Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:11 | Issue:3 (41)|Papers Count:14

Background & Objectives: Using of drugs arbitrarily leads to failure of treatment and causes side effects in prolonged time. The aim of this study was to survey prevalence of arbitrary drug use and the factors affecting it.Methods: Three hundred students participated in this cross-sectional and descriptive study in Ardabil (Islamic Azad, Mohhaghegh Ardabili, Payame-Noor and Medical Sciences Universities) during 2010. The samples were selected randomly from four universities and data were collected by questionnaire and then, analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics such as chi-square test.Results: The average of students’ age was 20.64±2 years. 23.3% of them were married from whom 92.2% were non-medical students and 7.1% were medical students. 76.7% of all students were single. 83% of all students were using drugs arbitrarily. The highest mean score for student attitude was reflected to safety of used drugs. Lack of time to visit a physician, believing the safety of many drugs and selling of drugs without prescription were the most common causes in arbitrary drug use among students.Conclusion: Regarding to the high arbitrary drug use among students, it is necessary to make a new policy for education and correct informing of students in order to reduce self-treatment.

Background & Objectives: Escherishia coli O157:H7 is one of the most important diarrhea causing agents in developing countries. Using antibiotics cause adverse effects as promoting emergence of antibiotic resistance, fading the microflora of intestine and enhancement of verotoxin (VTEC) production by this bacterium. So, a modern treatment protocol is needed for treatment of infections caused by this bacterium. In this study, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) was isolated from yogurt and antibacterial effects of bacterial cell debris and its culture supernatant were tested against E.coli O157:H7.Methods: Several different samples of yoghurt were cultured in MRS agar in anaerobic conditions at 37ºC. L. casei was identified by common microbiological and molecular methods. Antimicrobial effects of bacterial cell debris and its culture supernatant were tested against E. coli O157:H7 by using Agar Well Diffusion (AWD) and Broth macrodilution methods. In addition, standard growth curves of pathogenic bacterium and L. casei were obtained by turbidometery and colony count procedures. The MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) of supernatant originated from culture of L. casei were determinded. The stability of antimicrobial effects of the supernatant in different conditions of pH and temperature were studied.Results: Lactobacillus casei was isolated from two different samples of yoghurts, and confirmed by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The results showed that antimicrobial effects of culture supernatant were stable at 56, 70, 80 and 100 ºC for 30 and 60 minutes. Furthermore, they were stable in pH of 3, 7 and 10. The MIC and MBC of supernatants were 1:16 and 1:8 respectively.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, culture supernatant of L. casei can be used as a biological preservative in food industries. Also due to antimicrobial effect of L. casei, it can be used in treatment of diseases associated with E. coli O157:H7.

Background & Objectives: Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by intracellular pathogens of the genus Brucella that have their natural reservoir in domestic and wild animals. Many studies show that herbal medicines have been used safely and successfully to treat bacterial diseases without significant side effects and drug resistance problems.Methods: In this study aquatic, alcoholic and acetonic extracts of Eucalyptus globulus leaves were prepared, then MIC and MBC of extracts for B. melitensis 16M and B. abortus S99 were determined by broth macrodilution and agar well diffusion methods. In animal model study, 5×05 CFU/mL of Brucellae was injected intraperitoneally (i.p) to female BALB/c mice. After 24 hours, 0.5mL (equivalent MBC) of each Eucalyptus globulus extracts was injected (i.p) After 7 days, in spleen the colonies of brucellae were counted on Muller-Hinton agar as standard protocol.Results: The MIC and MBC of Eucalyptus globulus for B. melitensis M16 and B. abortus S99 were 1:80 (10.81 mg/mL) and 1:40 (21.62 mg/mL) for aquatic extract, 1:1280 (0.64 mg/mL) and 1:640 (1.29 mg/mL) for acetonic extract, and 1:2560 (0.31 mg/mL) and 1:1280 (0.63 mg/mL), for ethanolic extract respectively. In culture of spleen supernatant (in vivo), after 48 hours, the average grown B. melitensis 16M colonies for aquatic, ethanolic and acetonic extracts were 5×103 CFU/ml, 2×102 CFU/ml and 6×102 CFU/ml, respectively in comparison with control group (4×1010 CFU/ml). These results for B.abortus S99 were 3×103 CFU/ml, 1×102CFU/ml and 3×102 CFU/ml, respectively in comparison with control group (9×109 CFU/ml) The results showed that bacterial load was significantly decreased in all experimental groups (p<0.01).Conclusion: The results of in vitro and in vivo indicate that ethanolic and acetonic extracts of Eucalyptus globulus have more effective antimicrobial activity on B.melitensis M16 and B.abortus S99 than aquatic extract. It seems that the extracts Eucalyptus globulus can be used in treatment of human and animal brucellosis.

