مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی اراک
سال بیست و دوم شماره 4 (پیاپی 140، مهر و آبان 1398)

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thus, it is important to find newer, more selective, and more effective therapies for this disease. One of these methods that have attracted many researchers is using anticancer peptides regarding their specificity, lower side effects, and higher effectiveness on the cancer cells. One type of anticancer peptides is antimicrobial peptides. Although they have already been studied and introduced as potential agents to fight infectious diseases, only recently they have been used as a new way of cancer treatment. For decades, antimicrobial peptides have been considered a component of the native immune system; however, they can also be used as anticancer peptides due to their mechanisms and properties. This new therapeutic approach can provide a promising pathway for optimal cancer treatment with fewer side effects.

Periodontal diseases are among the most prevalent inflammatory diseases caused by oral bacteria. Expansion of oral biofilm causes various diseases such as gingival inflammation and periodontitis. The Satureja plant has various species, all of which are aromatic. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of some diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Satureja essential oil on periodontal pathogens.

In this study, we evaluated four pathogens; Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus sanguinis, Eikenella corrodens, and Actinomyces viscosus. We also used the disk diffusion test and broth microdilution method to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Satureja essential oil. Finally, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration.
Ethical Considerations The Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.67).

In concentration of 0.1 g/mL of Satureja plant, Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus sanguinis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Eikenella corrodens were found to be sensible to resistance. The Satureja essential oil had the highest effect on Eikenella corrodens. Results obtained from the biofilm test showed no biofilm in a concentration of 12.5 mg/mL and higher of Satureja plant.

The Satureja plant was found to have an antibacterial and inhibitory effect on biofilm growth and formation in the oral cavity.

Oxidative stress is the main factor in the development and progression of diabetes and its related complications. There is growing evidence that antioxidants supplementation can improve oxidative stress induced in diabetes. The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) in diabetic rats.

A total of 30 male rats were divided into five groups: saline, sesame oil (as a vehicle), CoQ10-treated (10 mg/kg/day), diabetic (induced with streptozotocin: 55 mg/kg), and CoQ10-treated diabetic (10 mg/kg/d). Then, we measured the Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) levels in the rats’ liver homogenate. Additionally, the OSI was calculated.

The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.119).

results showed a significant decrease in the level of liver MDA (P=0.022), TOS (P=0.03), and OSI (P=0.028) in the CoQ10-treated diabetic group compared to the diabetic rats. No significant change was observed in the total thiol group (P=0.25) and TAC (P=0.77) level in diabetic rats’ livers treated with CoQ10 compared to diabetic rats.

 CoQ10 supplementation can reduce oxidative stress induced in the liver of diabetic rats through the suppression of TOS, OSI, and lipid peroxidation

Among nano-pharmaceutical materials, nanoemulsions are an important tool in the field of nanotechnology. They have been designed for clinical and therapeutic applications. Since the therapeutic efficacy of cancer is measured by the ability of the drug to reduce and eliminate tumors without damaging healthy tissues, nanoemulsions can be useful as a targeted drug carrier. Therefore, we are going to study the antioxidant and anticancer effects of nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil.

 Evaluate the antioxidant properties, we used DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) tests. We also applied MTT assay for the evaluation of induced cytotoxicity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University (Mashhad Branch) approved this study (Code: IR.IAU.MSHD.REC.1398.027).

 Nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil has a good potential for inhibiting DPPH (IC50=500 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC50=420 μg/mL) radicals. Nanoemulsions also caused a little toxicity to both cell lines. Nanoemulsions reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and the cytotoxicity induced to cancer cells was higher than normal cells. 

 The present study indicates that nanoemulsions prepared by dill essential oil will have the potential to become a therapeutic strategy for diseases caused by oxidative stress.

 Clostridium difficile is the main cause of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (AAD) in the hospital setting. Today, the use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of AAD and colitis is increasing. In this study, we investigated the effect of probiotic yogurt on the frequency of Clostridium difficile.

 In this randomized clinical trial study, 132 elderly patients admitted to the infectious ward of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Arak, who were under antibiotic treatment, were randomly divided into two groups, case (yogurt probiotic, 200 mg/d for 8 days) and control group (common yogurt). All patients were trained about the signs of colitis. We evaluated the colitis signs and the presence of Clostridium difficile by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and compared them between the groups. The obtained data were analyzed with appropriate statistical tests in SPSS V. 16.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Code: 10-165-93). Also, it was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Code: IRCT2016092229915N1).

