Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2016 | Volume:24 | Issue:104|Papers Count:18

Background and Objective: Acute bronchiolitis is one of the most common reasons for inflammation, small airways obstruction, and lower respiratory tract infection in infancy. Owing that there has been no study on the efficacy of hyper saline 3% in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in Iran, the present study was undertaken to deal with this issue.Materials and Methods: This double-blinded clinical trial was carried out in Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord in 2013-2014. 70 patients under 2 years of age with bronchiolitis were assigned to two groups of 35 each. The first group received nebulized Ventolin while the second group was given nebulized hyper saline 3% three times a day. Subsequent to these administrations, recovery duration was compared in both groups.Results: The mean and standard deviation of recovery duration in the Ventolin group was 4.14±0.9 days and in the hyper saline 3% group was 3.06±0.6 days. T-test and mean recovery duration was significantly lower in the hyper saline 3% group (P<0.001).Conclusion: Nebulizer hyper saline 3% had a better therapeutic effect than Ventolin in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis. Therefore, the use of this drug, rather than Ventolin, is recommended for the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children under two years of age.

Background and Objective: Doxorubicin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents against solid tumors. Doxorubicin causes cardio-toxicity via production of free radicals and depletion of anti-oxidants. However, the use of anti-oxidants can decrease doxorubicin-induced cardio-toxicity. Apium grave olens (celery) contains anti-oxidant compounds. Hence, this study was an attempt to figure out if it can protect heart cells against oxidative stress of doxorubicin.Materials and Methods: The cells were incubated with different concentrations of Apium grave olens (celery) extract for 4 hours which continued in the presence of 5mM doxorubicin for 24 hours. Cell viability and the apoptotic induction were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) and propidium iodide (PI) staining assays, respectively.Results: Celery extract increased toxicity of doxorubicin at a concentration of 125-500 mg/ml. Also apoptosis was induced in the presence of doxorubicin at a concentration of 250 and 500mg/ml.Conclusion: Results showed that celery has no toxicity effect on heart cells alone. However, this extract could not protect cells against doxorubicin- induced cardio toxicity. A number of mechanisms may increase this effect such as augmentation of free radicals, increased drug delivery into the cells and expression of apoptotic proteins. Further research is needed to decide upon accuracy mechanism.

Background and Objective: Pervasive prevalence of mental disorders among drug dependent individuals may reduce the success of treatment for drug addiction. In this study, the effect of life skills training on attenuation of anxiety and depression among drug dependent people referred to drop-in centers for harm reduction in Zanjan City was investigated.Materials and Methods: The population included 90 drug dependent subjects referred to drop-in center for harm reduction in Zanjan City. Using convenience sampling method, the researchers took advantage of pretest-posttest control group design throughout this study. Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory were implemented as instruments. Teaching life skills to the experimental group was carried out for 8 sessions 90 minutes each. Analysis of covariance in inferential statistics was used to analyze the collected data.Results: The results exhibited diminution in the experimental groups post-test anxiety and depression scores.Conclusion: Life skills training can be valuable in reducing depression among drug abusers and in the similar way can be efficient in reducing mental disorders of drug dependent people.

Background and Objective: Effort for improving athletic function makes athletes use stimulants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of consuming steroids on liver enzymes and blood factors in male bodybuilders.Materials and Methods: Ex post facto design comprising 48 male bodybuilders (age 25.02 ± 4.73 years old, weight 80.75 ± 6.33 kg) were assigned to three groups of steroid- taking athletes (n1 = 16), athletes with a history of steroid taking discarded it in the last three months (n2 = 16), and athletes without a history of using steroids (n3 = 16). Consequent to anthropometric measurements and one repetition maximum assessment, blood samples were taken after 12 hours of fasting. One-way ANOVA and post hoc tests were used for data analysis.Results: Significant differences were found between the first group and other aforementioned groups in terms of their alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hemoglobin levels (p£ 0.05), whereas there were no significant differences between the second and third groups in the above mentioned variables (p³ 0.05). There were significant differences among all groups in the level of hematocrit (p£ 0.05). Also, in red blood cells, significant differences were seen between the first and third groups (p£ 0.05). There were no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme among groups (p³ 0.05).Conclusion: Taking steroids by bodybuilder athletes can lead to harmful effects such as increased red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes level. The findings are supportive of the idea that even after giving up the use of steroids as long as three months, the damage continues to exist.

