Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Jul 2014

Brucellosis is the most usual zoonotic disease around the world especially in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Indian sub-continent areas. This bacterium has ten species that Brucella melitensis among them recognized as the most important cause of human brucellosis. This infection transfer ways to human include of wounds, bacteria inhalation and consumption of septic dairy such as raw milk, cream and butter. Brucellosis as a systemic disease can involve more organs of patients that have symptoms such as fever, night sweating, and backache. This infection can be divided as acute, sub-acute and chronic forms according to the manner of clinical presentation. This research is a review study and conducted by reviewing of the literature, which is related to this issue and also visiting, PubMed, and other linked websites. In human brucellosis domestic animals are the main natural reservoir of infection. Whenever incidence rate of this infection in domestic and wild animals is reduced on the other hand incidence rate in human also will reduce. Blood cultures, serological tests and molecular tests are common laboratory methods of this infection. Diminution of relapse and therapeutic failure rates are as most important aim, which is researcher’s regards.

Owing to the importance of employing native and traditional medicinal plants with good efficacy against malaria parasites, an ethanolic extract of Solanum surattense was tested on Plasmodium berghei in sourian mice. Moreover, the results were compared with that of the effect of chloroquine on the same parasite. In this study, 80 sourian mice were divided into 8 groups, each consisting of 10 animals. The first 7 groups were infected with P. berghei and the last group was used as control. The first 7 groups were given chloroquine, solanum surattense at four different concentrations (20, 100, 300, and 450 mg/kg), and placebo, respectively, and the seventh group did not receive any treatment. The evaluation was done by Rane test. In each group, the level of parasitaemia was determined on days 4 and 7, and compared with values from day 0 (just before treatment) in order to record the decline in parasitaemia in treated groups. Results were analyzed using SPSS software and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that although all four concentrations of Solanum surattense extract significantly reduced parasitaemia in the infected subjects, the 450 mg/kg solution showed optimal effectiveness on the parasites in comparison with other concentrations and the no-treatment option. We conclude that although the ethanolic extract of Solanum surattense is not as effective as chloroquine in reducing parasitaemia, it can nonetheless cause a significant decrease when compared to control and placebo groups.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important causes of infection worldwide, especially in low income countries. Socio-demographic disparities are obvious in prevalence of this disease. A prospective study was designed and new cases of smear positive TB were included to determine the incidence and relapse rate, with access to health records of TB patients in a provincial health center in south of Iran. In our study, new cases of smear positive TB were observed in foreigners than Iranians (68.9 vs. 8%) and so was the relapse rate (14.5 vs. 0.5%). Incidence rate was higher in men compared with women (11.2 vs. 7.4%), and so was the rate in urban dwellers (11.6%) compared with rural population (7.2%). New cases were seen in 24.6% of people aged over 50 years and relapse rate was 1.8% in this age group. We conclude that relapse of smear positive TB and incidence of new cases is more prevalent in immigrants, and above the age of 50 years. It is suggested that the Iranian National Health Policy should be guided by these socio-demographic factors while designing and implementing programs aimed at controlling TB transmission. Although the DOTS system is precisely followed up, there are some pitfalls in managing urban patients.

Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic infection between man and animal in the congenital form. This pathogenic agent is transmitted to the fetus through the maternal placenta. This infection is acquired through the ingestion of oocysts, which are transmitted by cats or through contaminated meat. Congenital infections can lead to fetal death, pathological changes of the central nervous system (CNS), or eye diseases. The acquired form of the disease often has no symptoms, or is characterizes by general lethargy, swollen lymphatic nodes, and chorioretinitis. Fatal and acute infections are observed in the medically compromised patients or patients with malignancy or tissue plants and AIDS. The purpose of this study is the investigation of the prevalence of antibody of anti-toxoplasma gondii in the serum of urban residents and farmers. A number of 100 blood samples of urban residents and farmers were collected and tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Total prevalence of anti-toxoplaxma IgG was 24% in urban residents and 44% in farmers. The prevalence of IgM and IgG positives were higher in farmers than in urban residents. In urban residents, the percentage of IgM and IgG positive was 10%. Due to the high rate of positive cases among the patients, there should be some regular screening programs to recognize chronic infections which may become acute infections. Serial titration measurement should be performed on these patients and they should undergo antiparasitic treatments.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second principal cause of deaths from cancer in women. Breast self-examination (BSE) is an inexpensive screening method and is carried out by women themselves. The purpose of this study was to examine the status of breast self-examination performance among women referring to health centers of Tabriz, Iran. This study was a descriptive/ cross-sectional research carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years. The samples were recruited randomly from among female clients of health centers in Tabriz. A questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to elicit socio-demographic information and status of BSE performance among women. Content validity was used for validation and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated (0.80) for reliability of instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data through SPSS software. The findings of this research showed that only 18.8% of women performed BSE. Among them, 46.67% performed BSE monthly, and 40% at the end of menstruation. The initiation age of BSE in 77% was between 21-30 years of age. It is considerable that 54.7% of them had received no advice on BSE from physicians and midwives. The majority of women did not perform the various steps of BSE. The quality of this screening was very desirable in 2 (0.5 %), desirable in 5 (1.3%), average in 19 (4.8%), undesirable in 36 (9%), and very undesirable in 338 (84.5%) women. Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between the quality of BSE performance and level of education, employment, breastfeeding quality, and family history of breast cancer (P < 0.05). The findings showed that the status of BSE performance was very poor. Therefore, to encourage women to use BSE correctly and regularly, education programs should be performed through various media including television, radio, and leaflets. The role of Health personnel in this field is very important.

Given that Iran’s population is Migrant’s young, it is worthwhile (decent) to study the quality of life (QOL) of this stratum of society. The main objective of this study is to examine socio-demographic factors associated with QOL in a group of Adolescents (18-29 years old) of emigrants. Data were collected from the structured questionnaire designed for 400 migrants, who were selected using systematic random sampling. Statistical methods of Cronbach’s alpha for assessment (tools) reliability, Pearson correlation coefficient for testing hypotheses, analysis of variance to test statistical comparison and regression were used in this study. According to research findings there is a significant relationship between the variables including: age (r = −0.241), housing status (t = 22.90), social class identity (f = 14.95), religious orientation (r = 0.41), social capital (r = 0.12), self-esteem (r = 0.34), and the QOL of migrants. Based on research findings, it can be concluded that the variable of QOL is affected by other variables including: Religious orientation, self-esteem, age, education, and changes in each of these variables will change the QOL of Migrant’s young.

Methotrexate is an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger extract on sex hormones of male rats treated with methotrexate. In this experimental study, 56 male Wistar rats (10-12 weeks old) weighing 200-220 g were randomly divided into control and experiment groups. Experiment group 1 was administered 5 mg methotrexate intraperitoneally daily, experiment groups 2 and 3 were administered 20 mg and 40 mg of ginger extract orally daily, and experiment groups 4 and 5 received methotrexate and ginger extract. Sex hormones were measured after 8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used data analysis. The results showed that serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone decreased significantly in the group receiving methotrexate compared with the control group. The concentration of these hormones in experimental groups 2 and 3, which received ginger extract, increased compared with the control group. The serum levels of these hormones in groups 4 and 5, which received methotrexate and ginger, increased compared with the group receiving methotrexate. Ginger extract reduced the adverse effects of methotrexate on sex hormone-producing cells. This effect is probably due to the antioxidant property of ginger.

Allium cepa has been used throughout history as a medicinal drug. It has many compounds mostly containing sulfur, such as dialkyl disulfide (Alicin), diallyl disulfide (DAS), that are the cause of its antioxidant and protective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this extract on serum testosterone in rats. In the present study, 30 male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; control group (n = 10), extract group 1 (n = 10), and extract group 2 (n = 10). Extract group 1 and 2, respectively, received 0.5 cc and 1 cc Allium cepa seed extract for 60 consecutive days using gavage method. On the 60th day of study, 5 cc blood samples were obtained from the tail vein of each rat for analyses of serum testosterone. The results show that serum testosterone level increased in the extract groups. Allium cepa seed extract has beneficial effects on serum testosterone; however, further research is necessary in order to gain more knowledge on the mechanism of action of this extract.