 Clostridium difficile was detected in 4 (6.1%) patients of the case, and 1 (1.5%) patient of the control group, at the beginning of the study. There was no significant difference between the frequency of Clostridium difficile and colitis syndrome between two groups at the end of the study (P>0.05).

 Probiotic yogurt has no significant effect in reducing the frequency of Clostridium difficile and colitis syndrome in our study.

 Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is one of the most common causes of nasal obstruction after nasal septal deviation. Enlargement of the turbinate is the result of the position of turbinate bone or swelling of turbinate submucosal. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the SubMucosal Resection (SMR) method with electrocautery method in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

 A total of 140 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy complicated with nasal congestion and rhinorrhea and candidate of surgery were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group, after induction of anesthesia, we performed SMR of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. In the second group, after induction of anesthesia, we performed monopolar cauterization with 20-gauge angiocath in three anterior, middle, and posterior regions and crests of the inferior turbinate.

 This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences (Code: 91.133.3).

 In the electrocautery group, a significant improvement was observed in nasal congestion after 6 months (P=0.017). In the SMR group, a satisfactory headache improvement was reported (P=0.034), one month after the operation. Also, the electrocautery group reported less pain and burning in the site of surgery, sneezing, coughing, and itching (P=0.013). 

 Electrocautery can be superior over SMR because of its less bleeding, shorter time of surgery, the availability of primary equipment, and relative improvement in decreasing the rhinorrhea. However, if the patient suffers from isolated inferior turbinate hypertrophy, SMR as a suitable method is recommended.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the fourth most common psychiatric disorder. It consists of symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, rituals, behaviors, preoccupations, and compulsions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of attention bias modification and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in reducing the symptoms of OCD.

 study population comprised patients with OCD referring to the outpatient clinic of Amir Kabir Hospital in Arak City, Iran. Of them, 80 patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. The first group received the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and the other group received the treatment modality to determine the effectiveness of the Yale-Brown OCD scale and dot-probe task tests.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Research Ethics Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1396.284). 

 Treatment of attention bias modification in comparison with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors did not show a significant difference in the reduction of attention bias (P=0.377). Also, a significant difference between the two groups in reducing the symptoms of OCD (P=0.007), indicates that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are more effective in diminishing the symptoms of OCD. Besides the attention bias modification decreased the symptoms of OCD, but these results were not significant (P=0.228)

 Attention bias modification is a significant improvement in reducing attention bias and can be used with other interventions. However, it appears that the reduction in the severity of OCD symptoms, as against this intervention, continues to be the preferred treatment for pharmacotherapy.

 Obesity with its various physical and mental problems threatens public health. This study aimed to investigate the discriminative role of metacognitive beliefs, the difficulty in emotion regulation, and codependency in women with obesity.

 In this causal-comparative research, 40 obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and 40 normal-weight subjects were selected by convenience sampling method. The samples were evaluated by metacognitive questionnaire, difficulties in emotion regulation scale, and the Farsi version of codependency measurement tool. We used discriminant function analysis to analyze the obtained data.

 All study subjects signed the written consent form. The Research Ethics Committee of Kharazmi University approved this study (Code: IR.KHU.REC.1397.41).

 The discriminant function could correctly classify 95% of obese people and 97.5% of normal-weight people with 3 variables of metacognitive beliefs, difficulty in emotion regulation, and codependency. In other words, 96.25% of all participants had been classified correctly.

 Distinguishing the two groups of obese and normal people, the variables of metacognitive beliefs, difficulty in emotion regulation, and codependency have a significant role. Therefore, these variables are supposedly influential psychological factors in obesity. So they can be used for its prevention and treatment.

Psychological factors play a significant role in the exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of teaching emotion regulation skill (based on dialectical behavioral therapy) on cognitive emotion regulation and Quality of Life (QoL) of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

 The present study has a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and the control group. The statistical population of the study included all patients with cardiovascular diseases in Kermanshah City, Iran in 2018. Among them, 30 participants were selected by simple random sampling method. Then, they were randomly assigned to the two groups of experimental and control (each group 15 patients). We performed the intervention of excited ordering education based on dialectical behavioral therapy for the experimental group in eight 90-minute sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention during this period. To collect study information, we used a short form of the emotional cognitive regulation questionnaire and MacNew Quality of Life Questionnaire. To analyze the data, we used the multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS V. 20.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Code: IR.KUMS.REC.1397.39).

