فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 1 (پیاپی 75، بهار 1393)

Stem cells are cells with high regeneration ability and potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Stem cells are able to differentiate into specialized cell of different tissues in vitro and are used for cell therapy. In the present study, the ability of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate in to cardiomyocytes like cells in vitro was investigated. In this experimental study, the effect of heart extract on differentiation of mesenchimal stem cells was assessed in vitro. First, MSCs were isolated from mouse NMRI umbilical cord on E16-18 and cultured in plate under a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 36.5◦C. The day 7–10 of culture, these cells received 40 λ heart extract from 2 weeks old mice every 4 days. After induction for 21 days, mesenchymal cells started to differentiate into cardiomyocytes like cells. Immunocytochemistry methods were used to detect the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin protein. Morphological changes and immunocytochemistry studies showed the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin and indicated that the MSCs could have the potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes like cells in vitro. These results indicate that umbilical cord mesenchimal stem cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes like cells in vitro by some growth factors existing in the heart extract.

Organic solvents, such as phenol, are widely used in different industries and occupations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phenol on testicular morphology and morphometry and also some digestive organs and body weight. In this experimental study, 54 male wistar rats were placed in 3 groups, including control and phenol recipient of 100 and 20 mg/kg/bw. Rats received phenol solution or water by gavage every day for 15 days. At the end of study, 3 rats from each group were weighted. After anesthetize of rats, right testes dimensions, weight and histological structure as well as weights of some digestive organs were determined. seminiferus tubule diameter, compared with the control group (p<0.05). While, 200 mg/kg/bw phenol reduced the epithelial thickness in compared with control group (p<0.05). Testicular morphometry was not affected by phenol treatments (p>0.05). Stomach and colon weights in phenol receiving groups were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). Phenol at 100 and 200 mg/kg.bw significantly increased the spermatogonia cell count and lumen, Saleh Tabatabaei2, Mohsen Sari2, Somayeh Sallary2, Esrafil Mansouri3 1 MSc Student of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Sciences, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Khuzestan, Iran 2 Assistant professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Khuzestan, Iran 3 Assistant Professor, Anatomy Ward, Faculty of Medicine, Ahwaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran Abstract Organic solvents, such as phenol, are widely used in different industries and occupations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phenol on testicular morphology and morphometry and also some digestive organs and body weight. The results indicate the effectiveness of phenol on testes morphological structure and gastrointestinal tract organs weight.

The short break in cerebral blood flow causes permanent brain injury and behavioral dysfunction. The hippocampus, specifically the CA1 pyramidal cells, is highly vulnerable to ischemic injuries. There is no effective pharmacological strategy for improving brain tissue damage induced by cerebral ischemia. Previous studies reported that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect on brain trauma and it is well known that endogenous estrogen improves stroke outcome during vascular occlusion. In this study, the possible positive effects of pentoxifylline and estrogen on behavioral deficit and neuronal damage were studied in female Wistar rats in estrous phase subjected to an experimental model of transient global brain ischemia. In this experimental study, female Wistar rats (n= 56) were assigned to control, ischemia, vehicle, and pentoxifylline - treated (200 mg/kg IP) groups and all of them were in their estrous phase. Pentoxifylline was administered at 1 h before and 1 h after ischemia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion.Morris water maze and nissl staining was used for all groups. According to Morris water maze test results, cerebral ischemia could not exert any negative effect on cognitive spatial abilities after reperfusion and there were no significant differences between groups. In Nissl study, there were significant differences between number of pyramidal cells in both control and pentoxifylline - treated groups (P≤0.05), either ischemia and vehicle groups. Our study illustrated that pentoxifylline can reduce CA1 cell damages and in presence of estrogen prevents any cognitive impairment in female rats which were subjected to brain global ischemia.

Prevalence of hepatitis B infection, existence of non-responder populations and the weakness of the classic Alum adjuvant in inducing proper cellular immune responses display the importance of designing more efficient vaccines. Many studies have demonstrated interactions between iron and the immune system. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of two iron containing structures, ferrous sulphate and AJc-F nano complex on immune response. In this experimental study, female Balb/c mice were injected 3 times with hepatitis B vaccine. The proliferative response of the splenocytes was evaluated using bromodeoxyuridine assay and interleukin-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels and total specific antibodies were examined by the ELISA method. Data analysis was done by SPSS software version 18. AJc-F nano complex significantly increased total antibody and cytokine levels compared to ferrous sulfate and control groups. Ferrous sulfate severely decreased total antibody and IL-4 levels compared to control group. Both compounds increased splenocyte proliferation and IFN gamma levels compared to control group. The results show that AJc-F, as an iron-containing nano complex, could efficiently increase humoral and cellular immune responses against hepatitis B vaccine.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically disease with different respiratory and gastrointestinal organ involvement. Because of gastrointestinal tract involvement, patients have mal-absorption for vitamins and mineral elements; for example vitamin A, D, E and trace elements such as Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) have low serum level in CF patients in different studies. The goal of this study is to define relation between serum level of this elements and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract involvement in these patients. This cross sectional study performed on 39 cystic fibrosis patients admitted in pediatric ward of Masih Daneshvari hospital, Tehran, Iran. Serum levels of Vitamin A, D and E, Selenium, Zinc and Copper deficiency were studied. Serum level of Vitamin A and D were lower than normal values. Also, 3 cases (7.68%) had serum level of Zinc lower than normal values. CF patients are susceptible to have deficiencies of fat soluble vitamins and trace elements such as Selenium and Zinc because of mal-absorption. It seems that a perfect diet and nutritional components are helpful in prevention of these problems.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii that can affect various parts of the body and it is most prevalent in Asian countries. There are various methods for detection of visual impairment in patients with toxoplasmosis. One of these non-invasive methods is electrooculogram (EOG) which evaluates visual function in patients with toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of ocular complications of toxoplasmosis by EOG. In this cross-sectional study, 50 subjects referred to Qods Clinic from 2011 to 2012 including 25 case with ocular toxoplasmosis and 25 control subjects without toxoplasmosis were enrolled and the EOG results were compared among two groups. The mean (± standard deviation) Arden indices were 1.35±0.25 and 2.3±0.31 in control and case group, respectively (P=0.0001). According to our results and comparison with other studies, it may be concluded that ocular complications of toxoplasmosis is more prevalent compared with control group according to EOG technique.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a major public health problem in developing countries. Health education programs can only be effective when designed to take into account the prevailing practices of the community. The aim of our study was to evaluate practice of mothers towards ARI in their children. In this cross-sectional study, 255 mothers referred to health center of Saheb al zaman in Tehran were studied. The data were collected by a research-made questionnaire. After scoring the questions, the practice score of mothers was determined. Of 229 mothers who had children with ARI, 53 mothers (23.14%) did not perform certain actions before visit a doctor. The most common measure taken by mothers to children at risk of ARI was using the syrup and cold tablets (22.1%) and only about 5% of them used antibiotics for their kids. Most mothers (51.96%) had done these measures based on their personal experiences. 141 mothers (61.57%) had taken her child to the doctor. 92 (40.2%) children were suffering from colds were under breastfeeding that 92.4% of them used the same diet after disease. The mean practice score of mothers was at good level. Also, maternal performance score was significantly correlated with the source of information taken by the mother of a child with ARI (p<0.001). This study showed that the practice score of understudy mothers toward ARI was good and access to information has an impact on their performance.

Recognizing predictors and correlated factors of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), as an important agent in productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of organization can finally help to improve quality of patients care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between OCB and procedural justice in nurses. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, in which 400 questionnaires distributed among nurses among fifteen hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) using multistage cluster sampling method. A total of 380 questionnaires were returned of which 373 questionnaires were completed and usable for the study. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, comparison tests and Pearson coefficient were used. perceived procedural justice had a positive significant correlation with nurse's OCB (r=0.135, p<0.05). Overall mean score of OCB was 3.84±0.4 (Partly desirable level), while the respondent' means score of perceived procedural justice was at level of ''partly undesirable''. Male nurses had better perception about existing procedural justice in their hospital compared to female coworkers (p<0.05). According to finding of the survey, related officials should pay more attention in selection and appointment of head nurses, supervisors as well as matrons in affiliated hospital. Using job training and managerial education help to enhance nurse's organizational citizenship behavior through increasing level of their perceived procedural justice.

Previous researches have focused on the association between coping with stressful situations and other variables such as depression, health, religion, social support, and employment. In this regard, spirituality is the variable which has received less attention. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of spirituality on the coping strategies used in stressful situations. In this descriptive- correlation study, 384 students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, were selected by convenient sampling. The first tool consisted of a questionnaire on coping with stressful situations, which divides the sample regarding problemoriented, emotion –focused, and avoidance coping strategies. The second was a spirituality questionnaire or SAI, including six subscales: God awareness, real acceptance, hopelessness, magnification, instability, and perception management. Significant positive correlation was observed between spirituality growth and focused coping strategies with the increase of spiritual growth, oriented coping with stressful situations increases. This study showed a significant relationship between growth and spiritual dimensions of coping with stressful situations. This means that spiritual growth is one of the most important predictors that the students use to deal with stressful situations.

Approximately, 48% of all pregnancies in the US are unintentional, unplanned, or mistimed and most unplanned pregnancies result from inconsistent, incorrect or nonuse of a contraceptive method. One of the most important factors which determine contraceptive method is sexual satisfaction as far as diminished sexual pleasure may be a barrier to use of these methods. This descriptive- comparative study carried out on 387 married women aged 15-45 years who used withdrawal method and 387 women who used other contraceptive methods between 2011 and 2012. A questionnaire was used for data collection consisted of two parts; 9 demographic information and 25 assessing sexual satisfaction. Second part consists of Standard Larson questionnaire based on a Likert scale of 1 to 5. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver.18 using descriptive statistics, independent t test, chi-square and regression tests. Mean score of sexual satisfaction was 69.68±9.8 in women who used withdrawal method and 68.66 ±11.53 in women used other contraceptive methods. So, level of sexual satisfaction in both groups was in low level. In this study, level of sexual satisfaction in both groups was in low level. Sexual satisfaction is important factor that influence on couples to choose contraceptives methods, so health workers should give correct and useful information to women before they choose a contraceptive method.