Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
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Folic Acid Functionalized Nanoparticles as Pharmaceutical Carriers in Drug Delivery Systems
No full textConventional chemotherapeutic approaches in cancer therapy such as surgery, che-motherapy, and radiotherapy have several disadvantages due to their nontargeteddistributions in the whole body. On the other hand, nanoparticles (NPs) based thera-pies are remarkably progressing to solve several limitations of conventional drugdelivery systems (DDSs) including nonspecific biodistribution and targeting, poorwater solubility, weak bioavailability and biodegradability, low pharmacokinetic prop-erties, and so forth. The enhanced permeability and retention effect escape from P-glycoprotein trap in cancer cells as a passive targeting mechanism, and activetargeting strategies are also other most important advantages of NPs in cancer diag-nosis and therapy. Folic acid (FA) is one of the biologic molecules which has beentargeted overexpressed-folic acid receptor (FR) on the surface of cancer cells. There-fore, conjugation of FA to NPs most easily enhances the FR-mediated targeting deliv-ery of therapeutic agents. Here, the recent works in FA which have been decoratedNPs-based DDSs are discussed and cancer therapy potency of these NPs in clinicaltrials are presente
Efficacy of Methotrexate on Pain Severity Reduction and Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients with Moderate to Severe Knee Osteoarthritis
Get PDFBackground: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) leads to low quality of life due to pain and limitation in daily activities. Recent studies indicated that Methotrexate (MTX) could reduce pain due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
Objectives: In this study, the researchers aimed at evaluating the efficacy of MTX in pain control and improvement of quality of life in patients with moderate to severe knee OA.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with moderate to severe knee OA were allocated to receive MTX (n = 50) 7.5 mg weekly to be increased to 15 mg weekly after first months or placebo (n = 50) for six months. Pain severity was measured using the numerical rating scale (NRS), so was functional status by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and quality of life by SF-12 questionnaire before the treatment, and three months and six months after the intervention. The results were compared between the groups subsequently. Nine patients from the MTX group were excluded due to the use of corticosteroids during the treatment period.
Results: The MTX group compared to the placebo group had significant improvement in pain severity and quality of life during six months and WOMAC parameters at three and six months after the intervention. The need for NSAIDS was slightly higher in the placebo group with no significant difference (22% versus 36%, P = 0.14). The MTX adverse effects were not observed.
Conclusions: Treatment of moderate to severe knee OA with MTX could reduce pain severity and improve functional status and quality of life in OA patients
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae in Iran
Get PDFBackground. Cholera, an acute diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), is an endemic
disease and a major public health problem in Iran. Antibiotic therapy can decrease duration of the disease,
transmission of infection and contamination of the environment. Considering different pattern of V. cholerae
antibiotic resistance around the world, the aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to
evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of V. cholerae in Iran.
Methods. A systematic review of the literature was performed using related keywords in the electronic
national and international databases including SID, Irandoc, Iran Medex and Magiran as well as PubMed,
Scopus, Google Scholar and ISI web of knowledge. Up to July 31, 2018, 27 eligible papers were included
in our meta-analysis based on the defined inclusion criteria.
Results. V. cholerae O1 was the most prevalent strain isolated in Iran and exhibited a high resistance rate
against numerous antibiotics including chloramphenicol (33.6%), oxytetracycline (40.2%), trimethoprim/
sulphamethoxazole (86%), tetracycline (34.5%), furazolidone (69.8%), streptomycin (93.8%), polymyxin
(80.7%), ampicillin (32.1%), nalidixic acid (88.9%), kanamycin (29%) and amoxicillin (30.5%).
Conclusion. According to the meta-analysis results, antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin, doxycycline,
erythromycin, gentamicin, azithromycin, cefixime and cefepime could be effective for the treatment of severe
cases of cholera in Iran
Comparison of Bone Mineral Densitometry at 2 Sites Versus 3 Sites in Patients Suspicious for Osteoporosis
No full textAbstract
Objectives:
In this study, we aim to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) results of 2 standard sites with 3 sites including wrist in diagnosing osteoporosis.
Methods:
We evaluated the BMD results of 1272 individuals referred for suspected osteoporosis between 2012 and 2015. Those individuals were included with BMD at lumbar spine, femur neck, and wrist. Bone mineral density was measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) device. Bone mineral density and T score were measured for all 3 sites.
