Internal Medicine Today
Year:2015 | Volume:21 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

Aims: Nowadays, with the aim of reducing conflicts or inconsistencies between couples, different methods of couples therapy are introduced. Self-regulation couples therapy pattern is the application of self-control behavioral theory in the relationship problems. This model is a development of cognitive behavioral couples therapy and also is an attempt to provide an eclectically integrated framework for the use of different methods of couple therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of self-regulatory brief couples therapy on reducing the couples' marital stress.Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental study and with the pretest posttest model 16 couples which were referred to Golha House Health in the 6th district of Tehran City in Summer 2014 were selected by accessible sampling method and were divided to 2 experimental and control groups (each of 8 couples). The research tool was Stockholm- Tehran Marital Stress Scale (STMSS) which completed in the pretest and posttest by the samples. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS 20 software.Findings: The average score of marital stress in experimental group was significantly reduced according to control group in posttest (p=0.0001).Conclusion: Self-regulatory brief marital therapy is effective in reducing couple’s marital stress.

Aims: Diabetes is one of the metabolic diseases. According to side effects of medication and high costs of treatments, medical plants are of attention. This study was done to compare the anti-diabetic effect of Citrullus colocynthis fruit powder with metformin on blood glucose level.Materials & Methods: 32 mature male rats with an average weight of 250-300 gr were divided into four groups; a negative control (normal diet), a positive control (distilled water), a sham (14 mg/kg metformin) and a treatment (50 mg/kg Citrullus colocynthis). Type 2 diabetes induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of Streptozotocin (two times, with 48h interval) in all except the negative control group. These solutions regularly administrated by using oral gavage for 6 weeks. After 12 hours of fasting, before the first and after the last doses, the blood glucose was measured via the tail vein. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 18 software by one way ANOVA with repeated measurement tests.Findings: The decreasing level of glucose between metformin and Citrullus colocynthis groups was significant in day 28 (p<0.05), But it was not significant in day 42.Conclusion: Metformin can be replaced by Citrullus colocynthis in reducing blood glucose.

Aims: Organophosphates such as diazinon (DZN) induce the production of free radicals and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of vitamins E and C as antioxidants in reduction of DZN-induced oxidative stress in rat heart.Materials & Methods: In present experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups; control (corn oil as DZN solvent), DZN (100 mg/kg), vitamin E (150 mg/kg), vitamin C (200 mg/kg), vitamin E+DZN and vitamin C+DZN. 24 hours after intraperitoneal injection, animals were anesthetized by ether, and heart tissue was quickly removed. After tissues hemogenation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione Stransferase (GST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, as well as glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined by biochemical methods. The data were statistically analyzed using Instat 3.3 by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey test.Findings: DZN increased SOD, CAT and GST activities (p<0.01) and MDA level (p<0.05), while decreased LDH activity (p<0.05) and GSH content (p<0.01) in heart compared with the control group. Administration of vitamins E and C inhibited changing of these parameters.Conclusion: Administration of vitamins E and C as antioxidant decreases DZNinduced oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals.

Aims: Diabetes cause oxidative stress in sperm and testicular tissue. The Launaea acanthodes has anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic effects. The present study was done to evaluate the effect of Launaea acanthodes extract on sperm parameters and testicular tissue in diabetic rats.Materials & Methods: 27 rats were divided into the 3 equal groups; control, diabetic control and experimental diabetic. Experimental diabetic and diabetic control groups were got diabetic by an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. Extract of Launaea acanthodes with concentration of 300 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally to the experimental diabetic group every other day for a month. Sterile distilled water was injected to control and diabetic control groups. After creating experimental diabetes, all injections were done every other day for a month. On day 30, all rats were sacrificed and their testes were removed for assessment of sperm parameters and histological evaluation. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software using Kruskal Wallis and Dunn post hoc test.Findings: Percentage of progressive motility, natural forms and the number of sperms in treated diabetic group with extract of Launaea acanthodes with concentration of 300 mg/kg were increased significantly compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.05). Average weight, length, width and average diameter of the tubules of the testes and the average thickness of the epithelium of the seminiferous tubule in diabetic group treated with extract of Launaea acanthodes were increased significantly compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Extract of Launaea acanthodes improves sperm parameters, increase sperm count and decrease atrophy of seminiferous tubules of diabetic rats.

