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Background: Schizophrenia is a widespread neurodegenerative disorder, which affects approximately 1% of the world population. It is a multifactorial and a highly heritable disease to which genetic factors contribute up to approximately 80%. Nowadays, multitude of genes have been discovered that relate to this disorder mostly by affecting the performance and levels of neurotransmitters in neural systems. Since PAI-1 is a considerable gene in the performance of neural systems, the present study dealt with the relationship between -675 4G/5G polymorphism in PAI-1 gene and schizophrenia among Iranian patients.

Materials and  Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 106 blood samples collected from individuals suffering from schizophrenia and 122 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from the samples and the frequency of the polymorphisms was analyzed using ARMS-PCR method. Finally, the products were detected on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis.

Results: The analysis of the data for -675 4G/5G polymorphism showed that 17.9% of the patients and 1.6% of the controls were mutant homozygous and 65.1% of the patients and 45.9% of controls were heterozygous. Also, 17% of the patients and 52.5% of the controls were normal homozygous.

Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism and the incidence of schizophrenia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Iran that assesses the frequency of the polymorphism among Iranian patients. However, further studies with more samples are necessary.

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Background: Gene therapy is a recent promising treatment that effective gene transfer is considered as its most important step. Furthermore noninvasive method of transfer will be important to, when gene therapy is supposed to be applied. Administration of drugs in oral rout is more appreciated by patients. Loading and release rates are very important in targeting and effectiveness of transfer in all different methods that have been used for oral drug transfer. Here, we have studied packing of gene particles into two different enteric coats and compared these two coats in loading of entrapped materials and there release rate in vitro.

Materials and Methods: First, DNA was mixed with chitosan by coacervation technique and resulted polyplexes were coated using solvent evaporation technique. FTIR and two different pHs, less and more but near eudragit pKa, were used to evaluate formation of particles and their behavior.

Results: Formed particles have similar stability in low pH and their differences are trivial. Eudragit L100 release rate is really slower than L100-55 and gradual. Eudragit L100 shows better ability in loading rate.

Conclusion: According to two formed particles' behavior, eudragit L100-55 might be used in oral gene transfer targeting of initial part of small intestine and eudragit L100 might be used for wider surface of small intestine, from the initial to the end part, and colon.

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Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf) is one of the most important regulator of angiogenesis, there are some reports about the relation of VEGF over expression and progression of tumor in several cancers. The aim of this study is assay of four VEGF isoforms expression in breast cancer tumor samples.

Materials and Methods: 25 breast cancer tumor samples and 25 health samples were used in this study, mRNA was extracted from each sample and then cDNA was made. The expression of four isoforms VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF183 and VEGF189 was measured by real time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and gel electrophoresis.

Results: Among the four isoforms, VEGF165 and VEGF 121 had maximum and VEGF 183 and VEGF 189 had minimum expression level in all samples. The total expression level of VEGF had a significant increase in tumor samples in comparison with the control samples (4/6, p<0.01).

Conclusion: There is a significant relation between the VEGF over expression and breast cancer tumor formation, which it can be used as a prognosis marker of breast cancer in future.

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Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance with first dignosis during pregnancy. There is some evidence indicating that chemerin play a role in the development of GDM. In this study, for the first time, a possible association of rs17173608 polymorphism in the chemerin gene with the risk of GDM in Arak population was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 120 GDM and 150 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance were selected. GDM was confirmed by oral glucose tolerance according to the new IADPSG criteria. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA treated whole blood. The polymorphism of chemerin gene was determined using tetra-amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR).

Results: The genotype frequencies of  TT, GT and GG at rs17173608 were respectively 81.7%, 17.5% and 0.8% in the GDM group and 73.3%, 25.3% and 1.3% in the control group. There were no statistical differences in genotype frequencies between case group and the control group. Also, allele frequencies in the GDM group  (T 90.4% , G 9.6%), did not differ significantly from the control group ( T 96% ,G 14%). No association was found between genotype frequencies and FBS, 1h, 2 h and BMI.

Conclusion: The present study show that the rs17173608 polymorphism in the chemerin gene is not associated with the development of glucose intolerance and GDM in the studied population.

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Background: The outbreaks of new antigenic variants of influenza viruses in human populations have increased necessity the improvement of controlling programs. Influenza vaccines are formulated with adjuvant to enhance and direct the host immune responses. Currently, much effort is devoted to designing molecular adjutants. Hemokinin-1 (HK-1) activates T and B cells for proliferation, survival, differentiation into plasma cells, and antibody production. In this study, the effect of HK-1 as a molecular adjuvant for inducing humoral immune response against influenza virus was investigated.

