Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2017 | Volume:24 | Issue:107|Papers Count:15

Background and Objective: Due to scarcity of data concerning physical disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and the effect of combined training exercises, this study was set to compare the effects of pilates, resistance and combined (Pilates and Resistance) training on quality of life, muscular strength and fatigue in women with Multiple Sclerosis.Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 44 women who were members of Multiple Sclerosis council in Rasht city were selected, target oriented and randomly assigned to four experimental and control groups (n=11). The experimental group participated in an 8-week supervised program. Quality of life and fatigue were evaluated using Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire and the modified fatigue impact scale at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks.Muscular strength was evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks using dynamometer. The data was analyzed using analysis of covariance and post hoc test of LSD.Results: There was a significant difference in quality of life in pre-test scores of the four study groups 4 and 8 weeks after training interventions (P=0.05). Pilates training group demonstrated the highest increase in their quality of life (P=0.05). Significant statistical differences in the post-test were found in the 4 groups in terms of dominant and nondominant hand, (P=0.05). Post test results indicated significant differences in non-dominant hand strength in four groups (P=0.05). In the meantime, the LSD test showed that there was a significant statistical difference between control and combined training groups (P=0.021). Scores of fatigue questionnaire did not show any statistical difference in four groups after 4 and 8 weeks (P=0.05).Conclusion: Pilates training had a significant effect on improving quality of life and combined training resulted in a significant increase in participants. muscular strength. Therefore, these exercises can be recommended as a complementary treatment alongside medications for Multiple Sclerosis patients.

Background and Objective: Eccentric exercises and taping have been claimed to be an efficient method to improve the symptoms of tennis elbow. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of the implementation of a six-week-eccentric training program with and without taping on grip strength, wrist and middle finger extension in female athletes with tennis elbow.Materials and Methods: Forty-five female athletes with tennis elbow in age range of 35 to 50 years participated in this study. After the measurement of grip strength by dynamometer (Yagummy), extension strength of middle finger and wrist with handheld dynamometer (Lafayette) were measured. Subjects were assigned to two groups of practice (N=15) and control (N=15). Eccentric exercises mainly were performed by Flex bar (Thrab and product). Elbow diamond taping technique was used. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 21 and significance level of 0.05 (P=0.05) was considered in the analysis of the collected data.Results: The study showed differences between pre-test and post-test scores of grip strength (P=0.001).However, there was not any significant differences between pre-test and post-test results in wrist extension strength (P=0.504) and the middle finger extension variables (P=0.96). Bonferroni test results also showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the effects of eccentric exercises with or without taping (P=0.818).Conclusion: The eccentric exercises and combined exercises (eccentric exercises and taping) can possibly enhance strength and increase performance in rehabilitation of patients with tennis elbow.

Background and Objective: Burn is one of the morbidity factors in developing countries and majority of burns in the foot fingers and dorsum of foot is due to hot liquids and falling in traditional baking ovens in the north-west of Iran Children are specifically high.degree- burn victims resulting in severe contracture and deformity. On the other hand, excavation of chronic scar and skin graft brings about recurrence of contracture and failure in the treatment of deformity. Such dilemmas gave rise to this research in order to find out the efficiency of flapping and grafting as a new method of skin repair.Materials and Methods: In order to treat patients (n=17), we utilized flap. Due to the lack of enough tissues, we applied split thickness graft technique. In the meantime, dissection of articular capsule and pinning were fulfilled to prevent deformity and the patients were regularly visited and followed up for 6 consequent months.Results: 17 patients (14 females and 5 males), with a mean age of 13.76 and the average burn time of 10 years after burn with deformity and difficulty in wearing shoes underwent this procedure. The first to third week after surgery, 4 patients (23.5%) developed a mild flap tip ischemia that was treated and no recurrence of deformity was reported. In the meantime, 11.7% of the patients were moderately satisfied, and 88.3% were totally satisfied with the outcome. A 6- month- follow- up period demonstrated a general satisfaction.Conclusion: It is concluded that Z plasty accompanied by skin grafting, articular capsule release and long time pinning prevents contracture recurrence and flap necrosis.

Background and Objective: Peptide as an agent in manufacturing new drugs has recently been taken into consideration. Brevinin-2R is a nano peptide with a wide range of biological actions. Thus, the current study was designed in order to evaluate the in vitro effects of Brevinin-2R on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in comparison to normal mice fibroblast cells.Materials and Methods: In this study, oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (KB) and normal mice fibroblast cells (L929) were cultured and treated with different concentrations of Brevinin-2R (0.1-30 mg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Then, cell viability was calculated by MTT method. Data were fed to SPSS software (version 20) via which One Way ANOVA and Tukey tests was calculated for the collected data.Results: The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Brevinin-2R for KB cells and L929 cells were 15.48 and 24.14 mg/ml respectively, demonstrating that higher concentration of Brevinin-2R is necessary in order to reach IC50 concentration for L929 cells (about 1.5 times).Conclusion: Results point out that Brevinin-2R peptide is more effective on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells compared to normal mice fibroblast cells (L929).

