Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:16 | Issue:1 (51)|Papers Count:9

Background and Purpose: Sperm count and their productivity are dependent on the levels of blood androgenic hormones. Also, it is likely that the Centella asiatica extract can affect the levels of hormones affecting spermatogenesis. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of Centella asiatica extract on serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH in male Wistar rat.Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 40 adult male albino Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: an untreated control, sham receiving a solvent medium and the remaining three groups (experimental groups 1 to 3) which received 10 mgkg-1, 50 mgkg-1 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract every day for 40 days. Twenty four hours after the last administration of extract, 3-4 ml of blood samples were collected from every rat by aspiration from heart ventricle, and their serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured using radioimmunoassay method. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS13 using one-way ANOVA and Tukey test.Results: The mean and standard deviation of testosterone the control and sham groups were 16.4±2.18 and 14.1±0.09 respectively; in the experimental groups (10, 50 and 80 mg/kg), these were 15±1.32, 9.8±0.05 and 8.4±0.31 nanoM/l respectively. Mean testosterone level in rats receiving 50 mgkg-1 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract were significantly lower than the control groups (p=0.001, P=0.008) and sham groups (p=0.001, P=0.003); also, it reduced in comparison with the experimental group receiving 10 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract (p=0.02, P=0.004). The difference between the two groups receiving 50 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract was not significant (p=0.09). The concentration of FSH and LH in all experimental groups was not significantly different from both control and sham groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: By affecting Leydig cells and causing disorder in the levels of testosterone, sperm count, and by affecting epididymis, centella Asiatica alcoholic extract can reduce the motility and productivity of sperms.

Background and Purpose: While aloe vera has the capability of reducing libido, regulating menstruation, and being widely used, there is scarce information on the effect of its alcoholic extract on the functions of pituitary-gonad axis. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the effect of Aloe vera alcoholic extract on spermatogenesis in male rat.Methods and Materials: In this experimental; study, 45 male Wistar rats were divided in to five groups including 1 control, 1 sham and three experimental groups. Each rat in the experimental groups was treated orally with 50, 100 and 150 (mg/kg) doses of Aloe vera alcoholic extract for twenty one days, after the extract was prepared via percolation. The sham group received distilled water and alcohol; while control rats received nothing. After twenty one days, blood samples were taken from each group directly from ventricles. Blood samples were used to measure the concentration changes of LH, FSH and testosterone hormones. Obtained data were statistically analyzed using Tukey test and LSD.Results: Concentrations of FSH in the average and maximum experimental groups (2.96±13.51 and 2.15±4.85 respectively) significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (3.11±2.16). also, concentrations of testosterone in the average and maximum experimental groups (6.18±3.41 and 3.92±5.27 respectively) significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (6.58±7.19). However, no significant changes were observed in the concentrations of LH across experimental and control groups.Conclusion: Based on the results, Aloe vera extract probably has anti-gonadotropin and antiandrogenic characteristics because of beta-sitosterol, ascorbic acid, P-coumaric acid, coumarin and aloe emodin. It can cause disorders in the secretion of gonadotropin hormone (FSH) and testosterone.

Background and Purpose: Much evidence indicates that Mentha-piperita (MP) is traditionally applied for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, and probably reduces smooth muscle contraction and bowel movement. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of MP Hydroalcoholic extract on ileum movement in guinea pig ileum in invitro model.Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, we used 5 male guinea pigs (200-300gr). After killing the guinea pigs, at least 6 pieces of ileum 2-3 cm long were dissected, and established in normal Tyrod solution plus carbogen gas in 37oC. Then, each tissue piece was fixed between two electrodes connected to stimulator apparatus. The contraction of ileum was carried to a physiograph by an isotonic transducer, and contractions were recorded. Then solutions with 5 concentrations of MP extract were added to the organ bath during ileum stimulation with stimulator. Then the physiograph recorded the contractions again. At least 6-7 responses were recorded.Result: Findings revealed that addition of Hydroalcoholic extract of MP in concentrations of 5, 15, 50, 150, 500 mg/ml during 0.1 Hz stimulation decreased contraction duration in a dose-dependent manner. The percent of these changes were 27%, 30.8%, 41%, 61%, and 75% respectively. Activity of 50% of this effect of MP was found to be in the dose of 50 mg/ml (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that MP extracts can decrease ileum contraction and bowel movement in a dose-dependent manner

Background and Purpose: Research on non-hemodialysis patients has shown that w3-fatty acid supplement can reduce the concentration of serum Lp(a). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of w3-fatty acid supplement on serum lipids and lipoproteins in hemodialysis patients.Methods and Materials: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 hemodialysis patients in 2008 in Vase’i Hospital in Sabzevar, Iran; they were randomly assigned to either w3-fatty acid supplement or placebo group. Patients in the w3-fatty acid supplement group received 2080 mg w3-fatty acid daily as 4 capsules, while the placebo group received 4 corresponding placebo capsules containing MCT oil. At baseline and the end of week 10 of the study, 5 ml blood samples were collected from each patient after a 12 to 14-hour fasting before dialysis; their serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and Lp(a) were measured. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Chi-square, t-test, 32±paired t-test and ANOVA.Results: Serum triglyceride concentration were 113 19 in the supplement and placebo groups respectively in the beginning and 109 17 at the end of week 10. The reduction±25 and 115±the amounts decreased to 101 was significant in the supplement group (p<0.01) and the difference between the supplement and placebo group was significant (P<0.0.006). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups as for the changes of serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and Lp(a) concentrations (P>0.05).Conclusion: Results of the present study indicate that w3-fatty acid supplement can reduce serum triglyceride concentration in hemodialysis patients but it does not affect other serum lipids and lipoproteins in hemodialysis patients.

