Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:11 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Background: There are some evidences that indicate there are sexual differences in drug abuse and response to synthetic and herbal drugs. It has been shown that the expression of C-FOS increases in many areas of brain during morphine withdrawal. Concerning the sedative effect of Matricaria recutita extract, the aim of this study was to compare expression of C-FOS transcription factor during morphine withdrawal with and without acute administration of Matricaria recutita on male and female adult mice.Materials and Methods: This study was done at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2007 on NMRI mice. Male and female mice were assigned into 8 groups (morphine + saline; morphine + naloxone; morphine + Matricaria recutita + naloxone; and morphine + saline + naloxone). To develop morphine dependency, increasing doses of morphine (20, 40, 80 mg/kg injected subcutaneously) for 4 days. Mice received a final morphine injection (40 mg/kg) 3hours prior to naloxone (5 mg/kg) on the day of testing (day 4). Matricaria recutita extract whit a dose of 30 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally 5 minutes before naloxone injection. In cellular study, 90minute after naloxone injection, mice were decapitated and their brains were separated, then mRNA was extracted from brain tissue. Using DIG-labeled DNA probe of C-FOS, beta-actin and dot blot technique, expression of C-FOS was analyzed by Zero Dscan software. Statistical evaluation of data was performed using student t-test and ANOVA with one factor followed by Duncan test in SPSS software. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The rate of expression of C-FOS increased in male mice but decreased significantly in female mice after naloxone-precipitated abstinence) P<0.01). Matricaria recutita attenuated the rate of expression of C-FOS in male mice but it showed synergistic effect on it in female mice (P<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that the cellular processes involving morphine dependenc and response to treatment with Matricaria recutita are sex dependent and are affected by sexual hormones.

Background: In today's world, noise is one of the major physical pollutants. The exact mechanism leading to tissue damage in loud noise is not clear. There are increasing evidences that show damage to cochlear tissue by noise is linked to cell injury induced by free radical species. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in liver tissue glutathione (antioxidant) and malondialdehyde (one metabolite of lipid oxidation) levels that occur in rabbits which were exposed to continuous loud noise.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 12 white Newzeland male rabbits in Tarbiat Modarres University in 2004. The rabbits were assigned to the following two groups: control, and exposed to continuous loud noise for 96 hours (8 h/day for 12 days, SPL=110dBA and 250Hz to 20 KHz). The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue samples were measured in rabbits after exposure to noise. Thiobarbituric acid reacting substance, Ellman's reagent and spectrophotometry techniques were used for this measurement. The data were statically analyzed by SPSS software and 2 groups were compared by t-test. Differences at the level of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Comparison of the biochemical parameters of GSH and MDA measured in treated group with control indicated that antioxidant and lipid peroxidants parameters were suppressed in treated group compared to control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Possible similarities between rabbit and human biological system indicate the possible role of noise in causation of oxidative stress in context with liver tissue impairment.

Background: Some studies indicated that the chamomile induces sedative and anxiolytic effects. It has been shown that this herbal drug contains some phytoestrogenic components. Concerning the different effects of sexual hormones on various physiological phenomena such as anxiety, it seems this herb has different effects on anxiety in males and females. So in this study we examined anxiolytic property of Iranian spicious of chamomile, Matricaria recutita (MR) hydroalcholic extract in presence and absence of sexual glands in male and female animal models. Materials and Methods: This animal study was done in Shahid Chamran University in 2006. NMRI male and female mice were divided in 16 groups of seven mices including: intact, sham, gonadectomized, receiving hydroalcholic extract of MR (10, 30, 50 mg/kg, ip). Elevated plus maze was used to evaluate anxiety and locomotive activity in all groups. Statistical evaluation of data was performed using Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with one factor followed by Tukey test. P<0.05 was considered significant.Results: MR induced anxiolytic effect (10, 30 mg/kg) in intact (P<0.05) and gonadectomized male mice (P<0.05) while did not significant any effect on intact and gonadectomized females. Testectomized mice were more anxious than sham group (P<0.05). Ovariectomized mice had no difference in level of anxiety with sham group. MR had no effect on locomotive activity in male mice but decreased it in females only in dose of 50 mg/kg (P<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that the anxiolytic effect of MR is sex dependent and probably this different effect in two sexes is related to its phytoestrogenic components.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization of patients in western countries. Recently, the role of infectious factors such as Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been suggested. This study was conducted to determine whether previous exposure to H. pylori is associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction.Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 100 hospitalized patients (50 cases and 50 controls) in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Kashan in 2006. Three milliliter blood was obtained from each of 50 survivors of acute myocardial infarction (case) and 50 controls with no history of coronary heart disease and then Anti H. pylori antibody was examined by ELISA. Using chi-square and Fisher exact test the results were analyzed and P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Nine patients (18%) were seronegative, 5(10%) borderline and 36(72%) seropositive for Anti-H.plyori antibodies in case group, where as in controls these proportions were 14(28%), 10(20%) and 26(52%), respectively. No significant association was noted between H pylori seropositivity and risk of MI (P value=0.11).The mean of titer of antibody was 22.6±19.8 in controls and 35.9±31.8 in cases and there was significant correlation between them (P value<0.001).Conclusion: This study revealed no association between MI and H. pylori seropositivity. To show a causal association, very large randomized trials would be needed.

