Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2016 | Volume:24 | Issue:105|Papers Count:14

Background and Objective: Traumatic brain injury is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and the second leading cause of death in Iran. About half of patients with traumatic brain injury have hemoglobin of less than 9 g/dL during the first week of admission. With regard to the secondary damage to brain tissues caused by anemia and blood transfusion complications, we decided to assess the association between hemoglobin concentration and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. Demographics, physiologic data, clinical outcomes and daily hemoglobin concentrations were obtained from patients. history records.168 patients with traumatic brain injury were identified and 117 were included in the analysis based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were assigned to 4 groups based on their mean 7-day hemoglobin concentration. Logistic regression was used to model the association between mean daily hemoglobin concentration and hospital mortality.Results: 104 of 117 patients were male. Age, gender and days of mechanical ventilation did not show statistically significant differences among groups. Significant differences were observed in mortality rates, the number of transfused units and number of days of hospitalization among four groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that mean 7-day hemoglobin concentration<9g/dL was independently associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality.Conclusion: A mean 7-day hemoglobin concentration of<9g/dL is associated with increased hospital mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background and Objective: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common infection in intensive care units leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to examine the effects of mechanical (tooth brushing), pharmacological (topical oral chlorhexidine), and their combination (tooth brushing plus chlorhexidine) in oral care on preventing the ventilator-associated pneumonia of critically ill patients in intensive care units.Materials and Methods: Patients admitted to intensive care units of Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital of Zanjan that received intubation within 24 hours were considered as subjects of this study. The patients (n=180) were randomly allocated to three groups: first group (n=60) was administered 0.12% solution of chlorhexidine oral swab; second group (n=61) used tooth brushing; third group (n=59) used both tooth brushing and chlorhexidine oral swab. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was determined by using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score.Results: The three groups did not differ significantly in clinical characteristics. At days 3 and 7, pneumonia developed in 29.4% and 59.4% of patients, respectively. The frequency of pneumonia at days 3 and 7 was not different in three groups.Conclusion: Mechanical and pharmacological or their combination in oral care did not point to any kind of superiority of one approach over another in terms of the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background and Objective: Breast cancer is claimed to be a common cancer amongst women. Estrogen receptors are over-expressed in breast cancer and susceptible to anti-estrogenic effects of tamoxifen.Tamoxifen resistance is a major problem in breast cancer treatment. It has been shown that allicin is an organosulfur compound that is effective in apoptosis induction and cell death in various tumor cell lines.Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is non-toxic to the human body whose effect on several cancer lines has been studied. In this study, we assessed the allicin, methylsulfonylmethane and their combined effects on breast cancer cell line (MCF7).Materials and Methods: Breast cancer cell lines were cultivated in RPMI-1640 and CD44± cells were separated using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). Then, the effect of different concentrations of allicin, methylsulfonylmethane and their combination were investigated on the isolated cells using MTT, clonogenic assay and Acridine orange/ Ethidium bromide staininig methods.Results: Allicin had cytotoxicitic consequence on breast cancer cells and its combination with methylsulfonylmethane increased the cytotoxicity and number of apoptotic cells compared to the other groups. Lower colonies were seen in CD44- treated cells in MSM/allicin group compared to CD44+ Cells which implies that sensitivity of CD44-cells was higher compared to the CD44+ cells.Conclusion: In this study, we found that allicin and MSM have anticancer effect inhibiting the growth of breast cancer; but combination of low concentrations of allicin with MSM may be more effective in the treatment of breast cancer cells. So, allicin and MSM, as natural products, can be used for medical purposes due to their cytotoxic effect and their availability.

Background and Objective: According to physical disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), little data about concurrent training effectiveness with therapeutically aid approach, this study was designed to investigate the effect of concurrent aerobic-resistance training for eight-weeks on aerobic power and functional capacity in young female patients with Multiple Sclerosis.Materials and Methods: 47 female patients with MS were randomly assigned to an experimental group (27 subjects; 28.74±3.07 yrs.; BMI of 31.9±4.32 kg/m2; degree of disability (1-4) and a control group (20 subjects; 28.20±4.11 yrs.; BMI of 30.43±4.57 kg/m2; degree of disability (1-4). The subjects were assessed in the pre-test and post-test using 10- and 500-m walking speed, balance, fatigue, and aerobic power tests. In addition to taking the prescribed medications, the experimental group participated in an 8-week concurrent training program (3 sessions per week including 10 min warm-up, 15 min aerobic exercise at 60-75% maximum heart rate, 25 min weight training exercises at 10-repetition maximum (10RM) and 5 min cool-down). The control group only took the prescribed medications. To analyze the collected data, T-tests for dependent and independent samples were used.Results: The results indicated significant improvement in fatigue, balance, and walking speed of the experimental group (P<0.05), but there were no significant changes in their aerobic power.Conclusion: The results suggest that concurrent training exercises such as aerobic-resistance program can improve walking speed, balance, and fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis. Therefore, such training exercises are recommended for movement and functional status of these patients.

