JOURNAL OF ARDABIL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JAUMS)
Year:2014 | Volume:14 | Issue:3|Papers Count:14

Background and objectives: The main goal of tissue engineering is regeneration and restoration of damaged tissues and organs, besides being used in medicine. Scaffolds are the main segments for tissue engineering, and plasma surface modification is one of the modern methods used for surface modification on polymer scaffolds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano-fibers with different densities on fibroblasts' behavior besides the plasma surface modification.Methods: Poly e-Caprolactone nano-fibers (PCL) were developed by an electro-spinning technique at different collecting times. These nano-fibers were then modified by oxygen plasma. Cellular attachment to the nano-fiber and their morphology were evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cellular activities were also studied by 3- [4, 5-dimethylthiazol- 2- yl] -2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Scaffold biocompatibility test was assessed using inverted microscope.Results: Scanning electron microscope images of nano-fibers showed that increase in time of spinning has significantly heighten fiber density, on the other hand plasma surface modification of nano-fibers had significant effects on their respective biocompatibilities. The result of cell culture showed that nano-fiber could support the cellular growth and replication by developing 3- dimensional topography.Conclusion: Our results showed that increase in time of spinning and using plasma surface modification of nano-fibers by oxygen plasma would result in providing surface with the highest similarity to the extracellular matrix.

Background & objectives: Epileptic seizures accompany disturbances in learning, memory, and cognitive skills. With regard to antiepileptic potential of curcumin and its beneficial effect on memory, the effect of its administration on learning and memory in kainate-epileptic rats was investigated.Methods: Forty male rats were divided into sham, positive control (valproate-treated epileptic), epileptic, and two curcumin-treated epileptic groups. Rat model of epilepsy was induced by unilateral intrahippocampal administration of 4 mg of kainate per rat. Rats received intraperitoneal injection of curcumin (50 and 100 mg/kg) daily for 1 week before surgery. For evaluation of learning and memory, initial (IL) and step-through latencies (STL) were determined using passive avoidance test and alternation behavior percentage was obtained according to Y maze test.Results: Regarding IL, there was no significant difference between the groups. In contrast, STL significantly decreased in curcumin-50-treated epileptic group (p<0.05) (a change from 263.1 to 184.5 s). However, this parameter significantly increased in curcumin-100-treated epileptic group as compared to epileptic group (p<0.01) (a change from 263.1 to 220.3 s). In addition, STL was also significantly higher in valproic acid-treated epileptic group versus epileptic group (p<0.05) (a change from 145.7 to 210.3 s). Alternation percentage was also significantly higher in curcumin- 50- and curcumin-100-treated epileptic groups relative to epileptic group (p<0.05) (a change from 60.5 to 77.6 and 80.3%).Conclusion: Curcumin could dose-dependently enhance the consolidation and recall in epileptic animals and could improve spatial memory in such animals.

Background and objectives: Heart failure is considered as a major cause of hospitalization. Many studies have shown association between sleep-related breathing disorders and heart failure. It has been shown that the relationship between nocturnal hypoxia and left ventricular dysfunction can cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).Accordingly, treatment of sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) can give rise to improvement in CHF treatment too. This study surveys the prevalence of sleep disorder in stable heart failure patients regardless of ejection fraction.Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical study. One hundred and eight patients with heart failure disease were studied. A questionnaire consisting of two parts (part I consistent of demographic information and part II consistent of sleep disorders) and clinical examination (pulse oximetery and echocardiography) were used for collection of data. The data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software using descriptive and analytical tests including the chi-square, Pearson correlation and ANOVA.Results: Fifty six persons (51.9%) of patients were female and 52 persons (48.1%) were male with mean age of 65.42±11 years. In total sleep duration, 95 patients (88%) had nocturnal hypoxemia. There was correlation between arterial oxygen desaturation at night and ejection fraction.Conclusion: This study confirmed strong associations between nocturnal hypoxia and left ventricular dysfunction and SRBD should be considered in clinical treatment of systolic heart failure.

Background and objections: Migraine is the second most common cause of headache in15% of women and 6% of men. Migraine headaches areperiodic and usually with unilateral and throbbing quality, and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, photophobia and malaise. Approximately 15-20% of migraine attacks start with visual aura or other neurological symptoms. So far there isn’t accurate and practical diagnostic test for this patients and diagnosis is based on clinical features and other causes. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of visual evoked potential (VEP) in patients with common and classic migraines and t effects on the electrophysiology of visual system and understanding pathophysiology in neurological symptoms.Methods: In this study, 44 migraine patients, including 28 patients with common and 16 patients with classical migraines admitted to neurology private clinics from January to June 2013 in Alavi hospital of Ardabil city and16 healthy volunteers (control group) were used. Mean wave, P100 Latency and P100-N140 Amplitude were compared and determined between three groups.Results: The mean latency of P100 migraine group was significantly higher than healthy people.Average P100-N140 amplitude of migraine group was fewer than the control group, and the mean P100-N140 amplitude was more common than classical group.Conclusions: Despite differences in results of VEP tests, VEP can be used as an adjuvant test in the diagnosis of migraine, as well as a confirmation for distinguishing common and classical migraine and can be used as a tool in determining the severity of migraine and/or a parameter for its electrophysiological effects. However, more detailed studies are needed in this area.

