Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2017 | Volume:25 | Issue:111|Papers Count:15

Background and Objective: Balance disorders are a common problem in patients with MS. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of selected Tai Chi exercises and core stabilization exercises on balance in multiple sclerosis patients with an emphasis on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 72 MS patients were purposefully selected and were divided into three groups; Tai Chi, core stabilization exercises and control group (each group consisting of 24 patients), each group had two subgroups; mild or moderate degree of disability Biodex balance system meter was used to measure the patients' balance The two experimental groups underwent Tai Chi and core stabilization exercises for 8 weeks. MANCOVA was used to analyze the results.Results: Statistical results showed that there was a significant difference between balance (static and dynamic) in the control group with tai chi and core stability groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two experimental groups (P>0.05). This means that the effect of these exercises in improving balance is equal. The effectiveness of Tai Chi exercises and core stability exercises on balance in patients with a moderate degree of disability was higher than patients with a mild degree of disability.Conclusion: Exercises have different effects on patients with different degrees of disability. The effect of exercises on balance in patients with a moderate degree of disability was more than patients with a mild degree of disability. Exercise intensity should be increased for greater effectiveness in patients with a moderate degree of disability.

Background and Objective: Cancer is a prevalent disease that occurs due to genetic and environmental factors. Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers around the world and also in Iran.N. sativa has been used as a drug in the treatment of many diseases owing to its valuable secondary metabolites such as thymoquinone. In this study, the anti-cancer properties of black seed extract on gastric cancer cells was studied and the seeds oil was evaluated for possible drug use.Materials and Methods: Stomach gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line was cultured and treated with various concentrations ofN. sativa seed soil for 24 hours. Consequently the cytotoxic effect of the extract on the cell line was determined using MTT assay while the rate of apoptosis was determined by Annexin V and Flow cytometry and finally, VEGF-A expression was determined by Real-Time PCR.Results: Black seed oil treatment significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation compared to control cells.This treatment also led to an increased rate of programmed cell death. however, black seed oil treatment had no effect on the expression of VEGF-A.Conclusion: Extract of black seed has a positive impact on reducing proliferation and elevating apoptosis in cancer cells.

Background and Objective: Alcohol is a teratogenic agent for humans and can easily pass through the placenta. Low doses of alcohol are commonly found in alcoholic drinks, therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the histological changes of fetal rat livers influenced by low doses of alcohol consumption.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, pregnant female rats were divided into a control group and three experimental groups which were on a diet of 5%, 10% and 20% of alcohol in their drinking water.The specified doses of alcohol were delivered from the 8th day of pregnancy until the 20th day. On the 21st day of pregnancy, the fetuses were surgically removed from the mother's uterus and the livers of the fetuses were removed with the help of a stereo microscope. Following fixing, processing and sectioning, the fetal livers were stained using H& E and were studied under a light microscope. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and ANOVA.Results: Alcohol doses of 10% and 20% significantly increased histopathological liver factors (p<0.001).But a 5% dose of alcohol didn' t have a significant effect on liver histology.Conclusion: Alcohol usage during pregnancy, even at low doses, may lead to pathologic changes in the liver of a developing rat fetus. A 5% dose of alcohol does not lead to significant pathologic changes in the histology of the fetal rat liver, while doses of 10% and 20% of alcohol significantly increases inflammatory factors in histological studies.

Background and Objective: Damaged and inflammatory cells in the nervous system produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). The overproduction of ROS can cause serious damage to important biomolecules and over activation of programmed cell death leads to many progressive neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selegiline on inhibition of apoptosis in oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in rat hippocampus derived neural stem cells.Materials and Methods: The neural stem cells were isolated from the hippocampi of neonatal rats then pretreated with different doses of selegiline for 48 hours while later being exposed to 125mM H2O2 for 30 min. Using MTT assay and TUNEL staining, we evaluated the effects of selegiline on cell survival and apoptosis in pretreated NSCs compared to control groups. Also, the induction of NSCs to neuron-like cells was evaluated using Nissl staining.Results: The results showed that apoptosis rate was significantly decreased in 10-7 M of selegiline pretreated NSCs compared to the control group. Also, the mean percentage of Nissl positive cells significantly increased in selegiline pretreated neural stem cells compared to the control group.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that selegiline protects NSCs against oxidative stress induced cell death, and therefore, it may be used to promote the survival rate of NSCs and can be a candidate for treatment of oxidative stress-mediated neurological diseases.

