Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:24 | Issue:12|Papers Count:12

Background & Aims: Prolonged standing in static posture during occupational tasks has been associated with low back pain (LBP). Increased bilateral gluteus medius (GM) muscles co-activation is considered to be the most predisposing factor for LBP development during prolonged standing in asymptomatic individual. Change and modify flooring in occupational environment is common ergonomic intervention to alleviate problems caused by prolonged standing such as LBP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-fatigue floor mat on bilateral GM co-activation pattern and subjective pain in the low back.Materials & Methods: The study was conducted on 16 asymptomatic participants while they were doing simulated light occupational tasks in two conditions for two hours as follows: 1) standing on a hard floor, 2) standing on an anti-fatigue floor mat. In any standing condition, at the beginning of standing and every 15 minutes until 120 minutes, muscle co-activation of bilateral GM and subjective pain in the low back region has been collected respectively by surface electromyography (EMG) and visual analog scale (VAS).Results: There were no significant difference in bilateral GM co-activation pattern in participants between two conditions (P=0.776), but anti-fatigue floor mat presented a significantly decreased level of subjective pain in the low back. Although 73% of participants were indicating that they would use the anti-fatigue mat if they were in an occupational setting that required prolonged standing work, but results about the effect of anti-fatigue floor mat on LBP based on an increase of >10mm on VAS threshold indicated that this intervention has no significant effect on decreased LBP development and co-activation of bilateral GM muscles in both pain developer and non pain developer groups.Conclusion: Apparently anti-fatigue mat were useful in decreasing LBP, although objectively it did not have any significant changes in muscle activity patterns that associated with LBP.

Background & Aims: Quality control of medicinal products- especially the amount of active ingredients of toxic side effects and complications- is important. The present study was performed to measure oxytocin (OT) in commercially available drug products in the drug market of Iran.Materials & Methods: In this study pharmaceutical dosage form of OT with different brands at a concentration of 5 and 10 IU/ml was prepared from a local pharmacy. A previously published method was optimized for the conditions in our laboratory. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used as the preferred analytical tool. The method used a C18 column. The mobile phase consist of acetonitrile/ phosphate buffer with (pH=5, 0.08 M) (20:80) and UV detection at 220 nm.Results: The results of these experiments showed a linear standard curve for OT over the range of 0.5-12 IU/ml. The corresponding regression equation was A=133.1C-2.193 with an r2 value of 0.99. The Inter-day coefficient of variation for the method ranged between 1.97 IU/ml and 9.93 IU/ml% and the Intra-day value ranged between 1.10 IU/ml and 1.76 IU/ml. The accuracy of method range was between 96.40% and 107.5% for Inter-day analysis and 93% and 99.6 % for Intra-days analysis. The lower limit of quantification was 0.25 IU/ml. The percentage content, taking one of the bulk samples as 100% references, was 107-120% and 114.2-216.6% recovery of the label claim for OT of 10IU/ml and OT of 5 IU/ml, respectively.Conclusion: These findings confirm that the amount of oxytocin in some of dosage forms is higher than the declared amounts. This study emphasizes on the necessity of quality and accurate control s over the industrial pharmaceutical.

Background & Aims: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses that are closely associated with psychological problems, particularly anger. The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior anger management training program on general health of patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials & Method: In a semi-experimental design, among 200 patients with type 2 diabetes referring to a clinic in Tehran, 28 patients with high score in State and Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 were selected through voluntary accessible sampling. Participants were randomized to experimental and control group. The experimental group participated in 90 minutes of cognitive-behavior anger management training in 10 weeks and the control group received no intervention. To evaluate the effects of intervention, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was administered before and after intervention. The data were analyzed using statistically.Results: At the end of the intervention, general health of the experimental group was significantly enhanced.Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral anger management training can be efficient in enhancing general health in patients with type 2 diabetes. So, it is recommended to integrate such trainings into comprehensive treatment of diabetes.