Materials and Methods: The HK-1 coding sequence was cloned into pcDNA3.1 vector and used as adjuvant. Groups of mice were immunized with an inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with HK-1. The sera of vaccinated mice were collected prior to priming and boosting injections and at defined weeks, and analyzed with serological assays.

Results: The results showed that HK-1 was able to increase antibody titer against virus vaccine. The mice immunized with the adjuvanted vaccine produced higher antibody titers against influenza comparing to vaccine alone immunized group. Number of boosting had no effect on the enhancing of antibody titer.

Conclusion: These data revealed that HK-1 as a molecular adjuvant induces stronger humoral and memory responses against influenza immunization.

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Background: Estrogen hormone regulates cell proliferation in breast tissue physiologically. Evidences show that changes in estrogen signaling pathways, including the receptor alpha (ER&alpha), happen during breast cancer progression. ER&alpha is expressed in most breast tumors and its association with the development of low-grade tumors has been demonstrated. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes may differ in susceptibility to cancer and result in different respond to treatment in different populations. The present study aimed investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2234693: C/T) in gene ESR&alpha in patients with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study 150 women with breast cancer and 142 healthy women without a family history of breast cancer were enrolled. DNA was extracted from blood samples. After primer design, technique of PCR-RFLP was used and samples were genotyped by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 20 and chi square test and Final findings were specified.

Results: TT and CT genotypes for ra2234693: C/T site compared with the CC had 5.5 and 1.5-fold increased risk respectively. Statistically significant differences were found between cases and controls for fibrocystic disease and age at menarche.

Conclusion: We not found an association between C/T polymorphism and breast cancer. But CC and TT genotypes of this polymorphism in estrogen receptor alpha gene related with breast cancer that are consistent with the findings of some other researchers.

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Background: Despite advances in surgical techniques and risk management practices in recent years, wound dehiscence following abdominal laparotomy has still high prevalence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of retention sutures on wound dehiscence of emergent abdominal laparotomy.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 160 patients scheduled for emergency laparotomy for peritonitis or trauma were enrolled. Half of the patients randomly underwent retention suture and the other half underwent routine sutures. Finally, the amount of surgical wound dehiscence and complications were assessed. 

Results: Three patients (3.7%) in retention group and 11 patients (13.7%) in the control group developed wound dehiscence which there was a significant difference between them (p=0.025). It was determined by multivariate logistic regression that wound dehiscence is correlated with hemodynamic status, type of trauma and injury to the abdominal organs, and sex. The incidence of wound dehiscence, early hemodynamic instability, penetrating abdominal trauma and damage to the intestines were higher in males. 

Conclusion: In general, it seems that the preventive use of retention sutures in patients with multiple risk factors for postoperative wound dehiscence can be useful.

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Background: Thyroid nodules are common. 4-7% of adults have a palpable nodule and up to 50-70% of nodules are detected in high-resolution sonography. Thyroid nodules in women are 4 times greater than men and the rate of thyroid cancer in women is 3:1 compared to men, and is the sixth most common cancer in women. Epidemiological findings and experimental evidences show that sex hormones, especially estrogen, may have effect on this gland and its neoplasm. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rs1256049 polymorphism in the estrogen receptor beta gene with thyroid nodular disease.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 146 Patients with nodular thyroid and 151 health individuals were referred to Amiralmomenin hospital of Arak were recruited in study. Diagnosis is based on by ultrasonography and was confirmed by an endocrinologist. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA treated whole blood .The genotypes were determined using tetra-amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) and analyzed by statistical methods.

Results: The frequency of CC, TC and TT genotypes in case group 136(93.2%), 10(6.8%) and 0(0%) and in the control group 139(92.1%), 12(7.9%) and 0(0%) were obtained respectively. No statistically significant association (p=0.72) was observed between nodular thyroid disease and rs1256049 polymorphism.

Conclusion: Our findings showed no significant association between rs1256049 polymorphism and nodular thyroid disease. For best deduction, it is recommended that this study be done in other populations.

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Background: The definite treatment of indicated Hypertrophy of the tonsils is Tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and necessity of diclofenac suppository and simultaneous prescription of acetaminophen alone in controlling and reducing pain and improving swallowing and satisfaction after surgery for tonsillectomy in children.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 180 children 7 to 14 years Tvnsykltvmy surgery were enrolled. Patients in an improbable way, easy and were divided into three groups of 60. Immediately after the surgery acetaminophen, diclofenac, or a combination of both was used. The cases of pain in the early hours, seventh, thirteenth and nineteenth after surgery were compared.

Results: There was a significant difference between the average pains of all groups in all hours (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups from the point of view of side effects such as Nausea, Vomiting and Pyrexia (p<0.05), But there was no significant difference between the groups from the point of view of After Surgery Bleeding (p>0.05).

