فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی
سال سی و دوم شماره 2 (پیاپی 108، تابستان 1401)

The production of biotechnological drug proteins plays an important role against disease. The process of producing drug recombinant proteins is not a direct path, because it requires a lot of work and on the other hand, one of the important and significant aspects in the production of proteins is the discussion of their stability and solubility during the expression and purification process. Proteins are stable only in a limited range of temperature and acidity conditions and are highly susceptible to physical and chemical degradation. Today, various solutions have been proposed to increase the solubility and stability of proteins, including guided changes in the protein molecule, and optimization of the instructions for expression, purification and solubility of proteins, which is often the first approach that is not possible. This review article provides solutions to increase the stability of proteins at different levels, including the study of the effect of expression construct design, protein tags and sequences on stability, optimal host cell selection and improved expression conditions. The effect of optimizing buffers used in pharmaceutical formulations such as selecting appropriate amino acids and osmolytes to increase protein stability and how sugars and polyols affect the stability of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins is also investigated.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with chemical, physiological and pathological changes in the liver. Due to the side effects of insulin, the use of herbal medicines such as Nigella sativa with flavonoid compounds and antioxidant properties is considered. In this study, the effect of magnetic hydroethanolic extract of Nigella sativa and MgO nanoparticles separately and simultaneously on the expression of CAT gene in liver tissue of male diabetic rats was investigated.

40 male Wistar rats, after induction of diabetes by injection of streptozotomycin (STZ) at a dose of 60 mg / kg, were treated by magnetic hydroathanolic extract of Nigella sativa at a dose of 250 mg / kg, MgO nanoparticles at a dose of 10 mg / kg, combined magnetic hydroathanolic extract 125 mg / kg and 5 mg / kg MgO nanoparticles, and the extract loaded with MgO nanoparticles every other day for 28 days and the expression of liver CAT gene was evaluated.

The extract loaded with MgO nanoparticles was able to increase CAT gene expression in diabetics to the extent of gene expression in metformin-treated diabetics.

It seems that thymoquinone (TQ) in Nigella sativa due to its antioxidant properties increases the expression of CAT gene and overcomes the oxidative stress caused by diabetes with its protective effect on pancreatic beta cells. Loading the nanoparticles probably resulted in better absorption of the antioxidant compounds in the cell, and the MgO nanoparticles as nanocontractors facilitated the cell's access to the particulate compounds.

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a very important signaling molecule which acts as a regulator of many physiological processes in many tissues including epithelial cell of gastrointestinal tract. In this study we investigated the effects of L-Arginine as a NO progenitor and L-NAME as a NO inhibitor on epithelial cell number and height of Jejunum in female rats.

40 female rats were divided into 5 groups, containing 8 rats in each group. Except the control group, the other groups received normal saline (2 ml/kg), L-Arginine (200mg/kg), L-NAME (20mg/kg) and a mixture of two substances for L-Arginine & L-NAME group intraperitoneally for 3 days. 2 weeks later after anesthesia with ether, jejunum was expelled out and after tissue processing and staining with H&E method, the changes were assessed via light microscopy. Cell number and height were evaluated using Image Tools3 Microsoft. Statistical analysis was made by One-Way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test to evaluate the statistical significance between different groups. A value of p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

There was a significant increase in the cell number and height of jejunal epithelium in L-Arginine group (P<0.05). Whereas no significant difference was observed between L-NAME, L-Arginine +L-NAME and control, Normal Saline groups.

L- Arginine can result in proliferation of Jejunum epithelial cells whereas L-NAME has no effect on these cells.

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the influence of BCR-ABL1 transcript type, Sokal risk score and smoke on disease phynotype and cytogenetic response to treatment is still unknown and arguable. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of transcript types, risk score and smoking status among patients with CML treated with different tyrosine kinase inhibitor modalities.

Sixty CML patients were analyzed by Multiplex RT- PCR for molecular typing and banding standard protocols to follow the cytogenetic response of medications at intervals of 3 and 6 months.

The most common transcript type was e14a2 (n=35, 58.3%). There was a significant difference in cumulative incidence (CI) of complete cytogenetic response (CCR) between e14a2 and e13a2 groups (P=0.04). The time to achieve CCR was shorter in e14a2 transcript (P=0.01). The risk of resistance to drug was 4 fold higher in e13a2 group compared to e14a2. No difference was observed in CI of CCR between risk score groups (P>0.05). In smoker patients with e13a2 transcript, response to drug was lower (18 fold) than to non- smokers.