Background & Aims: Considering the high prevalence of oxidative stress and lower total antioxidant status in type 2 diabetic patients, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of inulin on total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in these patients.Materials & Methods: In this controlled, randomized clinical trial, 49 women with type 2 diabetes were assigned into two groups. Patients in the intervention group (n=24) received 10g/d inulin and patients in the control group (n=25) received 10g/d maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were measured both at the baseline and at the end of the study. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 11.5 software, and the statistical analysis of covariance and paired-samples t-test were done.Results: At the end of study, there was a significant decrease in fasting blood sugar (8.40%), HbA1c (10.40%) and a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (18.80%) and superoxide dismutase activity (4.40%) in inulin compared to maltodextrin group (p<0.05). Change in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities was not significant in inulin compared to maltodextrin group. All variables except glutathione peroxidase in the inulin group significantly increased at the end of study compared to baseline. The changes of variables in the maltodextrin group were not significant.Conclusion: Inulin supplementation may improve antioxidant indices in women with type 2 diabetes.

Background & Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of stress management training through cognitive behavioral method and relationship skills training with end of life patient for increasing life quality of end of life patients’ family.Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted by a pretest, post-test, and follow up. The relatives of 30 end of life admitted patients were randomly assigned into three equal groups. The first group received stress management training through cognitive behavioral method. The second group received relationship skills training with end of life patient. The third group didn’t receive any intervention and was the control group. Interventions were done by eight weekly training sessions in both intervention groups. Data were gathered by WHOQOL-BREEF questionnaire in pretest, post-test, and two months after the end of the training. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance and repeated measurements.Results: Findings showed the efficacy of both types of intervention but there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between stress management training through cognitive behavioral method and relationship skills training with end of life patient on increasing family life quality in the follow up.Conclusion: Stress management training through cognitive behavioral method is more effective than relationship skills training on increasing the quality of family life.

Background & Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult cells which are identified as non-hematopoietic and pluripotent stem cells. Specific stimulation of toll like receptors on the surface of mesenchymal stem cells could change immune responses of these cells into the pre or anti-inflammation phenotype. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peptidoglycan-lipopolysaccharide on the polarization of stem cells into the anti inflammation phenotype and apoptosis induction in T cells.Materials & Methods: MSCs were isolated from the femoral and tibial bone marrow and re-suspended in DMEM media, and kept in 5% CO2 incubator at 37o C for 24 hours. After that the cell concentration reached to 70 % treated with toll like receptor’s agonist with high (10 ng/ml) and low (5 ng/ml) doses for 1 and 12 hours. Then supernatant of cell culture flask were collected for nitric oxide measurement. Apoptosis percentage in T cells was assayed by flowcytometry in the presence of Acridine orange/ propidium iodide (AO/PI).Result: The percentage of apoptosis in activated T cells significantly (P<0.05) was higher in long term (12 h) and low dose (5 ngr/ml) treatment with TLR4 agonist than the control. Also, the finding indicated that the nitric oxide production significantly (P<0.05) was higher at short term (1 h) and high dose (10 ngr/ml) of TLR agonist in comparison to the control.Conclusion: It should be concluded that the amount of agonist and duration of treatment in stem cells can affect the apoptosis activity and nitric oxide production in MSCs.

Background & Aims: There is a strong inclination and attention toward consumption of functional foods due to their bioprotection in preventing health problems and conferring health benefits beyond their nutritional content. The aim of this study was to evaluate L. casei potential as bioprotection and probiotic agent to inhibit s. Typhimurium.Material & Methods: For this purpose, firstly, the antibacterial capacities towards s. Typhimurium were determined in an agar spot test. Secondly, in macrodilution method, several dose of L. casei was evaluated for its effects on the growth and survival of s. Typhimurium inoculated onto mixture broth media (LB+ MRS broth).Result: In Agar spot test, inhibition zone diameter of s. Typhimurium in encounter with 6.6 and 2.6 log of L.casei for the first and third day were 23.96, 15.74, 25.78, and 17.19 (mm) respectively. At 8-10 and 37oC, initial counts of s. Typhimurium in the mixture broth media treated with 8 log of L. casei decreased from  ~5 to 2 and undetected level (<1 log CFU/ml) respectively at final day. With 5 log of L.casei, it reached from ~5 to 5.5 and below the detection level (˂1 log CFU/ml) respectively as well. But 3 log of L. casei did not effect on this level of s. Typhimurium compared with control in which just s. Typhimurium was available in the mixture broth media.Conclusion: L. casei was more effective in reducing s. Typhimurium population at 37o C than 8-10o C. Besides, Log 8 of L. casei caused a higher reduction in initial s. Typhimurium counts compared to other low level of them. The mixed broth media with high dose of L.casei had also the lowest pH value among the others.

