Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:21 Issue: 87, 2013

Focal dystonia is a chronic disease with unwanted side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of medication in comparison to medication plus EMG biofeedback on motor symptoms in females with chronic focal dystonia. This study was accomplished using a quasi-experimental design with pre-test، post-test and follow-up. The sample consisted of random selection of 20 female patients with spasmodic torticollis and 10 female patients with blepharospasm، diagnosed by neurologists. Based on neurological diagnostic criteria، they were equally divided into two groups. Both groups were treated with botulinum toxin type A، but the second group participated in 20 treatment sessions of EMG biofeedback for 10 weeks in addition to receiving the drug. To collect the data، the participants were asked to complete F-M Scale questionnaire over the pre/ post-tests and follow-up. The mean scores of motor symptoms and their subscales in the medication plus EMG biofeedback group was significantly diminished in comparison to medication group (p<0. 05). This study suggests that medication plus EMG biofeedback can elicit more effective results than using mere drugs in the treatment of the motor symptoms in females with chronic focal dystonia.

Though amniotic membrane has recently been introduced as a natural tissue with anti-cancer properties، there are inadequate studies about involved mechanisms. In this study، the effect of amniotic membrane culture supernatant on viability of cancer cells via applying different doses was evaluated. Apoptosis as a possible mechanism of inducing cancer cell death by amniotic membrane was also investigated. Amniotic membranes prepared from placentas in Caesarian sections which were high in epithelial level were cultured for 24 hours. Then، medium was collected and added in different volumes to the culture of cancer cells. After 24 hours، the viability of cancer cells was evaluated by the MTT assay. Apoptosis of cancer cells as a possible mechanism was assessed with the TUNEL assay. Analysis of data was performed using one-way Anova and post-Tukey test. After the lapse of 24 hours، the outcome of the MTT assay revealed that supernatant of amniotic membrane significantly led to a decrease in the viability of cancer cells in comparison to the control group. Meanwhile، the TUNEL assay showed that induction of death in cancer cells was possibly through apoptosis which was dose-dependent. Owing to the dose-dependent effect of amniotic membrane on cancer cells and possible induction of apoptosis، more research is in demand to introduce amniotic membrane as a proper choice in the treatment of cancer.

Diabetes can lead to sexual dysfunction in patients. Recent studies indicate the influence of Dorema aucheri on sexual hormones. Therefore، we decided to elicit the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Dorema aucheri on serum levels of testosterone and FSH، testicular morphology and sperm count of Nicotinamide-STZ (streptozotocin) induced diabetes in rat models. A total of 42 male adult wistar rats weighing 150-250gm were entered into the study. To produce diabetic model، the animals received one dose of nicotinamide120 mg/kg and STZ60 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The animals were divided into 6 groups (7rats in each group): control، diabetic، diabetic+glibenclamid (0. 6mg/kg)، as well as variant doses of hydro-alcoholic extract of Dorema aucheri (100، 200، 400mg/kg). The extracts were gavaged once a day، 5 days per week for 3 weeks. 24 hours after the last gavage under deep anesthesia with ether، blood samples were collected from the heart and then serum levels of testosterone and FSH were measured. Subsequently، testicular morphology and caudal epididymal sperm numbers were determined and counted. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS by one-way ANOVA whereby P<0. 05 was considered as significant. Serum level of testosterone exhibited a significant increase in diabetic rats compared with all other groups except the control group (P=0. 05). The 200mg/kg extract concentration led to a significant increase in sperm counts in comparison with diabetic (P=0. 003) and other groups (P<0. 05). The results indicated that hydro-alcoholic extracts of Dorema aucheri improve sperm production process and increase sperm counts in rats. This positive effect may originate from the presence of flavonoids in Dorema aucheri plant.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the long-standing herbs in traditional medicine known with many therapeutic properties. In this research، the effect of lettuce leaf extract on some reproductive traits such as testes weight and primary spermatocyte testosterone، LH and FSH in mice was investigated. In this experimental study، 40 male mice were selected and were randomly divided into 5 groups، including a control and 3 treatment and placebo groups. Treatment groups of animals received three intraperitoneal lettuce extract in daily doses of 25، 50 and 100 mg/kg for 20 days. Testosterone، LH and FSH tests implemented via Radioimmunoassay (RIA). The collected data analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan''s test. The results showed that the number of secondary spermatocytes (42±5) and concentrations of testosterone (0. 088±0. 023 ng/dl)، LH (0. 3±0. 02 mIU/dl) and FSH (1±0. 12 mIU/dl) significantly reduced at 100 mg/kg dose (P<0. 05). Considering the results، it seems that the compounds in lettuce extract can exert a negative effect on male mice reproductive physiology as a result of reduction in spermatocytes and reproductive hormones.

It has been shown that cannabinoids exert widespread effects on cognitive functions. An overlapping distribution of GABA with cannabinoid receptors has been reported in some brain structures such as dorsal hippocampus. Thus، the functional interactions between cannabinoid and GABAergic systems in cognitive control seem possible. The present study evaluated the potential role of cannabinoid CB1 receptors of the dorsal hippocampus on muscimol induced amnesia and muscimol state-dependent memory in adult male mice. In this experimental study 250 adult male NMRI mice were entered. Drugs of muscimol and ACPA were used. Mice were anaesthetized and cannulae implantation was bilaterally used in the CA1 regions of the dorsal hippocampus via stereotaxic method. Seven days after recovery from surgery، the behavioral testing was started by means of inhibitory avoidance task. Post-training injection of muscimol (0. 075، 0. 15 µg/mouse) impaired inhibitory avoidance memory. The memory impairment induced by ACPA (0. 15 µg/mouse) was completely reversed by pre-test administration of ACPA and/or muscimol، suggesting muscimol induced state-dependent memory. These results suggest that cannabinoid CB1 receptors of the dorsal hippocampal may play an essential role in muscimol-induced amnesia and muscimol state-dependent memory in mice.

Development of effective ways to impede drug-induced synaptic changes can play a vital role in the treatment and prevention of relapse as a clinical problem. Previous studies suggest that exercise decreases the sensitivity to the rewarding effects of morphine in rats. This study was designed to investigate the effects of regular swimming exercises on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal signs in rats. In this study، 16 rats were divided into the control and experimental groups. The rats were injected with bi-daily doses (10 mg/kg، at 12 hr intervals) of morphine over a period of 14 days during swimming exercises. Exercised rats were submitted to swimming sessions (45 min/d، five days per a week، for 14 days). On day 15، after an acute injection of naloxone (2 mg/kg، IP) 2 h after receiving morphine injection according to a modified version of the Gellert–Holtzman scale، morphine dependent intensity was measured in both groups (swimmer and none swimmer). The results showed that withdrawal signs including abdominal contractions (P= 0. 000)، wet dog shakes (P= 0. 005)، weight loss (24h) (P= 0. 001)، jumps (P= 0. 002) and overall Gellert–Holtzman score (P= 0. 000) were significantly lower in the swimmer morphine treated rats as compared with non-swimmer control ones (P= 0. 0001). Among the evaluated signs، the number of rats per group with erection and genital grooming (62. 5%، P=0. 05)، diarrhea (40%، P=0. 025) and writhing (50%، P=0. 025) displayed a decrease in swimmer morphine treated rats compared to non-swimmer rats. Our findings indicate that regular swimming exercises can minimize severity of dependency upon morphine in rats.

Inadequate vitamin D (insufficiency and deficiency) has been reported as one of the most important factors that might contribute to the increased occurrence of pediatric LRTI. This study was carried out to find the rate of vitamin D deficiency in children with acute lower respiratory infections.

This case- control study was implemented on 2 to 60- month- old children diagnosed with LRI (Lower Respiratory Infection) or without LRI admitted to the pediatric ward of Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan. Both groups were similar in age and gender. Serum 25 (OH) D levels were determined by direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed with version 16 of SPSS.

The mean vitamin D level for the entire LRI group was79/87 mmol/l and 67/35mmol/l for the control group. There was not any significant difference between the two groups. 12 patients had vitamin D deficiency. 36 had insufficient and 34 had sufficient vitamin D levels. Regarding these findings، there was not any significant difference between the case and control groups too.

In this study no relationship was observed between vitamin D level and LRI in case and control groups despite high levels of inadequate vitamin D (insufficiency and deficiency) in both groups.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a causative agent of nosocomial infections. Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are considered among the most crucial resistant agents of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to carbapenem. Because of the important role of carbapenemes in the treatment of Pseudomonas infections، in this study، the Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing metallo-beta-lactamases were investigated. A total of 236 Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined. These isolates were collected from hospitalized patients’ clinical specimens in Imam Khomeini and Golestan hospitals of Ahvaz، Iran. After identification of the isolates by standard biochemical tests، their antimicrobial resistant patterns to 10 common antibiotics were determined based on CLSI protocol by disk diffusion agar method. Finally، the metallo-beta-lactamase production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was identified by Imipenem-EDTA combined disk method. Of 236 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates، 122 isolates (51. 4%) were resistent to imipenem. Based on the results of Imipenem-EDTA combined disk method، production of metallo-beta-lactamases was known in 110/122 (90%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Since MBLs producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa are resistant to all other beta-lactam antibiotics، it is vital to screen imipenem non-susceptible isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for MBLs production. This will be effective in the selection of suitable antibiotic and recovery pace of the patients.

Bakground and The soft tick، Ornithodoros tholozani، is of major medical importance due to biting humans and taking blood-meal. Despite the medical importance of this tick، no in-depth studies have been carried out to distinguish different forms and their capability in transmitting the disease. To this end، this study was carried out to identify phenotypic diversity، and contamination of the different strains of this tick to Borrelia persica in Zanjan province. In this descriptive study، microscopic examination was carried out with 0. 1 micrometer precision، and 20 quantitative morphometric indexes were measured alongside the assessment of qualitative factors. The contamination to Borrelia was investigated through feeding on three-day-old neonate mice، and injection of squashed suspension into the peritoneum of the mice. laboratory investigation revealed that the contamination by Borrelia in tick samples was 0. 004-0. 008. Morphologic traits examination revealed that body size of the ticks from Khodabandeh and Mahneshan cities was 6. 81× 3. 93 mm. The two strains of Khodabandeh and Mahneshan had different capitulum widths، and genital opening sizes. Males of Ornithodoros tholozani were smaller than females reaching a size of 4. 6 × 2. 6 mm. Apart from the length and width of capitulum which were higher in Mahneshan samples than in Khodabandeh، the other indexes were not significantly different. The nymphs in the two strains differed in the body size، the length and width of capitulum، the lengths of the second and fourth segments of the palp; however، they were identical in other indexes. Regarding the morphologic distinction between samples in the study sites and their contamination by Borrelia; and lack of comprehensive knowledge in analyzing the data، it seems necessary to conduct extensive research in order to review description of the species، express taxonomic position of different strains and provide molecular identification protocol in order to prioritize the application sites، and monitor the administration plans to precisely determine the infection rate of the ticks to Borrelia in diverse geographical regions.

Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid (MSAF) is a common finding in term and post term pregnancies which has been taken into account as an unfavorable predictor of fetal and neonatal outcome. The aim of this study was to identify some maternal risk factors and neonatal complications in term pregnancies with meconium stained and clear amniotic fluid in Rasht Al Zahra Hospital during 2010-2011. Throughout this cross-sectional analytic study، 300 pregnant women and term neonates with MSAF and 300 pregnant women and term neonates with clear amniotic fluid were studied in Rasht Al Zahra Hospital from 2010 to 2011. The collected data were processed and analyzed by SPSS-16 software. The most common maternal risk factors and neonatal complications which associated with MSAF were maternal gravidity and parity، mode of delivery، gestational age، Apgar score، neonatal birth weight and admission days. Maternal and neonatal infections were not significantly different in two groups. The findings indicate that MSAF was significantly associated with lower maternal gravidity and parity، higher incidence of cesarean section rates، lower 1 minute Apgar scores and higher gestational age، neonatal birth weight and admission days; but there was no association between MSAF and chorioamnionitis.

Objective and

The incidence of prenatal mortality is one of the most important health indicators of a community. Through identifying factors which bring about prenatal mortality and through raising awareness of pregnant mothers concerning attention to medical cares over pregnancy period، such prenatal mortalities can be remarkably reduced. The main objective of this study was to determine the frequency of prenatal mortality rates and its causes over one- year -period in Abhar Emdadi Hospital.

This cross sectional study was carried out on 55 fetus and neonatal mortality cases from week 22 of pregnancy to day 28 after birth. They died at birth or after birth. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.

The common causes of prenatal mortality were prematurity and respiratory distress syndrome and then IUFD (Intra Uterine Fetal Death) and chromosomal abnormality. 21. 8% of prenatal mortality cases was due to IUFD. 78. 2% of prenatal mortalities happened after birth. 88% of prenatal mortality occurred in premature neonates. Common causes of IUFD were congenital abnormality and preterm birth in comparison with neonates who born alive and whose deaths were mostly due to severe prematurity، RDS (Respiratory Distress Syndrome)، and chromosomal abnormality.

The leading factors to prevent prenatal death rest on inhibiting preterm birth and low birth weight delivery. Also emphasis on special cares during prenatal period، identifying and following high risk mothers and setting up NICU wards could vastly reduce prenatal mortality rates.

Shingles is a delayed reactivation of varicella zoster virus as an outcome of sensory ganglia. Manifestation of sensory symptoms and vesicular dermatomal rashes in sensory area of involved nerve root is an expected event in the activation of herpes from sensory afferents whereby motor weakness and paralysis rarely occur. The present case was a 64-year old man with diabetes and immunodeficiency caused by immune-suppressant drugs. After appearance of vesicular rashes in the right leg، he had difficulty in walking due to motor weakness of the right leg.