Journal of Inflammatory Diseases
Year:2018 | Volume:22 | Issue:5 (100) |Papers Count:12

Background: Effect of caffeine on seizure is controversial in animal models of epilepsy. Caffeine is non-selective antagonist of A1 and A2A adenosine receptors. Meanwhile, nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-sGC-cGMP) pathway is partly involved in the central effects of caffeine. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute caffeine administration on seizure threshold and levels of nitric oxide metabolites in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model in mice. Methods: In this study, 35 NMRI mice (25-30 g) were divided into 5 groups (7 animals in each group). Clonic seizure threshold induced by PTZ was assessed in intact control group or 30 min after acute intraperitoneal administration of caffeine (5, 100, and 150 mg/kg) or saline. Nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) were measured in the brain tissues of all groups at the end of experiments. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and followed Tukey test for multiple comparisons. Findings: Acute administration of 5 mg/kg of caffeine significantly decreased seizure threshold compared to saline (P<0. 01). While 100 and 150 mg/kg of caffeine did not change seizure threshold. NOx levels significantly decreased following acute administration of caffeine (100 and 150 mg/kg) compared to saline (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The results of study showed that different doses of caffeine had different effects. It seems that effect of higher doses of caffeine is partly mediated through modulation of nitric oxide pathway.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is diagnosed with a lack of memory and perception. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of donepezil and folic acid on reference and working memory disorders caused by electrical lesion of nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). Methods: In this experimental study, 49 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups: control and, nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) lesion group. which received electrically-induced lesion (0. 5 mA, 3 s) in NBM, sham group (the electrode was impaled in to the nucleus basalis magnocellularis with no lesion), donepezil group (lesion + donepezil 0. 1 mg/kg), folic acid group (lesion + folic acid 5 mg), interaction group (lesion + donepezil-folic acid) and vehicle group (lesion + saline). Acquisition and retention tests were done by using an eight-radial arm maze task. Findings: Results showed that there was a significant difference between control and lesion groups (P<0. 05). Combination treatment with donepezil and folic acid improved the parameters of spatial memory errors in the acquisition and retention tasks comparing to the control group (P˂ 0. 05). Conclusion: The degradation of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis caused to increase reference and working memory errors. Also the co-administration of donepezil and folic acid leaded to a reduction in these errors and improved spatial memory of the rat.

Background: Drug abuse is one of the most important global issue that has become a psychological, social, and family disaster Objective: The present study was aimed to determine the causes of substance abuse in the elderly. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 120 addicted elderly people referred to addiction treatment centers of Qazvin, Iran were selected by convenience sampling in 2017. The demographic and researcher-made substance abuse tendency questionnaires were applied for data collection. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings: The mean age and age of the onset of drug abuse were 58. 83± 8. 91 and 34. 44± 13. 37 years, respectively. The majority of the elderly were male (113 subjects, 94. 1%), and 102 (85. 1%) elders were married. Opium was the most common abused drug (75. 8%) and more than half of them (64. 2%) experienced drug discontinuation. Environmental factors were the important reason of intendancy towards drug abuse among elderly people. Conclusion: In this study, the most important reason of drug abuse in the elderly people was environmental factors that were consisted; easy access to drug, lack of sports and recreational facilities and the presence of addicted friends.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. Diet and Helicobacter pylori infection are among the main causes of this disorder. Objective: In this study, the effect of black tea extract and sodium bicarbonate with Helicobacter pylori on the genes involved in iron absorption and storage, as well as cell proliferation, were studied. Methods: Simultaneous cultivation of MDCK and Helicobacter pylori cell lines was performed at concentrations of 10, 20, 40 and 80 μ g/ml of tea extract and 30, 40, 60 and 100 mM sodium bicarbonate at 24 and 48 hours. The effect of treatment on cell survival was investigated by trypan blue staining and expression of MYC, TFRC, FTH1, IRP2, IRP1, and NDRG1 genes by real-time PCR and analyzed by ANOVA and independent T-test. Findings: There was no significant change in the expression of the genes involved in iron metabolism under the influence of tea, sodium bicarbonate and Helicobacter pylori treatment in MDCK cell line. Upregulation MYC gene expression was observed in the presence of Helicobacter pylori after 24 hours treatment with tea extract, and sodium bicarbonate, and in the absence of Helicobacter pylori upregulation with tea extract after 48 hours (P<0. 05). Also upregulation NDRG1 gene expression was seen after tea extract treatment of cells with or without Helicobacter pylori in both 24 and 48 h (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Sodium bicarbonate and tea each one alone didn’ t not influence iron status. This study suggests that reduction of tea intake could be served as a risk prevention strategy.

