Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and causes blindness among adults. Chronic extra cellular hyperglycemia in diabetes stimulates reaction oxygen species ROS production and increases oxidative stress. GPX-1 that was coded by GPX-1 gene is a key enzyme in protecting vessels against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of GPX-1 gene Pro 198 Leu polymorphism in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 160 blood samples of participants including 80 patients with diabetic retinopathy and 80 healthy individual were tested. Genotyping of GPX-1 gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by ApaI enzyme. Data analysis was performed using MedCalc (12.1) program.

Results: The genotype frequencies of the GPX-1 in DR patients for Leu/Leu, Leu/Pro, Pro/Pro were 10%, 62.5% and 27.5%, respectively, while for the control groups were 10%, 70% and 20%, respectively.In ohter words, Ile/Pro heterozygote was the most frequent genotype in patients and controls. According to the results of this study, there was not significant difference between patients with diabetic retinopathy and controls(p=0.52).

Conclusion: It is concluded that GPX-1 gene Pro 198 Leu polymorphism is not associated with DR. Further research is required to clarify the role of GPX-1 gene in DR in Rasht population along higher sample size.

Background: The purpose of this research is to design a Brain-Computer Interface to discriminate the brain signals while the brain images four main directions. To be innovative, the subjects have imaged the aimed directions by power of imagination, and for the first time, the ICA algorithm has been used to detect the aimed signal and to eliminate the artifacts.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-ana alytic study, signals are recorded by using a Micromed device and a 19-channel helmet in unipolar mode. The statistical population included three persons in the age range of 25 to 30 and the designed task consisted of 24 slides of four main directions.

Results: Simulations have shown that the best classification accuracy was the outcome of the 2.5-second time windowing and the best choice for extracting features was the AR coefficients of 15 order. There was no significant difference between the classification accuracy of different implementation of the Artificial Neural Network classifier with different number of layers and neurons and different classification functions. In comparison with the Neural Network, the Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) showed better classification accuracies.

Conclusion: The results of this research are in accordance with the results of the methods such as FMRI and methods based on the brain signals in vowel imagination. In this research, the best classification accuracy was obtained from the Linear Discriminant Analysis classifier by extracting the target signal from the output of the ICA algorithm and extracting the AR coefficients as feature and the 2.5-second time windowing. The Linear Discriminant Analysis classifier result the best classification accuracies.

Background: Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most important causes of abortion and postpartum infection in newborns. Because of the importance of L . monocytogenes in the health of pregnant women and newborn babies, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of these bacteria in pregnant women and to compare the level of prevalence between women with a history of abortion and with no a history of abortion.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 540 samples of pregnant women were provided from Arak Taleghani hospital. The samples were cultured in enrichment media, then L .monocytogenesis was isolated in specific media.

Results: Of clinical samples, 14 cases had Listeria monocytogenes. Of these samples, 8 cases in women had a history of abortion, while women with no history of abortion were 6 Most cases of positive culture were related to the age of 25 to 34 years, including 7 cases, the lowest cases were 35 to 44 years old including 3 women and 4 women were between 17 and 24 years old.

Conclusion: The study showed that Listeria monocytogenes can cause infection in pregnant women. The use of Phenotypic methods and specific media can apparently isolate listeria monocytogenes from healthy pregnant women.

Background: Few studies have investigated the possible ways to prevent lead induced defects during gestation and lactation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin as a hormone with antioxidant properties on oxidative stress in the hippocampus and learning and memory impairment induced by administration of lead.

Materials and Methods: Pregnant rats were exposed to treatments of control, lead acetate (0.2% solution in water), lead acetate + melatonin and melatonin (10 mg / kg by oral gavage) from gestation day 6 until weaning. 21 days after birth, the activities of several antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) as well as malondialdehyde levels in hippocampus of 23 male offspring rats were assayed. To behavioral studies, on postnatal day 30, 57 rats were trained 6 days in the Morris water maze and the probe test was performed 24 h later.