Background & Objectives: Several evidences show that oxidative stress is high among patients with hemodialysis. This study was aimed to investigate the oxidative stress and serum level of zinc and copper in patients with non-diabetic hemodialysis.Methods: In a case-control study, 60 patients with non-diabetic hemdialysis referred to hemodialysis section, Ardabil Bou-Ali hospital, and 60 healthy individuals, matched by age and sex, were selected. In each group, lipid profile, blood glucose, creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin, zinc, copper, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were measured. The results were analyzed statistically by using Pearson correlation coefficient and Student-t test.Results: The amount of zinc, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, high density lipoprotein-C and low density lipoprotein-C were significantly lower in patients with hemodialysis in comparison with those in normal individuals. The activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells and serum total antioxidant capacity were significantly high in patients in comparison with those in control group. However, serum concentrations of copper and malondialdehyde in two groups were not statistically different.Conclusion: The results of this study show that increase of antioxidant enzymes activity reduces the oxidative stress status in patients with non-diabetic hemodialysis. Zinc deficiency was also observed in these patients.

Background & Objectives: The first Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy surgery was performed by Erich Muhe in 1985.Nowadays in developed countries, more than 90% of cholecystectomy surgeries are done by Laparoscopic method and it is one of the most common elective surgeries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and side effects of this method and the rate of conversion to open surgery patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery in Sabalan and Arta hospitals in Ardabil province.Methods: This descriptive analytical study was performed between October 2006 and January 2009 We have studied 200 patients (24 male, 176 female) with cholecystitis (symptomatic gallstones) treated by Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy surgery. Data were collected through questionnaires and telephone calls (at least 6 months after surgery). Data analysis was done by SPSS statistical software and chi-square test. p<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: The average age of patients was 44.6 years. In the final diagnosis, 168 patients (84%) had chronic cholecystitis and 32 patients (16%) had acute cholecystitis. The rate of conversion to open surgery was 8 patients (4%). Eight cases (4%) were suffered organic side effects including: four cases (2%) jaundice after surgery, 1 case (0.5%) postoperative fever, 1 case (0.5%) leakage of bile, 1 case (0.5%) slight leaking of serum from the surgical site and 1 case (0.5%) associated with increased liver enzymes that had no other symptoms. About the risk factors for conversion to open surgery, there was significant correlation between acute cholecystitis and male gender. Information about the satisfaction of patients after surgery showed that, 89.5% were completely satisfied, 2.5% were completely dissatisfied and 8% were relatively dissatisfied. No deaths were seen.Conclusion: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a standard selective treatment method for gallbladder stones. It has many advantages including; reduced duration of hospitalization, less pain, reduced morbidity and less side effects than open surgery, lower recovery period and faster return to normal life.

Background &Objectives: Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types. The discovery of such cells in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), an organ traditionally thought to have little or no regenerative capacity, opened the door to treatment of degenerative diseases of CNS like Stroke, Parkinson, Alzheimer and Spinal Cord Injury. Thus, here we described the isolation of neural stem cells from the adult mouse brain using the neurosphere assay (NSA) and differentiation of these cells to neural adult cells in details.Methods: The rostral part of the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles in the adult mice was dissociated into single cell suspension and cultured using NSA. Primary neurospheres were counted seven days after plating and then the mean number of neurospheres was recorded. The differentiation of neural stem cells into adult neural cells was accomplished by plating the neurosphere-derived cells in differentiating media. Immunocytochemistry and specific markers were used for the identification of the adult neural stem cells.Results: The cell suspension obtained from the rostral part of the SVZ of the lateral ventricles generated multipotential colonies, called neurospheres, 7 to 10 days post- incubation. The mean number of neurospheres generated from SVZ was 505±62. The multipotentiality of the neurospheres was shown by palting them in differentiating media and generating adult neural cells including neuron, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte.Conclusion: Owing to their rarity and paucity of neural stem cell specific markers, the NSA is a common and selective method for isolating and understanding the biology of embryonic and adult neural stem cells.

Background & Objectives: Hyphema which commonly caused by the blunt trauma, is defined as blood accumulation in the anterior chamber of the eye. It is associated with several complications from which secondary hemorrhage is more important. This study was aimed to determine Tranexamic acid effect on reduction of the secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema.Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial in 54 patients with traumatic hyphema referred to ophthalmology clinic of Alavi Hospital in Ardabil during 2006-2008. The patients were divided into two groups. Half of the patients received Tranexamic acid and the rest used placebo. After examination of the eyes, the data were analyzed by using Chi-square and Student-t tests.Results: In this study 79.6% of patients were men and the rest were women. They had 19.8±9.44 years old as mean. The vision for 33.3% of the individuals showed light perception ,29.6% hand motion and 35.2% of them indicated finger count. 1.9% of patients had grade I, 11.1%grade II, 38.9% grade III and 48.1% grade IV hyphema. The patients who received Tranexamic acid did not show secondary hemorrhage but five untreated individuals were undergone bleeding.Conclousion: Tranexamic acid reduced secondary hemorrhage in patients with blunt traumarelated hyphema. We suggest further studies of relationship between intra-ocular pressure and secondary hemorrhage rate.

Background & Objectives: Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is a childhood critical disorder with negative course and outcome consequences. The aim of this study was determination of six-month outcome predictor factors (recurrence rate, the rate of hospitalization, severity of illness and recovery rates) in manic and mixed bipolar disorders of children and adolescents admitted in Tehran Rozbeh hospital.Methods: In this prospective Cohort study, 80 patients with bipolar disorder (10-18 year's old) admitted in Tehran Roozbeh Hospital from January 2009 to July 2010 were selected. The available sampling method was used for selection. Participants at admission, discharge, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months, were evaluated by using researcher made questionnaires, KSADS (to confirm the diagnosis), CDI (Children Depression Inventory) or BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), YMRS (Young Mania Rating Scale), CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression Scale), CGAS (Children's Global Assessment Scale), CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression Scale) and PAS (Premorbid Adjustment Scale). The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and Multivariate regressions.Results: The results showed that disease outcome was not associated with age. Gender (male) had correlation with mania severity in 6-month follow-up. Disease duration predicted recurrence rate and severity of disease. Manic type disorder was related with mania severity, and mixed mania predicted mania severity negatively in 6-month follow-up. Therapeutic compliance was correlated with mania severity (negative correlation) and improvement rate (positive correlation). Presence of psychosis was correlated with recurrence rate positively in 6-month follow-up. Co-morbidity with ADHD (Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder) predicted clinical global improvement (CGI-G) negatively and mania severity positively in 6-month follow-up. Pre-morbid coping showed negative relationship with mania severity and positive relation with global improvement rate in 6-month follow-up.Conclusion: Our results showed that gender of patients, duration and manic type of disease, presence of psychosis at admission have a direct relation with inappropriate outcome of manic and mixed bipolar disorders of children and adolescents. These findings emphasize necessity of special curing during treatment.

Background & Objectives: Effects of new educational programs on health and physical fitness promotion is an important issue which needs regular evaluations. Physical fitness has many advantages such as cardio-respiratory health promotion, prevention of some diseases and improvement of quality of life. On the other hand, it has been shown that there is significant relationship between waterpipe smoking and cancer, cardiovascular as well as pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between addiction to waterpipe smoking and cardio-respiratory fitness and body composition of physical education students in Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch.Methods: One hundred and eighty-one physical education students participated in this study. All subjects were selected by cluster sampling method. Cardio-Respiratory fitness (using Cooper test), Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat percent (using 2-point Lohman equation), addiction to waterpipe smoking, smoke exposure and awareness of waterpipe effects on athletic performance (using questionnaire) were evaluated.Results: The body composition of the most students was not suitable (50.3% extra fat), but the cardio-respiratory fitness of male students was better than that of female students. Furthermore, In spite of decrease in waterpipe smoking in comparison to last year (13.3% versus 35.6%), many non-smoking students are exposed to waterpipe smoke (21.0%) and some of them (48.1%) had little information about the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking on athletic performance.Conclusion: According to results of this study improvement in cardio-respiratory fitness and body composition of physical education students and enhancement of their information about side-effects of waterpipe smoking should be emphasized.

Protein C is a vitamin K dependent glycoprotein. Protein C deficiency is a rare genetic disorder and its major sites of involvement are skin, eyes, lungs, central nervous system, and kidneys. This article presents a case of neonatal protein C deficiency with severe purpura fulminans and bilateral cataracts. He was initially treated with fresh-frozen plasma and then followed by warfarin. All necrotic skin lesions improved with treatment. He was the first child of his parents who were asymptomatic for protein C deficiency. We also reviewed literatures about coexistence of cataracts and protein C deficiency.