Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:26 Issue: 3, Sep 2022

 This study aimed to examine the uptake of the model therapeutic agent, minoxidil, through the skin, under the influence of different vehicles. Therefore, the effect of different penetration enhancers such as Propylene glycol, water, ethanol, transcutol P, caprylic acid, and Isopropyl alcohol were evaluated on skin permeability of minoxidil through rat skin.

 The skin permeability of minoxidil on rat skin was analyzed through a Franz cell by evaluating the parameters, including Jss, ERflux, ERD, and ERp. The enhancement mechanisms were studied by comparing FT-IR peak intensities for asymmetric and symmetric C-H stretching, ester C=O stretching, and Amide peaks. The mean transition temperature (Tm) and their enthalpies (ΔH) were investigated by the DSC technique.

 Caprylic acid had the highest diffusion coefficient enhancement ratio (ERD), followed by propylene glycol and water. All solvents have ERD flux enhancement ratio. Solubility in the stratum corneum limited partitioning. All carriers enhanced drug permeability from rat skin, according to FTIR and DSC.

 Caprylic acid is an effective topical vehicle for minoxidil due to greater partitioning and diffusion through rat skin.

 Many people around the world have been affected by depression, which causes a great deal of problems. Emotion regulation refers to processes influencing emotion, experiences, and expresses.

 This study aimed to evaluate the role of emotion regulation to predict depressive symptoms among Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences students.

 This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 305 students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran, who were randomly selected by convenient sampling method. The informed consent forms were signed by the participants. Then the Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition (BDI-II) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale (CERQ-18) were completed in a virtual/face-to-face manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 26. A total of 296 participants were analyzed, of whom 198 (66.9%) were female, and 98 (33.1%) were male.

 The self-blame strategies (β = 0.31, P ≤ 0.001), positive reassessment (β = -0.26, P ≤ 0.001), catastrophic (β = 0.26, P ≤ 0.001), numerical importance (β = -0.12, P ≤ 0.001) and positive refocus (β = -0.10, P ≤ 0.001) predict 40% of the variance of depression in five steps. Inconsistent strategies such as self-blame and catastrophe directly predict depression. Further, depression is inversely related to positive reassessment, insignificance, and positive refocus.

 According to the results, there was a significant direct relationship between self-blame and catastrophic thinking as maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies with depression. In addition, positive refocusing and positive reassessment had a significant negative correlation with depression among adaptive emotion regulation strategies.

 The combination of exercise and soy extract supplementation decreases cardiac related disease risk in postmenopausal women.

 We assessed the combined impacts of soy isoflavone (IF) supplementation and exercise on the expression of microRNA-133 gene in ovariectomized rats’ hearts.

 This study was conducted on 50 female Wistar rats, which were assigned to five groups, including sham-operated (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized with soy IF supplementation (OVX + IF), OVX with exercise (OVX + HIIT), and OVX with both soy IFs and exercise (OVX + IF + HIIT). The experimental rats underwent high-intensity interval training (5 days/week) and/or supplied a soy IF supplementation for six weeks. The cardiac microRNA-133 gene expression was analyzed using real-time PCR after six weeks of intervention.

 Ovariectomy down-regulated cardiac microRNA133 gene expression, but 42 days of IF administration or HIIT reversed this effect (P > 0.05). The HIIT reversed estrogen-deficiency-related microRNA-133 down-regulation greater than IF or combining IF and HIIT (P > 0.05). The OVX + IF and OVX + IF + HIIT (P > 0.05) showed no significant difference.

 Our results suggested that treatment with exercise, soy IF, and the combined treatment could benefit microRNA-133 in ovariectomized rats. This effect was significant when exercise alone was used to induce treatment. Thus, these treatments could offer protection in the menopausal period.

 Pain resilience can protect cancer patients from emotional turmoil as a protective factor in adapting to chronic pain.

 This study aimed to evaluate cancer patients’ psychometric properties in the Persian version of the Pain Resilience Scale.

 This methodological study was conducted on 200 patients with cancer, who referred to the chemotherapy section of Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran in 2021 to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Ankawi Pain Resilience Scale. The subjects were selected through purposive sampling method based on inclusion criteria.

 The results indicated that Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was obtained under the Behavioral Perseverance Scale (α = 0.86), Emotional/Cognitive Positive Thinking Scale (α = 0.93), and the whole Scale (α = 0.94). According to the exploratory factor analysis, this scale explained 65% of the variance of the pain resilience variable. The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed that a two-factor model is a good fit for the data.

