Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2017 | Volume:25 | Issue:108|Papers Count:14

Background and Objective: The importance of menopause is due to the onset of menopausal symptoms and complications. Hot Flushes are one of the most common and earliest of them, for which treatments such as hormone therapy and non-pharmaceutical methods have been proposed. In this study due to the tendency of most patients in choosing non-pharmaceutical methods, we evaluated the effect of acupressure on hot flushes.Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was randomly conducted on 90 subjects (30 in KI-1, 30 in LI-4, and 30 in HT-7 groups) selected through purposive sampling in Shahid Motahari clinic, Shiraz in 2014.Acupressure was applied on KI-1, LI-4, and HT-7 acupoints by rotational method twice a week each time for 5 minutes for 5 weeks. The position of the KI-1 acupoint is located on the sole of the foot, at the junction of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the line connecting the bases of the second and third toes with the heel. The HT-7 acupoint is located at the wrist crease (on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon) between the ulna and the pisiform bones. Afterwards, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v.16) and analyzed using ANOVA.Results: The results showed a significant difference in the intensity of hot flashes in LI-4 and KI-1 groups (P<0.001), but no significant change was observed in the control group (P=0.233). Moreover, no significant difference was observed within the three groups regarding the duration of hot flashes (P>0.05). Nonetheless, a significant difference was found between the intervention groups and the control group with respect to the frequency of hot flashes (P<0.001).Conclusion: Our results show that acupressure is significantly effective in treating hot flashes. Therefore, acupressure can be recommended as an inexpensive and easily applicable treatment method.

Background and Objective: In the past three decades, the efficacy of using low dose aspirin for preeclampsia prevention has been an important matter in obstetrics research. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of aspirin in the prevention of preeclampsia in high risk women with abnormal uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography findings.Materials and Methods: This randomized double blind clinical trial was done in Kowsar hospital in Qazvin, Iran in 2015. All singleton pregnant women at 11-14 weeks of gestation were evaluated by uterine artery Doppler ultrasound and in the case of abnormal findings, were divided into two groups of case (n=50) and control (n=50). The case group received aspirin 80 mg/day and the control group received daily placebos. Both groups were followed up until delivery and pregnancy outcomes including incidence of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor, mode of delivery, 1st and 5th min Apgar score and neonatal birth weight were recorded. All these data were analyzed with T-Test and Chi-square statistical methods.Results: Preeclampsia occurred in 6 individuals (12%) in the case group and 12 individuals (24%) in the control group, however this reduction was not statistically significant (P=0.3). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, mode of delivery and Apgar score. Average birth weight in the case group was slightly higher than the control group (P=0.05).Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the administration of aspirin from 14 weeks of gestation to women with abnormal Doppler ultrasonography findings could not reduce the risk of preeclampsia.

Background and Objective: In the past three decades, the efficacy of using low dose aspirin for preeclampsia prevention has been an important matter in obstetrics research. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of aspirin in the prevention of preeclampsia in high risk women with abnormal uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography findings.Materials and Methods: This randomized double blind clinical trial was done in Kowsar hospital in Qazvin, Iran in 2015. All singleton pregnant women at 11-14 weeks of gestation were evaluated by uterine artery Doppler ultrasound and in the case of abnormal findings, were divided into two groups of case (n=50) and control (n=50). The case group received aspirin 80 mg/day and the control group received daily placebos. Both groups were followed up until delivery and pregnancy outcomes including incidence of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor, mode of delivery, 1st and 5th min Apgar score and neonatal birth weight were recorded. All these data were analyzed with T-Test and Chi-square statistical methods.Results: Preeclampsia occurred in 6 individuals (12%) in the case group and 12 individuals (24%) in the control group, however this reduction was not statistically significant (P=0.3). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, mode of delivery and Apgar score. Average birth weight in the case group was slightly higher than the control group (P=0.05).Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the administration of aspirin from 14 weeks of gestation to women with abnormal Doppler ultrasonography findings could not reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Background and Objective: Non-specific chronic lower back pain is the most common type of chronic lower back pain. The use of rehabilitation to achieve a more rapid improvement in patients with chronic lower back pain has always been taken into account. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of a Pilates program on chronic non-specific lower back pain and stable range of motion in 40 to 60 year old women.Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study included 34 women with chronic non-specific lower back pain (CNLBP) that were randomly assigned into two groups; a group undergoing a Pilates program (n=17) and a control group (n=17). The Pilates group performed exercises for 10 one hour sessions. After completion of the training program, the post-test was conducted. The Modified-Modified Schober test, lateral bend angle and visual analog scale (VAS), were used to collect data. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Covariance; ANCOVA and Sidac post hoc test) were used.Results: Pilates exercises had a significant influence on the variables of pain, left lateral flexion, right lateral flexion, hyperextension and flexion of the lumbar spine (P<0.05). Sidac findings also showed significant differences between the Pilates and the control group in measurements of pain, left lateral flexion, lateral flexion right, hyperextension and flexion (P<0.05).Conclusion: In order to increase the range of motion of the lumbar spine, trunk stability and reduce back pain, coaches and managers could use this non-invasive and low-cost method (Pilates) in rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Background and Objective: Genetic factors greatly impact the response to treatment in patients. Recent studies on rs10853728 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter area, determined the IL-28B gene as a host factor affecting the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate this polymorphism among Iranian patients Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 53 blood samples of patients with hepatitis C (49 patients were sensitive and 4 patients resistant to treatment) and 30 healthy controls. After DNA extraction from buffy coat samples, the frequency of polymorphisms was determined. Finally, the PCR products were detected on agarose gel electrophoresis. For statistical analysis of the data, the chi-square method was used.Results: About 30 healthy controls (negative for HCV Ab ELISA test) participated in this survey. Of the 53 patients tested, none of them were homozygous CC (Wild Type) and only 2 (%3.8) were homozygous GG, one of which was sensitive to treatment. Of the 51 remaining patients, 48 (%96.2) were heterozygous CG and sensitive to treatment with peg interferon and ribavirin while 3 of the patients were resistant to treatment.Conclusion: Statistical analysis showed that patients with the G allele had significantly higher sustained viralogic response (SVR) rate than those with the C allele. This data suggest that genotype detection of rs10853728 single nucleotide polymorphism may be useful as an important predictive biomarker for SVR in patients infected with HCV. However, further studies with more samples will lead to more valid results.

