Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences
Year:2017 | Volume:24 | Issue:3|Papers Count:11

Background & Objectives: The etiology of some liver diseases is unknown, but oxidative stress has an important role in liver pathogenesis. Pistachio (Pistacia Vera) has compounds with known antioxidant properties, including coenzyme 10, vitamin E and beta-carotene. This study designed to evaluate protective effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Pistacia Vera on liver enzymes following induction of hepatotoxicity.Materials & methods: In this experimental study 40 male rats (200-250 g) were divided into five experimental groups. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to induce hepatic toxicity. In normal group, no intervention was done. Vehicle group received intraperitoneal injection of 50% CCl4. Treatment groups were gavaged by three doses of Pistacia Vera hydro-alcoholic extract (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 1 month. Plasma activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total blood protein, plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured.Results: Gavage of different doses of pistachio extract in rats poisoned by CCl4 leads to decrease in plasma activity of AST and ALT and also the plasma concentration of LDL, while the plasma activity of ALP and plasma concentration of total protein and HDL were not changed in these animals.Conclusion: Result of this study demonstrated that chronic gavage of pistachio hydro-alcoholic extract could decrease hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4. More investigation is needed for possible clinical usage of pistachio on liver insufficiency.

Background & Objectives: Despite the numerous potential applications of nanoparticles in different sciences due to their unique properties, their adverse effects on human health have not been fully studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fe2O4Zn nanoparticle on thyroid and thyroid hormones in male rats.Materials & Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control rats received 0.5 ml saline for 7 consecutive days. Group 1 and 2 rats received 0.5 ml of Fe2O4Zn nanoparticle solution at doses of 100 and 200 ppm, respectively. Injections were carried out intraperitoneally. Serum biochemical parameters were evaluated in rats, after 2, 7 and 14 days of beginning the experiment. On the 14th days, thyroid tissue was removed and used for histological assessment.Results: Administration of Fe2O4Zn nanoparticle in concentrations of 100 ppm and 200 ppm significantly decreased TSH levels compared with that of control samples (P<0.05), whereas no significant change in levels of T3 was observed (P>0.05). Fe2O4Zn nanoparticle treatments significantly increased serum levels of T4 (P<0.05). Nanoparticle treatments in view of textural properties showed severe blood, mild inflammation and larger follicle size and, by increasing the concentration of the nanoparticles, these effects were observed more severe.Conclusion: Due to the variations observed in the levels of thyroid hormones and the histological changes of thyroid tissue, it can be concluded that Fe2O4Zn nanoparticle had toxic effects on thyroid function. More studies to investigate the toxic effects of nanoparticles in different doses and different times of exposure to Fe2O4Zn nanoparticles seem to be necessary.

Background: The use of living and nonliving bio sorbents to removal of heavy metals andtoxic compounds from aqueous solutions and industrial wastewaters has revealed considerable highly potential of green algae for adsorption. Spirogyra porticalis is filamentous algae that can often form flimsy green aggregates in freshwater ponds, rivers and streams. The present study aimed to determine the capability of powdered s. porticalis to remove chromium from aqueous solutions.Materials and Methods: Biosorption of Cr (VI) from synthetic aqueous solutions by powdered filamentous green algae Spirogyra porticalis was investigated as an effect of various parameters including pH, biomass dosage, initial Cr (VI) concentration and contact time in laboratory scale batch. In order to do the statistical analysis, repeated measure test and one-way analysis of variance using SPSS 16.0 software was applied and P< 0.05 was considered as significant level.Results: The findings showed that the removal of Cr (VI) increased with the increasing algal dosage, metal concentration, contact time and decreasing pH. Maximum biosorption capacity was observed at pH 3.0 and 1 g/L of biomass in 60 min from a solution containing 40 mg/L initial concentration of Cr (VI). Under the optimum conditions, the removal percentage of chromium (VI) was found to be 70%.Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the powdered filamentous green algae s. porticalis can be used as an available, affordable and efficient biomaterial even in low dosages to remove Cr (VI) from industrial acidic wastewater and aqueous solutions.

