Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:8 | Issue:3 (32)|Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: The effect of endurance training on lipid profile and cardiovascular endurance in normal rat after Bunium Persicum Extract (BPE) administration has been previously investigated. In the present study, the effect of co-administration of endurance training and persicum extract on plasma lipid and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic male mice was examined. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 male mice were, randomly, divided into 4 groups: Vehicle, Endurance Training (ET), Bunium Persicum Extract Administer (BPEA) and ET-BPEA group. The Exercise protocol was performed at a speed of 18 m/min, 40 min/day, 5 day/week for 6-weeks. The Bunium Persicum Extract was also administered in the same period and the desired dose (0.8 mg) was reconstituted in 0.4 ml of distilled water. The amount of Triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-c, LDL-c and Body Weight were registered at the beginning and also at the end of the 6 weeks. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA method. Results: The results indicated that the 6-week endurance training accompanied by Bunium Persicum aquous extract administration reduced TC (pretest; 297.7±37.08, post test; 146.1±30.8, p=0.019) and LDL-c concentrations (pretest; 151.8±14.4, post test; 0.12±8.7, p=0.001). On the other hand, Bunium Persicum aquous extract administration increased HDL-c concentration significantly (pretest; 75.9±12.1, post test; 119.9±17.9, p=0.003). Also, the results showed that body weight changes were not significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that co-administration of BPE and ET could significantly affect plasma lipid and lipoproteins. Therfore performing such program maybe useful for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Background and Objectives: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis which is more widespread in the tropical and semi tropical regions, and is endemic in the flat area of Guilan province, north of Iran. Surface waters are sources of saprophytic and carier animals are reservoirs of pathogenic agent. In each endemic region only a limited number of pathogenic serovars are common, and characterization of them is a very important step in detecting the main reservoirs of the disease. This study is performed to isolate endemic leptospires from rice farms, irrigation canals, and rivers of west and central parts of the area, which accounted for a significant annual incidence of the disease. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 500 specimens were taken from 13 cities of the area, between May to September of 2007. One ml of each water sample was inoculated in EMJH liquid medium with 200mg/ml 5-flurouracil after filtration by 22 mm syringe filter. All speciments were incubated in 30oc for 3 months and were checked by darkfield microscope every 2 weeks. All positive samples were characterized by using 30 types antisera. Results: One hundred thirteen of 500 specimens were positive. Saprophytic serogroups were Andamana and Semaranga, belonging to biflexa species. Pathogenic serogroups were icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona, canicola and pyrogenes (interrogans Specie), hardjobovis and sejroea (Borgpeterseni specie), grippotyphosa (Kircshneri). Pathogenic species were common in the rice paddies and saprophytic species were common in the rice farms, rivers and irrigation canals, respectively. Conclusion: It seems that higher frequency of pathogenic serogroups in rice farms is due to high traffic of animals and rodents, and the long time stay of water in the farms. Isolation of saprophytic serogroups in all types of surface waters was expected. Increasing farmers' knowledge about the ways of the disease transfer, and avoiding of unprotected contact with surface waters might help with decreaseing the incidence of the disease in the area.

Background and Objectives: B-Interferons have been reported as effective medicine in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but due to their cost and side effects, the duration of therapy is controversial. The current study aimed to reveal the rate of recurrence according to the duration of medication among the patients receiving B- Interferons in a 2 year period in Rafsanjan city. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, patients who had relapsing-remiting MS for at least 2 years and had been receiving B-Interferon for at least 3 months were followed. The patients were given a questionaire containing their demographic information, recurrence rate and duration of treatment with B- Interferon. Results: Sixty three point six percent had no exacerbation in the group receiving medication for 3-6 months, while 38.1% in the 6 months-1 year group, and 41.7% in the 1 year group had no exacerbation. There was no significant relationship between the duration of receiving medicaton and the number of recurrence rate. Recurrence rate in the first and second group [<12 months therapy] was 0.46% and in the third group [>12 months therapy] was 0.35%. Conclusion: The results showed no significant relationship between recurrence rate and the duration of B- Interferon therapy. Longer period of treatment is recommended to asses the therapeutic effects of beta-interferon.

Background and Objectives: Heavy metal ions and their compounds are essential for bacterial growth at very low concentration; however most of them have toxic effects at high concentrations. For Escherichia coli, simultaneous resistance to several heavy metal ions and antibacterial agents is reported. The present study is conducted to measure simultaneous resistance of some E. coli isolates, in which their tellurite sensivity had been investigated before, to heavy metal ions and antibiotics. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, in order to test bacterial resistance, the experimental investigations of antibiotic disc diffusion (agar serial dilution) were used to test 22 E. coli strains resistancy (5 isolates, MIC range <10 mg/ml), (6 isolates, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) range 10-40 mg/ml) and (11 isolates, MIC range >40 mg/ml) to heavy metal ions (Ag, Hg, Cd) and antibacterial agents; (Amoxicillin, Tetracycline and Gentamicin), simultaneously. These strains were isolated from urinary tracts and feces floor of clinical samples. Data were analyzed using PROBIT method. Results: For Ag, the MIC was similar for all the isolates, therefore no difference was observed between sensitivity to tellurite and Ag. MIC level for Cd was significantly higher in the isolates, which were highly resistant to tellurite (p=0.008). In case of Hg the isolates which were highly resistant to tellurite had a higher MIC than that of other isolates and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.008). There were no significant differences between simultaneous resistance to heavy metals and different antibacterial agents; (Amoxicillin, Tetracycline and Gentamicin). Conclusion: In total, there were statistically significant relationship between resistance to the antibacterial agents (Am, Gm, Te) and resistance to heavy metal ions in the tested isolates.

Background and Objectives: b-lactame antibiotics are very important in the cure of diseases. b-lactamase as a virulence agent causes resistance to these antibiotics. Existence of b-lactamase in the pathogen bacteria can cause delay in the treatment. The aim of this research was to compare the frequency of b-lactamase enzyme existence in different types of isolated nosocomial infection bacteria in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Materials and Methods: This laboratory study was performed in Alzahra hospital of Isfahan in 2005-2006. According to sample size estimation, 100 infection samples (blood, urine, skin) were randomly selected. Identification of bacteria was performed using microbiological methods; such as: staining, chemical test, and use of differential and selective media. To determine b–lactamase production in bacteria, acidimetric method was used. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: From the 100 isolated pathogen bacterias, 68.45% produced b-lactamase; 83.33% produced Staphylococcus spp. 70.95% produced Enterobacteriaceae spp. and 18.8% produced Pseudomonas 18.8%. Conclusion: Based on the results, the frequncy of b–lactamase Enzyme existence in isolated bacteria of nosocomial infection was very high, which can be due to the increase of resistance of b–lactam antibiotics in pathogen Bacteria.

Background and Objectives: Nutritional assessment is an important method in public health for measuring health status of people in community. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional status of students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS) using anthropometric indices: Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC). Materials & Methods: This cross sectional study was done on 694 students of RUMS in 2007. A ppropriate tools were used for measuring weight, height, waist circumference and mid upper arm circumference. Obesity and abdominal obesity were detected based on the scores of BMI and WC. Also malnutrition was defined according to the scores of MUAC. Data were analyzed using t test and Pearson correlation coefficient methods. Results: Results showed that 10.7% (n=74) and 1.4% (n=10) of respondents were overweight and obese, respectively. Seven point eight percent of students (n=54) had abdominal obesity. There was a significant correlation between BMI and WC (r=0.81, p=0.01). Also 13% of the students (90) were underweight. Three point sixteen percent of girls (n=18) and 7.1% of boys (n=90) were malnourished based on MUAC measurement. There was a significant correlation between real BMI and estimated BMI by the MUAC (p=0.001, r=0.84). There was also a correlation between BMI scores and MUAC (r=0.83, p=0.001). Conclusion: Overweight, obesity and under weight due to malnutrition are important health problems among the students of RUMS. It seems that using MUAC can estimate BMI in adults.

Background and Objectives: Resistance to antibacterial agents and sensivity reaction to such chemical compounds are the main reasons for investigators to develop new antibiotics from herbal sources. Antimicrobial effects of Metanolic extract of 12 herbal species Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia, Cuscuta epthymum, Ephedra procera, Salsola boryosm, Sameraria armena, Scabiosa olivier, Scorzonera tortuosissima, Lepyrodielis holosteoidea, Vaccaria pyramidata, Sonchus oleraceam and Silene conoidema on 6 bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureas, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Echerichia coli, Kelebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginos and Bacillus subtilis were, separately, studied using Cylinder-plate method. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, methanolic extracts of herbal strains were prepared by maceration and after concentrating the extracts were dried. Then the concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 mg/ml of the extracts were prepared using 1:1 solution of DMSO/methanol. The standard bacteria with certain concentration (0.5 MacFarland) were inoculated on to the Muller-Hinton agar medium. Prepared extracts were dropped into cylinders and 18-24 hours after incubation and penetration of extract into the culture medium, the antibacterial effects and growth inhibitory zone (mm) were measure and values were expressed as (Mean±SEM). Results: The least and the most amount of effective concentration were 3.125 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, respectively. The most inhibitory diameter belonged to methanolic extract of Amygdalus scoparia on Staphylococcus epidermidis which was equal to19±0.3mm. Conclusions: Metanolic extracts of herbal species of Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia and Ephedra procera had the most antibacterial effects compared to gentamicin as positive control. Regarding the side effects of the synthetic drugs and also benefits of such herbal extracts, extracts of these herbs as antibacterial agents after further investigations seems to be useful.

Background and Objectives: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes, but the main cause of which is yet to be identified. One of the symptoms of diabetes is delay in healing of the wounds. Chemokines play key roles in both the regulation of immune system functions and regeneration of the damaged tissues. Growth-regulatory oncogen (Gro) is an angiogenesis chemokine. Therefore, we dicided to compare the serum level of Gro-a chemokine in diabetic patients and healthy people. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study respondents were 45 diabetic and 45 healthy people referred to Ali Ibn Abitaleb hospital in Rafsanjan. The level of Gro-a was detected by ELISA. Data were analysed using SPSS version 12. T-test was used to compare continuous data. Results: Although there were differences between diabetic and healthy people based on the serum level of Gro-a chemokine, this difference was not significant. Conclusion: Based on our results, it can be concluded that diabetic patients are unable to produce enough Gro-a and this can be the reason for the delay in healing of the wounds. Furthermore, to assess the role of this chemokine more number of samples are needed for examination.

Background and Objectives: Lung involvement in Hodgkin's disease is usually associated with nodal involvement and is due to direct extension from mediastinal nodes. Primary pulmonary Hodgkin’s disease is a rare disease. This disease occurs most frequently in the older women. Case Report: The present case was a 54-year-old woman who was presented with fever, dry cough and weight loss since the last three months. There was no evidence of hepatosplenomegaly and peripheral lymphadenopathy. Radiological investigations revealed bilateral pulmonary nodular lesions but no mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Cyto-pathology assessment of the sample which was taken based on bronchoscopic and CT results did not help with diagnosis of the disease. As a last resort, open lung biopsy was done and a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was made. The final diagnosis was primary pulmonary Hodgkin's disease. Conclusion: Although primary pulmonary Hodgkin's is a rare disease, it should be considered as one of the causes of bilateral pulmonary nodular lesions.