Internal Medicine Today
Year:2020 | Volume:26 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Aims: Cancerous brain tumors are among the most dangerous diseases that lower the quality of life of people for many years. Their detection in the early stages paves the way for the proper treatment. The present study aimed to present a two-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for detecting brain tumors under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using the deep learning method. Methods & Materials: The proposed method has two stages of feature extraction and classification. A 12-layer CNN was used to extract the features of the MRI images and then the softmax activation function was used to classify these features. The proposed method was applied to a standard database consisting of three brain tumor types of meningioma, glioma, and pituitary. Findings: The proposed method had better performance compared to previously presented methods. Its accuracy was reported as 98. 68%. Conclusion: Meningioma, glioma, and pituitary tumors are the most common types of brain tumors. Early detection of these tumors can decrease the risk of death. Because of its fully connected structure, the use of proposed deep CNN can help physicians to correctly detect brain tumors with MRI images.

Aims: Most people in the community believe that substance abuse is masculine, while women are progressing alongside men in this area, with statistics indicating an increasing number of infected women. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of enriching couples relationships on tolerance of distressed women who were drug abusers Methods & Materials: This is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test and follow-up test with control group. Initially, 40 women were selected from the study and 20 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the control group. Subjects were then assessed using a distress tolerance test (Simmons & Gahr, 2005). Experimental group participants participated in enrichment sessions based on Doba, Graham, Britz and Minatra (2009) choice theory and control group subjects remained on the waiting list. A follow-up test was taken after three months. Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the data. The above analyzes were performed with SPSS V. 24 software Findings: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean of pre-test, posttest and follow-up scores of distress tolerance scales in the experimental and control groups. (P<0. 05). The mean distress tolerance in the experimental group increased from 34. 533 to 42. 80 in the pre-test phase and reached 42. 533 in the follow-up phase. Also, the significant interaction between the stages with the experimental group in the mentioned variable indicates that in the post-test and follow-up stages, the mean of the experimental groups was significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: Due to the increasing trend of addiction in women, proper education is one of the essentials. Therefore, it is recommended to take effective steps to improve couple distress tolerance training by enriching couple relationships

Aims: One of the causes of infertility in men is the azoospermia disease, which is attributed to the lack of sperm in each sperm. The primary function of spermatogenesis is the maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of spermatogonial cells. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the changes in Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger (PLZF) and spermatid Transition Nuclear Protein (TNP) gene expression levels in an azoospermic rat model after 8 weeks of low-intensity aerobic training. Methods & Materials: In this experimental study, 15 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of healthy control, with azoospermia, and exercise plus azoospermia after creating an azoospermia model. The patient plus exercise group performed a low-intensity swimming exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week for 8 weeks, after the creation of the azoospermic rats. A One-way ANOVA test was used for data analysis. Findings: The results showed that a period of swimming exercise program in the exercise plus azoospermia group significantly reduced PLZF gene expression compared to the healthy control groups (P=0. 001) and no significant increase to the azoospermia group (P=0. 06). There was also a significant decrease in TNP gene expression levels in the exercise plus azoospermia group compared to the healthy control group (P=0. 001) and a significant increase in the azoospermia group (P=0. 057). Conclusion: Based on these Findings, it can be stated that the alteration of key molecules or signaling pathways and expression of the PLZF and TNP genes in the spermatogenesis process may increase infertility, but regular aerobic exercise, such as low-intensity swimming, helps to control the effects of infertility by increasing the maintenance and development of spermatogonial stem cells.

Aims: Pain and bruise are the most common side effects of subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin sodium and the injection technique is responsible for 90% of these complications. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of duration and site of subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin on pain intensity and bruise size in patients admitted to cardiac care units. Methods & Materials: This study was a clinical trial that was performed on 60 patients admitted to the cardiac care unit. The participants were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned into the two groups of 30-s and 15+5-s injection techniques. Pain intensity was measured immediately after injection by VAS (visual analog scale). Bruise size was measured 24 and 48 hours after each injection with a clear millimeter ruler. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS version 21 at the significant level of 0. 05. Findings: The results showed a significant decrease in pain intensity and bruise size 24 and 48 hours after the injection in the 30-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection group (P<0. 001). The mean and standard deviation of pain reduction was 2. 9± 0. 6 in the 30-s injection group and 3. 53± 0. 5 in the 15+5-s injection group. The results also showed that mean and standard deviation of abdominal bruise size (15. 76± 3. 07 mm) was significantly lower than arm (20. 46 ± 6. 30 mm) in the 3-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection group (0. 001). Conclusion: The 30-s injection technique resulted in a significant decrease in pain intensity and bruise size due to the subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin. It was also found that the extent of bruising in the abdominal site was less than the arm in the 30-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection, so the abdomen is recommended for subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin.

