The effects of continous positive airway pressure on LV diastolic function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Background and aims: One of the main problems of health is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of Continous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on Left Ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients suffering from OSA. Methods: The study is a quasi-experimental clinical trial. In this study, 32 patients who have OSA and diastolic dysfunction at the same time selected by convenience sampling. Based on the results of polysomnography and echocardiography, patients undergo a period of 3 and 6 months using CPAP. They were reevaluated for LV diastolic function parameters using echocardiography. Results: The evaluation of LV diastolic function parameters at the beginning and at the 3rd and 6th month of using CPAP shows that the late diastolic phase (Peak A) decreased and Premature ventricular diastolic filling rate during the phase values (Peak E), ventricular filling ratio of early to late phase during diastole E/A ratio and e' significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: The result of this study showed that after using CPAP in patients with OSA and LV diastolic dysfunction; the LV diastolic function parameters improved

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Inhabitants and Tribes of Chelgerd, Iran, 2008-2009.

INTRODUCTION Although a notable development in treating and controlling of parasitic infections in recent years has occurred but, these infections are still counted as important problems in many countries. AIM The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the inhabitant and tribe populations who were referred to central health care of Chelgerd, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from April 2008 to October 2009 in Chelgerd, Iran. A total of 655 samples of feces from inhabitants and tribes were collected and each sample was examined by Direct smear, formol- ethyl acetate concentration and Trichorom staining. RESULTS Out of 655 stool samples, 367(56%) patients revealed at least one intestinal parasite (pathogenic /non-pathogenic protozoa/helminth), 233(67.7%) in tribes and 134(43%) in inhabitants. There was significant difference between infected inhabitants and infected tribes (p=0.001). Although the intestinal parasitic infections were more in female than male it was not statistically significant (p=0.52). There was no significant difference in various age groups. Common intestinal parasitic infections which were detected in both the populations were Giardia intestinalis (28.2%) and Blastocystis hominis (27.5%). CONCLUSIONS We found that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was higher in the tribe than inhabitant populations. Prevalence of intestinal protozoa infections was much higher than the helminthic infections. These findings reflect poor sanitary conditions in this region. They should be educated and provided better facilities to get rid of intestinal parasitic infections

Preventive and therapeutic effects of tomato juice on the growth of fibrosarcoma tumor cells in Balb/c mice.

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: فیبروسارکوم توموری است با منشا سلول های مزانشیمال که از سلول های فیبروبلاست بدخیم و در یک زمینه کلاژن تشکیل شده است. اثرات ضد سرطان لیکوپن موجود در گوجه فرنگی در برخی از سرطان ها ثابت شده است. لذا این مطالعه با هدف تعیین اثرات پیشگیری کننده و درمانی عصاره گوجه فرنگی بر رشد فیبروسارکوما در موش های سوری انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی به 3 گروه 10 تایی از موش های سوری نژاد Balb/c نر 8 هفته ای، 105×5 سلول توموری 164- WEHI در ناحیه سینه حیوان به شکل زیر پوستی تزریق شد. به گروه پیشگیری از 2 هفته قبل از تزریق سلول تومورال تا 2 هفته بعد و گروه درمان همزمان با تزریق سلول های تومورال تا 2 هفته بعد عصاره گوجه فرنگی با دوز 5 میلی گرم بر موش به شکل خوراکی از طریق لوله دهانی معده ای داده شد. مساحت تومورها در روزهای 10، 12،14،16، 18، 20 و 22 ثبت و داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری کروسکال والیس و من ویتنی تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: نتایج مطالعه نشان داد که مساحت تومور در گروه کنترل پس از مداخله به شکل معنی داری نسبت به دو گروه درمانی و پیشگیری بیشتر بود (05/0

Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Training with Moqlenjan Supplementation on Lipid Profile and Glycemic Indices of Overweight Men

