Armaghane Danesh
Year:2013 | Volume:17 | Issue:6 (72)|Papers Count:12

Background & aim: Tonsillectomy as one of the most prevalent surgical operations in otolaryngology is followed by great pain and absences from school and work in most patients. The aim of the present study was a comparison of radiofrequency bipolar cautery in tonsillectomy use.Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 33 patients older than 10 years-old candidate for tonsillectomy. Radiofrequency and Bipolar techniques were performed on the right and left tonsils of each studied patient, respectively. Data on pain, bleeding, operation duration and hardness was collected and analyzed by SPSS software, version 15. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Bleeding volume did not statistically differ between two techniques while for other studied factors, statistically significant differences were observed in favor of radiofrequency method (P<0.05). The mean pain intensity in the Radiofrequency procedures on different days after surgery was significantly lower than that of bipolar cautery (P<0.05).Conclusion: Due to our results, the mean score of post-tonsillectomy pain was significantly less following radiofrequency technique in compare with bipolar technique.

Background & aim: Nowadays, most of gene therapy protocols are performed by lentiviral vectors. One of the most important factors which is involved in pancreas development and transcription of insulin gene is pancreatic & duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1) transcription factor. The goal of this study was to optimize a lentiviral construct, containing pdx-1 gene, to transfect stem cells towards gene therapy of type-1 diabetes.Methods: In this experimental study, first, the pdx-1 gene was multiplied by PCR from pcDNA3.1- pdx-1 and cloned into pTG19-T vector. Then, pdx-1 was subcloned on upstream of IRES-EGFP gene into IRES2-EGFP vector. At the next step, the cloned parts of IRES-EGFP and pdx-1 were isolated and cloned into the lentiviral expression vector pSINTREM in upstream of TRE-CMV gene.After sequencing, final construct was transfected into HEK 293 cells and gene expression of pdx-1 was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis and reverse fluorescent microscopy.Results: Flow cytometry results and inverted fluorescent microscopy observing showed that pdx-1 and GFP genes are expressed in cells transfected with final recombinant construct.Conclusion: Regarding the design of this construct, to ensure long time expression with higher in vivo and in vitro expression efficiency for stem cells and also use of Tet on induced optimized system, it seems that the current construct can be among the best ones to transfect stem cells.

Background & aim: It has been shown that antioxidants may contribute to the healing of wounds caused by burns. This study was designed to determine the effects of the ethanolic extract of Cydonia oblonga seeds on second degree burn wounds.Methods: In a preclinical study, 48 mice were divided into 4 groups of 12. Group-I (sham) received no treatment, Group- II (negative control) was treated with Vaseline, Groups-III was treated with 1% Cydonia oblonga seed ointment and Group IV (positive control) received silver sulphadiazine twice per day. In the treatment groups, 1 gr ointment twice per day until complete wound healing was used. Animals were assessed by measuring the percent of wound healing, the remained gap of incision injury and total time required for complete healing. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests.Results: The results showed that concentration of 1% of Cydonia oblonga seed extract had significantly better burn wound healing effects (99.502%) in treatment group in comparison with the control group (92.97%).This is because the percentage of burn healing was higher and the length of healing was shorter in Cydonia oblonga seed group compared to the control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that the Cydonia oblonga seed ointment might be beneficial in patients with second degree burn wounds. Further studies are recommended to establish the optimal dose of the extract.

Background & aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation with omega-3 and 8 weeks of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular risk factors-vascular lipid profile in elderly men, respectively.Methods: In this present quasi-experimental study, 36 non athletic elderly men with the age range of 37.3±37.57 years of age from Genaveh, Iran were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups of 9 (training+omega-3 supplements, training+placebo, omega-3 supplements and placebo) groups. Aerobic exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, term (30 to 45 minutes) and intensity of 55 to 70% Maximum heart rate was performed. Daily intake of omega-3 supplement was 2000. After 14 hours of fasting, blood samples before and 48 hours after the last study session were conducted. For data analysis, kolmogorov -smirnov-test, t-dependent, one-way ANOVA was used (p£.05).Results: After 8 weeks of training, TC levels of omega-3 supplements, omega-3 supplements, aerobic exercise and aerobic exercise with placebo significantly decreased (p£0.05). But they were not significantly different in the placebo group (p ³0.05). Serum TG levels in groups supplemented with omega-3, aerobic training, supplementation with omega-3 a significant reduction was found (p£0.05), but in the placebo group and aerobic training placebo, the reduction was not significant (p³0.05). Amounts of LDL-C were not significant in various groups (p³0.05). Levels of HDL-C in aerobic training, supplementation of omega-3 and aerobic training+placebo were significant (p£0.05), but the omega-3 supplement and placebo groups showed no significant change (p³0.05). Changes in TC/HDL-C in the supplemental omega-3, aerobic training, supplementation of omega-3 and aerobic training+placebo a significant reduction was found (p£0.05), but in the placebo group, no significant change was observed (p³0.05).Conclusion: Considering that aerobic training alone and omega-3 supplementation alone resulted in a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk factors-are cardiovascular, aerobic exercise and the intake of omega-3 supplements can be beneficial in preventing and reducing these diseases.

Background & aim: The main aim of this study was to determine the irrational beliefs and emotions associated with the sexual desire of infertile women in Shiraz.Methods: one hundred infertile women were selected by simple random method and examined with Tangi’s test of self conscious affect, Jonse’s irrational beliefs, and Hulbert’s index sexual desire. Regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.Results: Results showed that there was a linear relation between irrational beliefs and self conscious affect with rate of sexual desire; and irrational beliefs had reversal impact on sexual desire. Two subscale perfectionism and high self had reversal affect on sexual desire in infertile women.Conclusions: This study showed that infertility threatens women’s mental health.

