مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بابل
سال هفدهم شماره 6 (پیاپی 93، خرداد 1394)

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most practical screening test for prostate cancer. Given the importance of screening for cancer detection, determining a specific threshold for abnormal PSA levels has special significance in this disease. Because the threshold can be changed by factors such as diabetes and obesity, this study aimed to determine the association between PSA levels with BMI and diabetes. This was a cross-sectional study and part of the health status evaluation plan of the elderly in Amirkola, Mazandaran, Iran (AHAP=Amirkola Health and Ageing Project), which was conducted on all 60 year and older men in Amirkola from 2011 to 2012. Data was collected through questionnaires, examination and blood sampling. The levels of PSA and testosterone were measured by ELISA. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all patients and diabetes was determined based on the previous history of the disease or FBS≥126 mg/dl, on two occasions. This study included 792 elders with an average age of 69.76±7.62 (age range 60–90 years) with a mean PSA of 1.88±2.98, testosterone of 4.77±4.10, fasting blood sugar of 112.92±40.08, and BMI of 26.04±4.01. There was a significant association between PSA and BMI (p=0.001) so that the group BMI≥30 showed lower values of PSA compared to the BMI<25, but there was no correlation between PSA levels and diabetes. Based on findings of this study, the levels of PSA should be interpreted with caution in screening for prostate cancer in obese patients and further investigation is needed in this area.

Congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental retardation in the world. The lowest level of iodine deficiency during pregnancy could result in disorders such as miscarriage, premature delivery, intrauterine fetal death, low birth IQ, mental retardation, hearing difficulty and speech impediments. This study aimed to evaluate urinary iodine concentrations during the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 354 pregnant women referring to prenatal care clinic of Akbar Abadi Hospital in Tehran. Demographic questionnaires were completed by an expert, and random urine samples were obtained to measure urinary iodine concentrations. In addition, venous blood samples were provided to determine the levels of thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) during the first, second and third trimesters. Analysis of iodine status was based on the urinary iodine excretion in the patients. Urinary iodine deficiency was defined as concentrations of ≤100 micrograms/liter. In this study, 285 patients (80.5%) had urinary iodine levels of ≤100 µg/l with a mean of 62.35±67.7 µg/l. The mean urinary iodine concentrations during the first, second and third trimesters were 65.83±72.4, 50.34±41.5 and 62.67±68.3 µg/l, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the mean of urinary iodine between the first and second trimesters, second and third trimesters, and first and third trimesters. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between patients with urinary iodine levels of <100 µg/l and ≥100 µg/l in terms of the mean of maternal age, age at pregnancy and TSH level. According to the results of this study, despite the consumption of iodized salt, urinary iodine concentrations were below the standard limits in the studied pregnant women. It could be inferred that use of iodized salt may not be a proper solution for iodine deficiency in pregnant women. Therefore, it is recommended that iodine supplements be used before and during pregnancy, and iodine content of salt be increased as well.

Diabetes is known as one the leading causes of hepatic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the liver damage in diabetes mellitus and the protective effect of milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) in rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. In this experimental study, 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups including: control diabetic, normal treated with 10 and 20% milk containing LA, and diabetic rats treated with 10 and 20 percent of milk containing LA. After 60 days fasting, blood samples were obtained directly from cardiac puncture and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin were tested. Histopathology of liver sections stained with H & E histological sectioning was prepared according to conventional methods. In diabetic rats, increase in serum liver enzymes, showed significant damage compared to the control group (p ≤ 0/05). While in the diabetic group treated with milk containing LA, these indicators when compared to diabetic group was significantly lower (p≤0.05). The lowest level of ALT, AST and ALT in diabetic rats treated with 20% milk containing LA was 78±6.5, 205±3.4 and 168±1.9, respectively. Histopathologic findings were in agreement with the results of serum biochemical markers confirmed the repair of hepatic damage in the diabetic rats after intervention. This study showed that milk containing LA has a protective effect on the liver of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Emergence of resistant microbial strains due to the consumption of chemical preservatives and medications, as well as uncertainty about the consumption of foods containing synthetic preservatives, have resulted in the growing popularity of natural preservatives. This study aimed to identify the chemichal compounds found in the essence of Persian hogweed (Heracleum persicum) and investigate the antibacterial effects of the essence of this herb on Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, the most harmful bacteria in food hygiene. In this experimental study, after the extraction of the essential oil of Heracleum persicum by Clevenger, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the constituent compounds were performed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. In addition, microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and the last plate without turbidity was considered as MIC. By culturing the plates without turbidity on brain-heart infusion (BHI) agar, the lowest concentration of the essence to inhibit the growth was determined as MBC. In this study, the main components of the essential oil of Heracleum persicum were Hexyl butanoate (25.98%), Octyl 2-methylbutyrate (14.37%), Pentyl-cyclopropane (12.77%) and Octyl isobutyrate (17.82%). Moreover, MIC values for E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes were 5 and 5.2 mg/ml, respectively, and MBC values for each of the bacteria were equal to MIC. According to the results of this study, aliphatic esters are among the main constituents of the essence of Heracleum persicum. Furthermore, the essential oil of this herb exerts antibacterial effects on both these bacteria, and Listeria monocytogenes was observed to be more sensitive to the essential oil compared to E. coli.

