Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:11 | Issue:1 (29)|Papers Count:17

Background and Objective: The growing development progress of electronic industries and the increasing use of electrical appliances have led to higher rate of exposure of people to electromagnetic field (EMF). Thus, in this study we investigated the effect of EMF on morphometric indices of epididymis and vas deferen in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 BALB/c male mice were selected and divided into three control, sham and experimental groups. Experimental group were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.5 mT EMF for 4 hours per days, 6 days per week for 8 weeks while the animal in control and sham groups were not exposed to EMF. After the exposure period, the mice were dissected and left testis was removed and weighted. Samples of epididymis and vas deferen in all groups were taken and were processed for routine light microscopic studies. The diameters of epididymis and vas deferen and the height of epithelial cells in all groups were compared using ANOVA and Tukey tests.Results: The mean diameter of epididymis in EMF group significantly decreased compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mean diameter of vas deferen, the height of epithelial cells in epididymis and vas deferen in EMF groups significantly decreased compared to the control and sham groups (P<0.05). In addition, the weight of testes in EMF group significantly decreased compared to the control and sham groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the EMF exposure for long time could have hazard effect for the male reproductive system by decreasing the diameter of reproductive ducts, the length of epithelial cells and weight of testes.

Background and Objective: Nowaday many diabetic patients interested in using medicinal herbs to relieve the symptoms of their disease in spite of the availability of synthetic drugs, one of such herbal medicine is green tea, studies about effects of this plant on blood glucose, weight of diabetes is contradict and suitable dosage is not mentioned, thus this study was done to determine the effect of green tea extract on blood glucose and body weight in male induced diabetic Rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 40 wistar male Rats with body weight of 230±20 purchased and kept standard situation subsequently 8 of them considered as normal group and the reminder became diabetic by 50mg/kg IP by streptozotosin. After 2 weeks animals with blood glucose of 200-500 mg/dl were considered as diabetic and divided in 4 groups with 8 animals in each. Then 3 groups of them daily was feed with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of extract by feeding tube for 6 weeks, diabetic control group and non-diabetic group also was feed with DMSO10% as well. BS and body weight were assessed at 2nd, 4th, 6th week after daily feeding by different doses of green tea extract, and at last results were analyzed by using student t-test and one way ANOVA.Results: The mean of blood glucose of diabetic control group were significantly higher than non-diabetic group and blood glucose of diabetic groups that was feed with 50, 100 and 200mg/kg of extract was significantly lower than diabetic control group. Body weight of 3 treatment groups were not significantly reduced. Conclusion: This study showed that green tea extract has an antidiabetic effect and suitable dosage of this extract was 100mg/kg.

Background and Objective: Aloe barbadensis Miller plant was used for treatment of wound healing in traditional medicine. However it has different and sometimes contradictory effects. In this study the effect of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel on skin incisional wound healing in Rat was investigated.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty male wistar Rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups including: sham operated, control and two treatment groups. Under deep anesthesia, an incision (3cm, full thickness) was made over skin of the back in Rats. The animals of sham group received no treatment. Control group received topical cold cream twice per day (from beginning to end of experiment) and treatment groups' similarliy received topical Aloe barbadensis Miller gel mixed with cold cream (25% and 75%). For computing the percent of wound healing, the area of wound measured at the days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 after beginning of experiments. Results: Aloe barbadensis Miller gel at concentration 25% and 75% significantly improved wound healing at 12th day and 8, 10 and 12th days, respectively in comparison with control group.Conclusion: This study indicated that local administration of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel, accelerate the skin incisional wound healing in Rat. This healing is related to the gel concentration.

Background and Objective: In particular medical situation administration of muscle relaxants following intravenous anesthetics for tracheal intubation may be unnecessary or hazardous. The aim of this study was the comparison of larengoscopy and intubation conditions after induction of anesthesia with propofol or thiopental with remifentanil in the absence of muscle relaxants. Materials and Methods: In a randomized, and double–blind clinical trails, 42 ASA class 1 and 2 patients assigned randomly to propofol 2mg/kg group or thiopental 5mg/kg group. All patients received lidocaine 1.5mg/kg and remifentanil 2.5 mg/kg 30 second before anesthetics administration. Ninety second after administration of the hypnotic agent's, larengoscopy and intubation were attempted. Intubating conditions were assessed as excellent, good, suitable or poor on the basis of mask ventilation, jaw relaxation, vocal cords position and patient's response to intubations and indotracheal tube cuff inflation. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured before and after anesthetic administration, and immidately, 2 and 5 minutes after intubations.Results: 40% of patients in thiopental group and 80% of patients in propofol group showed either excellent or good conditions for larengoscopy and tracheal intubation (P<0.05). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were decreased more significantly in propofol group in respect to thiopental group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This investigation showed that propofol in combination with remifentanil is better than thiopental for tracheal intubation without muscle relaxants. However, it induces more homodynamic changes.

Background and Objective: Stress has been known as an important causative factor in irritable bowel syndrome. Various studies have indicated the relationship between serum leptin levels and stress levels. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between serum leptin levels with irritable bowel syndrome.Materials and Methods: In This case-control study, eighty irritable bowel syndrome patients and 80 controls were recruited. All participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire included demographic information and medical history as well as a stress questionnaire. Serum leptin level was measured by ELISA method. Chi-square, student t-test, pearson correlation and logistic regression were used for investigating the relationships between variables.Results: Participants in irritable bowel syndrome group had significantly higher stress levels than controls (p<0.05). In the other hand, Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in irritable bowel syndrome group than the other one (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment of stress level and body mass index, serum leptin level was still significantly lower in irritable bowel syndrome group (Odds ratio=0.9; CI95%: 0.85-0.94). Conclusion: The present study indicated that there is a relationship between leptin and irritable bowel syndrome and serum leptin level is significantly lower in irritable bowel syndrome group than controls. This relationship is independent of other variables such as stress levels, BMI.

Background and Objective: In recent years, the efficacy of low-fat diet has been questioned. One potential adverse effect of reduced dietary fat is a compensatory increase in the consumption of high glycemic index carbohydrate, principally refined starchy foods and concentrated sugar. Such foods other can be rapidly digested or transformed into glucose, causing a large increase in post-prandial blood glucose and insulin level. Review studies have generally found an inverse association between glycemic index and satiety. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low-glycemic index diet versus low-fat diet on the body weight, body mass index, the percent of body fat mass and waist-hip ratio of obese women. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial study, 46 obese women with BMI>27 and 18-55 year old randomly divided into low-glycemic index and low-fat diet groups during the course of study and after 6-weeks, body mas index, body fat mass and waist-hip ratio were measured. Data analyzed with t student, t paired student tests. Results: Body weight, BMI, waist-hip ratio, and Triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, abdominal skinfold decreased significantly in both diet groups. After 6-weeks significant difference was not observed in percent of body fat mass between two dietary groups. Conclusion: This study showed that both low-glycemic index and low-fat diets can equally be effective in body fat, BMI and waist-hip ratio.

Background and Objective: The obesity and overweight in the children of many developing countries have dramatically increased. Obesity is associated with numerous health problems. While children spend a significant amount of their time in school daily, the various aspects of children school-life such as academic achievement, social skills and attendance, can be affected by obesity and overweight. This study was done to determine the correlation between obesity and overweight with attention dificit in elementary school girls.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-cross sectional study was carried out on 300 girls student of 7-11 years old, in elementary schools in capital city of east Azarbijan cocated North-West of Iran in 2007. The samples selected based on body mass index and were classified by random sampling in three groups including, normal group, overweight group and obese group. The data, collected by child behavior check list (CBCL). The CBCL have 113 iteams, 9 iteams of them were designed for determination of attention dificit in children. The behaviors were scored on a 3-point ranging scale. SPSS-11.5 software and ANOVA statistical test were used to analyse the data.Results: The results showed that overweight group had greater scores in attention dificit scale than other groups and revealed a significant correlation between obesity-over weight and attention dificit (r=0.177, P<0.05).Conclusion: This study indicated a significant correlation between obesity and attention dificit. Prevention of obesity as a first step for prevention of behavioral problems, seems to be essentieal. The treatment of obesity may be a matter of dealing with behavioral problems in children.

Background and Objective: One of the most important routes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission is from asymptomatic carrier mothers to their infants. It has been concluded that over 50% of Iranian carriers have contracted the infection perinatally, making this the most likely route of transmission of HBV in our country. In this study, we assessed the rate of HBV infection in children were born to HBsAg positive mothers that received hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the first dose of vaccine at birth and the second and third of doses of vaccine at 1 and 6 months of age, respectively.Materials and Methods: In this descreptive study, 123 infants born from HBsAg positive mothers assessed and serum sample of these subjects were tested by ELISA technique for detection of HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HBc markers. Data were then analyzed by the chisquare and fisher exact tests.Results: From 31241 pregnant women with delivery during this 5-years study about 140 (0.45%) of them were HBsAg positive. Children born to these mothers follow-up and 123 serum samples of them tested for serologic markers of HBV infection. HBsAg was found in 0.8% of the children and 91.9% had one or more serologic markers of HBV infection. Protective rate (Anti-HBs positive) and Anti-HBc positive were 82.1% and 8.9% respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that after having focuced on the vertical transmission route for many years, and implementing strategies such as vaccination and HBIG injection to neonates of HBsAg positive mothers, nowadays it seems that we should pay attention to horizontal route of HBV transmission in this area.

