Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:27 | Issue:3|Papers Count:9

Background & Aims: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease which causes congenital anomalies and misabortion in females. Decrease in follicle growth and maturation and quality of oocytes occur in type 1 diabetes. The antidiabetic effect of Aloe vera is reported by several investigators. In this study, the effects of Aloe vera gel on diabetic mice oocyte were examined.Materials & Methods: First, 25 mice were randomly divided into five groups including: control group (normal saline), Aloe vera group (350 mg/kg/day, by gavage), diabetic group (single dose of 190 mg/kg streptozotocin, IP), diabetic receiving Aloe vera (350 mg/kg/day, by gavage), and diabetic receiving insulin (1 IU/day, SC). All animals were superovulated after 3 weeks. Ovulated oocytes were collected from oviduct. Oocyte nuclear maturation and mitochondrial redistribution were investigated by microscopy and immunocytochemical methods.Results: Diabetes led to a significant increase in spindle defects, chromosome misalignmentm, and mitochondrial redistribution changes (P˂0.05). Aloe vera and insulin administration decreased these defects significantly (P˂0.05). Maturation rate decreased in diabetic mice, but Aloe vera and insulin administration prevented the decrease significantly (P˂0.05).Conclusion: The results show that diabetes damages oocyte maturation process and reduces maturation rate and oocyte quality which can cause infertility or subfertility, but Aloe vera administration reduced these defects significantly.

Background & Aims: Folate has been identified as one of the most important water-soluble B vitamins for normal metabolic function and it is essential for normal human cell division and cell growth. Since humans cannot synthesize folates, they must obtain from dietary sources. The most important dietary sources of folates are fortified foods, and cereal products with folate content of 50-200 mg/100 g. In Iran the majority of people consume bread as an ideal food, because of the reasonable price and availability. The objective of this study was to describe a method for determination of folic acid in wheat flours and breads.Materials & Methods: The method consisted of several procedures, including an extraction technique, oxidation of folic acid to increase fluorescent properties, and a modified HPLC with fluorescence detection method. Thirty enriched flours and thirty bread samples were purchased from the local baker markets in Urmia.Results: The standard curve for folic acid passed through the origin and was liner over the range 0.1-8 mg/L. The peak of folic acid appeared as sharp with retention times of 1.12 minutes. The accuracy of the method ranges between 99.2% and 103.7% for intra-day analysis and 98.8% and 106.9% for inter-days analysis. The limit of detection for folic acid was 0.03mg/L. The mean concentration of folic acid was 102 µg and 85 mg per 100 gram of flour and bread, respectively.Conclusion: This work is a preferred method for folic acid analysis because it is rugged, fast, specific and sensitive. Estimation of folic acid in wheat flour was less than those based on calculations as done for enriched flours. There was 17% decrease of folic acid from flour to bread stage.

Background & Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on marital conflicts of patients registered at the Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center and Positive HIV Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital.Materials & Methods: The present experimental study included pre -test, post-test and follow-up with the control group design. Statistical population of this study contained all infected patients registered at the Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center and Positive HIV Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital. There were 30 married patients with HIV /AIDS which were selected by voluntary sampling method. They were randomly divided into two experimentation and control groups. Experimentation group was trained by the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) during 8 sessions; each session lasted for 1: 30 hours, one session weekly which took two months. After completing the sessions, both group responded the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ). Data Analysis was done by SPSS, and descriptive and inferential tests such as covariance.Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy have been effective in reducing the above mentioned conflicts.Conclusion: The current observations confirmed the effectiveness of MBCT in reduction of the couples’ marital conflict in patients with HIV+/AIDS.

Background & Aims: Due to the prevalence of Opioid dependency, the aim of this study was to investigate features and in-hospital prognosis of myocardial infarction in patients with and without opioid dependency.Materials & Methods: In this study 95 patients were included and divided into two groups (opium dependent and non-dependent). The peak CK-MB level, length of stay, STEMI prevalence, EF, infarction site and post AMI complications (VT, VF), and mortality were checked out in both groups.Results: In this study, the average age and length of stay in opioid dependent patients were 59.65±16.68 and 8±2.085, respectively. In opioid dependent patients, infarction site was anterior in 46.3%, inferior in 38.40% and non-STEMI in 15.3%, 6 patients had VT/VF and 5 patients died whereas 15 patients had no post MI complications.Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between groups in length of stay, age, STEMI prevalence, infarction site (anterior/inferior), EF and peak CPK-MB level. But there was significant correlation between opioid dependent patients and post MI complications (VT, VF and mortality).

Background & Aims: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (SCF) is normal or near-normal angiographically that is known with delayed passage of contrast in coronary arteries. Etiology of SCF is unknown. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the main factors in the etiology of SCF and vascular endothelium-derived nitric oxide is one of the main biochemical factors in the regulation of vascular tonisity. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites in SCF patients.Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with SCF (53±11.83 years) and 30 healthy controls (51.37±11.89 years) were entered in the case-control investigation. Cases and controls were matched for age, gender, and body mass index. Three ml of blood samples were collected in tubes. Serum concentrations of NO metabolites were measured by ELISA method (Ltd. Co, China).Results: The mean values of nitric oxide metabolites in controls and patients with SCF was 18.04 ±7.99 and 17.93±4.31mmol/L, respectively; P=0.129.Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction is the main factor in the pathogenesis of SCF. But in this study, serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites were not statistically significant in patients with SCF patients versus controls. So it was recommended to further investigate with more subjects.

Background & Aims: post-traumatic stress disorder is a set of symptoms that can be find after following that exposure to traumatic life events. This study was conducted with purpose of investigation the effectiveness of meta-cognitive therapy on Anxiety and depression in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the context of a single case study using the multiple baselines design. The population of the study included all patients with post-traumatic stress disorder in the city of Tabriz in 2015. The sample, consist of three people with post-traumatic stress disorder were referred to psychiatrist and were selected based on purposive sampling method. Patients were evaluated in pre-treatment, during treatment and follow-up period of six weeks using the Beck anxiety inventory, Beck depress inventory, and the Mississippi PTSD scale (MPS).Results: The results of study showed that Meta-cognitive therapy significantly reduce Anxiety and depression in subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder at post-treatment and follow-up period both statistically and clinically Conclusion: The results of these three subjects showed the clinical efficacy of Meta-cognitive therapy in a culture different from the culture of the manufacturer's protocol. So that this treatment, in reducing signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder is as effective.

Background & Aims: Nowadays usage of molecularly imprinted polymers which act as artificial antibodies and separate target molecules from biological environments is a novel approach. Cholesterol is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and its precise determination is crucial. In this research, a molecularly imprinted polymer by means of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica layer was fabricated and its functional characteristics were investigated.Materials & Methods: Co-precipitation method was used for manufacturing of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by silica. Then cholesterol imprinted polymer were synthesized by grafting coreshell procedure. Finally obtained polymer was eluted by mixture of solvents to create specific adsorbent active sites for cholesterol. The polymer was incubated with cholesterol stock solution and binding activity was determined through high performance liquid chromatography. Structure and morphology of samples were evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Results: Optimized ratio of polymer weight to cholesterol stock solution volume showed 94% separation from 100 mg/L stock solution. FT-IR spectrometry results revealed a fine coating of silica for magneticFe3O4cores.Silica band which was adsorbent of template molecule was intensified by sol-gel polymerization method. Polymer morphology was porous, spherical shaped and particle dimensions were observed less than 50 nanometers.Conclusion: Application of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica in this method enables high separation of cholesterol which could be due to ease of extraction and grafted polymer nature.Morphology of adsorbent polymers indicated performance of nano surfaces in separation of this compound.

Background & Aims: Humic acid is a major agent in trihalomethanes (THMs) formation during chlorination process, which are known as carcinogens. The aim of this study were to investigate the removal of humic acid by three coagulants including PACl, alum and ferric chloride from water sources and their effect on zeta potencial.Materials & Methods: This study was conducted experimentally in lab scale. Experiments were carried out in a batch reactor using a synthetic solution with humic acid concentration of 10 mg/l, pH 5, 7 and 9, and the coagulant dosages of 10, 20 and 30 mg/l (ferric chloride, alum and PACl, respectively). Also zeta potential and THMs formation reduction were evaluated under optimal condition for humic acid removal.Results: The results showed that under optimal dosages of the coagulants the highest removal efficiency was related to the ferric chloride with 89 %. Removal efficiency for PACl and alum were 88% and 81%, respectively. However, only the application of ferric chloride decreased the SUVA index down to the USEPA permissible limits (less than 2 L/mg m). Also in optimal condition pH, zeta potential and trihalomethanes values were gained more than 7, -15 mV and less than 50 ppb.Conclusion: Ferric chloride can be used for treatment of water containing humic acid to decrease SUVA index down to the permission ranges. But the use of aluminum salts as coagulants may lead to THMs formation. Chlorinated water treated with Ferric chloride results in notable reduction in the amount of trihalomethanes (ppb<80). Also, according to the zeta potential values, the adsorption phenomena was suggested as a dominant mechanism for the removal of humic acid using ferric chloride.

Background & Aims: Disability is one of the items that can influence the personality, functional and academic characteristics of students. Therefore, the present research was carried out in order to compare the academic burnout, academic negligence and feeling of loneliness in students with and without learning disabilities.Materials & Methods: The methodology of the present paper was based on practical and causalcomparative study. Statistical society of this research involved all students with and without learning disabilities in Ardebil state during 2014-2015. About 70 students with and without learning disabilities (35 normal students and 35 students with learning disabilities) were selected as the research sample through multi-random surveying (multi-steps). This research used academic negligence Solomon and Rothblum (PASS) scale, academic burnout questionnaire regarding school and feeling of loneliness questionnaire (LQ). The data were analyzed by the use of explaining index and multivariable variance analysis (MANOVA) test.Results: The findings show that the average academic burnout, academic negligence and feelings of loneliness in students with learning disabilities is significantly more than normal students (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results of the research indicate negative impacts of learning disabilities on academic burnout, academic negligence and feeling of loneliness in students with learning disabilities.