مجله طب جنوب
سال بیست و سوم شماره 5 (آذر و دی 1399)

Progressive neurodegeneration of nervous system as well as learning and memory disorders is characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease. Drug delivery is one of the research aspects for improving treatment of diseases. Chitosan nanoparticles were used for Donepezil transportation and its effect on
dimproving amnesia was investigated.

In this experimental study, 136 NMRI mice weighing 30-40 mg were used. All injections were done intraperitoneally. The first experiment aimed to determine the optimal dose of ethanol for inducing amnesia, the second experiment was performed to prove nano-chitosan loaded with Donepezil (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 mg/kg) does not impair memory, and the third experiment assessed the effect of nano-chitosan loaded with different doses of Donepezil on amnesia induced by ethanol. Data were recorded as mean ± SD, analyzed in GraphPad Prism software using ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. P<0.05 was considered as significant.    

The first experiment showed that ethanol (0.5, 0.75, 1 mg/kg) could significantly induce amnesia. The second experiment showed nano-chitosan loaded with Donepezil doid not impair memory. The third experiment showed that all nano-chitosan groups loaded with different doses of Donepezil could significantly improve amnesia induced by ethanol.

Chitosan nanoparticles used in this study can efficiently be used for drug delivery. However, further research should be done on this compound before it can be used for oral drug transportation.

The last two decades witnessed the spread of the first generation of influenza viruses. Influenza virosomes are promising tools in vaccine and immunotherapy programs because of their applications in various medical fields. The aim of the present study was to construct cationic virosomes derived from
influenza virus using dialyzable detergent (DCPC) and cationic lipid (DOTAP) in vitro.

Influenza A / Puerto Rico / 34.8 (H1N1) strain was propagated in MDCK cell line. The influenza virus envelope was dissolved using DCPC as a dialyzable detergent, and finally it was removed by dialysis and the cationic virosome was synthesized through adding cationic lipid (DOTAP). Cytotoxicity and presence of HA and NA proteins were evaluated by cell viability assay (MTT assay) and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), respectively. Also, macroscopic and morphology studies of virosomes were performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The final concentration of virosomes was 1.5 mg/ml. The presence of HA and NA proteins was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Cell survival was significantly decreased after 48 hours of treatment with
different concentrations of cationic virosomes (P<0.05).

The use of a detergent (DCPC) and also a cationic lipid (DOTAP) is an effective procedure for reconstruction of influenza virus envelope without any alteration in surface glycoproteins (HA, NA). The methoed used in the present study for producing influenza virosome will be a promising candidate for
developing influenza vaccines.

Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disorder related to the immune system and characterized by the rapid growth of skin cells. To date, no study has been conducted on the role of the prothrombin time index in determining the disease activity and the prognosis of these patients. Recognizing the factors influencing the prognosis of this disease can be helpful. The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of prothrombin time measured in patients with psoriasis, its association with the severity of the disease and its comparison with those of healthy people.

In this case-control study, we evaluated 20 age- and sex-matched patients with psoriasis and compared them with healthy people. A PASI criterion was used to measure the severity of the disease. In both groups, prothrombin time were assayed using a standard kit.

The results showed prothrombin time in the patients and healthy people were 12.213±0.638 and 12.313±0.423 seconds, respectively. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of prothrombin time. (P=0.562).

This study revealed that prothrombin time were not affected by severity of the disease. prothrombin time were not significant In the two groups, and cannot serve as a biological marker for psoriasis activity.Further studies are needed to identify prognostic factors for psoriasis.

Low back pain (LBP) is currently the most common musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of disability. A remarkable percentage of diagnostic imaging prescriptions are not necessary,
therefore, this study aimed to determine the necessity of lumbar MRI prescriptions in Bushehr teaching hospitals in 2018.

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study recruited a sample size of 273 individuals from a population of all patients presenting to Bushehr teaching hospitals for low back pain and undergoing lumbar MRI. Data were collected using a questionnaire with demographic questions and prescription-related questions. SPSS 24 software was used for data analysis.

