مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مازندران
پیاپی 206 (اسفند 1400)

Recent studies have demonstrated the promising effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in some neurodegenerative diseases and proved their neuroprotective effects. But, the detailed pathways and the ability of MSCs from various sources has not been fully investigated.

Here, we isolated MSCs from two sources; adipose tissue and dental pulp, and compared the neuroprotective effects of adipose derived stem cells-conditioned media (ADSCs-CM) and dental pulp derived stem cells-conditioned media (DPSCs-CM) on SH-SY5Y cells exposed to Cobaltous chloride(CoCl2) as a model of hypoxia-induced neural damage. SH-SY5Y cells exposed to CoCl2 were treated with ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM and the cell viability, apoptosis, and cellular damage were determined by AlamarBlue ®assay, propidium iodide (PI) test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively.

According to AlamarBlue® results, both ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM showed protective effects on SH-SY5Y cells exposed to CoCl2 at 0.6 mM for 12 and 24 h. Furthermore, ADSCs-CM could protect SH-SY5Y cells against hypoxic condition more intensively at all CoCl2 concentrations and various incubation incubation periods (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM. Also, ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM could considerably reduce the LDH release and apoptotic cells when SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to 0.6 mM CoCl2 for 24 h.

The study indicated that both ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM have neuroprotective effects on hypoxic SH-SY5Y cells through reduction of apoptotic cells and release of LDH.

The seeds of Astragalus hamosus L. are prescribed for many therapeutic purposes in Traditional Persian Medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the combined effects of metformin and ethanolic extract of Astragalus hamosus L. (AH) on glucose and reproductive parameters in diabetic male rats.

Ethanolic extract of AH was prepared using maceration method. Diabetic male Wistar rats were orally treated with 500 mg/kg metformin (MET500), 150 mg/kg AH, (AH150), 300 mg/kg AH (AH300), and combination of metformin and AH (MET+AH150 and MET+AH300) for 28 consecutive days. Then, fasting blood glucose (FBG), plasma testosterone, sperm quality (count, motility, and viability), testis histopathology, and testicular lipid peroxidation (MDA) were evaluated.

Compared with the untreated diabetic group, AH treatment significantly improved testosterone level, sperm count, motility, and viability and decreased testicular MDA (all P<0.01) but it could not change glucose level (P>0.05). AH co-administration with metformin significantly potentiated the beneficial effects of metformin on testosterone (P<0.01) and testicular lipid peroxidation at both doses (P<0.001). While AH co-therapy with metformin at the maximum dose (300 mg/kg) synergistically improved metformin effects on testis morphology (all P<0.05), it could not show a positive combined effect on sperm parameters.

AH has no antidiabetic effect and its co-therapy with metformin does not alter the hypoglycemic effect of metformin. However, this combination therapy has a synergistic effect on regulating lipid peroxidation, testosterone level, and testicular histological alterations in diabetic rats.

Obesity leads to a variety of metabolic changes that may contribute to abnormalities in the structure and function of the heart. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of royal jelly and aerobic training on oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

In this experimental study, 45 male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=9): Normal Diet (ND), High-Fat Diet (HFD), High-Fat Diet +Training (HFDT), High-Fat Diet + Royal Jelly (HFDRJ), and High-Fat Diet +Training + Royal Jelly (HFDTRJ). The supplement groups received 100 mg of royal jelly (kg/body weight) diluted in distilled water orally during the intervention period. The aerobic exercise program included treadmill running with an intensity of 50-60% oxygen consumption (VO2max), 5 days/week for 8 weeks.

Significant increases were seen in Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression levels in HFDT (P=0.049 and P=0.029, respectively), HFDRJ (P=0.000 and P=0.041, respectively), and HFDTRJ (P=0.000 and P=0.000, respectively). This increase was also observed in HFDTRJ group compared with HFDT group (P=0.039 and P=0.003, respectively) and HFDRJ group (P=0.038 and P=0.002, respectively). Also, significant decrease was observed in MDA values (P=0.001). Findings showed significant increase in SOD, GPX, and CAT in HFDT, HFDRJ and HFDTRJ groups compared with HFD group in HFDTRJ group compared with HFDT and HFDRJ groups (P=0.001).

Combining RJ with aerobic training may possibly inhibit HFD-induced cardiomyocytes damage by up-regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and improving oxidative state.

Complementary medicine plays a major role in treatment of infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of royal jelly on sperm parameters and testosterone levels in infertile men.

In this quasi-experimental study, 100 infertile men attending the infertility treatment center in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital were monitored for two months and then underwent a spermogram test. Afterwards, they were treated with royal jelly (100 mg/daily) for two months and spermograms were performed again. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS V21.

Royal jelly significantly increased sperm motility, improved morphology, and increased testosterone levels (P≤0.001), but, no significant difference was seen in sperm count before and after consumption of royal jelly (47.76 ± 23.59 and 50.28 ± 29.44, respectively, P≥ 0.2).

According to current study, royal jelly could be used as a supplement along with other medications to boost fertility and treat male infertility.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20180609040028N2)

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is a localized enlargement of infrarenal abdominal aorta. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a surgical method introduced for AAA repair. This study, for the first time in Iran, investigated the complications and mortality rate associated with EVAR. 

In this cross-sectional study, medical records were reviewed and all patients admitted to Sina Referral Hospital with infra renal abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent elective EVAR between 2011 and 2019 (n=130) were studied.

There were 121 complete files, including those of 104 (85.9%) men and 17 (14.1%) women. The mean age of patients was 70.56±9.4. Renal complications were the most frequent systemic complication after elective EVAR (n=15, 12.6%). Cardiac complications (n=10, 8.4%), respiratoty complications (n=6, 5%), cerebral complications (n=3, 2.5%), and deep vein thrombosis (n=2, 1.7%) were also reported. There was no graft infection. More than half of the procedure-related complications occurred in 6 months of surgery (n= 29, 24%).

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm especially in patients with comorbidities has acceptable results in short term and long term surveillance.

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is a parameter that measures changes in red blood cell size reported in a complete blood count test. In this study, we aimed to identify the association between RDW and hypertension in Tabari cohort population.

In this case-control study, case group included all patients with hypertension (n= 2281) participating in Tabari Cohort Study with systolic and diastolic blood pressures more than or equal to 140 and 90, respectively, or those previously diagnosed with hypertension who received antihypertensive drugs. The control group was randomly selected from the Tabari cohort population and matched for sex, age and body mass index. Finally, 2227 people were included in each group. Blood samples were taken from all participants after 12 hours of fasting.

Findings showed significant differences between the two groups in all variables studied, including place of residence, level of education, socio-economic status, waist circumference, smoking, and cholesterol level (P<0.05) except triglyceride level (P=0.111). Independent t-test showed that RDW in different quarters was not significantly different between the case group and control group. (P= 0.584). Univariate and multivariate regression tests also did not show a significant relationship between RDW and blood pressure (P>0.05).

Our study showed that RDW has no predictive role in hypertension and there is no significant pattern between the range of RDW and hypertension.

Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention. Diagnostic tests with high accuracy could lead to immediate diagnosis and timely surgery could prevent further complications. This study was performed to assess the diagnostic value of serum fibrinogen level in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

This cross-sectional diagnostic study was performed in patients (n=165) attending the emergency department in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital with an initial diagnosis of appendicitis and available histopathologic examination results in 2016-2017. Fibrinogen levels were measured before surgery. Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test, and Chi-square were used to examine the relationship between fibrinogen level, demographic and clinical variables, acute appendicitis, and complicated/uncomplicated appendicitis. ROC Curve test was also performed and indicators associated with diagnostic accuracy were calculated.

The mean fibrinogen level in patients with normal appendices was 278.0±50.5, while it was 349.4 ± 68.7 in those with appendicitis (P<0.0001). The area under the curve was 0.794 (CI = 0.724-0.853). Moreover, at the optimal cut-point of fibrinogen level of 344 mg/dl, the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 51.7%, 90.4%, 94.4%, and 37.6%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.43 and 0.53, respectively.

This study showed that measuring serum fibrinogen levels, as an acute phase reactant, is useful for diagnostic screening of acute appendicitis and for predicting complicated appendicitis.

  Coronavirus (COVID-19) in children includes 1 to 5% of all cases but child mortality due to the disease is rare. The aim of this study was to determine the admission rate and factors associated with Covid-19 disease in children to better understand and control the disease.

In a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study 594 samples were selected by systematic random sampling from 1847 children under 18 years of age attending the emergency departments affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Information was collected from medical records and telephone interviews with parents using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS V21 applying descriptive statistics, Fisher Exact test, Spearman, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Mann Whitney U test.

