JOURNAL OF ARDABIL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JAUMS)
Year:2017 | Volume:16 | Issue:4|Papers Count:15

Background & objectives: Zinc as one of the most important trace elements is needed for proper functioning of the nervous system and homeostasis. Many studies show that stress causes memory impairment through various mechanisms, including oxidative stress induction and some mechanisms which are directly effecting brain function. So, in this work we assessed the effect of zinc chloride on passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress following acute stress in male rats.Methods: In this study, 50 male Wistar rats were used in five groups: control, sham, stress, zinc chloride treatment and zinc chloride treatment before stress induction. For stress induction, rats were restrained (not immobilized) for 6 h/day, 7 days in a Plexiglas restrainer, and treated rats received an oral dose of zinc chloride 32 mg/kg/day by gavage for 6 days. At the end of the experiment, passive avoidance memory was avaluated by shuttle box and some oxidative damage markers were determined in all groups.Results: Results of this study showed that animals which were exposed to stress showed a significant decrease in passive avoidance memory compared to control group (p<0.01) and the oxidative stress parameters in this group showed significant changes compared to the control group (p<0.05). While passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress parameters in group treated with zinc chloride were nearly closed to control group.Conclusion: According to our results, zinc chloride with antioxidant properties can have a protective effect on memory impairment and oxidative stress induced by stress.

Background & objectives: Polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are ubiquitous in all eukaryotic cells and play an essential role in cell division and differentiation.One way of polyamine biosynthesis is done by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) which catalyzes the transformation of ornithine to putrescine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in protoscolices, hydatid fluid and germinal layer and also to evaluate ODC activity.Methods: In the present study putrescine, spermidine and spermine levels were investigated in germinal layers, hydatid fluids and protoscolices. To evaluate the activity of ODC, protoscolices were incubated with ornithine and changes in polyamines level were assayed.The samples were homogenized and liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for polyamines measurement.Results: Based on the results, putrescine was the lowest polyamine and since its level was not increased in protoscolices incubated with ornithine, ODC activity was not detected.Spermidine was the highest polyamine and the results showed that germinal layer contained the highest level of polyamines.Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that ODC activity was not detected in hydatid cyst and level of polyamines in germinal layers which contained rapidly proliferating cells was higher than other parts.

Background & objectives: Some herbs contain compounds with antioxidant activity and can be used to protect or cure damages caused by chemical toxins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on total antioxidants in various tissues and Tanacetum parthenium impacts on reducing devastating effects of carbon tetrachloride.Methods: A total of 42 male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of six animals in each group: normal control, damaged control, three groups that treated with 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg of Tanacetum parthenium extract 14 days before CCl4 injection and two groups served as post-treatment groups that received 80 and 120 mg/kg extract 2, 6, 24, and 48 h after CCl4 injection. At the end of study the liver, kidney, testis, and heart were removed and then homogenized and then the antioxidant activity of the tissues assessed using FRAP method.Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test.Results: The results showed that the injection of carbon tetrachloride significantly decreasestotal antioxidant in both liver (p<0.001) and kidney (p<0.05) tissues. Administration of extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the total antioxidant of liver and kidney.Conclusion: Protective effect of Feverfew against CCl4 induced damages is more effective in liver and kidney than testis and heart.

Background & objectives: Construction of new service centers including hospitals is expensive and requires optimal site selection for these centers so that all citizens benefit from its increased productivity. It can also help them lower their costs. This study investigates the optimal locations for construction of hospitals in Ardabil using GIS software.Methods: This is an applied research which incorporates a descriptive-analytic methodology.The data is made up of 11 criteria; proximity to densely populated areas, proximity to green space, closeness to main thoroughfares, proximity to fire departments and distance from existing hospitals, industrial centers, slopes, learning centers, cemetery, military bases and from sport facilities. They were all weighted using analytic network process (ANP) model.Results: After performing the necessary calculations and evaluations, the highest and lowest weight of criteria belonged to the proximity to densely populated areas (0.229) and distance from the cemetery (0.033), respectively. According to the criteria weights and overlapping of layers, the most and least favorable locations for the establishment of hospitals were identified.Conclusion: Results of the classification showed the best location for construction of hospitals in Ardabil city based on four municipal regions. In region one it belongs to the 8th, 5th, 2nd, and 11th districts in region two districts of 6 and 7 which cover southeastern edge of the city, in region 3 districts of 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 10 which contain the western part of the city, and in region four it belongs to districts of 1, 2, 6, 7, 10 and 11 that encompass the blocks in the northern and north-western route of the city. These regions can be used for construction of new hospitals in order to improve people’s access to healthcare services.

