Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:25 Issue: 3, Jul 2023

Aloe vera is one of the most widely recognized herbs considered a valid treatment option for its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of its anti-tumor activity on colon cancer.

In this study, therefore, we investigated the effect of Aloe vera on the proliferation and survival of the HT29 colon cancer cell line.

The effect of processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) on colon carcinogenesis was examined using low glucose Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with 10% serum and 1% penicillin-streptomycin in the HT29 cells. Then, we obtained the expression levels of P53 and BCL2 using the immunocytochemical (ICC) method. To determine the viability of the HT29 cells, we also performed the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

The MTT assay showed that the HT29 cells were viable in 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of Aloe vera gel (AVG). However, these cells had a more obvious proliferation in the 10% Aloe vera group than in the control group. In the 10% concentration group, mitotic cells were evident in the center of the colonies. The P53 protein expression decreased, but the BCL2 protein expression remained unchanged in the 10% group compared to the control group.

The results, therefore, indicated that in the 10% Aloe vera concentration, the expression levels of P53, knownas a tumor suppressor protein in colon cancer, decreased in HT29. Our results also showed that the application of Aloe vera for its anti-tumor activity in colon cancer should be further evaluated.

 This study was performed to describe the main differences and similarities of celiac disease according to age and highlight the clinical features, diagnosis, associations of the disease, complications, and response to a gluten-free diet in children and adults.

 A retrospective study was conducted on a series of patients (n = 223) diagnosed with celiac disease during infancy (< 2 years) and childhood (≥ 2 years) versus a series of adult patients (≥ 17 years).

 A total of 223 patients were included in this study, 40, 109, and 74 of whom were infants, children, and adults, respectively. The age of diagnosis was delayed in adults, with a mean value of 21.07 ± 12.49 years versus 03.37 ± 3.93 and 6.53 ± 3.77 years in infants and children, respectively (P < 0.001). The clinical manifestations in infants and children were defined as digestive disorders, mainly chronic diarrhea (P = 0.004), similar in adults. Nevertheless, the extra digestive manifestations were predominant in adults, and anemia was the most frequent manifestation (51.4%) versus 30% (n = 12) and 33.9% (n = 37) in infants and children, respectively (P = 0.026), while weight loss in adults affected 52.7% (P for the difference between the three age groups = 0.004). In adults, there was a higher frequency of associated autoimmune diseases, including hypothyroidism (8.1% versus 4.6% in children), Crohn’s disease (5.4% versus 0.0% in children), and lupus (0.9% versus 0.0% in children) (P < 0.001). Serology was strongly positive in all three age groups but with no significant difference between them (P = 0.184). The difference between the three age groups concerning the immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-transglutaminase (a-tTG) assay positivity was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The partial grade of villous atrophy was dominant in all three groups. Good adherence to the diet was more noticeable in children than adults (P = 0.001).

 Celiac disease presents differences between adults and children. The atypical clinical presentation is dominant in adults. Children present a positive serology and good adherence to the diet.

Nasal obstruction and nasal polyps are among the most common diseases treated by ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists. Clinical symptoms of the disease are mostly in the form of obstruction, such as pain or pressure in the face, nasal congestion and nasal sound, purulent nasal discharge, and dysfunction of the sense of smell. Studies show that disorders of the middle ear, Eustachian tube, nose, and paranasal sinuses affect other components. In other words, nasal polyps can cause middle ear dysfunction. The change in pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane is accompanied by changes in the structure and function of the tympanic membrane and hearing impairment.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polypectomy on middle ear function in patients with nasal and sinus polyposis.

This quasi - experimental study investigated 50 patients with nasal polyposis referred to the specialized ENT Clinic of Vali-e-Asr and Razi hospitals in Birjand, Iran, in 2021. After examination by a specialist and confirmation of nasal polyps, the patients were referred to an audiometry center (Tanin Audiometry Center) for audiometric testing. The results of pure - tone audiometry (PTA), speech recognition threshold (SRT), speech discrimination score (SDS), and endotracheal tube parameters before and after surgery were compared to patients’ clinical symptoms.

Out of 50 patients, 25 and 25 subjects were female and male, respectively. Based on the results of the present study, the mean PTA scores of the right ear before and after surgery were 15.9 ± 8.8 and 15.3 ± 8, respectively, which decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The PTA mean scores of the left ear before and after surgery were 15.4 ± 8.2 and 15.3 ± 8, respectively. The SRT mean scores of the right ear before and after surgery were 18.9 ± 9.1 and 18 ± 8.6, respectively. The SRT mean scores of the left ear before and after surgery were 18.7 ± 9.5 and 18.8 ± 10.2, respectively. The SDS mean scores of the right ear before and after surgery were 100 ± 0 and 100 ± 0, respectively. The SDS mean scores of the left ear before and after surgery were 100 ± 0 and 100 ± 0, respectively, which at the end of the study were not significantly different from those at the beginning of the study (P > 0.05).

Middle ear function before and after chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) surgery was not significantly different in patients undergoing surgery. In addition, the clinical symptoms of patients after CRS improved compared to those at the beginning of the study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of testosterone enanthate anabolic steroid on the gene expression of inflammatory factors in the kidney tissue of female rats following eight weeks of resistance training.

Twenty-one female Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 20 g, aged eight weeks, were prepared from the Iran Pasture Institute. Following a week for acclimatization, the rats were randomly divided into three groups: control (n = 7), training + placebo (n = 6), and training + testosterone enanthate (n = 8). Resistance training included five days a week of climbing a 1-meter ladder with 26 stairs while bearing weights and two days of rest. In the first week, the weights were equal to 40% of the rats’ body weight. In the following weeks, the weight was increased by 20% per week. The rats were weighed two times a week. In the testosterone group, the rats were injected with 20 mg of testosterone enanthate thrice a week. Forty-eight hours following the last training session and testosterone injection, kidney tissue samples were collected to determine the gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) using real-time PCR.

The results showed that testosterone consumption significantly increased the gene expression of TNF-and IL-6 in female rats undergoing testosterone and resistance training (P = 0.001).

The findings of this study demonstrated that using testosterone increased inflammatory factors in the kidney tissue of female Wistar rats. 

Measure of insight into cognition self-report (MIC-SR) has been designed for the assessment of insight into cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, focusing on the areas with known impairment, including memory, problem solving, and attention.

The current work strives to put the concurrent validity and reliability of the Persian version of MIC-SR to the test.

The standard forward-backward method was utilized for translating the MIC-SR from English to Persian. In total, 66 individuals received the Persian version of the MIC-SR (33 schizophrenia patients), the interview-based cognition assessment (Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS)), and a standardized performance-based cognitive battery (the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia (BACS)). Coronbach’s alpha was used for the calculation of internal consistency, while intercorrelations among the MIC-SR subscales were calculated as well. Then, Pearson correlations were calculated between the MIC-SR subscales and SCoRS and BACS for the purpose of examining the validity.

The Cronbach’s alpha value obtained for the Persian MIC-SR was 0.83. The entirety of Persian MIC-SR measures was considerably correlated with the SCoRS patient’s rating. Moreover, considerable correlations were found among the WHO-quality of life and Persian MIC-SR subscales of attention and problem solving. However, none of the correlations between the BACS subscales and MIC-SR were significant.

The Persian version of the MIC-SR demonstrated satisfying psychometric properties that can assess awareness of cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia.

Failure to thrive (FTT) is defined as delaying or stopping a child’s growth and mightlead to more serious complications, such as reduced learning ability, mental or physical disability, and mortality.

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of growth retardation in children under 5 years of age and its risk factors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on all 2038 children admitted to Ali Ebne Abitalib and Ali Asghar hospitals in Zahedan, Iran, in 2016. The samples entered the study basedoncensus sampling, andthe children’s height, weight, andothergrowth indices were measured. The children with confirmed growth retardation were recognized as the case group. Other children were regarded as controls. The parents’ characteristics were recorded in a list provided for this purpose. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software (version 20) using logistic regression with an error level of 0.05.

