Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:17 | Issue:3 (57)|Papers Count:14

Background and Purpose: Diabetes Mellitus is the most important metabolic disease which can lead to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Since herbal medicines are rich in natural antioxidants and are associated with few complications, the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Ceratonia siliqua L. seeds on the blood glucose and lipids of male diabetic rats were investigated in this study.Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 56 male mature Wistar rats weighing 210-250 gr were randomly allocated into 7 groups of 8: control group with no treatment, a group daily receiving distilled water, a control group treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Ceratonia siliqua L. seeds (600 mg/kg), a control diabetic group receiving only strptozetocin; and three experimental groups (groups 1, 2, and 3) receiving 600, 300 and 100 mg/kg of oral hydroalcoholic extract of Ceratonia siliqua L.seeds for 16 days respectively, in addition to becoming diabetic by strptozetocin. At the end of experiments, blood samples were prepared from all groups and their blood lipids and sugar were measured. The obtained data were analyzed in SPPS 18 using ANOVA, with P< 0.05 indicating significance.Results: Serum Glucose levels in the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 were 606±56.75, 582±56.13 and 576±33.01 respectively, which showed a significant reduction in comparison with the control (diabetic) group. Serum total cholesterol levels in the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 were 57±5.44, 55±6.52 and 61±6.93 respectively, which showed a significant reduction in comparison with the control (diabetic) group (70±5.31). Serum HDL-C level showed a significant increase in the experimental group 2 (24±2.87) in comparison with the control (diabetic) group (22±1.59). Serum triglyceride level significantly reduced in the experimental group 2 (92±8.96) in comparison with the control (diabetic) group (105±9.03).Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of Ceratonia siliqua L.seeds reduced the blood glucose and lipids. HDL-C level increased after the use of this extract.

Background and Purpose: Despite widespread research on epilepsy, the mechanism of its insidnece is still unknown. Since the activity of ATPase plays a vital role in changing ATP into AMP, and this substance can later turn into adenosine which is the most important endogenous anticonvulsant agent in brain, the effect of inhibition of ATPase on perforant path kindling was investigated in the present study.Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, animals were kindled by electrical stimulations of the perforant path (12 times a day with a frequency of 50 Hz and pulse duration of 1 millisecond). Upon kindling, behavioral and electrophysiologic measures of convulsions and filed potentials were recorded. For investigating the role of ATPase in animal groups, FPL 67156 was injected as the inhibitor of the ATPase after kindling stimulations ended each day. Kindled animals were 6, and there were 4 rats in other groups. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferoni test were used to compare the statistical quantities of fEPSP and PS of epilepsy creation in different groups of the study. Comparing the difference of paired pulses between groups was conducted by Bonferoni test. The five-stage convulsion of the groups was compared through Kruskall Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. Statistical analyses were conducted in Prism 5.Results: The results indicated that ATPase inhibition (by injecting FPL 67156) causes no change in various behavioral stages of convulsion and daily afterdischarge duration following kindling (P>0.05); however, it affects synapsis formation, so that PS increases in comparison with the kindled group (P<0.05) and inceases the lowering of paired pulses (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that the activity of ATPase plays an inhibitory role on the formation in bringing about epiliepsy by kindling, so that by controlling it, it is facilitated.

Background and Purpose: Critical thinking is a high priority outcome of higher education. With the ever-increasing spread of virtual courses, enhancement in the critical thinking in distance learning has become the center of attention for the stakeholders.The present study was conducted to qualitatively examine the experiences of teachers and students in teaching and learning critical thinking in medical education.Methods and Materials: In this qualitative study, 7 E-teachers and 11 postgraduate E-students of medical education were interviewed using a semi-structured method. All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and then analyzed through constant comparison based on Strauss and Corbin's method.Results: Three themes were identified in this study; nature of critical thinking, critical thinking within the framework of medical education discipline; and the teaching-learning process of critical thinking in the virtual environment.Conclusion: The participants’ experiences indicated that the learning-teaching of critical thinking in virtual education is affected by teaching strategies, the features of course management software, creation of a learner-centered environment and the role of critical thinking as one of the objectives of curriculum and evaluation.

Background and Purpose: Despite the known effect of problem-based learning, there are still many challenges against its being replaced with the conventional methods. This research was conducted to find out the students’ experiences of the modified problem-based learning (MPBL) combined with working in small groups.Methods and Materials: In this qualitative study, 35 nursing students participated. The course of Pediatric Nursing was instructed to the students by the modified problem-based learning method and working in small groups. There were 35 semi structured and 6 group-oriented interviews, which were analyzed by content analysis method.Results: Findings demonstrated that MPBL was associated with experiences of thinking, research, self–regulation, motivation and barriers. Barriers were its being time-consuming, difference of attitudes among group members and their resistance against change.Conclusion: Based on the results, MPBL is effective in reinforcing the learning mechanisms.

Background and Purpose: Rumination is one of the effective factors on the onset and maintenance Major Depression Disorder (MDD). Thus, the present study was conducted to compare the rumination and its components in normal subjects and patients with Major Depression Disorder (MDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study, 28 patients with GAD, 28 patients with OCD, 28 patients with MDD and 28 normal individuals were selected through convenient sampling method. The participants completed Rumination Responses Scale (RRS). Data were analyzed by SPSS-16 using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA).Results: Mean rumination score in MDD, OCD, GAD and normal subjects were 62.36±13.38, 63.50±12.76, 54.79±15.60 and 44.57±15.25 respectively. The result showed that there are significant differences in the mean rumination scores and its components across the four groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The result showed that rumination occurs in both clinical and non-clinical populations, and its incidence is not confined to any specific psychopathology.