Background and Objective: Occurrence of atrioventricular block due to arterial blood pressure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients treated with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or Digoxin has been investigated throughout a number of studies. As determination of block level is particularly important in determining how to treat patients, this study was launched to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of electrocardiography (ECG) in non-invasive determination of the block level in patients with atrioventricular block induced with the aforementioned drugs.Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 patients with atrioventricular block treated with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or digoxin drugs referred to Rasht Dr. Heshmat hospital in 2014. After taking ECG from all patients, they underwent electrophysiology (EPS) and their block level was calculated. Diagnostic accuracy of ECG in determining the block level in comparison to EPS as a gold standard was investigated.Results: Forty-two cases (16 male and 26 female with mean age of 74±4 years) were included. Beta blockers were the most frequent drugs used with atenolol as the prominent one (40.5%). The most frequent presentations were vertigo or light headache (28.6%). Many cases showed normal QRS complex morphology (38.1%). The mean duration of QRS complex was 117.7±29.9 ms and most of cases suffered from block grade III (76.2%). The ECG diagnostic accuracy in block level determination had 68% sensitivity, 85.7% specificity, 57% negative predictive value and 90.5% positive predictive value.Conclusion: Results showed the high accuracy of ECG findings in determining block level. In this study, the sensitivity of ECG was higher in men, whereas in women the specificity was higher. Considering that ECG is a noninvasive method, it is recommended that in cases with limitations of using invasive methods, this method can be employed.

Background and Objective: Lead is one of the most common environmental pollutants. The use of medicinal plants may protect tissues from lead damages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Pelargonium graveolens leaf extract (PGE) on spermatogenesis in male rats.Materials and Methods: Forty-two male rats with 220-250 gr body weight were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n=7): control (normal saline, 0.5ml/day, gavage), witness group (lead acetate, 500 ppm in tap water), treated groups: (1; 250mg/kg PGE and 2; 500mg/kg PGE, gavage), and lead acetate-induced group (500 ppm in tap water) +treated by PGE (250mg/kg and 500mg/kg, daily gavage) for one month. After examination, the epididymis and testes tissues were collected for sperm counting and histological study. All data were expressed as mean±SEM, and statistically significant differences were accepted at P<0.05.Results: Our results showed that the lead acetate decreased sperm numbers and damaged testis tissue. The PGE protected testes and significantly increased sperm number compared with witness group (P<0.001).Conclusion: The Pelargonium graveolens hydro-ethanolic extract can protect the testis tissues against toxic effect of lead acetate.

Background and Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) is amongst the common infectious diseases in the world so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as a global emergency as well as an extremely contagious disease. Although the cause of the disease and its therapy are well known, TB is considered as a global dilemma. The present study was set to isolate and identify Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex by PCR-RD typing from TB patients in Zanjan province and to verify cases of zoonotic tuberculosis.Materials and Methods: In this study, 27 positive samples were collected from center of pulmonary diseases and tuberculosis in Zanjan Province during 2013 and were grown on Lowenstein.Jensen medium (LJP and LJG). DNA was extracted from the bacterial isolates by Van Solengen method and at genus level identification was done by PCR-16SrRNA. To confirm the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, PCRIS6110 was used. Identification of species was performed by PCR-RD typing (RD1, RD4, RD9 and RD12).Results: A total of 27 isolates were obtained which were identified as genus Mycobacterium belonging to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Twenty five of the isolates were Mycobacterium tuberculosis while 2 isolates were identified as M. bovis.Conclusion: The results of the study indicates that M.bovis species is present among the human TB cases in Zanjan province, which indicates the zoonotic potential of the species and the possible transmission of the species from animals to humans. These results might be alarming owing to the spread of the bovine strains among the human subjects. Thus, it is essential that during research on suspected human TB cases, the zoonotic species capable of transmission from animal to human be considered.

Background and objective: Dialysis patients are encountering many psychological distresses aggravating their psycho-social problems. Currently, the third wave of psychological treatment has surpassed other treatments in solving the problems of these patients. This article aimed to study the comparative effectiveness of mindfulness based psychotherapy versus acceptance and commitment therapy on stress level in dialysis patients.Materials and Methods: This pilot study (trial with pretest, posttest and control group) was conducted on 30 dialysis patients in 2014 in one of the hospitals in Bojnurd city. Data were collected by standard DASS-21 questionnaire and was analyzed with SPSS 21 software and descriptive tests, chi-square, Fisher's exact, variance and covariance analysis were employed.Results: Results of the study showed that despite the effectiveness of both interventions on stress reduction of dialysis patients, mindfulness-based psychotherapy was meaningfully more efficient than acceptance and commitment therapy (p=0.003).Conclusion: Mindfulness based group psychotherapy can be implemented to reduce stress in dialysis patients. However, due to diverse therapeutic conditions and patients. dealing with daily stressful situations, it seems that patient.s acceptance and commitment therapy can be more effective than group therapy.