Aims: Pain and bruise are the most common side effects of subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin sodium and the injection technique is responsible for 90% of these complications. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of duration and site of subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin on pain intensity and bruise size in patients admitted to cardiac care units. Methods & Materials: This study was a clinical trial that was performed on 60 patients admitted to the cardiac care unit. The participants were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned into the two groups of 30-s and 15+5-s injection techniques. Pain intensity was measured immediately after injection by VAS (visual analog scale). Bruise size was measured 24 and 48 hours after each injection with a clear millimeter ruler. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS version 21 at the significant level of 0. 05. Findings: The results showed a significant decrease in pain intensity and bruise size 24 and 48 hours after the injection in the 30-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection group (P<0. 001). The mean and standard deviation of pain reduction was 2. 9± 0. 6 in the 30-s injection group and 3. 53± 0. 5 in the 15+5-s injection group. The results also showed that mean and standard deviation of abdominal bruise size (15. 76± 3. 07 mm) was significantly lower than arm (20. 46 ± 6. 30 mm) in the 3-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection group (0. 001). Conclusion: The 30-s injection technique resulted in a significant decrease in pain intensity and bruise size due to the subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin. It was also found that the extent of bruising in the abdominal site was less than the arm in the 30-s injection group compared to the 15+5-s injection, so the abdomen is recommended for subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin.

Aims: Self-care helps older people manage their own health and stay independent by delaying disability. This study aimed to apply the Backman Model in determining the dimensions of self-care and the factors affecting it in the elderly in Tehran. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 400 elderly members ofnursing homes by systematic random sampling. Data gathering tool included demographic characteristics and self-care behaviors, self-care orientation, life satisfaction assessment, self-confidence, social support, and functional capability. The Chi-square and Pearson correlationand regression analysis were used with a significance coefficient of 0. 05. The data were analyzed in SPSS v. 19. Findings: The total mean ages of elderly were 69. 11± 7. 51, 42. 5% male. There was significant difference between the types of self-care and gender only in the dimensions of work habits (P<0. 001) and medical treatment (P<0. 001). Pearson correlation indicated there was a direct and positive relationship between self-care type and self-care orientation (r=0. 662, P=0. 01). The relationship between self-care type and social support was negative (r=0. 075, P=0. 01). Conclusion: Factors such as life satisfaction, functional capacity, social support and self-confidence are associated with self-care in the elderly. It is suggested that health system policymakers formulate support programs for the elderly in various forms, such as the elderly access to transportation program, facilities, tax exemptions, etc.

Aims: The research aimed to investigate the effects of harmal (Peganum harmal ) seed extract on the weight and some metabolic parameters. Methods & Materials: Male rats, in groups of 7, received different doses of the methanol extract of harmal seed (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/d body weight) or placebo via a gastric tube for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, the weights of the body, liver, spleen, and heart, and also the levels of some serum parameters, including glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, insulin, growth hormone, and thyroid hormones, as well as the composition of the carcass were investigated. Findings: The mean weight gain, food intake, and the serum level of triiodothyronine (T3) significantly declined in the rats receiving the extract at 400 mg/kg. In contrast, the serum level of cholesterol in the group increased (P<0. 001). The serum levels of glucose were significantly lower in all experimental groups compared to the control. Furthermore, the groups treated with the methanol extract dose-dependently showed higher serum lactate dehydrogenase levels compared to the control (P<0. 05). No significant differences were observed regarding other studied parameters compared with the control group. Conclusion: This research suggests positive effects for harmal extract on some metabolic parameters and weight. At least one of the involved mechanisms seems to be declined appetite and hence decreased feed intake.

Aims: In this study, we investigated the effect of clove extract (Syzygium aromaticum) on liver cell damage and oxidative stress caused by diabetes in adult rats. Methods & Materials: For this study, 28 female rats were collected and divided into four groups: A: Control group; B: Diabetic Control group (DC) which received 20% glycerol dissolved in normal saline as carriers; C: Diabetic rats (DSA) treated with cloves hydroalcoholic extract (4 mg/kg); d) diabetic rats (DG) treated with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) as a standard drug. Findings: The fasting blood sugar and serum triglyceride levels in the DC group increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0. 05). In DC, DG, and DSA groups, high-density lipoprotein, and serum insulin levels decreased significantly compared to the control group (P<0. 05). Also, in DG and DSA groups, high-density lipoprotein and serum insulin levels increased significantly compared to the DC group. Conclusion: Cloves can affect fasting blood sugar, serum insulin levels, serum fat profile levels, and prevent liver tissue damage in diabetic rats caused by streptozotocin.

Aims: Escherichia coli is one of the most important causes of hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections in humans and can easily gain resistance to antibiotics consumed by humans and animals. The main objectives of this study were to assess antibiotic resistance outlines and detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, including the blaCTX-M and pap among the E. coli isolates recovered from the urine of patients referred to Shaheed Madani Hospital (Bejestan, Northeast of Iran). Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to March 2018. A total of 100 non-duplicate isolates of E. coli were recovered from the urine of patients referred to Shaheed Madani Hospital (Bejestan, Northeast of Iran). Antimicrobial susceptibility test and extended-spectrumbeta-Lactamases (ESBLs) production were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The polymerase chain reaction was carried out for the detection and distribution of the pap virulence gene and blaCTX-M antibiotic resistance gene. Findings: About 100 E. coli isolates were recovered from the urine sample of patients (21 male, and 79 female). Carbapenems were the most effective antibiotic against isolates. Four strains (4%) were resistant to colistin. Twenty-seven strains (27%) were ESBL-positive. Carbapenems were the most effective antibiotic against ESBL-positive strains. Also, 82% and 89% of isolates were blaCTX-M and pap gene positive, respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that ESBL-positive strains with a high level of drug resistance and virulence factors are a potential risk for hospital wards. Colistin resistant isolates found in our study are quite alarming.