Background and objectives: The leishmaniases are considered among the major infectious diseases affecting public health in several regions. There are many chemical agents which are effective in treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. But, overall treatment of visceral leishmaniasis is often difficult. Thus, identification of new chemotherapeutic agents is important for treatment of disease. Since targeting of the ergosterol synthesis pathway of Leishmania may be useful therapeutically, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alone or in combination of amiodarone and ketoconazole on Leishmania infantum.Methods: To obtain logarithmic promastigotes of L. infantum, the parasites were cultured in BHI medium with FCS 10% together with antibiotics of penicillin and streptomycin and incubated at 24oC. Amastigote forms were obtained in BHI medium supplemented with 20% FCS at pH of 5.5 which incubated in 37oC. L.infantum susceptibility to amiodarone and ketoconazole was evaluated by proliferation of parasites in the absence or presence of these drugs with MTT assay. For evaluation of antiproliferative synergism against promastigotes and axenic amastigotes, fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) were calculated. An isobologram curve was constructed too.Results: Amiodarone produced a marked reduction in the viability of L.infantum promastigotes and axenic amastigotes. On the other hand ketoconazole induced a dose dependent effect on the parasites proliferation for promastigotes and axenic amastigotes. When the drugs were used in combination, the results indicated clear synergistic as shown by a concave isobologram and FIC value.Conclusion: The present study represents the evidence that the combination of amiodarone plus ketoconazole acts synergistically in controlling L. infantume in vitro. It is possible that amiodarone could be used in combination with ketoconazole to combat infection at low doses, thus reducing its side effects such as cardiotoxicity, thyroid dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis.

Background and objectives: Nitrate is one of the major contaminants in food and water. Excess intake of this substance can increase the risk of stomach cancer and also cause other health problems. The objectives of this study were estimation of dietary nitrate consumption in the Varzaghan with high and Parsabad with low stomach cancer incidence in country, and also the comparison dietary nitrate consumption with World Health Organization standards.Methods: In this comparative study performed during autumn and spring of 2011 about 216 food samples (including all food groups) and drinking water collected and their nitrate concentration was determined by colorimetric method. Then daily dietary consumption of nitrate calculated based on daily diet of each person (according to national study on food consumption pattern in Iran) and nitrate concentration in each group of food and drinking water.Results: Daily consumption of nitrate in Varzaghan and Parsabad was 8.53±0.35 and 8.17±0.54 mg per kg of body weight (of adults), respectively, which is much greater than the amount recommended by FAO/WHO (0-3.7 mg per kg of body weight). Significant difference was not observed in the dietary consumption of nitrate in two cities at studied period (P>0.05).Conclusion: Despite of no significant difference in dietary consumption of nitrate in two cities, the daily consumption of nitrate in both of studied cities was significantly greater than the recommended level. Therefore monitoring sources of contamination and reduction of environmental pollution for decreasing food nitrate concentration are recommended.

Background and objectives: Different types of practises are known for improving motor skills in intellectually disabled boys. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of spark motor program and basketball on improving of gross motor skills in this people.Methods: In this semi-experimental study, from 98 educable intellectually disabled students who studied in special school in Urmia, 30 children (age range of 9 to 13 years and IQ mean 64.4) were selected objectively and divided in three groups (2 experimental and 1 control) based on pre-test. BOTMP was used as a measurement of motor ability. Selected motor program (Spark motor program) including strengthening training, games, sports and basketball techniques was performed for 24 sessions. T-tests (dependent) and co-variance were used to comparison of results.Results: In Spark group after 24 sessions, there were significant effects on balance (p= 0.000), bilateral coordination (p=0.000) and strength (p=0.001). There was no significant effect in agility and speed (p=0.343) in basketball techniques group after 24 sessions, there were significant effects in agility and speed (p=0.001), balance (p=0.000), bilateral coordination (p=0.013) and strength (p=0.007).Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be claimed that the Spark program and basketball techniques improve gross motor skills in educable intellectually disabled students.We also found a significant difference between the Spark program and basketball techniques efficacy on the improved skills. Furthermore, the efficacy of Spark program was significantly higher than basketball techniques (p<0.05).