 The results showed that the scores of Positive Cognitive-Emotional Strategies and quality of life of cardiovascular patients after training of emotional regulation skills based on dialectical behavioral therapy in experimental group significantly increased in comparison with control group, and also Negative Strategies Scores were decreased (P<0.01). 

 Based on our positive study results, we recommend the therapists to use psychological treatments as complementary therapies for these patients.

We need the next-generation of whole-inactivated influenza vaccines to create stronger cross-protection against different influenza subtypes. This research aimed to apply the inactivation process of the influenza virus through gamma radiation as a candidate for the development of whole-inactivated vaccines.

 The influenza virus strain A/PR/8/34 (A/Puerto Rico/8/34 [H1N1]) was propagated in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. After ultrafiltration, the virus infectivity titer was calculated by 50% Tissue Culture Infectious Dose (TCID 50%) method based on the Karber formula. Alternatively, the gamma cell-220 was applied for virus inactivation via gamma rays. The D10 value factor and optimum dose of virus inactivation were calculated based on the dose/survival curve and the initial viral titer. In addition, antigenic properties of irradiated viruses compared to un-irradiated viruses and complete inactivation of the irradiated samples with optimum dose were also evaluated by hemagglutination assay and safety test, respectively.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Iran approved this study (Code: IR.IAU.TMU.REC.1397.309).

 According to the concentrated virus titer (TCID50: 105.75/ml) and dose/survival curve, the D10 value factor and optimum dose of virus inactivation were calculated at 4.878 and 28.048 kGy, respectively. On the other hand, owing to the results obtained from the safety test and hemagglutination assay, the optimum dose of virus inactivation was determined to be 28 kGy by maintaining the antigenic properties.

 Gamma radiation appears to be a good candidate for vaccine development through maintaining the antigenic structures.

Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders. Animal and human experiences indicate that iron deficiency disrupts thyroid metabolism. On the other hand, iron therapy can improve thyroid function and even decrease the dose of levothyroxine.

 In this randomized clinical trial, we selected 94 women with hypothyroidism by simple random sampling method and divided them into two equal groups by simple block sampling. At the beginning of the study, we measured and recorded T4, TSH, T3, and iron profiles (Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, Hemoglobin) in all patients. Then, the patients in the intervention group were treated with levothyroxine plus 100 mg oral iron daily for 8 weeks, and the patients in the control group were treated with levothyroxine only. After two months, we measured their T4, TSH, T3 levels and iron profiles in both groups again.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Research Ethics Code: 1396154). Also, the study has been registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Code: IRCT 20151114025031).

 After 2 months, the TSH Mean±SD serum levels were found as 2.2±1.0 mIU/L and 2.9±1.1 mIU/L for the intervention and control group, respectively (P=0.04). Also, the serum Mean±SD level of T4 and T3 were found as 9.3±1.48 mcg/dL vs. 8.2±0.9 mcg/dL (P=0.01), and 1.6±0.3 ng/mL vs. 1.1±0.3 ng/mL (P=0.01), for two different groups, respectively. 

 Concurrent administration of iron supplementation with the usual dose of levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism decreases THS level and improves laboratory parameters and response to treatment.

 Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) with hyperactivity is one of the behavioral disorders in childhood and adolescence. The mobile health is an economical, available, and useful tool for training the mothers with ODD and hyperactive child. The research aimed to examine the effectiveness of parent training behavioral management program by mobile health to mothers to reduce oppositional and aggression symptoms in children with ODD and hyperactivity.

 The method of this research was a single case experiment by the A-B model. The participants of this study ranged from 7 to 12 years old children and their mothers in Tehran who referred to Rooyesh-e-Talaee Institute and diagnosed with ODD and hyperactivity in 2018. Four children and their mothers were selected with simple random sampling. The intervention implemented in ten 60- 90-minute sessions. For data analysis using the charts, improve percent, and RCI.

 The Research Ethics Committee of Khatam University, Iran approved this study (Code: Kh.96.S.100.3123).

 Children with ODD and hyperactivity showed improvement in comparison with baseline measures. The overall improvement in their defiant was 61.43% and in aggression was 55.33%, and the RCI was higher than 1.96 for all three children. The results showed that the two hypotheses were clinically significant.

The mobile health training with its related apps was a useful, low cost, available, and suitable method for mothers with ODD and hyperactive children. It can also be complementary to counseling services for mothers with the ODD and hyperactive children. Besides, this technology can be helpful for the country's health system and sustainable health development.