Of all children, 52.6% were male. The mean age of the total patients was 17.6 ± 4.14 months. The prevalence of children with growth failure was 747 patients (36.6%). In this study, the prevalence of short stature was significantly associated with factors such as parental height, low household level of education, high patients’ birth order, dry feeding, low birth weight, place of residence, and presence of background disease (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the prevalence of short stature was not significantly associated with gender, age, polygamy status, age of complementary feeding, and gestational age (P > 0.05).

The present study concluded that the prevalence of FTT was high due to socioeconomic factors in the studied society. Parental short stature, education, nutrition, low birth weight, and residence in rural areas were the most significant factors.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that can negatively impact a person’s mental health, including depression and anxiety. The impact of social support on negative, stressful events can be analyzed in relation to different personality styles.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of personality style, negative, stressful events, and social support on depression and the quality of life of MS patients.

This observational, descriptive study utilized a regression analysis method. The study population consisted of all MS patients, who were members of the Zahedan MS Society in Zahedan, Iran, during the 2019 internship. The study sample included 101 patients who were selected through convenience sampling. These patients completed various scales, including the Personal Style Inventory (PSI), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), and Life Events Schedule (LES).

Negative, stressful events accounted for 22% of the variance in the quality of life of sociotropic patients (P = 0.036), while social support explained 33% of the variance in quality of life (P = 0.008). Moreover, adverse stressful events within this group accounted for 33% of the variance in depression (P = 0.007). In contrast, social support accounted for 60% of the variance in depression (P < 0.001). In the group with autonomous personalities, it was found that negative, stressful events accounted for 22% of the variance in the quality of life (P = 0.014), while social support did not account for any variance in the quality of life (P = 0.204).

Social support can moderate and protect individuals from negative, stressful events, particularly for those who are sociotropic or autonomous. However, the moderating effect was more significant in the sociotropic group than in the autonomous group.

 It is necessary to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic for good management and intervention.

 The current study aimed to evaluate the KAP of the public population regarding COVID-19 in the southeastern region of Iran.

 A self-constructed questionnaire based on the literature was developed. The items were asked from the participants via a telephone interview in Zahedan, Iran, during September and October 2020. This study evaluated the association of demographic and socioeconomic information using KAP scales. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20.00). A significance level of 0.05 was considered for the study.

 A total of 524 participants accepted to have an interview via telephone in the study. About 17% and 10.10% of the participants had poor and excellent knowledge, respectively. Moreover, 72.9% and 66.6% of the respondents had good knowledge and attitude, respectively. The practice was good in 42.4%of the participants. Overall, 73.3% of the subjects had good KAP. Gender had a significant association with attitude toward COVID-19 (χ2 = 18.85; P < 0.001). Place of living did not have any significant association with all scales and overall KAP. Marital status had a significant association with attitude (χ2 = 15.89; P = 0.003), practice (χ2 = 9.60; P = 0.048), and KAP (χ2 = 18.64; P < 0.001) of COVID-19. Education had a significant association with attitude (χ2 = 19.58; P = 0.012), practice (χ2 = 20.26; P < 0.001), and KAP (χ2 = 28.98; P < 0.001) regarding COVID-19. Occupation had a significant association with knowledge (χ2 = 26.94; P < 0.001), practice (χ2 = 15.65; P = 0.017), and KAP (χ2 = 22.29; P < 0.001) regarding COVID-19.

 The majority of the participants had great knowledge, a positive state of attitude, and acceptable practice. Although the findings are reasonable, it is recommended that the public should proceed to reinforce knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a contagious viral disease that can be transmitted through various means, including tick bites, contact with infected blood and animal tissues in slaughterhouses, and healthcare-related infections.

In this study, we examined the incidence of CCHF and analyzed the demographic and clinical data of 130 patients diagnosed with CCHF in Kermanshah, a city located in western Iran, over a period of 15 years (2006 - 2020).

