International journal of basic science in medicine
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

Diabetics usually suffer from chronic complications, including microvascular and macrovascular disorders. The capillaries supplying the sexual organs affect normal sexual functions. The erectile process has been shown to be impaired in diabetics. Vascular damage in diabetics may be associated with decreased testosterone production, sperm count, testicular weight, and seminiferous tubule diameter. In this study, we investigated the effects of Aloe vera gel extract (from Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran) on the male genital system in streptozocininduced diabetic rats.

A total of 24 male Wistar rats were included in the study. Diabetes was induced in 12 rats by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were divided into four groups. The first and third groups received saline (NaCl) by gavage daily. The second and fourth groups received Aloe vera gel extract daily by gavage. Treatments were continued for 30 days. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were taken and serum glucose and testosterone levels were measured by photometric methods. Histological examinations were performed on the prostate and testes.

Mean weight index, serum levels of glucose and testosterone, mean sperm count, germinal epithelium (GE) thickness, and seminiferous tubule diameter improved significantly in the diabetes + Aloe vera group.

We concluded that consumption of Aloe vera gel extract improved sexual complications in diabetic rats.

In recent years, a partial relationship has been discovered between thyroid hormones and the formation of germ cells and the process of spermatogenesis. The current study aimed to assess thyroid hormone levels and the relationship between those levels and semen quality.

Forty-seven infertile males, as the treatment group, and 25 healthy individuals, as the control group, were enrolled in this study. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) hormone, and tetraiodothyronine (T4) hormone were calculated, and the parameters of seminal fluid (count, motility, and morphology) were assessed for semen quality.

The results demonstrated that sperm counts, sperm motility%, and normal morphology% were significantly lower in the infertile male group compared with the healthy group. The results further represented a highly significant level of TSH and total T3, while the total T4 was negligible in the infertile male group in comparison with the healthy group. The infertile male group was divided into subgroups based on sperm abnormalities, including asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and azoospermia. Based on the findings, there was a significant reduction in TSH, T3, and T4 levels in oligozoospermia compared with the other groups. However, the levels of TSH, T3, and T4 were significantly higher in asthenozoospermia compared with the other groups, demonstrating the existence of a relationship between thyroid indicators and Asthenozoospermia.

Overall, the mean serum levels of TSH, T3, and T4 were significantly lower in the infertile male group compared with the healthy group. Thus, they were negatively associated with sperm counts, motility%, and normal morphology%. Hence, these negative impacts on thyroid hormones were associated with different sperm abnormalities and semen quality in the infertile males group.

Increased use of wireless devices and networks such as mobile phones has increased exposure to non-ionizing radiation. Since wireless devices are a distinct part of the ongoing technology, the benefits of applications must outweigh the associated risks so that the developments can take place. In this questionnaire-based study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of non-ionizing radiation from mobile phone base transceiver station (BTS) antennae on the Zabol inhabitants’ health.

In this study, 349 volunteers (186 men and 163 women) inhabiting in Zabol, Iran, were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire from April 2019 to June 2021. The questionnaire included information about age, sex, education, time of residence, and the emergence of symptoms such as cardiovascular problems, weight loss, depression, sleep disturbance, nervousness, and hearing disturbances. The power density of non-ionizing radiation in the living place of the volunteers was measured by an Electro Smog Meter (TES-92 TES Instruments Taiwan).

Results showed that the frequency of complaints increased by enhancing the power density for most of the studied symptoms, and in some cases (e.g., irritability, P < 0.05 and lowering of libido, P < 0.05), the increase was significant with at least P < 0.05. The minimum and the maximum measured power densities at the place of residence were 98.3 μW/m2 and 3400 μW/m2, respectively. Moreover, increasing the frequency of complaints by about at least one symptom was significantly associated with a power density of > 600 μW/m2 (P < 0.05).

It is suggested that inhabitants should not live in locations where the power density is higher than 600 μW/m2 to minimize the risk of radiation-induced symptoms.

The current study aimed to identify the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and their correlation to severity.

A prospective observational study was conducted on 100 patients with COPD with expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) < 0.7. Patients were categorized according to GOLD criteria and underwent Spirometry and ECG.

