Background: Hydatid disease is a common infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Cerebral involvement is very rare and only occurs in 2% of all hydatidosis in endemic areas. We report a case of primary multiple cerebral hydatid cysts in a 23 years old patient. Case: A 23 years old female was admitted in our emergency ward with primary generalized tonic colonic seizure, left body and face hemiparesis and history of headache in last two months. Contrast enhanced CT and MRI showed a big well-defined, rounded, cystic lesion in the motor strip of right temporo-parietal region with mass effect causing midline shift which was diagnostic for brain hydatid cyst and several smaller cysts. There was no evidence of other organs involvement. The patient underwent the brain surgery. A big hydatid cyst (10cm in diameter) and some others adhering to brain parenchyma in different sizes were evacuated completely and without rupture using Dowling method. Patient received albendazole 400mg/two times a day for 2 months too. There was no cyst in patient’s MRI study in two years follow up.

Conclusion: Though low incidence, primary multiple cerebral hydatid cysts should be considered in endemic area using brain CT and MRI. Surgery is standard treatment of the disease.

Background: Load lifting is the most stressful activity of the Manual Material Handling and can trigger of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of workers. Purposes of this study are determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, assessment lifting tasks by NIOSH lifting equation method, ergonomic design and assessment of its effectiveness.

Materials and Methods: This analytical and interventional study was performed on 30 workers in a Porcelain Health Manufacturing industry in Hamadan. Assessment of lifting tasks by NIOSH lifting equation and determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders by Nordic questionnaire was conducted. Then, construction steps and determination of the effectiveness of ergonomic design was conducted.

Results: The results showed that the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders related to back. Results of the lifting index (LI) showed that the risk of lifting load in before intervention is high (greater than 3). This value after the conducting of ergonomic intervention (load-carrying cart) decreased to moderate level (between 1 to 3). The relationship of risk average amount before and after interventions were significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Load-carrying cart designed with shelves capable of moving vertically up and down has considerable role in safe making of lifting tasks and probability of reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and lumbar injuries will bring in the near future.

Background: Racial and environmental factors may influence the refractive errors, corneal curvature and thickness. These variables were evaluated in Arak residential university students.

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional observational study 400 students aged 18-30 years old living in Arak city that were eligible for the study. Demographic and past medical history information of all students was recorded and the corneal thickness (CT) and curvature (CC) and refractive error were measured. The correlation between refractive indices and CT and CC were investigated in all cases and also in refractive subgroups.

Results: The mean of CT, CC and power were 533.22(±32.02) µm, 7.75(±0.28) mm and 43±1.66 Diopters respectively. There were significant correlation between refractive error and CT in hyperopic subgroup (p=0.029) and between CT and CC in myopic subgroup (p=0.007). The mean of CC of myopic and astigmatic subgroups were significantly more than normal cases.

Conclusion: These findings are similar to the other international researches about corneal thickness, curvature and refractive errors in normal population. It seems further studies with more and older cases are necessary to investigate the impact of climatic condition and industrial air pollution on refractive errors and corneal parameters.

Background: Derived hormones from Adipokines include leptin, adiponectin, resistin, apelin, omentin.The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks aerobic exercise on plasma levels of Apelin, Omentin and glucose in obese older women with diabetes type 2.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 obese older women were chosen. They were also divided in to two groups: control (n=15 Age: 53.3+5.88 BMI: 28.7+2.2) and experimental (n=15 Age: 52.6+ 7.12: BMI: 30.03+3.6) according to their fat percentage and BMI. The training program included aerobic exercises which were conducted increasingly, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Blood samples were taken before starting the exercise training and also 24 hours after the last training session. U Mann-Whitney Test was used to evaluate the data and in order to compare each group's pretest and posttest, Wilcoxon test was used at the significance level of p&le 0.05.

Results: There were significant changes in apelin and glucose plasma levels in the training group (p=0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between each group's omentin levels.

Conclusion: It was finally concluded that exercise training can facilitate the process of glucose entrance into a cell because of the continuous muscle contractions and also decrease the plasma glucose. Also each adipokine response might be depend on the intensity and duration of exercise training, separately.

Background: Quality of life in Tracheostomy patients who are discharged from hospital and take care of your home will be affected by the current situation. Therefore, proper training can improve their quality of life also will increase the satisfaction of the training provided. Based on this, the researcher was to investigate the effects of video tape on quality of life and satisfaction in patient with tracheostomy.