Background and Objective: Nowadays, extensive research is carried out on the effect of plant extracts on variety of disorders. In this study, the effect of hydroethanolic extract of Lavandula officinalis on proliferation of neural stem cells as well as its anti-apoptotic properties was assessed.Materials and Methods: Neural stem cells were isolated from hippocampus of neonatal rat brain. To determine the optimal concentrationof Lavandula officinalis extract, isolated neural stem cells were treated with 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg/ml of concentrate for 48 h. Then cell proliferation rate was evaluated via MTT assay. Meanwhile, the anti-apoptotic property ofLavandula officinalis extract was evaluated using TUNEL assay method.Results: The results of this study showed a significant difference in cell proliferative and anti-apoptotic property of Lavandula officinalis extract on neural stem cells comparing to the control group.Conclusion: The hydroethanolic extract of Lavandula officinalis can be effective on proliferation elevation and apoptosis reduction in rat neural stem cells.

Background and Objective: Previous studies have distinctly illustrated the decreasing effects of lemon and garlic extracts on blood glucose and cholesterol. In the present study, the anti-diabetic, anti atherosclerotic and antioxidant effects of combined lemon and garlic extract were evaluated in diabetic rats fed with high cholesterol diet.Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed in five groups of rats (N=40); control, diabetic, diabetic plus high-cholesterol, diabetic plus extract and diabetic plus high-cholesterol plus extract. Diabetes was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (37mg/kg). High-cholesterol diet was prepared by adding 4% cholesterol and 1% colic acid to standard food. Treated groups received lemon and garlic extract orally (1ml, twice a day) for 60 days. At the end, the heart malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopathological changes of aorta were assessed.Results: Blood glucose significantly increased in diabetic groups (>200mg/dl) and blood cholesterol significantly increased in diabetic plus high-cholesterol rats (187±15mg/dl). Combined extract significantly decreased the blood glucose of diabetic plus extract group (147±7mg/dl) compared to diabetic group (P<0.05). Also, this extract meaningfully decreased the blood cholesterol of diabetic plus high-cholesterol plus extract group (102±10mg/dl) compared to diabetic plus high-cholesterol group (P<0.05). The MDA content of the heart were high in diabetic and diabetic plus high-cholesterol groups plus combined extract decreased the level of MDA in both treated groups. Finally, damage to aorta and atherosclerosis was only observed in diabetic & high- cholesterol group.Conclusion: Based on our findings, combined extract of lemon and garlic was able to prevent atherosclerosis formation and damage of aorta probably by reduction of tissue oxidative stress, blood glucose and cholesterol in diabetic rats fed with high cholesterol diet.

Background and Objective: Antibiotic resistant phenotypes of bacteria have been shown to be related to efflux pumps. Research for finding compounds with an ability to inhibit these pumps seems worthwhile due to their ability to increase bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics or return sensitivity to resistant strains. The aim of this study was to evaluate inhibitory effect ofThymus daenensi s essential oil (EO) on NorA efflux pump ofstaphylococcus aureus.Materials and Methods: Thymus daenensis essential oil was extracted from dried thyme leaves by hydrodistillation method and then the effect of the essential oil on bacterial efflux pump was evaluated using ethidium bromide-agar cartwheel method with respect to bacterial efflux capacity of ethidium bromide.Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ofThymus daenensi s essential oil was measured using microdilution test followed by the evaluation of the effect of sub-MIC concentration of essential oil on fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The efflux level of ethidium bromide, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (substances transmitted by NorA) was considered as the NorA efflux pump activity.Results: The cartwheel method showed that Thymus daenensi s essential oil could reduce the bacterial efflux capacity of ethidium bromide. The results of checkerboard test indicated that the interactions between sub-MIC concentration of the essential oil and ethidium bromide, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were totally synergistic.Conclusion: Synergistic effect of Thymus daenensis essential oil with the other components demonstrated the potential ofThymus daenensis to enhance the antimicrobial activity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics against staphylococcus aureus. As these antibiotics are effluxed by NorA pump, this increased sensitivity to antibiotics is possibly due to NorA efflux pump inhibitors.

Background and Objective: Nowadays, a wide variety of chemical agents are used to mitigate the pain, whereas all of them are associated with complications.Scrophularia striata Boiss that grows in the area of Ilam in Iran has been experimentally used in the treatment of various diseases. However, there is a lack of research on this plant. This study was an endeavor to elucidate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Scrophularia striataBoiss on formalin-induced pain.Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 male mice (25-30 g) were randomly selected and divided into five groups of 8 including a control group (receiving saline) along with 4 treatment groups (receiving the extract doses of 150, 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg).30 minutes after IP administration with saline (in the control group), and different doses of extract (in the treatment groups), animals were immediately transferred to a special cage and after formalin injection in their paw skin, induced pain behaviors were recorded for 60 minutes.Results: As the dosage of extract increased, significant reductions were seen in phases 1 and 2 in the treatment groups rather than control group. But, there was not any change in interphase. Extract administration with doses of 150, 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg caused significant reduction in nociceptive behaviors in the first phase of formalin test. Also, this decreasing pattern was seen in phase 2 in 600 and 900 mg/kg treatment groups. Despite an evident decrease in nociceptive behaviors in the interphase, it was nonsignificant.Conclusion: This study illustrates that Scrophularia striata Boiss hydroalcoholic extract has analgesic properties on formalin test in mice.

