مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی ایلام
سال بیست و هفتم شماره 5 (پیاپی 118، آذر 1398)

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder throughout life. One of its major consequences is an increase in suicide rates and suicide attempts. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of holographic reprocessing and dialectical behavioral therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in depressed patients who have attempted suicide.

This experimental study was conducted based on a pre-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all depressed patients who attempted suicide in Ilam during 2018. In total 45 participants were selected through a simple random sampling and assigned randomly into three groups of holographic reprocessing, dialectical behavior therapy, and control group (15 cases per group). The data were collected using Denis and Vendoral Cognitive Flexibility Scale and The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) through a multivariate analysis of covariance and the Bonferroni test. Ethics code: Ee/98.24.3.57583/SCU.ac.ir

The results obtained from the multivariate covariance analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental groups (i.e., holographic reprocessing group and dialectical behavioral therapy group) and the control group (F=132.141, P<0.001) regarding the cognitive flexibility and impulsivity. Moreover, according to the results of the Bonferroni test, the dialectical behavior therapy reduced the amount of impulsivity of depressed patients who attempted suicide more than the holographic reprocessing group (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the dialectical behavioral therapy group and the holographic reprocessing group in terms of the level of cognitive flexibility (P>0.447).

Both holographic reprocessing and dialectical behavior therapy can have remarkable effects on the treatment of depressive disorders. In addition, they are considered useful and can be employed as interventions in critical situations in which individuals attempt to commit suicide.

 It is of utmost importance to predict cardiovascular diseases correctly. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize those models with a minimum error rate and maximum reliability. This study aimed to combine an artificial neural network with the genetic algorithm to assess patients with myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

This study utilized a multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network and a backpropagation algorithm combined with a genetic algorithm to assess the condition of two patients with cardiovascular diseases. The medical records of 497 patients with cardiovascular diseases at Ayatollah Golpayegani Hospital, Qom, Iran, were collected using a clustering sampling method. The data were analyzed using a Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve. Eventually, the data, including personal and clinical variables of patients (i.e., age, gender, dyspnea, blood pressure variations, and blood test results) were selected using sigmoid-transfer and tangent-sigmoid functions. Following that, the neural network was trained with 19 input neurons and 5 middle-layer neurons.

According to the results, a neural network with 5 middle-layer neurons has more precision, compared to other modes. Therefore, it is possible to predict myocardial infarction in the patients using this neural network with a minimum of 97.7% precision.

An artificial neural network was combined with a genetic algorithm and proposed as a model to predict myocardial infarction in this study. Moreover, it was attempted to utilize important and cost-effective factors for cardiovascular diseases. As a result, the patients can be aware of their disease at the lowest cost.

Box jellyfish stings are painful and may be life-threatening. The venom of Chironex fleckeri contains a variety of bioactive proteins as well as two of the most abundant proteins, namely CfTX-1 and CfTX-2 which cannot be isolated easily using electrophoresis or chromatography techniques. Recombinant expression technology may offer an alternative to the isolation of native C.fleckeri venom protein. This study aimed at expressing C-CfTX1-STxB protein in Escherichia coli and assessing its antigenicity in Syrian mice.

Synthesis of the artificial CfTX1complete gene was prepared in plasmid pUC57. The C-cftx1 was cloned using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subcloned with BamHI and SalI restriction enzyme sites in pET28a-stxB expression vector and transformed into E.coli. Gene expression was artificially induced by Isopropyl β- d-1-thiogalactopyranoside. After the purification of the protein and its injection into the Syrian mice, the amount of produced antibody was measured in the serum. The rats were also challenged by the venom of the jellyfish (i.e., Rhopilema nomadic).

In this experimental study, the C-CfTX1-STxB gene was cloned in the expression vector pET28a (+), sequenced by PCR, and analyzed by enzymatic analysis. Moreover, the produced recombinant protein was confirmed by Western blotting. The produced antibody in the serum was quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

After 60 days, the immunized mice tolerated 50x LD50 of jellyfish venom. Considering the ineffectiveness of cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity of the recombinant protein, this produced protein can be suggested as a jellyfish venom vaccine candidate in Syrian mice or at a later stage of a clinical trial in humans.

Disability is an unavoidable fact which has been existed as a social phenomenon in communities from the past until now. There are different reasons for the emergence of this phenomenon which can be identified and prevented, thereby lowering the incident rate of disability in communities. This descriptive-analytical study aimed at investigating the causes of disability among adolescents under 14 years of age in Ilam, Iran.

