Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:25 | Issue:11|Papers Count:13

Background and Aims: One of the factors that lead to failure treatment and return substance abuse is ignoring mental disorders before and after drug withdrawal. Therefore, the aim of the present study was effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety in addicts with successful cut off.Materials and Methods: This study was quasi-experimental. The study design was a pretest- posttest whit control group. The study population consisted of addicts that has been on the successful cut off and were referred for psychological rehabilitation of residential institutions Kosar. The Forty patients were selected with random sample from among referring to the center. Then were divided and assigned randomly into two groups of 20. Subjects evaluation on the pre-test and post-test Zung self assessment anxiety Scale. In the experimental group was performed in 12 sessions of psychological treatment cognitive- behavioral, once a week for an hour and a half, but the control group did not receive any intervention. After performing post test, the data was analyzed with the software Spss16 and with use independent t-test.Results: The results of this study showed that after performing cognitive- behavioral therapy there is significant differences both experimental and control groups in anxiety variable (p<0.001).Conclusions: The present study findings suggest the importance of cognitive - behavioral therapy on decrease in anxiety in addicts with successful cut off. These treatments can be aspects complementary chemotherapy after successful cut off and prevention of addiction to a return.

Background & Aims: Diabetes is a metabolic disease that can lead to liver damage through oxidative stress. Regular physical activity and using purslane as a medicinal plant -due to its anti inflammatory compounds- may be effective in reducing injury. So the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of resistance training with and without portulacalo seeds on some of liver injury markers in women with diabetes type 2.Materials & Methods: In this study, twenty eight sedentary women with T2DM were randomly assigned to four groups of control, training, supplement and training+supplement. The resistance training program were carried out using resistance bands of varying types at 40-50% of one repetition maximum (1RM), 3 times a week for 8-wk. Subjects in groups 3 and 4 received 7.5 grams of purslane seeds daily. A fasting blood sample was collected as pretest and post-test, followed by 48 hours of physical inactivity and consumption of portulacalo and 12 hours of fasting. Data analysis was performed with paired t-test and ANOVA. (p£0.05).Result: Eight weeks of the resistance training or portulacalo consumption cause a significant decrease in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to pretest. However, the effectiveness of combination group (training+supplement) is better in the above indicators as compared with the strategies (training or supplement). Also, a significant decrease in ALT, AST and ALP levels were detected in the training or supplement groups, as compared to the control group. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in ALT, AST levels in training+supplement group, as compared with the training or supplement groups.Conclusion: Our findings suggested that using non-drug strategy such as resistance trainings and portulacalo seed consumption improves indicators associated with liver damage in women with diabetes type 2.

Background & Aims: Bipolar Mood Disorder in acute manic episode is one of the psychiatric emergencies and usually needs to be admitted and intensive management. Treatment of these episodes ordinarily need mood stabilizer together with antipsychotic drugs. Although lithium carbonate is effective in acute mania alone, it needs more time to control episode. Only a few studies have been done about the efficacy of olanzapine (a new generation antipsychotic) alone in the treatment of acute mania, and the findings cannot be generalized. No similar study was conducted in Iran. So our main purpose was to compare the efficacy of olanzapine with lithium carbonate in the treatment of acute mania.Materials & Methods: A clinical trial study was designed and patients with acute mania according to DSM-IV-TR were selected and the severity of manic episode were measured by Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) that is exclusive to patients under 18 years old and those with ultra acute episode who need other rapid interventions. Patients were randomly treated with olanzapine or lithium carbonate in a period of 4 weeks. Each group consisted of 30 patients and according to clinical responsiveness the efficacy and safety of two drugs were compared.Results: There was no statistical significant gender difference in two groups. Olanzapine group contained 18 males and 12 females versus lithium carbonate group that were 20 males and 10 females (p=0.287). The mean clinical responsiveness rate in olanzapine group was 72%, whereas this rate in lithium group was 66 % (significant differences and p=0.005). The mean increasement of blood glucose in Olanzapine group was 12.2 mg/dl (16 % increasement of baseline). This rate in lithium carbonate group was 0.3mg/dl (0.1 % increasement of baseline). The difference was significant (p<0.0001). The mean weight increase in olanzapine group was 3.1kg (4.4 % increasement of baseline), whereas this rate in lithium carbonate group was 1.2kg (1.6 % increasement of baseline). The difference was significant (p<0.001). There were no significant differences related to extra pyramidal side effects (EPS) between two groups (p=0.231).Conclusion: Findings of this study reveal that although the responsiveness of acute mania to olanzapine is more than lithium carbonate but regarding the side effects, lithium carbonate seems safer than Olanzapine.

