JOURNAL OF ISFAHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL (I.U.M.S)
Year:2010 | Volume:28 | Issue:112|Papers Count:11

Background: Cartilage damages and diseases such as osteoarthritis are rather worldwide problems of many people. In addition, articular cartilage has a limited ability to repair. Current treatment methods for cartilage tissue injuries lead to formation of fibrous tissue, apoptosis, and further cartilage degeneration. Therefore, engineering of cartilage tissue with adult stem cells is considered necessary. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-b3 and BMP-6 growth factors on chondrogenic differentiation of adiposederived stem cells in alginate scaffold.Methods: Stem cells were isolated from human subcutaneous adipose tissue with collagenase enzyme digestion. The isolated cells were treated with chondrogenic medium supplemented with TGF-b3 and BMP-6 on alginate scaffold then harvested after 3 weeks. Histological, immunohistochemical and RTPCR methods were performed for assessment of cartilage-specific markers.Findings: Our results revealed that chondrogenesis of ADSCs on alginate scaffold induced by TGF-b3 and BMP-6 growth factors. Immunohistochemical method was shown deposition of typical cartilage extracellular matrix components such as type IT collagen and aggrecan in constructs. RT-PCR analysis of cartilage-specific genes, also confirmed the induction of the chondrocytic phenotype upon stimulation with TGF-b3 and BMP-6. Also, TGF-b3 and BMP-6 together increased the expression of aggrecan gene in compare with one growth factor alone.Conclusion: It can be concluded that TGF-b3 and BMP-6 promote chondrogenesis of ADSCs in 3-D culture and the use of both growth factors together increase the expression of aggrecan gene in compare with one growth factor alone

Background: There are several techniques to manage sub fertility through which, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is on first step treatment strategy due to its simplicity and low costing and also being noninvasive.The outcome of IUI is dependent on main semen parameters such as, sperm concentration, percentage of normal morphology and percentage of motility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of main parameters on outcome of IUI technique.Methods: This descriptive analytic study was performed in Shahid Beheshti Infertility center in 2007.By simple sampling, semen samples from 66 couples who were candidate for IUI treatment method were studied in two steps, fresh semen samples and the processed semen samples. The data were evaluated by SPSSI2.Findings: The percentage of normal morphology of sperm before and after, in comparison with the other semen parameters, have higher sensitivity and specificity. Therefore normal morphology could be valuable factor, not only in order to choose IUI as method of treatment for referring couples, but also to predict the outcome of IUI technique.Conclusion: Main semen parameters impress on IUI outcome. Our study indicates that in our geographic area percentage of normal morphology in sperm analysis before and after processing has higher sensitivity and specificity on conceptivity. In conclusion, each infertility center needs its evaluation on semen parameters to obtain clear and exact information from referring couples.

Background: Proteinuria has independent deleterious effects on the progression of chronic renal disease.The aim of this study was to determine effect of pioglitazone on proteinuria in patients with non-diabetic renal disease.Methods: This was a self-controlled clinical trial study conducted in Al-Zahara Hospital and few private clinics of nephrology in Isfahan. Forty four non- diabetic patients aged 18 and over, who had renal disease and stable proteinuria over 0.5 g in 24h and body mass index (BMI) lower than 30 kg/m2 , were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated by 15 mg of pioglitazone for 4 months. The primary end point was urine protein excretion, measured prior to the study, at the end of 2 and 4 months during treatment as well as 2 months after cessation of pioglitazone. Secondary end points included systolic blood pressure, creatinine, ALT, AST, FBS, BUN and GFR levels.Findings: Mean urine protein excretion was 1088.6±775.6 mg124h before treatment; therefore mean urine protein excretion at the end of 4th month was 433.9±406.2 mg/24 h (P<0.001, CI 95%: 0.49-0.82).There was no significant trend for systolic blood pressure, creatinine, ALT, AST, FBS, BUN and GFR levels to increase or decrease during the follow-up period (P>0.01).Conclusion: Consietering complication s of proteinuria followed by gradual kidney malfunction based on findings of present study, pioglitazone could significantly decrease proteinuria in patients with non-diabetic kidney diseases.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine concentration of lead in the milk of women living in the vicinity of a metal smelter area and the effect of age mothers, parous, birth weight, height, and infant head circumference on the concentration of lead in human milk.Methods: Five ml of 27 colostrum samples from healthy women collected on the 4th postpartum day.After digestion of sample under pressure with of nitric acid and perchloric acid, concentration of lead in samples was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.Findings: The mean level of lead in milk nuliparous and multiparous women was 70.64 and 23.73 mg/l respectively. The mean level of lead in milk in women aged£24 and>24 years were 68.10 and 22.86 mg/l respectively. The mean level of lead in milk in women of newborns with weighing<2950 and ³2950 g were 49.59 and 43.70 mg/l respectively. The mean level of lead in milk women of newborns with height of £49 and>49 cm were 49.80 and 45.21 mg/l respectively. Also. The mean level of lead in milk in women of newborns with head circumferenceing<35 and ³35 cm were 27.43 and 62.33 mg/l respectively.Conclusion: There was significant difference in mean level of lead in mother's·milk in difference group of age and parous; also there was negative correlation between lead concentration with age of mothers and parous. There was no significant difference and no correlation in mean level of lead in mother's milk in difference groups of birth weight, height, and head circumference.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prevalent brain neurodegenerative diseases, in which neurons are destroyed especially in related areas to cognitive activities. One of the factors that play an effective role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is oxidative stress that is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant system. Co-enzyme Q10, as a very powerful antioxidant, has role in energy producing mechanisms inside the cell and in preventing of peroxidation of membrane lipid; and its positive effects on Alzheimer's disease has been demonstrated. According to the fact that folic acid is one of the precursors for synthesis of Q10 in the cell, and it has been demonstrated that its blood levels are decreased in Alzheimer's disease, this study aimed to evaluate effects of folic acid on passive avoidance learning and memory in rats.Methods: Thirty male wistar rats (300±50g) were divided in three groups (n=10): sham, Alzheimer and Alzheimer+folic acid. For Alzheimer induction, streptozotocin was injected intracerebroventricular (ICV) and after that, rats received folic acid daily (4 mg/kg, i.p.) for 21 days. To assess learning and memory in rats, the passive avoidance learning test was performed.Findings: Intracerebroventricular streptozotocin impairs severely learning and memory in rats and folic acid can prevent these impairments.Conclusion: Data showed that folic acid is probably helpful in alleviating cognitive impairments in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Synchronous development of embryo and endometrium is an essential prerequisite for successful implantation. Progesterone and some other drugs help to maintain synchronous development of preimplantation embryo through its action on maternal uterus. The aim of this study was to assessment the changes in morphology and morphometrical characteristics of endometrium after injections of progesterone and sildenafil citrate in superovulated mice.Methods: Forty adult female mice were divided into 4 groups as: control, gonadotropin, gonadotropin +progesterone and gonadotropin+sildenafil citrate. In all 3 experimental groups the mice received 7.5 I.U HMG and later HCG. Then every two female mice with one male mouse put in one cage for mating. In two lat groups 1 mg/mouse progesterone and 3 mg/kg sildenafil citrate administrated in 24, 48, 72 hours interval, after HMG injection. Ninety six hours after HMG injection, the mice in 4 groups were sacrificed and their uterine specimens were prepared for light microscopic studies.Findings: The mean height of glandular epithelium cells was 11.66±1.54 mm in control group, 11.10±0.77 mm in gonadotropin group, 11.06±1.30 mm in gonadotropin+progesterone group and 11.37±1.22 mm in gonadotropin+sildenafil citrate. Finally, the heights of the cells in all groups were not significantly deferent from each other (P<0.05 for all of the comparisons).Conclusion: Ovarian induction followed by progesterone and sildenafil citrate injection would not modify the morphometrical indices of glandular epithelium of mouse endometrium.

