Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2020 | Volume:27 | Issue:1|Papers Count:11

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the health status of women with breast cancer in Tehran. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and posttest design and two measurement stages (three months and six months after the first measurement). For this purpose, among women with breast cancer referred to Tehran Medical Sciences Medical Centers and under study conditions, 20 volunteers were randomly selected and divided into experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The experimental group then participated in eight sessions of 1. 5-hour sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy sessions and the control group performed their usual treatment plan. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA. Results: The results of the data analysis showed that the treatment program was unable to have a significant effect on interleukin 6 (P>0. 05) but was able to decrease biological age (P<0. 01). The results of the two follow-up stages show that the intervention was able to maintain its effects throughout time. Conclusion: According to the research findings mindfulness based cognitive therapy is able to improve the biological age of breast cancer patients. But further research is needed on the effect of psychotherapy on biomarkers such as interleukin-6.

Background: Beta thalassemia is a disorder that is due to the reduction or lack of production of the beta hemoglobin chain, and its inheritance is in the form of autosomal ressesive. The previous program was the prevention of beta thalassemia from the Eighties in Iran and was accompanied by a significant reduction of birthrate with severe and moderate form of disease, and by improving; the cost-effectiveness of the new program was recently in the executive country. Because the main goal of both programs is reducing birthrate, therefore, it was decided to compare these two programs in terms of affected newborn identification power. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling. Referring to the archive section of Ali-Asghar Children Hospital, the number 72 of patients with thalassemia (36 thalassemia major and 36 thalassemia intermadia) were extracted. In all cases, there was a complete blood count test and hemoglobin electrophoresis for parents of children with the required data including blood markers (RBC, HB, MCV, MCH, HbA2), and age and gender index of parents in the checklist and analyzed statistically by SPSS 20 and SAS 9. 1 softwares. Results: Based on detection type (Thalassemia major or Intermedia) and using new screening protocol and determining the risk of thalassemia, 7. 89% of couples in patients with thalassemia major and 100% of couples were considered in the group of patients with thalassemia. Also, based on the usual protocol of risky group, 6. 96% of couples in patients with thalassemia major and 100% of couples were enrolled in the group of patients with the Intermedia. In addition, 7. 89% were classified for thalassemia major and 100% in Intermedia, without using hemoglobin. Considering the normal ranges of RBC between 4 and 5. 5 for children, the cases of anemia had been reported in 5. 67%. In addition, in terms of normal range of RBC between 4. 7 to 6. 1, the cases of anemia in male and female were estimated to be 5. 37% and 20%, respectively. In addition, RBCs higher than normal ones were 5. 47% and 5. 22% respectively. In other words, in men, only 15% and women 5. 57% were exposed to normal. Conclusion: According to the results that were obtained in this study, the use of primary protocols due to the cheaper and more accurate detection of high risk cases for beta-thalassemia are also preferred. In addition, due to the high prevalence of hematologic disorders, especially anemia in these individuals, the implementation of the Protocol for the elimination of anemia in these individuals is strongly recommended according to the national Protocol.

Background: The present study was performed to compare the effects of moderate intensity aerobic training and stem cell infusion on Dkk-1 and Sclerostin levels in a model of Osteoarthritis rats. Methods: Study was experimental type. For this purpose, 42 male Wistar rats, 8 weeks old, were randomly divided into 6 groups; control, osteoarthritis, saline, osteoarthritis-aerobic training, osteoarthritis-stem cell and osteoarthritis-aerobic training-stem cell. Osteoarthritis was induced by injury to the miniscus and cartilage in male rats. The training program consisted of 30 minutes of treadmill running without slope and speed of 14 to 18 m/min for 8 weeks. Bone-derived stem cell injection was 1000000 cells/kg. Tissue levels of Dkk-1 and Sclerostin were measured by ELISA. Results: Stem cells-aerobic training, aerobic training, and stem cells groups showed a significant decrease in Dkk-1 and Sclerostin levels of femur compared to the osteoarthritic group (P<0. 0001). Aerobic training-stem cell group showed a greater decrease (P<0. 0001). Conclusion: Overall, the results of the present study showed that aerobic training combined with bone marrow-derived stem cells injection reduced the tissue levels of Dkk-1 and Sclerostin in the femur, and may reduce bone loss caused by osteoarthritis by improving bone metabolism.

