Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:17 Issue: 12, 2014

Various studies have focused on the anticancer effects of saffron. Angiogenesis or new blood vessel formation, which is required for embryonic development and many physiological events, plays a crucial role in many pathological conditions such as tumor growth. One of the main genes which is involved in the process of angiogenesis is VEGF-A. In this in vitro study, the effects of saffron extract on VEGF-A expression were examined. In this experimental study, the saffron extract was obtained by Soxhlet extractor and then the powder was frozen and dried in vacuum (lyophilisation) using a freeze dryer. MCF7 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and incubated at 37˚C with 5% CO2. After 24 h of cell culture, their adhesion to the bottom flasks was investigated, then, they were treated by the aqueous extract of saffron at concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/ml. 48 hours after treatment, total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized using the sequence of target gene. Finally, the synthesized products were analysed by Real Time PCR to determine the expression level of VEGF-A. The results of data analysis showed the inhibitory effect of saffron extract in concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/ml on VEGF-A expression in MCF7 cells in comparison with control group, indicating the highest reduction of gen expression for the highest concentration of saffron extract (800 µg/ml). Results indicated a decrease in the expression of VEGF-A, specific biomarker of angiogenesis, in the treated samples compared to the control group.

External fixator is anappropriate device for the treatment of comminuted distal radius fractures, but there is no consensus about simultaneous supplementary percutaneous pinning. The present study was conducted to determine the short-term outcomes of comminuted distal radius fracture treated by close reduction and external fixation with and without supplementary pinning. This prospective study was carried out on 62 patients with distal radius fracture type III. All consecutive patients were treated by close reduction and External Fixator (EXF) (N=30) and close reduction, External Fixator (EXF) with supplemental percutaneous pinning (N=32). Radiographic images of the wrist were takenbefore treatment and 1 week, 3 weeks and3 months after treatment. There was no significant difference between the Dorsiflexion (DF)means of the wrist in the pin (43.5±9.2) and no-pin (41.3±6.9) groups (P=0.099). There was also a significant difference between the Palmar Flexion (PF) means of the wrist in the pin (50.8±8.6) and no-pin (48.3±10.6) groups (p=0.041). Further, the means of wrist extension in the no-pin and pin groups were 16.3° and 17.2°, respectively, and for the wrist flexion in the no-pin and pin groups were 22° and 13.6°, respectively. The means of radial length difference in the pin and no-pin groups were 1.5 and 1.6 mm, respectively. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between radiographic indices of Radial Inclination (RI) and Volar Tilt (VT) in both groups. Insertion of percutaneous pinning did not contribute to the improvement of comminuted distal radius fractures treated with external fixator.

The etiology of Bulimia nervosa disorder has not been determined yet. The somatic psychological problems need to be addressed in the treatment of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of cognitive-behavioural stress management training on self-concept personality trait and negative emotions in women with Bulimia nervosa disorder. The subjects consisted of 50 patients with Bulimia nervosa disorder that were randomly assigned to experimental (25) and control (25) groups. The experimental group received group cognitive behavioural therapy. The BSCT and DASS tests were performed on both groups before and after treatment. The results were analysed by MANCOVA. In terms of self-concept, the results of pre-test and post-test in experimental group were (M: 53.44 and SD: 12.62) and (M:10.48 and SD:14.21), respectively, but for control group, the results of pre-test and post-test were (M: 50.64 and SD: 13.72) and (M: 49.56 and SD:13.75), respectively. In the case of negative emotions; the findings of pre-test and post-test for experimental group were (M: 12.76 and SD: 4.06) and (M:12.08 and SD: 4.06), respectively. However, the results of pre-test and post-test for control group were (M: 27.24 and SD: 4.17), and (M: 26.36 and SD: 4.09), respectively. Within-group comparisons indicated, the pre-test results of self-concept (M: 53.44 and SD: 12.62) were higher than those of the post-test (M: 10.48 and SD:14.21), and the pre-test results of negative emotions in experimental group (M:12.76 and SD:4.06) indicated a little change in the post-test (M:12.08 and SD: 4.06). This study showed that cognitive-behavioural therapy is effective for increasing the self-concept and decreasing negative emotions in patients with Bulimia nervosa disorder (P<0.000).

The infantile head circumference is an accepted criterion for measurement of fetal development that has a direct association with development of the nervous system. Maternal body mass index (BMI) is an important determining factor that can be useful for the mother’s metabolic state and growth modulation. The present study investigated the relationship between infantile head circumference and maternal pregestational BMI.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 366 women with singleton term pregnancy (37 to 41 weeks) and normal delivery in Imam Reza and Motazedi Hospitals of Kermanshah University of Medical Science were studied. Maternal pregestational BMI was calculated by pregestational weight and height. Then, the relationship between infantile head circumference and maternal BMI was studied.

There was not any statistically significant correlation between familial marriage, smoking, gestational age, parity and gender, and the variables under study. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between infantile head circumference, infantile BMI ratio, and maternal pregestational BMI. Also, there was a significant correlation between the maternal age and newborn's head circumference.

The results of this study showed that infantile head circumference in mothers with high BMI was higher than in mothers with normal and low BMI. Furthermore, the findings revealed no significant correlation between gestational age, infantile growth and maternal education level. Considering the importance of this topic, further investigations are required to study the relationship between fetal growth and maternal BMI.

It seems that individual differences in personality characteristics are implicated in the incidence and progress of physical diseases and socio-psychological consequences. However, there are a few studies about the role of personality in the prediction of socio-psychological consequences of cancer. The aim of this research was to survey the role of personality in the prediction of socio-psychosocial factors: quality of life and coping strategies. This research was a descriptive-correlational study in which the sample included fifty cancer patients who were selected through convenience sampling method. To assess the personality differences, quality of life and coping strategies, the Carver and White (1994) BIS/BAS Scales, SF-12 Health Survey and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) were used, respectively. The data were analysed by SPSS software using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. The findings showed that Both BIS and BAS systems could predict the quality of life (P<0.001), BIS system could explain the emotion-oriented coping strategy (P<0.05) and avoidance-oriented coping stratesy (P<0.01) and BAS system could explain the problem-oriented coping strategy (P<0.001). The findings of this study showed that brain/behavioural systems can predict the quality of life and coping strategies in cancer patients. The identification of these systems in cancer patients can help recognize the persons that are under the risk of poor quality of life or have a higher chance of using inconsistent coping strategies, and execute preventive measures about them.

In spite of the presence of menstrual dysfunctions in female student athletes, few studies have been conducted to analyse the reasons and athletic factors affecting them. Regional distribution of fat is one of the important factors that plays a role in causing menstrual disorders, and since menstrual cycle disorders can lead to many problems, the present study was aimed to compare and analyse the menstrual dysfunctions and regional patterns of fat distribution in female student athletes and non-athletes. The present study was descriptive analytical which was carried out on 206 female student athletes and non-athletes studying in Shahid Madani University of Azarbaijan selected through convenience sampling in 2013. Subcutaneous fat was measured using calipers and a questionnaire was given to subjects in order to collect their personal and their menstrual cycles’ information. The collected data were analysed by SPSS (version 16) statistical software. The findings of the study revealed a significant difference between athletes and non-athletes in terms of the incidence of menstrual dysfunctions of amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, menorrhagia, hypomenorhea and hypermenorrhea (p<0.05). Moreover, there was a negative relationship between thigh fat and amenorrhea (p=0.024), suprailiac and menorrhagia (p=0.015), chest and hypomenorhea (p=0.033), and waist circumference and hypermenorhea (p=0.011) in athletes. Overall, the findings of this study showed that prevalence of menstrual disorders was higher in athletes than non-athletes and low distribution of fat in the lower region of athletes’ body may be disturbed during menstrual periods (amenorrhea) and low distribution of fat in the abdominal and upper parts of body may lead to irregular uterine bleeding (menorrhagia, hypomenorhea and hypermenorhea).

Hospitals are among the most interactive organizations in which the rate of knowledge transfer and learning is considerably high. The investigation of the level of organizational learning between public and private sector hospitals can be useful for managers to select proper organizational learning strategies aiming at improving service delivery and organizational behaviour (1). This study was carried out to compare the organizational learning capabilities of the personnel in public and private sector hospitals of Kermanshah. This descriptive survey was performed on the personnel in public and private sector hospitals of Kermanshah. According to Krejcie and Morgan’s table, 175 employees were selected via stratified random sampling from 6 public and 2 private hospitals. The instrument for gathering data was Organizational Learning Capability Questionnaire (OLCQ) by Gomez et al. (2005) (2). Data were analysed by inferential statistics (K-S test, Levene’s test, t-test, one-way ANOVA using SPSS software (version 20. 00). The level of organizational learning capabilities of personnel was higher in the private hospitals than in public hospitals, indicating a statistically significant difference between them (T (26) = 11. 779, P<0. 01). Also, there were not a significant difference among organizational learning capabilities of the personnel in public hospitals of Kermanshah (P>0. 01، F (3, 68) = 1. 859). With regard to the higher average of knowledge transfer and integration than the other capabilities in public and private hospitals, it seems that the managers of hospitals should make use of this component to promote the organizational knowledge of the personnel and improve other organizational learning capabilities too.

Behavioural disorder is a common disorder in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of behavioural disorders and analyse the moderating role of gender and grade in primary school students of Alborz province. The population of the study consisted of all the primary students from the third grade to the fifth grade in Alborz province. The participants were 375 students who were recruited by multistage random sampling. They completed Rutter Behavioural Evaluation Questionnaire (Teacher’s Form). The moderating role of gender and grade was examined. Data were analysed by chi-square and Fisher log-linear models. The prevalence of behavioural disorders was 12% in the primary school students. The prevalence of behavioural disorders in the fifth grade was more than the third and fourth grades. Sex and sex × grade interaction did not have the moderating role. The overall prevalence of behavioral problems in primary school Alborz was roughly proportional to the average rate of the country. The highest rate of prevalence was observed in the fifth grade.

Portal Vein Thrombosis (PVT) during pregnancy is very rare. Its most common underlying causes are myeloproliferative disorders, pancreatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and hereditary deficiency of natural anticoagulants (thrombophilia). Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies which is caused by toxins, alcohol and hepatitis viruses. Viral hepatitis is the cause of one-third of this carcinoma in China and Asia.Case Report: We reported a case of Portal Vein Thrombosis (PVT) in a 31-year-old pregnant woman with an otherwise normal liver function, no risk factors, no hepatitis and no history of thrombophilia. Report of ultrasonography, CT scan and elevated alpha-fetoprotein test, indicated hepatocellular carcinoma and metastases was found in the bone and lungs.

This case is very rare in pregnancy so diagnosis and decision to termination of pregnancy is important.

Given the high incidence of drug addiction in the society and high prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in opium users, this study was conducted to evaluate the coagulation tests and plasma levels of proteins C and S, and fibrinogen in opium users with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The results indicated that the plasma level of fibrinogen in addicted patients was higher than that of non-addicted patients (p=0.001), but the findings of coagulation tests and proteins C and S levels revealed no significant difference between groups.