JOURNAL OF RAFSANJAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SERVICES
Year:2017 | Volume:16 | Issue:8 |Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Heavy metals are the most common contaminants in industrial wastewater.Cadmium is important due to its toxicity and harmful effects on human beings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by nickel ferrite-titanium oxide nanocomposite.Materials and Methods: This experimental – laboratory study was carried out in a discontinuous system under environment temperature. Scrutiny effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration of cadmium on the adsorption and the removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (Conter AA700). Kinetic modeling and adsorption isotherms like Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin were also studied.Results: The highest removal percentage of cadmium was observed in pH 6, with initial concentration of 2 mg/L, in period time of 30 minutes and 0.4 g/L of nickel ferrite- titanium oxide nano-composite. The result of adsorption isotherm models showed the best relationship with Langmuir isotherm model by the correlation coefficient of 0/9905. According to the results of kinetic models, cadmium adsorption was followed by pseudo second model with the coefficient of 0/9999.Conclusion: Nickel ferrite- titanium oxide nanocomposite can be used as an effective adsorbent in removal of cadmium; because it has a high efficiency in removing these element.

Background and Objectives: Menopause is a critical period in women's life, in which most of them experience physical and mental symptoms as well as temperamental changes. As hormone therapy hasbeen associated with a variety of side effects, there is a shift demaned to non-hormonal options. Among the alternatives, phytoestrogen herbs possess a particular position. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) on menopausal symptoms.Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 menopause women who were supported by Rafsanjan Health Centers in 2015, and they were randomly assigned into two groups of case and control. The intervention for case group was done in 8 weeks using coated pills of cimifugol which contained 6.5 mg dried root of Black Cohosh produced by GolDaroo Company, and meanwhile the control group did not take any kind of drug. The data were collected by means of individual characteristics form and MRS (Menopause Rating Scale) questionnaire which were completed on the onset of the study, 4, and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data analysis was done by independent t-tests and two-way repeated measures ANOVA.Results: The mean scores of menopause in the Black Cohosh group and the control group before the intervention were respectively 19.02 ± 7.61 and 19.77±10.44, which statistically there was not a considerable difference between the two groups (p=.706). This scores four weeks after the commence were respectively 13.09±5.86 and 20.62±7.88 and after eight weeks were 10.09±5.13 and 21.66±8.57, which represented a meaningfull difference between the two groups (p<.05), so that the symptoms reduced in the test group.Conclusion: The results indicated that the Black Cohosh has proved to be effective in decreasing menopause symptoms and it can be considered as an alternative treatment for those who are not able or eager to use hormone therapy. Complementary studies applying placebo are recommended.

Background and Objectives: Over the past decade self-compassion has gained popularity as a complementary construct to mindfulness, and research on self-compassion is growing at different scopes of psychological sciences. The aim of the present study was to develop a Persian version of self-compassion scale (SCS-P) and to examine its psychometric properties.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, SCS-P, after preparation using back-translation, was administrated on 377 students from Mashhad University. The reliability of SCS-P was assessed via internal consistency, test-retest, and item-rest correlations methods. Also, the factor structure of scale was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis.Validity assessment was done through using correlations between subscales, content, divergent, convergent, and criterion validity.Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.68- 0.77, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of total scale of 0.90, test-retest coefficients ranging from 0.56- 0.71, and item-rest correlations ranging from 0.54-0.78 suggested that SCS-P had a good reliability. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable items fitness. Also, the model of intercorrelation among the subscales ranging from 0.32-0.65, content, divergent, convergent, and criterion validity showed good validity.Conclusion: In sum, it can be said that SCS-P has good psychometric properties and is a reliable and valid instrument in research screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic situations.

Background and Objectives: Poor sleep quality can cause a variety of problems, including reduced lung function and increased obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and respiratory index and BMI (Body Math Index) in active and inactive male students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University in 2017.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, from male students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University 40 healthy men after getting informed consent participated in the two active (n=20) and inactive (n=20) groups.Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality. Respiratory parameters were measured by Micro Lab Spirometery. To calculate the BMI, bodyweight in kilograms was divided by height in meters squared. Data were analyzed using independent samples ttest and Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The results indicated that the mean score of sleep quality in the active group was significantly lower than the inactive group (p=0.001). The parameters of forced vital capacity (p=0.013), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (p=0.006), maximum voluntary ventilation (p=0.012), and strong expiratory flow at 25-75% (p=0 .025) were significantly higher in the active group compared to the inactive group. Moreover, the relationship between variables showeda significant correlation between thescore of sleep quality and body mass index (p=0.001, r=0.627) and body fat percentage (p=0.001, r=0.681) in the inactive group.Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that physical activity can be regarded as an effective factor in enhancing the quality of sleep and respiratory function in inactive men.

Background and Objectives: Marine algae are one of the natural resources which produce a wide range of new secondary metabolites with various biological activities such as antitumor and anticancer properties. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate theinvitro cytotoxic effect of marine algae Gelidiella acerosa organic extracts against breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cell lines.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, cell lines of breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HT-29) were cultured in RPMI medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The cytotoxic effect of different concentrations (125, 250, 500 , and 1000 mg/ml) of algae extracts culturedcells were evaluated by MTT (3- (4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and trypan blue assay. DNA fragmentation activity of the cells was evaluated by the 2% agarose gel after cell culturing by the different concentration of the algae extracts, trypsination, and precipitation by RNAase. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test.Results: Survival of cancer cells in both methods was inversely correlated with the concentration and the percentage of survival decreased with increasing concentration. Concentration of 1000 mg/ml of methanol extract showed the greatest effect compared with the controls (p<0.05). The methanolic extract LC50 (Lethal Concentration 50) on colorectal and breast cancer cells was 724.48±25.52 and 845.36±41.05 mg/ml, respectively. Also, methanolic extract of algae was able to fragment the DNA of cancer cells and induce apoptosis dose dependent (p<0.05).Conclusion: In this study, results showed seaweed extract can be the basis for further studies in order to recognize the chemical compounds of the extracts. Also, afterinvivo, preclinical, and clinical studies the extract can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Background and Objectives: Adipose tissue plays a role in releasing hormones including orexin, that regulates energy metabolism, nutrition, body weight, control system, autonomic, sleep, insulin sensitivity, breathing, drug addiction, and reproductive axis. The pregnancy is associated with a series of metabolic changes that provide energy and nutrients for mother and fetus. Orexin increases insulin sensitivity and reduces diabetes and metabolism and increases energy expenditure and development of the fetus and newborn. This review aimed to summarize the studies related to orexin A, normal and complicated pregnancy, lactation, and sudden infant death (SID).Materials and Methods: In this study, 320 articles were found through electronic search in Pubmed, Google, Google Scholar, Yahoo, Iran Medex, Science Direct, and SID databases during 1998 to 2016 and 13 articles were finally examined.Results: The results showed that orexin A in the placenta plays an important role in the regulation of energy metabolism during pregnancy and AF volume and its reduction probably causes idiopathic polyhydramnius and increases the risk of gestational diabetes resolutions. And its reduction after delivery increases prolactin and lactation. Orexin A reduction in brain stem is associated with sleep disorders that causes sudden infant death to occur.Conclusion: The study showed that, orexin plays a role in improving insulin resistance and sets the sleep cycle, fetal and infant growth, uncomplicated pregnancy, and lactation.

Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is a collection of factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglyceride and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Metabolic syndrom is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome and its factors in employees of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS).Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 24 employees of the Medical, Nursing and Dental Schools of RUMS in 2016. Frequency of metabolic syndrome was evaluated according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and The National Cholesterol Education Program-Panel 3 (NCEPATPIII).Results were reported as descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage).Results: The results showed that the frequency of metabolic syndrome was %4.2 (n=1). %29.2 of the subjects (n=7) had at least two risk factors for metabolic syndrom. The most prevalent factors of metabolic syndrome in either gender was obesity (%70.8, n=17), high fasting blood sugar (%20.8, n=5) and high triglyceride (%12.5, n=3) and no one had low high density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic pressure.Conclusion: According to the complications of metabolic syndrome and the high prevalence of obesity as the most important factor of the syndrome in this study, it may reduce complications of metabolic syndrome and increase the public health, by increasing their public awareness and planning for changing their lifestyle.

Background and Objectives: Manual load handling is one of the several factors causing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction industry and causes serious issues with major economic consequences.The aim of this study was to investigate the forces exerting on the back of building construction workers in the manual load handling tasks.Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study was carried out among 100 building construction workers in 2015, who were assigned the load handling tasks and totally 955 direct and indirect observations in four tasks and in the five building construction workshops were assessed by Utah method. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test and one - way ANOVA.Results: The amount of exerted force on the back of the workers is compared with NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) standard (700 lb). Exerted force (Fc) on the back was less than permissible level in all workers. In this study, the average exerted force on the back of workers among different tasks levels by one - way ANOVA showed that there was not a significant difference among them (p=0.423) Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study building construction workers were exposed to risk factors that cause pressure on the intervertebral disk L5/S1. Using Utah method as a simple tool and quick screening in order to obtain compressive force on back in manual material handling is useful.