Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:26 | Issue:7|Papers Count:13

Background & Aims: Gastric ulcers are common worldwide that occur due to different agents such as stress, cigarettes, non-steroid anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) administration, and ethanol. NSAIDs are responsible for 15- 25 % all gastric ulcers. This study was done to evaluate the effects of oral vitamin E on oral and intra peritoneal (I.P) aspirin induced-gastric ulcers in rats.Materials & Methods: This experimental (interventional) study was done on 30 rats weighing 200±20 gr which randomly were divided into 5 groups including the control group, group receiving 200mg/kg oral aspirin, group receiving 200 mg/kg aspirin as I.P, group receiving 100 mg/kg vitamin E pre oral aspirin administration, and group receiving 100mg/kg vitamin E pre I.P administration of aspirin groups. Ulcers were evaluated by J. Score method (reported as J.Score±S.E.M. t student), and ANOVA was used for data analysis.Results: J. Score of IP administration of aspirin was 18.83±0.5 and then J. Score of oral administration of aspirin was 16.1±0.6, J. score of vitamin E ± I.P administration of aspirin was 8.6 ±0.3 and finally J. score of vitamin E±oral administration of aspirin was 7.3±0.4. Significant decrease was considered in ulcers in groups in which oral vitamin E administrated pre aspirin administration (P<0.05).Conclusion: Vitamin E decreased aspirin induced gastric ulcers via antioxidant effects.

Background & Aims: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the photon energies (6 and 15 MV) and the number of radiation fields (3 fields and 4 fields) on tumor dose distribution and dose received by organs at risk in radiation therapy of bladder cancer.Materials & Methods: In this study, CT images of 12 patients with bladder cancer were used. And 8 different radiation treatment plans were designed for each patient (with energies of 6 and 15 MV and 3 and 4 fields), and a total dose of 6100 cGy (4500 cGy for pelvic and 1600 cGy for bladder) was used.Results: The results showed that the use of 15-MV energies for radiation of the pelvic and bladder using 3 radiation fields lead to maximum uniformity and homogeneity of dose in the irradiated tumor tissue. The results also showed that the use of 15-MV energies for radiation of the pelvic and bladder and the use of 4 radiation fields in patients decrease the average integrated dose in the prostate and femur heads. However, based on the results obtained to reduce the average integrated dose of rectum in bladder radiation therapy, 3 radiation fields with energy of 15 MV for pelvic and 6 MV for bladder should be used.Conclusion: The results indicate a significant effect of photon energy and the number of radiation fields on distribution of dose in the tumor tissue and also the amount of dose received by organs at risk in radiotherapy of patients with bladder cancer

Background & Aims: Catechol, a phenolic compound, is carcinogenic and toxic and enters the environment through industrial waste. The main objective of this paper was to evaluate the performance of the ozone in the removal of catechol from water.Materials & Methods: Catechol concentration was determined using a high-pressure gas chromatography (HPLC). Concentration of ozone and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was measured using standard methods.Results: Efficiency of ozonation process in catechol degradation at optimum conditions (pH 10, catechol concentration 100 mg/L, ozone dosage 2.1 mg/min and reaction time 20 min) was 100%.Conclusion: Ozonation process can be used alone if the catechol concentration is less than 100 mg/L.Also, due to the synergistic effect of ozonation process with biological processes, this process can be used as pre-treatment if the catechol concentration is less than 1000 mg/L. The ozonation can be regarded as the only treatment and pretreatment process for the degradation of organic chemical compounds that are toxic and resistant to biodegradation.