Background: Stomach is a common location for benign and malignant lesions in the digestive system from inflammation to cancer. Therefore, recognition and diagnosis in the endoscopic stage and its confirmation in a pathological examination will be critical. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between endoscopic and histopathological findings in the patients with stomach lesion. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 350 patients who referred to endoscopy center in Firoozgar Hospital were selected from 2016 to 2017. The stomach endoscopy was performed on various parts including; fundus, body (lesser and greater curvatures) and antrum, and pathological examination was performed on biopsy samples. The checklist was used to record patients’ age and gender. Data were analyzed by t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Findings: The mean age of patients was 51± 6 years and 207 patients (59. 1%) were male. The correlation between pathologic and endoscopic results for antrum, body and fundus were 0. 62, 0. 56 and 0. 46 respectively. Also, the significant correlation between endoscopy and histopathology was found (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The results indicated that additional endoscopy reports and histopathological studies are required to achieve a better outcome for an accurate diagnosis. Also, the highest and lowest correlations between endoscopic and histopathological results were observed in the fundus and antrum, respectively.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health challenge and also the leading cause of death in the world. Evidences indicate that this disease ranking will be rising from 4th to 3rd until 2020. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of upper extremity exercise and respiratory training on the quality of life in patients with COPD. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study conducted in Velayat Hospital in Qazvin with COPD patients (n=75) in 2017. After dividing the participants into three groups (n=25), demographic information and St George’ s quality of life questionnaire were completed. The upper extremity exercise group attended in 12 exercise sessions and the respiratory training group received respiratory trainings for one month, as well. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, one-way-ANOVA test, and Paired t-test. Findings: The upper extremity exercise group had a higher quality of life than the respiratory training group (P=0. 001). Conclusion: Upper extremity exercises have been effective in increasing the quality of life of these patients. Therefore it can be used as a supplementary non-drug therapy.

Background: One of the major problems in the world are Cardiovascular diseases and it is the reason of 30% of the deaths. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of progressive relaxation and emotional regulation on quality of life of elderly heart patients. Methods: This semi-experimental research was conducted with pre-posttest design with an experimental and control group in 2016-17. The population consisted of all elderly heart patients living in Dashti city who have been admitted to the hospital. Forty-five elderly heart patients were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (n=15). The control group did not receive any intervention. An interventional programs (progressive muscle relaxation and emotional regulation) were performed in eight sessions for 40 minutes for experimental groups. To collect data, the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Data were analyzed and represented as mean, standard deviation, and ANCOVA. Findings: The quality of life in two experimental groups (progressive muscle relaxation and emotional regulation) compared to the control group, at posttest were increased (P<0. 05). The average scores of quality of life was significantly increased in the progressive muscle relaxation group rather than emotion regulation training group in post-test stages (P<0. 01). Conclusion: The results showed that progressive muscle relaxation and emotional regulation can be effective to treat and work with the elderly heart patients.

Background: Municipal solid waste is a serious environmental issue in human societies. The source separation is a necessity for efficient municipal waste management (MSW). Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the source separation rate of MSW in several Iranian cities, as well as to identify the determinance of the participation level in source separation. Methods: In this study, the source separation rate of waste in 12 cities of Iran was evaluated by information from waste management organizations and the economical and social determinance were reviewed. Data were analyzed by Excel. Findings: In some cities, despite the coverage of about 90% of the training plans, the rate of source separation of MSW was less than 40%, and the average of source separation for all studied cities was 13. 46%. The value of dry solid waste in all studied cities was estimated 705/000 tons per year which about 610/000 tons are collected as the mix with other wastes. Awareness and education as the cultural factors and social trust, economic issues, and the continuity of the source separation plan as the social factors have been effective in people's participation in these projects. Conclusion: Higher source separation rate in the wastes at the urban area requires consideration of all determinance in the planning and policy of WMS.

In some adults, infections result from influenza, which usually occurs as respiratory infections. In the central nervous system, influenza can cause aseptic meningitis and encephalitis/encephalopathy syndrome that may cause death or persistent brain complications. This report presents a case of encephalitis/encephalopathy caused by H1N1 virus in a 35-year-old man who was hospitalized with reduced consciousness and fever. The patient underwent empirical treatment of meningitis, acyclovir and oseltamivir. In the third day, the patient became alert at the hospital. The RT-PCR was positive for H1N1. In the cerebrospinal fluid sample, ten lymphocytes were seen, but protein and sugar were reported normal, and gram stain and culture were negative. Multiple punctate hyperintensities noted in subcortical white matter (in T2-weighted images of brain MRI) and EEG abnormality reported. Treatment with oseltamivir continued and patient was discharged with good general condition. Decreased level of consciousness can be due to influenza, especially during the epidemic.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is becoming a new global threat. Currently, serologic (ELISA) and molecular (RT-PCR) testing make the diagnosis of Zika virus infection. There is no specific drug available for Zika virus infection, and treatment is supportive based on reducing symptoms of disease. Protection against mosquito bites is the most effective way to prevent the infection. In this systematic review, all of the English published papers on Zika virus were assessed before December 2017, and were overviewed. Bibliographic databases had searched including; PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, and Science Direct by using the keywords such as; “ Zika virus” , “ Zika fever” , and “ Zika infection” . In this review, the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical features, transmission, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Zika virus infection were discussed.