This study included 694 participants (336 males and 270 females) who were selected using a census sampling method. The data were collected through a researcher-made questioner, and subsequently, they were analyzed using descriptive (i.e., Frequency and Frequency percent) and inferential statistics (i.e., the Chi-square test). 

The results showed that consanguineous marriage, congenital factors, literacy, and gender correlated significantly with disability (P<0.0001). In total, 74.8% of the disability among individuals was related to congenital factors.

Regarding this fact that the majority of disabilities are related to congenital factors, more attention should be paid to the maternal health, illness, infections, good and efficient nutrition, affective and psychological problems, as well as exposure to air pollution during pregnancy which can have remarkable effects on children.

The prevalence of influenza epidemics and direct transmission of the emerged avian virus strains to humans have highlighted the necessity of improving the management programs against this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological adjuvant effect of hemokinin-1 (HK-1) on enhancing the immune response induced by the recombinant influenza vaccine based on the Nucleoprotein protein (NP) of the H1N1 influenza virus.

In this experimental study, a total of 40 six-week-old female BALB/c mice were divided into two control groups (5 mice per group) and three treatment groups (10 mice per group). The control groups received normal saline and HK-1 oligonucleotide adjuvant. On the other hand, the treatment groups received NP recombinant protein (twice), NP protein with HK-1 (once), as well as NP protein with HK-1 (twice). Based on the grouping, 0.1 ml of each sample was injected into the quadriceps femoris muscle of the mice. The treatment groups received a 1:10 (v/v) ratio of the NP protein and HK-1. The serum samples were collected prior to primary and reminder vaccinations in defined intervals. The immune responses were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent and lymphocyte proliferation assays. Ethics code: RSVRI.REC.98.010

The rise of the anti-influenza antibody in immunized mice with recombinant NP-based vaccine received HK-1 adjuvant was significant, compared to that in the control group (P<0.05). The results of the vaccination reminder did not indicate any changes in the humoral immune response against influenza. In response to the viral NP protein, the lymphocytes in mice receiving NP protein with HK-1 were proliferated the same as the group received NP alone.

According to the results, HK-1 has the potential to increase specific humoral antibody response following vaccination with a recombinant NP-based influenza vaccine. The addition of this adjuvant does not have a significant effect on increasing the lymphocyte stimulation index.

Aging is accompanied by an increase in inflammation in the tissues of the body, which also causes lung inflammation. This study aimed to compare the effect of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on gene expression of NF-κB and IL-6 in lung tissue of old and young male rats.

In total, 42 young and old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely young control, old control, young continuous training, old continuous training, young high-intensity interval training, and old high-intensity interval training. The training protocol included high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training during six-week (5 sessions per week). The gene expression of NF-κB and IL-6 were evaluated using a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, and the data were analyzed through a one-way analysis of variance and the Scheffe post hoc test (P<0.05).

There were significant differences between old control and old continuous training (P<0.001), old control and old high-intensity interval training (P<0.001), as well as old continuous training and old high-intensity interval training groups (P=0.007) regarding the gene expression of NF-κB. Moreover, significant differences were observed between old control and old continuous training (P<0.001), as well as old control and old high-intensity interval training groups (P=0.006) in terms of the gene expression of IL-6. In addition, there was a significant difference between young high-intensity interval training and old high-intensity interval training groups (P=0.035) regarding the gene expression of IL-6.

According to the results, both high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training can result in the prevention of the incidence of aging-related diseases and disorders as well as the reduction of inflammatory factors in lung tissue in aged rats. However, it seems that moderate-intensity continuous training is more effective than high-intensity interval training.

LIN28B is one of the genes that have been shown to be involved in various cancers and diseases, such as cervical, neuroblastoma, and breast cancers. This gene is a key inhibitor of the let-7 miRNA and can inhibit let-7 expression. This study aimed to investigate the association between the risk of breast cancer and rs17065417 polymorphism in the LIN28B gene.

In this case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples of 100 patients with breast cancer and 100 healthy individuals. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to amplify the region containing the polymorphic site. Finally, PCR products were sequenced and genotypes were determined using Chromas software.

Based on the results of the statistical test, regarding the AA genotype, the control (80%) and patient (73%) groups obtained the highest frequency. Moreover, the lowest frequencies in the AC and CC genotypes were reported in the control (8%) and patient groups (5%). In addition, the genotype AC associated with a 6-fold increased risk of breast cancer (P=0.005; OR=6.600; CI=1.763-24.714).