Introduction: Research has shown that although “Electronic Learning Approach” has played an important role in educational systems related to different industries and various scientific domains in the past decade and accepted by teachers and students, but it is not satisfactory in teaching Medicine domain. Refusing to use patient simulation systems in learning management system is the leading cause of this problem. The aim of this study is to evaluate the electronic learning components and strengths and weaknesses of virtual education to implement patient simulation and present a model consist of required components in order to implement patient simulation system.Methodology: In order to obtain components associated with E-learning models and various types of patient simulation systems, after carrying out a thorough search in books and accredited articles, resources analyzing and classifying procedures were accomplished in a scientific manner. Finally, Parsian model was delivered in order to implement patient simulation system.Discussion: Parsian Model provides powerful tools and techniques in three groups including: 1.software, 2. Techniques and Methods, 3. Medical Equipment, in order to implement patient simulation system in virtual education environment. It should be noted that in order to equip virtual education environment, medical informatics industry professionals can access to the tools of each group.Conclusion: The main reason of failure in the previous models of electronic learning in implementing patient simulation systems is non-referring to implementation tools which can lead to necessary results. It is anticipated that the real and achievable tools mentioned in Parsian model can implement all types of patient simulation.

Background& Objectives: Antibiotics are a group of synthetic organic materials that are not removable by biological treatment process and need to be treated by advanced process like surface absorption. Since activated carbon is one of the best choices for using as adsorbent, this project was aimed on the removal of amoxicillin antibiotic from aquatics solutions by a novel modified activated carbon.Materials & Method: The present study was an experimental study which was conducted by using batch wise method. Erlenmeyers with 100 mL volume containing 50 mL of amoxicillin with a known concentration and amount of adsorbent were shacked at different pHs, contact times and temperatures. The samples were filtered by vacuumed pump using 0.04 acetate cellulous filter and the residual of amoxicillin was determined by UV spectrophotometer at 228 nm using quarts cell.Results: The results obtained from experimental data was shown that the best efficiency of amoxicillin removal from aquatic solution by the new activated carbon takes places at pH=6, adsorbent dose of 0.06 g/L and 20 min contact time. In this project the used activated carbon efficiency was 75.5%, in antibiotic concentration of 50 mg/L. Isotherm studies were shown that the amoxicillin absorption can be explained by both Langmuir and Freundlich models, and the degree of reaction obtained from kinetic studies was of second order.Conclusion: With regard to acceptable worth capacity of the new activated carbon, it was suitable to replace standard Merck carbon for water and wastewater treatment.

Background: 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) is a widely used acidic herbicide with high toxicity. So, this study was performed with the aim of investigation of 2,4-D photochemical oxidation by persulfate and UV.Materials and methods: This study was performed in bench scale and batch condition. K2S2O8 was used as oxidant in presence of UV. In this study, effects of pH, oxidant concentration, contact time and initial concentration of 2, 4-D on the process were examined in batch experiments. The concentration of 2, 4-D was determined using spectrophotometer at 285 nm.Results: The best results were achieved at acidic conditions (pH=3). Increasing dosages of persulfate and contact time increased the degradation of 2, 4-D. However, an increase in initial 2,4-D concentration resulted in decreasing of photochemical oxidation efficiency. The maximum photochemical oxidation efficiency of 2, 4-D was 96 % for a 2.5 mg/l persulfate, 10 mg/l 2,4-D, pH value of 3.0 and contact time of 240 min. The degradation of 2, 4-D by persulfate is found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R2=0.979).Conclusion: In this study, 2, 4-D was effectively degraded in aqueous solutions by the photochemical oxidation using S2O8/UV. From this study, it seems that photochemical oxidation with S2O8/UV can be an effective process for the treatment of contaminated water with 2, 4-D.

Background: Some of the problems of patients with cancer are non-adhering to treatment and uncertainty in illness, which are affected by psychological issues and different patient characteristics. So by paying clinical attention to these factors, prognosis and ultimately the quality of life can be improved. This study was aimed to determine correlation between uncertainty in illness, demographic and clinical factors with adherence to treatment in patients with cancer.Materials and Methods: This is a correlation study done on 150 patients with cancer referred to Qaem and Omid hospitals of Mashhad. Sampling was based on accessible model and according to criteria of study. The data were collected by using demographic, Michel 's uncertainty in illness and MARS adherence to treatment questionnaire, then analyzed by SPSS version 21,descriptive statistics and statistical tests of Pearson, Spearman and multiple regression with P value<0.05.Results: The results showed there is a significant negative correlation between uncertainty in illness and adherence to treatment(r=-0.367, p<0.001).The multiple regression analyzed uncertainty in illness, metastasis, location, age and income patients as predictors of adherence to treatment so that 46% of its variance is explained by these variables.Conclusion: Because of significant correlation between uncertainty in illness and adherence to treatment with significant predictive capability of uncertainty in illness for adherence to treatment, nurses and health care providers with reducer strategies of uncertainty in illness can improve adherence to treatment and ultimately quality of care and life in these patients.