Pain is the most frequent symptom in different diseases. In modern medicine, there are two main categories of analgesics: opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Given the importance of medicinal plants in the treatment of different diseases, this study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of the alcoholic extract of Teucrium with morphine and aspirin. In this experimental study, 36 Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6. The negative control group received normal saline (5 ml/kg), two positive control groups received morphine 2.5 mg/kg and aspirin 300 mg/kg, and three treatment groups received hydro-alcoholic extract of Teucrium (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) intraperitoneally in single doses. Half an hour after the intraperitoneal injection of the extract, 50 microlitres of 2.5% formalin was injected subcutaneously into the right paw of the rats, and the analgesic effects were compared using the formalin test. In this study, the hydro-alcoholic extract of Teucrium had a dose-dependent analgesic effect, and the most effective dose of the extract was 200 mg/kg. Acute pain scores in the normal saline, aspirin, morphine and 200 mg/kg extract groups were 2.58±0.09, 1.39±0.06, 4.15±0.09 and 1.61±0.1, respectively. In addition, chronic pain scores were 2.37±0.09, 0.99±0.1, 0.33±0.09 and 1.18±0.06, respectively. Analgesic effects of Teucrium extract on chronic pain were lower compared to morphine, and had no significant difference with aspirin. According to the results of this study, and regarding the presence of polyphenolic compounds in this herb, Teucrium is believed to have several analgesic properties.

damage to peripheral nerves stimulates a series of morphological and biochemical changes in neurons, which are not concentrated only in the injured region, but are also observed in the cell body of neurons of the spinal cord and in the nerve ganglion. The aim of this study was evaluation of the protective effects of aqueous extract of Achillea millifolium on neuron density of ventral horn of the spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression. In this experimental study, 30 Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups: group I (control), group II (compression), group III (compression + injection of the aqueous extract at a dose of 25 mg/kg), Group IV (compression+injection aqueous extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg), and group V (compression+aqueous plant extract at a dose of 75 mg/kg). Mice were anesthetized and the skin of the right thigh was incised, then the muscles were parted to expose the sciatic nerve. Using forceps, the sciatic nerve cord blood was severely compressed, then the muscles and skin were sutured. Administration of the aqueous extract with group specific doses was performed for three weeks, with one injection per week. 28 days after the surgery, the rats were fixed and the lumbar spinal cord (L4, L5) was removed. Tissue sections were prepared from the spinal cord sample and through toluidine blue staining and photography, the density of alpha motor neurons of the spinal ventral horn was investigated. The neuronal density in the compression group compared to the control group showed a significant decrease (943±59 vs. 1620±51.1, p<0.001). Neuronal density in the treatment groups showed a significant increase compared to the compression group. The 75 mg/kg dose showed the highest neuroprotective effect compared to the compression group (1421±139.7 vs. 943±59, p<0.001). The aqueous extract of Achillea millifolium effectively protects motoneurons of the anterior horn of the spinal cord against retrograde injury during sciatic nerve compression.

