مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی گیلان
پیاپی 129 (بهار 1403)

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions that cause dysfunction in the jaw joint, masticatory muscle pain and mouth opening limitations, and affects patients’ ability to eat, practice oral health, and perform other activities of daily living. The etiology of TMDs is not well-known. These disorders have a higher prevalence in women and younger people. Although the benefits of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in treating TMD have been reported, the results vary from study to study.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of LLLT in the treatment of TMDs

In this narrative review study, a search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases for randomized clinical trials, case-control studies, and systematic reviews published from 1976 to 2023 using the keywords (Mesh terms) temporomandibular disorder, low-level laser therapy, LLLT, and myofascial pain. 

Of 271 found articles, only 8 were included in the study, of which 6 confirmed that the LLLT was effective in the treatment of TMDs. One article concluded that superluminous devices are more effective than LLLT and one article concluded that LLLT is not effective in treating TMDs.

The LLLT is effective in the treatment of TMDs and its related disorders, such as masticatory muscle disorder, temporal joint pain, and difficulty in jaw opening. The nuber of studies are limited and definite conclusions cannot be drawn. Therefore, further studies are needed in this field.

Recent advances in the field of reproductive biology through tissue engineering have greatly contributed to infertility health care and treatment. Current studies on the bioengineering of female genital tissues has created new hopes for people suffering from congenital and acquired reproductive tract disorders and infertility.

This study aims to review the biological materials and strategies employed in the tissue engineering of female reproductive organs and tissues.

In this study, articles were searched using the keywords “infertility”, “tissue engineering”, “female reproductive organs”, “vagina”, “uterus”, “ovary” and “follicle” independently in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google scholar databases. Finally 82 articles were selected and reviewed.

Tissue engineering using biological materials, stem cells, and molecular factors for the construction of artificial uterus, vaginal reconstruction, growth and maturation of ovarian follicles in laboratory conditions, in addition to providing a platform for basic science studies in this field, has provided practical and therapeutic solutions for the female reproductive system disorders and infertility.

The physiological function of female reproductive system can be affected by congenital and acquired disorders, resulting in infertility. Tissue engineering approaches, as functional therapeutic solutions, have greatly contributed to this field through the use of biological materials, cells and growth factors. Therefore, tissue engineering-based therapies can open a window of hope in women suffering from these disorders.

It is necessary to provide safe care for patients with acute and life-threatening conditions by nurses working in the emergency departments (EDs). These nurses need higher levels of independent performance. Therefore, the competency to provide safe care and having professional nursing autonomy in novice nurses working in the EDs are very important.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between professional nursing autonomy and safe nursing care in newly graduated nurses working in the EDs.

In this analytical cross-sectional study, the study population consists of all newly graduated nurses working in EDs of hospitals in Guilan, Iran. They all were included in the study using a census sampling method. The tools for collecting information were a demographic form, the assessment of safe nursing care questionnaire, and the professional nursing autonomy scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, Spearman or Pearson correlation test, and linear regression analysis) were used to analyze the collected data.

There was a significant relationship between professional nursing autonomy and safe nursing care; for every one unit increase in professional autonomy, the chance of providing safe nursing care increases by 0.133 (P=0.009).

The significant relationship of professional nursing autonomy with safe nursing care among the EDS nurses shows that if nurses have a greater control over their performance, decision-making ability, and autonomy to act based on patient safety, they can provide better quality care to patients. Therefore, empowering nurses by providing conditions to perform based on professional autonomy, can ultimately lead to better results for the patients and cause overall safety in the EDs.

Nasal septal abscess, which is the collection of purulent materials between the cartilaginous or bony septum and the mucoperichondrium or mucoperiosteum, often occurs after septal hematoma caused by trauma. Other common factors include surgery, foreign bodies, and sinusitis. In addition to the risk of nasal deformity, septal abscess can cause life-threatening complications such as osteomyelitis, orbital or intracerebral abscess.

This study aims to investigate the frequency of nasal septal abscess and its related factors in patients in north of Iran.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study on the patients referred to a hospital in north of Iran in 2022. Their demographic and disease-related information were recorded and the risk factors were finally identified.

In this study, 37 patients had septal abscess. The most common risk factor identified was a history of septoplasty or septorhinoplasty (35.1%), followed by diabetes mellitus (21.6%). Surprisingly, one of the factors in these patients was cauterization for epistaxis treatment (n=6). All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage. In five patients, abscess resulted in saddle nose deformity. Positive culture results were reported in five samples.

Early identification of nasal septal abscess and its risk factors can help control the disease and prevent its serious complications.

Herb shops are important for preparing medicinal plants. Improper packaging can lead to contamination of these plants by various types of microorganisms, fungi and yeasts.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of microbial and fungal contamination in four plants from the Lamiaceae family in herb shops in Rasht, Iran.

