Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2012 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 (43)|Papers Count:17

Background & objectives: Hydaticosis is a zoonotic helminthic disease of human and other intermediated hosts in which larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosu transfect human. The liver and lung are the host tissues for the hydatid cyst. It is unknown which mechanisms are involved in infertility of the cyst and suppression of the fertile cyst. This study was aimed to evaluate the expression of the apoptosis inducing-ligands such as TRAIL and Fas-L in germinal layer of the cyst and human normal tissue surrounding the cyst that is one of the unknown host innate immunity mechanisms against the hydatid cyst.Methods: In this study, four isolated hydatid cysts were used which had been diagnosed in patients by radiography and parasitological examination in Mashhad Ghaem hospital. Furthermore, the germinal layer of the cyst and accompanied normal peripheral tissues were separated by scalpel in sterile conditions. After homogenization, expression of TRAIL and Fas- L genes were studied by semi-quantitive RT-PCR method.Results: The TRAIL and Fas-L showed significant higher level expression in germinal layer of infertile cyst than the fertile cyst and host normal tissues.Conclusion: The host tissue-induced apoptosis of germinal layer of the fertile cysts is probably one of the infertility mechanisms in patients with hydaticosis.

Background & Objectives: Myocardial infarction is one of the most common causes of mortality throughout the world. Utilization of thrombolytic drugs at the first hours upon MI leads to decrease in the rate of mortality. Streptokinase (SK) is commonly used because of its cost and availability. The golden time for maximum effect of SK appeared to be first hours after MI. The drug efficiency diminishes after 3 hours and it will be ineffective after 12 hours. This study was aimed to investigate interval between onset of the clinical symptoms and streptokinase receiving in patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted for drug reception.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 patients with STEMI (ST elevation Myocardial Infarction) who were attended to emergency room of Imam Khomeini hospital and fulfilled a questionnaire containing the data about age, sex, educational level, onset of symptoms, referring time to emergency room, SK utilization, past medical history of cardiac diseases, type and location of AMI, contraindications and side effects of SK.Results: In 111 men (74%) and 39 women (26%), the mean for interval between onset of symptoms and drug injection was 8 hour and 27 minutes ±8 hour and 18 minutes. Only 41% of patients received streptokinase in less than 3 hours after chest pain. The main reasons for delaying in drug consumption were delayed decision to come to hospital in 61% of persons, long distance to hospital for 22% of individuals, delayed admission tor CCU for 13% of cases and delay in physician diagnosis for 0.043% of patients. To have a male sex and residency in city where the hospital was established were associated with less-delayed treatment start. However, the educational level, age and history of MI were not correlated with onset of treatment.Conclusions: Our results clearly show that the majority of patients receipt streptokinase more than 3 hours after chest pain. With considering the factors associated with delay to receive SK, teaching the patients with ischemic heart disease and giving information about golden time for thrombolytic therapy and its effect in prognosis as well as extending cardiac disease treatment centers in suburbs are recommended.

Background & Objectives: Different factors increase risk of disease transmission in women's barbershop and disinfection of instruments, as a major preventive measure, plays an important role in the control of disease transmission. Therefore, present study was conducted to investigate the quality of barber tools disinfection in women salons in Ardabil in 2009.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 96 women salons were randomly selected. Data were compiled using a questionnaire, observation, and recording results of microbial cultures from barbering tools and analyzed using X2 and descriptive statistics.Results: Personal shaving kits were being used only in 5.2% of barbershops and 56% of barbers applied Micro 10 as a disinfectant of barbershop tools. 64.6% of samples were microbiologically positive and Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 53% of positive samples. Positive results were significantly higher in barbershops that did not follow standard procedure of tools disinfection (p<0.0001).Conclusion: As a result of our study we suggest the following points to improve population health in the barbershops: training on proper disinfection techniques, promotion of Micro10 application and avoid of unhealthy behaviors in barbershops.

