Daneshvar Medicine: Basic and Clinical Research Journal
Year:2014 | Volume:21 | Issue:110|Papers Count:10

Background and Objective: Epileptic seizures lead to a problem in learning and memory. In view of the protective effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this substance on impairment of learning and memory in an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy in kainate-epileptic rat.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rats were divided into four groups: sham, positive control, epileptic, and epileptic group receiving the ascorbic acid. Kainic acid was used for induction of epilepsy. Ascorbic acid was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day from one week before surgery. Initial and step through latencies in the passive avoidance test and alternation behavior percentage in Y maze were also determined.Results: Pretreatment with vitamin C does not significantly decrease seizure behavior compared with epileptic group. Regarding initial latency there was no statistically significant difference between groups. Step through latency in vitamin C pretreated group has no significant change versus epileptic group. Alternation behavior percentage in vitamin C pretreated epileptic group was significantly greater than epileptic group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Although pretreatment with vitamin C does not affect the ability to store and recall in passive avoidance test, but could cause an improvement in spatial memory.

Background and Objective: Pelvic girdle and respiratory muscles weakness and hyperglycemia are associated with reduced lung capacity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of core muscles strengthening on pulmonary function in obese women with type II diabetes.Materials and Methods: The population of the research were all women with diabetes type II in District 2 of Yazd. Twenty four patients with diabetes type II, aged 40-55 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 30.32±4.18 kg.m² and fasting blood glucose greater than 126 mg /dl were selected by purposive sampling. First, the anthropometric variables and indices of lung function were measured, then subjects were randomly divided into two groups (experimental, n=14 and control, n=10). Core resistance training was done for 12 weeks (3 days/week, 60 to 75 minutes) for experimental group. Lung function indices were assessed by spirometry.Results: Core resistance trainings significantly reduced WC (p=0.001), WHR (p=0.04), FEV1/FVC (p=0.001) and fasting blood glucose (p=0.001) and increased FVC (p=0.001), FEV1 (p=0.001) as compared with pre-test measures, whereas body weight and BMI remained unchanged in experimental group (p˃0.05).Conclusion: Blood glucose control can be effective in reducing pulmonary complications. Therefore, exercise training programs that can lower blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, are effective therapeutic interventions for improving lung function. According to the results, core resistance trainings that strengthen the core muscles such as diaphragm are effective to improve lung function.

Background and Objective: Recognizing the factors affecting the quality and quantity of clinical education (CE) is helpful in solving CE problems. Also, CE healthy constituents can enhance the quality of education. This study aimed to determine the viewpoints of students and instructors of Birjand University of Medical Sciences regarding CE quality.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study covered all senior students at Paramedical and Nursing-Obstetrics Schools of Birjand University of Medical Sciences during 2011-2012. The instrument involved a questionnaire which covered 5 domains including the educational objectives and plans, the trainer’s performance, his/her manner of treating the students, educational setting, and supervision and evaluation. The data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and analytical tests.Results: There were 93 students and 22 instructors in this study. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between students’ mean scores of the five domains on the basis of their major. The difference between instructors’ viewpoints mean scores concerning their way of treating students and the educational setting was significant on the basis of their educational and clinical experience (p<0.05). Finally, students and trainers’ mean scores concerning trainers’ performance and treatment of students was significantly different (p<0.05).Conclusion: CE is complicated and widely-dimensioned. Students and instructors’ views of different fields of study have different views on the domains influential in CE. It is through frequent evaluations of clinical areas and comparison with the current status that the strengths and weaknesses can be recognized.

