Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2014 | Volume:31 | Issue:264|Papers Count:7

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most frequent progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is associated with endothelial cell dysfunction. It has been presented that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists can attenuate neurodegeneration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and improve vascular function. On the other hand, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) has beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction and endothelial surveillance. This study aimed to compare the beneficial effects of PPAR-gamma and ACE-I on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with sera from patients with Alzheimer’s disease or healthy controls.Methods: 10 patients with Alzheimer’s disease and 10 healthy individuals were arranged in case and control groups, respectively. Apoptosis was identified after and before adding pioglitazone and enalapril on endothelial cells by annexin V‑propidium iodide staining and cell-death detection kit. Although, nitrite levels were diminished when the sera exposed to both drugs treated endothelial cells but this difference between them was not significant.Findings: Pioglitazone and enalapril could attenuate apoptosis rate significantly before treating with sera from patients with Alzheimer’s disease but the reduction rate was more when pioglitazone added to the media. Also, nitrite concentration showed significantly greater levels of dissolved NO2/NO3 metabolite in the culture media of endothelial cells treated by sera of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (P<0.05), while the rate of nitric oxide significantly decreased when both drugs were presented in culture media.Conclusion: Overally, apoptosis rate reduced more when PPAR agonist was added than ACE-I drugs. It seems that poiglitazone stimulate more anti-apoptotic mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease.

Background: Lack of interest to undertake psychiatry as a specialization is well documented. This study was an endeavor to reveal the underlying factors encouraged a group of medical graduates in Iran to peruse their higher education in psychiatry.Methods: The study sample, 277 psychiatrists and residents randomly selected, filled up a paperpencil questionnaire with 65 items pertaining to factors prior to medicine, during medical course, and after completion of medicine. Data were analyzed using SPSS.16 and running couple of analytical and descriptive tests.Findings: The mean age of studied samples was 39.3±7.0 years and more than half of them were men (57%). Majority of the participants were full-fledged psychiatrists. Over all, the participants claimed that their encounters and experiences during medical course motivated them to turn into psychiatry. For majority of psychiatrists, “the need for treatment of psychiatric patients” and for residents “personality and manner of psychiatric teachers” left more influence on them. Among factors after graduation, “sense of responsibility towards psychiatric patients” and “personality and attitude of mental health personnel toward psychiatric patients” turned out as important factors for psychiatrists and residents, respectively. At the time of appearing for specialization exam, “interest” and “low stress during training” were equally important for both.Conclusion: Full-fledged psychiatrists and residents shared common interest in persuading psychiatry as a specialization. Their differences came from their personal experiences during their training course.

Background: Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of cancer. This drug induces globin-g synthesis, so it could be used for treatment of thalassemia. Several studies have been shown that treatment with hydroxyurea increases Hb and HbF levels in patients with intermediate beta-thalassemia.However, the efficiency of hydroxyurea treatment in patients with beta-thalassemia is unclear. In the present study, clinical response of these patients to the drug was investigated.Methods: In this prospective study, the samples were patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia admitted to Sayed-al-Shohada hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during the years 2011-13. Efficiency of hydroxyurea in 46 patients was studied by determining the changes of Hb and HbF levels before and after one year of treatment with the drug. Treatment was performed using 500 mg capsule with dosage of 20 mg/day/kg. Patients were monitored for side effects, too.Findings: After treatment, the means of Hb and HbF levels increased at a rate of 0.47±1.12 g/dl and 6.04±1.43 percent, respectively; where the first was statistically significant, but the latter was not. Use of drug improved the quality of the patient’s condition and there was no side effect.Conclusion: According to our results, it is suggested that treatment with hydroxyurea could be effective in majority of patients with intermediate beta-thalassemia.

Background: In patients with renal failure, frequent use of erythropoietin is necessary for long times due to serious anemia. The aim of the present study was production of an inhalable dry powder of erythropoietin and comparison it with its parenteral form in erythrocytes count enhancement.Methods: The inhalable powder was prepared using spray-drying of the mixture of poly (methyl-vinyl ether-maleic anhydride), 2-hydroxy propyl-alpha-cyclodextrin and terhalose. The freeze-dried aqueous solution of erythropoietin was mixed with the spray-dried powder in 1: 4 ratio. The particle size and drug content uniformity were determined in the final dried powder. There were 3 groups of rats each containing 6 animals. One group received 840 IU as subcutaneous (sc) injection of regular solution of the drug. The other was treated with blank pulmonary powder and the last group with 840 IU of the spray dried pulmonary powder. Six days before starting the treatment, all animals were fed with 1% (w/w) ferrous sulfate as gavage. Blood sampling was carried out from eye retro-orbital vein at 0, 1, 4 and 7 days after treatment and the reticulocytes were counted by hemocytometer.Findings: There was not any significant difference between control, inhalable and parenteral groups at days of 0 and 1 after administration. At the day 4, there was significant difference between all three groups and reticulocytes count was higher in the inhalable group than the parenteral (P<0.001) and the control groups (P<0.010). At the 7th day, the results were similar to the 4th day but the reticulocytes count of ininhalable group was significantly higher than the control and parenteral groups (P<0.001 for both).Conclusion: The spray-dried inhalable powder of erythropoietin was more effective than subcutaneous injection form in enhancing the reticulocytes count for a longer time and may be a good replacement for the parenteral form of this drug.

Background: It has been shown that reproductive system is affected by diabetes mellitus. The aim of this research was assessing the effect of Capparis spinosa on reproductive parameters and the rate of testosterone after induction of diabetes in rats.Methods: 48 Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into 6 groups of 8. The shame and diabetic control groups received distilled water. The shame and two diabetic treatment groups received 20, 20 and 30 mg/kg hydroalcohoic extract of Capparis spinosa, respectively. The sixth group received 100 mg/kg of vitamin E. All groups treated for 21 days; then, the rate of testosterone hormone and qualities of sperm were measured.Findings: The mean values of fast mobility and normal morphology of sperm increased significantly (64.25±15.31 and 70.38±19.78 percent, respectively) in diabetic treatment rats received 30 mg/kg of Capparis spinosa compared to control diabetic group. Although, the rate of testosterone increased in diabetic treatment groups, but was not significant.Conclusion: The hydroalcohoic extract of Capparis spinosa could improve the reproductive parameters in diabetic rats.