مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی رفسنجان
سال سیزدهم شماره 8 (پیاپی 67، آبان 1393)

Smoking is a main factor for incidence and progression of the chronic diseases and their related adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the resiliency and psychological risk factors between the youth of smokers and non-smokers. In a cross-sectional descriptive plan, among the youth of Semnan town, 300 participants (153 smokers and 147 non-smokers) were selected by convenience method. Participants completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale and Demographical Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). The finding indicated that there was significant difference in resiliency, depression, and anxiety (p=0.001) and stress (p=0.005) between the youth of smokers and non-smokers. There was a significant difference in depression and stress regarding the confounding factor of age (p=0.013, p=0.36), but non-significant difference in resiliency and anxiety regarding the confounding factor of age (p=0.060, p=0.689). Also, there was a significant difference in resiliency and depression regarding to the confounding factor of gender (p=0.001, p=0.009), but non-significant difference in anxiety and stress regarding to the confounding factor of gender (p=0.135, p=0.247). In men and women subgroups, there was non-significant difference (p>0.05). Smokers in comparison with non-smokers had lower resiliency but higher depression, anxiety and stress. It is necessary to pay attention to resiliency improvement and reduction of these psychological risk factors in preventive and smoking cessation programs.

Recently, it is considered the role of hypoglycemic agents specially medicinal plants derivatives in treatment of diabetes mellitus. Aloe Vera contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids with antioxidant properties that reduces the complications of the disease.The aim of study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Aloe Vera in serum levels of glucose and insulin and key enzymes in metabolic pathways of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. A total of 50 rats (initial weight of 220 ±10 g) were divided into five groups. Two months after treatment with Aloe Vera extract, the rats were sacrificed and blood glucose and serum insulin levels were measured. It was also isolated the liver then, extracted mRNA from it, expression levels of Glucokinase and Phosphoenol pyruvate carboxy kinase enzymes were measured by Real Time PCR. The results showed that the extract of Aloe Vera at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg increase insulin secretion (p<0.05), hypoglycemia (p<0.001), increasing expression of Glucokinase enzyme (p<0.05) and reducing expression of the Phosphoenol pyruvate carboxy kinase enzyme (p<0.05) in diabetic rats. Not only dose Aloe Vera hydroalcoholic extract influence on insulin secretion, it also affects on key enzymes gene expression of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis pathways. Hence, this extract can be effective for improvement of diabetic complications.

The anti-inflammatory effects of the vitamin D and ginger have been demonstrated in some studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin D and ginger extract on the clinical symptoms and leukocyte infiltration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). For the induction of EAE, the (C57BL/6) were immunized subcutaneously MOG peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. The mice divided into EAE group includimg: vitamin D-treated, ginger extract-treated, olive oil and phosphate-buffered saline, and also one group which was considered as normal group and received only PBS(phosphat- Buffered Saline). The mice were sacrificed at day 31 after immunization and the leukocytes infiltration was evaluated in the CNS (central nervous system). The EAE scores and the body weight were evaluated till day 30. Data were analyzed using t-test. Two control groups showed the clinical symptoms at day 10, whereas vitamin D and ginger-treated groups exhibited the symptoms at days 13 and 15, respectively. The maximum mean score of disease was (1.87±1.61), (1.92±1.79), (1.05±1.01), and (0.73±0.81) for olive oil-, PBS-, vitamin D3-, and ginger-treated groups, respectively. Vitamin D3 and ginger extract increased the body weight significantly)P =0.05) as compared to control groups. The leukocytes infiltration was also significantly lower in treated groups as compared to control group. These observations represent that the vitamin D3 and ginger extract have significant capability to attenuate the EAE severity.

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is one of the most common intracranial tumors. In recent years, some research has been done on patients with PA. Given the lack of similar research in Iran, this study was conducted to assess the demographic characteristics and the quality of life among Iranian patients with PA. This study was a cross- sectional- descriptive survey. In 2011, two hundred and fifty patients accepted to participate in this study, using convenience sampling method. Data were collected using EORTC QoL-C30(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life). Independent two-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Two hundred and fifty Respondents were from those in the 15 to 82 age group and mean age of 44.80±14.16 years. The study results revealed that the most common tumors among the patients were prolactinoma (48.4%), followed by nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (26.8%), growth-hormone-releasing adenoma (acromegaly)(19.6%), and Cushing's disease (5.2%). The consequences of this study disclosed a significant difference between the patients in different domains of the quality of life, including Global health status, Functional scales and in Symptom scales; in this respect, patients with Cushing’s disease had the worst condition. Overall, the comparison showed that the quality of life in patients with Cushing's disease was significantly lower than that among patients with other types of pituitary adenoma. Regarding the association between personal factors in PA and the quality of life, inter-sectoral approach to health problems and interventions that affect the quality of life are important.

