Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2019 | Volume:37 | Issue:517|Papers Count:5

Background: At the present study, we assessed the effects of intraperitoneal injections of nanocomposite of Starch-Graft-Polyaniline/Magnesium Oxide (Chitosan/MgO) on liver and kidney of male rats. Methods: 28 male rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups. The control group received 0. 5 ml normal saline daily via intraperitoneal injection, and the treatment groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of Chitosan/MgO nanocomposites (1, 2, and 4 mg/ml) for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the serum samples were taken to determine serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as serum liver markers, and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatine as serum kidney biomarkers. After euthanasia, liver and kidney samples were taken to assess histological changes. Findings: The group receiving 4 mg/ml of Chitosan/MgO nanocomposite had a significantly higher liver enzyme levels compared to the control group (P < 0. 05); however, serum BUN and creatine levels did not change compared with the control group (P > 0. 05). In kidney histological analysis, mild proximal swelling was observed in treatment groups. Liver sections of the group receiving 4 mg/ml showed mild fatty changes. Conclusion: It seems that Chitosan/MgO nanocomposite had hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects; so, their applications in food industry and medicine should be limited.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: In order to select the participants of the study, 30 patients with OCD were selected from the patients referred to the clinics and counseling centers of Isfahan City, Iran, in 2018, using purposive sampling method. They were divided into three groups of EFT (10 people), DBT (10 people), and control (10 people). EFT and DBT were performed during eight weekly sessions, and the control group did not receive any special treatment during this period of time. Yale-brown obsessive-compulsive scale was completed in three stages of pretest, posttest, and follow up. To analyze the data, the method of analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used. Findings: The efficacy of EFT and DBT on reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms of patients was significant in posttest scores (P < 0. 050). Conclusion: The findings of this study have potentially significant implications for practitioners and therapists to pay attention to the effectiveness of EFT and DBT on the reduction of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in women with OCD.

Background: Thermoluminescence dosimeters are the most widely used inactive in vivo dosimeters. Nanoparticles have more suitable dosimetry properties than similar bulk materials. The purpose of this study was to synthesize and to determine the kinetic parameters of nanophosphor equivalent to human tissue for using in medical purposes. Methods: After synthesis of LiB3O5 nanophosphor, structure and its dimensions were investigated using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different activators were added to each nanophosphor with 0. 5, 1, and 2 percent of weight, to select the most suitable compound as a usable thermoluminescence dosimeter in medicine. The kinetic parameters of the glow peaks were calculated using four methods, and the results of these methods were compared. Findings: SEM and XRD analysis showed that the dimensions of synthesized phosphorus were less than 100 nm, and had a relatively high purity. By irradiating and reading the samples, the best peak position and intensity of the glow curve were obtained by 2 percent of weight aluminum (Al) activator at the peak temperature of 183 ° C. Conclusion: The results of different methods were in good agreement. The calculated mean value of the activation energy was 1. 243 eV, which had a good energy level for the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) reader. By comparing the experimental and computational values, the validity of the computational methods was confirmed.

Background: Self-esteem is an important factor in determining the quality of life. There are a few studies about the relationship between self-esteem and mental health status, especially in children and teenagers in Iran. So, the goal of this study was to assess the relationship between self-esteem and mental health status in teenagers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 172 teenagers between 13-15 years old were participated using multistage sampling method. Information about each student was recorded using Coppersmith self-esteem questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Findings: The mean score of teenagers' self-esteem was 68. 5 ± 14. 9 out of 100, and the mean score of teenagers' mental health disorder was 17. 9 ± 11. 9 out of 84. There was significant inverse relationship between the teenagers' self-esteem and mental health disorder (P < 0. 001, r =-0. 627). Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that self-esteem is related to mental health status in adolescents; person with higher self-esteem will have better mental health status.

Background: This study aimed to compare the ability of predicting difficult intubation by six indexes of thyromental height (TMH), acromioaxillary-suprasternal notch index (AASI), modified mallampati test (MMT), upper lip biting test (ULBT), height to thyromental distance ratio (RHTMD), and neck circumference to thyromental height ratio (NC/TMH) in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 600 patients undergoing surgeries were selected, and difficult laryngoscopy was evaluated using above the six tests. The cut-of-point and diagnostic values were determined in comparison with Cormack-Lehane index. Findings: The NC/TMH test had the highest sensitivity (80. 6%) and AASI had the highest specificity (94. 8%). Moreover, among the six testes, NC/TMH had the highest positive predictive value (PPV), and ULBT had highest negative predictive value (NPV). ULBT had the highest positive likelihood ratio and TMH had the highest negative likelihood ratio. Conclusion: Compared with the other tests, NC/TMH, AASI, and TMH had better diagnostic values for evaluating airway, and can be used to detect difficult laryngoscopy.