Results:
There was significant correlation between wrist T score with hip T score (r = 0.606, P < .001) and lumbar T score (r = 0.527, P < .001). With BMD of 2 sites, patients had osteopenia in 46.3% and osteoporosis in 23.7%, while by adding wrist T-BMD, subjects had osteopenia in 46.6% and osteoporosis in 33%. Between BMD at 2 sites and 3 sites, there was concordance in 81.9%, minor discordance in 17.6%, and major discordance in 0.5%.
Conclusions:
We observed discordance between BMD measurements of 2 sites and 3 sites, with latter detecting more cases with osteoporosis. In fact, measurement of T scores of wrist along with lumbar and femur neck improves the diagnosis
Effectiveness of Stress Management Training on Reducing Perceived Stress in Veterans with PTSD
Get PDFAims In Iran, a significant group of warriors and veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Efforts have been made to evaluate a variety of psychological treatments.
This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of stress management training on reducing
perceived stress in veterans with PTSD.
Materials & Methods In this semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design with
control group conducted in 2017-18, 22 veterans with PTSD, who were hospitalized in Issar
Psychiatric Hospital of Ardabil, were selected by available sampling method and they were
randomly assigned into experimental group (11 veterans) and control group (11 veterans).
The data collection tools were Perceived Stress Scale and Mississippi PTSD Scale. Patients in
the experimental group received stress management training for 10 sessions. The data were
analyzed by SPSS 21 software, using one-variable ANOVA, covariance analysis and multivariate
variance.
Findings There was a significant difference between perceived stress scores and PTSD
symptoms in post-test stage, and stress management training reduced perceived stress and
PTSD symptoms in veterans with PTSD in the experimental group (p=0.001).
Conclusion Stress management training is effective in reducing perceived stress and PTSD
symptoms in veterans with PTSD
Insights into the current status of privileged N‑heterocycles as antileishmanial agents
No full textAbstract: Leishmania, one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, is endemic in several regions of the world and hence regarded as a serious threat to public health. Major difficulties with current chemotherapeutic agents raise issues such as toxicity, resistance, cost and other side effects. These issues necessitate development of potentially new chemical entities against diverse leishmanial species. Numerous natural and synthetic new antileishmanial molecules have been described for disease management. Careful inspection of scientific reports revealed that considerable amount of promising antileishmanial agents belonged to the nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as quinoline, triazole, pyrazole, imidazole, indole, pyrimidine, β-carboline, quinoxaline, quinazoline and benzimidazole. In this regard, enormous chemical data provide the opportunity for systematic elucidation of structural requirements against different leishmanial species. Within this representation, insights into the current status of privileged N-heterocycles as antileishmanial agents with particular emphasis on structure activity relationships are reviewed. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Libman-Sacks endocarditis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome
Get PDFBackground: Libman-Sacks endocarditis (LSE) is characterized by sterile lesions that commonly affect the aortic and mitral heart valves. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with LSE. Cardiac manifestations including LSE could be interrelated with other manifestations and early diagnosis could help in preventing further complications.
Case presentation: Here, we report three cases of LSE in SLE patients with secondary APS. All patients presented with neurological manifestations and LSE was diagnosed by Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All three patients were treated for the underlying disease and also received anticoagulant therapy.
Conclusion: In all patients with SLE and secondary APS, LSE should be considered if a patient manifests any evidence of neurologic involvement
Frequency and type of astigmatism and ocular complications of associated diseases in patients undergoing cataract in patients reffered to Ardabil Noor surgery center within a year of the March 2018 till March 2019
Get PDFBackground and objective: The goal of cataract surgery was to obtain the best post-operative results and to re-establish eye vision; Astigmatism and ocular comorbidities are factors that have a significant impact on visual acuity after surgery. The present study was conducted to determine the frequency and type of astigmatism and ocular complications of associated diseases in patients undergoing cataract in patients reffered to Ardabil Noor surgery center within a year of the March 2018 till March 2019.
Methods: The study was a case series in which all patients scheduled for cataract surgery at Ardabil Noor surgery center, within a year of the March 2018 till March 2019, prospectively were included in the study using census sampling method. In all patients, preoperative examinations including ophthalmologic examination, slit lamp examination, tonometry, visual acuity and funduscopy were performed by dilated pupils. Demographic and keratometric values were collected before surgery using Auto Refractokeratometer. Finally, the collected data was entered into SPSS software version 25 and analyzed.