Background and Purpose: Among Bacilli, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis are important and the latter causes anthrax. Toxin production in this bacillus is carried out by pxo1 gene and associated plasmid. Research has recently shown that this gene can transfer to other bacilli too. The present study was conducted to determine the frequency of pxo1 gene in bacilli other than Bacillus anthracis, so that they can be safely used in producing vaccines against anthrax.Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, 65 soil samples were collected from different geographical regions in Iran, and the organisms were isolated from the soil. Proteins isolated from bacilli were examined by SDS-PAGE technique, and the limits of coded proteins by pxo1 gene were specifically located. The data were summarized in Excel using figures and tables.Results: Based on the results, 13 out of 38 bacilli showed protein bands in the proteins coded by pxo1 gene, and all were from cereus family.Conclusion: In Iran, pxo1 plasmid has transferred from Bacillus anthracis to 13 bacilli isolated from Bacillus cereus.

Background and Purpose: Thyroid autoimmune disease is the most common thyroid disorder in low-iodine intake areas; evaluation of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), anti- Thyoglubolin (TGAb) and anti-microsomal (TMAb) in most patients with hypothyroidism is of significant importance.Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the role of anti-thyroid antibodies in patients with hypothyroidism in Sabzevar, Iran.Methods and Materials: This is a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study where 382 subjects with TSH above normal and T3 and T4 below normal were selected through non-probability convenient sampling. Their TSH, TPOAb, TGAb and TMSb were measured through Eliza method. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 15 using chi-square, independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient, where P< 0.05 was considered significant.Results: TPOAb, TGAb and TMSb in men and women with TSH higher than 10 mIU/ml were 72.3%, 78.3% and 50% positive respectively. In 72.3% of the subjects, TPOAb was above normal; in 78.5% of them TMAb was higher, and in 50% of them TGAb was higher. The highest rate of correlation was observed between TGAb and TPOAb (r=0.89).Conclusion: The results indicated that, in the population studied, TPOAb, TMAb and TGAb were higher than the normal rates, and that TPOAb and TGAb are more remarkably changing to higher rates than TMAb.

Background and Purpose: Geriatric age is a course in life where the elderly are subject to potential threats such as chronic diseases, isolation and seclusion, lack of social support, and accordingly mental and physical disabilities threaten their personal independence. These factors can lead to diminish the quality of life. Therefore, the quality of life of the elderly people in Sabzevar was investigated in this study.Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, 304 elderly of above 60 years dwelling in Sabzevar, Iran in 2010 were selected through systematic cluster sampling. The study data were collected through standardized SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire. They were analyzed through frequency tables and mean±SD, using independent t-test, oneway ANOVA and chi-square in SPSS 15. Level of significance was considered 0.05.Results: The mean quality of life was 44.9±8.7. The highest mean was associated with energy and vigor (50.6±0.5) and the lowest with general health (39.2±19.7). In general, 38.7% had a good life quality and 23.3% did not. Also, 44.4% of elderly men had unsuitable quality of life as far as pain was concerned, and 44.3% were affected with limited physical movement. No significant differences were observed between men and women as regards their limited activity, as well as social, mental and physical problems. However, there was a significant difference as to their pain.Conclusion: Since all dimensions of life quality were below 50 in the present study, the life quality of elderly people in Sabzevar, Iran can be considered unsatisfactory.

Background and Purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders among the most important occupational health issues nowadays. As the ministry of health is responsible for the community health and providing better services requires healthy workforce, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in health-treatment employees at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2008.Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted on 364 personnel of health treatment employees at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2008, who were selected through convenient sampling. The disorders were investigated through Nordik Questionnaire including those in 9 body parts within the past week, past year, and falling behind work due to disorders. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 13 using independent ttest and correlation coefficient.Results: Mean ± SD and employment period of the participants were 31.81±6.88 and 9.36±7 respectively. The highest prevalence of the past year in all participants was related to their waist (57.8%), knee (44%) and (42.6%). However, in participants working for treatment centers, the figures were 61.6%, 46.9% and 48.6% respectively. In the paramedical employees, disorders of was 29.7% and in health center employees, wrist disorders were 28.4%.Conclusion: The prevalence of disorders in university employees is high and the highest rates are related to waist and knee. Disorders of back, waist, knee in the treatment and center employees, and neck disorders in health center employees were higher.

Background and Purpose: Extracorporeal lithotripsy is one of the low risk treatments of renal stones. Its severe complication is hematoma and the most common complication is hematuria. Its cardiovascular effects include diastolic BP increase and ventricular arrhythmias, aggravation of heart failure and disturbance in cardiac pacemaker. The use of extracorporeal lithotripsy is nowadays on the rise in metropolitans. Prevention of life-threatening complications and the adoption of the best treatment procedure are essential for such patients.The Patient: A 48-year-old man underwent extracorporeal lithotripsy due to renal stone, and experienced chest pain two hours later. Diagnosed as the lower cardiac infarction, he received aspirin, streptokinase and heparin at the emergency department. Six hours later, he experienced severs hematuria and renal hematoma; anticoagulants was cut down; he was rescued by appropriate hydrotherapy, and drugs such as vasoconstrictives and aprotinin. He was discharged later.Conclusion: The occurrence of acute myocardial infarction due to extracorporeal lithotripsy must be considered; in order to prevent infarction, patients must be examined for cardiovascular conditions before and after extracorporeal lithotripsy.