Background and objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) -producing bacteria have become a growing problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in urine samples of hospitalized patients in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil over a period of October 2011 to August 2012.Methods: A total of 400 urinary pathogens isolated from urine samples were included in the study. All isolates were identified by routine biochemical methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing carried out by Kirby-Bauer method. Confirmatory test for production of ESBLs was performed by the combination disk tests. The results were interpreted according to the recommendation of CLSI.Results: Of 400 isolated bacteria, 267 were E.coli, 39 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 17 Klebsiella oxytoca, 16 Enterobacter cloacae, 15 Enterobacter aerogenese, 6 Enterobacter agglomerans, 8 Enterobacter sakazakji, 3 Citrobacter freundii, 2 Citrobacter diversus, 3 Proteus mirabilis, 4 Edvardsiella tarta, 3 Serratia marcesecens and 17 Morganella morganii all of which then were analyzed. ESBL was detected in 36.75% (147) of isolates. One Hundred Fourteen E.coli cases (77.5%), 15 Klebsiella pneumonia (10.2%), 5 Klebsiella oxytoca (3.4%), 4 Enterobacter aerogenese (2.72%), 4 Enterobacter cloacae (2.72%), 1 Citrobacter freundii (0.68%), and 1 Morganella morganii (0.68%) were detected as ESBLs producers, respectively.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, broad-spectrum beta-lactamase production in bacterial strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection was very high and almost 40% of all bacterial species isolates were ESBLs producers. Because of the high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in the urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients of our area, we would strongly suggest that the ESBL production should be considered in these patients.

Background and objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus results in vascular dysfunction and reduction of nitric oxide (NO) level. In this study the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) on NO level, an effective factor in increasing blood flow, and on ankle brachial index (ABI) as an index of lower extremity blood flow in type 2 diabetic patients, have been investigated.Methods: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial carried out in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil and Mehr physiotherapy center in 2013. Thirty diabetic patients after initial pilot study participated in this experiment based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, they were randomly assigned into two equal groups, electromagnetic therapy and control. The baseline levels of ABI and NO of both groups were measured. Patients in electromagnetic group were exposed to 10 Hz EMF radiation (with intensity of 8 mT) together with scanning lower limbs (three sessions per week, and 40 minutes per session for 8 weeks). The control group did not receive any treatment. After eight weeks, the amount of ABI and NO level were recorded. For statistical analysis paired t-test and independent t-test were used in SPSS 19 software.Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between pre (1.009±0.02) and post (1.052±0.02) measurement of ABI of diabetic patient after applying magnetic field (P=0.013).However, there was no significant difference between p and after measurement of ABI and NO level in controlgroup and also NO level in magnet groups (P>0.05). Difference between pre and post therapy of ABI in electromagnetic group (0.05±0.01) showed significant increase compared with control group (0.004±0.003) (P=0.001).Conclusion: Increase in ABI after 8 weeks electromagnetic therapy could be considered as an accretion index in blood flow in lower extremity.

Introduction: Complete Amputation of wrist is physical and psychological trauma that can affect person's life. During recent years, various amputated organs were replanted back into their own body leading to improvement in quality of life, function and body image.Case Report: The case was a34 years old man with complete amputation at left hand at wrist level, while working with chainsaw. Patient was admitted to the emergency unit at Fatemi hospital of Ardabil city, and underwent tosurgeryfor replantation.Conclusion: Complete amputation of wrist and its successful replantation are among rarely occured and reportable cases. The5-month follow-up indicated a successful operation. During this period, no abnormalities were found in the blood circulation. The finger grasping and nerve development were acceptable and no symptom of infection was observed.

Background and objectives: Echinococcosis, referred to as hydatid disease or hydatidosis, is a parasitic disease caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. In the life cycle of this parasite, dogs and other carnivores are definitive hosts and herbivores are intermediate hosts. Humansin this cycle may incidentally involve by ingestion of parasite eggs and play as intermediate host. Hydatid disease can involve any organ but liver and lung are the most commonly affected organs and kidney, brain, heart, bone may also be affected to a lesser degrees. Cerebral hydatid cyst occurs in about 2% of all echinococcosis cases. In this paper we report two cases of cerebral echinococcosis in whom diagnoses were made based on MRI findings and confirmed by pathology reports after surgery.First Case Report: The first case was a 30 years old man who was admitted after an episode of generalized tonic-clonicseizure. The MRI imaging performedand patient underwent surgery with diagnosis of a right frontal cystic lesion. The patient was improved progressively and there was no seizure attack and recurrence during 18 months follow up period.Second Case Report: The second case was a 28 years old woman presented by headache and abnormal behavior. MRI of this patient revealed a large cystic lesion in left frontal lobe and then underwent surgery. No complication was seen during postoperative period. The headache and behavioral disorder were improved completely and there was no sign of recurrence during 18 months follow up period.Conclusion: Hydatid cyst should be considered as a differential diagnosis of cystic brain lesions in endemic areas. Although hydatid cyst is a benign lesion but surgical removal of it without rupture is very important for prevention of probable future complications.