The patients with e14a2 transcript may be associated with better and faster response to imatinib. Sokal risk score is not an efficient predictive tool for response based on transcript type. The smoke in patients expressing e13a2 may be induce resistance.

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect high intensity interval training (HIIT) with resveratrol supplementation on Cardiomyocytes expression of MFn1, MFn2 and OPA1 in NAFLD rats.

In this experimental study, forty-eight Wistar male rats were classified into two groups NAFLD (CN, n=40) and control-normal (n=8). NAFLD was induced in rats with high fat diet and then subdivided into five subgroups NAFLD, SHAM, TRNAF, SUPNAF and TRSUPNAF. Training groups have performed a running program on a motor-driven treadmill for eight weeks. Resveratrol (20 mg/kg) was injected into the SUPNAF and TRSUPNAF groups. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, rats were anesthetized; then hearts were excised and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C for measuring the indexes. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance, and significance was accepted at p ≤ 0.05.

Induction of fatty liver reduced expression of MFn1 (p=0.009), MFn2 (p=0.003) and OPA1 (p=0.002). Also, in TRNAF, SUPNAF and RSUPNAF groups, MFn1 (p=0.010, p=0.048 and p=0.004 respectively), MFn2 (p=0.028, p=0.007 and p=0.011 respectively) and OPA1 (p=0.019, p=0.003 and p=0.006 respectively) increased significantly compared to the NAFLD group.

It seems that exercise training and resveratrol protects cardiomyocytes mitochondria against fatty liver disease, by reactivation fusion.

Vaginal candidiasis is a common cause of vaginal infections. Currently, for treatment of these infections, fluconazole is prescribed more than other drugs; so determining the drug resistance of Candida to fluconazole and comparing it with itraconazole as a substitute has been one of the main objectives of this study.

Of 180 patients with symptoms of vaginal candidiasis, clinical examination, sampling and culture were performed. Candida albicans were identified by morphological and physiological methods and non-Candida albicans candida isolates by PCR-RFLP method. Susceptibility testing for antifungal drugs was performed by disk diffusion method based on CLSI M44-A protocol.

Out of 180 patients, 93 patients with positive culture and 98 strain of Candida were isolated. The mean age of patients was 30±0.73 years and the most common clinical complaints was itching (>98%) and vaginal discharge (88%). Candida albicans (80.61%) was the most common causative agent. The resistance of Candida albicans to fluconazole and itraconazole was 45.6% and 16.5%, respectively, and for non-albicans candida isolates were 53% and 42%, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001).

The results of this study suggest that culturing of vaginal samples have essential role for diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis, and treatment with antifungal drugs should be performed after antifungal susceptibility tests.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of education model based on problem solving approach on educational engagement of medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch.  

This research is quasi-experimental research in terms of applied purpose. The statistical population of this study was all 5928 medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch of Medical Sciences, of which 60 were divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention group received training based on a problem-solving approach for 8 sessions. Data were collected using Zerang Academic Involvement Questionnaire (2012) and analyzed using SPSS version 25 by MANCOVA statistical test.

In the pre-test stage, the mean of academic involvement was not significantly different between the two groups. Comparison of academic involvement in the intervention group showed that a significant difference was observed in the mean of this variable and its dimensions after the intervention (p= 0.05). It shows that the model of education based on the problem-solving approach has a significant effect on the academic engagement of medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch of Medical Sciences.

Education based on problem solving approach is one of the important factors that plays a role in students' academic engagement.

The present study was to prepare and validate character strength training package and effectiveness on assertiveness skills of adolescents.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. First, the training package was prepared and validated. Once the goals were identified, appropriate content was prepared for each strength. Finally, after applying the opinion of experts, a training package was developed. Content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) were high for all objectives in the training protocol. Character Strength training package in the form of 12 sessions compiled 70 minutes. The statistical population included female high school students who were studying in schools in Tehran in the academic year 2020-2021. Students were selected by available sampling method and answered the assertiveness questionnaire. Among them, 30 students whose expression was a deviation below average were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) and the control group (n = 15). The Gambrill and Ritchie (1975) Expression Questionnaire was used to assess assertiveness.

The results of univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the mean post-test scores in the experimental group were higher than the control group.

Based our findings, it can be concluded that the prepared character strength training package had an effective role in increasing adolescents' assertiveness

Para-clinical abnormalities are considered as predictors of COVID-19 severity. We aimed at evaluate the relationship between laboratory and chest computed tomography (CT) scan findings and severity of COVID-19 cases.

We performed a retrospective study on confirmed COVID-19 patients in Amir-Al-Momenin hospital, Tehran, Iran, from February 20, 2020 to April 19, 2020. Para-clinical characteristics of the patients including chest CT scan and laboratory findings were recruited from patients’ medical records. Then we evaluated the relationship between laboratory and chest CT scan findings and severity of COVID-19 cases. We performed statistical analysis using descriptive methods and analytical tests by SPSS statistical software version-24.

With lung involvement to more than 50%, the severity of the disease changed severely and critically (P=0.008). In addition, WBC and Poly counts, ALP and BUN levels increased with increasing disease severity (P> 0.05). Predictive variables explain 32.4% of the changes in the criterion variable.

Lung involvement more than 75% and poly count variables were positive predictors of disease severity. Indeed, each unit increase in lung involvement ploy count, disease severity increases by 27.1% and 43.8%, respectively. Laboratory and chest CT scan findings can be efficient tools for prognostic stratification of COVID-19 patients and management of this infection.

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is the least brain injury due to direct or indirect blow to the head, which according to the Glasgow scale is given a score between 13 and 15. The findings indicate cognitive impairment. Perceptual dysfunction is one of the most important cognitive deficits in these patients. The present study was designed and performed to compare MTBI patients with healthy individuals in terms of visual perception error (VPE).

In this causal-comparative study, 30 MTBI patients, in the range of 15-45 and mean age of 27 years and 10 months, with a diagnostic history of less than one year in Ilam hospitals, and 30 healthy individuals in the same range and mean age of 29 years and 7 months (both groups with equal sex) were randomly selected and assessed by VPEMT. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and Levin using SPSS 23.  

The results showed that the mean VPE in patients with MTBI with unequal variances (P <0.05), at the level of 95% is significantly higher than healthy individuals (P <0.05).

This finding, consistent with the results of previous research, indicates the chronic cognitive consequences of concussion, even at a mild level, at least up to one year after injury, and causes a sharp increase in VPE. It is necessary to pay attention to visual perception errors in clinical and legal evaluations of these patients. However, a definitive judgment in this regard requires future research.

Today, there are various methods to deal with anxiety caused by surgery. Peer education through interpersonal interaction improves morale and thus reduces people's anxiety and also acts as a mediator between the patient and the medical staff.

A total of 60 patients were selected through simple sampling method and according to the inclusion criteria and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. After matching the peers, the training of the intervention group members who were on the surgical list was started by one of each peer under the supervision of the researcher. The control group also benefited from routine hospital training. Data collection tools included two questionnaires, including demographic information and Spielberger anxiety scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS24 software.

The results of independent t-test with a significance level of 0.05 showed that there was no significant difference between the mean of pre-training anxiety in the two groups (p= 0.82). Postoperative anxiety showed a significant difference between intervention and control groups (p<0.001).

The results of this study indicate that peer education has a positive effect on reducing patients' anxiety. Health professionals are always looking for solutions to use and implement it to save time and costs of hospitalization and improve the quality of care services. Awareness of the importance and impact of peer education in reducing patients 'anxiety and the economics of this type of education provides the necessary conditions for the use of peers in reducing patients' problems.

One of the important and influential contexts on quality of life is gender. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life of elderly men and women.

This study is a descriptive-analytical research which is based in cross-sectional order. The statistical population of this study included all elderly people over 60 years old covered by Amol city health network in the year 2017. 450 participants were selected from among the elderly people in Amol health centers. The data collection instrument was Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36). Central and dispersion indices, Friedman rank test and independent t-test were used to analyze the data.

There was a significant difference between most men and women in terms of quality of life in most of the underlying variables. But in two variables, namely lack of family custodial and others (Relief Committee, Welfare, etc.) as source of income, there was no significant difference between elderly men and women. Also in all aspects of quality of life, the difference between men and women was significant.

According to the findings of this study, it can be said that the mean score of quality of life for the elderly men was average but this rate was lower than the average for the elderly women.