نشریه دانشگاه علوم پزشکی خراسان شمالی
سال پانزدهم شماره 1 (بهار 1402)

Natural oils, including argan oil, are used to moisturize the skin. Collagen is one of the body's proteins that plays an important role in the structure of the skin. Therefore, in this study, the moisturizing effect of creams containing collagen and argan oil was studied.

Using Design Expert statistical software, 13 formulations were designed and synthesized. They were evaluated for spreadability and viscosity, and the optimized formulation was selected. The formulations underwent physicochemical control experiments, such as uniformity of products, thermal stress, centrifugal force resistance, and pH measurements. The moisturizing effect was investigated with in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Cream containing 5% collagen and 5% argan oil was selected as the optimal formulation. The blocking factor of the cream containing collagen and argan oil was higher than the negative control 48 h after the study (P<0.05). The amount of hydration of the cream containing collagen and argan oil on the skin of the hand was higher than the negative control 5 h after the study (P<0.05). The optimal formulation showed good stability against physicochemical control experiments.

Moisturizing cream containing collagen and argan oil had a more moisturizing effect than cream without collagen and argan oil and increased skin hydration

The Artemisia plant is known by its scientific name, which is the exclusive species of Kopeh Daghi in Iran. The present study aimed to design a nanoemulsion of the essential oil of Kopeh Daghi and investigate its antimicrobial activity on the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

At first, the essential oil extraction was performed using a Clevenger. Nanoemulsion was prepared by a spontaneous method using Tween 80 as oil in water. The size of nanoparticles was determined using the dynamic light scattering method. The antioxidant and antibacterial effects of Nanoemulsion at a concentration of 15% of essential oil were investigated.

In the current research, 38 compounds were identified in the species of Artemisia kopetdaghensis, of which Davanone, with 28.89%, was the most effective substance. The results of the antioxidant test demonstrated that pure essential oil (IC₅₀= 7.05 mg/ml) and Nanoemulsion containing essential oil (IC₅₀= 46.51 mg/ml) had the highest antioxidant activity, respectively. Furthermore, regarding the inhibition of bacterial growth, Nanoemulsion was the most effective in Staphylococcus aureus with a non-growth zone diameter of 8 mm. In Escherichia coli, pure essential oil was the most effective, with a non-growth zone diameter of 9 mm.

In general, the antibacterial properties of 15% nanoemulsion were better compared to 15% essential oil. Moreover, Nanoemulsion containing the medicinal plant essential oil had more antioxidant properties compared to 15% essential oil

Considering the possibility of recurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, accurate identification of the factors involved in the initiation and maintenance of this disorder is of great importance. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, considering the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and rumination.

The current cross-sectional correlation study was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the present study was all the people who referred to the medical centers of Hamadan, Iran, in 2021 of whom 280 people were selected by available sampling. To collect data, Kian et al.'s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire, Bernstein et al.'s Childhood Trauma Scale, Dennis and Vanderwaal's Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire, and Nolen-Hoeksma's and Mauer's Rumination Questionnaire were used. Data analysis was done by structural equation modeling method in SPSS.21 and AMOS software.

The results of the research showed that childhood trauma had a positive and significant relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and rumination and a negative and significant relationship with psychological flexibility. There was a positive and significant relationship between psychological flexibility and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. On the other hand, the results of the path analysis showed that rumination and cognitive flexibility played a mediating role between childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress (P<0.05).

Paying attention to cognitive flexibility and rumination plays an important role in the relationship between childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder

Social isolation is a multifactorial problem that leads to destructive consequences due to having unique risks for the physical, mental, and social health of the elderly. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine social isolation and its related factors in the elderly under the coverage of health centers in Bojnord, Iran.

In this cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study, 605 elderly aged 60 years and above were selected among those under the coverage of health centers in Bojnourd, Iran, using a one-stage cluster sampling method. In order to collect data, valid and reliable questionnaires of demographic characteristics and the Lubben social network scale were completed through an interview with the elderly. Ethical considerations were observed. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) and statistical tests.

The mean age of the elderly was 69.35±7.22 years of whom 52.6% were male. In total, 47.2% of the cases had social isolation. Social isolation showed a statistically significant decrease concerning variables, such as male gender, more children, higher education level, unemployment and retirement, as well as having a house (P<0.05). However, it did not show a statistically significant relationship with age and marital status (married).

Healthcare systems should pay more attention to the elderly, especially women with few children, housewives, illiterate and poorly educated, and renters

Being overweight and having vitamin D deficiency are associated with oxidative stress and low-grade chronic inflammation, resulting in various diseases. In the present study, changes in the levels of Eutoxin-1 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated after 8 weeks of high-intensity interval resistance training (HIIRT) and vitamin D intake in overweight women with vitamin D deficiency.

