Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:25 Issue: 4, Oct 2023

 Hypothyroidism is one of the most common causes of preventable intellectual disability and is common in preterm infants. Some studies have reported that developmental delay is still high in these patients despite appropriate treatment.

 This study aimed to investigate the short-term neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants with thyroid dysfunction.

 This cohort study included 50 preterm infants with thyroid dysfunction requiring levothyroxine treatment (case group) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy preterm infants with normal thyroid tests (control group). The patients were followed, and Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) (including five domains) were filled out at 6 and 12 months to evaluate the short-term neurodevelopmental outcome.

 There was no statistically significant difference in gestational age, sex, and birth weight between the two groups (P-values = 0.648, 0.756, and 0.866, respectively). A total number of 4 (8%) and 7 (14%) of the case group and 1 (2.85%) and 2 (5.71%) of the control group had a possible neurodevelopmental delay based on the low score in at least one domain of ASQ at 6 and 12 months of age (P-values = 0.321 and 0.222, respectively). Treated hypothyroidism was not significantly associated with higher impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes (P-value = 0.236, Odd Ratio: 2.686, 95%CI: 0.523 - 13.787).

 In this study, the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants with hypothyroidism was similar to that of healthy preterm infants. Thus, these findings may confirm the adequacy of levothyroxine replacement therapy in preventing neurodevelopmental delay.

 Diabetes is considered as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Aerobic exercises and consumption of herbal supplements are the main interventions in the control and treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

 The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic exercise training with berberine chloride supplementation on the expression of PGC-1a and SIRT-1 genes in cardiac muscle in male Wistar diabetic rats.

 In an experimental study, 56 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into healthy control groups (C), diabetic control group (D), diabetic group + 15 mg/kg berberine chloride (D-B1) ), diabetic group + 30 mg/kg berberine chloride (D-B2), diabetic group + aerobic exercise (DT), diabetic group + aerobic exercise + 15 mg/kg berberine chloride (DTB1) and diabetic group + exercise Aerobic + 30 mg\/kg berberine chloride (DTB2) were divided. The training protocol consisted of eight weeks and 3 training sessions every week, which started with a speed of 10 m/min for 10 minutes in the first week and reached a speed of 18 m/s and a duration of 40 minutes in the eighth week. Berberine chloride supplement in two doses of 15 and 30 mg/kg was given by gavage to the animals daily for 8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used to check the changes.

 The results of one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in the expression of PGC1-a gene (P = 0.071) and SIRT1 (P = 0.135) between the research groups.

 According to the results of the present study, it seems that aerobic exercise and taking two doses of 15 and 30 mg berberine chloride supplements do not have a significant effect on mitochondrial biogenesis indicators. Considering the limited literature, other studies are recommended to investigate higher doses of berberine chloride in combination with different training methods.

Infrequent voiding is two or lower than two micturitions per day and has not any organic causes; the etiology of this condition has not been found correctly; based on this, we evaluated developmental factors as a probable etiology for infrequent voiding.

In the present study, we enrolled 200 children six to seven years of age (100 cases with infrequent voiding and 100 healthy ones). Heightandweight were measured, compatible with genderandage, andrelated information, including personaland social development, problem-solving, fine motor, gross motor, communication, and defining words, were obtained by the Nelson development table and ages and stages questionnaires.

Based on personal-social (P = 0.009), problem-solving (P = 0.006), communication (P = 0.008), and language development (P = 0.006), there are statistically significant differences. However, fine motor (P = 0.557) and gross motor (P = 0.607) do not differ statistically. On the other hand, in terms of growth indices, in the evaluation of girls’ height (P = 0.001), boys’ height (P = 0.012), girls’ weight (P = 0.014), and boys’ weight (P = 0.016), there is a statistically significant difference between two groups.

Based on the measured odds ratio, children with infrequent voiding have a higher risk of developmental disorders; developmental disorders can also increase the prevalence of infrequent voiding.

In late 2019, a new virus spread in China that led to an acute respiratory disease by lung involvement. The virus spread over time and affected many countries, including Iran. Hospital staff are also at high risk of being infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of IgG class antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and to compare the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ward staff with other hospital wards.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical staff at Gerash University of Medical Sciences. After sampling the participants in this study, the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Demographic and other necessary information about patients were also recorded.

Out of 323 staff participating in this study, 130 (40.24%) were in inpatient wards [of which 26 (20%) were in the COVID-19 ward], 55 (17.02%) were in paraclinical wards, and 138 (42.72%) were in administrative wards. A total of 44 (13.6%) patients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibodies between the three groups, but a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies was observed in the COVID-19 ward subgroup with 6 (23%) positive antibody tests, compared to other wards (P-value = 0.023).