Results: The results showed that administration of lead during pregnancy and lactation could increase MDA levels and decrease glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase antioxidant enzymes activities in the hippocampus of male offspring. Also, this treatment significantly disrupted performance of the Morris water maze test and impaired learning and spatial memory in male offspring compared with control. Administration of melatonin attenuated lipid peroxidation and could improve learning and spatial memory deficits and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in lead exposure group.

Conclusion: Melatonin as a neuropotective drug can protect the hippocampus against the complications of lead exposure, in the course of development.

Background: Nuclear radiation emission by radionuclides causes the diseases, such as cancer or genetic anomalies. Therefore, the study of radioactivity in soil and food as well as calculating the risk of cancer seems essential for foods consumption.

Materials and Methods: In this research, nine different varieties of beans containing the grain of beans, areal part and their soil cultivated were collected. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs was determined for each sample employing gamma ray spectrometry method using high purity germanium detector with 30% relative efficiency.

Results: The absorbed dose rate in the air in one meter above the ground surface varied from 77.23 to 112.78 in nGy/h. The annual effective dose rate absorbed by adult person from the beans consumption in Iran is in the range of 122.14 to 905.86 in μSv/y. The cancer risk for the different varieties of beans varied from of 1.87 × 10^-5 to 1.59 ×10^-4 which is less than acceptable value as 10^-3.

Conclusion: The specific activities of radionuclides in soils samples are more than average of world wide range. The absorbed dose rate from bean consumption for the most of Varieties is more than of world average. Cancer risk resulted from bean consumption is less than acceptable value and consumption of bean has no risk for population health.

Background: Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that leads patients to avoid any kind of activities. Since different factors are involved in migraine incidence and its triggers, so drugs are used to prevent or treat it are so variable. Also, combined medications are used to relieve migraine. This study examined the effectiveness of self-control training on quality of life in patients with migraine.

Materials and Methods: Statistic population of this study included all migraine patients in Ardabil in 2014(Estimation: N=1150) that 40 patients were selected by convenience sampling. Demographic and disease information questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used to collect data in clinical centers. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze data, because present research was a experimental and clinical trial with pre-test and post-test with control group.

Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between mean in quality of life in migraine patients and control subjects. It means that physical health and mental health of quality of life was different between control and experimental groups after self- control training.

Conclusion: Self-control training can be used to enhance quality of life in migraine patients. These results have important and effective applications in the treatment of migraine patients. Generally, specialists of clinical centers can use this method alongside other treatment interventions.

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.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive emotional regulation strategies, sensory processing sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity in patients with multiple sclerosis and normal people.

Materials and Methods: Statistical population of this study was all of patients with multiple sclerosis that referred to M.S association of Iran in the Tehran. Sample of this study was 30 individuals of patients with multiple sclerosis selected by available sampling method and were matched with 30 individuals of normal people. Two groups completed cognitive emotion regulation, high sensory processing            sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity questionnaires. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Multivariate Analysis of Variance.

Results:  The results indicated that there is significant difference between two groups in view of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in which the mean of scores of patients with multiple sclerosis in maladaptive strategies of self- blame, catastrophizing and other blame were more than normal people and mean of scores of them in adaptive strategies of positive refocusing, positive reappraisal and putting into perspective were less than normal people. The results also indicated that there is a significant difference between two groups in anxiety sensitivity and sensory processing sensitivity.

Conclusion:  The most of emotional problems in patients with multiple sclerosis can be the result of more application of maladaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation, high sensory processing sensitivity and high anxiety sensitivity. 

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.

Abstract

Background: Operating room personnel are subject to occupational hazards which could lead to an increase in free radicals and develop various diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of consuming green tea on the improvement of the blood oxidative biomarkers in operating room personnel who are exposed to anesthetic gases.