Background: Epigallocatechin gallat as a strong antioxidant plays an important role in inhibiting free radicals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Epigallocatechin gallat on the viability, morphology and osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of rat. Methods: In this experimental study, the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted using flashing-out method. At the end of the third passage, cells were divided into 9 groups of control and experimental. The cells of experimental groups were treated with the different doses of epigallocatechin gallat (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 50 μ m) for a period of 21 days in the osteogenic media containing 10% of fetal bovine serum. Then, cell proliferation, bone matrix mineralization, intracellular and extracellular calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin genes were investigated during the procedure of osteogenesis. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the means difference was considered significant at p<0. 05. Results: The cell viability, mean bone matrix mineralization, calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase activity, expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin of the mesenchymal stem cells treated with epigallocatechin gallat significantly increased, compared to the control group in a dose dependent manner (p<0. 05). Also cytoplasm extensions were observed in the cells treated with epigallocatechin gallat. Conclusion: Since epigallocatechin gallat caused a significant increase in cell viability and osteogenic differentiation in the mesenchymal stem cells, therefore, it can be utilized in order to increase cell differentiation and survival.

Background: Leadership is the ability to influence, guide and ecourage employees to achive organizational goals. Leadership has a significant role in organizations’ success or failure. Hospital managers should use an appropriate leadership style to achieve organizational goals. The purpose of this study was to identify the critical success factors of leadership in a hospital. Methods: This qualitative case study was conducted in 2018 at Hasheminejad Hospital, a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. The research population consisted of managers and hospital employees. Purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to recruit interviewees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 hospital managers and employees. Furthermore, relevant hospital documents were collected. Content thematic analysis method was used for data analysis using the MAXQDA 11 software. Results: The leadership success depends on the leader and the employees’ personality traits such as intelligence, knowledge, abilities, attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors, and factors within and outside of the organization. Mission, vision, strategies and plans, rules and regulations, organizational structure, organizational culture, professional development of managers and employees, employees’ participation, motivation and satisfaction, and patient satisfaction are organizational factors affecting leadership in a hospital. In addition, support of senior managers in the university and political and economic factors influence a leader’ s success. Conclusion: Personality traits and internal and external factors influence the quality of leadership in hospitals. Hospital managers should develop their leadership competencies considering these factors.

According to the major application of radiotherapy in the treatment and diagnosis of several diseases and even nuclear war, the protection of normal tissues and people at risk from the radiation is considerable. Presently, we do not have an ideal and safe radio protective agent and there is great effort to develop these agents from natural sources. Phenolic compounds, as well as flavonoid, are presented widely as the second metabolite in plants and have been considered for investigation according to their benefits for human health, healing and preventing many disorders. The main biologic properties of flavonoids include antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-senescence, anti-bacterial and anti-viral, neuroprotection and radio protective effects. The little toxicity and edible usability have made flavonoids as an appropriate choice for radiotherapy patients, radiation, military forces, and even the general public. This review tries to provide a summary of the principal molecular mechanisms involved in flavonoid radio-protective effects. Data of these investigations will give a wide perspective to flavonoids and can help to optimize their effects in radioprotection procedures.

Background: Among the factors that negatively affect students' interpersonal relationships are interpersonal problems. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that can prevent these problems. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal problems due to the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Methods: The present study is a descriptive-correlation and structural equation modeling model. The study population consisted of female students residing in the dormitory of Bou Ali Sina University, who were studying in the academic year 2016-17. The sample of this study included 200 female students who were selected through available sampling. For data collection, three questionnaires of interpersonal problems of Herwitz et al. 1988 (IIP-60), Collins and Reed 1990 Adult Attachment Style (RAAS) and Sharing Emotional Intelligence (1996) were used to analyze the data by statistical software SPSS 22 and LISREL 8. 5 were used. Results: The results of correlation coefficient showed that safe attachment style was inversely significant (p<0. 05) and ambivalent attachment style predicted directly and significantly (p<0. 05) the interpersonal problems. But the relationship between avoidant attachment style and in-personality problems was not significant and the role of mediator of emotional intelligence in the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal problems was confirmed. Investigating the causal relationships between the variables showed that the research data are fitted with conceptual model (X2/df=4. 133, GFI=0. 90, CFI=0. 97, NFI=0. 95, RMSEA=0. 025). Conclusion: One of the important factors in reducing interpersonal problems, along with other factors, is probably having a secure attachment style and emotional intelligence. People with a secure attachment style are more successful in setting up, monitoring, evaluating and expressing their excitement. And high emotional intelligence probably reduces interpersonal problems.