Background & Aims: Nerve tissue engineering (NTE) is one of the most promising methods for the treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) neurodegenerative diseases. The three-dimensional distribution and growth of the cells within the porous of the scaffold have a significance clinical role in the NTE field. Scaffolds used in tissue engineering, not only must have a good performance, but they should also be porous, biocompatible and biodegradable. The present work aimed to fabricate and study the morphology, biodegradability and chemical characteristics of Poly-L-Lactic-Acid (PLLA) in order to use in the neural tissue engineering.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, PLLA nano scaffold was fabricated with an appropriate structure and morphology using Electrospinning Technique. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the scaffold. Scaffold biodegradation was studied in Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 40 days. Isolated stem and progenitor cells from subventricular zone of the adult mouse brain were cultured on the scaffold and their morphology and connection properties were characterized using SEM.Results: SEM studies indicated that PLLA is a nano-fibrous scaffold which shows the appropriate surface characteristics. Furthermore, this nanoscaffold showed a high degradation and water uptake rate in the degradation test. Finally, SEM studies confirmed the attachment and growth of the mouse neural stem and progenitor cells on the scaffold.Conclusion: These results suggested that the PLLA nano scaffold is an appropriate structure for the growth and differentiation of the neural stem and progenitor cells and the electrospining technique is an efficient method for the scaffold producing used in the nerve tissue engineering.

Background & Aims: Henoch–Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an autoinflammatory disease and systemic small vessel vasculitis that more frequently occurs in children. It is characterized by skin lesion such as Petechia and purpura, gasterointestinal involvement including abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding and arthiritis. Studies have shown that HSP could be due to different infections and genetic factors. Based on the fact that cytokines have important role in this inflammatory disease, CCL2- a chemokine encoding gene- is studied in HSP patients from northwestern Iran. To achieve this goal molecular analysis of polymorphism located in promoter region of this gene is performed.Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 40 HSP patients who were referred by immunology and allergy specialists to Genetic Center of Tabriz and after blood sampling and DNA extraction, molecular analysis with PCR-RFLP method was performed to genotype polymorphic region of promoter region of this gene. The results were compared to that of 50 ethnic-sex matched control healthy people.Results: Statistical analysis shows significant association of this polymorphism with development of Henoch–Schonlein purpura disease in this cohort. The frequency of TT and TC genotypes and T allele of CCL2 -C2518T gene polymorphism were significantly higher in HSP patients.Conclusion: CCL2 C-2518T gene polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to HSP in Northwestern Iran.

Background & Aims: Osteomalacia and biochemical evidence of vitamin-D deficiency may in some cases contribute to the pathogenesis of osteopenia and increase the risk of spontaneous fracture formation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Materials & Methods: A consecutive series of 93 patients diagnosed with RA who were admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Ghem Medical Center in Mashhad were screened for clinical, laboratory and radiologic evidences of osteomalacia.Results: We found three patients whose clinical and paraclinical features (especially Looser's Zone in plain radiography) complied with osteomalacia. All affected patients were elderly women who had a poor diet and were virtually housebound. Biochemical screening was of limited value in differential diagnosis, since elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels were noted in both osteomalacia and nonosteomalacia patients.Conclusion: This study indicates that although diagnosis and consequent treatment of osteomalacia may considerably prevent morbidity and mortality in RA, screening for osteomalacia should be limited to elderly women with risk factors such as poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Background & Aims: It is well established that ghrelin has effect on gonadotropin and androgen release through its receptors on hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads. The amount of synthesis and release of these hormones directly affect on reproductive behavior in mammals. Therefore, it is expected that ghrelin can affect sexual behavior of mammals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intracerebroventricular injection of ghrelin on sexual behavior of male rat.Materials & Methods: Forty male Wistar rats, weighing 200±20 g, were divided into four groups. The animals received saline or 2, 4 or 8 nmol ghrelin through the stereotaxically implanted cannula into the third cerebral ventricle. The sexual behavior indices of male rats were evaluated encountering with female rats 10 min after injection of the ghrelin or saline. As well as the locomotor activity of male rats was investigated by open-field test. Then the experimental data were statistically analyzed by oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test.Results: Four and 8 nmol injection of ghrelin caused significant increase in the mount (p<0.05), intromission and ejaculation (p<0.001) latency compared to the control group. Also the 4 and 8 nmol doses of ghrelin led to a significant increase in the number of mount (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in the number of ejaculation (p<0.001) compared to control animals. No significant changes were observed in the number of intromission after ghrelin injection. Comparison of sexual activity index and copulatory efficiency in the studied groups indicated a significant (p<0.05) decrease in reproductive activity of 4 and 8 nmol ghrelin-received animals compared to the control group. As well we observed a significant increase in locomotor activity of 2 nmol (p<0.01) and 4 and 8 nmol (p<0.001) ghrelin-received animals compared to control group.Conclusions: Intracerebroventricular injection of ghrelin suppressed the sexual behavior of male rats dose-dependently, whereas increased the locomotor activity.