Conclusion: We can say that Rectal Diclofenac is a more effective medication for reducing pain after the Tonsillectomy surgery in contrast with Rectal Acetaminophen or a mixture of the two, which may cause the patients to use less Narcotics after the surgery.

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Abstract

Background: Amount of natural background   ionizing radiations in environment depends on kind of soil, stones and geographical conditions. Hot springs of Mahallat facilities are annually visited by many tourists. Determination of environmental radioactivity and excess lifetime cancer risk is very important.

Materials and Methods: In this research, twenty four samples of igneous and travertine rocks from a region (300 hectares) and four water samples of Mahallat hot springs were collected. The specific activities of radionuclides were determined for all samples by using gamma ray spectrometry method and employing high purity germanium detector with 30% relative efficiency.

Results: External and internal hazard indices for igneous rocks, water and two travertine samples varied from 0.00 to 0.71 and for two another travertine samples obtained from 8.17 to 22.50.  The average of annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) was determined as 0.36 and 0.20 mSv/y and also the average of excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was calculated as 0.23 × 10^-3 and 0.12×10^-3 for igneous and travertine rocks, respectively. Maximum acceptable value and world wide average of ELCR are 10^-3 and 0.29×10^-3, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of this research show that the hazard indices and ELCR for magma region are less than unity and world wide average respectively. Therefore; there is no consequence for people health. So, the radioactivity only around the orifice of hot springs where radium compositions are deposited, is more than maximum acceptable value.

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Abstract

Background: Probiotics are known as a factor for prevention of infectious diseases such as urinary tract infection(UTI). The present study aimed to investigate the positive effects of probiotics on urinery truct infection of cateterized intensive care unit patients.

Materials and Methods: In a triple blind clinical trial, 125 cateterized intensive care unit patients were randomly selected and divided into two groups, Treatment group (n = 63) was well matched with placebo group (n = 62) for age and sex and duration of admission .Case group received one lactocare capsule for 10 days and control group with a same method received placebo for 10 days. In both groups urine analysis and urine culture were measured with a same method at the first day and then twentieth day and finally data were analysed with t-test.

Results: The incidence of urinary tract infection between treatment and control group (respectively 17.4% and 22.5%) had no statistically significant difference (p=0.672). But, in terms of sex, incidence of urinary tract infections in women compared to men with the same condition was significantly different(p=0.002). In treatment group with long term cathetrization, urinary tract infections significantly were significantly different(p=0.041).

Conclusion: Administration of lactocare capsule has no statistically significant impact on the incidence of urinery truct infection of cateterized intensive care unit patients. In comparsion of cateterized men and women receiving probiotics, the reduction of urinary tract infection in women was more than in men. Probiotics had preventive effects on long term catheterization.

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of morphine and naloxone on epileptic activity in live brain slices taken from morphine-dependent and control infant mice.

Materials and Methods: Forty neonatal mice were randomly selected. To establish dependency, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg / kg morphine was injected subcutaneously once daily (0.1 cc) for 5 consecutive days from day 14-18 after birth. On postnatal days 19-20, brain slices were prepared and cerebrospinal fluid was perfused with low magnesium to induce experimental- epiletform activity. The effects of 10, 100 and 1000 µM concentrations of morphine and 10 µM naloxone were investigated on epileptic activity. Chenges in the number as well as onset and amplitude of activities were considered as an indicator to determine the quantity of their effect.  

Results: The results showed that morphine 100 µM increased the activity while 10 and 1000 µM concentrations of morphine and 10 µM naloxone attenuated epileptic activity in both groups. Naloxone reduced pro-seizure effect of morphine, but anti-seizure effect of morphine couldn't restored by naloxone.

Conclusion: Morphine has a two-phase concentration-dependent effect on epileptic activity in the infant mice; so that low and high concentrations of morphine inhibit epileptic activity, but its moderate concentration potentiates the epileptic activity. Naloxone has an anti-seizure effect.

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Background and Aim: Diabetes is a chronic disease that physiological, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and social factors play a role in preventing, risk and regulating it. This research aimed to predict blood glucose control by the use of irrational health beliefs and health locus of control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: The research population consisted of all type 2 diabetic patients referring to the two centers of Alzahra School of Charity Hospital and Diabetes Research Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences that 300 patients were chosen as sample by convenience sampling method. Data were gathered by using Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) and Irrational Health Belief Scale (IHBS) and analyzed by regression. Ethical Considerations: This study was approved in Research Ethics Committee of biomedical researches in Tehran Universiry with the code IR.ut.Rec.1395.030. Findings: There is a significant correlation between the predictive variables of irrational health beliefs (p <0.05), inner locus of control and others (p <0.05), and chance locus of control (p <0.01). The results also indicate that the health locus of control and Irrational beliefs predict significantly the changes in the amount of glucose (R=19, R2=0.037, F(4. 293)=2.80, p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, we can say that by identifying the health locus of control and irrational health beliefs, it is possible that blood glucose level can be predicted in patients with type 2 diabetes and reduced the consequences of diabetes in people with it.