Background & Objectives: The identification of Brucella spp. antigens with the capacity to elicit a protective immune response is of the great interest for the researchers. So, characterization and assessment of diverse antigens of Brucella need to be evaluated. In this study, we report the cloning and expression of the gene coding for 31 KDa OMP (OMP31) of Brucella melitensis 16M.Methods: Brucella melitensis Omp31 gene was amplified with specific primers, cloned into pJET1/2 and subsequently subcloned in pET28a (+) vector. Both these recombinant plasmids were sequenced and then after, expression of recombinant protein was induced by 1 mM IPTG. Western blot analysis was also performed by polyclonal rabbit antiserum.Results: Omp31 successfully was cloned in both plasmid vectors. The recombinant Omp31 was expressed in E.coli host and purified with significant yield. Western blot results along with those of sequencing ensured accurate production of recombinant omp31 and retaining of its partial epitopes.Conclusion: Our results show that, an expression host such as E. coli is suitable for omp31 production.

Background & Objectives: Several studies have been conducted to explore anti-HIV drugs. Discovery and study of novel anti-HIV-1 compounds need live viruses and has serious biosafety concerns. In this research we reported a novel and safe system for assaying the cytopathic effects of HIV by using single cycle replicable (SCR) HIV-1 virions.Methods: To produce the SCR HIV-1 virions, pMD2G, pmzNL4-3 and pSPAX2 plasmids were co-transfected into HEK293T cells. Different amount of SCR virions were used to infect target cells (MT-2). Within the infected cells, the number of formed syncytia was counted under the light microscopy. The lethal effects of the SCR HIV virions were measured using XTT proliferation assay.Results: Formation of syncytia among SCR HIV infected cells was detectable 24 hours after infection. Highest amount of syncytia was seen 72 hours after infection. Increase in the amount of virions caused increasing of syncytia and the cytopathic effects of SCR HIV-1. Infection with more than 1600 ng P24 SCR HIV decreased the syncytium formation and viability of all cells. The calculated IC50 (50 percent inhibitory capacity) for nevirapine and BMS806 using this method was 50 nM and 30 nM, respectively.Conclusion: SCR HIV-1 virions are replicable only for one cycle. Using these virions can improve the safety of HIV researches. Herein, we optimized the assaying of HIV induced cytopathic effects by using SCR HIV-1 (NL4-3) virions. The accuracy of this method was accepted by quantifying the anti-HIV-1 effects of nevirapine and BMS806 by (SCR) HIV-1 virions.

Background & Objectives: Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality in developing and industrial countries. Recently the involvement of infectious agents as a risk factor for Acute Coronary syndrome is drafted. So this study was designed to investigate the probable association between Acute Coronary syndrome and Helicobacter pylori infection.Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 300 hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of Acute Coronary syndrome (UA and MI) and 300 hospitalized patients without the history of coronary heart disease. Anti Helicobacter pylori Antibody level was determined by as an indicator of infection history. Using chi-square and t- test the results were analyzed in SPSS software.Results: Results showed that 79 patients (26.3%) in control group and 122 patients (40.6%) in case group were seropositive and the difference was significant. Relationship between cronory diseases risk factors and levels of IgG was not significant. Also the results showed that the rate of hypertension in seropositive patients in case group was significantly upper than control group.Conclusion: Regarding the findings of this study we can conclude that Helicobacter pylori infection probably is a risk factor for Acute Coronary Syndrome. Thus, further studies are needed to elucidate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background & Objectives: Urinary stone disease is one of the common urinary tract complications that can lead to renal failure. It occurs usually in middle-aged and older men The aim of this study was to determine the association between types of urinary stones and risk factors for urinary stone formation in patients referred to Ardabil therapeutic centers.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 150 patients with urinary stone were followed from March 2008 to July 2009 in therapeutic centers of Ardabil. Data were collected by a questionnaire include demographic factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Job and Habitation place. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and ANOVA in SPSS 16 software. The level of significance was p<0.05.Results: 116 of patients (77.3%) had calcium oxalate stone, 15 of patients (10%) had phosphate calcium stone, 10 of patients (6.7%) had acid uric and 9 of patients (6%) had phosphate ammonium stone. The mean age of patients was 41.90+14.41 years (48% of patients were 30-50 years old) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.81+3.66. 91 of patients (60.66%) were male and 59 (39.4%) of them were female. There was no significant difference between types of urinary stones and factors including BMI the job of patient, (p=0.252), habitation place (p=0.173), history of previous illness (p=0.207) and history of drug use (p=0.247).Conclusion: The most common type of urinary stones was calcium oxalate (77.3%) in both men and women however ammonium phosphate (6%) is much less common.