Background: Stress at work is an increasing common feature of modem life. Job stress has adverse health effects on cardiovascular system. This study was the first one which has used effort- reward imbalance model (ERI) to measure job stress in an Iranian group of workers to assess adverse effects of job stress on cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to examine relationship between job stress and cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, overweight, smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, high level of triglyceride and low density lipoprotein and low level of high density lipoprotein.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 109 randomly selected employees of Urmia petrochemical company. A self-administrated questionnaire included demographic characteristics, smoking status, work stress, and negative affectivity was used to collect data. Blood sample was also taken in order to determine biological risk factors. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of job stress on cardiovascular risk factors.Findings: Overall prevalence of ERI and high overcommitement were 54.1% and 26.6% respectively. There was a significant relationship between ERI and age (P=0.05), number of children (P<0.024) and education level (P=0.005). According to ERI index, workers with stress have shown an excess risk of 43% for hypertension, 14% for being smoker, 55% for diabetes, 106% for high triglyceride, 21% for high cholesterol, 41% for low density lipoprotein, and 191% for low level of high density lipoprotein. Exploring other components of job stress, i.e. overcommitement and considering low level of overcommitement as a reference category, there was an increasing risk in high blood pressure, overweight, diabetes, high triglyceride and low density lipoprotein.Conclusion: This study showed an increase in cardiovascular risk factors by increasing in job stress. However, these evidences were not statistically significant. It is recommended to use prospective cohort studies to examine effects of job stress on cardiovascular system.

Background: Psychological aftermaths of divorce are well documented. This study determined the effect size of standard drug therapy along with mindfulness based cognitive group therapy (MBCT) on psychological aftermaths of divorced women with depression.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was counseling services of the Divorce Counseling Centre, affiliated to Welfare Organization, Isfahan, Iran. The experimental group comprised of 30 members received standard antidepressant along with MBCT, while the non-experimental group I and II each one was comprised of 15 individuals, the former received simple standard antidepressant and the later one was subject to non-standard antidepressant therapy. Psychiatric assessment was done by a psychiatrist, using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) before intervention and on three month of follow-up. Independent evaluators assessed the participants' for severity of depression, negative thoughts, and coping ability, using Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Dysfunction Attitude Scale (DAS), and Coping Ability Scale CISS at baseline, one month after intervention, 8 weeks of intervention, and after 3 months follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS II and running ANOV A with Bonferroni test and ANCOV A with repeated measures.Findings: As compared to pure standard and non-standard antidepressant treatment methods, the combined treatment modality provided more promising results in lowering the subjects' depression, favorable attitudes, and better problem solving ability. In order of importance, the significant effect size for the combined method was 0.71 for severity of depression, 0.67 for avoidance, 0.65 for dysfunction attitude, 0.56 for self-determination, and 0.21 for emotionalism.Conclusion: Significantly desirable changes observed in the therapeutic across various phases of intervention for outcome variables are attributed to the supremacy of MBCT and reinforce earlier observations. In view of high prevalence of divorce and its psychological aftermaths, non-organic intervention modalities are not only more economical but also can enhance clients' compliance in seeking early and long lasting treatment.