  It seems that there is a relationship between rs17065417 polymorphism and an increased risk of breast cancer in the LIN28B gene.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the major threats to human health which are regarded as the main cause of death and disability worldwide. Encounters with these diseases lead to physical, psychological, and spiritual problems. Spiritual health correlates with different aspects of human life and is necessary to adapt to the diseases. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between spiritual needs and contextual factors with spiritual wellbeing in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted based on a correlational design. The study population included all patients referred to teaching hospitals affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran in 2018. In total, 137 patients (79 female and 58 male patients) with cardiovascular diseases were selected through convenience sampling. The data were collected using the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (by Peterman), Spiritual Needs Assessment Scale (by Bussing), and Contextual Dimension Scale (by Hillemeier). Moreover, the data were analyzed using SPSS software (Version. 19) through descriptive and inferential statistics.

The data were analyzed using stepwise regression analysis. According to the results, the need for inner peace, existential needs, active forgiveness needs, and religious needs correlated significantly with spiritual wellbeing. Out of the spiritual needs, existential needs, the need for inner peace, religious needs, and active forgiveness needs (P<0.001) played the most important roles (R2=0.49) in predicting the spiritual wellbeing. Moreover, politics, medicine, and health correlated significantly with spiritual wellbeing. On the other hand, a negative relationship was observed between spiritual wellbeing and economic, educational, environmental, residential, governmental, psycho-social, and behavioral dimensions, as well as transportation. Out of these factors, behavioral, environmental, medical, political, and residential dimensions along with health and transportation had the most important roles (R2=0.51) in predicting spiritual wellbeing.

It can be concluded that religious needs and contextual factors, as two psychological constructs, can play significant roles in creating spiritual wellbeing.

Many scientific and medical studies in the recent years have shown that Eugenol could be an effective reagent in preventing and reducing cancer progression by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. In this regard the present study also examined the effect of Eugeonl on the viability and expression of CASP8 and CASP9 genes in human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29).

In the present study, human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) was cultured in RPMI-1640 medium enriched with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated in different concentration (250, 500, 750, 900, 1000 μM) of Eugenol and incubated for 24, 48 and 72 hours. After that cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. The expression of CASP8 and CASP9 genes was also evaluated by Real-time PCR analysis in treated cells at 750 μM concentration of Eugeonl and during 24, 48 and 72 hours, incubation.

Along with increasing concentration and duration of Eugenol treatment, both cell lines encountered a decrease in the percentage of live cells. Although this reduction was found to be much higher in the cancer cells than in fibroblastic cells. Also, in the treated group with a concentration of 750 μm, expression of CASP8 and CASP9 genes significantly increased compared to control groups.

Eugenol may have an inhibitory effect on the growth, proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells by increasing the expression of CASP8 and CASP9 genes, and inducing apoptosis in HT-29 cancer cells and reducing the risk of cancerous cell proliferation it turns out.

Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) acetylates and activates the mitochondrial enzymes and helps to preserve mitochondrial integrity and prevents apoptosis through regulating Oxo-Guanine Glycosylase-1 (OGG-1). Resveratrol could stimulate SIRT3 and the athletes use this supplement to support the effects of training. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of continuous training and Resveratrol consumption on SIRT3 and OGG1 proteins in the liver tissue of male rats.

In total, 32 adult male rats were divided randomly into four equal groups of control (1. Con), Resveratrol supplement consumption (2.R), Continuous exercise training (3.C), and Continuous exercise+Resveratrol (4.C+R). Continuous exercise training was performed for 6 weeks (6 days per week) at 80% of VO2max on a treadmill.  In addition, groups 2 and 4 received 50 mg/kg body mass/day of Resveratrol. At the end of the protocol, the rats were anesthetized with   Ketamine/Xylazine, and their liver samples were removed to evaluate the protein levels of SIRT3 and OGG1 using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The data were analyzed through a one-way Anova test. A pvalue less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The results indicated that Resveratrol consumption was significantly increased the SIRT3 levels in the second group (i.e., R) (P=0.01) and the fourth group (i.e., C+R) (P=0.0001); moreover, it led to an increase in the OGG1 level in the fourth group (i.e., C+R) (P=0.0001); however, it had no effects on the OGG1 levels in the R group (P=0.91). In addition, SIRT3 and OGG1 levels were significantly increased in the third group (i.e., C) (P=0.0001), compared to the R group.

A combination of Resveratrol supplement with continuous exercise training would have probably more positive effects on SIRT3 and OGG1 levels, compared to the training or the consumption of the supplement alone; therefore, this supplement is recommended to be used with continuous exercises.