The mean age of patients was 69.4±71.7 months and 53% were boys. Common symptoms included fever (67%) and cough (29%) and mortality rate was 0.3%. Underlying diseases were seen in 9.3% and seizure was more prevalent (27.3%). Contact with COVID-19 patients was reported by 18.69%. The most common diagnostic method was based on clinical symptoms (80%). Among the children studied, 92.6% were admitted to hospital, of whom 13.5% were admitted to ICU. The mean SpO2 was 96.6% and 13.1% of the patients required respiratory support. The average fear of parents about their child getting Covid-19 was reported to be 5.1.

The disease is observed to be mild and moderate in children. Also, severity of the disease and the resulting mortality rate are higher in children with underlying diseases. The most important reason for the delay in referring to medical centers was fear of parents about their child developing COVID-19.

Khuzestan Province in Iran is one of the endemic foci of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major and Phlebotomus papatasi as the main vector. The aim of this study was to predict the probability of presence of Ph. papatasi in this province using Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS).

In order to determine the distribution of Ph. papatasi, sand flies were collected in five counties, including Izeh, Mahshahr, Ahvaz, Dasht-e-Azadegan, and Andimeshk by sticky paper traps in spring and summer, 2018. Six criteria, including average annual temperature, average annual rainfall, average annual relative humidity, land use, soil texture, and elevation were selected. Maps of criteria were prepared in ArcGIS 10.5 software. The weights of the criteria and sub-criteria were determined using Expert Choice 11. Then, the final map of the probability of vector presence was prepared by combination of weighted maps and including the weight of the criteria.

In this study, 13 species of sand flies of two genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, were collected. The abundance of Ph. papatasi from samples collected in Izeh, Dasht-e-Azadegan, Mahshahr, Andimeshk, and Ahvaz was 55%, 72%, 69.4%, 3%, and 66.5%, respectively. Based on the analysis of matrix tables, average annual temperature (0.406), average annual relative humidity (0.233), and average annual rainfall (0.156) had the highest weight in probability of the vector presence, respectively.

This study provides useful information for health authorities in determining the distribution of Ph. papatasi to act properly based on facilities and budget in case of outbreak.

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are major human ectoparasites. Before planning and implementation of any control measures against bed bugs in prisons, it is essential to determine the infestation rate.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of bed bug infestation in prisons in Mazandaran Province, 2015-2017. A standard checklist was prepared based on the health log of the prisons and was used to collect information on prevalence of bed bugs. Data were analyzed using SPSS V20.

The highest rate of infestation (68%) was observed in general ward and the lowest was seen in women's ward (1.23%). Highest infestations were reported at nights (88%) and the highest numbers of bed bugs were collected in metal beds (31%). During three years, there were no reports of bed bugs and their bites in prison 6. The average prevalence was constant in prison 1, while it was descending in prisons 2, 3, 5, and 9 and ascending in prisons 4 and 8.

High prevalence of bed bugs in most of the prisons in Mazandaran province could probably be due to their entry into the prisons, re-infestation, and also difficulties in their control. Therefore, continuous monitoring of infestation, monitoring and prevention of bed bugs gaining entry into prisons, revising control measures with collaboration between experts from the Ministry of Health and prison health services are essential to plan for successful bed bug control interventions.

Identifying the nature of social anxiety through its causative factors can provide valuable information for the health system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a structural model for creating and maintaining factors causing social anxiety disorder in students in a medical sciences university.

A descriptive-correlational study was performed in all students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Online questionnaires were completed (n= 670), including social phobia inventory (SPIN), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-3), Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems (BAS/BIS), Older Adult Social-Evaluative Situations Questionnaire (OASES), Social Phobia Safety Behaviors Scale (SPSBS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Mini-Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale (Mini-STABS), and Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling and Bootstrap method using AMOS software.

Fit indices showed that hypothetical research model has a good fit with the data. In the present model, positive significant relationships were found between social anxiety and the paths associated with behavioral inhibition, trust-abuse, defectiveness/shame, social isolation, unrelenting standards via mediators of social-evaluative situations, safety behaviors, emotion regulation, social thoughts and beliefs, and self-beliefs to social anxiety (P<0.0001). But, we observed no significant relationship between social anxiety and emotion regulation mediator path (P<0.0001).

Considering the role of etiology and maintenance factors in current model, it can be used in designing treatments for social anxiety and promoting the health of medical students.

