JOURNAL OF BABOL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JBUMS)
Year:2016 | Volume:18 | Issue:8|Papers Count:14

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Rotational impairment of the knee (excessive adduction and internal rotation of the hip during weight-bearing activities) and hip muscles weakness have been proposed as one of the risk factors of PFPS. The effects of correction of these impairments, which are not related directly to patella-femoral joint, have not been studied up to now. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of “conventional physiotherapy alone” and “combined conventional physiotherapy with exercise therapy based on Sahrmann approach” in patients with PFPS.METHODS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 patients with PFPS (aged 20-50) were participated. The participants were divided into two groups: "traditional physiotherapy group" and “Sahrmann treatment group”. In both groups, interventions were applied for 6 weeks. Patients in traditional physiotherapy group only received TENS, hot packs, ultrasound, and knee exercise therapy. But in Sahrmann treatment group, in addition to traditional physiotherapy, posterior X taping, hip muscle strengthening and functional training was used. Before and immediately after the end of 6th week, quality of life variables (using questionnaires KOOS), pain (using the Visual Analogue Scale), and position sense of the knee were measured.FINDINGS: In both groups, pain severity, KOOS scale and position sense of the knee at the end of sixth week significantly improved (p<0.05). In traditional physiotherapy group, mean pain score was decreased of 7.23±54.53 mm to 11.5±80.37 mm, mean score of KOOS questionnaire from 95.93 ± 6.12 to 73.26±6.23 and the average error of knee position of 57.1±98.4 to 2.28±1.15. In addition, in the Sahrmann treatment group, mean pain score was decreased from 59.93±7.75 mm to 40.2±5.36 mm, mean score of KOOS questionnaire from 95.73±10.94 to 71.4±7.87 and the average error of knee position of 6.18±9.1 to 2.99±1.11 degree at the end of the sixth week. CONCLUSION: Essentially, using of Sahrmann approach including “posterior X taping on thigh, strengthening of hip abductor, extensor and lateral rotators muscles”, compared to conventional physiotherapy, was not result in more effective improvement in patients with PFPS.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Childbirth is a natural phenomenon and physiological and risky process done in two ways: natural and caesarean. Since the majority of cesarean section reasons are the request of pregnant women and fear of labor pain of natural delivery, this study aimed to investigate the effect of relaxation on reducing the fear of childbirth and increasing natural delivery.METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was done on 112 nulliparous pregnant women 37-20 weeks, with no particular problems in the two trained relaxation and untrained groups. One group received routine care and another group that participate optionally in relaxation classes received 8 sessions of 90-minute relaxation training. Data were collected and analyzed by using a standard questionnaire of childbirth fear, demographic information and pregnancy outcome.FINDINGS: In the trained group the average of fear score decreased from 48.5±13.9 to 40.5±12.4 (p=0.000) and in the untrained group rose from 58.5±14.2 to 58.7±14.9. The mean difference of childbirth fear in first and second stages between trained group was 7.9±1.8 and untrained group was 0.9±0.2 (p=0.000). In relaxation group 28 cases (49.1%) and in untrained group 18 cases (32.7%) had natural delivery (p=0.033). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the relaxation by reducing the fear of childbirth increases natural childbirth.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced muscle strength, functional limitations and disability and can sometimes lead to falls in the elderly. This study was carried out to specify the prevalence of falls and its association with serum vitamin D levels in the elderly population of Amirkola city.METHODS: This cross-sectional study is a part of Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). Frequency of falls was studied in two stages. In the first stage, questions were asked about occurrence of falls over the last 12 months and in the second stage, a 6-month follow-up was carried out for the elderly. To obtain vitamin D levels, serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in morning blood samples of the elderly were measured.FINDINGS: 1616 elderly people entered the study. The mean age was 69.37±7.42. Prevalence of falls for all elderly people, men and women was 17%, 14% and 22.4%, respectively over the last 12 months. With increasing age, the prevalence of falls increased in men (p<0.001) but no such relationship was observed in women. According to a 6-month follow-up, mean frequency of falls in women (17.43±98.25) was higher than men (7.63±36.49) (p=0.012). The mean serum vitamin D levels in elderly people without a history of falls over the last 12 months was 33.33±30.79 ng/mL, while it was 36.81±35.68 ng/mL in elderly people with a history of falls. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of falls in older women was higher than men. There is no relationship between falls and serum vitamin D levels in men and women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is one of the most common and worrying health problems in women around the world. This study was aimed to determine the mean age and survival rate of women with breast cancer in Iran.METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was based on searching in iranian databases as SID, Magiran, Irandoc, Noormag, IranMedex and Medlib and international databases as Ebsco, Cochrane, CEBM, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Jama, were published 1990-2016. Researched keywords were, breast cancer, age, survival rate, Iran and compound of them. The obtained documents analyzed based on appropriate checklist through a random effects model by using Review Manager Software ver: 5.3.5.FINDINGS: In 52 studies, 332991 samples were tested. Average of 5-years survival rate, and mean age of women with breast cancer estimated 68.84% in total (CI 95%: 64.9-72.72) and 48.59 years (CI 95%: 50.72-46.47). Lowest and the highest average of 5-years survival rate of them were calculated in northern of Iran 60.65% (CI 95%: 53.58-67.72) and in Tehran with 73.99% (CI 95%: 64.76-83.22), respectively. Lowest and highest average age of patients were calculated in North, 45.46 (CI 95%: 35.10-55.83) years and in West with 49.83 (CI 95%: 32.71-66.95) years. CONCLUSION: Survival rate and mean age are tow essential variables in treatment management of breast cancer. These tow essential variables in north of Iran, were the lowest. Therefore, consider these factors and screening exam for early diagnosis are recommended.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Using gold nanoparticles for cancer treatment has attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. Entry of these nanoparticles into cells is one the problems that influences the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this study is to identify the destructive effects of amino acid lysine-coated gold nanoparticles on PC12 cancer cells.METHODS: In this empirical study, gold nanoparticles were prepared using low temperature hydrothermal technique. After obtaining PC12 cells from Pasteur Institute of Iran and culturing them, we divided them into 7 treatment groups with concentrations of 0.5, 2.5 and 5 mM gold nanoparticles, with and without lysine coating; plus one control group. The cytotoxic effect of nanoparticles was assessed using MTT assay and LDH release from cells. In addition, cell morphology and amount of ROS (reactive oxygen species) within cells were examined.FINDINGS: According to the results of this study, a 40% increase in cell death occurred as a result of exposure to 25 mM amino acid lysine-coated gold nanoparticles, which was significantly higher than the group treated by uncoated gold nanoparticles (18% cell death) (p≤0.001). In addition, incubating cells with coated and uncoated nanoparticles increased the amount of ROS and mechanism of cell death through apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Results of the study revealed that lysine-coated gold nanoparticles have promising effects on destruction of PC12 cancer cells and they direct cell death towards apoptosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Identification of breast cancer risk factors is very important. Cholesterol by acting on tumor cells is considered as one of the risk factors for breast cancer. The conversion of cholesterol to bile acids is one of the major mechanisms of cholesterol excretion from body. In this study, total bile acids and cholesterol concentrations were evaluated in breast cancer patients.METHODS: In this case-control study, 109 of patients who breast cancer was confirmed by pathological examination and 109 healthy subjects who had normal physical exam and negative mammograms to rule out breast cancer were studied. Fasting serum total bile acids and cholesterol levels were measured enzymatically and then the data were analyzed.FINDINGS: The mean of total bile acids in breast cancer patients and control group were 11.67±0.92 and 13.36±0.81 mmol/l, respectively (p<0.05). Mean of cholesterol levels in breast cancer patients was 316.98±15.35 mg/dl and control group was 212.08±5.79 mg/dl (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the results, it appears that lower amounts of body cholesterol are converted to bile acids in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome is one of the most common disorders in women of childbearing age, which is accompanied by periodic changes in physical, mental and behavioral condition. Exercise is one of the proposed therapies to reduce the symptoms of this syndrome. Based on principles of Traditional Persian medicine (PM), type and intensity of symptoms and effectiveness of exercise depend on patient's "temperament" (called “Mizaj” in Persian medicine). This study was carried out to determine the effect of aerobic exercise program on premenstrual syndrome in women of hot and cold temperaments.METHODS: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out on 65 students living in dormitory of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Students were divided into two subgroups of hot and cold temperaments using random allocation method. Participants of intervention group (of hot and cold temperaments) did 20-minute aerobic exercise 3 times per week for 8 weeks; no intervention was attempted in control group. The required information was gathered and analyzed using standard questionnaires on determination of temperament, temporary determination of premenstrual syndrome, Beck depression, daily record of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and Borg scale (IRCT: 2015021721116N1).FINDINGS: The two groups were homogenous in terms of physical and mental symptoms, age, diet, grade and menstrual cycle characteristics. The results have demonstrated that after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome among participants of hot temperament decreased from 21.8±2.5 to 10.4±3.1 (p=0.001) and decreased from 20.8±3.8 to 9.5±1.7 (p=0.001) among participants of cold temperament. Similarly, mental symptoms among participants of hot temperament decreased from 12.4±1.2 to 5.8±1.5 (p=0.001) and decreased from 11.9±1.9 to 5.3±1.2 (p=0.001) among participants of cold temperament and these changes were considered significant. CONCLUSION: Results of the study revealed that doing aerobic exercise reduces the physical and mental symptoms of premenstrual syndrome among people of cold and hot temperament and highest level of symptom reduction was observed in participants of cold temperament.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Schistosomiasis is a severe disease in humans and animals caused by various Schistosoma in tropical areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Schistosoma bovis adult worm antigens on the expression of angiogenesis factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), in rat alveolar macrophages. METHODS: In this study, rat alveolar macrophage cell cultures were used to determine the effect of Schistosoma bovis adult worm antigens on the expression of genes encoding VEGF and FGF2. Rat alveolar macrophage cells were obtained through bronchoalveolar lavage and treated with different concentrations of Schistosoma bovis adult worm antigen (0.1, 1, 10 and 50 mg). Moreover, we determined the association between nitric oxide (NO) production and expression of the genes encoding VEGF and FGF2 in rat alveolar macrophage cells. FINDINGS: Schistosoma bovis adult worm antigen at concentrations of 10 and 50 micrograms per milliliter increased the expression of the genes encoding VEGF (12 and 17 times greater than the negative control, respectively) and FGF2 in rat macrophage cells (6 and 12 times greater than the negative control, respectively). In addition, an association was observed between NO production and expression level of the aforementioned genes.CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, increased expression of the encoding genes of VEGF and FGF was correlated with Schistosomiasis, which could contribute to future studies regarding the control and prevention of this disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The essence of insurance is compensating damages and replacing uncertainty with peace of mind; and insurance, as a way of dealing with risk, is a response to insecure and risky situations. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of supplemental health insurance on family quality of life.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014-2015 (Hijri year 1393) using 380 families of Babol city (Mazandaran Province, Iran) in two groups; those benefiting from supplemental health insurance and those without supplemental health insurance. Quality of life (QOL) was studied and compared between the two groups using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The score range was between 24 and 120. Scores lower than 60 were considered as low quality of life and scores higher than 60 were considered as high quality of life.FINDINGS: Mean quality of life score for the group with supplemental health insurance was 86.75±10.77 while it was 68.07±13.43 for the people without supplemental health insurance (p<0.001). Out of 254 families that experienced high quality of life, 242 individuals had supplemental health insurance, whereas out of 126 families that experienced low quality of life, 64 individuals did not have supplemental health insurance (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that having supplemental health insurance enhances the quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: From the viewpoint of traditional medicine, tongue reflects internal body states. The purpose of this study is to summarize the viewpoints of Persian Medicine (PM) references regarding importance of diagnostic uses of tongue.METHODS: Authentic PM manuscripts and perspectives of their writers were investigated in this descriptive study. We also searched online scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Magiran and SID for keywords such as "Tongue" and "Traditional Persian Medicine" and their Persian equivalent.Results: In our initial survey, we obtained 208 articles that were somehow related to significance of tongue in traditional medicine; among them, 66 articles were related to diagnostic indices of tongue in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). No research was found to be independently dedicated to status of tongue in PM. From the viewpoint of PM manuscripts, features such as color, size, form, heaviness, dryness and wetness of tongue play a key role in diagnosing the condition of internal organs, particularly stomach, brain and liver. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, although PM references emphasize on using features of tongue as diagnostic criteria, no specific pattern or category has been presented regarding diagnostic criteria of tongue so far. Therefore, designing standard tools for determining tongue features is essential in PM researches.