Aims: Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder that can lead to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of pod Prosopis fracta, on liver histopathology and tissue level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Materials & Methods: 45 male Wistar rats (200-300 g) were divided into 3 groups; control, diabetic and Prosopis farcta extract treated diabetic. Type 1 diabetes was induced in by injection of streptozotocin (42 mg/kg). One week after diabetes induction, Prosopis farcta extract (300 mg/kg of body weight) was administered to treated diabetic group by gavage for 30 days. Hepatic histological changes were assessed with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining under light microscopy. The liver concentration of MDA was determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The obtained data were statistically analyzed using Students T and Mann-Whitney rank sum tests.Findings: Administration of Prosopis fracta extract decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde in liver tissue of treated diabetic group in comparison to diabetic group significantly (p<0.05). Inflation and vacuolation of hepatocytes were observed with disarrangement of hepatic cords and sinusoidal narrowing. All previous signs were improved in Prosopis fracta treated group.Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of Prosopis fracta pod can reduce the level of malondialdehyde as a marker of lipid peroxidation in liver and prevent the histopathological changes of liver associated with diabetes.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of two exercise programs (respiratory muscles resistance and specific respiratory muscle) on physical and respiratory function in patient with asthma.Materials & Methods: In this semi-experimental study that was done in 2013- 14, 23 asthmatic women who had the history of hospitalization in Vasei Hospital of Sabzevar City, Iran during 2006 to 2013 were selected by random sampling method and were divided randomly to three groups; respiratory muscles resistance exercise (weight training movement including lift, fly, bench press, lat pull down, crunch and rowing), specific respiratory muscle exercise (inhale against the resistance by using a especial device) and control. The trainings were performed for 8 weeks. All samples were examined for spirometry, strength, muscular resistance, and the maximum respiratory muscle strength before and after the exercise program. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS 18 software by ANOVA and Scheffe post hoc tests.Findings: Respiratory indexes FEV1 (p=0.038) and FVC (p=0.016) and also general strength (p=0.0001) and the respiratory muscles strength (p=0.001), were significantly increased in respiratory muscles resistance exercise group.Conclusion: Performing respiratory muscles resistance exercises can improve pulmonary function and strength and endurance of patients with asthma but it does not seem that using the training respiratory muscle device have any impress on improving this index.

Aims: Turnip is one of the most consumed medicinal plants that seem to have advantageous efficacy on hyperlipidemia. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root on hyperlipidemic rats.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 equal groups; normal control, hyperlipidemic control (1 ml normal saline once a day), Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg of body weight per day) and aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root groups (200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight per day) were treated for 10 days. After 18h fasting in 11th day, hyperlipidemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of triton WR1339 (300mg/kg of body weight) in all groups except normal control. 24 hours after injection, blood collection was done and plasma analyzed for lipid profiles. Data was compared between groups by ANOVA and Tukey tests in SPSS 18 software.Findings: Aqueous extract of Brassica rapa root inhibited the elevation of plasma total cholesterol level at the dose of 200mg/kg of body weight. The extract also decreased LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidemic rats significantly but in compare to normal control group these levels were significantly high (p<0.05).Conclusion: The consumption of turnip may act as a potent antihyperlipidemic nutrient for patients with dyslipidemia, cardiovascular and diabetes diseases.

Aims: The use of corticosteroids and abandoning the delivery are of preventive actions of newborns’ respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the effect of one versus two doses of Betamethasone on the outcomes of preterm infants.Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental clinical trial, 100 preterm labor pregnant women who referred to Sanandaj Be’sat Hospital in 2013 were selected by purposive sampling method and were divided into one dose (12 mg Betamethasone) and two doses (12 mg Betamethasone with the interval of 24 hours) groups. Information about delivery and gender, weight and Apgar scores of newborn were recorded in the checklist. Newborns were examined for infant respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, cerebral hemorrhage and neonatal death. Data were analyzed in SPSS 20 software by Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests.Findings: 14 newborns (28%) in one dose and 13 (24.5%) in two doses group had respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.689). 4 newborns (8%) in one dose and 7 (13.2%) in two doses group had enterocolitis and 8 newborns (16%) in one dose and 9 (17%) in two doses group needed respiratory support (p>0.05).Conclusion: Single-dose or two doses administration of Betamethasone in preterm mothers have no impact on newborn after birth.

Aims: Endotracheal intubation is an invasive technique which is associated with severe cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to compare the effects of lidocaine 10% spray on the laryngoscope blade with intravenous lidocaine on cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in elective surgical patients.Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial that is performed in 2013, 90 candidates of elective surgery in Gonobad City, Iran hospitals were randomly divided to three groups; control (no drugs were used), intravenous lidocaine (three minutes before laryngoscopy) and lidocaine 10% (just before laryngoscopy). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded immediately before, immediately after, and 1, 3 and 5min after laryngoscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 by repeated ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.Findings: There were significant differences in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure between control group and each intravenous lidocaine and lidocaine 10% groups after laryngoscopy (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in any of the three variables between intravenous and spray groups. No significant difference was found between the three groups in heart rate (p=0.16).Conclusion: Compared with intravenous lidocaine administration, lidocaine 10% spray on the laryngoscope blade lead to better stability in blood pressure after laryngoscopy, but has no effect on the heart rate.