Background & Objectives: Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world. It causes disruption in daily activities and increases the risk of major depression. Hence, clinically the appropriate and persistent treatment of insomnia is very important. Using of hypnotic drugs such as benzodiazepines is the common treatment for insomnia but they show several side effects and it seems that new medications should be used for treatment of sleep disorders. The aim of this study was comparison between the effects of electromagnetic therapy and conventional drug usage in the treatment of insomnia.Methods: In a blind randomized clinical trial study, 60 people referred to the private office of the psychiatrist and experienced more than 3 months extended primary insomnia were selected. They were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and had no other underlying problems. The subjects were divided in two groups: 30 people in each and treated electromagnetically or with Alprazolam for 3 weeks. Before treatment, immediately and one month after treatment, quality of sleep and severity of the insomnia were evaluated by using the standard questionnaires and finally, the results were analyzed statistically.Results: In this study, 60 individuals participated from whom 28 were male (46.7%) and 32 patients were female (53.3%).The mean age was 37.3 years old in a range of 17- 65. The mean point of each questionnaire, before and immediately after treatment significantly didn't show any difference but one month after treatment, there was a significant difference in both groups.Conclusion: To treat insomnia, electromagnetic therapy appears to be used as a replacement for sedative medicines. It also has more stability in comparison with other sedative medicines and no side effects have been reported yet.

Background & Objectives: Severely comminuted distal femur fractures are in association with the high complications and their treatment is so difficult. Supracondylar femur fractures usually occur as a result of low-energy trauma in osteoporotic bone in elderly persons or highenergy trauma in young patients. This study was aimed to assess the results of new treatment plan for comminuted intra-articular distal femur fractures with locking condylar buttress plate. The results of this strategy will help us to find the effective method of treatment for the distal femur fractures.Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 47 patients with intra-articular distal femur fractures after two weeks fracture and treating with locking condylar buttress plate were selected. Then, they were examined for infection, range of knee motion and union at the first and second week and 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the level of significance was set as p<0.05.Results: 53.2% of the patients had closed fractures, 6.4% of them had open type I and the rest showed open type IIIA fracture. The overall union rate was seen in 80.9% of cases and infection was detected in 19.1% and malunion was observed 21.3% of patients. The mean degree for range of motion was 105.74 ±24.47 and the maximum degree of extension was 20.Conclusion: Complete fixation for distal femur fracture type C3 was achieved by buttress plate and using this locking condylar plate was association with less complication such as infection, malunion and non-union.

Background & Objectives: Religion and its guidelines have important role on the mental health of people. Many studies show that moral and religious beliefs and behaviors lead to mental relaxation and pleasant living. Religious person shall try to be more helpful and successful in all fields of cultural, social, political and economic life. The aim of this article is to elucidate the role of mental health in the Holy Quran.Methods: This study was performed by the library field based on the results of the existing related researches and reliable sources.Results: If the human psyche is not understood, he could not achieve his perfection and maturity. It is because of lack of knowledge about the mental and spirit damages. How we can understand self and psyche and which information source is the best to refer? From the viewpoint of Quran, the first way to deal with psychological stress is back to human nature which is the base of mental relaxation. Avoid of human nature could lead to moral disorders. Therefore in Islam, regarding human nature is considered to improving mental health.Conclusion: According to our discussion, one of the best and most reliable ways for maintaining and improving mental health includes spiritual beliefs and using concept of God in Holy Quran.