Background & objectives: Early diagnosis of preeclampsia and its severity in pregnant women is greatly important for controlling this disease and preventing subsequent dangers for mother and the fetus. Current study is conducted to assess neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a determining factor for the severity of the disease in patients with preeclampsia referring to Sabalan hospital, Ardabil.Methods: This was a case control study on 50 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia (group 1), 50 pregnant women with mild preeclampsia (group 2), and 50 healthy pregnant women (group 3). The groups were homogenized for basic variants including age, gestational age, mean BMI, gravid and parity. Required information including age, gestational week, BMI, gravid, parity, 24-hour urine protein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and NLR were obtained and analyzed.Results: The NLR was significantly higher in women with severe preeclampsia compared with mild preeclampsia (p=0.031) and healthy women (p<0.001). NLR did not show difference between mild preeclampsia and healthy women (p=0.209). Significant positive correlation was also observed between NLR and proteinuria (p<0.0001, r=0.558), systolic blood pressure (p=0.0026, r=0.244), and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.0028, r=0.242).Conclusion: This study showed that maternal NLR can be used as a marker for preeclampsia severity.

Background & objectives: Iron overload is involved in the pathophysiology of many diseases including diabetes. In fact, the excess iron by creating free radicals makes damage to pancreas and leads to insulin resistance and diabetes. Andrographolide extract has hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. This study has surveyed the effects of andrographolide on blood glucose and lipid profile in rats with secondary iron overload.Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the healthy control group, secondary iron overload group, secondary iron overload groups treated with a dose of 3.5 and 7 mg/kg of andrographolide extract, and andrographolide groups treated with a dose of 3.5 and 7 mg/kg of extract. Iron and extract were injected for 6 and 12 days, respectively. Blood samples were taken for measurement of blood glucose and lipid profiles. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test.Results: The pathological results of samples from liver of animals receiving iron showed that the iron was deposited in the liver tissues. Iron injection significantly increased blood glucose levels compared to healthy control group (p<0.05). In the iron overload group, andrographolide extract with a dose of 3.5 mg/kg or 7 mg/kg significantly decreased blood glucose levels (p<0.05). Iron injections did not increase the serum triglyceride and cholesterollevels. Injections of and rographolide extract with a dose of 3.5 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg, significantly decreased the cholesterol levels compared to iron receiving group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Results of this study showed that the andrographolide with different doses may be effective in the treatment of diabetes by reducing serum glucose and cholesterol levels.

Background & objectives: Candidiasis is a fungal infection which is caused by Candida spp.Candida albicans is the most common agent of candidiasis. This infection may cause various side effects during pregnancy including prematurity, chorioamnionitis, candidal pneumonia, and systemic candidiasis of infants. This research was conducted for determining the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of Candida spp, collected from pregnant women admitted to health centers in Ardabil, Iran.Methods: Totally, 408 subjects were included in this study. Demographic data and risk factors were recorded using a questionnaire. Two swab samples were taken from vulvovaginal mucus. One swab was used for preparing smear and direct microscopic examination and the second one used for cultivating the specimen. After identification of Candida spp., antimicrobial resistance pattern was determined by disk diffusion method against Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole, Nystatin and Amphotericin B. Results were interpreted according to CLSI guidelines. The data were analyzed by χ2 and t-test using SPSS- 19.Results: Out of 408 subjects, 143 cases (35%) were positive for candida spp. The Candida albicans with 119 (83.2%) cases was the most prevalent species followed by Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parpsilosis and Candida tropicalis.According to disk diffusion test, overall 116 (81.1%) isolates were resistant to Fluconazole, 100 (69.9%) to Ketoconazole, 67 (46.9%) to Clotrimazole and 25 (17.5%) to Amphotericin B. Candida spp.had a highest sensitivity (118, 82.5%) to Nystatin. For Candida albicans 97 (81.5%) isolates were resistant to Fluconazole and 99 (83.2%) isolates to Nystatin. For Candida glabrata 10 (90.9%) isolates were resistant to Fluconazole, and 9 (81.8%) sensitive to Nystatin.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, vulvovaginal candidiasis is prevalent among pregnant women in Ardabil and isolates were significantly resistant against commonly used antifungal drugs. Nystatin was the most effective against Candida spp. As antibiogram for fungal agents is not routinely performed, the similar periodical studies could be useful for choosing appropriate antibiotics in treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Background & objectives: Ischemic stroke has complex pathophysiology and its treatment with single neuroprotective drugs has so far failed. Combination therapy could produce amplified protective effects via different mechanisms. We examined the neuroprotective effects of enalapril and/or alpha tocopherol against sensorimotor dysfunctions of ischemic stroke.Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=8): sham, control ischemic, enalapril (0.03 mg/kg), alpha tocopherol (30mg/kg) and enalapril plus alpha tocopherol treated groups. Transient focal cerebral ischemia (90 min) was induced by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery that followed by 24 h reperfusion periods. Infarct volumes were detected by TTC coloring technique and sensorimotor dysfunctions investigated by rotarod, grip strength and hotplate tests.Results: Induction of cerebral ischemia in the control group produced severe neurological sensorimotor deficits in conjunction with considerable cerebral infarctions. Compared with the enalapril or alpha tocopherol groups, the combined treatment significantly improved neurological motor and sensory functions (p=0.038 and p=0.034, respectively) and also reduced the infarct volume (p=0.032).Conclusion: Administration of alpha tocopherol increased protective effects of enalapril.Enalapril combined with alpha tocopherol can produce an augmented protection against ischemic brain injury, and improvement in sensorimotor dysfunctions.