Background & Aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of unknown cause that affects 5 to10 percent of women in childbearing age. The most reliable indicator for the presence of PCOS is increasing blood androgen (hyperandrogenism) which causes symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, anovulatory, implantation failure and so on. This study aimed to investigate how hyperandrogenism-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects histological and hormonal parameters.Materials & Methods: Sixty mice were divided into six groups of control and experimental.Hyperandrogenism (HA) was induced by oral administration of 2mg/kg letrozole and protective effects of licorice root were studied in three doses: 150, 300, 450 mg/kg by gavage for 21 consecutive days. The sixth one was administrated by 450 mg/kg licorice extract alone (Each group had 10 mice).After 21 days animals were anesthetized and blood sample was taken for hormonal assay. Also histological samples of uterine horne were fixed. Histological and histomorphometrical studies were done by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The level of testosterone was measured in serum.Results: Comparing the results of different groups showed that histological parameters including diameter, wall, epithelial and endometrium thickness in hyperandrogen uterine horn greatly reduced.The results of the study also indicated an increase in the hormone testosterone in the group receiving letrozole. Also licorice root extract was able to have a protective effect relatively.Conclusions: Finally, it can be concluded that administration of appropriate doses of licorice root extract has improved antioxidant ingredients so that HA and its adverse effect on female reproductive system was reduced.

Background & Aims: Plantar fasciitis is pain caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia at the junction of the medial calcaneal tuberosity. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of high energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (RSWT) versus local steroid injections in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.Materials & Methods: In a randomized clinical trial that was performed in the Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 40 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis were randomly divided into two gropus with 20 patients, that RSWT group underwent five step high energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (RSWT) with 0.2 mj/mm2 and local injection group included injection of depomederol steroid. Pain severity at the base of visual analogue scale at moring and day length, daily function base on Foot function index questionnaire and satisfaction with polling of patients were determind.Results: In this study, 40 patients including 33 female and 7 male patients with the meas age of 42.85±8.62 year with plantar fasciitis underwent high energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (RSWT), and local steroid injections were evaluated. Significant difference was not found between morning and daily pain of pateints at the beginning of the study, one and two months later. Significant decrease was found in mornig and daily pain and FFI of patients in both groups during treatment (P<0.001). Pain reduction rate at the end of two months in RSWT group was above 60% and in function improvement was about 67.4% and in stroeid injection group was near 50% in pain relife and function. Although significant statistical difference was not found in this changes between two groups (P=0.068, 0.081).Conclusion: Both shock therapy and local steroid injection was effective in treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis in reduction of pain and improve daily function of patients up to two months after treatment without significant differences in their therapeutic efficacy. However, shock wave therapy because of more percent improvement and high patient satisfaction was more recommended as the preferred treatment.

Background & Aims: Due to the side effects of chemical drugs and their expensive prices, nowadays medicinal plants are of great interest, and dill is one of these plants. The aim of the present study was evaluating analgesic effect of dill ethanol extract in male mice by using formalin test in the presence and absence of intravenous morphine.Materials & Methods: In this study, 28 mice were used and divided into 4 groups of control, morphine (positive control), dill, and dill+morphine. Ethanol extract of dill, 500 milligrams per liter in drinking water for 30 days was given to the animals. In positive control group, 10 mg/kg of morphine was injected with a single dose subcutaneously. Pain scores obtained using formalin test with injection 0.02 ml of formalin 5% to the fourth finger of the animals’ right hand.Results: The results of this study showed that dill ethanol extract by oral administration method decreased pain scores in the acute and chronic phases of formalin-induced pain. Concurrent using of ethanol extract of dill and morphine had dramatic analgesic effect.Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that compounds present in dill have analgesic effects and also increase the analgesic effects of morphine.

Background & Aims: Thyroxin is important for the development of fetus brain during early pregnancy. Low body iodine stores during gestation may be present as hypothyroidism in the mother and/or dysfunction in the fetus nervous system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the trend of urinary iodine excretion (UIC) during pregnancy in Zive District of Urmia County.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 107 pregnant women (age>17 years) at first trimester (<12 weeks) were recruited. Spot urine samples were collected. UIC was assessed by the Sandell – Kolthoff method. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS software version 22.Results: The mean age of the studied population was 26±5 years. Median UIC during the first, second, and third trimester were 62 mg/L, 130 mg/L and 90 mg/L. Repeated measure analysis revealed that the differences between UIC at first trimester and those at second- and third trimester were statistically significant (P<0.001). The prevalence of iodine deficiency (UIC, 150 mg/L) during fist-, second-, and third trimester were 98%, 67%, and 80%, respectively.Conclusions: This study reports that 81% of the pregnant women in Zive District of Urmia exhibited mild to moderate iodine deficiency (UIC≤150 mg/L). Also, a marked elevation in median UIC was seen at the second trimester when compared to first or third trimesters. UIC pattern in the present study is different from those obtained for iodine sufficient regions in Iran. These differences may reflect the impact of whole body iodine stores on UIC pattern during gestation. Therefore, appropriate iodine store during early pregnancy is vital for the well-being of the fetus and should be considered a priority for health service authorities in order to prevent mental dysfunction, impaired growth and increases mortality among new born children.

