Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:24 | Issue:11|Papers Count:13

Background & Aims: In this study the efficacy of the mixture of ICI118, 551 and alum, as an adjuvant, in the induction of humoral and cellular immunity response to heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium (S.typhimurium) (HKST) as a model vaccine was investigated.Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Mice in the experimental groups received either the HKST vaccine alone or in combination with the adjuvant alum, ICI or the alum-ICI mixture. Mice in the negative control group received phosphate-buffered saline. All mice were immunized twice on days 0 and 14. Two weeks after the last immunization, immune responses to S. typhimurium were assessed.Results: Administration of the alum-ICI mixture as an adjuvant increased the ability of the HKST vaccine after administration of sub-lethal doses of bacteria in reduction of the colony count after liver and spleen cultures, increased S. typhimurium specific IgG and IgG2a and the survival rate after challenge with lethal doses of bacteria in the mouse model.Conclusion: Administration of the alum-ICI mixture in combination with the HKST vaccine enhanced humoral and cellular immunity in a mouse model.

Background & Aims: Today stroke is a leading cause of death in the world. Early treatment can reduce the complications of the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of A1 receptor agonists and Neuroprotective effects of ascorbic acid on brain ischemia.Materials & Methods: This study was done on temporal lobe of the brain and performed on eight groups of mice. Ischemia was induced by ligation of common carotid artery and after the induction inflammation ischemic area (for a week) medications were given via intraperitoneal injection. Ascorbic acid was injected one week prior to the ischemic in order to evaluate its preventive effect. After completion of the treatment, the brains were removed and fixed specimens were prepared for histological studies.Result: Nissl staining showed more cells necrotic in the ischemic ones. Tunnel tests showed apoptotic cells in the treatment group is far less than the control group. Concurrent treatment of CPA and vitamin C significantly reduced neuronal death in temporal lobe.Conclusion: This study showed that the use of vitamin C and A1 receptor agonist particularly concurrent treatment of these can significantly reduce the damage caused by ischemia, in temporal lobe.

Background & Aims: Major depression is a common mental disorder with the peak prevalence among 25 to 44 year old women. A number of studies have demonstrated the association between some nutrients and depression, but the studies on the association of food groups with depression especially in the Middle East are rare.Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 45 women with major depression and 90 women with no mental disorder participated. First, the psychologic questionnaires, and then general information, food frequency, and physical activity questionnaires were completed. Based on the food guide pyramid, food items of food frequency questionnaire were classified into 6 groups and 16 subgroups.Results: After adjusting for confounders, the odds of major depression was significantly lower in individuals who consumed higher amounts of citrus fruits, berries and melons (P=0.001), other fruits (P<0.001), dark green leafy vegetables (P=0.004), yellow vegetables (P=0.012), other vegetables (P=0.001), fish (P=0.017), and meat alternates (P=0.036). While the odds of major depression in participants who consumed higher amounts of meat and poultry (P=0.016), and sweets (P=0.071) was respectively 3.33 and 2.48 times more than those who consumed lower amounts of these subgroups.Conclusion: Consumption of healthier food groups is significantly associated with lower odds of major depression in women.

Background & Aims: Aminoglycosides are powerful bactericidal agents used in combination with betalactams or gelicopeptitds, particularly in the treatment of staphylococcal infections. The main objective of this study was to investigate phenotypic and genotypic properties of aminoglycoside resistance in methicillin resistant S. aureus.Materials & Methods: During 8 months, out of 98 Staphylococcus isolates recovered from clinical samples, 53 cases were identified as MRSA. The sensitivity of these isolates to aminoglycosides investigated through disk diffusion method and MIC is determined. Presence of ant (4’) -Ia, aph (3’)-IIIa and aac (6’) /aph (2') genes were investigated through PCR method.Results: 77.3 and 26.4 percent of isolates were resistant to gentamicin and netilmicin, respectively.According to the PCR result, 77.3 percent of isolates have aac (6’)/aph (2’) genes, 16.9 percent have aph (3’) -IIIa genes and 1.8 percent of them have ant (4’) -Ia genes.16.9 percent of isolates have both aac (6’)/aph (2’ and aph (3’) -IIIa and 1.8 have all three kinds of genes.Conclusions: High MIC levels to aminoglycosides and high prevalence of aminoglycosides resistant genes were determined in s.aureus isolated from different wards indicates the aminoglycosides selection pressure resulted from high consumption of aminoglycosides in this hospital, which is an important point to be considered in the infection control policy.

