Journal of Arak University Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:14 | Issue:1 (54)|Papers Count:17

Background: This study investigated the effect of para-nonylphenol as an environmental pollutant on the viability and morphology of the rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Materials and Methods: In this Experimental study, Under sterilized conditions, rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted in DMEM containing 15% FBS and Pen/Strep up to the third passage and then treated with 0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM of para-nonylphenol for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs. Viability of the cells was measured through trypan blue and MTT staining. Eventually, 100 mM dosage and 24 hrs of treatment were selected for carrying out the investigations. The cells morphology was studied using fluorescent dye (Hochest, propidium iodide, acridine orange, and monodensyl cadaverine) and the protein profile of the cells were studied using SDS-PAGE. Data were analyzed using one and two way ANOVA.Results: Based on the two-way ANOVA, cumulative effect of treatment time and dosage caused a highly significant reduction (P<0.001) in the viability of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. One way ANOVA indicated a significant difference in the viability of the cells from 100 mM of para-nonylphenol onwards through all treatment times in comparison to the control group (P<0.05).Condensation and deformation of the nuclei, membrane disruption, and presence of several vacuoles in the cytoplasm were also observed.Conclusion: Para-nonylphenol toxicity resulted in morphological changes in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This reduction in the viability of the cells was dependent on dose and time.

Background: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis is one of the challenges that surgeons face in the emergency ward. Although Alvarado score has been recommended in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, this criterion has some limitations in terms of age, sex, and race. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis based on the age and gender.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 407 patients who underwent operation with the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis from June 2008 to August 2009 were included in the study. The patients’ data were recorded by the investigators. The data were compared by parametric tests. The sensitivity and specificity were determined by the optimal cut-off point on ROC curve using MedCalc software version 10.2.0.0.Results: The optimal cut-off point for women was lower than men (6 and 7, respectively). The rate of negative appendectomy in the group with Alvarado scores 9 and 10 was 11.8%, while the negative appendectomy rate in the other two groups with Alvarado scores 7 and 8 and 5 and 6 were 29.9% and 52.8%, respectively.Conclusion: The diagnostic value of Alvarado score of 8 and less in physical examination is lower than the abdominal tenderness exam alone. Also, the cut-off point for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in women should be considered lower than that in men. On the other hand, the cut-off point in adolescents and children is higher than adults.

Background: Essential hypertension which affects nearly one billion people worldwide is a multifactorial disorder influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In human, around week 14 of pregnancy, sweat gland appear along the apices of the epidermal ridges and once formed on the ridges, they are fixed there and never degenerate or move. This study, by comparing the palmar distribution of sweat gland pores in hypertensive and norotensive individuals, examines the relationship between the number of palmar sweat gland pores and hypertension.Materials and Methods: In this fundamental study, by using a digital microscope, the number of palamr sweat gland pores was counted in a circle area (12.5-16.8 mm2) of certain anatomical regions (a, b, and c triradials and fingers) in 75 hypertensive and 55 normotensive individuals. Results: The results showed that the mean count of sweat gland pores on fingers and b triradial in hypertensive individuals was significantly lower than that in normotensive individuals.Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate a significant relationship between the number of fingertip sweat glands pores and hypertension. Therefore, the examination of the palmar distribution of sweat gland pores in hypertensive individuals with a familial background of hypertension can be helpful in prognosis and early detection of this disorder.

Background: The main advantage of regional anesthesia is the elimination of post-operative pain without the need for narcotics, which leads to a more rapid outpatient recovery and faster return to consciousness in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to compare caudal anesthesia with midazolam and neostigmin co-administered with bupivacain in reduction of post-operative pain in lower abdominal surgery in pediatrics (2- 8 years old).Materials and Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, 45 pediatric patients were randomly allocated to midazolam, neostigmine, and placebo groups. Induction of anesthesia was done with inhalation of halothane and O2. Bupivacaine 0.25% in 0.5 ml/kg with midazolam in 50m/kg was administered in caudal form to the first group, and bupivacaine 0.25% in 0.5 ml/kg with neostigmine in 2 mg/kg dose was administered to the second group. The third group received the placebo plus bupivacaine 0.25% in 0.5 ml/kg.Results: Mean durations of analgesia in neostigmin, midazolam, and placebo groups were 16.5± 0.25, 12.3±0.22, and 6±0.11 hours, respectively (P<0.001). Also, in the neostigmin group, mean score of pain in outpatient recovery 6 , 12 , 24 hours post operatively was less than that in the other two groups (P<0.001).Conclusion: Duration of analgesia period in neostigmin group was more than that in midazolam and placebo groups.