Background & Aims: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remain as a leading causes of mortality among infectious diseases. The only current vaccine, bacillus Calmette-Gue´rin (BCG), displays highly variable efficiency for preventing tuberculosis. Thus, identification of protective antigens could be mentioned for designing new vaccines. Among different Mtb antigens, TB10.4 and Ag85B have been identified as immune stimulator antigens which induce strong cellular responses and increase production of IFN-g. In this study, we aimed to clone the fusion form of these antigens into a eukaryotic vector (pcDNA3).Materials & Methods: After extraction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genome, the selected genes were amplified by specific primers with PCR method. The gene segments were fused and cloned into eukaryotic pcDNA3 vector. Recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli DH5a and after purification was confirmed with restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing.Results: The results of sequencing and digestion demonstrated that TB10.4 & Ag85B genes were successfully fused and cloned into pcDNA3 vector Conclusion: The recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed. In the future studies, the immunogenicity of this cassette could be assessed as a DNA vaccine.

Background & Aims: Dehydration can lead to exacerbation of Jaundice and renal failure (ARF). Itmay also be associated between renal failure and jaundice. One of the common causes of ARF and jaundice is inadequate breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dehydration resulting from inadequate Breastfeeding and Clinical course of jaundice and prenatal azotemia in newborns.Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted during the period 2006-2012 on282 hospitalized infant with Jaundice. The study population included all infants with jaundice admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Ghaem hospital that renal function tests were performed on them. Experimental group (141 infant) include of neonates with serum creatinine level>1.2 mg/dl and the serum urea level>40 mg/dl and lower than this values were in the control group (141 infant).T-Test, Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Roc curve were used to analyze the data.Results: Fourteen percent of neonatal jaundice had ARF. The most common symptoms at presentation after Jaundice in case group was Hyperthermia, weight loss, irritability, poor feeding and in control group was Jaundice. The weight loss>%10 properly diagnosed more than 86% of case group and 78%of neonates in control group. The weight loss>7%, properly diagnosed over 75% of neonates with ARF and 80% healthy infants.Conclusion: Neonatal jaundice must be monitored weight loss and its effects. Hyperbilirubinemia infants with restless or hyperthermia must be evaluated from weight loss. Evaluation of renal failure is necessary in weight loss>%7.

Background & Aims: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world and includes one third of cancers in women. Although the role of age in the incidence of breast cancer has been documented but the effect of age on prognosis and its association with factors in the progression of cancer is controversial. Age at diagnosis of an independent factor in determining life expectancy and prognosis of the disease should be considered. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between age at diagnosis in patients below 40 years and above 40 years with an overall survival of the patients studied.Materials & Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study examined the years 2001 to 2013. The study population included patients with confirmed breast cancer were presented to the Omid Hospital. Sampling was census, and patient gathered data from their files. And for completing data telephone follow-up was done. In order to calculate differences in survival between two groups Kaplan-Meier and Log- ranking methods were used.Results: In this study, 1410 patients with breast cancer were studied during 12 years. The mean age at diagnosis was 47.83 with a standard deviation of 10.76 years, and the survival of people in the age group below 40 years was significantly more than those aged over 40 years.Conclusions: Breast cancer survival has direct relationship with age which means that the disease in old age reduces survival and disease-free survival time.