Background and Objective: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new class of non-coding RNAs that are currently being studied extensively. LncRNAs have many biological roles in gene expression, cell development and diseases. Recent studies showed that lncRNAs have an important role in cancers, including hematopoietic disorders which can be a tool for easier diagnosis and prognosis of many diseases and also a possible alternative treatment. This study investigates the expression of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR, in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 patients with CML and 20 healthy controls. The selected patients had no history of treatment and all patients were positive for BCRABL.Healthy controls were chosen based on similarity with the patients' age and gender and had no history of disease. Total RNA was extracted from the patients and healthy controls and HOTAIR gene expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR technique.Results: Quantitative comparison of gene expression between the patients and normal controls showed that HOTAIR gene expression in patients with CML is significantly increased compared to healthy individuals (p<0.05).Conclusion: Our findings showed that changes in the expression of HOTAIR gene can be involved in the biology of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Background and Objective: Cognitive and physiological components such as intolerance of uncertainty, cognitive avoidance and brain/behavior systems have a significant impact on generalized anxiety disorder. The mentioned components are considered as the main causes of the emergence and persistence of this disorder. The aim of this study was to compare brain/behavioral system activity, intolerance of uncertainty and cognitive avoidance among individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and normal people.Materials and Methods: The participants of this study were randomly chosen from Zanjan University students and were composed of two major groups of 45 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and 45 normal individuals. Short scale generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Gray-Wilson Personality Questionnaire (GWPQ), intolerance of uncertainty scale (IUS) and cognitive avoidance questionnaire (CAQ) were given to the subjects.Later, those who had scored higher on the short scale generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder using a structured clinical diagnostic interview based on DSM (SCID-I) were categorized as diagnosed with GAD. The normal individuals group consisted of those who were not diagnosed with any kind of mental disorder using a structured clinical diagnostic interview based on DSM (SCID-I). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and regression analysis.Results: Between cognitive components, intolerance of uncertainty in the group with generalized anxiety disorder was significantly higher than the normal group (p<0.05). Between physiological parameters, a subscale of behavioral inhibition system in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder was significantly higher than the normal group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Intolerance of uncertainty and behavioral inhibition system proved to be good parameters for the prediction of generalized anxiety disorder. Furthermore, the intolerance of uncertainty, behavioral inhibition system, and behavioral activation system were different in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and normal individuals.

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide.Numerous natural compounds have been developed to treat diabetes mellitus. Royal jelly (RJ) has antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of RJ on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and liver tissue in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 32 adult male Wistar rats (190-200 gr) were randomly divided into 4 groups including control, royal jelly, diabetic and diabetic treated with royal jelly. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and Royal Jelly (100 mg/kg) was gavaged for 42 days. At the end of our study, serum levels of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity (TCA) and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were determined spectrophotometrically, while the rat’s livers were isolated for histological study.Results: Consumption of RJ showed a significant decrease in malondialdehyde serum levels (P=0.007) and a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (P=0.0019) and glutathione peroxidase activities in the RJ treated diabetic rats compared to diabetic rats (P=0.003). Administration of royal jelly improved liver histological states.Conclusion: RJ increased antioxidant power and prevented the occurrence of histopathological changes resulting from diabetes in rats.

Background and Objective: In recent years, numerous studies have suggested dysfunction in brain symmetry as the reason behind developmental stuttering. The purpose of this study was to validate the theory of reversed right hemisphere asymmetry in developmental stutters by quantified EEG.Materials and Methods: 13 Subjects with developmental stuttering, 7 to 23 years old were studied using QEEG recordings. The results were compared with Neuroguide and LORETA databases.Results: We observed the following results: 1-the highest concentration of delta waves were seen in the left frontal and left temporal lobes.2- the highest concentration of alpha 1 waves were seen in the left hemisphere, especially the temporal lobe.3- the highest concentration of alpha 2 waves were seen in the left hemisphere, the middle frontal and superior temporal gyri.4- the highest concentration of beta waves were seen in the right hemisphere and temporal and parietal lobes.5- beta 3 was seen in low concentration in the left hemisphere and left frontal lobe, whereas a high concentration was found in the left and right cingulate gyri.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the theory of reversed right hemisphere asymmetry in developmental stutters received the most confirmation.