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Background and Aim: Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in sports, accounting for 10% to 15% of all injuries. Since controlling pain and inflammation in ankle sprains is one of the main goals of treatment, we decided to compare the therapeutic effects of Cheleh daghi Herbal ointment with a common therapeutic gel such as piroxicam.
Methods & Materials: This study was performed as a double-blinded clinical trial for 6 months from January 2019 to August 2019. After referral, all patients completed the consent form, and the patient's details and study variables were recorded by the evaluator in the research form. To measure joint inflammation, we measured the ankle with a meter tape in the ankle area (cm) and recorded. A goniometer was also used to measure the degree of ankle movements. The symptoms of ankle ecchymosis were also checked by physical examination and observation and recorded in the checklist. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS V. 18 using statistical tests (the Mann-Whitney U test, the Chi-square, and the independent t-test).
Ethical Considerations: The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved the study (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1396.55) and registered by the Clinical Trial (Code: IRCT2017071720258N53).
Results: The Mean±SD age in the control group was 34.2±8.6 years, and in the case group was 35.4±8.9 years. There was no statistically significant difference according to the Mann-Whitney U test (P<0.05). Also, the Mean±SD height in the control group was 1.7±0.12 m and in the case group was 1.72±0.11 m. The results also showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups studied before and after the intervention regarding the mean indicators of pain, swelling, and inflammation around the joints (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of our study showed that Cheleh daghi Herbal ointment for 3 weeks could be more effective in reducing local pain and inflammation than piroxicam gel treatment.

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Background and Aim: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common mental health condition, with a severe decline in performance, disability, and a 15% risk of suicide. Allopurinol increases the level of tryptophan in the body by inhibiting xanthine oxidase, and by elevating the level of tryptophan, i.e., a precursor to serotonin. Accordingly, it can improve the symptoms of depression. This study aimed to investigate the impact of allopurinol on MDD.
Methods & Materials: In this double-blind clinical trial, 70 patients with MDD, diagnosed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fourth Edition-Third Edition (DSM IV-TR) were randomly (paired & individual patient records) divided into two equal groups. Both research groups received 40 mg of citalopram daily for 6 weeks. In addition to citalopram, the intervention group received 300 mg allopurinol daily and the control group received a placebo. At the end of the third and sixth weeks, the examined patients were tested for Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Arak University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1394.68). Also, it was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Code: IRCT201508277373n6).
Results:  The Mean±SD HDRS’s score, after 3 weeks of treatment, in the control and allopurinol groups was measured as 28.42±3.1 and 23.02±3.4, respectively. After 6 weeks after treatment, the Mean±SD depression score in the control and allopurinol groups was equal to 23.28±4.1 and 20.4±1.2, in sequence. A significant difference was observed between the research groups; thus, the intervention group obtained a lower mean score in the HDRS than the controls.
Conclusion: Allopurinol can improve the symptoms of depression and can also be used as an adjunct in the treatment of depression.

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Introduction: Several factors influence students' behaviors and develop motivation. Meanwhile, cognitive factors such as psychological capital play a more prominent role than others, and it is crucial to understand the factors that affect them. The current research purpose was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention and cognitive-behavioral game therapy on the psychological capital of female first-secondary school students in Amol City.
Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all the female students of the first secondary school of the seventh grade of the public schools of Amol City in the academic year of 2023. Among them, 45 people were selected by the available sampling method and were replaced randomly and by lottery in two experimental and control groups (30 individuals in the experimental group and 15 people in the control group). The people attending the first experimental group received mindfulness intervention (8 sessions) and two sessions per week for 60 minutes, and the second experimental group received cognitive-behavioral game therapy intervention (10 sessions) and two sessions per week for 30 minutes. The questionnaire used in this research included psychological capital. The study data was analyzed using the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) method.
Results: The findings showed that mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral game therapy affected the psychological capital of female students of the first secondary school in Amol City (P < 0.01). Also, mindfulness training on psychological capital was more effective than cognitive-behavioral game therapy (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Although both methods of mindfulness training and play therapy improved students' psychological capital, the approach and method used in each are different. Mindfulness training focuses more on awareness and the presence of the mind in the present moment. At the same time, play therapy focuses more on strengthening psychological skills and abilities through interactive activities and games, which can better capitalize on increased psychological.