cell viability was assessed by MTT photometric method and cell morphology was evaluated by DAPI fluorescent staining. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Results: Morphological changes were observed in the cells treated with IC50. Evaluation of cell survival by MTT assay showed that the Glaucium flayum extract significantly decreased the survival of C118 cells as well as neural neurospheres (NCs) at both 24 and 72 h intervals. The severity of Glaucium flayum extract cytotoxicity on glioblastoma cells was higher than the neurospheres and showed a significant difference (p <0. 05). The results of cell viability also showed that the concentration of 300 and 500 μ g/ml of the Glaucium flayum extract was IC50 for C118 and NCs cells respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that natural products such as Glaucium flayum extract with pharmacological and biochemical properties had antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have less adverse effects on non-cancerous brain cells than in non-cancerous cells.

Background & aim: Major depressive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric diseases. There is some evidence that the autonomic nervous system plays a role in depression. The sympathetic cutaneous response (SSR) is used to examine the autonomic system. Conventional nerve bands examine thick peripheral fibers, but in SSR we examine non-myelinated thin fibers. The aim of this study was to evaluate sympathetic skin test in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: In the present case-control study, 39 patients participated in Shahid Rajaee Hospital related to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Sampling method was available and in two groups: 20 patients in case group (with major depressive disorder) (3 males and 2 females) and 4 patients in control group (2 males and 2 females) with The mean age of the patients was 2. 7 and 2. 6, respectively. The sympathetic skin response of both hands and feet was measured in response to electrical stimulation of the median nerve and tibia nerve. The mean values of neural conduction delay and wave amplitude were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Shapiro Wilks and Mann-Whitney test. Results: a significant increase was observed in wave amplitude obtained from SSR of right and left median nerve of the case group (p> 0. 05), while no significant difference was seen between the case and control groups in the amplitude of right and left lower limb tibia nerve as well as in delayed nerve conduction in median and tibia nerve. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it was concluded that increased amplitude of sympathetic cutaneous response of the upper extremity could be useful in diagnosis and follow up of patients with major depressive disorder and indicates autonomic disorder.

Background & aim: The success of universities and higher education institutions in achieving their educational goals and expectations requires improving and ensuring the quality of education. The purpose of the present study was to determine and describe the quality components of educational performance of faculty members. Methods: The present qualitative descriptive exploratory study was carried out in 2018-2019 and used purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured and faceto-face interviews. Key participants of the study were faculty members of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, 18 of whom were selected by purposeful sampling method and considering maximum difference between samples in terms of differences in faculty of work, field of study and academic rank. Initially, two general questions about the components of quality of educational performance were asked to start the interview and the process was continued based on the participants' responses. Each interview lasted between one hour and thirty minutes to two hours on average, and the place of interview was the faculty room. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation. Interviews were analyzed by step-by-step thematic analysis based on Brown and Clark's six-step method. Results: In the present study, 18 faculty members of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences were interviewed. Five participants (27. 8%) were female and 13(72. 2%) were male. From the scientific position, 4(22. 2%) were professors, 9(50%) were associate professors, 3(16. 7%) were assistant professors and 2(11. 1%) were instructors. Also 47 items were extracted from the basic themes, then reduced to 14 organizer themes based on their content similarity and composition. Finally, these themes were put into four domains (inclusive themes) of educational evaluation, educational planning, educational features and educational strategies and the qualitative model of these factors was designed. Conclusion: The educational performance of the faculty is a multidimensional concept whose quality depends on all aspects and the relationship between them. Since the educational performance of faculty members also depends on the type of academic disciplines, this study may be a further study to evaluate the educational quality of faculty members in other disciplines.

