Hormozgan Medical Journal
Volume:20 Issue: 1, Apr-May 2016

Artificial neural networks are a type of systems that use very complex technologies and non-algorithmic solutions for problem solving. These characteristics make them suitable for various medical applications. This study set out to investigate the application of artificial neural networks for differential diagnosis of thalassemia minor and iron-deficiency anemia.
It is a developmental study with a cross-sectional-descriptive design. The statistical population included CBC results of 395 individuals visiting for premarital tests from 21 March to 21 June, 2013. For development of the neural network, MATLAB 2011 was used. Different training algorithms were compared after error propagation in the neural network. Finally, the best network structure (concerning diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy) was selected, using the confusion matrix and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC).
The proposed system was based on a multi-layer perceptron algorithm with 4 inputs, 100 neurons, and 1 hidden layer. It was used as the most powerful differential diagnosis instrument with specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of 92%, 94%, and 93.9%, respectively.
The artificial neural networks have powerful structures for categorizing data and learning the patterns. Among different training methods, the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm produced the best results due to faster convergence in network training. It also showed considerable accuracy in differentiating patients from healthy individuals. The proposed method allows accurate, correct, timely, and cost-effective diagnoses. In line with the application of intelligent expert systems, development of this system is presented as a new outlook for medical systems.

Nowadays one of the most important problems of Thalassemia major patients is the additional load of iron and hemosiderosis, the most important consequence of which is deposited iron in myocardial tissue and the incidence of cardiomyopathy caused by hemochromatosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of concurrent (resistance-endurance) exercise on NT-pro BNP and ferritin serum levels of beta Thalassemia major patients.
Participants were 18 patients with Beta Thalassemia major (mean age 22.64±3.5) that voluntarily divided in two groups: experimental (n=9) and control group (n=9). The subjects of the experimental group attended the concurrent (Resistance- Endurance) exercise for eight weeks. Subject's blood samples were taken before and after exercise protocol in order to measurement NT-proBNP and Ferritin Serum levels. The levels of NT-proBNP and Ferritin were measured by using an enzyme-linked Electro immuno assay (ELISA) kits. For data analysis the Repeated measures ANOVA, was used. All statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 19 software. The level of significance was considered P The results indicated the reduction of NT-pro BNP after eight weeks of concurrent (resistance-endurance) exercise compared to the control group (P The reduction of NT-proBNP serum level and its natural range in the exercise protocol, can be a regulating response to hemodynamics cardiac pressure in patients under certain exercise conditions without any pathological importance and improved heart function. A significant reduction of ferritin serum indicates lower iron toxicity and it can be known as an effective factor in delayed cardiomyopathy that caused by excessive iron.

Studies related to investigating reasons of mental disorders emphasize on role of environmental factors in creation of the disorders. For this reason, in this paper, a research was conducted to investigate the relationship between BIS/BAS systems and emotional regulation difficulties with alexithymia.
200 undergraduate students of University of Tabriz in majors including humanities, engineering, and basic science were selected in 2012-2013 academic year through applying multistage random clustering sampling method. The data were collected through questionnaires of Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), behavioral activation/inhibition system (Carver and White) and Difficulty Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz). To analyse the data, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Regression were used.
BIS and BAS systems indicated positive and significant relationship with general Alexithymia and components of difficulty Identifying emotions and externally oriented thinking subscales. Positive and significant relationship was found between Alexithymia and Difficulty Emotional Regulation and its components except subscale of Lack of Emotional Awareness. Positive significant relationship was also found between difficulty Identifying emotions and difficulty describing emotions with all components of emotional regulation difficulty except Lack of emotional clarity.
Results showed that alexithymia has relationship with difficulty in emotion regulation and brain behavioral systems. This relationship can explain reward sensitivity system disorders and emotion regulation problems including addiction, alcoholism, sensitivity inhibitory systems disorders like anorexia nervosa and some personality disorders.