Stroke is the third main cause of mortality and the most important origin of disability in the world. Atorvastatin has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on various pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of atorvastatin on neuronal injury and damage in an experimental model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats. This experimental study was conducted on 32 male Wistar rats, divided in four groups of eight: the control group, ischemia control group, and ischemia treated with atorvastatin (pre-treatment and post-treatment groups). Cerebral ischemia was determined as 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion, and 24 hours of reperfusion. Atorvastatin (40 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally one hour before ischemia induction, and immediately after the initiation of reperfusion. Moreover, evaluation of motor neuron disorders (NDS index), lesion volumes (TTC dyes) and damage recognition were performed 24 hours after the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. In this study, the occlusion of middle cerebral artery caused significant lesions in the right hemisphere of the rats in the ischemia control group (483±69 mm3), with NDS of 3.20±0.20. Use of atorvastatin in the pre- and post-treatment ischemia groups significantly reduced lesion volumes to 68% and 54%, respectively (P<0.05). In addition, NDS reduced by 25% in both treatment groups (P<0.05). In histological investigations, atorvastatin significantly decreased the number of damaged neurons and eosinophilia, as well as the demyelination of axons and destruction of nerve tissues in the ischemic areas of the brain. According to the results of this study, atorvastatin could effectively reduce the brain damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion, while preventing neuronal destruction and pathological changes of the brain during ischemia.

Considering the possibility of increased renal toxicity induced by streptomycin in tea and coffee, which contain methylxanthines such as caffeine, we aimed to investigate the histopathological changes in the kidney and liver of rats. We also evaluated some serum parameters after the concurrent use of streptomycin and caffeine. This experimental study was performed on 25 female Wistar rats, with the average weight of 200 g; the rats were divided in five groups. Group I was regarded as the control group, group II received streptomycin (25 mg/kg), group III was administered streptomycin+caffeine (5 mg/kg), group IV received caffeine (5 mg/kg) and group V received streptomycin + vitamin C (100 mg/kg) for a period of 21 days. Afterwards, the rats were anesthetized with ether and blood samples were obtained from the heart. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and potassium levels were measured in rats. After preparing and sectioning renal and hepatic tissues for pathological examinations, they were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E); the samples were examined, using a light microscope. Serum creatinine and potassium levels were not significantly different between the groups, while urea nitrogen level in group V (15±07 mg/dL) was significantly lower than the values reproted in groups I and IV (p<0.05). Sodium level increased in group II (139. 8±0.2 mEq/L) and group IV (140±0.447 mEq/L), while a significant reduction was reported in group V (137.25±0.75 mEq/L) (p<0.05). According to the findings, hepatic and renal damages were severe after the concomitant use of streptomycin and caffeine. However, vitamin C reduced the induced damages. As the results indicated, caffeine could aggravate renal injuries, induced by streptomycin, while vitamin C had an alleviating effect.

The genus Prangos is among plants with numerous species. The positive medicinal effects of this herb have been demonstrated in multiple studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of methanolic extracts from Prangos uloptera and crossoptera on the growth and proliferation of human lymphocytes and determine their mutagenic potentials. In this experimental study, the plants were dried and milled after determining their species. The methanolic extracts of Prangos uloptera and crossoptera were prepared by immersion and were diluted to final concentrations of 10, 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 mg/ml, using sterile phosphate-buffered saline. The effects of the extracts on the growth and proliferation of human-extracted lymphocytes were evaluated by lymphodex. The samples cultured in RPMI medium were evaluated by MTT assay, and the mutagenic potential was measured by Ames test. The results showed that the extracts from both Prangos species increased the growth and proliferation of lymphocytes (by 5-300 %) and exhibited no mutagenic potentials. The seed and leaf extracts from both species had the least and most significant impacts on the growth and proliferation of lymphocytes (5-7% and 2.1-3.1 % times, respectively), respectively. The obtained results showed that the two evaluated species of Prangos are safe and lack any mutagenic potentials. They also enhanced the growth and proliferation of human lymphocytes.

Retroperitoneal sarcoma constitutes 3-5% of all soft-tissue sarcomas and is often detected around 50 years of age. Soft-tissue sarcomas are categorized into four different types of well-differentiated, undifferentiated, myxoid and pleomorphic cells. Myxoid cells tend to cause lower-extremity involvement. In this study, we present a case of sarcoma of the right side of adrenal gland in a 46-year-old woman as a rare and important differential diagnosis of adenoma.CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old woman referred to the Endocrine Clinic of Ayatollah Rohani Hospital of Babol to examine a 13 cm mass, which was randomly detected on the right side of adrenal gland via abdominal sonography. Sonography was requested due to flank pain, accompanied by night fever. Hormonal evaluation was negative and surgery was performed due to the large size of tumor mass. Pathological reports were indicative of a low-grade myxoid tumor. During four months of follow-up, the patient experienced no particular complications and underwent radiotherapy on a regular basis. According to the results of this study, retroperitoneal masses can be posed in the rare differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors.