مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 196 (هفته دوم شهریور 1391)

Triathlon is a popular sport match that combines swimming، cycling، and running into a single event. During each stage، athletes have specific positions which may affect their spinal curvatures. The aim of this study was to compare forward head posture، thoracic kyphosis، and lumbar lordosis in triathlon athletes and non-athletes. This study included 40 Iranian male triathlon athletes and 40 non-athletes. Each athlete had to complete a questionnaire about training procedures and his experience of participation in a triathlon. The degrees of forward head، kyphosis، and lordosis were measured using a goniometer and a flexible ruler. The mean degree of forward head in triathlon athletes (44. 58˚ ± 7. 11˚) was significantly (about 20%) greater than non-athletes (28. 55˚ ± 7. 24˚). A significant difference was observed in mean kyphosis between triathlon athletes and non-athletes (45. 86˚ ± 6. 68˚ vs. 43. 03˚ ± 5. 6˚). However، no significant difference was found between triathlon athletes and non-athletes in mean lordosis (32. 96˚ ± 5. 85˚ vs. 33. 76˚ ± 4. 16˚). It can be concluded that posing specific postures during the 3 stages of a triathlon increases forward head posture and kyphosis among athletes. Therefore، stretching and strengthening exercises are recommended to prevent athletes from developing these abnormalities.

Many dental patients are afraid of injections. There are different methods for reducing pain during topical anesthetic injections. Some studies have reported buffering lidocaine to reduce injection pain. In this study، the effects of fresh and buffered topical anesthetic on injection pain were evaluated. In this prospective study، 4 groups of 20 dental treatment candidates were selected. Topical anesthetics for the 1st-4th groups included carpules of lidocaine/epinephrine، carpules of lidocaine/epinephrine/bicarbonate، freshly prepared lidocaine/epinephrine، and freshly prepared lidocaine/epinephrine/ bicarbonate، respectively. The initiation of topical anesthesia and injection pain were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The highest and lowest mean scores of pain belonged to the carpule group (2. 67 ± 0. 28) and fresh lidocaine/epinephrine/bicarbonate (0. 86 ± 0. 37)، respectively. While topical anesthesia started 2 minutes after injection in 95% of fresh lidocaine/epinephrine/bicarbonate group، the rate was as low as 50% in carpule group. Adding bicarbonate to carpules of lidocaine/epinephrine and fresh lidocaine/epinephrine is recommended to decrease injection pain and accelerate the onset of effect.

Paraquat is a kind of herbicide which can cause cell damage by producing active radicals. On the other hand، the antioxidant activity of captopril due to its thiol content prevents cell damage caused by active radicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of captopril on paraquat toxicity in G292 cell line.

This study included 4 groups of control، different concentrations of paraquat (2. 5، 5، and 10 mM)، different concentrations of captopril (0. 03، 0. 06، 0. 12، 0. 25، and 0. 5 mM)، and combination of paraquat and captopril with different concentrations. The cells were placed in the well of 96-well tissue culture microplates with the density of 50،000 cells in each well. After 24 hours of incubation، toxicity tests were performed.

Captopril increased the viability of cells in methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay but it did not have significant effects on nitric oxide production. It could also significantly reduce the cytotoxicity of paraquat.

Although the antioxidant activity of captopril reduced the cytotoxicity of paraquat in G292 cell line، this reduction was not found to be related with nitric oxide production.

Diabetes is considered as a major metabolic disease with high rates of mortality. This study was performed to assess the effects of low and high energy dense vs diets on anthropometric measures، glycemic index، and lipid profiles of type 2 diabetic women. In a randomized controlled parallel design clinical trial، a total of 60 diabetic women [age: 30-60 years; body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2] participated. After matching for age، BMI، and menopausal status، subjects were randomly assigned to consume either a low energy dense [charbohydrate: 65% and fat: 25% of total energy]، high energy dense (charbohydrate: 55% and fat: 35%)، or normal-energy-dense diets (charbohydrate: 60% and fat: 30%) for 8 weeks. Compliance was assessed through a 3-day dietary record during the intervention. Anthropometric measures، plasma glucose and serum insulin، and lipid profiles were evaluated on fasting state at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Difference in dietary energy density did not result in different changes in weight and BMI between groups. Mean change in weight and BMI were almost -3 kg and 1-1. 5 kg/m2 for all groups. Consumption of high energy dense diet resulted in significantly lower serum triglyceride levels compared to low and normal energy dense diets (-41. 16 vs. 2. 56 and 14. 64 mg/dL، P = 0. 01). Within-group differences revealed significant effect of low energy dense diet on serum low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels (-13. 25 mg/dL، P = 0. 004 and -17. 68 mg/dL، P = 0. 003 respectively). No overall significant differences in fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were observed between the 3 groups. Consumption of a high energy dense diet might reduce elevated serum triglyceride levels among Iranian women with type 2 diabes. However، adherence to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables might improve serum low density lipoprotein and total-cholesterol levels of these patients.

One of the major challenges in the efficiency of vaccines and drugs is suitable delivery to target locations. There are several methods for preparing and delivering vaccines. Live attenuated virus vaccines are one of the oldest and most efficient ways to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses. However، they are currently used less due to their genetic instability and the possibility of change to virulent forms. In this review، new approaches to vaccine preparation and delivery systems including use of viral and bacterial vectors، deoxyribonucleic acid vaccines، virus-like particles، virosomes، and vaccines based on filamentous bacteriophage fd and E2 protein of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Geobacillus stearothermophilus are discussed. Furthermore، some new approaches such as use of nanoparticles and aptamers in drug delivery methods are reviewed. The main advantages of new methods include reduced side effects، easy administration، stimulating of innate and specific immune responses، and vaccine or drug delivery to the exact desired locations.