Background and Objective: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common disorder that everybody may experience it at least once in his or her lifetime, interfering with function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stabilization exercises and Pilates training method on LBP.Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients with chronic non-specific LBP were randomly assigned into two groups, 1- Stabilization exercises (n=12), and 2- Pilates training (n=11). They pursued their therapeutic protocols for six weeks. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Modified Shober test, and Oswestry Disability Index were used to evaluate pain intensity, flexion range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine, and function status of participants, respectively. SPSS software (version 20) with independent t and paired t tests were utilized at 5 percent to analyze the data.Results: Lumbar spine flexion ROM, pain intensity, and function of both experimental groups significantly improved (P<0.001) after the treatment. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed for changes of flexion ROM and function between the two groups, although pain was significantly (p<0.05) alleviated in Pilates group in comparison with the other group.Conclusion: Pilates method can be used as a part of rehabilitation program for patients with chronic LBP in order to decrease pain, increase ROM, and for improvement of function.

Background and Objective: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease in humans and animals. Nowadays, several serological tests for brucellosis diagnosis are available but all of these tests have their own limits. The aim of the present study was to use PCR according to omp25 and trpE genes for the molecular analysis of the individuals with brucellosis.Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 clinical isolates were studied. All the patients were diagnosed with positive immunological tests such as Wright and Coombs. Samples of blood were cultured (BACTEC) and incubated at 37 degrees Celsius for 5 days and then they were cultured for 3 days on Brucella agar. DNA was extracted from the colonies by Kit. The extracted DNA was used as template for accurate diagnosis of bacterial strains with gene-specific primers in PCR reactions omp25 and trpE.Results: In this study, all the samples selected were seropositive from which the colonies were obtained. DNA extracted from the colonies by the use of kit was proved by spectrophotometer device. Also, the results of the amplification reaction and the amplified bands of 486 and 490 bp for omp25 and trpE genes indicate the validity of the primers. By reproduction of these components, the genus Brucella was specifically identified.Conclusion: Using the PCR technique, on the contrary to the serological diagnostic methods, facilitates the tracing and identifying the bacteria, especially those with slow growth rate. In this research, the trpE gene which has been not used in the diagnosis of brucellosis in Iran was exploited. The results of this study indicate that by amplification of some specific regions of the omp25 and trpE genes which are belonged to the conserved parts of the genus Brucella, identifying the bacteria Brucella under PCR method is possible.

Background and Objective: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was originally described as a trophic factor supporting the survival of ciliary ganglion neurons in vitro. CNTF can also promote the survival and differentiation of a variety of nerve cells including sensory, motor, autonomic neurons and oligodendrocytes. To enhance the neurotrophic effect of BMSCs, the CNTF-pSec-tag 2 /hygro A plasmid was constructed and transferred into BMSCs by lipofectamin.Materials and Methods: Plasmid CNTF-pSec-tag 2 /hygro A was constructed and verified by sequencing. BMSCs were transfected by lipofectamin. The transcription of the gene was evaluated by RT-PCR and real time PCR, and the expression of protein was evaluated by western blotting and ELISA.Results: CNTF-pSec-tag 2 /hygro A plasmid was correctly verified. After transfection, the transcription of CNTF gene and the expression of CNTF protein were proven by RT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA.Conclusion: CNTF-pSec-tag 2 /hygro A plasmid was correctly constructed and BMSCs were successfully transfected by transfection and CNTF-pSec-tag 2 /hygro A protein can be expressed well, which is a good foundation for future studies on the transplantation of gene-modified BMSCs to promote spinal cord regeneration.

Background and Objective: Evidence exist that polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is responsible for a high percentage of women infertility during reproductive age. In this study, the correction of this problem by hyper-activation of nitric oxide (NO) system was studied in rats.Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats (weighing 200-250 g) were kept as virgin diestrous under standard conditions. One group of the rats was i.p. injected with L-arginine (50 mg/kg) through a period lasting nine days/once a day. Another group received naloxone (0.4 mg/kg), 30 min prior to i.p. injection of L-arginine during the experimental phase. The third group was injected with a single dose of naloxone (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.). The control group solely received saline (1 ml/kg, i.p.).Results: Ovaries from L-arginine treated rats showed polycystic characteristics in comparison with the control; this feature was resolved in the naloxone treated groups. The endometrium due to L-arginine showed inflammation, however, its growth or folding were significant in naloxone treated rats.Conclusion: Naloxone intervenes with the PCOS induced by over-activation of NOS. This research likely represents the case of infertility in the animal model of PCOS. The study may open a new gate towards the naloxone efficacy on infertility induced of PCOS.