Population aging is increasing and aged people need supports and care from individuals who are resilient enough in providing all types of care. Measuring the resilience of caregivers requires a valid and reliable tool. This study aimed at designing, analyzing the psychometric properties, and using a questionnaire to investigate resilience among in-home caregivers of aged people.

In first phase, a descriptive study was performed in 400 people aged 20 years and older in Isfahan, Tehran, Shiraz, and Hamedan provinces, Iran and the second phase was carried out in 216 individuals in 2021. Professors and experts in different fields, including psychology, psychiatry, gerontology, health of aged people, and geriatrics cooperated at different stages of designing the questionnaire. Face validity, content validity index, content validity ratio, convergent validity and divergent validity, exploratory factor analysis, and reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of the questionnaire were assessed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to report the data.

At content validation stage, 31 items out of 70 were removed from the questionnaire. One other item was removed at internal consistency phase. In exploratory factor analysis, based on the acceptability of the factor load, 38 items were defined in 4 factors. These factors were named self-efficacy and acceptance, tolerance and controllability, responsibility and commitment, and behavioral emotion regulation, which explained 48.70% of the dispersion. Convergent validity and divergent validity were confirmed due to strong correlation between the scores of each item and its corresponding scale score (P<0.0001). The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient for the whole questionnaire was 0.92 and for the scales ranged between 0.668 and 0.912.

Considering the validity and reliability of the questionnaire designed for investigating the resilience of in-home care givers of aged people, current findings could be used in education, research, and prevention. Families, aged people, researchers and the health researchers are among its beneficiaries.

Little information is available about micronutrients intake in bodybuilding athletes taking supplements. This study aimed at investigating dietary supplements usage and micronutrients intake in male and female bodybuilders.

This cross-sectional study was performed among bodybuilders in bodybuilding clubs in Shiraz. Information about consumption of dietary supplements were collected using a questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire (168 items) was completed to assess the micronutrients intake based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).

The participants (n= 270) included 175 (64.8%) males (mean age: 33.6±2.5 years). In this study, 115 (65%) males and 45 (47%) females used dietary supplements. The study showed a significant difference in the rate of supplement use based on gender (P<0.000), age group (P<0.006), and level of education (P<0.001). Furthermore, bodybuilding trainers were the major source of dietary education (62.4%), while nutritionists and physicians accounted for nutritional advice to only 17.4% of the participants. Findings indicated low micronutrients (vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and zinc) intake in male athletes based on RDA. There was also low intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B9, calcium, iron, and magnesium in female athletes.

Prevalence of supplement use was high in male and female bodybuilders, however, they suffer from low intake of micronutrients.

There are various methods for molecular detection of SARS-CoV2 genome among which, PCR-based methods are the most reliable for making diagnosis. The majority of approved PCR kits for detection of Coronavirus are based on TaqMan real-time PCR which is expensive due to incorporating fluorescent and quencher-harboring probe. The aim of this study was to design a simple and affordable method for detection of SARS-CoV2 based on a more affordable SYBR green qPCR method.

Specific primers were designed for the virus nucleocapsid gene and the human control gene using Oligo software. The specificities of the primers were examined by Primer-BLAST capability according to NCBI database. Nasal swab samples were obtained from 10 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients and 10 healthy control people.

The designed reactions were performed in full compliance with the kit approved by the Ministry of Health to discriminate healthy individuals from COVID-19 patients. The Ct cut-off values calculated for N1 and N2 reactions were 39.72 and 39.69, respectively.

The designed SYBR green-based reaction showed a potential role for detection of SARS-CoV2 genome in clinical samples and this method can be considered as a less-expensive alternative to TaqMan real time PCR if the primers and standard reaction conditions are properly designed.

Cell Free miRNAs are small, non-coding molecules that can be secreted into the bloodstream in very stable forms. These types of miRNAs, like intracellular miRNAs, participate in the control of many biological processes and are expressed in both natural and pathological conditions. Quantitative and qualitative changes in expression of circulating miRNAs are associated with the onset and progression of cancer, but can be easily detected by some molecular biology methods. The most common methods for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of most cancers are aggressive, so finding accurate and non-invasive methods for early diagnosis, monitoring and control of cancer are essential. The circulating miRNAs affect not only cells near the site of secretion but also distant tissues, so, they can lead to cancer progression. Herein, we examined studies based on the identification of circulating miRNAs as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic, and of course important for the treatment of various types of cancers.