Background and Purpose: Mother–infant attachment has gained momentum in mental health in recent years. Also, partner violence against pregnant women is an important health problem all over the world. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between domestic violence intensity in pregnancy and mother-infant attachment.Methods and Materials: In this descriptive analytical study, 102 pregnant women admitted to healthcare centers in Mashad, in 2008, were included through stratified clustered sampling. Information on domestic violence during pregnancy was collected through "Conflict Tactics Scale" and "Mother to Infant Attachment Inventory" 4-5 weeks after delivery. Obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Spearman correlation coefficient, Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U and multiple regressions.Results: In general, 89.2% of women experienced very mild, 9.8% experienced mild and 1% moderate levels of domestic experience from their partners. Negative significant relationships were found to exist between verbal (p=0.032, r= - 0/21) and physical violence (p=0.005, r=-0.27), injuries (p=0.018, r=-0.23), total score of violence (p=0.002, r=-0.29) and mother-infant attachment. Also, mean scores of psychological (p=0.026, ms=15.9±12.94) and physical (p=0.002, ms=9.1±11.12) violence, injuries (p=0.006, ms=2.5±3.47) and total score of violence (p=0.038, ms=47.6±33.68) were significantly higher in the group of partners dissatisfied from the pregnancy of their wives. However, no significant differences were found between educational levels of men and women and different types of violence.Conclusion: The results indicate the correlation of verbal and physical violence as well as injuries during pregnancy with mother–infant attachment.

Background and Purpose: Organization Performance, particularly in health and treatment sectors, is considered as a basis for qualitative and quantitative development. Health and treatment systems, also, need performance improvement and measurement in order to grow and develop. This study is a comparative study of performance measurement in Iran and some developed countries with the purpose of application in the Iranian health and treatment system.Methods and Materials: In this descriptive comparative study, countries with successful experiences in measuring the performance such as Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden, England, and the United States, were chosen. In order to collect information from these countries, different sources like journals, textbooks, internet databases, and e-mail communications were used. Collected information about these countries was summarized and classified according to intended variables, and were analyzed finally in comparative tables.Results: Majority of the countries in the research had employed criteria such as credibility, reliability, realness, timing, relevance, accuracy, and appropriacy in their performance measurement programs, and had used the findings in budgeting process. Applying the results of performance measurement has also been stressed in decision making and budgeting. Performance measurement is conducted in two dimensions in Iran: general and specific.Conclusion: The results of this study has shown that in most developed countries, good performance indexes, performance appraisal models, and the use of performance measurement findings in decision making and budgeting are applied.

Background and Purpose: Nurses are the biggest service providers in the health system, and are expected to enjoy a satisfactory quality of life in order to provide satisfactory health care to the clients. The present study was conducted to determine the quality of life of nurses in Sabzevar hospitals. Methods and Materials: This cross sectional, descriptive and analytical study involved 69 nurses, selected through non-random sampling, employed at 3 hospitals in Sabzevar, Iran. Relevant data were collected through the administration of SF36 questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using t-test, ANOVA, and correlation.Result: minimum and maximum scores of physical dimension were 1050 and 2200 respectively (mean being 1720±270); in the mental aspect, minimum and maximum were 475 and 1400 (mean being 1065±24). The least mean of life quality was obtained from nurses in the dialysis ward (2471±450) and the highest from nurses in ICU (290±197).Conclusion: the quality of life score in mental aspect was lower than the physical aspect; and the majority specified an average quality of life.

Background and Purpose: Widespread use of CT Scan is sometimes associated with potential risks such as irreversible tissue destruction. In order to avoid undue uses of CT Scan as a diagnostic procedure, precise information on the frequency of brain damage due to CT Scan can help provide x-ray protection to some extent. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the frequency of cerebral damage in CT Scan of patients admitted to the CT Scan center of Emdad Hospital in Sabzevar, Iran.Methods and Materials: In this descriptive cross sectional study, all patients (8076 cases) admitted to the CT Scan Center of a hospital in Sabzevar, Iran (during the second quarter of 2005) were included in the study. Data were collected through interview and examination of the patients’ file (CT scan report and medical advice). After classification, the data were analyzed using chi-square in SPSS.Results: According to the findings, no cerebral damages were observed in 81.8% of the cases admitted to the CT Scan center. Among cases with damage, stroke (9.9%) was the most prevalent, and only 0.5% of the cases had tumoral damages. Also, most cases (34.6%) complained from headaches.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that prescribing CT Scan in Emdad Hospital in Sabzevar, Iran has been higher than that of other countries in some cases