Among the COPD cases, 40% belonged to severe airflow limitation followed by very severe (32%), moderate (22%), and mild (6%) categories. The mean forced FEV1% in mild, moderate, severe, and very severe COPD was 81.3 + 0.57, 63.9 + 6.28, 41.15 ± 4.59, and 25.625 ± 2.41, respectively (P < 0.05). The higher risk factor for COPD is smoking in 80% with a mean pack of 20.67 ± 6.5 years. The most ECG abnormality in COPD patients was right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) (52%), followed by right bundle branch block (RBBB) in 40% of patients, right axis deviation (34%), P pulmonale (32%), and atrial fibrillation in 22% of COPD cases, respectively. Furthermore, there was a strong association between ECG abnormalities and COPD severity. COPD patients with a poor FEV1/FVC% ratio had more ECG abnormalities, and the ECG abnormalities were shown to be highly correlated with the severity, duration, and length of symptoms.

COPD is a common condition in patients with a smoking history of > 20 packyears, being more common in males in their 5th decade of life. Moreover, low FEV1 values were associated with ECG abnormalities. As the duration/severity of the disease rises, ECG abnormalities become more common. To avoid cardiac mortality and morbidity, all COPD patients should undergo cardiac examination through ECG for the management of co-morbidities.

The COVID-19 crisis poses a heightened risk to vulnerable populations. Considering factors influencing deterioration, complications, and mortality, it is especially important to pay attention to these groups, including persons with hypertension (HTN) and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the angiotensin II (ANG II) level and the disease severity and clinical course in COVID-19 patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 COVID-19 patients (mean age 59.1 ± 20) admitted to Sinai hospital in Hamedan. The blood samples of the patients were taken during hospitalization and discharge, and the plasma ANG II level was measured using an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay kit. The quantitative comparison was analyzed with paired t test and qualitative comparison with the chi-square test. The correlation of variables was checked with the Pearson test, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Overall, 44%, 16%, and 10% of COVID-19 patients had HTN, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 10% diabetes, respectively. The oxygen level of 82% of the patients was below 90, of which 68% were intubated, and the lowest oxygen levels were observed in patients with HTN and CVD with 2 deaths. The primary and secondary examination of the ANG II level demonstrated that its level was significantly higher during illness compared to full recovery and decreased during recovery.

The ANG II level is related to the severity of the disease in the early stages of 2019- nCoV infection. Therefore, HTN or other diseases that affect the level of ANG II in the blood can increase the severity of the disease.

The activation of bradykinin B1 receptors on endothelial cells in the lung following inflammation is a major cause of the severity and mortality of COVID-19. It has already been shown that bromelain and montelukast as two anti-inflammatory agents can be effective in controlling this condition.

Patients with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) referred to Masih Daneshvari hospital in Tehran were included in the study after providing full explanations and obtaining written consent. All 40 patients with moderate symptoms were randomly divided into the placebo (n = 20) and intervention (n = 20) groups. In the sample group, a dose of 200 mg oral bromelain was given to patients every 8 hours and one tablet of montelukast 10 mg 1 hour before or after dinner for 5 days. In the control group, placebo capsules were administered exactly at the above intervals. The results were evaluated using a t test and SPSS21 software.

After treatment, the sample (bromelain and montelukast) group represented significant improvements in C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lymphocyte count (P < 0.05), while the other factors did not have significant differences with the control group.

Bromelain and montelukast can improve the condition of hospitalized COVID-19 patients by the positive effect on oxygen saturation, lymphocytes, serum levels of CRP, and LDH.

The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is rising worldwide. Diabetes is a major health issue across the globe and a cause of microvascular and macrovascular complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, blindness, and cardiovascular disease. Long-term control of blood glucose is an important and determining factor in the prevention of these complications.

In this review study, the databases such as Scientific Information Database, PubMed, SID, ISI, and Scopus were searched for articles published from 1975 to 2019, with emphasis on the articles published within the past 10 years. The used keywords were diabetes, insulin, oxidative stress, microvascular, and macrovascular as well as the diseases and disorders related to diabetes.

Considering diabetes, types of diabetes, and its relationship with the organs, it is possible to estimate some degree of prevention, recovery, and timely treatment of diabetes and its effects on other organs

Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes numerous diseases and affects the organs due to hyperglycemia, reduced insulin level or insulin tolerance, increased free radicals, and dysfunction of organs. Delay in the diagnosis of diabetes leads to increased diabetes complications that can be prevented by severe glycemic control.