Background: Job satisfaction is viewed as all inclinations or positive feelings that individuals have towards their jobs. Medical universities are in need of motivated professors, as one important paradigm of education, to instruct students of medicine and to improve health and medicine in the society. Noticing the importance of job satisfaction among faculty members in promotion of university aims and enhancement of productivity, this study was conducted to evaluate job satisfaction among faculty members of Arak University of Medical Sciences (AUMS) in 2010.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, observational one and the study population consisted of all faculty members at AUMS. Sampling was performed by census and data were collected through demography questionnaire including sex, age, scientific stage, educational department, employment status, and job experience, and Herzberg job satisfaction questionnaire. Results: The mean (standard deviation) of job satisfaction in faculty members of AUMS was 60.72 (11.51) and the mean (standard deviation) of the surveyed stages were as follows: work nature (74.46(12.60)), supervision and relations (62.15(13.69)), job security (57.58 (15.72)), promotion opportunities (57.28(15.74)), physical conditions and work environment (55.84 (14.14)), and salary and benefits (55.56(16.87)) from the maximum 100 score.Conclusion: AUMS faculty members were satisfied with their jobs on the whole. The greatest job satisfaction was related to work nature and the least job satisfaction was with salaries and benefits. By increasing salaries and benefits and providing promotion opportunities, job satisfaction can be enhanced in this group.

Background: Chronic diabetes mellitus is accompanied with disturbances in learning, memory, and cognitive skills. Noticing the existing evidence regarding the anti-diabetic potential of hesperetin, the effect of its chronic administration on learning and memory in diabetic rats was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into control, hesperetin-treated control, diabetic, and hesperetin/glibenclamide-treated diabetic groups. For evaluation of learning and memory, initial (IL) and step-through latencies (STL) were determined at the end of the study using passive avoidance test, and the alternation behavior percentage was obtained using Y maze.Results: STL significantly decreased in the diabetic (p<0.01) and hesperetin-treated diabetic (p<0.05) groups in comparison to the control group; however, the difference between these two groups was not significant. Alternation percentage in the diabetic group was significantly lower in comparison to the control group (p<0.05), but the hesperetin-treated diabetic group revealed a significant difference in comparison to the diabetic group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Although long-term treatment with hesperetin does not enhance the capability of retention and recall in diabetic animals on the passive avoidance test, it can improve the short-term spatial memory in diabetic animals.

Background: Existence of extended spectrum B-lactamase (ESBL) genes plays an important role in spreading B-lactam antibiotic resistance in the producing strains of these enzymes. The resistance of gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to different antimicrobial agents, especially B-lactam and carbapenem, has increasingly been reported. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of TEM-1 beta-lactamases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates through Duplex PCR. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 175 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected from burn patients were subjected to bacteriological tests. The samples were cultured and identified according to standard methods. Then the frequency of ESBL producing strains was determined via the combined disk method. Using boiling method, DNA was extracted and examined for the existence of TEM-1 gene by Duplex PCR.Results: Out of the 175 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 66 (37.7%) were ESBL positive, 15.15% of which were positive for TEM-1 B-lactamases resistance gene.Conclusion: Noticing the increasing rate of the ESBLs producing strains, using the appropriate treatment protocol based on the antibiogram pattern of the strains is highly recommended.

Background: Angiogenesis is one of the most important biological processes which is characterized by the formation of new blood vessels in many developmental and pathological stages. Therefore, angiogenesis blockage using anti-angiogenic drugs can be effective in treatment of such diseases as hemorrhages and cancers. Citrullus colocynthis (bitter melon) is a medicinal plant with cytotoxicity effects that its anti-angiogenic effects were investigated in this study.Materials and Methods: In an experimental study, at first, Citrullus colocynthis alcoholic extract was prepared. Then, 30 Highline fertilized eggs were randomly divided into control, shamexposed, and treatment groups. On the seventh day of incubation, the sham-exposed group was treated with normal salin and the treatment group was treated with the plant extract. On the 10th day of ncubation, CAMs were examined and photographed by research photostereomicroscope. The number and length of vessels around the treated region were measured and analyzed through SPSS and t-test (p<0.05).Results: According to data analysis, the number (31.40±5.87) and length (46.60±7.33 cm) of vessels in the control group did not reveal a significant difference in comparison to the number (27±5.16) and length (42.40±5.05 cm) of vessels in the sham-exposed group. However, a significant decrease was observed in the number (6.70±2.05) and length (14.79±3.34 cm) of vessels in the treatment group in comparison to the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis seems to have had a repressive effect on angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane. Therefore, it decreases the number and length of vessels around the treated area.

Background: Molybdenum is an essential trace element for both animals and plants. Molybdenum (Mo), which functions as a cofactor for a limited number of enzymes including xanthine dehyrogenase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulfite oxidase in mammals, is believed to be an essential trace element in animal nutrition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of sodium molybdate against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage.Materials and Methods: In an experimental study, adult male rats received daily oral administrations of different doses of sodium molybdate (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg bw) along with intrapertioneal CCl4 (50% CCl4 in olive oil, 1 ml/kg bw) twice a week for 28 consecutive days. Results: Histopathological examinations in CCl4-treated rats showed extensive liver injuries characterized by extensive hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, fat degeneration, and inflammatory cell infiltration while histopathological changes induced by CCl4 were significantly attenuated by sodium molybdate treatment.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that sodium molybdate could protect liver against the CCl4-induced oxidative damage in rats, and this hepatoprotective effect might be contributed to the protection of liver by preventing the toxic chemical reactions which generate oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and molecular changes which ultimately lead to liver tissue necrosis.

Background: Every year over 150 million pregnancies occur in developing countries; however, delivery is not satisfactory for some mothers and, in fact, it is a painful and frightening experience. One solution for pain relief is using En2nox gas. Because of opposite stances of people and society on En2onox, this study was done to highlight the real experiences of people and describe mothers' experiences of pain relief using En2nox.Materials and Methods: In this qualitative, phenomenological study, deep interview is conducted with 30 pregnant women who chose painless delivery using En2nox at Taamin Ejtemaee Hospital. Data analysis was done via Collaizzi method. Validity and reliability were obtained noticing such measures as real value, applicability, continuity, and authenticity.Results: The reasons for choosing En2nox were being easy-to-use and having minimal side effects. Most mothers had a positive attitude towards self-administration of the method and their main satisfaction was with the reduction in pain without severe side effects following withdrawal from usage of the method. The mothers’ major complaint was with dizziness following the method. Conclusion: Based on the mothers’ positive experience of En2nox painless delivery, using this method with the aim of decreasing labor pain and elective cesarean is recommended. Furthermore, the use of this type of analgesia at other centers, with larger sample sizes, and in comparison with other analgesia methods is recommended.

Background: TTV is the first human circoviridae that was isolated from Japanese patients with unknown hepatitis in 1997. Since then, several studies have been done on different aspects of TTV pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of TTV in patients with chronic hepatitis using two different primer sets.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, blood samples from 240 patients with chronic hepatitis C at Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center were assessed in terms of the presence of TTV DNA in plasma through the nested polymerase chain reaction using two primer sets.Results: Of the 240 patients, TTV-DNA was detected in 220 (92%) patients with chronic hepatitis C using 5’-UTR primer and in 12 (5%) patients using N22 primer. According to the demographic data, there was not a significant difference between male female patients in prevalence of TTV infection.Conclusion: The prevalence of TTV DNA in plasma samples from patients with chronic HCV by using 5’-UTR primer was high and it was congruent with studies done in other countries; however, N22 primer showed a lower prevalence of viral DNA in the samples. Overall, there was not a significant correlation between sex and the presence of viral DNA in patients. Controversial or high prevalence of this virus in HCV infected people necessitate further studies for determining the relationship between HCV and TTV infection.