In this study, 15 samples from mint, rosemary, and wild mint plants, and 16 samples from lemon balm were collected. The samples were diluted and incubated for one hour, then transferred onto Tryptic soy agar culture medium for bacterial enumeration. The sabouraud dextrose agar culture medium was used to count total mold and yeast, while McConkey Broth culture medium was used for specific identification of Escherichia coli. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS software, version 16. For comparing the bacterial and fungal contamination levels in the plant samples with the Pharmacopeial quality standard values, the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test was used.

Out of 61 plant samples, 59 (73.7%) were contaminated with bacteria, and 60 samples (86.6%) were contaminated with fungi. The number of samples contaminated with Escherichia coli was 27 (44.2%). The mean counts of bacteria and fungi in the plant samples were 3.39×105 and 6.3×105, respectively.

The microbial contamination in most of the plant samples examined in this study is significantly higher than the permissible limit. It is necessary for health authorities to implement stricter policies for monitoring the quality of natural products in herb shops of Rasht, Iran.

Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders that can affect a person’s mood and change his/her perception of the self and environment. Melilotus officinalis L. plant contains effective substances and antioxidant compounds.

The present study aims to investigate the antidepressant effects of alcoholic extract of Melilotus officinalis L. in male rats.

In this experimental research, 42 male rats were divided into six groups of 7 including control (normal saline), negative control (reserpine), positive control (reserpine+fluoxetine) and three reserpine groups treated by intraperitoneal injection of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg doses of alcoholic extract of Melilotus officinalis L. Behavioral tests including forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to evaluate depression, and the antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde level were also measured. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 20 using one-way analysis of variance. The significance level was set at P<0.05.

The 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses of alcoholic extract significantly reduced the duration of immobility in the FST compared to the negative control. In the TST, the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg showed a significant increase compared to the negative control. The doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of the brain compared to the negative control. The doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced the antioxidant capacity of the brain compared to the negative control.

The alcoholic extract of Melilotus officinalis L has antidepressant effects similar to fluoxetine probably due to its antioxidant compounds.

Transparency has long been a basic principle for the management of public organizations and is usually considered a powerful tool to achieve desirable social goals, including strengthening accountability and reducing corruption.

The current research aims to develop a model for institutionalization of transparency culture in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (LUMS) and assess the relationships between its components.

This is a mixed-method (exploratory sequential) study. In the qualitative phase using the content analysis method, the participants included university faculty members and senior managers of LUMS. A researcher-made questionnaire tool was used to collect information, and the interpretive structural modelling method was used to analyze and rank the components.

Based on the results, 18 factors were identified as the main factors of the model for institutionalization of transparency culture in LUMS, which were organizational agility, change management, the rule of law, trust and confidence, clear accountability, cultural infrastructure, knowledge management, effectiveness and efficiency of processes, regulatory quality, participatory management, justice orientation, cognitive skills, adaptation and tolerance, reduced administrative corruption, improved community satisfaction, transformation and improvement of the administrative system, meritocracy, and employee satisfaction. Among these factors, the reduced administrative corruption and employee satisfaction had the greatest effect on institutionalizing the culture of transparency in LUMS.

The most important factors for institutionalizing the culture of transparency in LUMS are the reduction of administrative corruption and the satisfaction of human resources. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to these factors in institutionalizing the culture of transparency.

Rosacea as a skin inflammatory disease may be triggered by some types of bacteria. Azelaic acid with antibacterial property can be used for treatment of skin conditions such as Rosacea.

In this study, we aim to prepare and evaluate the physicochemical properties and primary stability of 15% azelaic acid gel.

For the gel preparation, first, an aqueous solution containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic and benzoic acids was prepared. Then, a mixture of polysorbate 80 and triglyceride was added to the solution at 50°C. Then, lecithin, propylene glycol, and carbomer 940 P was added to the mixture, and stirred. After that, the gel was prepared. Then, 15 g of dissolved azelaic acid in propylene glycol was added to the gel. Finally, the formulation was homogenized for 15 min.

On the day of production, all the formulations had a smooth appearance and the amount of azelaic acid was about 15%. In the preliminary stability study for 3 months, the amount of azelaic acid in the formulation 5 (F5), prepared using homogenizer, was more than 99% of drug content, without any significant difference with other formulations. The released drug from F5 was 30% in the first hour and 50% after 2 hours.

All prepared formulations have acceptable pH, viscosity, and drug content. In 3 months, the highest homogeneity of azelaic acid with the lowest standard deviation was seen in the F5 formulation, indicating the importance of using homogenizer in azelaic acid gel preparation. Also, the propylene glycol 18% w/w, in addition to having a co-solvent role, can increase the release of azelaic acid from the gel.