Armaghane Danesh
Year:2011 | Volume:16 | Issue:3 (63)|Papers Count:16

Introduction & Objective: Nowadays, opportunistic fungi especially Candida albicans are the most common cause of life threatening infections in immunodeficiency patients. Increasing Azole-resistant strains of C. albicans are a main problem in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CDR2 gene in C. albicans azole resistant strains, isolated from AIDS patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis by RT-PCR method.Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was conducted at Tarbiat Modares University of Medical Sciences in 2009. C. albicans isolates from HIV infected patients were identified by standard procedures, including germ tube formation, clamidospor and color of colonies on CHROM agar. At first, susceptibility of C. albicans isolates was assessed by disk diffusion agar technique. Then, CDR2 resistance gene was analyzed by RTPCR and electrophoresis of the PCR products. Finally, patterns of the resulted bands were compared with standard fluconazole resistant strains. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software.Results: The results of drug sensitivity of 66 C. albicans isolates from AIDS patients revealed that 62.6% were susceptible, 8.6% were susceptible-dose dependent (SDD) and 28.7% were resistant. In RT-PCR analysis, 6% of patients had the CDR2 gene.Conclusion: The use of phenotypic methods like disk diffusion agar, which is cheaper, along with genotypic methods, like RTPCR, which provide the possibility of studying the mechanism of drug resistance, is recommended.

Introduction & Objective: Dialysis vascular access complications are important causes of morbidity in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of the present study was a comparison of auxillary loop and atraight grafts patency and its complications for hemodialysis access.Materials & Methods: In this cohort study conducted at Shahid Beheshti Medical University, 58 patients who underwent placement of loop or straight access grafts were included in the study. Demographics, primary and secondary patency rates and complications like thrombosis, infection, bleeding, steal syndrome and other complications were compared in these two groups. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS statistical software using the chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression.Results: Thrombosis rates were 51.1% and 53.8% in straight and loop groups respectively (P=0.862), steal syndrome rates were 2.2% and 7.7% in straight and loop groups respectively (P=0.341), psudoanevrism were 11.1% and 23.1% in straight and loop groups respectively (P=0.270), bleeding rates were 4.4% and 0% in straight and loop groups respectively (P=0.439), infection rate were 8.9% and 7.7% in straight and loop groups respectively (P=0.892), and primary patency rate after 1 month were 88.9% and 92.3% respectively (P=0.721), and primary patency rate after 24 month were 31% and 55.5% respectively (P=0.058). Secondary patency rate after 3 month were 75.6% and 92.3% respectively (P=0.189), and secondary patency rate after 24 month were 37.9% and 66.7% respectively (P=0.044).Conclusion: PTFE vascular graft seems to be an appropriate vascular access and is a promising alternative when upper extremity arteriovenous fistulas cannot be constructed. Additionally, there was no significant different between two groups for complications and early patency, but late patency was better in loop group. More study is necessary for final judgment.