Background and Objective: The increase of nosocomial systematic fungal infections due to pathogenic yeast, led to researchers on finding novel antifungals with potent inhibitory activity toward a wide range of pathogenic fungi. In the present study, antifungal effect of aqueous garlic extract individually and in combination with Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Ketoconazole were studied against some pathogenic yeasts. Materials and Methods: Broth microdilution method was used for evaluating antifungal activities of aqueous garlic extract with 0.03-256 μg/ml individually and in combination with Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Ketoconazole against Candida albicans PTCC5057, Candida dubliniensis CD36, Cryptococcus neoformance CNE1 and Malassezia furfur MF1, in vitro. The microdilution method was used for assessing antifungal susceptibility of above-mentioned compounds in two culture media sabouraud dextrose broth (for all fungi except M.furfur) and modified Dixon broth (for only M.furfur). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of aqueous garlic extract and antifungal drugs tested were determined by on comparison of colony forming units (CFU) between test and control groups.Results: Aqueous garlic extract inhibited the growth of all fungi tested in a dose-dependent manner, in a concentration comparable with azole drugs. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract, Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Cryptococcus neoformances and Malassezia furfur was determined to be 0.25-64 g/ml. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Fluconazole was determined 0.125-8, 0.25-16, 0.125-16 and 0.5-8 mg/ml, respectively. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Itraconazole was determined 0.25-8, 0.125-2, 0.125-16, 0.25-4 mg/ml, respectively. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Ketoconazole was determined 0.125-4, 0.125-1, 0.125-8 and 0.125-2 mg/ml, respectively. The results indicated that the antifungal activities of drugs were increased in combination with aqueous garlic extract (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that, the aqueous garlic extract increased the antifungal activity and decreased MIC of drugs in combination with them.

Background and Objective: The diagnosis of oral lesions can be more difficult than skin lesions, it either may be missed, or have no difference in color with near mucosa. The correct diagnosis is important, because treatment and prognosis either of them is different. The purpose of this study was to survey the pathological oral lesions in Ahwaz the capital city of Khozestan rpovince in South-West of Iran.Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive cross sectional study was done on 588 pathologic specimen, types of oral lesions, on patients referred to department of pathology, Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahwaz, since 1994 to end of 2004. Results: The mucosal oral lesions were more common in women than men (305 cases, 54%), the most lesions were benign (461 cases), the numerous lesions were nonspecific, most of the patients were in range of 20-30 years. The most common malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma and the rarest malignant tumor was malignant melanoma that all of them were on lower lip. The most common site for lesions was lower lip (155 cases, %27.6). The malignant cases were more common in men than women.Conclusion: This study showed the benign mucosal oral lesions were more common in female, than males. The lower lip was the most common site which is similar to other reports. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest malignant tumor which has a correlation with other studies.

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the most frequent cause of chronic renal failure. Microalbuminuria is the first clinically important sign of renal impairment in diabetes mellitus. The main pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy is not understood. This study was done on 100 patients with type 2 diabetes for determination of the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy with urine albumin assay in Sina Hospital in Tabriz, North-West of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes whome consecutively referred to Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic of Sina Medical Center in Tabriz were enrolled. At the first visit clinical and biochemical parameters such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, age, sex, body weight, length, body mass index, FBS, HbA1C, plasma creatinine, urine microalbumin and urinary creatinine were measured. FBS, HbA1C, plasma creatinine, urine microalbumin and urinary creatinine measurements repeated every 2 months up to three times during the study. Patients with confounding factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, urinary tract infection, congestive heart failure and hyperlipidemia were excluded. Results: The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was 36% in our patients. There were not statistically significant differences in age and sex and diastolic – systolic blood pressure and creatinine between nephropathy and, non-nephropathy groups. There was significant differences in body mass index between two sex groups, females were more obese than males. Mean duration of diabetes in diabetic nephropathy group and in diabetic patients without nephropathy were 12.4±8.1 and 9.1±5.5 respectively (P<0.05). Comparison of HbA1c, FBS and drugs used for diabetes treatment were not significant differences between these groups. Conclusion: This study showed that prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was higher than other studies, although there were not significant differences between FBS, HbA1c and hypertension in patients with and without diabetic nephropathy.