In this clinical trial study, 52 overweight women with vitamin D deficiency were purposefully selected and then randomly assigned to exercise, vitamin D, exercise+vitamin D (combined), and control groups. HIIRT was performed 3 times a week in three sets with an intensity of 80% of a maximum repetition. Vitamin D was taken at a dose of 50,000 units weekly. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with a significant level of less than 0.05.

After 8 weeks, SOD activity increased in the experimental groups, and the level of Eutoxin-1 decreased significantly. In addition, the rate of changes in SOD and Eutoxin-1 levels in the combined group was higher than those in the vitamin D group; however, no significant difference was observed between the exercise and combination groups (P<0.05).

It seems that HIIRT and vitamin D intake can increase SOD activity and up-regulate Eutoxin-1 in overweight women. Moreover, co-administration of HIIRT with vitamin D intake can have stronger effects in reducing the inflammatory-oxidative effects of overweight and vitamin D deficiency by increasing SOD and decreasing Eutoxin-1, compared to the intervention of vitamin D consumption.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative inflammatory disease with a wide range of axonal demyelination and sensory-motor disorders. Today, stem cell therapy is an appropriate choice for MS management. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) are pluripotent stem cells that have neuroprotective effects with neuroglial differentiation potential. In this study, we used iPSCs to improve remyelination and behavioral function in model of cuprizone multiple sclerosis disease in rats.

Human iPSCs were cultured and extended on a mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cell layer inactivated with mitomycin-C in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 20% knockout serum replacement, 0.1 mmol/L nonessential amino acids, and 10 ng/mL of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor in a 5% CO2 and 95% humidity. The demyelination model was induced using a 0.2 oral Cuprizone regime. Thereafter, iPSCs were transplanted after six weeks. Remyelination was investigated via histological assessments and immunocytochemistry following six-week post-transplantation. The functionality was evaluated using behavioral tests, BBB, and Footprint following six-week post-transplantation.

The results of in vivo studies showed that after specific myelin tissue staining, the cuprizone diet led to the induction of demyelinated areas in the brain tissue six weeks after the cuprizone diet. Differentiation of transplanted cells was confirmed via the immunocytochemistry technique of PLP. The results of the Footprint test showed that the motor function of the paws of the animals improved compared to the control group. Moreover, BBB behavioral tests showed improved symptoms in the experimental groups that received the cells.

In total, iPSCs can improve remyelination and functional recovery following transplantation into the Cuprizone demyelination model in rats. Therefore, iPSC therapy could improve behavioral function in multiple sclerosis disease

Ketamine is a popular drug for use in various populations, including pregnant women. Of note, the high prevalence of ketamine use may cause disorders, especially in the nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated short-term and long-term anesthesia with ketamine on balance behavior and cerebellar tissue changes in neonatal rats.

In total, 15 female and 3 male rats were prepared and then randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 including control, long-term, as well as short-term and repeated anesthesia with ketamine. Pregnant female rats in the group of long-term anesthesia with ketamine were anesthetized once a week (at a dose of 75 mg/kg), and those in the groups of short-term and repeated anesthesia with ketamine were anesthetized 3 times a week (at a dose of 25 mg/kg). Ketamine injections were given weekly and regularly until the end of pregnancy. In order to evaluate the balance behavior of rats, a balance behavior test was conducted after lactation of all neonates of different groups. Moreover, tissue sampling was performed at the end of the whole period.

Most tissue changes were related to the Purkinje layer in the long-term group. In terms of balance, there were significant differences among different groups in terms of traveling distances and the number of slips.

Increasing the dose of ketamine has mild effects on cerebellar tissue alongside significant effects on balance behavior.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic and resistance training during a Ketogenic Diet (KD) on serum levels of adipokines and insulin resistance indices in overweight or obese men.

A total of 36 overweight or obese men were randomly divided into three groups, namely Aerobic Training during KD (AT-KD), Resistance Training during KD (RT-KD), and KD alone (KD). In addition to following the KD, the training groups performed aerobic or resistance training three days per week for six weeks. For statistical analysis, the mixed two-way analysis of variance test with a significance level of less than 0.05 and SPSS software was used.

The serum levels of adiponectin, resistin, and SFRP5 did not differ significantly between the groups. In all groups, resistin had a significant decrease, whereas adiponectin and SFRP5 had a significant increase, compared to the pre-test. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, and triglycerides, as well as insulin resistance and sensitivity indices, were not significantly different between the groups. A significant decrease in glucose and triglyceride levels was observed in the three groups compared to the pre-test. Both KD and AT-KD groups significantly decreased insulin and HOMA-IR and increased McAuley indices compared to the pre-test. Only the AT-KD group significantly increased the QUICKI index compared to the pretest.

