مجله مطالعات علوم پزشکی
سال سی‌ام شماره 5 (امرداد 1398)

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress can increase hyperglycemia and the risk of diabetes complications. So the aim of the current study was to examine comparison of the effect of 6 weeks aerobic training on the activity of catalase enzyme and malondialdehyde in heart tissue of healthy and streptozotocin-diabetic male Wistar rats. In this experimental study, 24 adult male rats with 10 weeks of age were assigned to 4 groups of 6: diabetic training group (DT), diabetic control group (DC), healthy training group (HT) and healthy control group (HC). The exercise program included 6 weeks of incremental moderate intensity aerobic training. 24 hours after the last training session the heart tissues for catalase and malondialdehyde activity measuring by spectrophotometric and wavelength measurement methods, respectively were extracted. For comparison, one-way ANOVA test and scheffe post-hoc test with a statistical level of (P≤0.05) were used. The required information was then processed and analyzed by SPSS version 23 software. After 6 weeks of aerobic training, level of catalase enzyme increased significantly in healthy training group and diabetic training group compared to healthy control group diabetic control group, respectively (P≤0.05). Malondialdehyde levels significancy decreased in healthy training group compare to diabetic control group (P≥ 0.05). But there was no significance difference between diabetic training group and diabetic control group, although a little increase observed in diabetic training group but it was not significant (P≤ 0.05). Based on the results, it seems that moderate intensity aerobic exercise is likely to have a favorable effect on the antioxidant system of the heart tissue of diabetic rats.

Increased energy demand and oxygen consumption lead to oxidative stress by free oxygen species. Various factors can predispose mothers to oxidative stress in pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between premature birth and serum MDA (a marker of oxidative stress) during pregnancy. This analytical (case-control) study was conducted on 43 pregnant women in Qaen- Khorasan. Based on health records, the blood sample of the individuals with history of abortion, stillbirth or preterm were taken. The level of MDA was measured by ELISA and was compared with normal pregnant women. In this study, the mean MDA was significantly higher in woman with risk factor (13.82) compared to women without risk factor (8.39) (p=0.001). Also, the level of MDA in woman with a history of abortion (14.31) was higher in comparison to women with preterm delivery (13.). These results showed that oxidative stress and the level of MDA can be considered as a risk factor for preterm delivery.

Allergic diseases have increased in the last decade worldwide and researchers have been trying to introduce new strategies and drugs to treat these types of diseases. Nicotine shows anti-inflammatory properties and the studies have revealed that it can reduce the inflammation and the allergic responses. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a multifunctional protein kinase that forms two complexes in the signaling pathway. It has been shown that mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2) tends to promote the immune response toward Th2. Also, the studies have indicated that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an essential transcription factor in anti-inflammatory responses and nicotine exert its anti-inflammatory effects using the STAT3 signaling pathway In this experimental Study, we investigated the effects of nicotine on the expression RICTOR-mTORC2 and STAT3 genes in a mouse model of allergic asthma. The mice were sensitized using ovalbumin and alum and 2 weeks later treated tree times with nicotine in the concentration of 10 mg/kg every other day. The mice were challenged with ovalbumin aerosols on days 35, 38 and 41 and sacrificed the next day Our results showed that nicotine treatment resulted in down-regulation of RICTOR-mTORC2 expression. Also, the results indicated that nicotine could up-regulate the expression of STAT3 Such data proposed that nicotine administration may decrease allergic responses and the inflammation in the airways of the allergic mice by down-regulating the expression of RICTOR-mTORC2 and up-regulating the expression of STAT3 genes.

One of the most important causes of women's tendency to cesarean section is lack of awareness, negative attitude towards natural delivery, and fear of labor pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of current educational programs in health centers on the type and consequences of delivery. This research is a descriptive-analytical and case-control study of a prospective type that was conducted in 2016- 2017. The study population consisted of pregnant women attending prenatal education centers in Saveh. All sections were taught based on the protocols of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and were provided by midwives with a 60-hour certificate of physiological delivery. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Demographic characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a significant difference in the type of delivery between the two groups, and in the case group, the highest rate of cesarean section was observed (p = 0.011). The mean duration of the first and second stages of labor was more in the case group (p = 0.01). The rate of tear and episiotomy was higher in the case group (p = 0.001). The rate of hospitalization in the first 24 hours after birth was higher in the control group (p =0.03). Current education has not had an impact on the outcomes of childbirth and appropriate corrections should be made in this regard.

The burden of premature mortality is used to prioritize health problems. The purpose of this study was to estimate the burden of premature mortality due to colorectal cancer in Golestan from 2011 – 2015. In this sequential cross-sectional study, based on the province mortality registration data and standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL), the burden of premature mortality was calculated. From 2011 to 2015, a total of 3283 years of the lost years of life was due to the Premature Mortality in Golestan province to colorectal cancer, which occurred 1983 years (60.4%) in the men and 1299 years (39.6%) in the women. The rate of lost years of life for the 5-year period was 1.2 per 1000 people in the men and 1.4 per 1000 people in the women. The results of the study showed that people over 60 years old were at risk of death and losing more potential life expectancy due to premature death due to colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer seems to be the primary cancer of the province's health system. But definitive judgment requires calculating the burden of disability caused by cancers and ranking them based on the complete calculation of the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) index.

Poly (amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) is highly macromolecular at nanosize with widely active amine groups on the surface that allows it to attach to the anti-cancer drugs such as Methotrexate (MTX). This study aimed to synthesize and characterize PAMAM-MTX (dendrimer-MTX) complex, then to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the synthesized complex on MCF-7 cancer cells. To perform this experimental study, initially, MTX was conjugated to the G4 dendrimer using Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), then it w:as char:acterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Quantitative cellular uptake of nanoparticles was carried out using flow cytometry. The methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) and 4′, 6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining assays were used for evaluating the ability of dendrimer-MTX and MTX in inducing cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis on MCF-7 cancer cells, respectively. The results of this study illustrated that the dendrimer-MTX complex had optimal size (30 ± 7.29 nm) and zeta potential (5.35 ± 4.37 mV). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cellular uptake was increased (18%) after conjugating MTX on the dendrimer compared to bare dendrimer. Interestingly, cell cytotoxicity and DAPI staining results displayed lower cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis for MCF-7 cells that were treated with dendrimer-MTX compared to free MTX. The obtained data indicated that dendrimer-MTX complex had a higher cellular uptake, but cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis were lower than free MTX.

Self-injury behavior is one of the most common behaviors, especially in adolescent girls. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of negative emotions, alexithymia, and interpersonal relationships in predicting self-harm behaviors among high school female students in the city of Sarab. The subjects were 285 female students from 9th grade up to university level who were selected by random cluster sampling. The instruments used in this study include self-injury inventory, Beck Depression Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Ang's and Huan's Academic Expectations Stress Inventory, Parent-Child Relationship Scale, and the relationship with peers. Out of 285 students, 270 students completed the questionnaire completely and 15 of them were excluded due to incomplete responses. The present study was correlational and descriptive indexes, Pearson correlation test, and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The results showed that negative emotions such as depression and academic stress, alexithymia and interpersonal relationships have a significant relationship with self-harm behaviors (P<0. 01). Also, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that depression variables, academic stress, and mood formation can significantly explain 42% of intentional self-harm behaviors in adolescents (P<0. 01). Also, the relationship with parents and peers can explain 17% of intentional self-harm behaviors in adolescents (P<0. 01). The results of this study are important in designing prevention programs for self-harm behaviors among adolescent and helping psychologists and counselors in promoting therapeutic interventions.

Angiogenesis and increased capillary density of skeletal muscle are the potential physiological changes that occur during the flow restriction exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of four weeks of rock climbing with or without blood flow restriction (BFR) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Growth Hormone (GH) in elite climbers. In this semi-experimental study, 26 male and female elite climbers (aged 25-30 years; body fat percent 8-14%; with 4 years of athletic training) in a randomized and double-blind design were divided into two groups: rock climbing with BFR, and rock climbing without blood flow restriction (NBFR). The training protocol included three sessions per week for 4 weeks of rock climbing with severity of 80-60% of difficulty of the route. The cuff pressure was in the range of 40 to 100 mm Hg during rock climbing. Blood samples were obtained in the 4 phases: before and immediately after rock climbing protocols. VEGF and GH were analyzed. Finally, Data were analyzed using independent T-test. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Basal levels of GH and VEGF increased significantly after four weeks of rock climbing with BFR. However, the rock climbing without BFR had not any significant effect on the basal levels of GH and VEGF. Based on the results, it can be concluded that rock climbing with BFR could increase angiogenesis process by increasing basal levels of GH and VEGF.

This study aims to investigate the complications and outcomes of premature neonates with very low birth weight in Shahid Motahari Hospital of Urmia in 2017. In this longitudinal descriptive study, all the premature infants with less than 37 weeks of gestation and birth weight less than 1500 grams that were born in Shahid Motahari Hospital of Urmia during the second six months of the year 2017 and were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of this center were included in the study. Information regarding the complications of the prematurity and low birth weight were recorded on the checklist. All the data were analyzed by SPSS version 21. Of the 97 infants, 52 (53.6%) were male and 45 (46.3%) were female. The mean birth weight was 1392.06±137.7 gr. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was the most common disorder among neonates and it was observed in 70 premature infants (72.1%). Of the 82 neonates born with cesarean section, 55 neonates (67.1%) were discharged from the hospital and 27 neonates (32.9%) died. It can be concluded that the rate of neonatal recovery and discharge in the study population is comparable to that in most developing countries. In other words, increasing the healing rate, especially in newborns weighing less than 1500 grams, improving the quality of perinatal cares, reducing preterm labor and the rate of the births with low birth weight, leveling the perinatal services and personnel training to restore standards in the delivery room, the early use of the NCPAP, improving the parenteral nutrition status, and the transmission process of infants, and standardizing the care protocols of these newborns will decrease mortality and morbidity without long-term complications in this group of infants in the future.