Materials and Methods: This study was a before-after clinical trial which was conducted on 24 operating room personnel. They were invited to consume 4 cups of a green tea beverage, prepared from 3 g of green tea leaves in 300 mL of boiled water (at 80˚ C), daily for 8 weeks. Then, Myeloperoxidase (MPO), DNA damage, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in the plasma were measured in order to evaluate the level of oxidative stress biomarkers before and after consuming green tea.

Results: Green tea consumption by operating room personnel brought about a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and a considerable decrease in myeloperoxidase and DNA damage.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, green tea consumption as an antioxidant supplement by operating room personnel, who are regularly exposed to anesthetic gases, can minimize oxidative stress and DNA damage considerably. Thus, it is advisable for operating room personnel to consume green tea as a natural antioxidant supplement.

Abstract

Background: Poor air quality has a lot of damage on the environment and humans. Awareness of the air quality situation reduces health effects of air pollution. This study was performed with the aim of the comparative investigation of Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and its application in seven major cities of Iran in 2011.

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive–analytic one. First, the required data of four criteria pollutants were taken from Department of Environment in seven major cities of Iran. The data were validated by the World Health Organization criteria. The air quality health index was measured based on the instructions and classified into low, medium, high and very high degrees according to the air quality standard tables.

Results: The results demonstrate that according to air quality health index, the level of air pollution in seven major cities of Iran has been undesirable and air quality has exceeded the standard level in Ahvaz 85%, Arak73%, Tehran70%, Esfahan60%, Shiraz 47%, Tabriz 43% and, Mashhad 29% of days.

Conclusion: Due to poor air quality and health consequences resulting from it, importance of Air Quality Health Index is explored in planning to control and reduce air pollution and awareness of peoples from daily status of air quality and its health effects.

Abstract

Introduction: Echinococcosis or hydatid cyst disease is one of the most common infectious diseases between animals and humans (zoonosis) that is endemic in all the countries of the Mediterranean region, including Iran. Pelvic involvement is rare, and the involvement of the uterus is very rare.

Case Report: 26-year-old female patient complained of limb paresis, ataxia and progressive headaches diagnosed with hydatid cyst of the brain was undergone surgery. The pain and slight swelling in the area of the wrist occurred, one year later and with the same diagnosis, surgery was performed again. Abdominal ultrasound showed two cystic lesions in the suprapubic region with a diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the uterus, 3 years later, surgery was performed. In all cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology.

Discussion: Follow-up of patients with radiologic and serologic methods is necessary.

Conclusion: In patients with any clinical manifestation of endemic areas, particularly if there is a previous history of hydatidosis, hydatid cyst should be considered in terms of risk.

Abstract

Background: Fetal hemoglobin (α2γ2) is the main oxygen transport protein in the human fetus. Fetal hemoglobin is nearly completely replaced by hemoglobin A, except in a few thalassemia cases and sickle cell anemia. Several studies have indicated that expression of γ-globin might be regulated post-transcriptionally. Small non-coding RNA called microRNAs which target mRNA can lead to translated repression or mRNA decay. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of miR-940 up-regultion on γ-chain gene expression and erythroid markers in k562 cell line.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, k562 cells were cultured in RPMI1640. Then pre miR-940 was transfected by electroporation method in k562 cell line. In 3, 7 and 14 days, RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesized in selected days. Up-regulation of miR-940 was confirmed by miRNA Quantitative real time PCR and then the expression γ of chains and GATA-1 was investigated by QRT-PCR. Finally, erythroid markers were checked by flow cytometry.

Results: In 3, 7 and 14 days after transfection, the GATA-1 and γ-chain expression were increased in comparison with untransfected cells. Also, the expression of erythroid markers was increased.

Conclusion: The data show that up-regulation of miR-940 has a role in the increase of γ-chain gene expression in k-562 cell line. We suggest that miR-940 may be a significant potent therapeutic target for increasing Hb F level. Patients with sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia are suitable candidate for treatment in this way.