Both AT-KD and RT-KD improved the level of adipokines in overweight or obese men. However, there was no difference between the two types of training. Despite the lack of difference between the two types of exercise, aerobic training may be more effective than resistance training during a KD

Pharmaceuticals, especially antibiotics, are new contaminants that have created a major environmental concern because of their cumulative nature, adverse effects, and drug resistance. Their existence in domestic wastewater will pollute water resources. This study aimed to determine the performance of US/UV/SO40‒ processes in the removal of Amoxicillin (AMX).

The current experimental study used ultrasonic waves (US), ultraviolet rays (UV), and sulfate radicals (SO40‒). To detect the effect of variables, including contact time (0-120 min), the antibiotic concentration (5-50 mg/l), pH (3-9), persulfate concentration (1-7 mM), and the input power (550 W), the reactor has been sampled in different intervals, and the residue concentration was detected using a spectrophotometer in 294 nm length wave.

The results showed that the separate use of US and UV had no high operation with the best removal percentages of 33.3% and 13.29%, respectively. Simultaneous use of US/UV/SO40‒ showed a more high reduction in AMX concentration and the best removal percentage was 94.12% that took place in pH=6, the antibiotic concentration of 5 mg/L, persulfate concentration of 5 mM, and contact time of 120 min.

The result showed that the US/UV/SO40‒ process can be used as an operational process to remove the AMX from an aqueous environment.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a stimulant drug that causes memory and learning disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of interval training on APP gene expression in hippocampal tissue and open field test in methamphetamine-dependent rats.

In this experimental research, 32 rats were assigned to four equal groups of saline, primary methamphetamine (METH-1), methamphetamine+training (METH+MIT), and secondary methamphetamine (METH-2). The METH was injected at the dose of 5 mg/kg body weight for 21 days. The exercise program (5 sessions per week) included interval training (4 sets of 4 minutes with moderate intensity and 2 minutes of active rest between sets) on a treadmill. At the end of the injection and training period, the hippocampus tissue of the rats was extracted to evaluate gene expression changes. An open-field behavioral test was also conducted. The data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA at the significance level of P≥0.05.

Methamphetamine significantly increased APP gene expression in METH-1,2 groups compared to saline (respectively; P≥0.007 and P≥0.005). The total distance and movement speed of rats in METH-1 and 2 groups had a significant decrease compared to saline (respectively, P≥0.004 and P≥0.026). The MIT led to a significant reduction of APP compared to METH-1,2 groups (respectively, P≥0.041 and P≥0.028). Movement speed in the MIT group increased significantly compared to the METH-1 group (P≥0.008).

Methamphetamine reduced cognitive performance (learning and memory), and according to the results, MIT probably improved cognitive performance. Nonetheless, further studies are necessary to reach definitive conclusions.

Northern part of Iran is located on the esophagus cancer belt worldwide, and North Khorasan province is considered a part of this region. This study was conducted to investigate some possible risk factors for esophageal cancer in North Khorasan province.

This cross-sectional study was based on esophageal endoscopy findings and histopathology reports. A total of 100 patients underwent endoscopy of whom 38 cases (19 male and 19 female) were diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Data consisted of age, gender,  occupation, residential location, smoking, addiction history, education, food habits, hot tea consumption, lesion area, type of tissue, and alcohol consumption. The content and face validity of the questionnaire were investigated, followed by the evaluation of the reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 26).

The mean content validity index was 0.91, and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was obtained at 0.84. In this study, the highest incidence rates of esophageal cancer were in Bojnourd, Raz and Jargalan, Esfarayen, Maneh and Samolghan, Jajarm, and Shirvan in descending order. The mean age of patients with esophageal cancer was 66.36 years. The most common histological types of this cancer were related to squamous cell carcinoma (68.42%) and adenocarcinoma (28.94%), respectively. The distribution of esophageal carcinoma by anatomical location was 10.52% for the upper third, 26.31% for the middle third, and 63.15% for the distal third.

It is necessary to monitor esophageal cancer continuously in North Khorasan province. This study suggests investigating how the recent pandemic of COVID-19 affects the epidemiology of esophageal cancer in the future

Medication and nutritional adherence include accurate consumption of medication and following the diet according to the recommendations provided by healthcare personnel, which leads to maintaining and promoting the health of the elderly. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of teach-back self-management training on medication and nutritional adherence of the elderly with type 2 diabetes in the selected comprehensive health service centers in Mashhad, Iran.

This experimental study was conducted on 104 type 2 diabetic patients who were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, self-management training was provided by return training method, and in the control group, routine training was provided. To collect data, the Moriski medication adherence questionnaire and the Midas dietry compliance questionnaire were completed before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software (version 20), and Chi-square, Fisher, independent t-test, and paired t-test.

Based on the findings of the present research, the mean scores of the medication and nutritional adherence in the two groups before the intervention were not significantly different (P<0.05). However, after the intervention, medication and nutritional adherence of the intervention group was significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05).

The use of teach-back self-management training is suggested as an effective method in increasing medication and nutritional adherence of the elderly with type 2 diabetes