Background & Aims: Multiple schlorosis patients have high levels of depression and anxiety which make psychological interventions, psychotherapy and systematic educations necessary for these patients. So the current research is aimed at examining the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy on improving depression and decreasing anxiety symptoms of multiple sclerosis patients.Materials & Methods: This pre-post test design study was conducted on 32 multiple sclerosis patients that received high scores in Beck Depression Inventory and Cattell Anxiety Inventory questionnaire were selected and randomly replaced in the experimental and control groups (each 16 members). The experimental group received fourteen 60-minute weekly sessions of cognitive behavior therapy. The control group received no intervention. Participants completed anxiety and depression questionnaires 10 days after intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics such as covariance test.Results: The results showed that cognitive behavior therapy has positive and significant effects on improving depression and decreasing anxiety symptoms of multiple sclerosis patients (P<.005).Conclusion: The results showed that besides other drug therapies, cognitive behavior therapy can be applied for multiple sclerosis patients as an effective approach.

Background & Aims: Fascioliasis caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica has medical and economic importance in the world. Traditional approaches are not accurate and reliable in identification of agent parasites. Thus the present study was designed to identify the Fasciola sppby molecular methods in West Azerbaijan province.Materials & Methods: In current study Fasciola isolates were collected from slaughterhouses in five districts in West Azerbaijan province, Northwestern Iran. Parasite species were identified using morphological and molecular tools, ribosomal DNA ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 sequences. A number of 580 adult Fasciola worms were isolated from 90 infected livers (50 liver of cattle, 40 liver of sheep). Out of 110 DNA extracted specimens, 50 specimens were subject to direct sequencing.Results: Sequence analysis showed 100% similarity in ITS1 (428 bp), 5.8s (158 bp) and ITS2 (366 bp) regions of all sequences. The degree of identity between F. hepatica and F. gigantica sequences was 98% with 11 nucleotide mismatches. Based on rDNA-ITS1 and ITS2 sequences, only F. hepatica flukes are scattered among cattle and sheep population in West Azerbaijan province. Finally, 150 sequence of F. hepatica (50 sequences of each region of ITS) from West Azerbaijan province were recorded to GenBank.Conclusion: The results of this study showed no evidence of F. giganticain cattle and sheep in West Azerbaijan province. More studies are essential to design new molecular markers will be helpful in correct species identification and therefore, for control and prevention of this parasitic disease.

Background & aims: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a potential threatening factor for cardiovascular disorders and atherosclerosis which is accompanied by increase in plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL-c), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and low high density lipoproteins (HDLc). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) catalysis transfer of lipids and phospholipids between lipoproteins. CETP can have a significant role in balancing the quantity of plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The present survey attempted to show the association of Taq1B polymorphisms in CETP gene with metabolic syndrome parameters an Iranian population.Materials & Methods: In order to identify the association between the Taq1B polymorphisms of this gene and the lipid pattern of plasma and other parameters of MetS, the quantity of lipids in metabolic syndrome subjects (N=247) and healthy individuals (N=247) were measured. The abundance of alleles and genotypic distribution of the Taq1B polymorphisms were defined along with comparison between two control and patient groups. Blood samples were collected followed by routine biochemical analysis. DNA extraction was performed. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied to identify Taq1B polymorphism. Statistical analyses were applied using SPSS software.Results: Lipid pattern of plasma and other parameters of MetS showed significant differences between the patient and control groups. Also the abundance of alleles and genotypic distribution of polymorphism showed a significant difference between two groups. Taq1B polymorphism was accompanied with MetS.Conclusion: The results confirm that in MetS patients, this genetic mutation in CEPT gene is accompanied with change in lipid profile and other MetS parameters. Our study suggests the promoting effect of Taq1B polymorphism in process of MetS disorder. We indicated this polymorphism can increase occurrence of metabolic syndrome. Our results showed Taq1B polymorphism is associated with some MetS associated variables in our population.