Background & aim: With different methods for diagnosing H. pylori infections; the aim of this study was to compare barium swallows radiographic findings and serological tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients.Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study, 60 patients with documented gastric or duodenal ulcer, referring to Yasuj Shahid Mofateh Clinic No.2 were randomly selected. For all patients, Serologic testing determining the Helicobacter pylori infection was performed using specific IgG antibody titer. Afterward, barium swallow radiograph was performed on all patients. The results of the diagnostic procedure was evaluated by the indices of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, the percentage of false positives, the percentage of false negative and true accuracy with 95% confidence interval were analyzed.Results: From a total of 60 serological testing, 37 patients (61.6%) had positive and 23 (39.4 percent) had negative results. Barium swallows radiography of 7 out of 60 patients (11.7 percent) was positive. Among patients with positive serology, 5 patients had positive and 2 patients had negative results. Barium swallows sensitivity and specificity of serological tests was estimated 13.5 and 91 percent respectively.Conclusion: According to the high specificity percent, barium swallow radiography method can be considered as a confirmatory method in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Background & aim: One of the main genetic factors of infertility is the deletions in the chromosome Y. Accordingly; this study was conducted to determine the frequency of microdeletion of AZF region in infertile men of Isfahan, Iran.Methods: In this case-control study, 100 infertile men referred to the Infertility Center of Isfahan and 100 fertile men as controls were randomly selected. Genomic DNA was extracted from their blood and amplified by sequence tagged sites-polymerase chain reaction (STS-PCR) method. The presence of microdeletion in AZF locus was diagnosed.Results: No AZFa, AZFb or AZFc deletions were found in the control group. Microdeletions were observed in one patient in AZFb region, eight patients in AZFc region and two patients in AZFa region.Conclusion: The incidence of Yq microdeletions in Iranian population is similar to the international frequency. Our data agree with other studies regarding microdeletions of AZFc, but for microdeletions of AZFa (2%) our results show smaller frequency and differ significantly with many studies.

Background & aim: The genus Pistacia belonging to the Anacardiaceae family which consists of 15 species only three species of which, namely Pistacia vera, Pistacia Atlantica,, and Pistacia Khinjuk grow in Iran. The aim of present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Pistacia Atlantica fruit hydroalcoholic extract in Yasuj.Methods: In the present experimental study, the extract was carried out with two, maceration and Soxhlet methods. For in vitro antioxidant assay, (trolex equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) phosphomolybdenum (PMB) was conducted. For determination of antioxidant components, total phenolic and flavonoids contents were analyzed in in vitro assay. To evaluate the antioxidant activity by In Vivo method, the hydro alcoholic extract, having the most antioxidant activity, was used.24 Wistar rats with the weight 250-300 g were examined that were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. Group 1 (control group) used distilled water by oral route with amount of 0.5 ml/kg. Groups 2, 3, and 4 used 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of Pistacia Atlantica hydro alcoholic extract by gavages, respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected by heart puncture. Catalase enzyme activity, Mallon dialdehyde and Ferric reducing antioxidant power were measured in rats’ plasma. ANOVA was used for data analysis.Results: Methanol extract of Pistacia Atlantica contained the maximum amount of phytochemical and antioxidant activities. A significant decrease was observed in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) of the treatment group compared to the control group (P<001).There was a significant increase in level of Catalase and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of treatment groups compared to the control group (P<001).Conclusion: Pistacia Atlantica extracts depending on type and system of extraction contains different antioxidant potential.

Background & aim: Up to 75% of all urinary stones are composed mainly of calcium oxalate.Spinach species have been identified as high-oxalate containing plants. The aim of this study was the isolation of oxalate degrading bacterium and evaluation of its application in reducing the oxalate content in spinach.Methods: The strain used in this experimental study was confirmed by molecular methods.Spinach was purchased from the market, and the ex-crude was obtained. Bacterial biomass was prepared and the wet weight was determined. The diluted and non-diluted spinach ex-crude was mixed with bacterial biomass and then incubated. Also, diluted spinach extract was mixed with enzyme suspension of strain and then incubated. Ultimately, oxalate concentration was determined with oxalate diagnostic kit. The data was analyzed using the Microsoft Excel program version 2007.Results: The strain (Ammoniphilus oxalaticus DIM) was submitted to NCBI website with access number HQ398365. This strain could decrease 98.3% and 51.54% oxalate content in diluted and non- diluted spinach ex-crude respectively.Conclusion: Ammoniphilus oxalaticus DIM strain is a good candidate for probiotic activities in the body. Moreover, it could be used in canned products, such as spinach, to reduce the amount of their high oxalate content.

Background & aim: Cardiac auscultation is one of the most useful investigative tools that the physician may use at the bedside to detect alterations in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.However, the sensitivity and specificity vary substantially with the expertise of the examiner. The aim of this study comparing the initial evaluations of heart murmurs in neonates between neonatologist and pediatric cardiologist.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 neonates admitted in Be’sat and Fatemieh Hospitals of Hamadan, Iran, in 2010. First, a neonatologist recorded their clinical evaluation (Pathologic, Likely pathologic, Innocent). Then, a Pediatric cardiologist recorded the infants’ clinical evaluation. Finally, echocardiography study was performed by the cardiologists for final diagnosis. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 and the using Chi-square.Results: In this study, 67 patients (62%) had pathologic murmur. Clinical findings of pathological murmur by neonatologist and cardiologist are 98% sensitivity versus 87.2%; 84.2% specificity vs.100%; 94.1% the positive predictive value vs.100%; and 94% negative predictive value vs.85.4%, respectively.Conclusion: Evaluations of examination show no significant difference between neonatologists and cardiologists. Hence, echocardiography is the standard for establishing the cause of murmur.