Background and Objective: Research results have revealed a relation between homocysteine as an inflammatory index and inactivity-related diseases. The purpose of this research was to examine the relation between the maximum oxygen consumed (a cardio-respiratory endurance index) and blood homocysteine level in sedentary subjects.Materials and Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental research in which 28 students were randomly selected from a population of 240 students of Science & Industry University of Iran (age=19.14±1.24, weight=70.13±11.76 height=175.42±5.86 cm, lipid percentage=19.11±5.98). The sample was then divided into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental and control groups participated in blood donation both in pre-test and post-test. But only the experimental group performed the Bruce Test in 8 weeks of aerobic exercise test (Bruce protocol-Vo2max) three times per week and at their 60 to 75 percent maximum heart rate. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine the normality of data and Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to analyze the data.Results: With an eight-week aerobic exercise, no significant correlation was observed between homocysteine (r= 0.16, p≥0.05), and Vo2max, and no significant difference in the experimental group homocysteine was also observed (p=0.64). However, the Maximum Oxygen Consumed level in the post-test experimental group indicated a significant increase (p=0.0001).Conclusion: No significant relationship was found out between blood homocysteine and maximum oxygen consumption in inactive men.

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was assessment and analysis of the status of the sum of physicians and dentists manpower in Iran on the basis of the five-year development plans goals.Materials and Methods: This study has a descriptive–analytic method, using statistical analysis and documents from the first to the fourth five-year National Development Plan. The population in the study was the total number of physicians and dentists human resources in the country. The analysis was done by the statistical softwares Eviews7 and Excel 2010.Results: The average annual growth rates of the sum of physicians and dentists in the four development plans were 14.2, 9.4, 6.2 and 4.7%, respectively. The total average annual growth rate in 1360-1388 was 6.4%. These growth rates along with high annual growth rates in that period showed that in the decision for increasing the number of physicians, the attention should be mainly focused on growth of physician services in the country and reducing shortages of health services in the public sector. There have been three goals for such high growth rates in the development plans, a) increasing accessibility and equity in the distribution of facilities and physician manpower, b) increasing the proportion of physician number per 1000 population, and c) increasing the share of private sector in health service provision.Conclusion: Lack of a plan for balanced growth rates of physician manpower and health facilities for a given level of health services in the last five-year plan could be considered the main problem in future, after reaching the required number of physicians in the country.

Background and Objective: Choline is a precursor for the synthesis of the most important cholinergic neurotransmitter that induce the release of calcium from sarcoplasmic reticulum that finally leads to muscle contraction. The purpose of the current study was to survey the effect of one week choline supplementation on memory, reaction time, throwing darts and balance in recreationally active men.Materials and Methods: Thirty qualified men (age 25.8±4.34 years old, height 172.1±7.24 cm, weight 76.9±10.17 kg, BMI 26.06±0.15 kg/m2) were randomly and double-blind divided into two groups of supplementation and placebo with a pre- and post-test design. The subjects initially completed throwing darts test, balance by stroke test, reaction time by reaction time computerized evaluation program and memory by memory assessment computerized program (memory 2000). Following one week of supplementation, the tests were repeated with the same sequence. For data analysis, the software SPSS (version 20) and the paired independent t-test were used.Results: Reaction time and memory performance in the experimental group significantly improved (p<0.05). However, throwing darts and balance scores in both groups were not significant different between the pre and post-test sessions (p>0.05).Conclusion: The results of the current study indicated that one week bitartrate choline supplementation can improve memory and reaction time with no effect on balance performance and throwing darts. With regard to the effect of choline supplementation on exercise performance, there is a requirement for further research.