Background and Objective: Breast tumors include the heterogeneous population of various cells such as luminal and myoepithelial cells which can play a significant role in the development and/or the inhibition of breast cancer. It has been observed that paracrine and autocrine activities of myoepithelial cells can limit the mammary tumors via angiogenesis inhibition and apoptosis induction. Therefore, the present study was set to isolate mice mammary myoepithelial cells and to assess their cell death-inducing potential in the breast carcinogenic cells.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study following the primary culture of mice-isolated myoepithelial cells, specific marker of the myoepithelial cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis.Then, myoepithelial cells were co-cultured with breast carcinoma cells, and the viability of cells was assayed by MTT on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after co-culture.Results: The isolated cells were spindle shaped and elongated. Flow cytometric analysis showed cells with myoepithelial marker including CD10 expression. The co-culture results elicited that the myoepithelial cells significantly inhibited the proliferation and the growth of breast carcinoma cells on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after co-culture (P<0.05).Conclusion: Implementation of myoepithelial cells in the inhibition of mammary cancerous cells is postulated as a new and an efficient approach for cancer therapy.

Background and Objective: Endometriosis is a prevalent disease in women which may lead to infertility or low fertility. Grasping the genetic grounds for the disease may contribute to its treatment because it is presumed that genetic factors predispose to endometriosis risk factors.Materials and Methods: 9 genes involved in endometriosis in patients suffering from endometriosis and also in healthy individuals (total 260 samples) were examined. The data were obtained from Ibn Sina (Jahad Daneshgahi) Research Center of new Technologies in Biological Sciences Institute. The study incorporated standard process Crisp for data mining. Weka data mining and software modeling were implemented with the aid of four algorithms.Results: Comparison of four algorithms implied prominent accuracy of K-Star model. Meanwhile, filtering, while reducing the percentage of models, presented a positive impact on the MLP model. The lowest percentage pertained to Naïve Bayes.Conclusion: K-Star model without any filtering proved to have the highest accuracy in the early diagnosis of endometriosis.

Background and Objective: Maternal mental state is closely related to the fetus. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the relationship between depression and anxiety of pregnant women with neonatal anthropometric indicators (birth weight, height and head circumference).Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study with correlational approach, 146 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy were selected with cluster sampling. Data were collected using DASS-42 questionnaire and were analyzed with SPSS-16 using statistical analysis of Pearson correlation and ANOVA.Results: Themean age of participants was 28.4.6.12 years. Their level of depression and anxiety was 50.7% and 70.5% (mild to severe), respectively. Mean and SD of weight were3000.482.04 gr. Height and head circumference at birth in neonates were 49.58.1.84 cm and 34.19.1.56cm, respectively. Findings showed that depression and anxiety of pregnant women had a significant negative relationship with birth weight and height (p<0.01). It means that with an increase in depression and anxiety, there was a decrease in weight and height at birth. No significant relationship was found between maternal depression and anxiety with head circumference at birth (p>0.05).Conclusion: It is recommended that first and second level preventive measurements be undertaken as related to maternal psychological symptoms (depression and anxiety) in order to prevent their intrauterine development and subsequent disorders.

Background and Objective: Cerebral venous-sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a relatively rare disease with high potential of disability and mortality. The most frequently reported occurrence is seen in adolescent women during reproductive age. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors of CVST in hospitalized patients over the years of 2009 to 2010 in Zanjan province.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, patients with confirmed diagnosis of CVST by MRI with and without contrast and Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV) were included. Demographic variables of patients and main CVST risk factors were obtained by interviewing the patients and their families and by referring to laboratory test records of the patients. Prevalence of risk factors was calculated using SPSS software.Results: The study comprised 33 patients including 32 females and one male with the mean age of 36.5±10.7 years of whom 19 were affected over the holy month of Ramadan or Hajj times and 26 had a history of contraceptive components consumption. Most clinical complications, clinical signs, predisposing factors, CT scan results and affected sinus based on MRI and MRV were headache (93.9%), papilledema (69.6%), use of contraceptive products (78.7%), normal view (33.33%) and superior sagital sinus (69.7%).Conclusion: Given that the outstanding risk factor involved contraceptive products, it is recommended that women cease contraceptive components consumption especially for short term periods and consult their physician in cases of underlying hematologic and thrombophilic disorders at pilgrimage, Hajj or Ramadan times, especially during hot seasons.