Background: In pyoderma infections, the density of pus is related to desoxiribonucleoproteins. The use of streptodornase (DNase) in combination with streptokinase can help dissolve purulent secretions of infections which results in healing the wound through the discharge of pus from the necrotic tissue. The aim of this study was to produce recombinant streptodornase from group A strain of Streptococcus pyogenes which is highly efficient in terms of active streptodornase production using expression vector.Materials and Methods: In this applied-fundamental study, genomic DNA of streptodornase gene (sd) was extracted by phenol-chloroform. Then by using specific primers of streptodornase gene, it was amplified through PCR. The resulting streptodornase gene was cloned in pGEX4T1-sd transformer for expression and the pGEX4T1-sd plasmid was transferred to the sd. E.coli BL21. Protein production was done by induction via IPTG and optimization of the conditions. The recombinant protein was purified using the glutathione sepharose 4B kit.Results: The nucleotide sequence of PCR and group A streptodornase Streptococcus was totally the same. The production of the streptodornase recombinant protein was done by inducing pGEX4T1-sd plasmid via Isopropyl b-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside. Protein purification was done through affinity-chromatography by using glutathione sepharose 4B. The recombinant protein was reacted with anti-streptodornase mouse serum through Western-Blot method.Conclusion: Recombinant streptodornase can be produced by pGEX4T1 in E. coli. The recombinant protein maintains its antigenic property desirably. Noticing the domestic need in Iran, low rate of production, and pathogenesis of streptococci, production of this recombinant product is feasible.

Background: Sex life is one of the most important aspects of quality of life which is affected by a multitude of factors which can disrupt it. This study compares the effects of two different hormonal therapeutic regimens on sexual performance of postmenopausal women.Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, a total of 111 healthy postmenopausal women with no absolute contraindication for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were divided into two groups that received GI-Tibolone 2.5mg/day (N=57) and GII-continuous conjugated estrogen (CE) 0.625mg/day plus medroxyprogestrone acetate (MPA) 2.5mg/day (N=54) for six months. At baseline and after 6 months of treatment, blood samples were collected for determining sexual hormones level. Sexual function was assessed by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed using Spss 16.Results: Of all the participants, 45 women in the tibolone group and 32 women in HRT completed the study. Compared with the baseline values, the tibolone group significantly improved on all the six FSFI domains; however, in the HRT group, just two of the six domains, lubrication and pain, got improved. The increase in mean total score and the score of each domain of FSFI except for satisfaction domain in the tibolone group was significantly greater than the HRT group (p<0.05). In the tibolone group, testosterone (p=0.003), FTI (p=0.002), and FEI (p=0.021) increased in comparison to the baseline, whereas SHBG decreased (p<0.001). In GII group, SHBG (p=0.001) significantly increased and tibolone was tolerated better than HRT.Conclusion: In post menopausal women, tibolone is more effective than HRT in improving sexual function scores, especially the desire, arousal, and orgasm domains. Its side effects are also much more acceptable.

Background: Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG), also known as giant cell reparative granuloma, is a non-neoplastic proliferative lesion with unknown etiology which commonly occurs in the right side of the mandible. This lesion presents a wide variety of radiological and clinical manifestations that may lead to misdiagnosis. In many situations, CGCG is diagnosed through histopathological examinations.Case: In this study, a case of CGCG with irregular clinical and radiological aspect arising from the anterior, left side of the maxilla was reported.Conclusion: In differential diagnosis of swellings arising from the anterior portion of the maxilla, the possibility of CGCG should be considered. Also, histopathological examinations are of great importance in the diagnosis of CGCG.