Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences
Year:2012 | Volume:14 | Issue:3|Papers Count:16

Background and aims: There are many problems with most of the available diagnostic tests used to diagnose Legionella pneumonia, including inadequate sensitivity and specificity, and inability to provide a result in a clinically useful time period. Legionella pneumophilaPAL protein has been considred as a target for detecting of Legionella infection from urine specimen, because it is conserved sequence and is secreted into the urine. The aim of this study was to optimize expression and purification of L. pneumophila PAL protein.Methods: In this experimental study, optimizing of 5 parameters (cell density, induction time, growth temperature, IPTG concentration and type of medium) was performed. After expression, periplasmic extract was prepared and recombinant PAL protein purified using Ni2+-charged resin column. Finally, recombinant PAL protein was verified by Western blotting.Results: In terrific broth medium, the optimum condition of r-PAL protein induction was occurred at an OD600 of 0.6, 1mM IPTG concentration and 15 hours incubation at 25oC Recombinant periplasmic PAL protein was highly purified (>80%) using Ni-NTA column. Western blotting analysis showed that recombinant PAL protein was also specifically recognized by anti-His6-peroxidase antibody.Conclusion: By purification of recombinant PAL protein in purity greater than 80% it can be used to evaluate its capacity in diagnosis of Legionella infection and preparation of diagnostic kit.

Background and aims: Satisfaction of marital relation is a fundamental factor in strength and mental health of family. Marital conflicts are of the most prevalent problems among addicted patients. The aim of this study was to compare marital conflicts among 3 groups of drug users (shishe, crack, opium).Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 71 drug users (16 opiumusers, 18 crack users, 17 shishe users), who referred to nerve and psyche clinic in Isfahan, were randomly selected. The marital conflicts were evaluated using "CTS-11" scale and then we compared to a control group of 19 parcipitants. Data were analyzed using Anova and Shafe tests.Results: Analysis between groups showed a significant difference in five subscales: Psychological aggression, Physical assault, Negotiation, Sexual coercion and Injury (P<0.05). The mean of five subscales indicated that the Shishe abusers in all of the five subscales have higher mean score than control group and opium abusers group. Difference between opium abusers group and control was significant in all subscales except injury. The difference between scores in Crack and Shishe abusers was also significant just in physical assault (P<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that marital problems treatment in these patients and training of anger control effective techniques, safe sexual relation training, conflict resolution training and problem resolution will perform the main role in the increase of satisfaction followed by the increase of family supportsand decrease of conflicts and dissatisfaction of marital relationships.

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three months regular aerobic exercises on the levels of fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, uric acid, white blood cells count (WBC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness in middle aged healthy and inactive men.Methods: To implementation of this semi-experimental research, from employees in Ferdowsi university, 21 middle aged men with available method were selected and assigned into experimental (N=11, age: 44.7±4.3 y, height: 1.73±0.04 m, weight: 81.8±9.36 kg) and control (N=10, age: 41.2±8 y, height: 1.73±0.07 m, weight: 78.2±14.8 kg) groups. The experimental group performed an aerobic exercise protocol with the intensity of 75% to 85% of their maximum heart rate for three months (three days a week). Before and after trainings, aerobic power, body composition variables and fasting levels of blood variables were measured.Results: Data analysis showed a significant elevation of RDW, aerobic power and WBC and significant reduction of BMI and uric acid in experimental group (P<0.05), but no significant change was observed in the levels of fibrinogen and fibrin D-dimer.Conclusion: Considering reduction of some inflammatory atherosclerosis risk factors, aerobic exercise may be recommended for improvement of cardiovascular health in middle aged men.

Background and aims: Hearing Impairment (HI) is the most prevalent neurosensory disorder occurs in 1/1000 newborn. The majority of hearing deficiencies are of genetic origin. About %0-2 of the genetic HI cases are due to mutations in mitochondrial genes. In the present study we investigated the frequency of 3 mtDNA A1555G, A3243G and A7445G mutation of 62 patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss in Khuzestan province.Methods: In this descriptive study, we investigated the presence of three mitochondrial mutations; A1555G, A3243G and A7445G in 62 Arab subjects with autosomal recessive non syndromic hearing loss in Khuzestan province. DNA was extracted using standard phenol –chloroform method. The screening of the mitochondrial gene mutations was performed by PCRRFLP procedure. The possible mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing.Results: None of the investigated mutations; A1555G, A3243G and A7445G were detected in this study. However PCR-RFLP revealed two mutations; G3316A, A7445C in 2 deaf subjects studied.Conclusion: This study is shown that mtDNA mutations consist of G3316A and A7445C are responsible for few of ARNSHL in sample studied and none of the A1555G, A3243G and A7445G mutations are responsible for ARNSHL in this population. The data presented here will improve the genetic counseling of hearing impaired patients in Khuzestan province.

