Thrita
Volume:4 Issue: 11, Mar 2015

The artificial food colors tartrazine (E102), sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), ponceau 4R (E124), allura red (E129), azorubine (E122) used in foodstuffs were tested. This study aimed to determine the amount of artificial dyes in cookie, ice cream and saffron aqueous solution obtained from different confectionaries and restaurants of this city. A total of 70 samples of different foodstuffs including cookies (n = 20), ice cream (n = 20) and saffron aqueous solution (n = 30) used and served in confectioneries and restaurants in Arak city, Iran, were collected in February 2013. The samples were tested using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) method. Using artificial colors is not permitted according to the national standard of Iran. The results showed that several products did not meet the standards. Fifty-six out of the 70 (80%) samples examined in the study, namely sunset yellow (60%), tartrazine (57.1%), quinoline yellow (44.28%), azorubine (28.57%), ponceau 4R (8.57%) and allura red (2.85%) failed to meet the standard and health codes. Considering the high level of artificial colors found in the samples of this study, preventive measures are essential.

Wound healing is a dynamic process with inflammatory response and oxidative reaction in the damaged area. Alpha ointment (AO) and Arnebia euchroma (Arnebia) are herbal medicines with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can be used as wound healing agents. AO is a commonly used ointment while Arnebia is a newly introduced one. We aimed to compare the effects of Arnebia with those of AO on the skin wound healing process in rats by using stereological methods. A total of 48 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups of 12. One group was treated with AO (E1), one was treated with Arnebia gel with a concentration of 10% of herbal extract (E2), the first control group (C1) received no treatment, and the other group (C2) was treated with the vehicle gel. Treatments were performed every 24 hours for 14 days. The volume densities of the collagen bundles and vessels, vessel’s length density and diameter, and fibroblast populations were estimated by using stereological methods. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. According to our results, the average of reduction in wound areas, volume density of collagen bundles, fibroblast populations, and length density of vessels in E1 and E2 groups were significantly higher than C1 and C2 groups. The differences between E1 and E2 were not statistically significant regarding the stereological parameters. According to our results, Arnebia and AO showed similar efficacies in improving the wound healing process and tissue regeneration.

Context: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are multigene family structurally and functionally related endoproteinases. The basic action of 23 types of MMPs collectively involves degradation of virtually every component of extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumor cells migration and metastasis process. This review article aimed at surveying MMPs specific role in various steps and cellular pathways involving in breast carcinogenesis.Evidence Acquisition: This review article compromised published articles in PubMed and GoogleScholar according to keywords since 1988. Based on the recent researches, certain MMPs play critical role in breast cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis. They can be regarded as predictive biomarkers of primary diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer and have predictive value for evaluation of disease, tumor recurrence, invading of tumor cells to other sites and therapeutic outcomes. In summary, the results of this review article provide rational evidences for applying in human clinical trials toward MMPs in breast cancer therapies.

Context: Oxidative stress is one of the factors related to the pathogenesis of fertility disorders such as idiopathic infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis. Hence, the role of micronutrients has attracted the attention of researchers to the extent that some studies have investigated the role of vitamins and minerals in the risk of female infertility. This study aimed to summarize the literatures regarding the association between micronutrient intakes and female infertility.Evidence Acquisition: Literature searching for studies on female infertility and micronutrient intakes, published between January 1984 and November 2014, was performed using the PubMed and Embase databases. The bibliographies of included studies were also searched for additional references. About 100 articles were identified and after the elimination of irrelevant studies, 28 related studies available for review were examined. Researches have demonstrated that in women with idiopathic infertility, total antioxidant status and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and homocysteine (Hcys) were respectively lower and higher. Moreover, some studies have shown that higher intake of iron, folic acid, and vitamins D and E may play a beneficial role in female infertility. However, a number of other studies have not attained such results for vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine. Studies revealed that micronutrient intakes play a substantial role in preventing or facilitating female infertility. Further studies are needed to evaluate this association.

Rhinoliths are uncommon nasal masses. They are mineralized masses found within the nasal cavity. They have various clinical presentations. We report a 13-year-old boy with long-standing nasal obstruction, yellowish nasal discharge and intermittent and minimal nasal bleeding for a few weeks, who had been treated as rhinosinusitis twice. Due to the presence of long-standing symptoms, a systematic nasal examination including anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy was carried out. Nasal endoscopy revealed a whitish irregular mass along the floor of the nose at left inferior meatus. Computed tomography (CT) scan of paranasal sinuses showed a hyperdense substance in the floor of the left nostril. Rhinolith was removed endoscopically under general anesthesia, leading to the complete resolution of his symptoms. Diagnosis of rhinolithiasis can be made by keeping a strong suspicion based upon history and symptoms. The current case report shows the importance of rigid nasal endoscopy and radiological assessment in diagnosis and management of rhinoliths, particularly if they are situated posteriorly.

Kidney failure patients with low health literacy are at increased risk for poor self-care and negative health outcome. This study aimed to examine the role of health literacy in patient’s knowledge about kidney disease and medical care adherence and also to test the mediating role of kidney knowledge on the relationship between health literacy and medical adherence among patients undergoing dialysis. Patients and This cross-sectional study was performed on 240 consecutive patients diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD) referred to dialysis ward affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences from March 2014 to June 2014 based on the inclusion criteria. A total of 204 patients under dialysis, with a mean age of 50.9 years, answered to all questionnaires, including Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA), Kidney Knowledge Survey (KiKS) and End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire (ESRD-AQ). The results indicated that health literacy was inadequate in 25%, marginal in 9.8%, and adequate in 65.2% of the patients. Kidney knowledge (P < 0.001), and adherence (P < 0.02) scores differed significantly by health literacy levels. Health literacy was positively related to kidney knowledge (β = 0.08, SE = 0.01) and adherence (β = 1.04, SE = 0.37). Kidney knowledge was positively associated with adherence behaviors (β = 5.3, SE = 1.9). The Sobel test indicated that kidney knowledge (z = 2.6, P = 0.008) was a significant mediator of the influence of health literacy on adherence. Those with inadequate health literacy had lower kidney knowledge and lower adherence compared to those with adequate health literacy. After controlling for education, health literacy was significantly associated with kidney knowledge and adherence. Patients with higher health literacy had higher kidney knowledge and adherence behaviors. In addition, knowledge was a mediator of health literacy and adherence relationship. These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of low-health literacy in Iranian population and the health literacy is an important consideration in promoting disease-specific knowledge and adherence behaviors among patients with dialysis.

Evidence based medicine (EBM) is very crucial in physician’s decisions. Several studies have been conducted on EBM in Iran, but none have referred to barriers regarding EBM. In order to address this issue, we conducted a study on physicians to determine their attitudes towards the barriers to EBM. Patients and This study was a cross-sectional analytical study. One-hundred and twenty physicians were selected using stratified random sampling among 200 physicians of Ilam city. The main outcome was the measure of the attitudes of physicians towards barriers to EBM. Of the 120 distributed questionnaires, 94 questionnaires were completed and returned (78.3%). About 56.6% of participants used the internet to answer the questions about their patients. There was a significant relationship between patient-related barriers and manager-related barriers (r = 0.237, P = 0.023). Post hoc tests showed that there is a significant difference between the attitude of general practitioners and the attitude of specialists regarding evidence-related barriers (mean difference = 2.4, Std = 1.1, P = 0.47). This study highlights the barriers encountered by physicians, related to the use of EBM in four sections. Evidence based medicine is now available in Iran and physicians must move towards learning this approach, while health managers should carefully start planning in this field. The recommendations of this study include a review of barriers of EBM in Iran.

Self-esteem plays a critical role in promoting mental health and affects performance, development patterns, interaction with others and the mental health. Accordingly, improving the self-esteem of students, as future builders of the community, is very important. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the self-esteem of nursing students in grades one to four of medical universities in Tehran. In this analytical cross-sectional study, 400 students of the medical universities in Tehran were selected, using stratified sampling with proportional allocation. They filled a demographic information form and Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Data for this study were collected during a semester in 2010. The results showed that the overall mean score of self-esteem (P = 0.3), and personal (P = 0.3), social (P = 0.5), parental self-esteem (P = 0.5) in the first and fourth year students did not differ statistically. The first and fourth year students presented the highest levels of social self-esteem. Fourth year students showed the highest academic and parental self-esteem compared to students in other academic years. In addition, the variables of grade point average (P = 0.02), residence (P = 0.003), family economic status (P = 0.001) and marital status (P = 0.04) had a statistically significant influence on students’ self-esteem. Given the undeniable relationship between self-esteem and interpersonal ability to interact, as an inseparable component of effective care process, assessing and identifying factors associated with nursing students is a valuable step in improving the quality of nursing care provided in a future career of this major segment of the community.

Variations in diurnal preferences for activity and sleep are classified as morning and evening chronotypes. Morning and evening-type individuals differ regarding a number of psychological and biological variables such as sleep. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotypes and sleep quality.Patients and In this descriptive, correlational study, 159 university girl students were studied. Horne-Ostberg Mornigness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess chronotypes and sleep quality respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient tests by SPSS software version 16. Over 60% of the students were categorized as poor-quality sleepers by the PSQI, 69.2%, 27.5%, and 3.2% of the subjects were intermediate, evening, and morning types, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between MEQ and PSQI scores and its dimensions such as subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency (P < 0.05); while there were no significant differences between sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, use of sleep medication, and MEQ scores. The results showed that the quality of evening type sleep was worse than that of the morning type.