مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی رفسنجان
سال بیستم شماره 2 (پیاپی 145، اردیبهشت 1400)

Improper use of chemical pesticides such as Mancozeb (MZB) leads to genital injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different doses of olive leaf extract (OLE) on reproductive damage in male mice exposed to MZB.

In this experimental study, 64 adult male NMRI mice (10 to 12 weeks) were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=8) including control (Normal saline recipient), Mancozeb (MZB) recipient (500 mg/kg), MZB (500 mg/kg) + (200, 300 and 400 mg of OLE) and OLE group at doses of (200, 300 and 400 mg) and were treated by gavage every other day for 35 days. Then, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation; heart blood samples were drawn to measure serum testosterone level and epididymis removed to examine sperm. Different indicators of sperm analysis (number, motility and morphology), protamine and chromatin health were examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.

The lowest protamine levels (p=0.001) and the lowest alive sperms (p=0.005) were seen in the MZB group. There was a significant decrease in head abnormalities (p=0.003) and immobile sperm (p< 0.001) in OLE groups. At a dose of 200 mg/kg OLE, the highest chromatin health (p<0.001), the highest rapid sperm motility (p=0.037) and the highest testosterone level (p=0.001) were observed.

The highest efficacy of OLE was seen at a dose of 200 mg/kg; therefore, consumption of this extract in the same dose can probably be considered as a supportive compound in the diet of high-risk people exposed to MZB.
Key words: Mancozeb, Sperm, Olive leaf extract, Mice, Infertility
 

Ambivalence over emotional expression plays an important role in quality of life and adherence to treatment in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of depression and social support in the relationship between ambivalence and quality of life and adherence to treatment in cancer patients.

The present study was descriptive and based on structural equation modeling. For this purpose, 206 cancer patients referred to Dezful medical centers in 2020 were selected by convenience sampling method and completed questionnaires of ambivalence over emotional expression, quality of life, adherence to treatment, depression, and social support. Data were analyzed using statistical methods of structural equation modeling and Pearson’s correlation.

The results showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between ambivalence and quality of life (β=-0.183), depression and adherence (β=-0.178) (p<0.05), ambivalence and social support (β=-0.411), between depression  and quality of life (β=-0.288) (p<0.01) and a positive and significant relationship between ambivalence and depression (β=0.441), social support and quality of life (β=0.221), social support and adherence to treatment (β=0.249) (p<0.01). The mediating role of depression and social support variables was confirmed.

Considering the mediating role of depression and social support in the relationship between ambivalence and quality of life and adherence to treatment, it is recommended in psychological therapies, in the first place, the variable of ambivalence to be examined and evaluated and the important role of mediating variables to be considered.

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes changes in womenchr('39')s emotions, behavior, and performance, each of which plays an important role in womenchr('39')s lives. The aim of the present study was to identify the patterns of PMS in students.

In a descriptive study, 331 female students of Ilam universities in the year 2020 were assessed by an electronic questionnaire. Demographic variables, PMS symptoms, anxiety, and depression in students were assessed. Explanatory factor analysis was used to identify PMS patterns. Spearman’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between any PMS patterns and other variables.

Explanatory factor analysis showed that the symptoms of PMS in students consist of three factors: emotional instability and apathy (mood, physical and behavioral symptoms), decreased social communication, sleep, and nutrition problems, which explain 62.3% of PMS changes. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between age, weight, sleep time, anxiety, and depression with three PMS factors, showed that there were significant relationships between age and the first factor (p=0.044, rs=-0.112), age and the second factor (p=0.036, rs=0.117), weight and the first factor (p=0.014, rs=-0.137), anxiety and the first factor (p<0.001, rs=0.563), anxiety and the third factor (p<0.001, rs=0.472), depression and the first factor (p<0.001, rs=0.575), depression and the third factor (p<0.001, rs=-0.405).

According to correlation coefficients of PMS factors with anxiety, depression, age, weight, and sleeping time, attention should be paid to these correlation coefficients in managements of PMS symptoms in each of these variables.

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells are a subpopulation of cells within the heterogenous tumor with the potential for self-renewal and differentiation into various cell lines. They also have a high tumorigenic potential in all tissues and organs of the body compared to other stem cells. CSCs reside in special microenvironments that are referred to as the niche. CSCs niches are comprised of different types of cells that cause CSCs to be survived and their features to be improved. In this review article, CSCs features, their separation and identification methods and bilateral relationship between CSCs and niches have been examined. Also, major signaling pathways such as Wnt/βcatenin, Notch, Hedgehog and Hippo that are frequently altered in CSCs and provide a supportive role for CSCs, and the therapeutic targets of these pathways, that are effective in eradicating CSCs and cancer treatment, have been studied.

Small groups which are formed for learning purposes on average have 10 participants. If the environment of conducting such sessions is suitable and all members of the group perform their legitimate roles the groups reach to their extraordinary educational outcomes. One of the most important ways which helps members of the group to perform their legitimate roles is asking essential and relevant questions. Therefore, the aim of the present article is to explain the diverse aspects of questioning in small teaching groups.  

Physical environment has an important role in altering the behavior of human beings. In each built environment, the mental decision to offend is significantly influenced by perceived risk of being caught. Appropriate environmental design can prevent criminal behavior. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an architectural method for built environment design, which is effective in deterring criminal behavior and improving social security. CPTED strategies enhance the mental perceived risk of apprehension by appropriately designing the built environment. Guardianship, access control, territorial reinforcement, environmental health, and development of pedestrian and bicycle paths are the most important CPTED strategies.However, it is not a panacea for preventing criminal behavior, but can be a neuropsychiatric and cognitive tool in deterring them, and increasing social security.

The present study was conducted to explore the evaluation of changes in liver X receptor gene expression following exercise and myocardial ischemia.

In this study, 28 Wistar Rats (body weight: 200-250g) were randomly divided into four groups: Ischemia, Sham, Training and Ischemia plus Training. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 minutes. High intensity interval training program (each interval consisted of 4 min running with 85-90 percent of VO2max and 2 min active recovery with 50-60 percent of VO2max) was performed by using treadmill for 8 weeks (three times per week and each time 40 minutes). One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test were used for assessing between-group differences.

The results showed that the expression of beta LXR gene in intense intermittent exercise had a significant increase compared to the ischemia group (p=0.019) and sham group (p=0.027). Regarding alpha LXR gene expression, the results showed that the intense periodic exercise+ischemia group had an increase compared to the other groups, but this increase was only significant compared to the ischemia groups (p=0.01). Furthermore, SR-BR receptor gene of (HIIT+ Ischemia) group increased compared with the sham group (p=0.028).

The findings of this study clearly showed that with intense interval training, cholesterol can be balanced and the risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced.