Armaghane Danesh
Year:2011 | Volume:16 | Issue:1 (61)|Papers Count:13

Introduction & Objective: Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis disease and can cause superficial problems in women if left untreated. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of 2% hydroquinone and Melfade in the treatment of Melasma.Materials & Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial study conducted at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2008. Sixty two women with Melasma disease were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. Two percent hydroquinone was prescribed for the first group (n=31) and Melfade for the second group. After 12 weeks of daily drug consumption by the patients, they were examined by a dermatologist for assessment of recovery. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS software.Results: Response to treatment with hydroquinone and Melfadewas the same and no significant differences were found between the two groups. (P>0.05)Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated that topical Melfade is as effective as 2% hydrquinone in treatment of Melasma, Therefore it can be considered as an alternative drug in the treatment of Melasma.

Introduction & Objective: Garlic (Allium sativum. L.) is an important dietary herb which its useful compounds may be altered during different processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heating on the amounts of allicin, felavonol, felavonoid, total phenolic components, and antioxidant capacity of garlic.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study which was conducted at Shahr-e-Kord University of Medical Sciences in 2009, the alcoholic extract of fresh, micro waved, and boiled garlic were prepared. Then, their antioxidant capacities were evaluated in linoleic acid and b-carotene linoleate system. The phenolic contents were measured with Folin–ciocalteu method, felavonoid or felavonol contents with aluminum coloride method, and allicine contents with spectrophotometry method. Collected data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS software. Differences between the means of groups were evaluated by a two-tailed t-test for independent samples.Results: The fresh and fresh boiled garlic had the highest and lowest antioxidant activities, respectively (P<0.05) while no difference was found between fresh and micro waved garlic (P>0.05). The flavonoid and phenolic compounds in fresh garlic were more than micro waved or boiled garlic. The allicin content in fresh garlic was also higher then micro waved or boiled garlic (P<0.05). All of these components were low in boiled garlic.Conclusion: Fresh garlic has the most useful compounds and consumption of this form of the vegetable is recommended.

Introduction & Objective: Social phobia is an anxiety disorder, which can be described as a strong, persisting fear of situations where humiliation or embarrassment may occur. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of meta-cognitive therapy (MCT) on symptoms of social phobia (SP) patients.Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2010. with pretest-posttest and follow-up design, using control group. From all social phobia disorder (SPD) patients referring to psychology clinics in Shiraz, Iran in 2010, 19 patients were selected through the objective sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The Social Phobia Symptoms Assessment Questioner (SPSAQ) and Fears of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE) were used as the pre–test measures. The experimental group received 8 weeks of Wells’ meta-cognitive therapy sessions. The control group was in the waiting list until the end of the follow up. The same measures were used for post–test and follow–up (after 3 months).Results: The results of analysis of multivariate covariance showed that MCT had a significant effect in reducing the symptoms of SPD (p<0.001).Conclusion: This intervention is believed to reduce symptoms of social phobia (SP) patients by facilitating transmission from the object mode to the meta cognitive mode and enhancing the efficient and flexible coping skills.

Introduction & Objective: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoa parasites of the genusLeishmania and is endemic in some areas of Iran. Echinacea purpurea is a native plant from North America which is one of the most important medical herbs known with immuno-stimulant properties. This study was performed to determine the effect of alcoholic extract of Echinacea purpureaon prophylaxis and treatment of Leishmania cutaneous lesions.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study which was conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009, eighteen mice were divided into 3 groups. Group one received Echinacea purpurea extract (200 mg/ml) in their water, for 2 weeks before parasite injection, while group two were first injected with parasite amastigotes, followed by administration ofEchinacea purpureaextract for 2 weeks. Group three was the control group, which received parasites, but not the extract. The size of Leishmanialesions in the tail base, right and left foot were measured with vernier caliper. The lesion areas were calculated and the collected data were analyzed with SPSS software.Results: The mean of lesion size in each group of mice were compared and analyzed. No significant differences in the lesions size were found between the three mice groups. Therefore, Echinacea purpureaextract was not effective against Leishmania major based on the findings of this study.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Echinacea extract is not effective in treatment or prophylaxis of leishmaniasis in mice. Yet, further studies are needed to determine the effects of other extracts of this plant.