Background and Objective Iron oxides nanoparticles have numerous applications in medical industry.Nanoparticles are particles with 100 nm in diameter. Despite their various applications, toxic effects of Iron oxide nanoparticles call for supplementary investigations. In this study, the toxic effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on lung development in fetal mice was examined.Materials and Methods: Using in vivo technique, the mice were allocated to one of the following groups: the control group without the effect of nano iron oxide, sham group with injection of distilled water and experimental groups with low doses (10, 30 and 50 mg /kg) and high doses (10, 30 and 30 mg/kg) of nano iron oxide with 20 nm in diameters injected intraperitoneally on day 9 of pregnancy. On day 16 of pregnancy, embryos were removed and the lung tissue sections were assessed.Results: The findings showed a significant decrease in the length of the fetus with 30 and 50 mg/kg doses and a significant decrease in the fetal weight and number of primitive bronchioles with 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg.Results also showed a significant increase in lung weight and lung length with doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg, a significant increase in the number of alveolus with doses of 10, 30, 50 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg and a significant increase in the number of necrotic cells with doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg.Conclusion: Iron oxide nanoparticles showed dual effects. It is asserted throughout this study that fetal lung development increases at low doses and necrotic effect increases with high doses.

Background and Objective: Escherichia coli strains are the major cause of urinary tract infections which belong to the large group of extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli. They fall into four main phylogenetic groups: A, B1, B2 and D. The aim of the present study was to determine phylogenetic groups in uropathogenic and commensal Escherichia coli isolated. Also, due to increase in the rate of antibiotic usage and subsequent drug resistance, this study evaluated the antimicrobial resistance pattern of E. coli isolated from patients with UTI.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 137 uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates were collected from the clinical specimens of Zanjan hospitals and 50 isolates were collected from healthy adults.After verifying isolates via biochemical methods and extraction of total DNA, Multiplex PCR was done by specific primers for phylogenetic grouping. The antibiotic susceptibility test (disk diffusion method) was done according to CLSI advice against 13 antibiotics.Results: In this study, the highest rates of resistance to antibiotics in UTI isolates were seen against ampicillin (74.5%) and aztreonam (59.1%). Also, the lowest rates of resistance were reported against imipenem (1.5%) and amikacin (10.9%).The distribution of UPEC phy logenetic groups typing marked the highest prevalence in group B2 (67.15 %), and then in group D (21.17%) and the lowest prevalence in group A (11.68%). Phy logenetic B1 was not observed in uropathogenic isolates. Among the commensal isolates, 52% belonged to phylogenetic group D, 24% to B2, 14% to A, and10% to B1.Conclusion: The results indicate the higher prevalence of B2 and D phylogenetic groups in commensal and uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains in Zanjan.

Background and Objective: Diabetes as one of the most prevalent and chronic diseases is dramatically increasing worldwide and Iran is no exception. Diabetes mellitus with oxidative stress and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause metabolic disorders and deactivate the antioxidant defense.Palmatine hydrochloride has anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects among its various pharmacological effects.This study was done to prevent diabetes-induced oxidative stress.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 32 male wistar rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups of control, palmatine-treated non-diabetic, diabetic, and palmatine-treated-diabetic. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection (55mg/kg). Palmatine hydrochloride was administered S.C at the doses of 10 mg/kg/day 1 week after STZ injection for a period of 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein 1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks after STZ injection to measure blood glucose levels. After the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from the heart of the mice and glucose, insulin, lipid peroxidation (MDA) nitrite levels and superoxide dismutase activity were evaluated as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Data were analyzed using Prism-5, one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests.Results: The results revealed that diabetes increases the level of glucose, malondialdehyde, and nitrites while reduces insulin and superoxide dismutase activity in the diabetic mice compared to the control group. Improvement of oxidative stress was evident in palmatine hydrochloride administered diabetic rats.Conclusion: This study showed that palmatine treatment can reduce blood sugar and oxidative stress in STZ induced diabetic rats.

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare early maladaptive schemas and cognitive emotion regulation in cardiac patients and normal individuals.Materials and Methods: In this case-control, cross- sectional study, all cardiac patients who had referred to medical centers in Urmia city over the year of 2014 were included. Out of this population, 96 patients with cardiovascular diseases were selected.92 healthy subjects were selected from among the attendants of the patients. Instruments for collection of data comprised a demographic characteristics questionnaire, short version of Young.s Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-SF) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). To test the research hypothesis, multivariate analysis of variance was used.Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in schemas of impaired constraints and overvigilance domains. Likewise, the difference between the two groups, with cardiovascular disease and normal subjects in the two schemas, emotional inhibition and low self-control/self-discipline was significant.However, the differences between the two groups in terms of emotion regulation styles were not significant.Conclusion: The early maladaptive schemas are among personality factors with a potential impact on cardiovascular diseases and their effect is suggested to be taken into account in such disorders.