Background & aim: Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in the clinical isolates, in most cases is caused by β-lactamase enzymes. In recent years, The incidence of broad-spectrum β-lactamase enzymes (ESBLs) among clinical isolates especially E. coli is greatly increased, since the β-lactamase have several subfamilies, using universal primers designed to detect the following complete families could be useful. β-lactamase producing enzymes (ESBLs) of E. coli has created many problems for patients. β-lactamase CTX-M-1 gene is the cause of resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate CTX-M-1gene in E. coli. Methods: In this practical study, susceptibility of isolated bacteria to 13 antibiotics were indicated by disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines and strains were analyzed for the presence of widespread β-lactamase enzymes via two-disc synergy method. Thus، the prevalence of CTX-M1 ESBL gene samples were determined using PCR and the data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: A total of 200 isolates of E. coli were isolated. The presence of CTX-M-1 gene were also isolated using the PCR method. From 200 strains studied, 62 (31%), of strains produced ESBL. After PCR processing of 62 produced ESBL, 43 isolates (69. 4%) were identified as CTX-M-1 genes. Also, antibiotic susceptibility test showed the highest percentage of resistance to Cotrimoxazole antibiotic (50%) and the lowest antibiotic resistance to imipenem (0%). Conclusion: The results of this study showed the high percentage of β-lactamase resistance among of E. coli strains. This is a serious public hazard that should be pointed out to measures for preventing this hazard. Considering the sensitivity of the studied beta-lactam resistant isolates and isolates in Iran to imipenem, a carbapenem with a non-beta-lactam antibiotic is recommended for the treatment of nosocomial infections caused by these strains.

Background & aim: Pregnancy and childbirth in most developing countries are major causes of illness, death and disability of women in reproductive age. Reducing the mortality rate of pregnant mothers requires extensive management in different aspects of care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine and evaluate the effects of management model structures on prenatal health care in Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study carried out in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province on health network managers of affiliated cities, family health experts, health workers and midwives working in comprehensive health services centers in quantitative and qualitative manner in 2018. To collecting data, questionnaires were distributed among 420 target groups using multistage sampling method. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the quantitative variables of the central indicators such as mean and standard deviation, as well as qualitative variables. Then, PLS software was used for path analysis, structural equation modeling, path coefficients and T values. Results: In this study, 400 targets were participated, 70% of whom were female and the rest were male. Most participants (51. 5%) were between 25 and 35 years of age. In this study, the effect of facilities and equipment on care (p <0. 01), procurement management, care delivery (p <0. 001), ICT system (p <0. 001) and care contents (p <0. 01), and financial resources (p <0. 05) had significant effect, while HRM was not significant and had the least effect on prenatal health care management. Conclusion: The results showed that provincial managers should pay special attention to the improvement of ICT structures, facilities, equipments and human resources management.

Background & aim: Hydatid cyst is one of the most common parasitic human and animal diseases in the world and Iran as well and, is important from health and economic viewpoint. Understanding the latest status of the disease prevalence and its associated factors is essential for decision makers and health authorities in each region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hydatid cyst in slaughtered livestock in Sarpol Zahab city and the sero-epidemiology of human hydatid cyst in this city. Methods: In the present descriptive cross-sectional study which was carried out in 2018, carcasses of 3000 cattle, including 1000 cattle, sheep and goats in Sarpol slaughterhouse were studied. Size, fertility, and infectivity were assessed. Moreover, 736 blood samples were collected randomly from health care centers and tested by ELISA. The findings were analyzed in terms of demographic information including age, sex, and occupation, history of contact with dogs and location of their general profile. Data were analyzed using chisquare test. Results: Totally, 8 (1. 1%) of patients, 5 (5. 62%) men and 3 (5. 37%) women were positive for anti-hydatid cyst antibody. There was no statistically significant relationship between positive cases and place of residence, education, sex and history of continuous contact with the dog. The prevalence of hydatid cyst was 8. 7% in cattle and 18. 8% in sheep, 4. 5% in cows and 2. 8% in goats. No significant difference was seen between the infection rates in sheep, cattle and goats (p <0. 05). In terms of sex, 53. 6% of infected animals were females and 46. 4% males, which was statistically significant (p <0. 05). In terms of organs, 84. 04% of cysts were detected in sheep liver, 86. 7% in cattle and 89. 3% in goats. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of human hydatid cyst is lower than in most areas of Iran, but its prevalence is relatively high in livestock in the region. These findings necessitate to pay attention to control programs to disrupt the parasite cycle between the definitive and intermediate hosts.