Background and Objective: Radiographic evaluation of the mineralization stages of third molars is a valuable and important criterion for age estimation in forensic medicine. The aim of this study was radiographic evaluation of the developmental stages of mandibular third molars based on the Demirjian method and its association with chronological age.Materials and Methods: In this analytic study, 200 radiographs were selected from panoramic radiographs belonging to referred patients to a private clinic in Zanjan in 2014. According to the images, developmental stages of the mandibular third molars and their correlation with chronological age were determined by SPSS 20 software and Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney tests.Results: 52.3% of patients were female and 47.7% of them were male. Patient age ranged from 15 to 25 years. According to the Kruskal Wallis test, difference between the average age of patients and calcification stages of mandibular third molar on the right and left sides was statistically significant. In other words the average age in both the right and the left sides of the mandible showed significant increase from stages C to H. The Mann Whitney test showed no significant difference in calcification stages (D, E, F, G and H) on the right and left sides. In other words, in each developmental stage, the average age on the right and the left sides was the same. The linear regression test showed that calcification stages on the right side had a correlation with both age and sex but calcification stages on left side had a correlation only with age and not with sex.Conclusion: Only H developmental stage (in which the apex of roots closes) indicates that the patient is 18 years old or older with an accuracy of 99%.

Background and Objective: Epidemiologic studies have reported a wide range of prevalence rates for oral lesions across the world. This study aimed to determine the frequency of oral lesions among patients of the Department of Oral Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Dental School, Tehran, Iran in 2014-2015.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, forms including demographical information, clinical features of lesions, and medical history were filled out by 2465 patients. Oral lesions were categorized into six groups and were studied clinically and or histopathologically. Anatomic normal variations were not included in the study. Chi-square and Fischer.s exact tests were used to analyze the data.Results: Out of a total of 2465 patients, 224 (9.6%) presented with oral lesions. The frequency of oral lesions among women (122, 51.3%) was statistically higher than men (116, 48.7%) (p=0.009). White-red lesions (104, 4.22%) were found to be the most frequent group of lesions while geographic tongue (35, 1.42%) was the most common type of lesion. Most oral lesions were found in the age range of 40-60 years. However, no significant difference was found among age groups in terms of presence of oral lesions. Most oral lesions were found in the labial mucosa.Conclusion: An oral lesion frequency rate of 9.6% was found in our study, with white-red lesions being the most common group and geographic tongue being the most frequent type of lesion. The most common site of oral lesions was the labial mucosa.

Background and Objective: Most patients suffering from kidney failure who undergo dialysis for a long time have complaints of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders in these patients accompany some serious complications that reduce quality of life and increase mortality. Nowadays most treatments are pharmaceutical drugs, which have many side effects and aren.t cost benefit. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of cool hemodialysis on improving sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods: This was a pre-post test, quasi experimental study that was performed in Semnan Fatemiyeh hospital.23 patients were purposefully selected. Data collection was performed using demographic questionnaires, patients. medical records and Pittsburgh Sleep Index. Patients underwent standard hemodialysis (37oc) 3 times weekly, for 4 weeks, and afterwards they underwent cool hemodialysis (35oc), in the same circumstances and time intervals.Paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical data analysis.Results: Results showed that the mean and standard deviation of patient age was 60.2±14.6 years.47.8% patients required dialysis due to diabetes, 17.4% due to hypertension, 13% due to congenital diseases and glomerulonephritis.Sleep quality (P<0.001) in cool hemodialysis was improved significantly in comparison to standard hemodialysis (P<0.05).Conclusion: Cool hemodialysis (instead of standard hemodialysis) could improve sleep quality thus improving quality of life in dialysis patients.

Background and Objective: Most patients suffering from kidney failure who undergo dialysis for a long time have complaints of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders in these patients accompany some serious complications that reduce quality of life and increase mortality. Nowadays most treatments for diabetes are pharmaceutical drugs, which have many side effects and are expensive. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of cool hemodialysis on improving sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods: This was a pre-post test, quasi experimental study that was performed in Semnan Fatemiyeh hospital. 23 patients were purposefully selected. Data collection was performed using demographic questionnaires, patients. medical records and Pittsburgh Sleep Index. Patients underwent standard hemodialysis (37oc) 3 times weekly, for 4 weeks, and afterwards they underwent cool hemodialysis (35oc), in the same circumstances and time intervals. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical data analysis.Results: Results showed that the mean and standard deviation of patient age was 60.2 ± 14.6 years.47.8% patients required dialysis due to diabetes, 17.4% due to hypertension, 13% due to congenital diseases and glomerulonephritis. Sleep quality (P<0.001) in cool hemodialysis was improved significantly in comparison to standard hemodialysis (P<0.05).Conclusion: Cool hemodialysis (instead of standard hemodialysis) could improve sleep quality thus improving quality of life in dialysis patients.