Background & Objective: Pulse pressure is a marker of arterial stiffness. In old age the pressure wave reflection also contribute to disparity of pulse pressure between upper and lower limbs. This study was done to determine the relation between ageing and increased pulse pressure of upper and lower limbs.Materials & Methods: In this discriptive study blood pressure measured in 40 nonsmoker men, all free from medication and disease history, insubjects divided in two groups: 18-25 and 50-70 years old; with mean age of 22±1.3 and 59±2 years respectively. Using a mercury-column sphygmomanometer (ERKA) with appropriate cuff size and after five minutes of quiet rest, the blood pressure was determined in supine posture at three separate times. The lower limb pressure was measured with placing the cuff on calf muscle and the stethoscope on posterior surface of internal malleolus. The mean of the second and third records rounded and were used for analysis. Results: The right and left brachial and ankles pulse pressure in two groups were: 44.50±2.03, 44.50±1.71, 37.90±2.24, 37.25±2.30 mmHg in 18-25 years old group; and 47.10±2.74, 46.90±2.65, 56.05±3.18, 55.90±4.48 mmHg in 50-70 years old group, respectively. Significant differences were found between brachial and ankle pulse pressure in both sides in first group, (P<0.05). In the second group this difference was only significant at right, (P<0.05). The ratio of brachial pulse pressure to ankle pulse pressure in 18-25 years old group was greater than 1 and in 50-70 years old group it was less than .15; In both side the ankles pulse pressure was significantly greater in 50-70 years old group (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that in subjects of more than 55 years of age, the increasing of pulse pressure was more prominent in lower limb. The ankle pulse pressure may be a proper index of central pulse pressure changes and atherosclerosis of elastic arteries with ageing.

Background & Objective: Health evaluation and growth monitoring of the infant is a visual diagram of growth and primary health services are based on it. In the best option, these indices must be provided separately for each community. This study was done to evaluate growth indices of newborns in Gorgan-Northern Iran.Materials & Methods: In this observational descriptive study which was carried out during (Oct-Nov 2003), all healthy infants without any major abnormality born within 25-42 weeks of gestational age were evaluated in Dezyani Hospital, Gorgan growth indices (head circumference, length and height) were measured in 1011 infants. Gestational age was defined by Balard scoring and delivery type was recorded, too. After entering data into SPSS-10 software, data were analyzed using chi-square, t-test and correlation bivariate.Results: Mean gestational age (±SD) was 39.86±1.72 weeks and most of them were born by vaginal delivery. Amongst them, 3.2% were premature (less than 37 weeks), 4.4% were low birth weight and 0.69% were very low birth weight. Correlation between growth indices and gestational age was significantly positive in all cases (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that growth indices are lower than other parts of Iran. Further investigations needed, especially longitudinally and cross-sectional, to determine the growth indices in this region and in other parts of country.

Background and Objective: Animal biting is a very important threat for human health, due to the post-infections, such as rabies, which would be fatal. This Study was carried out to determine the epidemiological aspects of animal bites in Kalaleh district, North of Iran.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and cross sectional study, all cases with animal biting during 2003-05 which were reffred to Kalaleh, Maraveh- tappeh therapy centers in Golestan province North of Iran were considered as sujects of this epidemiological survey. Results: From the totally 3496 biting, during 3 years, 2477 cases (70.9%) were male and 1019 (29.1%) female. The Mean age of cases was 24.2±17.5 and age domain between 1 to 86 was variable. The biting incidence rate was increased during 3 years, as follow 2003, 2004 and 2005 were 745/100000, 787/100000 and 788/100000 respectively. Total incidence was 773/10000 during the 3 years, the most biting frequency belong to the students 1157 (37%). Lower limb was the most common site of biting 2344 (67%). Dog was the common animal in biting 3344 (95.6). Most biting happened in spring season 1042 (29.8%). 3151 cases (90.1%) were living in rural area. 3198 cases (91.5%) and 298 (98.5%) had complete and d vaccination respectively.Conclusion: According to the results from this survey, the rate of dog biting in Kalaleh district was more than the other region, therefore, it would be important that all concerning organizations interfere to prevent and control this health threat.