Background & Aims: Understanding risk factors for suicide attempts is important in preventing suicidal behavior. This study aimed to compare personality traits, social support, and religious orientation in suicide attempters and control group.Materials & Methods: In a case-control study, 120 suiside attempeters who referred to Shahid Madani hospital of Azarshahr town were compared with 140 control. They were selected using conveniennce sampling, and were matched by a number of demographic factors. Data were gathered using NEO Personality Inventory Revised (NEO-PI-R), sucial support scale and religious orientation, and were analyzed via logistic regression and T-test.Results: Finding showed that suicide attempters revealed higher scores onneuroticism and lower scores on extraversion and conscientiousness compared with non-attempers. On the other hand, the experinced weak social support had external religious orientation. Also, logistic regression analyses demonstrated that suicide attempt was positively predicted by neuroticism, and negatively predicted by agreeableness, openness, family support, and friends’ support, and 27% of the variance related to suicide attempt is predicted by these variables.Conclusion: Personality traits, social support and religious orientation are considered as important risk factors for suicide attempt.

Background & Aims: Multiple Sclerosis is the most common extensive neurological disease in young adults. Side effects and complications of the disease will lead to disability and dependency in life. Clinical results show that daily stressful events affect patient’s immune system and weaken and corrupt it. Various factors can reinforce or undermine these effects. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and personality factors in MS patients.Materials & Methods: The method of this study was correlative. The sample consisted of 150 patients (58 men and 92 women) of Association of MS patient support who referred to specialty and subspecialty clinics at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia city; the sampling method was accessible sampling. Emotional Bar–on Intelligence Questionnaire and Personality Inventory form (NEO - FFI- R) were research tools which was administered to patients. Statistical parameters including mean, standard deviation, T-test, correlation and regression coefficients of Multivariate were used for the analysis of the data.Results: The results suggested that the components of emotional intelligence and personality factors had a significant relationship in patients with MS.Conclusions: There is a significant difference between male and female patients in the components of the emotional intelligence including responsibility, empathy, flexibility, stress tolerance, and solving problems. Among the five factor of personality, there were significant differences between males and females only in neuroticism aspect. Counseling, training the components of emotional intelligence and cognitive-behavioral treatment in addition to pharmacologic therapy were suggested for these patients.

Background & Aims: Mediastinal masses can occur at any age, but prevalence of them differs according to age. Studies show that the prevalence of malignant masses has increased recently. The aim of this study was evaluation of frequency of mediastinal masses according to the location, pathologic findings, and ages of them.Materials & Methods: This retrospective and descriptive study was done with pathological review of 87 patients' documents that had undergone surgery for a mediastinal masses in Emam Khomeini Hospital of Urmia.Results: 53 patients were male and 34 of them were female. The frequency of tumor location were 52 cases (59.8%) in the anterior mediastinum, 13 (14.9%), more than one site, 11 cases (12.6%) posterior Mediastinum, 7 (8%) the upper mediastinum and 4 (4.6%) were in the middle mediastinum. The frequency of tumor pathology included 30 lymphomas (34.5%), Thymoma 8 (9.2%), germ cell tumor 6 (6.8%) and 2 (2.3%) neuroendocrine, the remained 29 (33.3%) patients hadother pathology. Differences between women and men in the type of tumors werestatistically significant. Neuroendocrine tumor in male and germ cell tumor in female was not reported.Conclusion: Anterior mediastinal tumors (47 cases) in order of frequency were included lymphoma (24 cases), Thymoma (7 cases), 5 cases of germ cell tumors and 11 patients with other pathology (benign lesions,metastasis,..). Middle mediastinal tumors (4 cases) were included lymphomas (1case), and 3 had otherpathgology. Posterior mediastinal tumors (9 cases) are included neuroendocrine tumors (2 cases) and 7 patients had other pathologies. Upper mediastinal tumors (5 cases) were included lymphoma (1case), and 4 had other pathology.