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Hearing status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Get PDFBackground: Previous studies showed that one of the complications of rheumatoid arthritis disease was auditory disorder. The goal of the present study was to compare the auditory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals. Methods: In the present case-control study, 30 normal persons and 60 persons with rheumatoid arthritis with mean age of 46.72 and standard deviation of 6.76 of both genders were appraised using pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and speech audiometry. The mean disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 12.51±6.09 years. Results: The frequency of hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis group was significantly more than the control group (p=0.001). All patients had sensorineural hearing loss. Only in 5 of rheumatoid arthritis group, abnormal tympanometry (as type) was reported. Speech discrimination score analysis showed significant difference between the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and controls. In terms of hearing threshold level, the mean hearing threshold level (in 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz frequencies) of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly higher than control group in both ears (p<0.05). A positive significant correlation was found among mean hearing threshold level in 4000 and 8000 Hz frequencies and rheumatoid arthritis duration in both ears. Conclusion: The frequency of hearing loss and the average hearing threshold in RA patients were higher than healthy individuals. The most common type hearing loss is sensorineural
Bradycardia Caused by interaction of Venlafaxine and Cyclosporine: A case report
Get PDFBackground: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are prescribed widely for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric disorders. Although antidepressants are considered as a safety drug category but unexpected cardiovascular events have been reported as the most serious complications. The aim of this study was to introduce a case presentation on bradycardia due to the drug interference of venlafaxine and cyclosporine. Case presentation: The patient was a 38-year old woman diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus 5 years ago, who was admitted to a general educational hospital in northern Iran due to intensified rheumatologic symptoms and complaining about abdominal pain. Cyclosporine tab were administered to the patient, 50 mg twice daily. Two weeks after the administration of cyclosporine, the level of blood cyclosporine was checked. The patient became bradycardic after starting a single dose of venlafaxine (heart rate 52 ppm). Cardiac assessment showed no reason for bradycardia and it subsided after a drop of venlafaxine. Conclusion: As a result of the potential adverse drug interactions between cyclosporine and antidepressants such as venlafaxine, physicians should be aware of the possibility of bradycardia in the simultaneous prescription of these drugs in cases
Molecular Identification and Detection of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotypes Isolated from Selected Hospitals in Tehran Using Multiplex PCR Method
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the major pathogens responsible for invasive diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis. Epidemiological studies of these microorganisms are necessary to evaluate the effect of pneumococcal vaccine in any community. Therefore, the present study was conducted for molecular identification and detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes isolated from selected hospitals in Tehran using multiplex PCR method.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 32 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical specimens of patients admitted to different hospitals in Tehran. The isolates were identified by phenotypic tests and PCR method. Multiplex PCR was used to determine the serotype.
FINDINGS: The number and percentage of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates isolated from cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, eyes, and nasal discharge were 12 (37.6%), 7 (21.8%), 6 (18.7%), 3 (9.5%), 2 (6.2%), and 2 (6.2%) isolates, respectively. In the present study, the identified serotypes were the serotypes 1, 4, 6A/B, 7F, 9V, 11A, 14, 15A, 19A, 19F, and 23F.
CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, more than 50% of the serotypes were not among the serotypes present in the vaccines that are commonly used in the community
Effect of Attachment Behaviors Training on Maternal Competence attainment in Nulliparous Adolescent Women
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adolescent pregnancy is a public health issue that requires knowledge, motivation, and skills, and the lack of it leads to a deficiency in mother competence. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of attachment behaviors training on maternal role competence in nulliparous adolescent women.
METHODS: This clinical trial study, was conducted on 73 nulliparous Adolescent women at 28-32 gestational age attending the Educational centers dependent on Iran University of Medical Sciences. They were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Three sessions of group training were held for mothers of interventional groups regarding Fetal Attachment Behaviors (Including counting the movements of the fetus and registration it, imagining the appearance of the fetus, talking with the fetus, and etc.). The control group received usual care. The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale questionnaire (score range: 17-102) was completed and assessed before the intervention and 10 days after delivery.