Curcumin is a water-insoluble agent with some anticancer and antimicrobial effects; while, solubility is essential for a medicine to reach target cells. This study set out to use chitosan tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (CTN) for making curcumin water-soluble, and delivering the required dosage of it to target cells.
In this study, the nanoparticles were fabricated from chitosan and tripolyphosphate using the ionotropic gelation method. The emulsified solution of curcumin was also loaded during the fabrication of CTNs. Then, the size and loaded amount of the nanoparticles were measured with a zeta potential analyzer; in addition, the shape and size of them were evaluated through atomic-force microscopy. Moreover, the amount of drug loaded chitosan nanoparticles was measured, using a spectrophotometer.
According to zeta analyzer results, the size and charge of the curcumin-contained chitosan tripolyphosphate nanoparticles were 165±5 nm and ±2 mV, respectively. According to the AFM findings, the obtained nanoparticles had spherical shape. Spectrophotometer showed that the curcumin loaded into tripolyphosphate nanoparticles was 67±1%.
Our study suggests that a significant amount of water-soluble curcumin can be loaded into CTNs using ionotropic gelation method.

Free radicals cause several human diseases. Antioxidants decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attack, and prevent the development of cancers through neutralization of free radicals. This study set out to determine the antioxidative properties of Citrullus colocynthis growing in Khuzestan. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of type II diabetes.
In this study, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and beta-carotene linoleic acid assays were used for the evaluation of antioxidative properties. In addition, the measurement of flavonoids and phenolic compounds was done based on the Gallic acid and quercetin reagents.
In the DPPH assay, the maximum and minimum scavenging activity of free radicals were found in the extractions of stem (IC50=12.4μg/ml) and leaves (IC50=5.46 μg/ml), respectively. With respect to the beta-carotene linoleic assay, the maximum and minimum antioxidative activities were observed in the extractions of leaves (79.78%) and fruits (47.08%), respectively. Moreover, the maximum content of flavonoids and phenolic compound were 22.15μg/ml in stem, and 4.09μg/ml in fruit.
The methanol extracts from different organs of citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) showed antioxidative activities at different levels. Therefore, they can be used as antioxidants in food industries and adjuvant treatments.

Training techniques, age, and climatic conditions may play a significant role in physiological responses of soccer players. Therefore, this study set out to investigate changes in the serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) and blood lactate levels of teenagers after playing small-sided soccer games in warm weather.
In this study, 24 soccer players aged 15-18 years were participated. Among them, 16 players divided into six experimental groups including two 4-member teams (mean age: 16.13±0.88 years; height: 167.00±6.66cm; weight: 58.70±7.34kg: BMI: 20.96±1.79) and four 2-member teams (mean age: 16.80±0.48 years; height: 167.00±5.73cm; weight: 55.16±5.98kg: BMI: 19.78±1.83). Experiments were conducted in two fields, sized 25×20 m2 and 35×28m2, respectively. The other 8 players (mean age: 16.18±1.07 years; height: 171.00±6.75cm; weight: 58.86±8.21kg: BMI: 20.03±2.14) were taken as control group and did not perform any [athletic] activity. The blood samples of all groups were collected before and immediately after the games, and then the IL-18 and lactate levels were measured.
According to the results, the amount of IL-18 and lactate significantly increased in the experimental groups (P It may put that playing small sided soccer games in warm weather significantly increases IL-18 and blood lactate levels of teenage players.