Introduction & Objective: gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are important maternal and fetal - infant complications and the second cause of maternal death (after embolism).Materials & Methods: This study is a clinical trial was done on 64 women at preeclampsia risk. The patient came under study with convenience method. The control group 1 taking placebo in the morning, control group 2 taking placebo at bedtime, experimental group 1 taking 100 mg aspirin in the morning and experimental group 2 taking 100 mg aspirin at bedtime. This intervention started at 12 to 16 weeks of gestation and continued up to 32 weeks. Blood pressure monitoring device was recorded patient’s blood pressure before and after taking drug at the end of each month for 24 hours until delivery. Clinical information of the patients was collected and registered in special form and was analysis with statistical method analysis variations at the level of 5% by using SPSS version 16.Results: The age of participants were between 17-42 years with mean 28.71 SD ±5.87%.The systolic blood pressure mean at the time of enteringwere computed 106.20±4.936% and the diastolic blood pressure 61.909 ±5.373 %.24 hour Blood reassure mean of the sampling who take aspirin before bedtimewas significantly less than control groups and group taking aspirin in the morningduring pregnancy (for systole and diastole P<0.001).Conclusion: The effect of taking aspirin at bedtime is moreon blood pressure mean reduction compared with taking it in the morning and placebo in women at preeclampsia risk.

Introduction & Objective: Alpha amylase is the most important decomposing enzyme in starch. Digestion and absorption of starch in the intestine can be prevented and also the blood sugar levels can be controlled by restrain and control of alpha amylase.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of trans-chalcone on amylase activity, blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic and non diabetic rats.Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted in 1388 at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Sixty rats were randomly divided to ten equal groups: non diabetic control, diabetic control, four non diabetic experiments and four diabetic experiments. Control groups received grape seed oil and experimental groups received 2, 8, 16 and 32 mg/kg of body weight in a period of 24 days with a gastric cannula. Blood sugar, every two days, serum insulin levels in days 0, 12, and 24 and at the end of the experiment, lipoproteins and alpha amylase activity were measured. The data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance, ANOVA, followed by Turkey, s test with SPSS soft ware .Results: On average Chalcone reduced 25.5% of blood sugar in normal and diabetic rats. IT also decreased the serum insulin level. On average, chalcone decreased 34.9% of alpha amylase activity in normal and diabetic rats. Following disturbances in lipids metabolism caused by diabetes, this drug improved lipoproteins metabolism and reduced water, food and urine volume.Conclusion: This study shows that trans-Chalcone reduces blood sugar and body weight via inhibition of alpha amylas.Moreover, improvement of lipoprotein metabolism may happen via the inhibitory effect of this drug on hydroxyl methyl glutaryl - COA reductase and phosphodiesterase.

Introduction & Objective: One of the important functions of the cornea is to maintain normal vision by refracting light onto the lens and retina. This property is dependent in part on the ability of the corneal epithelium to undergo continuous renewal. Ocular surface failure which follows a variety of endogenous and exogenous precipitating factors, the most common being: chemical trauma, infection, alkaline burn, inflammation and hereditary conditions, lid or lash abnormalities, tear deficiency or reduced sensation. The core principal underpinning management strategy for ocular surface failure is establishing or promoting new growth of healthy conjunctiva and corneal epithelium. This process is mediated by many proteins that are inducers of corneal cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. The current study was performed to investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord serum on alkaline corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit model.Materials & Methods: In this study conducted at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2010, thirty two rabbits were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Central corneal alkali wound was formed in one eye of the rabbits by applying a 6-mm round filter paper, soaked in 1 N NaOH, for 60 seconds. Group one of animals received umbilical cord blood serum; and group two received Sno*Tear in the eyes. The treatment was dosed 4 times a day with the eye drops, and epithelial wound closure was recorded using slit lamp. The data were analyzed to determine the rate of wound closure.Results: The mean wound radius closure rate was 0.77 mm/day (SD=0.013) for umbilical cord blood serum-treated eyes, 0.73 mm/day (SD=0.018) for artificial tear-treated eyes.Conclusion: This study shows that alkali-injured corneal epithelial wound heal faster when treated with umbilical cord blood serum than with artificial tear in rabbit model.