 According to the results, the pain resilience scale had an acceptable validity in people with cancer.

 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an endocrine and metabolic disease that the interaction of genetic background with environmental factors could enhance its risk. The nuclear erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protects cells against oxidative damage and toxicity.

 This study aimed to determine the possible correlation between the Nrf2 gene variants with the risk of T2DM and obesity in the Kurdistan of Iraq.

 This study was conducted on 250 individuals categorized into 4 groups: 67 obese T2DM patients (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2), 65 normal BMI diabetic patients (BMI < 25 kg/m2), 62 obese non-diabetics, and 56 normal BMI non-diabetic individuals. The Nrf2 rs6721961 variants were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme of NgoMIV.

 In the obese T2DM group, the levels of waist, and wrist circumference were significantly more than those of obese non-diabetic controls. Total antioxidant capacity level was not significantly different comparing patients with their controls. The Nrf2 T allele significantly decreased the risk of T2DM in normal BMI patients. In addition, carrying the T allele significantly reduced the risk of obesity.

 According to the results, significantly higher levels of anthropometric parameters was detected in obese T2DM compared with obese non-diabetic controls. The T allele of Nrf2 decreased T2DM risk among patients with normal BMI and obesity risk among Kurdish residents of Iraq. The findings of our research can be used in the prevention and management of T2DM by improving lifestyle habits.

 Emergence delirium (ED) is a complication after surgeries due to general anesthesia.

 This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin and clonidine, which are hypothesized to have a curative effect on ED.

 This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-way parallel clinical trial was performed in Imam Reza Hospital in Birjand, Iran in 2019 - 2020 who were selected using convenience sampling. The inclusion criteria were age > 65 years and preoperative Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score ≥ 8. The exclusion criteria were suffering from any chronic diseases. Participants were divided into 3 groups: Placebo, clonidine, and melatonin groups who received placebo, 100 μg clonidine, and 5 mg melatonin, respectively. A first dose was administered at bedtime before surgery, a second dose 90 minutes before the procedure. An AMT and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) were administered to determine ED.

 This study included 150 patients with a mean and standard deviation of 74.6 ± 6.8 years. According to AMT and MMSE, there was no significant difference in the level of ED between groups on the first, second, and third days after surgery (P > 0.05). Emergence delirium levels in the clonidine and melatonin groups were lower than in the placebo group. According to AMT and MMSE, ED was not significantly correlated gender, age, and type of surgery. Emergence delirium was significantly associated with postoperative bleeding and electrolyte disturbance (P < 0.05).

 Melatonin and clonidine did not affect the occurrence of ED in the elderly undergoing surgery, but these medications could slightly reduce their occurrence.

 This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of domestic and non-domestic violence (outside home) in Iran during 2015.

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals aged 15 and older living in urban and rural areas of Iran. A total of 36,600 people from 31 provinces of Iran were selected by systematic and cluster random sampling using the postal code available in the country’s post office software. A researcher-made survey questionnaire was used for evaluating violence. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.

 A total of 23.1% of individuals have admitted domestic violence towards their families in the last 12 months, and 8.1% have admitted non-domestic violence in the past 30 days. The prevalence of domestic and non-domestic violence was higher among males than females and in urban areas than rural places. In addition, the highest prevalence rate of domestic violence in the last 12 months was related to Lorestan province. Tehran province had the highest prevalence rate of non-domestic violence during the last 30 days. However, the lowest prevalence rate of domestic and non-domestic violence was related to Qom province.

 Based on the results, the prevalence rate of 23.1% of domestic violence and 8.1% of non-domestic violence necessitates preventing and treating this social problem. Therefore, health authorities need to take necessary action to raise awareness and reduce the risk-taking behaviors of the population in Iran.

 Paradoxical insomnia is one of the most prevalent subtypes of insomnia disorder and its symptom includes a discrepancy between subjective and objective sleep measures.

 This study aimed to evaluate the amplitude differences of low-frequency fluctuation as a possible local characteristic in paradoxical insomnia by resting-state functional MRI among patients with paradoxical insomnia and healthy subjects.

 A t-test was used in this case-control study to investigate possible changes in low-frequency fluctuation amplitude in 15 paradoxical insomnia patients and 48 healthy subjects.

 The results were far from the chance level by removing nuisance variables and controlling for multiple comparisons. In addition, there was a decrease in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation among people with paradoxical insomnia compared to the healthy group in the right region of the superior parietal lobule and precuneus regions.

 Based on these results, brain signals appear to play an important role in the pathophysiology of paradoxical insomnia, and further research may identify the mechanism behind this type in the future.