Background and aims: Studies have recently shown that intermittent normobaric hyperoxia has a significant therapeutic effect on the treatment of acute ischemia, this effect so-called preconditioning. In this study intermittent normobaric effect of hyperoxia and PKC activity in the BBB permeability and behavioral assessment were evaluated.Methods: In this experimental study 36 wistar rat were divided to 6 groups as follow: normoxi (shem), normoxi + CHEL, normoxi + halt, normoxi + halt + CHEL, hyproxi + halt, hyperoxi + halt + CHEL, (n=6) in each group. Chelerythrin chlorid (CHEL) was used as a systemically inhibitor of PKC.24 hours later, rats were subjected to 60 min of right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The hyperoxia and normoxia groups were exposed to 95% and 21% respectively, for 4 h/day, 6 continuous days. After 24 h reperfusion, neurological deficit scores and BBB permeability was assessed. Data were analyzed using two way ANOVA and Bonferroni test.Results: Preconditioning with intermittent normobaric hyperoxia decreased neurologic deficit scores and BBB permeability. Inhibition of PKC resulted in the increase of neurologic deficit scores; which improved with hyperoxia (P<0.001). PKC inhibition, independent of hyperoxia improved the BBB function (P<0.001).Conclusion: With the deployment of hyperoxia and specific subunits of PKC during the stroke, stability of BBB integrity and improvement of neurological deficit scores occur.

Background and aims: There is fairly scarce information about the effects of zinc, an essential trace element, on exercise performance. Studies concentrate mostly on the distribution of this element in the body in response to exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exhaustion exercise on the testosterone levels and plasma lactates in road cyclists who are supplemented with oral zinc for 4 weeks.Methods: In this semi experimental sixteen male road cyclists, who were healthy in the first evaluation were selected from the Tehran traffic team and were divided into two groups according to mass body index; zinc group and control group. After 4 weeks zinc supplementation (30 mg/day), blood samples were collected from each subject before and after an exhaustive exercise bout. Data were analyzed by independent and paired sample t test.Results: Total testosterone, free testosterione and lactate levels in two groups were increased by exercise (P<0.05) and there was no significant differences between total testosterone and lactate levels in two groups before and after exhaustion exercise (P>0.05). There was a significant difference between effects of exhaustion exercise on free testosterone levels between two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: According to this study, zinc supplementation has no significant effects on testosterone and lactate levels in response to exercise in subjects with a balance diet. However, free testosterone levels were increased by exercise after zinc supplementation.

Background and aims: Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment are three dimensions of job burnout. Symptoms occur when employees' abilities and skills are not match with job demands. In a health care organization, staffs are exposed to physical, mental and emotional stresses and predisposed to job burnout. In this survey we studied Job burnout and some of its risk factors among Koohrang county Rural Health Workers (RHW or Behvarz) in 2010.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study designed to assess job burnout dimensions in RHW of Koohrang county in 2010. Total koohrang county RHW (n=81) entered to the study. Two types of questionnaires were used for data collection: 1) Demographic data questionnaire include of age, sex, marriage status, level of education, type of employment and working years. 2) Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as a common valid questionnaire for assessment of job burnout. The reliability and internal validity of MBI questionnaire had been proved in previous studies. Data were analyzed by SPSS using ANOVA, spearman correlation and simple t tests.Results: In different dimensions of job burnout, frequency of high lack of accomplishment, high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization were 24.5%, 4.6% and 2.7% respectively but severity of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were 6.7% and 1.3%. None of them reported severe lack of personal accomplishment. The relation between demographic factors and job burnout was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were significant correlation between emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and between personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion (P<0.001).Conclusion: The study shows that frequency and severity of job burnout in different dimensions are low. It could be explained by their appropriate socioeconomic status, short distance to workplace as one of its advantages, job security, low level of life expectations accompanying with nice climate.

Background and aims: Vesicoureteral reflex is the most important factor in urinary tract infection. For prevention of UTI in children with VUR, prophylactic antibiotics are used, but maybe accompany with uncompliance of the parents and also it must use for long time. So, this study aimed at comporison of evaluation of discontinuation of antibacterial prophylaxis in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).Methods: This semi experimental study was done in 54 children with low grade VUR (1, 2) and higher than 5 years old. None of them have had any episode of UTI since last year. They were divided in two groups, continue and discontinue of prophylactic drugs and were followed for at least one year. Then the risk and episode of recurrent UTI were compared in 2 groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS and P<0.05 was determined as significant.Results: mean age of patients were 7.8±2.5 years. Forty two (77.8%) children were girls and others (22.2%) were boys. Five episode of UTI were diagnosed in first group and 7 episodes for second group (P>0.05). Also the risk of recurrent UTI was 1.5 time in girls.Conclusion: According to this study, discontinuing of prophylactic drug in children with grade I and grade II of VUR and after 5 years old is safe and there isn’t increased risk of recurrent UTI.