Due to the higher prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in staff working in the COVID-19 ward than in other wards, more attention should be paid to health protocols and also emphasis on completing vaccination and monitoring the safety level of staff working in the COVID-19 ward.

Intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) remains a severe complication of very preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. IVH is strongly associated with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus and subsequent neurodevelopmental disabilities.

This study evaluated the short-term outcome of IVH in preterm infants concerning its occurrence time.

This study enrolled preterm newborn infants with IVH visiting a teaching referral university hospital in the NorthWest of Iran from September 2019 to October 2020. We followed 40 neonates with IVH and evaluated their neurodevelopment at 6 and 12 months. We defined delayed IVH as IVH detected the first time after the second week of life. The neurodevelopmental outcome was compared with respect to the time of IVH occurrence.

Forty cases of IVH were enrolled in this study, of whom 4 cases were excluded because of death before hospital discharge. The studied patients’ mean gestation age and birth weight were 29.3 ± 2.3 weeks and 1361 ± 564 g, respectively. Intra-ventricular hemorrhage occurred in the firstweek of life in 31 neonates (86.1%) and delayed in 5 neonates (13.9%). The neurodevelopmental delay was detected at 6 months after birth in 14 infants (45.1%) with IVH in the first week of life and 2 (40%) cases with delayed IVH (P = 0.37). Neurodevelopmental delay was diagnosed at 12 months after birth in 8 infants (25.8%) with IVH in the first week of life and 1 infant (20%) with delayed IVH (P = 0.17).

Intra-ventricular hemorrhage is an essential cause of neurodevelopmental delay in preterm infants, and there is no significant difference in IVH outcomes with respect to the time of IVH occurrence.

This research aimed to investigate the effect of resistance and high-intense interval training and the consumption of grape seed oil on the expression of HADHA, CPT1, and CD36 genes in male rats’ gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.

Thirty male Wistar rats (250 ± 25g) were divided into six groups. The resistance training group performed the training in 3 weekly sessions for 8 weeks, and the interval training group performed high-intensity running on a treadmill for eight weeks, 5 sessions a week. The grape seed oil (3.7g/kg) was administered by gavage. The expression of HADH1, CPT1, and CD36 genes was measured in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.

The results showed that the expression of the CD36 gene increased in the gastrocnemius muscle in the resistance training group (P = 0.043), grape seed oil group (P = 0.042), and grape seed oil plus intense interval training (P = 0.005) group compared to the saline control group. Moreover, the expression of CD36 (P = 0.021) and CPT1 (P = 0.005) genes in the soleus muscle increased in the resistance training plus grape seed oil group compared to the control group. However, the CPT1 expression in the gastrocnemius muscle had no significant difference among all groups. The HADHA expression in the gastrocnemius significantly increased in the resistance training plus grape seed oil group (P = 0.04) compared to the grape seed oil group. However, its expression in the soleus muscle significantly increased in the intense interval training plus grape seed oil group compared to the control group (P = 0.04).

It can be concluded that resistance, high-intensity interval training, and the consumption of grape seed oil can be a good combination to provide energy.

Sleep deprivation might suppress the immune system by stimulating stress hormones and increasing susceptibility to infection.

The purpose of this studywasto determine the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic trainingonimmuneandhormonalresponses to 30 hours of sleep deprivation in young women.

In this semi-experimental study, 21 youngwomenaged 20 - 40 years were divided into control (n = 10) and aerobic training (n = 11) groups. The study was conducted in three separate stages. In the first stage, after 30 hours of sleep deprivation, blood sampling was performed. After 2 days, the subjects in the training group followed an aerobic training protocol consisting of 30 - 50 minutes of continuous running 3 days aweekfor 8 weeks withanintensity of 50- 65% of the heart rate reserve (HRR). At least 48 hours after the last training session, the subjects in both control and training groups were deprived of sleep for 30 hours, and the blood samples were taken again. Leukocyte counts, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulinG(IgG), and cortisol concentrations were measured.

The results showed that in the aerobic training group, the leukocytes count (P = 0.0001), serum IgA (P = 0.0001), and cortisol (P = 0.023) concentrations decreased significantly, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, serum IgG concentrations did not change significantly in both aerobic and control training groups during the intervention period (P = 0.084).

According to the results of this study, it can be said that moderate-intensity aerobic training attenuated the disruption of immune and hormonal responses to 30 hours of sleep deprivation in young women.