Background and Objective: Efflux pumps are one of the major resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosathat inhibit the accumulation of antibiotics in bacterial cells. The aim of this study was determining the effect of carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) and detecting the overexpression of pump MexCDoprJ inP. aeruginosa isolated from burn patients in Shahid Motahari hospital during 2014 and 2015.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 100 P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients in Shahid Motahari hospital. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods according to the CLSI guidelines. The effect of CCCP was determined using the broth microdilution method. The expression levels of MexD-oprJ (an efflux pump) was evaluated by Real-Time PCR and finally detection ofnfxB mutations was carried out by PCR and sequencing techniques.Results: Antibiogram for 100 P. aeruginosa showed maximum susceptibility and resistance to colistin (100%) and ticarcilin (98%), respectively. The inhibitory effect of CCCP was apparently seen in 16 isolates. Real-time PCR results for these strains showed overexpression in range of 0.26-15.34 (mean: 4.1). The PCR and sequencing techniques showed mutations that converts lucin to prolin in position 14 of the protein sequence.Conclusion: The increase in expression level of efflux pump MexCD-oprJ shows the prevalence of nfxB mutants in burn wound infections. Therefore, use of carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) can help disrupt the function of efflux pumps and improve the effects of antibiotics.

Background and Objective: The severity of the spinal muscular atrophy phenotype is inversely associated with the expression levels of the SMN2 gene; this correlation is not absolute, for this reason there is currently no effective treatment. The interference of other severity modifying factors, apart from SMN2 gene expression has been suggested. Here we investigate the effects of valproic acid as a STAT5 inducer not only on SMN2 expression but on STAT5A gene expression as well as on the rate of apoptosis.Materials and Methods: Expression levels of the SMN2 and STAT5A genes were determined using Realtime PCR while apoptotic rates were determined using flow cytometry in lymphocyte cell lines derived from three patients and two normal controls in response to valproic acid.Results: STAT5A gene induction, enhanced FL-SMN2 expression and reduced apoptotic rate were seen in lymphocyte cell lines after valproic acid treatment (p<0.05, t-test).Conclusion: Since STAT5A gene induction was accompanied with SMN2 transcriptional upregulation, these findings propose the involvement of STAT5A gene both as a component of the STAT5 pathway and as a target gene in drug responsiveness.

Backgrounds and Objective: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a potent photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and is activated upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The aim of this study was the assessment of the effect of nitrogen. nano doped of titanium dioxide in human A-375 melanoma cancer cell line.Materials and Methods: N-TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by mechanical mixing of urea with TiO2 powder in a 4: 1 weight ratio. A-375 cells were treated with different concentrations of N-TiO2 for various time intervals in the presence or absence of visible light. The growth and viability of A-375 cells were determined by means of trypan blue exclusion test and MTT assay, respectively. Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide double staining and DNA gel electrophoresis were applied to determine apoptosis.Results: The results showed that visible light activated N-TiO2 could induce growth inhibition in a dose (0.01-100mg/ml) and time dependent manner. Decrease in viability was observed in 100 mg/ml concentration and the results of fluorescent microscopy showed DNA fragmentation due to apoptotic cell death at this concentration.Conclusion: Based on the anti-cancer effects of N-TiO2 on A-375 cells, further evaluation of these nanoparticles as a new photosensitizer in photo catalytic therapy of skin cancer can be proposed.