The Gram-negative emerged an important nosocomial pathogen, especially in intensive care units. These bacteria are cause of health infections, specifically in intensive care units (ICUs). Recent reports present an increase in acinetobacters resistance to carbapenems. This study set out to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of carbapenems in different species of acinetobacters isolated from clinical specimens of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital in Bandar Abbas.
This descriptive-cross sectional study investigated 81 acinetobacter isolates, collected from different clinical specimens, to the species level, using biochemical tests and Microgen GNA-ID System. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the species was screened by the Kirby-Bauer method performed on Mueller–Hinton agar. In addition, the MIC of imipenem and meropenem antibiotics was evaluated using E-test.
Among the investigated 81 acinetobacter species, 79 (97.5%), 1, and 1 species were of acinetobacter baumannii, acinetobacter lwoffii, and acinetobacter haemolyticus families, respectively. According to the Kirby-Bauer method, the maximum antibiotic resistance of acinetobacter baumannii was to ceftriaxone (98.73%), ciprofloxacin (96.20%), and imipenem (82.28%); in addition, the maximum sensitivity was to polymyxin B and colistin (97.5%), and tigecycline (82.28%). Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration with R-test showed that 79.75% and 78.48% of acinetobacter baumannii strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem, respectively. The acinetobacter lwoffii with MIC=0.074μg⁄m and 32≤MIC μg⁄m were resistant to imipenem and meropenem, respectively.
The most prevalent species of acinetobacters in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, was acinetobacter baumannii. Three types of antibiotics (polymyxin B, tigecycline, and colistin) shown effective in the treatment of infections induced by these bacteria.

Dialysis is a stressful process with several psychological and social problems that can lead to the expression of psychological disorders in patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationshipsbetween the demographic variables and depression among the dialysis patients.
The present study is across-sectional observation that involved all of the patients in hemodialysis centerof Shahid Mohammadi hospital of Bandar Abbas in 2012. One hundred fourteen patients were selected based on the statistical methods.Beck’s depression inventory (BDI) with 21 questions was used to collect the data. Statistics SPSS 19 software for Windows was used for the statistical analyses. A two sided α = 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
About 57.9% of the samples were males and 42.1% were females and 74.4% were single and 52.6% were married. Significant correlation (P Our findings support the importance of demographic characteristics to determine the prevalence of depression in hemodialysis patients. Among demographic variables, sex, age, marital status, level of education, and income level were the most important predictors.

This study set out to investigate the efficacy of training through emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on the improvement of marital passion.

This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre- and post-test design, and experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all couples living in Bandar Abbas. In general 185 couples enrolled to participate in the research. The sample size comprised 20 subjects in the experimental group and 20 subjects in the control group, selected from 97 couples who gained low scores in the Love Component Scale (LCS). The Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale, or Sternberg's Love Components Scale, as well as Demographic Inventory were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-test.

Findings indicate that the focus on emotions and attachment styles can alter marital passion in couples. In addition, the RFT has positive significant effect on the improvement of marital passion (P

These findings show that the development of a safe attachment style and identification of initial and secondary emotions in a training process not only fade negative interactions, but also improves marital passion.

Holding the breath during exercise causes hypoxia. This study set out to investigate the effect of the 12-week hypoxic interval training on lung volume and records of elite swimmers in 50 and 100 meters breaststroke.
In this quasi-experimental study, 22 male swimmers were randomly divided into the hypoxic interval training group (n: 13; age: 16.61±1.39 years; height: 177.92±1.94 cm; weight 70.17±3.55kg) and normal training group (n: 9; age: 16.67±1.16 years; height: 176.33±5.24cm; weight 67.83±4.24kg). The hypoxic interval training program included 3-8 sets of 25-200 m breaststroke and the butterfly (breathing every 4-6 strokes), six-time per week for 12 weeks. The normal training routine performed without breath-holding (breathing every 2 strokes). The FIVC, FEV1, FVC, and FIV1 parameters, as well as records in 50m and 100m swimming were measured pre- and post-training. The obtained data was analyzed with ANCOVA (P Swimmer's records in both 50 m and 100 m swimming scenarios significantly decreased after the application of the hypoxic interval training program. The FIVC, FEV1, FVC, and FIV1 parameters significantly increased only after the hypoxic training (P It seems that the 12-week hypoxic interval training program can increase the lung volume and improve the records of the elite swimmers in 50m and 100m breaststroke.