Background and Objective: Studies indicate that emotions are effective psychological factors in cardiovascular diseases that may contribute to the incidence or exacerbation of the disease. Increase in level of negative emotions is associated with deterioration of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the process of emotion regulation strategies in cardiovascular patients and normal individuals.Materials and Methods: In this causal-comparative study, 90 subjects were assigned to three groups of 30 persons including patients with coronary heart diseases, implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients and normal subjects. Convenience sampling was used for patients who had referred to a private clinic and Lavassani Hospital in Tehran. They completed the process model of emotion regulation questionnaire and the data were fed to SPSS to be analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance.Results: The results pointed out significant differences between two formerly mentioned patient groups and normal subjects (p<0.001). The findings asserted that patients with coronary heart diseases and implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients used suppression of negative emotional experience strategy more than normal individuals, while they used reappraisal strategy less frequently.Conclusion: Psychological preventive interventions with an emphasis on cognitive emotion regulation strategies in cardiovascular patients could bring about effective results.

Background and Objective: Fennel seeds, which are incorporated in many drugs and drinks, act as agents to increase appetite, energy, calmness, and milk secretion. This study was set to investigate the effects of fennel seeds on pregnancy.Materials and Methods: Four doses of 50,100,200,400 mg / kg of fennel seeds were prepared. Then, 4 groups of 7 BALB/ C female mice weighting 21 to 25 grams for injection of 4 different experimental doses and two groups of 5 BALB/ C female mice were considered as sham and control. The fetus and uterus of the pregnant mice were removed and photographed by photo-stereomicroscope. Afterwards, microtome cutting sections of central portion of samples was prepared and studied. The results were analyzed using ANOVA with significance level of P <0.05 and P <0.01.Results: At a dose of 50 mg/kg, fetuses exhibited subcutaneous bleeding. At doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, abnormalities such as severe subcutaneous bleeding, protrusion of the liver (Exohepatic) and protrusion of the brain (Exencephaly) were observed in embryos. All 4 doses indicated uterine wall thickening which similarly happened in uterine with atrophied fetus.Conclusion: The observed abnormalities provide evidence that fennel seed can act as a teratogen agent during pregnancy.

Background and Objective: One of the major side effects of cerebral ischemia is the water content enhancement in brain tissues which leads to mortality enhancement. Recently, therapeutic strategies have been focusing on preconditioning mechanisms. Erythropoietin as a glycoprotein hormone with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on brain may be effective on brain edema reduction.Materials and Methods: Male wistar rats were assigned to 5 groups of 6 in each: sham, control and three pretreatments. The pretreatment groups including single-dose (0.5 h before stroke induction), double-dose (0.5 and 48 h before stroke induction) and triple-dose (0.5, 48 and 98 h before stroke induction) received 1,000 IU/kg EPO intraperitoneally. 0.5 hour after the last injection, the animals were exposed to brain ischemia with the MCAO model for 60 minutes and then were evaluated regarding the brain water content, hemoglobin and hematocrit at 24 hours after reperfusion.Results: Brain water content in the pretreatment group receiving EPO with a lower dose (1000 U/kg) decreased significantly but in the pretreatment group with a higher dose of the drug a significant enhancement was observed. Also, the amount of hemoglobin and hematocrit increased in the pretreatment groups in comparison with the control group.Conclusion: Our results showed single-dose of EPO pretreatment decreased brain edema in the brain ischemic stroke model in wistar rats.

Background and Objective: Sesame is one of the plants with many applications including production of sesame oil, ground sesame seed, sweets and bread in food industry. Alongside, it is used to boost strength and body foundation due to its nourishing properties. Whereas the likelihood of teratogenicity for this seed has been discussed during the pregnancy, the present study was carried out to investigate the possible effects of sesame seeds on the Oogenesis.Materials and Methods: In this expermental study, the mice were retained under appropriate laboratory conditions and were divided into five groups of control, sham, empirical 1, 2, and 3. The mice of the control group were supplied merely with water and special mouse food, while the mice of sham group were given 0.5 cc of distilled water daily for 10 days. The mice of three empirical groups 1, 2 and 3 were supplied with doses of 0.0818, 0.1636 and 0.818 (mg/Kg of body mass) sesame, respectively, mixed with 0.5 cc of distilled water by oral gavage. The mice in all groups were dissected after the completion of the gavage and the texture of their right and left ovaries was separated and examined after the process of alcohol supply, molding, shredding as well as painting.Results: Following the administration of sesame seed, the side effects were investigated such as increase in the number of follicle types, increase in the diameter and number of primitive and primary follicles, decrease in the diameter of other follicles, increase in the length and the diameter of ovaries and increase in the number of yellow bodies.Conclusion: The above results assert the harmful effect of sesame seeds on the ovary and on the process of Oogenesis.

