مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بابل
سال هفدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 90، اسفند 1393)

Premature delivery is the presence of progressive uterine contractions before reaching 37 weeks of pregnancy. Since it is associated with perinatal complications and high costs, this study aimed to study the risk factors for premature delivery. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 pregnant women with preterm labor (23-37 weeks) and 423 pregnant women of term delivery referring to Ayatollah Rohani Hospital of Babol city, Iran. We extracted and investigated the subjects’ demographic data, history of infertility, smoking habits, use of drugs, fast food consumption, history or presence of maternal illnesses and surgery, Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), embryonic anomalies, premature rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding as well as the neonatal data. As observed in the two groups of preterm and term delivery respectively, there was employment during pregnancy in 83 (22%) and 51 (12%) cases, a history of preterm labor in 41 (10.9%) versus 21 (5%) cases, bleeding during the first trimester in 118 (31.3%) versus 61 (14.4%) cases, fast food consumption in 34 (9%) versus 14 (3.3%) cases, UTI in 150 (39.8%) versus 111 (26.2%) cases, anemia in 62 (16.4%) versus 29 (6.9%) cases, hypertension in 72 (19.1%) versus 13 (3.1%) cases and finally, smoking habits in 22 (5.8%) versus 5 (1.2%) subjects. There was a statistically significant association between the aforementioned variables (p<0.05). According to the results of this study, the most significant risk factors for premature delivery could be managed and controlled

The prevalence of stroke in premenopausal women is lower than men. In fact, estrogen is known as a potent neuroprotective agent in cerebral ischemia before menopause. Phytoestrogens are considered to be less risky than chemical estrogens. In this study, considering the phytoestrogenic properties of Vitex agnus custus, the effects of the ethanolic extract of this plant on stroke outcomes in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion were investigated in ovariectomized mice. In this experimental study, 32 mice, weighing 25-35 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups (8 mice per group): 1) sham group, 2) control group (ovariectomized, treated with 1 ml/kg saline for one month, followed by stroke induction), 3) Vitex group (ovariectomized, treated with 80 mg/kg of Vitex extracts in 1 mL saline every day for a month), and 4) estrogen group (ovariectomized, treated with 40 μg/kg of estradiol valerate in 1 mL saline every day for a month). After one month, stroke was induced in ovariectomized mice by cauterizing the middle cerebral artery. Infarct volume and neurological disorders were evaluated one week after stroke induction. A week after stroke induction, infarct volume in the control, estrogen, and Vitex groups was 11.98±2.33, 3.41±1.01, and 5±1.10, respectively. Vitex extracts and estrogen could decrease infarct volume, compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, estrogen and Vitex extracts reduced neurological deficits, compared to the control group (p<0.001). A week after stroke induction, sensorimotor disorders in the control, estrogen, and Vitex groups were 50±7, 15±2, and 21±4.09, respectively. In fact, a significant difference was observed between the control and other groups (p<0.001). The findings of the present study showed that Vitex extracts, similar to estrogen, have neuroprotective effects, following middle cerebral artery occlusion in ovariectomized mice.

Changes in the visual experience during the critical periods of brain development lead to the dysfunction of the visual cortex.The visual cortex is a major supplier of sensory input in the mammalian hippocampus. This study aimed to investigate the effects of visual deprivation on the synaptic plasticity of CA1 neurons in this area. This experimental study was conducted on 48 male Wistar rats who had been classified into the two main groups of a 12-12 Light Reared (LR) and Dark Reared (DR) since birth.To perform the experiments, the rats were categorized under 3 subgroups of 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) were recorded for 30 minutes from the dendrites of neurons in the CA1 area. Afterwards, long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced through Tetanic stimulation. Finally, the amplitude of the responses were measured before and after the Tetanic stimulation. The amplitude of basic responses in the 2WLR and 6WLR group were 1.28± 0.05 Mv and 1.09 ± 0.03 Mv, respectively (p<0.0001) while the range increased from 1.30 ±0.30 Mv in the 2WDR group to 1.50 ± 0.4 Mv in the 6WDR group (p<0.0001). Upon LTP induction, the highest rise in the amplitude response was observed at the age of 2 weeks in the animals. However, the increasing responses in both groups of LR and DR diminished with age (p<0.0001). Visual deprivation during the critical periods of brain development might lead to an increase in the basal synaptic activity of hippocampal CA1 neurons through an age-related process. Although it does not interrupt the induction of LTP in neurons, it might reduce its intensity and stability.

Lead poisoning have been reported from many parts of the world. They are one of global clinical problem that effect all body organs and many deaths every year. This review was done to survey toxicological aspects of lead compounds The data bank used in this study is web of science, scopus, pubmed, pubmed central, SID. The keywords are Alzheimer’s Disease, medical plants, acetylcholine, antioxidant. Metallic lead is used industrial, organic lead eg., tetraethyl and tetramethyl lead in gasoline additives to prevent engine knock, and inorganic lead salts combined with other elements. Majority of absorptive lead through the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Lead compounds can lead to clinical manifestation in neurologic system, hematopoietic, kidneys, cardiovascular, reproduction, bones. There are tests available to diagnose poisoning by measuring lead in blood, urine, hair and fingernails. Patients of lead toxicity need to decontamination (GI tract irrigation), supportive cares, use traditional and new chelating agents to combination therapy, also antioxidants, vitamins, and nanoparticle. Based on the survey, it is recommended to detect contaminated areas and consider an educational plan for the exposed people to prevention of lead poisoning.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder which will gradually damage the memory, reduce learning and reasoning ability, impair judgement and communication and interfere with daily activities. As Alzheimer’s advances, patients may experience changes in their behaviour and personality. Such examples are anxiety, feelings of suspicion, consternation and delusional visions. Currently, there is no available treatment for this illness. Nevertheless, new approaches have extended horizons about the biology of this illness. Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent type of brain deterioration affecting over 20 million people across the world. In this article, we investigated the findings of previous control studies in order to determine whether medicinal herbs could be effective in treating cognitive disorders caused by this illness in the elderly. Furthermore, a few common medicinal herbs for treating Alzheimer’s have been looked into in this article. In this study, we conducted investigations into the studies done on Alzheimer’s using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Pumbed Central, Pumbed and a number of key words like Alzheimer’s, medicinal herbs, Acetylcholine and antioxidants. The first neurotransmitter deficiency discovered in Alzheimer’s was Acetylcholine which is a cholinergic neurotransmitter necessary for the short-term memory. Cholinergic deficiency due to Alzheimer’s is mainly responsible for the problems of short-term memory. Undoubtedly, cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists are efficacious in treating Alzheimer’s. However, these treatments are unlikely to impede the illness and they tend to lose their effectiveness in the long run. The products of medicinal herbs are mostly used in treating the psychological and behavioural symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Menopause plays a pivotal role in women’s life comprising of approximately one third of it. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the significance of this period. This study aimed to determine the age of menopause and its associated factors in postmenopausal women in Babol, Iran This cross-sectional study was conducted by cluster sampling on 300 postmenopausal women identified by doorstep questioning of the homes in selected areas. The questionnaires consisted of information on the menopause age, body mass index (BMI), age at menarche, first pregnancy age, duration of hormonal contraceptive use, left-handedness, occupation, menstrual regularity, exercise, smoking habits, couple’s education degree, marital status, family size and the number of births and abortions. The collected data were registered into checklists and The Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale was used for the assessment of the variables. In total, the average age of menopause was 50.02±0.21 years, the average length of marriage was 42.10±0.63 years, age at last pregnancy was 35.15±0.35 years and the lactation duration was 106.02±3.5 months. A significant correlation was found between the length of marriage, age at last pregnancy, stress scores, lactation duration and the menopause age (p<0.001), while some factors such as BMI, regulation and age at menarche, duration of hormonal contraceptive use and exercise were found to have no significant correlations with the onset of menopause. According to the results of this study, the mean age of menopause in Babol is within the normal range and it is associated with the length of marriage, age at last pregnancy, stress scores and lactation duration.