Introduction & Objective: The elevated plasma homocysteine (HCY) has emerged as a novel cardiovascular biomarker. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 12 week aerobic training on body composition and levels of serum homocysteine in women aged 60-75.Materials & Methods: The present clinical trial study was conducted at Imam Khomeyni Cultural Center of Isfahan, Iran, in 2010. After medical examination, 30 elderly women with similar age and weight were randomly divided into two groups: control and experimental. Weight, BMI, WHR and body fat percentage were measured using the body composition analyzer. Fasting blood samples were taken. Moreover, homocysteine levels were measured by ELISA. Afterwards, the experimental group executed an aerobic training on treadmill (walking) three times a week for three months. After three months, all variables in both groups were measured once more. The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS software. Paired t-test and analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data.Results: The results showed that a significant decrease in weight, fat percentage, body mass index, waist hip ratio parameters and homocysteine levels in the experimental group was observed, before and after the 12 week exercise period (p£0.05) .Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, regular and controlled aerobic endurance exercise programs of 12 weeks, with moderate-intensity of increased skeletal muscle capacity use of lipids, may play an important role in weight control in obese individuals and decrease their cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Introduction & Objective: The function and transparency of the lens actually diminishes with aging; as a result, external intervention is necessary to amend it. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of vitreous humor on the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to lens fiber like cells.Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was conducted at Tarbiat Moallem University in 2010. Bone marrow was collected from tibias in NMRI mice and then cultured. Immuno-cytochemistery was done to confirm the mesenchymal stem cells using Oct4 antibody. Subsequently, MSCs were treated with bovine vitreous body for 7 and 21 days. The morphology of the MSCs to the lens fibers were studied using Phase Contrast Microscope.Results: During the primary culture, the cell population was heterogeneous and in the subsequent passages, the number of the spindle-shaped cells increased. Immuno-cytochemistery study confirmed the MSCs. Morphological studies showed that most cells in the experimental group were locally longer and more aligned in parallel compared to control group cells. Moreover, lens fiber like with large nuclei and multiple nucleoli was observed. Furthermore, the concentration of 25% of vitreous body had more induction effect on MSCs in comparison with the 50% concentration.Conclusion: The MSCs derived from mouse bone marrow could differentiate into lens fiber like cells by treating them with vitreous humor.

Introduction & Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a type of progressing and degenerating disease of myelin membrane of nervous cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS) which could cause the incidence of many signs and complications in patients. The disease could affect different aspects of an individual’s life and disturb his/her normal life. This study was carried out in order to survey the effect of yoga exercise on general health status (GHS) and sense of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.Materials & Methods: This research was a clinical trial study carried out at Yasouj University of Medical Sciences on 60 female patients with multiple sclerosis from Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province in 2009.The data collecting tool consisted was MSQoL-54 questionnaire contained demographic information of patients. Patients were randomly divided into two control and case groups (30 persons in each group). Then, the general health status (GHS) and sense of life of the subjects were evaluated. Yoga therapy was done in the case group for three months and each month included eight sessions of 1-1.5 hours while no intervention was carried out on the control group. One month after Yoga therapy, the general health status (GHS) and sense of life for both groups were evaluated and compared with each other. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive tests, statistical independent t-test and paired t-test by the SPSS software.Results: The mean age of samples was 31.6±8.0 with the range of 18-45 years. Forty two (70%) of the subjects were married and 18 (30%) were single. Forty four (73.3%) had high school education and 16 (26.6%) had a university degree. Regarding occupation, most of them (63.3%) were housewives. Results of the study showed that after Yoga therapy, the mean rate of general health status (GHS) and sense of life as a whole had significant statistical difference between two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Yoga has improved the general health status (GHS) and sense of life of multiple sclerosis patients in our study. Considering the less cost, feasibility and rapid learning of Yoga techniques, the training of doing such exercise to patients with multiple sclerosis is recommended.

Introduction & Objective: Fractures due to osteoporosis after menopause in women is widespread. Osteoporosis may occur in case of inadequate lack of physical activity .The aim of this study was to determine the effect of running training on femur bone strength in ovariectomized rats.Materials & Methods Forty matured Sprague Dawley rats were chosen for this study. A group of 10 were killed randomly to measure their initial femur strength. The remaining rats had ovarian surgery. After three months, in order to reach menopause period, they were randomly divided into 3 groups, including pretest, running training and control groups. The running training program was carried out for one hour a day, five days a week, for eight weeks. Femur bone strength was measured by HOUNSFIELD system. Data was analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance and dependent T- tests by the SPSS software.Results: Results of this study showed that ovariectomy leads to significant decrease of femur bone strength. On the other hand the eight weeks running training lead to significant increase of femur bone strength.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that life style is important factors in preventing of osteoporosis and running training program had an inhibitory or reversal effect on decrease of menopause-induced femur bone strength.