Results: A total of 1018 eyes of 780 patients were considered. The mean age of the patients was 65.88 ± 11.43 years and 445 (57.1%) of them were female. The mean keratometry of steep and flat axises were 44.75 ± 1.86 D and 44.82 ± 1.69 D, respectively. Women had significantly steeper corneas. Based on LOCS III system, the types of cataracts were as follows: Posterior subcapsular 37.4%, nuclear 28%, cortical 1%, and mixed 33.6%. Types of astigmatism were as follows: 34.7% with-the-rule (WTR), 29.3% against-the-rule (ATR), and 35.3% oblique. There was a significant relationship between the type of astigmatism with gender and age group (P <0.001) so that the prevalence of WTR and oblique was higher among women and the prevalence of ATR was higher among men and the prevalence of WTR was higher among lower age groups while the prevalence of ATR was higher among older age groups. 70.8% of the eyes have astigmatism of at least 0.5 diopters, 33.6% have astigmatism of at least 1 diopter, 16.2% have astigmatism of at least 1.5 diopters, and 9.2% have astigmatism of at least 2 diopters. 32.3% of the patients had at least one ocular comorbidity that the most common ones were as follows: pseudoexfoliation syndrome (8.2%), diabetic retinopathy (6.8%), and glaucoma (4.2%).
Conclusion: This study that was performed on a sample of patients undergoing cataract surgery in Ardabil showed that there is a significant prevalence of corneal astigmatism > 1.00 D and preoperative ocular comorbidities among these patients. These findings highlight the importance of preoperatively management of ocular comorbidities and simultaneously correcting of astigmatism during cataract surgery in order to achieve better vision outcomes in these patients
Study of Islamic instructions on the health of soul and body
Get PDFIntroduction: Health is a basic human need. Islam as a comprehensive and
temperament-based religion does not waive any instruction to evolve the human’s soul
and body, and the health education is also one of the strategies for promoting health of
the communities. Spiritual health is one of the most important aspects of health, which
plays an important role in providing physical and spiritual health for people. Therefore,
the aim of this study was to investigate the Islamic instructions on the health of soul
and body.
Methods: This study reviewed the Holy Quran verses, Nahj al-Balaghah, narrations
and interpretive and hadith sources. Data were collected via searching in the national
databases, Google scholar, SID, IranMedex and PubMed with the keywords of soul
health, body health, spirituality, spiritual well-being, religion and health, mental health,
spiritual health, religion and health.
Findings: The results of this study show that the Islamic religion, in its teachings, on
observing health and preventing diseases (especially oral and dental) has preceded
treatment of diseases, and has provided many sentences and orders for this purpose.
People with high attachment and trust in God are more capable of dealing with
problems due to having supportive resources and thereby more capable of coping with
psychological and physical problems, too.
Conclusion: Adherence and proper implementation of the instructions and teachings of
Islam can lead to spiritual, mental and physical health for individuals and increase the
sense of security and ability to deal with psychological and physical problems
Clinical Evaluation of Honey Throat Spray for Auxiliary Treatment of Pharyngitis
Get PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of throat spray of honey in auxiliary treatment of patients aged 14-83 years with diagnosis of pharyngitis refered to clinic of Dr.Hamidiran of Germi in 2019.
Methods: First, 35 botlles of honey throat spray (50%w/v) and 35 bottles of dextrose throat spray (5%) were prepared. This study was a randomized clinical trial in which 70 patients aged 14-83years with the diagnosis of pharyngitis were included in the study considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. In treatment group 35 patients received cefixim 400 tablet, expectorant syrup and honey throat spray for 10 days. In placebo group 35 patients received cefixim 400, expectorant syrup and dextrose throat spray for 10 days. The symptoms and signs of the disease at baseline and then 24 hours, 48 hours, 5 days and 10 days after starting treatment were compared between the two groups.
Results: As per results of food and drug labotatory of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, our honey sample met standard criteria for natural honey. The treatment and placebo groups were similar in respect of age mean (34.88±16.87 vs 42±16.86, respectively, and p=0.082) and gender distribution (23 male vs 18 male, respectively, and p=0.332). There was no significant differenece etween the two groups in term of clinical symptoms and signs at the time of login to study. Pharyngitis recovery was better in treatment group than in the placebo group; this positive effects was statistically significant for symptoms of morning phlegm (p=0), throat pain (p=0) and painful swallowing (p=0), 24 hours after starting treatment. In treatment group, 48 hours after starting treatment symptoms of fever and painful swallowing were resolved and throat pain of 85.71% of patients in treatment group and 17.14% of patients in placebo group were improved.
Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that in patients aged 14-83 years with diagnosis of pharyngitis, the use of honey throat spray as axiliary treatment to pharyngitis in treatment group could improve clinical symptoms and signs and decrease duration of recovery as compared to placebo group. However, given the limited studies in this area, further research is needed to provide appropriate recommendation for honey throat spray in treatment of pharyngitis in other population