Materials and Methods: This research is a Quasi-experimental study in Imam Khomeini and Amir alam Hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in1392. In this study 80 patient were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. In the discharge questionnaire on demographic characteristics, quality of life (SF-36) and satisfaction (VAS) were completed. The intervention group received education film for home use addition to the routine teaching of hospital. Two months later the patient's quality of life and patient satisfaction were assessed again with the above instruments. The data were analyzed with using statistical SPSS (V.20).

Results: Statistical analysis showed the difference was significant in both groups after the intervention (p=0.003). The quality of life in the intervention group at two months after the discharge in role limitation due to emotional problems, emotional status, social functioning, energy, public health, and the pain had increased. Average satisfaction with the training of the two groups was statistically significant difference (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The results showed that in addition to routine education to provide educational CDs for home use at discharge can improve the quality of life as well as increased satisfaction with training provided to patient’s tracheostomy.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the major etiologic agents of nosocomial infection among burn patients that has high resistance to antibiotics. Integrons can extend antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern and the prevalence of integron among P. aeruginosa isolates.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 73 P. aeruginosa isolated from burn wound infections among hospitalized patients in Ahvaz Taleghani hospital. Antibiotic resistance pattern of these bacteria was investigated to 9 antibiotics by Disk Agar Diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to investigate the prevalence of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered as a statistical significance level.

Results: The most antibiotic resistance level was seen against ofloxacin (94.5%), aztreonam (94.5%), and ceftazidime (93.6%). Fifteen isolates of P. aeruginosa were resistance to all of the antibiotics. The study of molecular results showed that class 1 integron was detected in 35.6% of isolates, while none of them harbored class 2 and 3 integron.

Conclusion: The rates of antibiotic resistance in pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibiotics such as ceftazidime, oflaxacin, aztreonam, cefepime, and ceftriaxone is very high. Although, class 1 integron were detected in 35.6% of isolates, there was no statistically significant differences between the presence of integron and resistance to a specific antibiotic, that it shows the role of the other antibiotic resistance mechanisms among pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Irisin, a recently identified myokine that seems had important role in hemostasis regulatation and improving insulin resistance. The effect of exercise training on serum irisin levels in type 2 diabates (T2D) is controversial. This study aims to investigate the effect of 6 weeks selective aerobic training on serum irisn levels and insulin resistance in women with T2D.

Materials and Methods: This research is a semi experimental study with pre-and post-test design. Research subjects were 20 women with T2D (mean age 47.4±5.6 years and BMI 29.92±3.42). Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: exercise group (n=12) and control group (n=8). Training protocol performed in 6 weeks (4 times a weeks, 40-65 min per session) and main training intencity and time were increased per week (50%-80% Hrmax). Main aerobic training was performed in 6 blocks, each block consisted of 32. Blood sample was collected before the and after end of training protocol.

Results: The results showed significant decrease in blood glucose, insulin and insulin resistance index and significant increase in serum irisin levels in exercise group compared with the control group (p≤0.05), but there is no significant correlation between serum irisin levels and insulin resistance.

Conclusion: It seems that aerobic training can have considerable impact on serum irisin levels, fasting blood glucos and insulin resistance index in women with T2D.

Background: The Amyloid beta (Aβ) level increases in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks continuous training with low and high intensities on Aβ_1-42 levels in hippocampus of Alzheimer model rats.

Materials and Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats (12 weeks old and mean weight 219.82±13.10 g) were divided into five groups including: healthy control, Alzheimer’s control, Alzheimer's low-intensity training, Alzheimer's high-intensity training and sham. To induce Alzheimer's disease, homocysteine is infused into the rats cerebroventricular (dose of 0.6M). Low intensity groups trained with 20m/min (50-55% VO₂max) and high-intensity groups trained with 27m/min (75-80% VO₂max), 60min/day, and five days per week on the treadmill. For data analysis, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were performed (p<0.05).

Results: The Aβ_1-42 levels in hippocampus of Alzheimer's control group was significantly higher than healthy control group (p=0.001) and in training groups with both low and high intensity was significantly lower than Alzheimer's control group (p=0.02). But no significant differences were found between two intensity (p=0.99).

Conclusion: It seems that continuous exercise training, through reducing the level of Aβ_1-42 in hippocampus, can be useful for Alzheimer’s disease model rats and continuous training can be studied as a complementary therapy in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: chitin and its derivates microparticles (MPs) have immunomodulatory activities. In this study, we examined the effect of size, purity and acetylation degree of chitin MPs on CHID1- encoding SI-CLP, involved in inflammation- gene expression in mixed leukocyte culture.

Materials and Methods: Small (<40m) and medium(40-70m) sized chitin MPs were prepared by sonication, and they were used in treatment of leukocyte mixed culture in comparison with chitosan and also shrimp shell small-sized MPs. Neutral red uptake assay and microscopic examination of apoptosis were used to assess cytotoxicity of MPs. Finally, following cell treatment with MPs (100 μg/mL) for 48h, expression levels of CHID1 gene were determined by Real Time PCR.

Results: Different concentrations of chitinous MPs hadn’t any cytotoxic effects. In gene expression analysis, small-sized chitin MPs (<40 µ) resulted in down regulation of CHID1 gene expression (p=0.004), while other MPs didn’t change it significantly.

Conclusion: Size, purity and acetylation degree of chitin MPs influence their interference in immune cells interactions and it seems small-sized chitin MPs can potentially modulate immune responses through decreasing CHID1 gene expression. Using small-sized chitin MPs may be effective to treat allergies which their treatment strategies rely on modulating the immune responses.

Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory impairment in humans which half of its causes are genetic reasons. Genetic hearing loss can be divided into the two types of syndromic and non-syndromic, which 80% of non-syndromic cases is Autosomal Recessive Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss. The aim of the present research is to determine the contribution of DFNB2 locus (MYO7A gene) in causing an autosomal recessive hearing loss in the one group of the deaf families of Khuzestan province.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 26 families with autosomal recessive hearing loss (with 4 patients) and negative for GJB2 mutations in Khuzestan province. 22 families suffered from ARNSHL and 4 families suffered from Usher syndrome. Linkage analysis was performed by using STR (Short Tandem Repeat) markers related to DFNB2 locus. Each family’s genotype was determined by PCR-PAGE method. Furthermore, haplotypes drawing and LOD score calculations were performed.

Results: From 26 families with hearing loss participating in this research, following genetic linkage analysis and haplotypes drawing, two families (7.7% of the families) showed linkage to DFNB2 locus. One family (4.5%) suffered from ARNSHL and another family suffered from Usher syndrome.

Conclusion: The results of the present research show that the contribution of DFNB2 locus in causing hearing loss in the population of Khuzestan province was similar to other studies conducted in Iran and this locus with other important loci should be considered to check in the hearing loss panel.

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans is still the main etiologic agent of candidiasis. However, infections of non-albicans Candida species are increasing. Candida dubliniensis is similar to C. albicans phenotypically and must be identified due to the better management of infection. The aim of the present study is to defferentiate and identify Candida species by Duplex PCR for getting an epidemiological data of Candida species among clinical specimens.

Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted using phenol-chloroform method from fresh colonies. Internal Transcribed Spacer region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Based on differences of bands sizes on agarose gel electrophoresis, species were identified.

Results: Ninety four out of 100 patients (49 males and 51 females) had predisposing factors in the present study. Diabetes (73.4%), use of antibiotic (6.3%), vitamin deficiency (4.3%) were the main predisposing factors. The most specimens belonged to mouth (75%), vagina (5%), and blood (4%). All isolates were identified as C. albicans.

Conclusion: Duplex PCR is a rapid and precise method for the detection and differentiation of Candida species carefully, and in this method, phenotypic tests like germ-tube and chlamydoconidia production, as well as biochemical tests are not required for clinical laboratories that have limited resources and time for response to the patients, and it can replace with the traditional methods.

Abstract

Background: The present research aimed to measure the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on reducing the severity of symptoms of post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Stuttering in a four-year-old child post-traumatic stress disorder in children is one of the disorders relating to trauma and stressful factors, also, stutterring or word fluency disorder is a nerve growth disorder.

Materials and Methods: This research design was conducted as a case study with a multiple baseline design. Participant in this research was a four-year- old child with Diagnostic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychogenic Stuttering. He had been placed under the intervention with EMDR at Shahid Birjand Counseling Center. The instruments used for this research included demographic researcher-made questionnaire, the third edition of stuttering severity test, the scale of parents’ report of post-traumatic Symptoms and child’s report of posttraumatic Symptoms. Data analysis was done through graphic and descriptive analysis. The data was collected as base line and during the treatment as well as after the treatment and follow-up (in terms of 3 and 24 months).

Results: Means percentage improvement (MPI) to reducing the severity of post-traumatic symptoms was achieved as %74.66 and it was %56.06 for reduction of the severity of stuttering and they continued to maintain in the follow-up period.

Conclusion: Results showed that EMDR method had affected on reduction of the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and stuttering intensity.

Background: Biological and epidemiological data indicate that the levels of vitamin D maybe affect the breast cancer risk. Vitamin D plays an important role in cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumor growth suppression. Vitamin D receptor is a critical mediator for the cellular reactions of vitamin D. Some of the epidemiological studies, reviewed the relationship between VDR gene polymorphism ApaI and breast cancer, but the controversial findings have been achieved.

Materials and Methods: In this study, a population-based case-control study including 140 patients and 160 healthy individuals of women in Markazi Province were evaluated using PCR-RFLP approach. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples using the salting-out procedure. Polymorphism of interest was determined by PCR-RFLP method using ApaI enzyme and statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software.

Results: Based on the results of this study, distribution of AA genotype in cancer and control groups was, 38.6 and 26.87, for AC genotype 55.00 and 66.87, and finally for CC genotype 6.43 and 6.26 respectively. The results of this study showed no association between ApaI polymorphism of the VDR gene and breast cancer(OR=0.903,CI=95%, 0.29-2.95.)

Conclusion: In this study, we found no association between ApaI polymorphism and breast cancer, which are consistent with the findings of some other researchs. It is necessary to examine a larger population to achieve more definitive results.

Background: Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain that affects on the patient’s quality of life. Use of herbal instead of synthetic drugs recently has been increased due to side effects of synthetic drugs and herbal effective components. Flavonoids are herbal compounds that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Because Allium cepa L. has a great amount of flavonoids, this study has been designed to evaluate analgesic effects of alcoholic extract of Allium cepa L. on neuropathic pain behavior in chronic constriction injury model in rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI model) in Rats. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 for each): Sham, CCI model, receiving red onion hydroalcoholic extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg and a group receiving gabapentin (100 mg/kg). Red onion extract and gabapentin were administered by gavage for 21 days. Using thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and thermal allodynia tests, the analgesic effects of extract have been measured.

Results: Findings of this study revealed that CCI surgery on rats induced hyperalgesia, mechanical and thermal allodynia. Daily intakes of alcoholic extract of red onion and gabapentin significantly increase the paw withdrawal latency; increase the threshold to mechanical allodynia and decrease in response to acetone.

Conclusion: Oral use of alcoholic extract of Allium cepa L. reduces neuropathic pain behavior in CCI model in rats.

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is the most common congenital defect in humans. One or two in thousand newborn babies have prelingual hearing loss. Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) is the most common form of hereditary deafness. Hearing loss is more common in the developing countries which is due to genetic and environmental (cultural -health factors) reasons. HL has a wide range of clinical demonstrations including: congenital or late onset, conductive or sensory-neural, syndromic or non-syndromic hearing loss. The goal of this project is to determine the portion of the DFNB21 (TECTA) in ARNSHL in families with negative GJB2 gene in Khuzestan province.

Materials and Methods: We studied 21 families with ARNSHL with at least 4 patients and negative for GJB2 mutations from Khuzestan province. Genetic linkage analysis was performed using STR markers linked to DFNB21 locus.

Results: Following genetic linkage analysis and haplotyping, out of 21 families with ARNSHL, one family showed linkage to the DFNB21 (TECTA) locus.

Conclusion: The results of this project confirm other studies in Iran and give insight into the most common loci causing ARNSHL in Iran which could be helpful in research and clinic.

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder described by central nervous system (CNS) demyelination and axonal damage. While the cause of MS is still unknown, it is extensively accepted that novel drug targets need to attention. Retromers are protein complex that have an essential role in endosomal trafficking, and retromer dysfunction has been associated to several neurological disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the expression of SNX2 gene as a part of retromer complex in MS patients with health individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 50 samples of cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Followed verifying disease, 3cc peripheral blood was given from all subjects. Total RNA was extracted and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized. The relative gene expression was determined using quantitative real-time RT PCR (qRT-PCR) and evaluated by  method.

Results: The expression of SNX2 gene was lower in MS patients compared with healthy controls and it was statistically significant (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study showed that the expression of SNX2 is lower in multiple sclerosis disorder. Considering the functional role of SNX2 as a protein involved in trafficking process, SNX2 may affect receptor function or drug targeting. Therefore, supplementary studies should be done to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of the gene in cellular trafficking.

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.