Background and aims: Although, most hereditary non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) is due to mutation in nuclear genes, role of mtDNA mutations in causing deafness becoming much more clear in recent years. The aim of the present study was to screen the A1555G, C1494T, A3243G and A7445G mutations in non-syndromic hearing impairment patients in two provinces of southwest of Iran.Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, 150 subjects with acquired and prelingual autosomal recessive NSHI from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province and 46 unrelated probands with postlingual NSHI from Bushehr province (negative for GJB2 mutations) were screened for the presence of the common mtDNA mutations using PCR-RFLP method that followed by direct sequencing for confirming the observed mtDNA mutations.Results: None of these mutations was found in subjects with acquired and prelingual autosomal recessive NSHI from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, but mutation A1555G with frequency of 4.35% was found in postlingual NSHI patients in Bushehr province.Conclusion: This investigation shows that apparently, mtDNA mutations play a more significant role role in the etiology of postlingual NSHI in comparison with prelingual NSHI.

Background and aims: Labor pain, is one of the severe pains which is experienced by humans. Fear of this pain is caused elective cesarean for delivery in women. One of the safe and inexpensive drug methods for pain relief in delivery is entonox. In this study, the effect of entonox on the severity of pain, mothers hemodynamic and fetus apgar in natural vaginal delivery was investigated.Methods: In this clinical trial study, 60 women with an equal qualification who refferd to hajar hospital in Shahrekord were randomly chosen for vaginal delivery. They were randomly divided into two groups, one group (case) received entonox gas and other group (control) did not. Entonox was given to mothers by a mask after start of active phase of labor. The case group received entonox up to the end of the second phase of delivery, and the effect of entonox was recorded on the severity of pain and mother hemodynamic condition. Fetus apgar in natural vaginal delivery was compared between two groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic tests.Results: The mean of pain scores in case group was 3.98±2.7 and 5.60±3.8 for control group (P=0.03) and it was 7.20±0.6 and 10 for each group in the second phose of delivery respectively. There were no significant differences between two groups in the maternal blood pressure, fetal heart rate and apgar scores. The mean of maternal heart rate and respiratory rate in case group were more than control group, but nausea and vomiting in the first and second stages of labor in case group were more than control group.Conclusion: In vaginal delivery, entonox can create adequate and effective analgesia without major complications for mothers and fetuses, and this can reduces the complications of cesarean section.

Background and aims: Some of the inherited coagulation factor polymorphisms have been related to the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism and other adverse outcomes. As there are limited data on the prevalence of these polymorphisms in Iranian populations this study aimed to assess two factor XIII polymorphisms, FXIIIA-V34L and FXIIIB-H95R, in healthy individuals.Methods: In this cross sectional study 150 healthy blood donors from Shahrekord, Iran with no history of venous thromboembolism were recruited to the study. Genotyping from EDTA taken venous blood for the above polymorphisms was under taken by PCR-RFLP.Results: Fifty one (34%) of participants were heterozygous for VL and 7 (4.67%) were homozygous LL.26 (17.33%) and 1 (0.67%) were heterozygous and homozygous for RH and RR of FXIIIB respectively.48.67% of the study population carried at least one of the above polymorphisms and there was no carrier of both as homozygous.Conclusion: The prevalence of these FXIII polymorphisms in healthy subjects is somehow similar to previously published data in Caucasian populations, but quite different than limited existing data from China and other ethnic groups. Such findings could be relevant to the ethnic similarities and differences.

Background and aims: Health is a dynamic concept and its definition differs according to age, sex and developmental stages. Adolescence period is one of the most crucial stages of development during ones life time. Adolescent developmental situation and attitude about health concept can be underlying factors in health deviation. The aim of this review study was to explor the concept of health and the related factors in an adolescent' s point of view.Methods: A comprehensive review of literature was performed in databases of Science direct, ProQuest, Springer, PubMed, IranMedex and SID using keywords of adolescence, health concept, health perspectives and factors during 1990-2011.Results: The review indicated that adolescents defined concept of health as independence, communication, socio-economic situation, mental health, religion and educational facilities. Psychosocial health related factors were also more important for them than physical factors.Conclusion: Exploring adolescent perspectives on health is important for maintaining healthy society. Policy makers should consider Adolescents’ perspectives on health for developing effective prevention and intervention programs about adolescent's health.