Background & aim: Indoor air contains a wide variety of bioaerosols. The presence of bioaerosols in the air can affect human health. Transmission of bioaerosols may cause nosocomial infections that affect all health, economic and social aspects of one's life. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the density and type of bioaerosols in the air of Imam Sajjad Hospital of Yasuj. Methods: the present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 4 sections in different classes of Imam Sajjad Hospital of Yasuj. 240 specimens were sampled by active sampling method using a Quik Tic Pump 30 sampler at a flow rate of 28. 3 liters per minute for 2 consecutive months for 4 consecutive months from August to November 2015 on tryptic agar medium and Saber-dextrose agar were collected for bacteria and fungi, respectively. The specimens were incubated for 48 hours at 37° C for bacterial culture and 70 to 120 hours incubated at 25-27 ° C for the fungi. It was reported in CFU/ m3 for each bioaerosols. Data were analyzed using statistical tests. Results: The results indicated that Staphylococcus bacteria (76. 57%), Bacillus (79. 36%), Nocardia (23. 4%), Micrococcus (0. 68%), Streptococcus (0. 38), Corynebacterium (0. 12%) and Enterococcus (0. 04%) were the most frequent to the lowest percentage, respectively. The highest and lowest number of fungi observed in Imam Sajjad Hospital of Yasuj and their prevalence were Rhizopus (39. 71%), Penicillium (32. 47%), Yeast (18. 57%), and Alternaria (3. 69%), respectively. ), Ascoliolaris (0. 67%), Cladosporium (0. 43%), and Trichophagygomes (0. 23%). The highest bacterial contamination in postnatal care was 531. 14 CFU/ m3and the least contamination in postnatal care was in fungal bioaerosols of 114. 47 CFU/ m3 of air. The mean air pollution of the studied sections for bacterial and fungal bioaerosols was 24 and 125. 78 CFU/ m3, respectively. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, microbial quality of air in Imam Sajjad Hospital was not desirable. High density of patients, hospital staff and patient companions in wards, lack of proper ventilation in hospital can affect bio-aerosol density in the hospital.

Background & aim: Hearing impairment of children is one of the disabilities which is accompanied by unpleasant psychological consequences for the child and his/her parents. The present research was aimed at investigating the effect of group training of parent-child relationship therapy (CPRT) for mothers to reduce the feeling of loneliness among daughters with hearing impairment. Methods: The present study was an applied research type which was conducted by semi-experimental method with pretest-posttest with control group design. The research population included all female students with hearing impairment in primary deaf school of Baghcheh-Ban 2 in Tehran, 2015. The sample included 16 students with hearing impairment who were selected via available sampling method and were assigned into two eight-subject groups of experiment and control by random assignment method. Before and after the intervention, the students of both groups were assessed by Asher and colleagues’ loneliness scale (1986). Group training based on parent-child relationship therapy was delivered to mothers of the students of the experiment group in 10 2-hour sessions while the mothers of the students in the control group didn’ t receive the training package until the end of the posttest phase. The data were analyzed through univariate analysis of covariance in SPSSv20. Results: Results of the covariance analysis indicated that group training based on parent-child relationship therapy for mothers was effective in reducing loneliness among girls with hearing impairment in the experiment group. Mean scores of loneliness for the experimental group were 47. 38 in the pre-test and 40. 25 in the post-test. For the control group this score was 48. 00 in pre-test and 49. 25 in post-test. As evident, the scores of the experimental group in the post-test changed. According to the results the covariance analysis is univariate. The F value for Loneliness (F=25. 53, p<0. 01) indicates that the effect of training of parent-child relationship therapy is significant, meaning that after calculating the pre-test effect, difference in Loneliness between both groups was significant. Eta chi-square also shows that 66% of the changes were due to the effect of training intervention. Conclusion: Group training based on child-parent relationship therapy(CPRT) to mothers was effective in reducing the loneliness of hearing-impaired daughters in the intervention group compared to the control group. Furthermore, CPRT is an economic and helpful method for reducing problems and enhancing the quality of the parent-child relationship and it can be used as a family-based rehabilitation method. However, No studies were found directly in line with the results of this study, nevertheless, many findings including those of Yuen, Landreth & Baggerly, Topham et al., Glazer-Waldman et al., and others, are consistent with the present study.