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that consists of 28 amino acids and is secreted from the Epsilon cells of the pancreas, a recent peptide hormone that is linked to the secretion of the Growth Hormone (GH) and the regulation of energy homeostasis and insulin. Because physical activities and exercise cause loss of energy balance and are a stimulant for GH secretion, the behavior of ghrelin has attracted the attention of many sports practitioners in relation to physical activity. In this paper, we have tried to introduce this peptide, its behavior and effect on long-term aerobic training, short-term aerobic training, and resistance training based on the review of research in this field. The articles have been collected in English and Persian from the Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer, Google Scholar, SID databases and in a range of years (1996 to 2019). Exercise and physical activity, as a stress that disturbs the body's energy balance, can have different effects, depending on their nature, so that long-term exercises can result in adaptation and short-term exercises cause acute responses, so that they are different. However, research is still ongoing in light of future needs and contradictory outcomes.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders resulting in increased level of blood sugar. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and monogenic diabetes are there major groups of diabetes. Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a monogenic diabetes that is frequently mistaken for T1D or T2D and has 14 different subgroups. The aim of this study was to diagnose MODY and determine the frequency of its 2 major subgroups in Isfahan diabetic population. Methods: The aim of this descriptive-experimental study was determining the type and frequency of mutations in GCK and HNF1A genes in 26 families with MODY from Isfahan using genetic linkage analysis method and selection of 4 markers for each gene. Linkage result was confirmed by fragment analysis and all the exons of genes were sequenced in any of the linked families. Results: In this study from 26 families, 4 families were linked to markers of GCK gene and 3 families were linked to HNF1A gene. After sequencing of all exons of these 2 genes in the related families, variants were analyzed and their effects on diabetes were surveyed. There was no pathogenic mutation but some polymorphisms with increasing effects on susceptibility to diabetes were found. Conclusion: In this study despite of the fact that some families were linked to markers of these 2 genes, and the results of other studies that showed mutations in these 2 genes are the frequent reasons of MODY, there were no pathogenic variants in any of the patients. So it seems that the genetic profile of this population is different from other studied populations.

The Cimex is a family of small parasitic insects feeding exclusively from the blood of warm blooded animals. The most famous member of this family is Cimex lectolarius, a typical bed bug. In recent years, bed bugs have caused many contaminations that have led to many clinical problems. The problem is a global event, with increasing incidence of contamination reports for the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa up to 2019. Incomplete practices related to pest management seem to have increased the incidence of bugs. The result of an enormous increase in the number of contamination incidents is that people are increasingly exposed to insects and consequently create various health hazards, especially in military centers where health and safety in these areas are of great importance. Therefore, considering the importance of possible contamination caused by the bed bugs, we decided to employed the most recent content from recent years displayed in valid databases such as PubMed, ISI, Scopus, Embase and DOAJ and published in Elsevier, Willy, ProQuest and Springer collections using existing keywords, study the important aspects of this pest including the biology of the disease, the transmission of pathogens, classification and life stages, changes in sexual conditions and reproduction, alert pheromones, food habits, host search, cumulative behavior and dispersion, clinical complications due to contamination, infectious diseases, various health effects, treatments and control techniques, and suggested strategies for controlling pest infections in the military areas.

Background: Aging is a phenomenon that, with a sequence of time-dependent changes, causes neurodegeneration and decreases the physiological function of the brain. Oxidative stress is one of the effective mechanisms in the neurodegeneration and aging process of the nervous system. Since the antioxidant effects of aerobic exercise and rosemary extract have been shown separately and mostly in the short term. In this study, we investigated the longterm effects of aerobic exercise and rosemary oral extract, separately and together, on the rate of the hippocampal neurodegeneration in old male rats. Methods: Animals were treated for three months (5 days per week) with treadmill aerobic exercise and daily (once a day) oral administration (gavage) of 100 mg/kg rosemary extract (containing 40% carnosic acid). The number of intact and degenerated neurons in the hippocampus were counted by Nissl and fluorescence Fluoro-jade B staining methods, respectively. Results: The mean number of intact neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus showed significant increase in the exercise, exercise-rosemary (p<0. 001) and rosemary (p<0. 05) groups compared to the control groups (intact and vehicle). The number of degenerated neurons stained showed a significant decrease in the animals in exercise, rosemary and exercise-rosemary groups (p<0. 001) compared to the control groups (intact and vehicle). Conclusion: Aerobic exercise and consumption of rosemary extract (containing 40% carnosic acid) for three months, individually and in combination, were able to maintain neuronal density in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in old rats. Also, data analysis showed that long-term regular aerobic exercise had a stronger protective effect on maintaining hippocampal cell density than rosemary extract.