Introduction: Moqlenjan supplement plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of dyslipidemia and diabetes and may increase the benefits of exercise. This study was conducted to examine the effect of aerobic training with Moqlenjan supplementation on lipid profiles and glycemic indices of overweight men. Methods: In this clinical study, 32 overweight men in the age range of 35 to 45 years old and BMI 26.93±1.3 kg.m-2 were randomly divided into four groups of eight: 1) aerobic training, 2) Moqlenjan supplement, 3) aerobic training along with the Moqlenjan supplementation 4) control. Groups 1 and 3 performed aerobic exercise 60-80% of maximum heart rate for eight weeks, three sessions per week, and each session for 40 to 50 minutes. Also, groups 1 and 3 consumed two 250 mg tablets per day for eight weeks. Before the start of the study and 48 hours after the last training session, the variables of the research were measured from all the groups. For data analysis, SPSS software version 21 was used for statistical analysis of variance analysis and paired sample t-test. The significance level of the tests was less than 0.05. Results: Aerobic training, supplementation and aerobic training along with supplementation caused a significant decrease in fat, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, and insulin resistance, and a significant increase in HDL (P≤0.05), but did not change the weight and body mass index (P> 0.05). The results also showed that aerobic training along with supplementation has more effect on the above variables than aerobic training and supplement alone. Conclusion: It seems that aerobic training along with Moqlenjan supplement results in a higher reduction in the percentage of fat, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, and insulin resistance, as well as a higher increase in the HDL in comparison with aerobic training exercise and supplementation alone.Therefore, it is recommended that these people use aerobic training with Moqlenjan supplement to lower blood lipids, improve insulin resistance, and prevent diabetes

Pressure of Societal Commitment Norm in Iran

Abstract   Societal commitment involves sympathy and emotional attachment of actors to society and implies preference for public interest over self-interest. Secondary analysis of the Iranian Social Integration survey data shows that 64.6% of Iranians are socially committed and whenever faced with a dilemma of collective vs. self, they prefer public interest to self-interest and they assume it is expected to do so. On the contrary, 17.3% of the people are not socially committed and prefer their own self-interest according to their own perception of general expectation of others. Also, 18.1% of the people have their own definitions of responsible behavior and their actions are assorted according to their own personal norms. The mean of pressure of societal commitment norm (conscious pressure for responsible behavior) is 62.7(on a 100 base scale) and pressure for responsibility is stronger than irresponsibility

Frequency of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar prevalence among patients with gastrointestinal complaints in Chelgerd city, southwest of Iran

BACKGROUND: Differentiation between Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar is very important for both clinical therapy and epidemiological studies. Although these two species are morphologically identical, they have differences in genetic, chemical specifications and pathogenicity. This study was carried out to differentiate E. histolytica from E. dispar and also to find out frequency of the two species. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected three times from 655 patients with gastrointestinal complaints (47.3% male and 52.7% female), who were referred to the primary health care centers of Chelgerd, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiary province. Samples were examined microscopically with direct smear, formalin-ethyl-acetate concentration and trichrom staining methods to distinguish E. histolytica from E. dispar complex and differentiate them from non-pathogenic intestinal amoeba. Genomic DNA was extracted from microscopy positive isolates and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to different the two morphologically identical Entamoeba isolates. RESULTS: Among the 655 recruited patients, eleven subjects with E. histolytica I E. dispar isolates (1.7%) were identified by microscopy methods. Ten of the positive isolates (90.9%) were identified as E. histolytica by PCR and one isolate (9.09 %) was positive for E. dispar. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that E. histolytica was more prevalent than E. dispar in the studied area. This result was different from the previously reported data in other parts of Iran

Evaluation of radiographic quality of root canal therapy performed by dental students at Yazd dental school during 2010-2012