During the study, 19 cases tested positive, 66 were verisimilar, and the remaining cases (31.54%) were considered suspected. Among the positive cases, 15 patients recovered, and four died. Of those infected, 63.16% were males residing in rural areas. Additionally, 78.95% of the infected individuals had contact with domestic livestock, 26.31% had a history of contact with ticks, and 10.53% had contact with raw meat or raw liver. Furthermore, 5.26% had a history of contact with a CCHF patient.

The highest prevalence of CCHF was observed among men aged 15 to 30 who lived in rural areas. According to the annual reports of people suffering from CCHF, health authorities should prioritize this disease in their public health programs. Since individuals who come into direct contact with livestock and livestock products are at a high risk of contracting diseases, it is important to educate them.

Emergency medical professionals are often associated with poor psychological health, which undoubtedly affects their mental health as well as their work productivity.

The studyaimedto determine the predictors of depression, anxiety, andstresssymptomsamongemergencyambulance workers in Kelantan hospitals.

This cross-sectional study included 143 emergency medical services (EMS) ambulance workers working at ten government hospitals in Kelantan. Assistant medical officers and nurses were also included in the study, while the respondents who had psychological problems before the study were excluded. Sociodemographic data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. In contrast, the English version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale Version 21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the extent of depression, anxiety, and stress. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that predict depression, anxiety, and stress among ambulance workers.

The respondents ranged from 23 to 59 years old, with amean(standard deviation) age of 38.27 (7.27). Half of the respondents were in the age group of 30 to 39 years (51.0%). Male workers numbered 91 (63.6%), and female workers numbered 52 (36.4%). The majority of respondents were married individuals (92.3%), non-smokers (79.0%), and had worked for more than ten years (37.7%). More than ten years of service in EMS was identified as a predictor for depression, anxiety, and stress; low back pain was identified as a predictor for anxiety, and female gender was identified as a predictor for stress.

The hospital should pay more attention to the sources of depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by ambulance staff, which must be addressed appropriately.

Normal weight obesity (NWO), known as a syndrome, is characterized by normal weight and body mass index (BMI) but high adipose tissue (more than 30%).

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between adipokines and lipid factors as risk factors in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and NWO syndrome in women.

In this case-control study, anthropometric data were obtained from 20 - 40-year-oldwomenreferring to nutrition and diet clinics in Ahvaz, Iran. Then, based on the inclusion criteria, including normal BMI and no physical or mental illness, the subjects were divided into the NWO (body fat percentage (BF%) > 30) group and the non-NWO (BF% < 30) group depending on their BF%. Twenty blood samples were taken from each group, and their chemerin and adipokine serum levels were measured using both the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with high sensitivity and the sandwich and competitive ELISA techniques.

The serum levels of adipokine chemerin and IL-1, IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), as well as the serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol, were significantly higher in theNWOgroup than in the control group (P < 0.05).

The findings of this study indicated a significant correlation between chemerin, adipokines, and lipid factors, as CVD risk factors, andNWOsyndrome and fat tissue percentages in women. Therefore, fat tissue measurement is recommended as a more accurate index than BMI in predicting CVDs.

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in humans, affecting large populations worldwide.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection prevalence with ABO and Rh blood groups.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with a case-control design on individuals with anti-H. pylori positive test. Patients with IgG pylori were included in the study based on the inclusion criteria. The individuals were divided into two groups based on antibody titer. The case group included subjects with positive serological results with a titer greater than 12 u/mL IgG, and the control group entailed subjects with negative serological results with a titer less than 8 u/mL IgG. The ABO and Rh blood groups of both groups were examined based on case information. Finally, the data were entered into the SPSS software, and a significance level of 5% was considered for all analyses.

According to the results of this study, there was no significant relationship between the blood group and H. pylori infection (P > 0.05). However, the prevalence of blood type A was significantly higher in individuals with positive H. pylori IgG test.

The current study suggests no association between ABO and Rh groups, but people with A blood group infected with H. pylori need more attention.

 Improvement of attachment with parents can enhance children's social anxiety and lead to the reduction of urinary disorders.