Regarding sports drinks’ role in substrate oxidation, the present study investigated the effect of grape syrup intake on metabolic rate and substrate oxidation after sprint intermittent exercise in active male students.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 12 active male college students (body mass = 62.77 ± 9.05 kg; height = 173 ± 6.78 cm; BMI = 21 ± 2.5 kg/m2) were divided into two groups and performed two separate exercise sessions after grape syrup (1.1 mL/kg. body weight) or placebo intake. In the exercise session, subjects performed four 30-second Wingate tests (75 g / kg body weight) with a 5-minute rest period. Energy expenditure (EE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), fat oxidation (FO), heart rate (HR), and oxygen intake (VO2) were assessed 5 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after exercise. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed-model ANOVA with repeated measures.

The results showed only between-group differences in respiratory exchange ratio (P = 0.04). However, the effect of time was significant between different situations (before, during, and after SIE) on all variables (P < 0.05). No time-group interaction effect was also observed in investigated variables (P > 0.05). The effect of different measurement times showed that in the post-SIE period, RER and fat oxidation rate values respectively decreased and increased compared to pre-SIE (P < 0.05) in both situations.

The grape syrup intake improved metabolic rate and substrate oxidation during the recovery period after SIE, comparable to the placebo-containing synthetic carbohydrates. Therefore, it is recommended to use this herbal supplement as a substitute for a carbohydrate drink during SIE. However, more research is needed in this case.

Chemical substances used to prepare root canals and their residuals can alter dentin surface composition, affecting restorative systems bonding to dentin.

This ex vivo study evaluated the effects of different sealer removal methodsonthe micro-tensilebondstrength of dentin surfaces exposed using endodontic irrigants.

A total of 45 extracted healthy mandibular molars were sliced from the occlusal surface to expose their dentin surface and were randomly divided into three main groups (n = 15) based on the irrigants as G1: Distilled water (control), G2: Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) 5.25%, and G3: Chlorhexidine (CHX) 2%. AH Plus endodontic sealer, was applied to all exposed dentin surfaces. Each group was divided into four subgroups (SG) according to the sealer removal methods SG1: No root canal sealer (control), SG2: Moist cotton pellet, SG3: Ethanol 95% saturated cotton pellet, SG4: Round diamond bur. The teeth were restored using single bond plus and Z250 composite and sectioned to prepare sticks for micro-tensile bond testing. Additionally, failure patterns were investigated. Comparison between experimental groups was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H and Dunn’s post-hoc tests. The accepted significance level for all tests was P < 0.05.

A significant decrease was observed in the micro-tensile bond strength of the control group cleaned with 95% Ethanol saturated cotton pellets. In addition, the highest micro-tensile bond strength was observed in dentin cleaned through a diamond round bur and in the group irrigated with CHX. The failure modes were mainly adhesive.

Within this study’s limitations, the dentin bond strength is affected by the irrigation protocol and sealer removal method.

About 4.5 million children die annually due to acute respiratory diseases. Because of the importance of mortality in children, detecting the preventing factors of respiratory infections is very important.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and acute febrile respiratory infections in children.

In this case-control study, 50 children younger than 5 years old were investigated in 2019. Twenty-five children were selected from the healthy children as the case group and 25 from the patients as the control group. Data was entered into the checklist and analyzed by SPSS version 16.

In this study, there was a significant difference between the serum levels of vitamin D in the case and control groups (P = 0.053). In the case group, the difference between vitaminDand sex (P = 0.25), place of living (P = 0.48), and attending to a care center (P = 0.62) were not significant, and vitamin D levels in the formula group (P = 0.005) and the group with multiple hospitalizations (P = 0.004) was significantly higher.

The results of this studyshowedthat the serum levels of vitaminDin children with acute febrile respiratory infections hospitalized in the hospital were higher than in healthy outpatient children, and this difference was significant.

Stenting in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Rashkind septostomy in neonates with pulmonary atresia improves pulmonary and systemic venous bloodmixing and oxygen saturation. In the present study, a case of embolized stent and Rashkind septostomy that suffered hemolysis due to the stent was reported in a 2-day neonate with pulmonary atresia and single ventricle.

The patient was a 2-day-old boy neonate with a gestational age of 35 ± 2 weeks and a birth weight of 2800 grams. Neonates’ vital signs after birth were abnormal, and in the examination, cyanosis, tachypnea, grunting, and respiratory distress were observed. Auscultation had a systolic murmur at the left upper edge of the sternum. O2 saturation was about 70%, with a nasal oxygen intake of 3 L/min. Echocardiography confirmed the presence of pulmonary atresia and PDA. The initial treatment was done with prostaglandin E1, stenting in PDA, and a Rashkind septostomy. The neonate’s cardiac arrest occurred during stenting, and the neonate was resuscitated. The angiography examination indicated PDA stent embolization in the pulmonary artery, and due to the unsuccessful restoration of the stent, a decision was made to use a larger stent in the PDA. The neonate suffered from hemolysis on the second day and was discharged with conservative treatment within 2 weeks with a good general condition.