FINDINGS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups before the intervention in terms of the total score of Parenting Sense of Competence. 10 days after delivery, the mean score of maternal competence was 60.86 ±9.75 and 44.44±12.99 which was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that attachment behaviors training is effective in obtaining the competence of adolescent mothers
Molecular and Serological Techniques to Determine the Acute and Chronic Phase of Toxoplasmosis in HIV Patients
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasma gondii is associated with several complications including neurological problems, ocular damage and encephalitis in immunodeficiency individuals. Early diagnosis of this infection can lead to better management of this disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii with two serologic and molecular methods in HIV-infected individuals.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 102 male patients with HIV with a mean age of 40 ± 9.2 years were examined. The serum sample was used for ELISA to determine the acute and chronic phase and cellular samples using Real Time-PCR for determining the acute phase of the disease. The relationship between age groups and the HIV transmission pathway, as well as the age group, was compared with the results of the Toxoplasma gondii test.
FINDINGS: Out of 102 samples tested for IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antigen by ELFA, all (100%) samples were negative, but for anti-IgG anti-parasite, 44 samples (43.1%) were positive and 58 Sample (56.9%) was negative. Out of 102 samples tested by RT-PCR, all (100%) samples were negative for Toxoplasma DNA. There was a statistically significant relationship between age groups and transmission pathways (p<0.001), as well as between age groups with anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG levels (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the use of IgM-ELFA and PCR-RT methods for the diagnosis of acute phase and IgG-ELFA in the chronic phase of the disease is important. With the diagnosis of chronic form of toxoplasmosis, preventive treatments can be used in HIV + patients
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Extract of Lonicera Nummulariifolia and Investigating Its Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Effects Against Lung Cancer Cell Line A549
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the increasing incidence of cancer-related deaths and the deficiencies of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in advanced forms of cancer, new approaches are needed to control cancer, and one of these techniques is the use of nanoparticles, especially silver nanoparticles. Nowadays, the use of plants for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted the attention of researchers due to their low cost. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of lonicera nummulariifolia and to study its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects against lung cancer cell line A549.
METHODS: In this experimental study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the extract of lonicera nummulariifolia as a regenerative agent. The antioxidant effects of synthesized silver nanoparticles were evaluated by DPPH assay and finally its antimicrobial and anticancer activity were respectively evaluated by Broth Microdilution and MTT assays at concentrations of 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml on lung cancer cell line within 24 h.
FINDINGS: The results of DPPH assay showed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles at 100 µg/ml had an antioxidant effect of 33.77±0.83. Antimicrobial test results showed that the antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles were greater on gram negative bacteria. MTT results also showed that cell viability was 70.33±0.21 (p>0.05), 51.66±0.24 (p<0.05) 35.75±0.35 (p<0.01), 20.66±0.28 (p<0.001), 13.5±0.31 (p<0.001), and 7.6±0.37 (p<0.001), respectively. Results of DPPH assay showed that silver nanoparticles has significant antioxidant effects (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Considering the antimicrobial and anticancer effects of synthesized silver nanoparticles, it can be used as a drug candidate
Heart-tonic (Mofarreh-e-ghalb) Medicines and Their Mechanism of Action in Persian Medicine
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: From the perspective of Persian medicine, heart is one of the key organs in determining the state of human health and disease. This medical school has introduced many medicines to maintain the health of the heart or to treat its diseases, including heart-tonic (Mofarreh-e-ghalb) medicines. In this study, Mofarreh-e-ghalb medicines and their function are described from the perspective of Persian medicine.
METHODS: In this simple review article, six books from the main sources of Persian Medicine, including Al-Shamel, Makhzan ol Advieh, Qarabadin-e-Kabir, Advieh Ghalbieh, Canon of Medicine and Kholaseh-al-Hekamah were reviewed and Mofarreh-e-ghalb medicines and their function were analyzed. Qualitative content analysis was also performed, and then articles related to the mechanism of action of these drugs were extracted and the name of each Mofarreh was searched in databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, SID, IranMedex.
FINDINGS: Approximately, 30 commonly used Mofarreh were identified and their characteristics including name, Persian and scientific names, temperament (Mizaj), origin and mode of effect on the heart were concluded and given as follows. Echium amoenum is a plant that has a hot temperament and enhances the heart due to its aroma and specific effects. Its antidepressant effects due to its antioxidant activity and inhibition of free radical has been proven in recent studies.