Of the 273 patients studied, 54% were female and 46% male. The mean age of patients was 43 years and 72% of all patients were between 21 and 50 years old. MRI was deemed unnecessary for approximately 44% of patients. Furthermore, MRI results were reported absolutely normal in 30% of the patients.

It can be concluded that many MRI services provided are not clinically necessary, and given the high hospital costs, especially for MRI, it is necessary to use valid indications to prevent ordering unnecessary tests, and imposed requests. Such indications will reduce the costs incurrd to healthcare system and patients.

Evaluating and identifying existing challenges of the healthcare system reform plan can help policy makers and executives address these shortcomings and achieve the goals of the plan. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the satisfaction of health network employees with healthcare reform plan in Bushehr province.

This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis and purposeful sampling in Bushehr province in 2018. The participants were selected from all levels of the health network in the province, and were interviewed with semi-structured questions in focused group discussions until data saturation. After the interviews were completed, all interviews were coded according to the conventional content analysis, and themes were extracted.

The results of eight focus group discussions with 54 participants were analyzed, and 1501 initial codes were extracted. The main theme of the study was "Satisfaction with the Reform Plan", consisting of two main categories of internal factors (with subcategories of nature of work, professional capabilities, appreciation and respect, independence and freedom at work, development of professional skills and physical burden, family and emotions) and external factors (with subcategories of management and planning, supervision, income, interdepartment and intradepartmen relations, infrastructure, occupational and organizational stability, and beneficiaries).

The results led to identification of internal and external factors that affect health network employees’ satisfaction with healthcare reform plan. A future study designed based on these results can eliminate the deficiencies of the healthcare reform plan, and lay the ground for employees’ higher satisfaction, and consequently providing higher quality healthcare services to clients.

We investigated in vitro antimicrobial activity of five marine sponge species collected from Kish Island in the Persian Gulf: Fascaplysinopsis reticulata, Callyspongia clavatus, Callyspongia siphonella, Niphates furcata, and Pseudosuberites clavatus against gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, fungi and yeasts.

Sponage extracts were prepared by two solvents of dichloromethane and methanol in three steps. The extracts were then tested with broth microdilution method.

Microorganisms varied in their susceptibility to extracts. Fungi were less sensitive than both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus mutans were more sensitive than other bacteria. All extracts showed acceptable antimicrobial activity against at least one bacterial strain. Marine sponge Fascaplysinopsis reticulata had the highest activity against all examined gram-positive bacteria including resistant strains (MIC of dichloromethane and methanolic extracts were in the range of 0.25-8 and 16-32 µg/ml, respectively).

The results showed that marine sponge Fascaplysinopsis reticulata had significant antimicrobial activity, and is a promising candidate for further purification and identification of antibacterial compounds.

Exposure to organophosphate pesticides, including diazinon, can lead to increased production of free radicals and decreased cellular antioxidant capacity and male infertility. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active component of Nigella sativa with well documented antioxidant effects. This study evaluated the effects of thymoquinone on oxidative stress induced by exposure to diazinon and semen quality in male rats.

Twenty-eight male Wistar rats weighing 200-300 g were randomly divided into four groups (n=7, each). The first (control) group received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of olive oil (medication vehicle). Testicular toxicity was induced in rats of the second and third groups by a single injection of diazinon (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Also, the animals of the second and third groups received the vehicle of TQ (olive oil) or TQ (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.), respectively, for five consecutive days starting 3 days before diazinon administration. The fourth group of animals received thymoquinone (10 mg/kg/day) for five consecutive days without induction of diazinon toxicity. Thirty-six hours later, semen quality was assessed for motility, morphology, and viability of sperms in addition to measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) level in testis tissue.

The results showed that the sperm motility significantly decreased and MDA level significantly increased (P<0.0001) after diazinon exposure whereas thymoquinone increased sperm motility and decreased MDA level (P<0.0001) in testis tissue after exposure to diazinon as compared to the control group.

Since diazinon increases lipid peroxidation in sperm plasma membrane through production of free radicals, it can be concluded that administration of thymoquinone as an antioxidant can prevent diazinon toxicity in testis tissue of rats, and improve the quality of semen.