Keeping the PDA open with a proper stent and creating a Rashkind atrial septostomy improves the two-way mixing of pulmonary and systemic venous blood and oxygen saturation of neonates with pulmonary atresia and eliminates the need for surgery.

Dyspepsia is a common disorder that puts much socio-economic pressure on patients due to its high prevalence. Various factors can cause this disorder.

This study investigated the relationship between dyspepsia, quality of life, and personality traits.

This case-control study selected 50 people with dyspepsia and 50 healthy people by simple random method. Patients’ demographic information was recorded using a researcher-made checklist. Then, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire measured the quality of life, and the NEO-FFI-60 questionnaire assessed personality traits. Finally, the data were analyzed using a chi-square test, independent t-test, and multivariate linear and logistic regression by SPSS software version 22 at the significance level of 0.05.

The mean score of anger was higher in people with dyspepsia than in healthy people (P = 0.000), but other indicators were higher in healthy people than in people with dyspepsia (P < 0.05). Finally, the personality traits of anger, acceptance of new experiences, and conscientiousness had a significant relationship with quality of life in people with dyspepsia (P < 0.05).

Dyspepsia reduces the quality of life and affects the personality traits of individuals. Thus, improving dyspepsia can improve patients’ personality traits and quality of life.

Nurses are exposed to blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B (HB), hepatitis C (HC), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through needle-stick injuries (NSIs).

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of needle sticks and their related factors among nurses in the hospitals of Sirjan.

In this cross-sectional study, 312 nurses were enrolled by census. Data were collected using demographic characteristics and a needle-stick information questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical tests (chi-square or Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression model) were used to analyze data.

Out of 312 nurses participating in the study, 189 (60.6%) had experienced NSIs during the last year. The most common objects for NSIs were syringes and needles (35.4%), and the most common cause of NSIs was recapping (45.4%). In this study, 82% of needle-stick nurses were forced to work overtime. Ages of 20 - 29 years (odds ratio (OR) = 3.94, 95%CI: 1.12 - 13.84; P = 0.032), work experience between 5 - 10 years (OR = 2.50, CI: 1.12 - 5.57; P = 0.02), HB vaccination (OR = 0.26, CI: 0.07 - 0.98; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with rates of needle-sticks.

Due to the high frequency of NSIsamongthe nursing staff and to reduce these injuries, using safety devices, especially in the emergency ward, providing a calm and stress-free environment for staff, reducing the number of night shifts and workload, teaching safety principles and standards to young nurses and supporting nurses who experience NSIs were advised.

To date, no specific medication has been shown to be effective in treating COVID-19.

Due to the role of medicinal plants in reducing the symptoms of viral diseases, the present study aimed to assess the efficacy of an herbal medicine package (anti-flu Pulmo-Health), prepared based on Persian traditional medicine instructions and bioinformatics studies, in reducing the symptoms of COVID-19 in outpatients.

This double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 COVID-19 outpatients referred to the Emergency Department of Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran (Iran) in July-Sep. 2020. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups, the control group (receiving routine treatment and a placebo) and the intervention group (receiving routine treatment plus anti-flu Pulmo-Health syrup and supplementary drops). The intervention continued for 10 days. The primary outcomes were oxygen saturation level, respiratory rate, heart rate, frequency of coughs during day and night times, shortness of breath score (based on the SOBDA questionnaire), expectoration, as well as the frequency of dry and productive coughs. Secondary outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body temperature, headache, nausea, and chills.

In this study, 55 COVID-19 patients (27 cases in the control group and 28 subjects in the intervention group) were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 46.25 ± 12.84 years, and 65% of them were female. The two groups of patients were homogenous in terms of demographic characteristics. The results showed that COVID-19 patients who received routine treatment plus the herbal syrup and supplementary drops revealed significantly better therapeutic responses in terms of respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, expectoration (P < 0.001), frequency of dry and productive coughs (P < 0.001), frequency of coughs, and shortness of breath (P < 0.001).

As evidenced by the results of this study, the higher therapeutic response of COVID-19 outpatients to the anti-flu herbal syrup, this medicine is recommended as a supplement to improve respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 patients.