Background & objectives: In many medical studies, the response variable is measured repeatedly over time to evaluate the treatment effect that is known as longitudinal study. The analysis method for this type of data is repeated measures ANOVA that uses only one correlation structure and the results are not valid with inappropriate correlation structure. To avoid this problem, a convenient alternative is mixed models. So, the aim of this study was to compare of mixed and repeated measurement models for examination of the Entonox effect on the labor pain.Methods: This experimental study was designed to compare the effect of Entonox and oxygen inhalation on pain relief between two groups. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement and mixed models with different correlation structures. Selection and comparison of proper correlation structures performed using Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion and restricted log-likelihood. Data were analyzed using SPSS- 22.Results: Results of our study showed that all variables containing analgesia methods, labor duration of the first and second stages, and time were significant in these tests. In mixed model, heterogeneous first-order autoregressive, first-order autoregressive, heterogeneous Toeplitz and unstructured correlation structures were recognized as the best structures. Also, all variables were significant in these structures. Unstructured variance covariance matrix was recognized as the worst structure and labor duration of the first and second stages was not significant in this structure.Conclusions: This study showed that the Entonox inhalation has a significant effect on pain relief in primiparous and it is confirmed by all of the models.

Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes dysfunction of the endocrine glands and reproductive disorders. Due to the antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties of curcumin, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin on serum levels of estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH in diabetic rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 32 female Wistar rats were allocated into four equal groups. Control, non-treated diabetic and diabetic treated with curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg, ip). The diabetes in non-treated diabetic and treated diabetic groups was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. Estrous cycles were identical using sex hormones.Curcumin was intraperitoneally injected to treated diabetic groups for 25 days. DMSO was injected to the animals of control and non-treated diabetic groups as a vehicle. At the end of treatment, the serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone were measured by ELISA.Statistical analysis carried out using one way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test.Results: Administration of curcumin with concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly increased serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone, compared to non-treated diabetic group (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicate significant effect of curcumin on serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone in diabetic rats. Therefore, curcumin could be effective in improving hormonal disorders in patients with diabetes.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common cause of dementia in elderly people that is accompanied by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. The pathologic hallmarks of AD are synaptic and neuronal degeneration together with extracellular senile plaques containing amyloid-beta (Ab) and the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the hippocampus and other cortical regions. Amyloid-beta peptide is believed to have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD as a major component of the senile plaques. It acts as a trigger key of AD and is considered as the principal toxic factor in the pathogenesis of the disease.Accumulation of amyloid b protein (Ab), a main component of the senile plaques, in the brain initiates a cascade of events that ultimately lead to neuronal dysfunction and cognitive deficits. Other proposed mechanisms for AD include impairment in cholinergic function, oxidative stress, inflammatory agents and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity. AD is characterized neuropathologically by impaired cholinergic function, increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, synapses loss, cortical atrophy, deficiencies in steroid hormones and appearance of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity.