Armaghane Danesh
Year:2012 | Volume:17 | Issue:1 (67)|Papers Count:11

Background & Aim: Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent skin disease and different drugs and methods such as topical steroids, dithranol, cool tar, cytotoxic drugs, and retinoic acid are used as treatments for this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of omega-3 capsules as an adjuvant drug on the treatment of psoriasis.Methods: The present clinical-trial included 60 patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups, intervention and control groups. The patients in the intervention group received topical steroid and two omega-3 capsules for a one month period. Each capsule of omega-3 contained 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. The control group received only topical steroid. Patients were clinically assessed for the presence of inflammation, redness, itching and scaling. The collected data was analyzed SPSS software.Results: Most patients (15 patients of the intervention group and 14 patients of the control group) were between 20 and 29 years of age. Sixty percent of the patients of the intervention group and 66.7 % of the patients of the control groups were female. The most frequent sites involved by skin lesions were extensor surface of the extremities, nail and scalp. Cure rate were 100% and 76.6% in intervention and control group, respectively. The difference in cure rate in two groups was statistically significant (p=0.001).Conclusion: Omega-3, as an adjuvant drug, is beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis and considering its low cost it can be used for the patients suffering from this disease.

Background & Aim: Pain control, especially in the first 24 hours after cesarean section, could reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous bupivacaine injection around cesarean scar in pain relief after cesarean.Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 102 pregnant women undergoing cesarean section. Samples were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In intervention group, 10 ml of bupivacaine (Marcaine) 0.5% and in control group 10 ml of distilled water were used for subcutaneous injection around the scar. Pain assessment, using a visual pain scale (VAS), was measured at different hours after surgery. Moreover, the analgesic doses at 24 hours were recorded. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-test.Results: The average pain score at different hours in the intervention group was 1.72, and in the control group was 3.85. The average consumption of diclofenac suppositories in the intervention group was 0.35 and in the control group was 1.5. The differences about average pain score and consumption of diclofenac in both groups were significant (P=0.001).Conclusion: Subcutaneous injection of bupivacaine can be recommended in pregnant women who are undergoing cesarean section, for reducing the pain after cesarean.

Background & Aim: Research suggested that infertile women are subjected to more stress and negative emotions in comparison with fertile ones. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in depressed infertile women.Methods: In this semi-experimental study which was conducted in 2011, ' Beck-2' depression test and psychiatric interview was applied for infertile women referred to gynecologists in Shiraz, Iran. Thirty individuals were randomly selected and classified into three groups (two experimental and one control group). After applying rumination scale for the experimental groups, the cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) group experienced a 12 weekly sessions therapy period, whilst the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group experienced an eight week session therapy period. The control group did not experience any treatment. In addition to the pre-test, two other tests were performed at the termination of treatment and one month after it.Results: The covariance and post hoc Bonferroni test suggested that both methods can reduce the rumination rate in infertile women (p<=0.0001), but T-dependent test suggested that MBCT is more effective (P=0.03, t=2.49).Conclusion: Although both methods were found to be effective, but MBCT is more preferred due to lower regression rate.

Background & Aim: Preterm labor is the predominant cause of prenatal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy of indomethacin versus magnesium sulfate in the management of preterm labor.Methods: Sixty patients with preterm labor were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group received rectal suppository indomethacin and the second group received intravenous injection of magnesium sulfate (7 patients missed during the study). The results of delaying the labor, up to 72 hours and more than 72 hours, were compared in two groups. The collected data were analyzed, using chi-square.Results: In the indomethacin group, gestation was prolonged by 72 hours in 10 (37%) of women, and more than 72 hours in 17 women, but in the second group which received magnesium sulfate, 20 women had labor in the first 72 hour and only six women after 72 hours. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: Results of this study confirmed an obvious difference in delaying labor in indomethacin and magnesium sulfate receiving groups. Indomethacin is cost effective and its administration is non-invasive. Therefore its use can be recommended in management of preterm labor.

Background & Aim: Practical emotional factors involve in disorders such as obsessivecompulsive disorders. The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of emotion facial recognition in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and average people.Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional and ex-post facto investigation (causalcomparative method). Participants were twenty clients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (clients referred to Tabriz Bozorgmehr Special Center) and 20 normal people which were selected through the available sample method. Data were collected through a structured clinical interview and the Recognition Emotion Facial States Test. Multivariate analysis of variance, Chisquare and independent t-test were conducted to analyze the data.Results: The findings showed that there was significant difference between the two groups in terms of recognition of facial expression of emotion (P<0.05). Accordingly, normal controls, in terms of these variables, were better than people with OCD.Conclusion: This Study indicated that defect of recognition of emotion facial expression is constructible which can have a significant role in intensifying obsessive-compulsive disorder precipitate symptoms.

Background & Aim: Sports-for-all may improve physical fitness and general health of employees. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the 8 weeks sport for all program on physical fitness and general health of male employees.Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted at Yasouj Wellbeing Organization in 2010. Ninety male employees (aged 35.5 ± 5.6 years) voluntarily participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned into training (n=45) and control group (n=45). The physical fitness of the subjects were measured by sit-up, pull-up, standing broad jump, 45 m running, 4 × 9 m shuttle run and 540 m running tests and general health was assessed by General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). The subjects in the training group performed sport for all program, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The program consisted of jogging, stretching, sprint and endurance training and cooling down. The participants in the control group were instructed to resume their normal lifestyles and avoid any type of high intensity physical activity during the study. After 8 weeks, all the variables were measured once more. The data were analyzed by the SPSS- 13 software. Paired sample t-test and Independent sample t-test were used to compute differences in the variables.Results: The results showed that abdominal muscles endurance (37.4 ± 8.5 VS 23.3 ± 7.3); shoulder girdle muscles (5.1 ± 3.5 VS 1.8 ± 2.4), muscle power (218 ± 21.1 VS 192.6 ± 21.6), cardiorespiratory endurance (186.02 ± 22.62 VS 145.7 ± 23.9) were increased significantly and the body mass index (25.1 ± 2.9 VS 25.2 ± 3.7), body fat percent (15 ± 4.1 VS 17.2 ± 4.6) were decreased significantly in training group in comparison with the control group (P£0.05).This program did not have any effect on improving the general health of the participants.Conclusion: In conclusion, results of the present study showed that sport for all program improved physical fitness and body mass index of male employees. This program did not have any effect on improving the general health of the participants.

Background& Aim: Delivery pain and its long period are of most important factors of encouraging women to undergo caesarean. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of boiled dill (Anethum graveolens) seeds on the length of active phase of labor and delivery pain.Methods: Samples in this retrospective cohort study were taken from nulliparous and second generator women (85 person in the exposed group and 85 in control group). Physiological symptoms and the interview were our crude data. Data collection instruments included questionnaire data recording sheet, Sony Kidd, scale, and scale ruler. Data about exposed and unexposed group were collected during labor. Exposed group was a group that had consumed two tablespoons of boiled dill (Anethum graveolens) seeds while the control received nothing. All statistical analysis were performed by SPSS version 16 using t-test, Mann-Whitney U Test, chisquare, and exact fisher test.Results: The results showed that the average duration of first stage of labor in the exposed group was 53.16 minutes while this time for control group was 117.84 minutes (p=0.001). Pain in the two groups in terms of exposure and non-exposure was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Labor pain in equally dilations were statistically significant (p=0.001).Conclusion: The present study suggests that boiled dill (Anethum graveolens) seeds can be used at all stages of labor without causing any complications for the mother and fetus for reducing the period and pain of delivery.

Background & Aim: Visceral leishmaniasis in dogs is an excellent model for studying visceral leishmaniasis in humans. The current study was designed to study the histopathological changes in liver and spleen of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis, due to Leishmania infantum.Methods: In this experimental study, liver and spleen samples form ten dogs with visceral leishmaniasis were compared with normal liver and spleen samples of ten dogs from non-endemic area. Liver and spleen tissue samples were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and also by Giemsa methods after tissue processing. Finally, using optical microscope, samples were carefully analyzed for finding any histopathological changes.Results: In spleen of infected dogs’, in four cases (40%) severe infiltration of plasma cells, in five cases (50%) presence of megakaryocytes indicating extramedullary hematopoiesis, in one case (10%) inflammatory granulomatous reaction, in three cases (3%) atrophy of lymphoid follicles and loss of germinal centers, in four cases (40%) lymphoid follicles hypertrophy and also in one case (10%), the presence of Leishman bodies in large scale were observed. Liver tissue sections showed no significant changes.Conclusion: Visceral leishmaniasis can cause histopathological changes in spleen and among them the changes in the size and number of lymphoid follicles, chronic inflammation, granuloma formation and presence of Leishman bodies in spleen macrophages could be mentioned.

Background & Aim: Listeriosis is mainly caused by consuming unpasteurized dairy products, especially soft cheese which is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes in people with a damaged immune system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using natural preservatives to control the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy products.Methods: In the present experimental study, plants (Thymus denaensis, Jaft and green hull Pistacia atlantica) were collected from the mountains of Kohgiloyeh& Boyerahmad province and their hydroaloholic extract were prepared. Antibacterial activities, MIC and MBC, were determined by disc diffusion and microwell dilution methods. The Ampicilin disk (10mg) was used as positive control in disc diffusion. The data were analyzed by the SPSS software using One-way ANOVA.Results: The most anti-bacterial activities were found with hydroalcoholic extracts of Jaft and green hull Pistacia atlantica. Inhibition zone for the Jaft concentration was 32 mg/ml which was equal to the ampicillin disk. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Jaft extract were 125 and 250 mg/ml respectively.Conclusion: Based on the results of current study, hydroalcoholic extract of Jaft might be a suitable candidate to be used as a preservative in the food industry which is able to prevent the growth of Listeria monocytogenes.

Background & Aim: Quercus infectoria gall (Oak) has a long history of use as a medicinal plant; therefore, the present investigation aims to study the antifungal properties of Quercus infectoria gall (Oak) on Saproling fungi.Methods: In the present experimental study, the hydroalcoholic extract of Quercus infectoria gall (Oak), was studied against saprolegnia. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration were evaluated for this extract. The antimicrobial potent of Quercus infectoria gall (Oak) extract with malachite green as commercial antifungi reagent were compared.Results:Findings of this study demonstrated the antifungal properties of the extract. This antifungal effect was dose dependent where its effect was increased with increasing the extract concentration. The MIC and MLC which, was determined by the tube serial dilution method, was 300 microgram per milliliter.Conclusion: Hydro alcoholic extract of oak placenta can help to prevent fungal growth in comparison with anti-fungal activity of Malachite green.