Background & Aims: Violence against pregnant women is a public health problem. Violence during pregnancy has maternal, fetal and future neonate outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence against pregnant women and its relationship with preterm labor, abortion, kind of delivery, hospitalization during pregnancy and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.Materials & Methods: Women aged 18-39 who referred to hospitals in Mahabad and Bonab cities in 2009-2010 were recruited in this study. A total of 1300 pregnant women who reported a birth (live or fetal death, term or preterm delivery) or an abortion were chosen by a convenience sampling method via a self – constructed questionnaire, and all were asked to share their experiences of violence during pregnancy and self-report maternal outcomes.Results: Of these pregnant women, 1121 (86.25%) indicated that their husband (80%) or relatives, such as their mother-in-law (20%), was violent or abusive towards them during their pregnancy. A significant association between domestic violence and abortion (aOR=3.3 CI 95% 1.75, 5.26), cesarean section (aOR=2.25 CI 95% 1.70, 5.79) and vaginal bleeding (aOR=2.74 CI 95% 1.4, 1.8) was shown.Conclusion: Based on relationship between domestic violence during pregnancy with increased risks of abortion, caesarean section, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, a routine screening at perinatal clinics is suggested to identify at-risk cases and provide necessary health services.

Background & Aims: Sleep is a restorative process for the immune system. There are many situations in which sleep is disturbed prior to an athletic event. However, the effect of sleep deprivation on immune indices in response to exercise remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on serum IgG response to aerobic activity.Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 10 male physical education students were voluntarily participated. Study was performed in two separate occasions; control and experimental within two weeks. In the control occasion, normal sleep and aerobic activity and in the experimental occasion, sleep deprivation and aerobic activity was applied. Aerobic activity was performed on bicycle ergometer for 30 minutes at intensity of 70 to 75 percent of maximum heart rate. Changes in serum IgG concentrations in pre-test, before and after aerobic activity in both occasions were analyzed by the two repeated measures ANOVA and dependent T-test using SPSS software.Results: The results showed that sleep deprivation not significantly effect on Serum IgG response to aerobic activity (p=0.130). Also, aerobic activity not significantly effect on Serum IgG concentration (p=0.357). But sleep deprivation caused a significantly increase in serum IgG concentration (p=0.035).Conclusion: No significant effect of sleep deprivation on serum IgG concentrations response to aerobic activity.

Background & Aims: Sexual dysfunction brings about numerous problems including marital conflict and incompatibility for couples especially women. Thus, the present study aims to expose the relationship between sexual frigidity and marital conflict among women residing in Yazd; and accordingly to survey some of the influential elements in these marital conflicts.Materials & Methods: The method of this study is descriptive solidarity. The statistical society includes all married women who went to Yazd Health Centers in 2011, among whom one hundred available samples were selected. Research instruments included two questionnaires: Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) and Sexual Frigidity Questionnaire of Eshghi and Bahrami. The obtained data from the subjects were graded and in order to analyze them, we used the SPSS software (version 18), descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation), and Pierson correlation coefficient at 0.05.Results: The results show that there was a significant relationship between women’s sexual frigidity and marital conflict (p<0.05), and also there was a significant and opposite relationship between marriage duration and marital conflict (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to these findings, women with higher marital conflict show higher sexual frigidity; and also marital conflict in women reduces as more years pass.