Background and Aims: Root canal therapy is one of the most important parts of a general dentist's profession. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic quality of root canal therapy performed by under graduated students at Yazd dental school.   Materials and Methods: Records of patients, who were referred to the endodontic department during 2010-2012 and treated by undergraduated students, were divided into three groups by the numbers of canals and 80 specimens from each group were randomly evaluated. For the assessment, the quality of accomplished treatments, the indices: length, taper, and density of obturation were used and the errors during root treatment were recorded. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Chi-square.   Results: According to the results, 155 (64.6%) records had appropriate filling length, whereas 55 (22.9%) were underfilled and 30 (12.5%) were overfilled. The acquired difference was statistically significant among three groups. (P<0.001). 187 (77.9%) records had adequate taper and 157 (65.4%) records had adequate density. The difference in the evaluating of taper (P=0.976) and density (P=0.879) was not significant. Totally, 39.2% of specimens had all the properties of an appropriate root canal treatment.   Conclusion: The results of the present study can be used to identify weaknesses in the treatment of different educational groups and help them to achieve a proper planning to improve the quality of endodontic treatments

Investigating Potential Therapeutic Efficacy of Sambucus ebulus Fruit Extract in Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease that remains as a major public health problem around the globe, with a higher burden in poor or developing countries. Pentavalent antimonials such as glucantime are currently being used as the first-line treatment for cutaneous form of leishmaniasis, but they are associated with significant side effects. Evidence suggests that extracts from different parts of Sambucus ebulus may have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and favorable skin healing effects. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic efficacy of S. ebulus fruit extract in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial that was carried out on 95 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis. The subjects were assigned to an intervention and a control group. All patients received the standard treatment for leishmaniasis. In addition, the intervention group received a 5% ointment prepared from the methanolic extract of S. ebulus fruit, while the control group received a placebo. Healing rate and clinical characteristics of the lesions were assessed before the intervention and once weekly until complete epithelialization of the lesions (or up to 12 weeks).Results: The 5% topical ointment of S. ebulus fruit had no significant effect on healing probability, healing rate or treatment outcome, but it significantly reduced the lesion size.Conclusion: Combination therapy with pentavalent antimonials and the S. ebulus fruit ointment could significantly reduce the lesion size but has no effect on the treatment outcome

Detection of blaDIM, blaAIM, blaGIM, blaNDM and blaVIM Genes among Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from hospitalized patients in Tehran hospitals, Iran

Background and Aim: The rising trend of antibiotic resistance among A. baumannii strains has become a global concern. The most common mechanism of resistance is betalactamase production with genes transferring on mobile genetic elements such as plasmids. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of blaNDM, blaGIM, blaAIM, blaDIM and   blaVIM type genes among A. baumannii isolates from hospitalized patients in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: from May 2012 to July 2013, 108 A. baumannii strains were isolated from blood, wound, urine, sputum and respiratory tract of hospitalized patients in Loghman hakim and Milad hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods according the CLSI guidelines. The frequency of MBL (Metallo-Beta-Lactamase) producers was evaluated by CDDT. The &beta;-lactamases genes were detected by PCR method. Results: The resistance of A. baumannii isolates against tested antibiotics were as follows: 103 (95.4%) to ceftazidime, 108 (100%) to cefotaxime, 105 (95.7%) to cefepime, 99 (91.7%) to imipenem, 99 (91.7%) to meropenem, 87 (80.6%) to amikacin, 105 (97.2%) to piperacillin, 100 (92.6%) to ciprofloxacin, 103 (95.4%) to piperacillin/tazobactam, 44 (40.7%) to gentamicin, 106 (98.1%) to ampicillin/sulbactam, 106 (98.1%) to co-trimoxazole, 87 (80.6%) to tetracycline, and 1 (1.8%) to colistin. Using combined disk diffusion test, 86 (86.86%) were MBL producers. The prevalence of blaVIM-1 gene was 15 (17.44%) and other genes were not detected. Conclusions: The prevalence of MBLs-producing A. baumannii strains detected in this study is a major concern and highlights the need for infection control measures such as antibiotic management protocols and rapid identification of resistant strains