Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:16 | Issue:1|Papers Count:16

Background & objectives: Basic and clinical studies have shown that the production of free radicals was one of the main factors leading to the injury after stroke. In this study we investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Origanum vulgare on infarct volume and neurological deficits in a rat stroke model.Methods: In this experimental study 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, each containing 7 animals. First group (control) received distilled water, while other three treatment groups received oral Origanum vulgare extract by gavage for 30 days (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively). These groups were subjected to 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion 2 hours after the last dose of Origanum extracts and followed by 24 hrs reperfusion. After 24 hrs, the infarct volume and neurologic deficits were evaluated in the groups. Sham operated groups (n=7) did not receive Marjoram and brain ischemia.Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of Origanum reduced the infarct volume and neurologic deficits in all treatment groups compared to control group.Conclusion: It seems that Origanum vulgare extract can exert the neuroprotective effect against stroke damage by reducing infarct volume and neurological disorders.

Background & objectives: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) occurs in 1–3% of couples attempting to bear children. Thrombophilia is one of the suspected causes of recurrent miscarriage. The factor XIII makes the clot stable at the end of coagulation cascade. The polymorphism G103T of factor XIII gene is the most common polymorphism that affects F XIII activity. We aimed to study the possible association of FXIII gene polymorphism (V34L) with recurrent miscarriage among patients in Northwest of Iran.Methods: The study groups consisted of 70 patients with two or more consecutive miscarriages. The control group included 50 women with at least two successful deliveries and no history of pregnancy loss. DNA from both groups analyzed for carrying mutation of FXIII by PCR-RFLP. The x2 test used for statistical analyze.Results: Two patients (%2.85) in the case group were homozygote (TT) for 34 Leu mutation whereas no homozygote (TT) was found in control group (p>0.05).19 patients (%27.1) in the case group and 13 women (%26) in the control group were found to be heterozygote for G103T polymorphism (p>0.05). No significant difference was observed between patients with RPL and healthy women for G103T mutation.Conclusion: No statistically difference was observed between case and control group.

Background & objectives: The teratogenic effects of electromagnetic radiation on different processes of growth caused many concerns related to the harmful effects of cell-phone radiation on human health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cell-phone radiation on estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH hormones together with dynastic sexual cells of adult female offspring of pregnant rats affected by these radiations.Methods: In this experimental study, 24 pregnant female rats divided into 3 groups including the control, sham and experimental groups were used. The control group received no radiation and the experimental group was exposed to cell-phone radiation at the beginning of pregnancy (4 hours daily for 14 days). The control group was exposed around turning-on cell-phone without conversation over the same period. After giving birth and after maturity, 10 female offsprings of different groups separated and after phlebotomizing, sexual hormones levels was measured and by separating the ovaries, ovarian follicles species were counted. The results analyzed using ANOVA and T tests. Differences in statistical analysis of data were considered significant at p<0.05.Results: The results showed that the pregnant female exposure to cell-phone radiation caused significant increase in the size and weight of the ovaries and atresic follicles (p<0.05) without significant effect on the number of primary and secondary follicles, antral, graph, primordial, corpus luteum and sexual hormones.Conclusion: Exposure to cell-phone radiations caused increase in the size, weight and atresic follicles of offspring’s ovaries in pregnant females.

Background & objectives: Temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with neuronal apoptosis.Curcumin has antioxidant and anticonvulsant activities, therefore this study was conducted to assess involvement of Bax and Bcl2 in protective effect of curcumin in epileptic rats.Methods: 28 rats were divided into sham, curcumin-pretreated sham, epileptic (kainate), and curcumin-pretreated epileptic groups. Experimental model of epilepsy was induced by intrahippocampal administration of kainic acid. Rats received curcumin at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Finally, Nissl staining and Bax and Bcl2 immunohistochemistry were conducted on hippocampal sections and data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test.The p-value less than 0.05was considered statistically significant.Results: Induction of epilepsy was followed by a significant seizure and curcumin pretreatment significantly reduced seizure intensity (p<0.01). In addition, there were no significant differences between the groups in Nissl staining of CA3 area neurons. In addition, Bax positive neurons were observed in CA3 area in kainate group and significantly decreased in curcumin pretreated rats (p<0.05). Meanwhile, Bcl2 positive neurons were also moderately observed in kainate group and curcumin pretreatment significantly increased it (p<0.05).Conclusion: Curcumin pretreatment exhibits anticonvulsant activity in epileptic rats. It also decreases the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and significantly enhances the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 and hence could reduce neuronal apoptosis.

Background & objectives: FMF is an auto-inflammatory and hereditary periodic disorder. The symptoms can occur in more than 80% during the first decade of life. With regard to high prevalence of FMF in northwest of Iran, this study was conducted to introduce especial features of FMF in this area.Methods: This is a descriptive study performed on 403 patients with diagnosis of FMF according to the Tel-Hashomer criteria. Information obtained from patients' file and entered in the questionnaire. Data analyzed by SPSS v20 using simple descriptive statistical analysis.Results: In this study 228 (56.6%) patients were male, and the mean age of patients was 21.03 years.The common symptoms were abdominal pain in 93.3% and fever in 88.1% of patients. Abdominal pain was the main complaint (49.6%), the average duration of pain was 43.3±34.5 hours and the average attack-free period was 36.5±29.6 days.15.1% of patients had positive family history and 12.7% had history of appendectomy. Delayed diagnosis was more than three years in 52.3% of patients. Genetic analysis has been done in 239 patients in which 21.33% had no mutations, 39.7% were compound heterozygous genotype, 25.52% heterozygote and 13.38% had compound homozygous mutations. The most common mutations were M694V/V726A (10.46%) and the most common alleles were M694V (20.9%) and V726A (12.7%). The M694V-V726A genotype (12.7%) was the most common combined mutations in male and the common mutations in female was M694V/M694V (10.4%). Among the patients with abdominal pain M694V/V726A (12.5%) was more common. The genotypes of M680I/V726A (13.9%), M694/V726A and M694V/R761H (16.7%) and the M694V/M694V (33.3%) had the common mutations in patients with fever, chest pain and joint symptoms respectively.Conclusion: First decade is usual age to presentation of FMF. M694V is the most common mutation and M694V-V726A is the common compound heterozygous mutation. MEFV mutations in this study are similar to Arabs results. It seems that clinical criteria still are the best way in diagnosis of FMF in spite of the fact that erysipelas like skin rash is not common as a clinical criteria in this area.

Background & objectives: Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder accompanied with insulin resistance of the whole body cells and is considered be the fifth cause of death in the world.Adaptation to altitude can lead to tolerance to many diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of simulated intermittent altitude on the metabolic and hematologic parameters and liver function in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods: In the current experimental study, twenty four male Wistar rats weighing 220𩣁20 gr were randomly divided into three groups; normal control group (NC, n=8), diabetic control group (D, n=8) received fat diet for 2 weeks then were injected with streptozotocin (37 mg/kg) and diabetic+hypoxia group (D+H, n=8) including diabetic rat exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (PiO2»106 mm Hg, simulated altitude »3400 m, 14% oxygen for 8 weeks). Diabetic, hematologic and lipid parameters as well as ALT and AST activities were measured in peripheral blood.Results: Our findings showed that intermittent hypoxia significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglyceride in D+H group compared to D group (p<0.05).Serum levels of fasting blood glucose and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and ALT were decreased in D+H group vs. D group (p<0.05). Also, hemoglubin and hematocrite level increased in D+H group in comparison to D group (p<0.05). No significant difference was detected in red blood cell count in D+H vs. D group.Conclusion: Based on resultant data, it seems that intermittent exposure to hypoxia (simulated to chronic and intermittent lodgement in altitude) can be used to control of type 2 diabetes by increasing hemoglobin, decreasing insulin resistance and improving liver function as well as lipid parameters.

Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus mediated by oxidative stress, creates serious metabolic disorders in testis. Kudzu root with an isoflavonin and saponin contents is often used as antidiabetic and antioxidant. This study aimed at preventing the oxidative effects of diabetes using Kudzu root.Methods: In this study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups: control, diabetic and diabetic rats treated with Kudzu 50 and100 mg/kg. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 55mg/kg streptozocin. One week after injection, the rats started to receive Kudzu at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for five weeks by gavage.Testicular damage was examined by using hematoxylin-eosin staining protocol. Hormonal and blood biochemical factors were measured.Results: The results of this study showed that diabetes causes a high blood sugar levels and reduces the spermatogonia and Sertoli cells with decreased spermatogenesis, sperm count and function. These effects were improved in the treatment groups. Decrease in blood sugar and increase in the number and motility of sperm cells and spermatogonic cells were also observed together with enhanced seminiferous tubule diameter and lower basement membrane thickness.Conclusion: Kudzu with the ability to reduce blood sugar, improves diabetic-induced testicular damage and can have a therapeutic role in diabetes.

Background & objectives: One of the difficulties of community of dentists, especially dentists dealing with children, is the pain and fear of dental treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of systematic desensitization and distraction on reducing fear and pain in children with dental problems.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study designed with pretest-posttest multi groups according to control group. For this purpose, 45 children with dental problems referred to the dental clinic of Ardabil was selected and divided into three groups of 15 people: systematic desensitization (n=15), distraction (n=15) and control group (n=15). All of three groups answered to dental fears survey and numeric scale of pain as pre-test. Then, the therapeutic method of systematic desensitization and distraction was performed on two experimental groups. After completion of the treatments, three groups answered to dental fear survey and numeric scale of pain. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used for the analysis of the data.Results: The results showed a significant difference in the score of post-test between three groups in pain (F=197.27; p<0.001) anddental fear (F=178.36; p<0.001). LSD post hoc test results showed that systematic desensitization method was more effective in reduction of pain and the distraction method was more affective in reduction of dental fear.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that psychological interventions of distracting and systematic desensitization can be used to reduce fear and pain at pediatric clinics.

Background & objectives: Cardiac arrhythmia after CABG surgery is a common complication which results in other side effects. Therapeutic effect of prophylactic magnesium administration is controversial and there are many different ideas in this case. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of magnesium in reducing cardiac arrhythmia after CABG.Methods: The clinical trial enrolled 140 patients undergoing CABG. Based on the initial blood levels of magnesium, patients were divided into two groups, one group with low serum magnesium and the other group with normal one. The low serum magnesium group treated with magnesium preoperatively and had normal serum magnesium level before operation.Postoperatively, both groups were randomly divided into two sub-groups, one receiving 2 gr. of magnesium sulfate and the other group received placebo. Both groups monitored for occurrence of arrhythmia in the ICU – OH for 3 days. Data were analyzed with statistical methods. P value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The results showed that the occurrence of arrhythmia in any of the sub-groups was not significantly different from each other (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between blood levels of magnesium and arrhythmia at different days (p>0.05).Conclusions: Blood level of magnesium and prophylactic magnesium administration have not effect on reducing arrhythmia after CABG surgery. The highest incidence of arrhythmias happened in the hypomagnesium group without prophylaxis on the third day after surgery, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Background & objectives: Depression and perceived stress are considered among the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Dialectical behavior therapy was presented as one of the most effective treatment of many disorders in the past decade. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dialectical group behavior therapy on perceived stress and depression in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.Methods: The research method was an experimental pretest-posttest control group design with random assignment). Of all the patients referred to medical centers in Tabriz during 1393 SH, 30 patients selected with irritable bowel syndrome and Rome-III diagnostic criteria after using the interview, completed perceived stress questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. The subjects were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n=15 per group). After completing dialectical behavior therapy in the experimental group, the questionnaire was administered in both groups. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis with SPSS-20 software.Results: Dialectical group behavior therapy was significantly effective in reducing perceived stress (p=0.004, F=9.91) and depression (p=0.005, F=9.60) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in experimental group, so that after the intervention the perceived stress and depression scores decreased in experimental group.Conclusion: It seems that dialectical behavior therapy is effective in reducing perceived stress and depression in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and can be helpful in improving the symptoms of perceived stress and depression in these patients.

Background & objectives: Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease and is considered as the most important disease in dogs. The disease has been reported in North West and South of the country, in Iran. In addition to stray dogs, some apparently healthy dogs can be contaminated without showing any sign or symptoms in this area. In the present study, canine visceral leishmaniasis was investigated in dogs lacking clinical signs in Meshkinshahr city in Ardabil, Iran.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted during 2011-2014. A total of 110 serum samples collected from dogs either having or lacking clinical signs and tested by direct agglutination test (DAT) assay. Then 10 dogs (41.6%) showing clinical signs and 15 dogs (17.4%) without any symptoms were autopsied and their spleens were sampled. The samples were used for smear preparation and culturing.Results: Based on the results, among 24 dogs with clinical signs 20 cases (83.3%) and of 86 dogs without signs, 16 cases (18.6%) found to be positive. On the other hand, smear and culture results were found to be positive in 100% and 60% of dogs with and without clinical signs, respectively. The interesting and impressive results of this study was that the dogs with symptoms but negative DAT and asymptomatic dogs with negative DAT were positive in parasitological tests.Conclusion: This proves that asymptomatic dogs like symptomatic dogs can be effective in L.infantum infection and is able to maintain the transmission of the disease in endemic areas.On the other hand, a number of symptomatic dogs with negative anti-leishmania antibodies were positive in parasitological tests. Thus, this study also shows that although DAT is effective in determining asymptomatic dogs and canine visceral leishmaniosis control programs but it does not seem to be satisfying in endemic areas such as Meshkin-shahr. Thus in endemic areas, it is recommended that the low antibody titer should be considered.