Menopause is one of the most critical periods in a woman’s life. The symptoms that women experience during this stage are among the most important health care challenges. This study aimed to investigate the effect of self-directed learning on the early symptoms of menopause (primary outcome) and the frequency of hot flashes (secondary outcome). In this randomized controlled trial, 124 postmenopausal women, whose medical records were available at Vali-Asr Health Center, were evaluated in Islamshahr city in 2014. The subjects were allocated to intervention (self-directed learning) and control groups (62 subjects per group) via random cluster sampling. For the purpose of training, three booklets, including the symptoms of menopause and methods of prevention, were given to participants on a specific day during three consecutive weeks. Early menopause symptoms were assessed using Greene scale (0-63) before and 4 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using generalized linear model (IRCT code: 201305063027N25). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics or the mean Greene score before the intervention. Four weeks after the intervention, the mean Greene score was significantly lower in the intervention group (95% confidence interval: 6.4-8.5, adjusted difference: 7.5), compared to the control group. Four weeks after the intervention, the frequency of hot flashes was significantly lower in the intervention group, compared to the control group (-1.9 to -6.6, -3.9) (P<0.001). Self-directed learning could reduce the early symptoms of menopause. Therefore, this method of learning can be considered as a suitable way to enhance women’s health and prepare them for dealing with the irritating symptoms of menopause via health interventions.

Performance indicators are the essential tools for measuring the efficiency of hospital services. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of performance indicators by the Pabon Lasso Model in the teaching hospitals of Babol affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences. This experimental study was conducted using a descriptive method and the performance indicators of the Pabon Lasso Model from 2011 to 2014 in four major medical centers and hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences (Beheshti, Ayatollah Rohani, Yahyanejad and Children’s Hospital of Amirkola). Data were extracted from the monthly database of the Ministry of Health consisting of the inpatient bed occupancy rate, bed turnover rate, bed turnover interval and the patients’ average length of stay. The collected data were evaluated according to the criteria of the Health Ministry. In 2011, the Children’s Hospital of Amirkola and Ayatollah Rohani Hospital accounted for the highest (75.74%) and the lowest (69%) bed occupancy rate, respectively. In 2014, the highest rate of bed occupancy was observed in Ayatollah Rohani Hospital (82%). The comparison of the indices by the Pabon Lasso Model indicated that all the four surveyed centers were located in the third area of the diagram from 2011 to 2014. In general, the indicators surveyed in this study appeared to be desirable compared to the criteria of the Ministry of Health, with the exception of the patients’ average length of stay. Thus, further attempts are required as to reduce the average length of stay in the patients.

Odontogenic cysts and tumors exclusively develop in the jaws from odontogenesis tissues. Given the importance of the early diagnosis and proper treatment, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of these lesions in a population from the North of Iran during a 22-year survey. This cross-sectional study was conducted by investigating the records in the archives of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Babol affiliated with the Department of Pathology of School of Dentistry from 1990 to 2012. The demographic features of the subjects including age, gender, anatomic pathology and clinical and pathological lesions were collected in the form of data which were recorded and evaluated. Out of a total of 8956 samples with oral lesion dysfunctions, 317 cases of odontogenic cysts and 53 cases of odontogenic tumors were discovered which belonged to 205 men (55.4%) and 165 women (44.6%). The mean age of these patients was 15.15 ± 28.75 years (ranging from 2 to 79 years). Among the cysts, radicular cyst accounted for the highest prevalence (67.8%) while ameloblastoma was the most frequent odontogenic tumor (82.6%). Moreover, the lesions most commonly developed in the maxillary anterior and the posterior mandibular region, respectively. According to the results of this study, the incidence of odontogenic tumors is lower compared to the incidence of odontogenic cysts in the north of Iran