Background and Objective: Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into neurons has great potential in the therapy of damaged nerve tissue. Neural tissue engineering offers tremendous promise to combat the effects of disease, aging and injury in the nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the differentiation of adipose derived stem cells to neuron like cells on aligned nanofibrous scaffold.Materials and Methods: In this study, the surface of aligned polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffolds were modified with O2 plasma treatment to enhance their hydrophilicity in order to differentiate hADSCs into neuron like cells. The chemical and mechanical characteristics of electrospined aligned PCL fibers were determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the calculation of contact angles. The differentiation of adipose derived stem cells was performed using neuronal inducing factors including bFGF, forskolin and NGF with 1% FBS for 8 days.Results: Real-time PCR analysis indicated the upregulation of Map2, NSE, and NFM genes and downregulation of Nestin. Also the expression of neuronal proteins such as MAP2 andâTubullin were confirmed by immunocytochemistry. It was found that the direction of cell elongation and neurite outgrowth on the aligned nanofibrous scaffolds is parallel to the direction of fibers.Conclusion: The results of the present study proposed that p-PCL is a cost-effective material for differentiation of hADSCs into neuron like cells and could apply in nerve tissue repair.

Background and Objective: Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into neurons has great potential in the therapy of damaged nerve tissue. Neural tissue engineering offers tremendous promise to combat the effects of disease, aging and injury in the nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the differentiation of adipose derived stem cells to neuron like cells on aligned nanofibrous scaffold. Materials and Methods: The participants in the study were 40 multiple sclerosis patients with a score of 0-3 in the Expanded Disability Status Scale. To assess dynamic balance the test used was "Timed Up and Go". The training period duration was 6 weeks. The average number of attempts were recorded for each subject in pretest, acquisition and retention stages. After the pretest, the participants were randomly divided into 4 groups. An Internal attentional focus imagery group, an external attentional focus imagery group, a traditional imagery group and a control group.Results: The results showed that during the acquisition phase, the external attentional focus groups results were better compared to the traditional imagery and control groups. Also in the pursuit test, the external attentional focus group performed better than the internal attentional focus, traditional imagery and control groups.Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems external attentional focus imagery is a practical and effective method for improving dynamic balance control in multiple sclerosis patients and can be used in order to improve balance control and motor skills in multiple sclerosis patients.

Background and Objective: Poster olateral hip musculature weakness and impaired knee joint proprioception can be seen in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The aim of this study was to investigate core muscle strength and dynamic balance in such patients and to compare them with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: Thirty-two individuals (Mean ± SD: Age 25.3±3.9 yrs.; Height 178.6±8.7 cm; Weight 82.4±8.9 kg); including 16 patients with PFPS and 16 healthy persons entered in our study. Bent knee lowering test and Y balance test were utilized to evaluate core muscle strength and dynamic balance.To analyze the data, Independent Samples t Test was used.Results: The average core muscle strength was significantly higher in healthy subjects compared to the patients with PFPS (P<0.01); however, despite the better dynamic balance scores in anterior, posteromedial, and poster olateral directions in healthy individuals compared to the patients, this difference was not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, core muscle strength was weakened in patients with PFPS. There was no difference in dynamic balance between such patients and healthy individuals.

Background and Objective: Poster olateral hip musculature weakness and impaired knee joint proprioception can be seen in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The aim of this study was to investigate core muscle strength and dynamic balance in such patients and to compare them with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: Thirty-two individuals (Mean ± SD: Age 25.3±3.9 yrs.; Height 178.6±8.7 cm; Weight 82.4±8.9 kg); including 16 patients with PFPS and 16 healthy persons entered in our study. Bent knee lowering test and Y balance test were utilized to evaluate core muscle strength and dynamic balance.To analyze the data, Independent Samples t Test was used.Results: The average core muscle strength was significantly higher in healthy subjects compared to the patients with PFPS (P<0.01); however, despite the better dynamic balance scores in anterior, posteromedial, and poster olateral directions in healthy individuals compared to the patients, this difference was not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, core muscle strength was weakened in patients with PFPS. There was no difference in dynamic balance between such patients and healthy individuals.

Background and Objective: CCR5 is known as a main co-receptor in HIV infection. Many studies demonstrated that 32bp deletion in bothCCR5 alleles provide natural resistance to HIV infection, so new treatment approaches are based on inducing this resistance by means of gene and cell therapies. This projects aim was the discovery of suitable candidates for new therapeutic strategies in addition to determining the CCR5D32mutation frequency in healthy individuals in Zanjan province for the first time.Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 200 healthy individuals in EDTA pre-coated tubes. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed forCCR5 D32 mutation by GAP-PCR. The allele frequency was calculated using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE).Results: Our findings showed 1 healthy individual had CCR5 D32/D32 mutation and the allele frequency of CCR5D32was calculated to be 0.5%.Conclusion: Results of this study proved previous reports that Iranian populations are more susceptible to HIV/AIDS compared to the European population. Different climate-geographical conditions, migration and positive natural selection could explain various distribution of D32 allele frequency in European countries compared to Iran. Consequently, Iranians require more effective and novel therapeutic approaches for HIV infection therapy and could benefit from reducing retro-viral drug restrictions.