SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KURDISTAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2016 | Volume:21 | Issue:5|Papers Count:7

Background and Aim: Beta thalassemia is one of the most common single gene disorders in the world which occurs due to a defect in the beta globin chain synthesis. In general, the majority of the patients with thalassemia, are suffering from decreased bone density.Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and disorder of osteogenesis resulting in reduced bone strength. Considering the serious consequences of osteoporosis, this study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis in the patients with beta thalassemia major.Materials and Methods: This study included 46 beta thalassemia patients above 5 years of age who had been admitted to the oncology ward of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj. Chemical biomarkers were measured and the results of densitometry of the lumbar spine and femoral head were investigated for the presence of osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal findings.Using SPSS 20 software, we used one-way analysis of variance to assess the association between chemical biomarkers.Results: The mean (SD) age was 19.8 (7.7) years, 24 patients (52.2%) were women and 32 (69.6%) were above 15 years of age. In this study, the most frequent findings of densitometry were osteoporosis (34.8%) and normal lumbar spine (34.8%). Comparison between the chemical biomarkers and findings of the densitometry of the femoral head revealed different levels of ferritin in these patients (P=0.011). This difference was observed in the patients who had osteoporosis and normal densitometry results (P=0.009).Conclusion: The results of this study showed no significant statistical relationship between chemical biomarkers and the densitometry results. Therefore, use of bisphosphonate is recommended for prevention of bone damage.

Background and Aim: Cardiovascular disease can affect physical and mental conditions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of phase 1 and 2 of cardiac rehabilitation on physical and mental health components in the patients with acute coronary syndrome.Materials and methods: This clinical trial study included 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to the coronary care units of the hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences between 2013 and 2014. The participants were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed cardiac rehabilitation program and the control group received routine care. QOL-sf36 questioner was used before and one month after intervention to assess physical and mental health components. Using SPSS18 software, data were analyzed by T- test.Results: There were no significant differences in the demographic variables and cardiovascular risk factors between the experimental and control groups. The mean scores of physical component and mental component after intervention, were 40.9± 9.9 and 37.7 ±10.4 in the control group and 46.9±8.6 and 45.3±10.6 in the experimental group respectively. The results of T-test showed that the mean scores of physical (p=0.02) and mental (p=0.01) health components in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that cardiac rehabilitation program can improve physical and mental health components in the patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background and Aim: Liver has a major role in protection of human against various toxins and drugs. Cholestasis can be defined as impairment of the bile flow which can lead to increased oxidant stress, hepatocyte damage and finally cirrhosis. Selegiline is commonly used in management of Parkinson's disease. It has neuroprotective, antiapoptic and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of selegiline on liver cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in the rats.Material and Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6) including saline, sham+saline, BDL+saline, BDL+Selegiline (0.15 mg/kg) and Selegiline (0.15 mg/kg). Under general anesthesia and sterile condition, laparatomy was done, and bile duct was ligated. After 14 days, liver function tests, serologic tests and serum TNF-a were performed for all groups after taking blood samples. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.Results: The results of the this study showed that selegiline significantly increased Alb, AST, ALT and ALP in BDL selegiline group compared to BDL+saline. Also, when compared to saline group, selegiline significantly increased PT.Conclusion: Selegiline in cholestatic rat model did not show a protective effect on the liver cells and in some cases exacerbated the symptoms.

Background and Aim: Vitamin D has metabolic functions in the cells, and its deficiency is considered a risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship of vitamin D intake from supplements and diet with fasting plasma glucose and HbA1C in the patients with type 2 diabetes.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 500 subjects aged above 18 years with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected using demographic and food frequency questionnaires through interviews with patients. The data analysis was performed by linear regression, chi-square test and independent T-test.Results: Among 500 patients in the study, 11 were excluded because of reports of high and low calorie values. Finally, 489 patients were entered into the study.163 (33.3%) subjects were male and 326 (66.7%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 56.19±8.8.Vitamin D intake through supplements and diet was 5.82±3.5 mcg / day in the men and 6.30±3.4 mcg / day in the women. The mean fasting blood glucose and HbA1C levels were 144.06±33.8 mg/dl and 7.34±1.1% respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that vitamin D intake had a significant inverse association with fasting blood glucose (r=-0.26 and P=0.02) and HbA1C (r=-0.37 and P<0.001).Conclusion: In this study total vitamin D intake through diet and supplements had a significant inverse relationship with fasting blood glucose and HbA1C, indicating the importance of vitamin D intake in blood glucose control in the patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background and Aim: Formaldehyde is an air contaminant which has wide applications in industry and medicine and its destructive effects have been reported on the body systems.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different doses of onion extract on biochemical parameters and histopathology of mice kidneys exposed to formaldehyde.Material and Methods: 48 adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups. The control group did not receive any injection. The second group received formaldehyde 10 mg/kg for 14 days and the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th groups received 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day of onion extract respectively in addition to intraperitoneal doses of formaldehyde. After 14 days, tissue preparation was done and using stereological technique, the sizes of the kidneys and glomeruli were measured. Also, serum urea and creatinine levels were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.Results: We found significant decrease in the number of renal glomeruli in all of the groups that received onion and also decrease in the volume of glomeruli in the group which had received 10 mg onion/day, compared to those in the control group (P=0.000). There were significant increase in the level of urea in the groups which had received doses of 10 and 20 mg of onion and in the creatinine levels of the groups which had received daily doses of 5, 20 and 40 mg of onion compared to those in the control group (P=0.000). Formaldehyde caused renal damage and an increase in the levels of urea and creatinine as well as a decrease in the number and volume of the glomeruli of the kidneys.Conclusion: Administration of daily doses of 40 mg hydro-alcoholic extract of onion for two weeks caused protective effect on kidney tissue exposed to the formaldehyde.

Background and Aim: Nowadays, the importance of pathogenicity of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria is well known. Generally, this group, in addition to the respiratory system can cause lymph nodes, skin, soft tissue and bone disorders. Identification of Mycobacterium by culture and biochemical tests may take several weeks and may not be useful for definitive diagnosis. PCR-RFLP (PRA) technique of the hsp65 gene using HaeIII and BstEII enzymes is a precise method for species differentiation, in comparison to phenotypic methods. It is a quick and inexpensive method for detection of mycobacterial species. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from the patients referring to tuberculosis center (TB) of Kashan University of Medical Sciences.Material and Method: The study included 106 patients who had been referring to TB Center of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, from 1391 to 1394. The samples were tested by biochemical diagnostic tests. At the same time identification of the strains was made by use of PRA. Amplification of 441-bp fragment was performed by PRA for detection of hsp65 gene.The PCR products were digested with HaeIII and BsteII enzymes and analysis was performed on the basis of electrophoresis.Results: Molecular analysis showed non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in 4 (8.3%) sputum samples, i.e. one positive sample (o.9 %) for every one of the following strains: M. abscessus, M. senegalense, M. fortuitum and M.kansasii.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that some cases of tuberculosis in Kashan are due to non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. Also use of PRA analysis of hsp65 gene for clinical specimens is a rapid and useful tool for identification of species of mycobacterium which is helpful for early diagnosis, treatment and control of tuberculosis.

Background and Aim: Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting almost 30% of people worldwide, especially the pregnant women.On the other hand preterm birth is responsible for 2.3 of the infant mortality rate; therefore we performed this study to find the relationship between hemoglobin level in the first trimester of pregnancy and preterm delivery.Material and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in the years 1392– 1393 in Qazvin Province.3000 pregnant women (age range: 18 - 40 years), with gestational age of less than 12 weeks were selected from 5 medical health centers.284 participants were excluded because of IUFD, anomalies, abortion, lack of cooperation or referral to other centers for follow up or performance of lab. tests. The first trimester Hb was recorded in a questionaire for every subject and cases were observed for spontaneous preterm delivery (less than 37 weeks).Using SPSS16 software, data were analyzed by chi -square test, T- test and logestic regression.Results: In this study the prevalence rates of anemia and preterm birth were 22.2% and 19.9% (542 cases) respectively. Mean gestational age was 38.28 ± 3.56 and the rate of preterm birth in the subjects with normal Hb level was 19.3%, and 21.9% in the patients with anemia. which revealed a significant relationship between maternal anemia and preterm birth (p<0.008). Also the relative risk for preterm delivery in anemic women was 1.117, CI: 95% (1.09– 1.46) (P=0.046).Conclusion: This study demonstrated the relationship between maternal anemia in the first trimester and preterm birth. Therefore, preconception evaluation and anemia treatment in the women of childbearing age is recommended.