CONCLUSION: Targeted use of Mofarreh-e-ghalb medicines, many of which are part of regular diets, could pave the way for future clinical trials to develop new and effective drugs of natural origin in the treatment of heart and mental illnesses
The Effects of Ibuprofen Cytoxic Dose on caspase-3, -8 and -9 Activity level in cervical cancer (Hela) cells
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that ibuprofen can have an anti-cancer effect on cervical cells, although the mechanism of this effect is not well known in cellular and molecular terms. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cytotoxic concentration of ibuprofen on the activity of caspases -3, -8 and -9 in cervical cancer (Hela) cells.
METHODS: In this experimental-laboratory study, Hela cells were prepared from Pasteur Institute cell Bank and were divided into the control group and groups exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml of Ibuprofen. Viability of cells was measured by MTT assay. The activity level of caspases-3, -8 and -9 was assessed by colorimetric method. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA.
FINDINGS: The viability decreased significantly in cervical cancer cells exposed to 0.1 (76%), 1(64%) and 10(15%) mg/ml of ibuprofen compared to control group (100%)(p<0.05, p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). The caspases-3، -8 and -9 activity level increased significantly in cervical cancer cells exposed to IC50 dose of ibuprofen compared with control group (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.01 respectively).
CONCLUSION: The results of present study showed that ibuprofen is able to reduce the viability of cervical cancer cells in a dose-dependent pathway, and this pathway is induced by activating of caspases-3, -8 and -9
Comparison of teeth discolorations induced by Mineral trioxide aggregate, Calcium-enriched mixture and Biodentine using spectrophotometric analysis
Get PDFIntroduction: Most of the materials used in endodontic procedures may lead to discoloration.This study compared the discolorations induced following treatment by MTA, CEM ,and Biodentine using a spectrophotometric analysis.
Material & Methods: In this experimental study Forty extracted mandibular anterior teeth were selected and sectioned from 2 mm below Cemento Enamel Junction (CEJ) using a disc. A retrograde method was used for drilling cavities 2 mm away from incisal edge. Then the cavities were washed using 5.25% NaOCL and normal saline and the samples were divided randomly into 4 groups. The cavities in groups 1, 2, and 3 were filled by MTA Angleus, Cem cement, and Biodentine, respectively as deep as CEJ level and they were sealed by 2mm of A3 composite color. All of cavities of group 4/control, were all filled by composite A3. Then the samples were stored in a glass incubator with 100% humidity and under laboratory light .they were exposed to a spectrophotometric analysis within 6 periods from placement including base line, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17 ,Tukey HSD and ANOVA statistical test.
Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference in discoloration rate during measurement periodsin each group. However, the discoloration rate varied in various materials. The minimum and maximum discolorations occurred in Biodentine and MTA, respectively and their difference was statistically significant. (p=0.033)Other groups showed no statistically significant difference.
Conclusion: The biodentinehad minimum discolorations compared with other two materials; thus, it seems that it can be recommended for cosmetic areas
Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome in a 6.5-year-old boy: A case report
Get PDFBackground: “Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections”, or PANDAS, is a syndrome characterized by acute-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tics accompanied by the neuropsychiatric symptoms. This case is reported because of its rarity. Case report: A 6.5-year-old boy with swollen tonsils, high-grade fever and rash was admitted to Amirkola Children’s Hospital, Northern Iran. Thereafter he got involved with tachycardia, hypotension, suppurative conjunctivitis and swelling of extensor surfaces of extremities. In addition, after the onset of fever, he had some neuropsychiatric problems such as social isolation, irritability, aggression, oppositional behavior, behavioral regress, unusual sound production, repeated vilifications, loss of appetite and handwriting deterioration. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The patient was discharged from the hospital in a good condition. Conclusions: The medical treatment of underlying disease leads to remarkable patient's neuropsychological and OCD symptoms. PANDAS should be diagnosed in the streptococcal infections associated with abrupt behavioral symptoms and treated with IVIG and antibiotics