Introduction & Objective: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) consists of a spectrum of disorders that are characterized by an abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue, following an abnormal fertilization. CCR4 is one chemo-attractant receptors preferentially expressed on Th2 cells, and therefore, is likely to participate in the recruitment of antigen-specific Th2 cells to sites of allergen exposure. Variations in CCR4 have been reported. In this study we intended to investigate the relationship between polymorphism of this particular gene at the site of 1014 C/T and GTD.Materials & Methods: In the present study, the polymorphisms of the CCR4 gene at the sites of 1014 C/T was investigated in 100 patients at in 2010 with proved GTD and 120 age-sex matched healthy individuals. Polymorphysm of CC chemokine 4 were investigated in these two groups by PCR-RFLP. These two groups were compared in respect their genotypes and alleles.Results: Frequency of genotype TT, CT, CC patients were 34%, 62% and 4% while the frequency of the control group, were 46.7%, 35.8% and 17.5% respectively.A significant difference was seen in genotype prevalence of 1014 C/T in ccr4 gene in the two mentioned groups (P<0.05). No statically significant difference was seen in allele 1014 C/T in ccr4 gene in the two mentioned groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between The C-C chemokine receptor type 4 and gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), it might be possible to use this gene as a prognostic marker in identifying the susceptible patients.

Introduction & Objective: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Asthma affects one in 13 school age children and is a leading cause of school absenteeism. It seems that prevalence of asthma is increasing wordwide. Many factors are identified and reported as factors related to asthma. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of asthma and associated factors in 600 children under six years using logistic regression and probit.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 children under six years old. Questionnaire was constructed based on ISSAC questionnaire and its reliability was determined with a pilot study and calculated by the Cronbach's alpha equal to 69 percent. Cluster sampling based on household records as clusters was performed. Questionnaires were completed by trained staff under supervision of an expert person and by interviewing parents and children.Results: The prevalence of asthma was estimated to be 3.10 (7.89 to 12.78) percent. Based on fitting models to data, factors such as gender, maternal nutrition, exclusive breast feeding to 6 months, smoking at home by a family member and having a history of respiratory allergy in families were significantly associated with asthma prevalence (p-value £0.05).The results also demonstrated that the both models are almost identical in evaluating the data.Conclusion: This study showed that estimated asthma prevalence is equal to average prevalence reported in Iran. Protective factors, such as exclusive breast feeding as a strategy can be appropriated in children's health care programs and should be much more considered.

Introduction & Objective: Unwanted pregnancies and its complications are one of the most important global problems related to mothers. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors affecting unwanted pregnancies in urban areas of the Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad province.Materials & Methods: In this case – control study conducted at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2008, 350 women were chosen as the case group, and 700 women as the control group. During the study, data collection forms were completed by each group. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 by using the logistic regression, univariate, and multivariate analysis.Results: According to the results of univariate analysis, the variables husband’s education in primary school , age of the last child under one, uncertain prevention methods and receiving means of prevention from the private sector revealed that significant differences existed between the two groups (P Value<0/05). Finally, the multivariate analysis beetwen husband education variables, age of the last child , prevention methods, and receiving a contraceptive device, a significant correlation was observed with unwanted pregnancy(P Value <0/05).Conclusion: Results of this study determined that three variables (contraceptive method, the place of obtaining means, and level of her husband education) are the most important variables which affect the chance of increasing of unwanted pregnancy in users of contraceptive methods.

Introduction & Objective: Today's consumption of bottled water has increasingly developed in the society, thus awareness of the quality of the bottled waters is essential to maintain public health. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the chemical and microbial quality of Yasouj bottled water, 2008.Materials & Methods: The present descriptive and crosssectional study was conducted in Yasouj city in 2008. Sixty four samples of 16 various brands of mineral water were evaluated for both chemical and microbial parameters. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software.Results: Although the results showed that in all cases, the mean of measured parameters were at the standard level, however a significant number of bottled waters had different parameters reported on their manufacture’s labeling.Conclusion: The chemical and microbial contradiction was more especially seen in the labeling. The incorrect selection of the source of natural mineral water from sight of hydrological and geological properties, and also confusing natural mineral water with drinking water, which are completely different, may cause these problems. Consequently, application of codes and standard for hygienic practices is necessary for the packaging of natural mineral water.