 The aim of this study was to evaluate nocturnal enuresis correlation with attachment with parents in children.

 We evaluated two hundred cases aged 5 - 12 years. Children were enrolled in two groups control (healthy cases) and case (with nocturnal enuresis). We assessed the status of attachment with parents and demographic data of cases. These factors were compared between the two groups by SPSS version 23. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

 Demographic data were significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, attachment styles, including avoidance (P = 0.003), anxiety (P = 0.001), and security (P = 0.001), had statistically significant differences between the two groups.

 Parents' attachment condition was different in the two groups. Therefore, these indices as psychosocial factors may be important in nocturnal enuresis management.

 Stress often happens in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, especially during hospitalization.

 The current study intended to identify the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among ACS patients in two selected hospitals in the east coast region of Malaysia.

 A total of 400 ACS patients in both hospitals participated in this cross-sectional study. Acute coronary syndrome patients above 18 who can read, speak and understand in Malay and obtained informed consent were included in the study. The study excluded those patients who were intubated, had any altered mental status, were mentally retarded, and had psychological problems. Stress among ACS patients was measured using the validated questionnaire of the Malay version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21. Logistic regression was used for analysis.

 Of these ACS patients, 58.5% had stress symptoms. A higher frequency of stress was found in patients of male (63.7%), Malay (82.1%), and married (67.1%). Acute coronary syndrome patients with a history of ischemic heart disease were a strong and independent factor associated with stress (adjusted odds ratio: 1.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.14 - 2.63, P = 0.010).

 The prevalence of stress in the study population was high and significantly associated with a history of ischemic heart disease. Creating awareness regarding the risk factors of stress is recommended. In addition, policies should be implemented to reduce the risk of stress among patients.

Background:

 Considering the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing the use of virtual education potentialities to continue the education path in universities, educationalists examine different dimensions that influence the process of promoting virtual education.

Objectives:

 This study aimed to investigate the study habits of the students of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZAUMS) during virtual education experience in terms of their gender, faculties, study field, grade point averages (GPAs), native/non-native, academic semester, duration, and interest in virtual education in 2021.

Methods:

 It was a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study in which 221 male (43.93%) and 282 female students (56.07%) participated. The data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 20 software.

Results:

 The independent t-test showed no statistically significant difference in students’ study habits regarding gender (P = 0.151). The ANOVA results also confirmed that there were not any significant differences in students' study habits concerning their faculties (P = 0.411) and study field (P = 0.687). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the scores of participants' study habits regarding lower/higher academic semesters (P = 0.049), virtual education duration (P = 0.025), GPAs (P = 0.039). and interest in virtual education (P = 0.005). However, the independent t-test indicated no significant difference in study habits regarding being native or non-native (in this article, by being native, we mean the students who live and grow up in Zahedan, and by non-native, we mean all other students who have come from other cities around the country, Iran, to fulfill their studies at ZAUMS) (P = 0.61).

Conclusions:

 Considering the importance of study habits on academic performance and, ultimately, the efficiency of students in the future, it is suggested to conduct training courses on practicing the correct study methods and habits to improve the status quo.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, physicians delivered a leading part and carried a high work volume, leading to burnout, which subsequently compromised patient safety, decreased the quality of care, and increased misdiagnosis. In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians should have been vigilant and informed about the potential conditions resulting in medical errors. Particularly, epidemics of infectious illnesses can cause serious challenges in lymphoma diagnosis.

This case report presents a patient with lymphoma presenting with cough, fever, shortness of breath, and a history of contact with her familymemberswhotested positive for COVID-19, whichcaused delayed diagnosisandtreatment, disease progression, and finally, the death of the patient. In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the center of attention was detracted from other possible diagnoses, thereby missing lymphoma as a potentially treatable disease.

Although physicians are required to be watchful for COVID-19 amid the pandemic, it is also necessary not to neglect other diseases. A delay in the initiation of cancer therapy, even for one month, has been reported to increase the risk of mortality by approximately 10%.