Introduction & Objective: Nowadays, some studies indicate the adverse effects of exposure to chemicals, especially organic solvents on the reproductive system of females. This study aimed to assess the relationship between spontaneous abortion with occupational exposure to organic solvents in pharmaceutical industry.Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study which was carried out in 2010 in one of the pharmaceutical factories located in the suburbs of Tehran. During the study, married women who were working in the factory laboratory units and were exposed to mixed organic solvents were compared with married women who were working in the packing units of the factory without occupational exposure to organic solvents. Frequency of spontaneous abortion and duration of pregnancy were assessed in both two groups. Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS software using t-test, logistic regression, and chi-square test.Results: In the present study, the frequency of spontaneous abortion in employees with exposure to organic solvents mixture was 10.7%. This study showed that even after adjustment for confounding factors, there was a significant correlation between spontaneous abortion and occupational exposure to organic solvents mixture and this correlation increased with increasing levels of exposure to organic solvents. Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between occupational exposure to mixed organic solvents and waiting time to become pregnant (TTP). Furthermore, this study showed that even after adjustment for confounding variables, shift workers were significantly more affected by spontaneous abortion compared to daytime workers (P< 0.001).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, since there is probability of spontaneous abortion resulting from occupational exposure to various chemicals including organic solvents, review of the status of occupational exposure of workers can be helpful in improving the reproductive health of female workers.

Introduction & Objective: Dogs are among the closest animals to human residents and can by useful for human. A few of zoontic diseases are prevalent in Iran. Dogs are the reservoirs of many of these zoonosis and a major role in transmission of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the zoonotic parasitic fauna of stray dogs in YasujMaterials & Methods: In this descriptive study which was conducted at Yasuj suburbs in 2008, 25 dogs’ corpses were necropsied and their tissues were studied for parasitic infections. Collected parasites were placed in special containers and stained for genus and species diagnosis based on their morphological features. The collected data were analyzed with the SPSS software, using descriptive analysis.Results: Of the 25 studied corpses, 23 dogs were infected with at least one parasite. Helminthic infections of dogs were consisted of: Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides sp., Echinococcus granulosus, Dipylidium caninum, Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus and Spirocerca lupi.Conclusion: Four of six detected helminthes in in dogs in this study are zoonotic parasites which are important in human diseases. Among them larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus which causes hydatid cyst disease in human is very important.Control programs should be implemented in this region to prevent these zoonotic diseases.

Introduction & Objective: Surgical wound infection is one of the common nosocomial infections. During operation, members of the surgical team which are in contact with the tissue incision should observe the standards of infection control in the operating room since it has a great role in prevention and control of these infections. The present study aimed to determine the performance of the operating room personnel in observing the standards of infection control in educational hospitals of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2009.Materials & Methods: Forty two operating room personnel participated in this cross-sectional analytic-descriptive study. A check list was used for unnoticeably collecting the data about the performance of personnel in respect of infection control standards at three different times. Their performances were classified into four levels (very weak, weak, moderate and good) and the results were shown as absolute and relative frequency distribution. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fischer exact test by the SPSS software.Results: Performance of personnel in following the standards of infection control in this study was moderate.Conclusion: The results indicate that the participants of the study do not follow some of the standards of infection control in the operating rooms. Therefore, further activities of the committees of infection control and using of new antiseptic for surgical scrub are recommended.