Background and Objective: Pomegranate peel contains many compounds of glycosides, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Candida albicans is the commonest cause for oral fungal infections in individuals with immune system deficiency and people with diabetes. This study was an endeavor to illustrate the effects of pomegranate peel on some blood parameters including creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes AST, ALT and ALP in rats infected with Candida albicans.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 30 male Wistar rats were allocated to six groups of five. In the control group, the diabetic rats were contaminated by an infectious dose of fungus Candida albicans. Then, the rats were treated with dissolved extract of itraconazole in drinking water. The remaining four groups received pomegranate peel extract dissolved in drinking water at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg according to their body weight for 7 days 24 hours. The effectiveness of pomegranate peel extract was compared with itraconazole. Their weight was measured on days zero and seven.Results: The results showed a significant increase in the plasma concentration of albumin and total protein levels than the control group (p<0.01). Liver enzymes decreased in a dose dependent manner according to the concentration changes (p<0.001).Conclusion: The administration of pomegranate peel extract showed significant improvement in oral Candidiasis lesions and repair of mucosal tissue. However, the presence of flavonoids and alkaloids in Punicaceae plants has negative effect on biomedical parameters and lead to disorders in functioning of vital organs.

Background and Objective: Nitric Oxide in the small intestine causes relaxation of smooth muscles. Research indicates that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF) affect nitric oxide level in the tissues. The objective of this study was to grasp the effect of prolonged exposure to ELF on the nitrergic system in the small intestine Materials and Methods: 21 adult male rats were allocated to three groups: the experimental group exposed to ELF (50Hz, 1mT) for 75 days, the sham-operated group underwent similar conditions except ELF exposure; and the control group mice were kept under the laboratory normal condition. The isolated strips of the colon were inserted into organ bath and were linked to force transducer power lab A to D system and their mechanical activity were recorded in response to L-NAME. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA test.Results: The results exhibited a significant increase (p£0.05) of ileum basal contractions in experimental group when compared to control and sham groups. However, administration of L-NAME (inhibitor of NO synthesis) led to a significant decrease in ileum contraction in the experimental group compared to the sham and control groups (p£0.05).Conclusion: It can be concluded that prolonged exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields may decrease the activity of nitrergic system in small intestine of the male rats

Background and Objective: Escherichia coli (E-coli) is a normal gram negative organism that inhabit the human and animal intestinal tract. Pap G gene has an important role in creating P -fimbriae tip and in producing septicemia and urinary tract infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of pap G gene in EPEC strains isolated from urine and blood.Materials and Methods: From March to October 2013, 90 colonies of urine and blood samples suspected to Escherichia coli were collected. The identity of isolates was determined by standard biochemical tests. Their antibiotic resistance pattern was detected by susceptibility disk diffusion method (Global standard CLSI) and the frequency of pap G gene was examined by Multiplex PCR and pap G positive isolates were serotyped against O antigen.Results: From 90 suspected colonies of urine and blood, 72 (80%) cases found to be E- coli. Out of 72 cases, 65 (90.27%) cases were isolated from urine and 7 (9.73%) cases isolated from blood. 30 out of 72 samples were positive for pap G (II, III) gene. Five out of 30 (16.6%) cases were found to belong to O26, O128, O125, O114 and O55 EPEC strains.Conclusion: In this study, the pap G (II, III) gene was observed in the isolated enter opathogenic E- coli from the hospitalized patients’ urine and blood samples. Therefore, entr opathogenic strains of E-coli can also cause urinary tract infections and septicemia similar to uropathogenic strains which having pap G gene and P- fimbriae tip.

Background and Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a reticent but fatal disease worldwide. It is a health challenging issue due to its destructive, progressive and largely asymptomatic nature leading to kidney failure, accompanied by cardiovascular disease and costly treatment. Since there are fundamental problems increasing physician’s effort in the process of diagnosis, electronic medical record system was designed in order to facilitate diagnosis by practitioners.Materials and Methods: This research is of applied kind. The method of collecting information included books, articles, international system survey, patients’ records and the use of questionnaires.Results: The system was designed to provide instant access to patients records and detect stages of disease at the time of diagnosis and is deemed to be valuable due to its facility, speed and accuracy. Its primary stage use, support the accuracy of this software in eventual diagnosis by more than 5%.Conclusion: Improved quality of care, accurate organization of medical records, ease of use and accessibility, decreased medical errors, immediate access to information in different places, decision - supporting technology and process improvement are among merits of this system.