Abnormal regulation of apoptosis causes progressive pathological processes in the placenta of pregnant women and affects on fetal growth. The aim of this study was to investige the effects of endurance swimming training and silymarin treatment during pregnancy on cadmium exposure -induced liver apoptotic index in pregnant rats. In this expremental study 72 female rats divided into 9 groups. Training program consisted of endurance swimming, from the first day of pregnancy until delivery. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was given as drinking water (400 mg/kg/l). Silymarin was injected subcutaneously (100 mg/kg) 3 times a week. Apoptotic index was determined by nonradioactive in situ end labeling method using TUNEL immunocytochemical technique. The ANOVA and post hoc LSD (Least Significant Difference) tests were used to analyze the findings of study. Cadmium significantly increased liver apoptotic index (p=0.001). Swimming training induced no significant change in liver apoptotic index (p=0.424). Swimming training and silymarin treatment significantly decreased liver apoptotic index compared to cadmium (p=0.001). Endurance swimming training in combination with silymarin treatment during pregnancy can significantly counteract with cadmium-induced apoptotic index apoptosis in the liver of the pregnant rats.

Critical thinking is one of the most important types of thinking and a necessary skill for accurate decision-making. The aim of this study's to investigate and compare the critical thinking disposition in various educational levels of medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.In this cross-sectional study Ricketts Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CTDI) questionnaire accompanied by some demographic and educational questions were used. The questionnaires were submitted to 250 students of whom 165 (66%) were finally returned the completed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including Correlation, Student’s t and ANOVA. The mean score of critical thinking disposition in 165 students participating in our study was determined to be equal to 11.22±1.31. The critical thinking in male students was statistically higher than female ones (11.41±1.34 versus 10.94±1.21). There was a weak but significant reverse correlation between critical thinking disposition score and students’ mean scores of passed lessons (r=-0.156, p=0.045). Furthermore, mean scores of the maturity and engagement subscales significantly differed in various educational levels (p≤0.05 and p=0.02, respectively). Critical thinking disposition in medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences was relatively estimated satisfactory, compared to many other Iranian universities; however it seems that the need for teaching and applying the critical thinking skills is especially more imperative for internship students.

Giardiasis is a common disease in several parts of the world. Due to the importance of this disease, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections in the stool samples from admitted people to Karaj laboratories. In this descriptive study, 2500 human fecal samples were randomly collected from admitted people to Karaj laboratories in 2013. We analyzed the data by using SPSS. Totally from among 2500 samples, 252 (10.1%) cases were infected with Giardia. Most of the cases (69.8%) were asymptomatic. Based on the prevalence (10.1%) of giardiasis infection among people admitted to Karaj laboratories, early diagnosis and treatment of the patients and public health promotion could be effective to prevent and control this infection.

Evaluation of clinical competency of medical students can give very useful information to the authorities for setting educational aims according to student’s requirements and qualitative promotion in the educational process. The present study has been evaluated the clinical competency of fourth-year medical students. This cross-sectional study has been done in 2011 to assess clinical competence of all the fourth-year students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, that all of them had passed the skills lab course. Data-gathering tool was a questionnaire which assessed nine main competencies in medical students. All data was analyzed by Chi-square and analysis variances by SPSS software. 68 students enrolled in the study with the mean age of 24-year old. In the field of effective communication, 78% of students scored excellent. In the clinical skills, applying sciences as guidelines in diagnosis and management of patients, lifetime learning, self-awareness, socio-medical affairs and understanding the role of a professional physician fields, result in 84% of the students were average.Most of students had low scores only in the field of ethical understanding and judgement. There was no significant relation in the clinical competency of the different fields according to the age and sex. Generally, the students in our study reached a reasonable level of competence in participating in clinical treatment.