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a form of viral hepatitis in which the HBVDNA is present in blood while the HBsAg is undetectable. As differences in genetics and immunological responses have important role on OBI we were persuaded to analyze the known CCR5-D32 mutation (a chemokine receptor) in patients with OBI.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 3700 blood samples that were HBsAg negative were collected during March 2006 to February 2007, from Rafsanjan blood transfusion services. All samples were tested for anti-HBc antibody. The HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples were analyzed for HBV-DNA by PCR technique. The HBV-DNA positive samples were regarded as OBI cases. Finally, the Gap-PCR was performed to examine the d32 mutation in OBI patients. Results: The analysis of results showed that 352 (9.51%) cases of HBsAg negative samples were positive for anti-HBc. Following examination of HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples for HBV-DNA by PCR based methods; we found that 57(16.1%) cases had HBV-DNA. None of the OBI patients had d32 mutation in CCR5 chemokine receptor whereas 2(2%) of controls had heterozigotic form of this mutation.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study it seems that CCR5-D32 mutation does not affect the immune response against HBV to make OBI.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of digital and conventional radiographic methods in diagnosis of horizontal alveolar bone loss.Materials and Methods: In this diagnostic study 48 radiographs of 104 teeth with periodontal disease that exhibited horizontal alveolar bone loss were obtained by digital and conventional radiography technique in Zahedan faculty of dentistry in 2007. The depth of intrabony defects was determined by linear measurement analysis of radiovisiography (RVG) and coolis. The distance from cemento enamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar crest was assessed intra-surgically. The comparison between RVG measurement, conventional radiographic measurements and intrasurgical estimates were performed using paired t-test and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The distance between CEJ and alveolar crest by RVG method was 3.53±1.47 mm while it was 3.56±1.58 mm by intrasurgical method and 2.9±1.47 by conventional radiography. No statistically significant difference was seen between digital radiographic and intra-surgical measurements (P=0.42). The difference between digital and conventional radiographic measurements was statistically significant (p=0.001).Conclusion: This study showed that the result of digital radiographic measurement was closer to the intra-surgical gold standard. Digital radiographic method was more sensitive than conventional radiography to detect horizontal alveolar bone loss. That’s why we recommend digital imaging as a more useful method than conventional radiography for evaluating the horizontal alveolar bone loss.

Background: According to statistical evidence put forward by WHO in 2003, lack of physical activity is the reason for 1.9 million deaths in the world. More than 60% of adults in the world and more than 80% of Iranian adults do not perform sufficient levels of physical activity. Despite the great advantages of exercise a huge portion of the population of many countries do not exercise adequately thus deprived of its benefits. Transtheoretical model is identified as a comprehensive model for behavior change and decision balance is regarded as a fundamental structure of the model which centers around positive and negative behavior change consequences. In this study decision was made to check the situation of sport change process in Yazd’s staff according to Transtheoretical Model and its relation with decision balance.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 220 subjects were recruited. The subjects were selected through 2-stage cluster sampling-test; the instruments for data collection were a questionnaire that consisted of two parts (demographic variables and construct of TTM. Data analyzed by ANOVA and T-test through SPSS and P<0.05 was significant.Results: Results of the study on 152 males (69.1%) and 68 females (30.9%) with the age average of 34±8.68 indicated a significant relationship between pros and cons with stages of change (P<0.0001) and between pros with age (0.004).Conclusion: With regard to the fact that transtheoretical model has revealed a significant relationship between decisional balance and stage of change in exercise. It is proposed that accomplish educational class for employees, in order to increase pros and reduce cons of exercise.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit. Different factors have been suggested to influence acne including diet, menstruation and occupation. The role of some of these factors on acne intensity is confirmed. The affect of Cigarette smoking on acne intensity has been suggested. In this research, we evaluated the association between cigarette smoking and the acne intensity.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 278 smoker and 277non smoker males referred to dermatology clinics of Semnan during 2006-2007. The dermatologists interviewing the patients completed questionnaires based on clinical diagnosis and intensity of acne. Data analysis was performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Spearman coefficient tests. P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: Severe acne was observed in 16.6% of non-smokers and 22.7% of smokers. Distribution of acne intensity in both groups was significant (P=0.023). Association between duration of cigarette smoking and acne intensity was significant too (P<0.001). The association between dosage of cigarette smoking and acne intensity was also significant (P<0.001).Conclusion: Significant association between cigarette smoking and acne intensity showed that smoking withdrawal is helpful for reducing the acne intensity.

Uterovaginal malformations, occur in 0.16% of women and contribute to the problems of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, amenorrhea and a poor outcome in pregnancy. True diverticulum is an exceedingly rare anomaly and is like a tubular formation connected to uterine cavity that ends in a cul-de sac and It is not classified as any of mullerian duct anomalies. In this article a case of uterine diverticulum rupture due to pregnancy in a 19 years old woman with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain is reported. Although rare, in complicated pregnancy we should think to genital tract anomalies.