Background & Aims: Since the widespread application of the ICSI technique has raised concerns about the efficacy and safty of this technique. This supports the need to advise these couples properly and to continue follow-up of the newborns to facilitate accurate evaluation of the risks after ICSI.Epidemiologic studies have established associations between intrauterine and extrauterine growth restriction and the risk of development of health problems in later life, for example, cardiovascular disease.The aim of our study was to compare birth weight, height and head circumference in the ICSI term singleton with these of term. In addition we investigated whether are difference within these groups for sex (male, female).Materials & Methods: The study included 81 ICSI and 110 naturally conceived term singleton (gestational age of ³37 weeks). Information on pregnancy outcome was retrieved from medical records.Results: Our study shows that term ICSI singletons had not significantly difference birth weight, height and head circumference from a national reference group. In addition we shows that there are not differences within these groups for sex (male, female).Conclusion: No differences in birth weight, height and head circumference between the children.Conceived with ICSI and those Conceived naturally. Children sex was higher female in the children conceived with ICSI.

Background & Aims: Nephrotic syndrome is one of the important diseases of childhood. Although physiopathology of the disease is not well understood but vast majority of patients have a benign course with good response to steroids. In this retrospective study, we reviewed clinical feature and course of 104 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome during 2001-2011.Materials & Methods: The data including age at presentation, gender, response to steroid, results of renal biopsy, frequency of end stage renal disease and adjuvant drugs were collected from patients' medical records. Patients completed at least a 6 month follow up. period Results: The range of age at presentation was 1-16 years (mean 5.57 {3.9} years). Patients included 63 (60.5%) male and 41 (39.5%) female. Twenty-six patients were steroid resistant, 78 steroid responsive and 39 frequently relapser/steroid dependent. Nineteen patients underwent needle renal biopsy.Pathologic examination revealed minimal change disease in 9, focal segmental sclerosis in 5, mesangial proliferation in 2 and other findings in 2 patients. Course of disease ended to end stage renal disease in 3 (2.9%).Conclusion: A vast majority of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome had complete remission with primary course of steroid. However, relapse was common and a considerable number of patients experienced steroid dependency or frequent relapses. Long term follow up is necessary.

Background & Aims: Chronic (Recurrent) abdominal pain (CAP) is one of the most common complaints in childhood, and defined as abdominal pain attacks at least three consecutive months and affect normal functions of children. CAP is divided into two organic and non-organic (functional) categories. Ninety percent of CAP in children was thought as functional, previously. While with advancement of technology and doing more investigations such as endoscopy, this amount is reduced recently. In this study we reviewed findings of children who undergo endoscopy with recurrent abdominal pain.Materials & Methods: After approval of the university ethics committee, this descriptive crosssectional study was conducted between the years 2009 to 2011with census sampling in endoscopy ward of Motahari hospital of Urmia. The 1-15 year old children who referred due to chronic abdominal pain and had epigastric tenderness in physical examinations, without any cause for their abdominal pain, were enrolled to study after obtaining written consent from their parents.Results: From 250 children with mean age of 8.06±3.1 years, who underwent upper endoscopy, 106 patients (%42.4) were male and 144 patients (%57.6) were female. Pathologic findings in biopsies were reported for 192 patients (76.8%); 111 female (57.8%) and 81 male (42.2%). Only 58 patients (23.2%) with mean age of 7.48±3 had functional abdominal pain. Histopathology of biopsies were reported for 142 children (%56.8) gastritis, 86 children (34.4%) esophagitis and 60 children (24%) duodenitis. Some of the patients had more than one site involvement. Helicobacter pylori infection was positive for 72 children (28.8%) with the mean age of 8.5±2.9 years.Conclusion: The findings this study concluded that the most chronic (recurrent) abdominal pain in the children has organic causes and it is better to be investigated by a pediatrics gastroenterologist.