Effects of a community-based healthy heart program on increasing healthy women's physical activity: a randomized controlled trial guided by Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Background  

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading killer of women in most developed areas of the world. Rates of physical inactivity and poor nutrition, which are two of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women, are substantial. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of a community-based lifestyle-modification program on increasing women's physical activity in a randomized trial guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods.     

The Effect of Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbations of COPD in the Emergency Department: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are serious complications that often require immediate intervention in an emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intravenous magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant in the treatment of AECOPD in the ED.MethodsIn a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, a total of 60 patients with AECOPD presenting to the ED of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, Iran, were included. The study was conducted between September 2016 and February 2018. Eligible patients were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. Patients in the intervention and control groups received intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate (2 gr) or normal saline over 30 minutes, respectively. For all patients, Borgdyspnea score, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) result and clinical variables of interest were evaluated before the beginning of the intervention, and also 45 minutes and 6 hours after the commencement of intervention.ResultsRegardless of time of evaluation, pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR) and Borg score in intervention group was lower than control group. Also, FEV1 and SPO2 were greater in intervention group compared to control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant (between-subject differences or group effect) (p<0.001). The trends of FEV1, SPO2, PR, RR and Borg score were similar between two groups of study (no interaction effect; P>0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, it seems that using intravenous magnesium sulfate has no significant effect on SPO2, FEV1, RR, and PR of patients with AECOPD who presented to ED.     

Circulating levels of the miRNAs,miR-194, and miR-29b,as clinically useful biomarkers for colorectal cancer

Tumor Biology - The microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-194 and miR-29b, have been shown to downregulate in colorectal cancer (CRC) and may identify and classify CRC patients as compared with those in control...     

Population structures of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania tropica the causative agents of kala-azar in Southwest Iran

Parasitology Research - Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Iran and is caused predominantly by Leishmania infantum, but L. tropica is emerging as an important cause. We studied the...     

Protective effect of Pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics,biochemical parameters and epididymal histology in adult male rats treated with Cyclophosphamide

Cancer treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP) may result in reproductive toxicity as one of its side effects. The pumpkin seed is a rich natural source of antioxidant. We have assessed the possible protective efficacy of pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology of CP‐treated rats. Male adult Wistar rats were categorised into four groups. Group 1 served as control and received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of isotonic saline solution. Group 2 rats were treated with CP by IP injection in a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, only once. Group 3 and 4 received CP plus 300 and 600 mg/kg pumpkin seed extract respectively. Six weeks after treatment, sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were examined. Results showed that, sperm characteristics in CP‐treated rats were significantly decreased. Biochemical analysis results showed that the co‐administration of 300 mg pumpkin seed extract could increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level significantly. In CP‐treated rats, histopathological changes such as vacuolisation, disorganisation and separation of epididymal epithelium were observed as well. Interestingly, pumpkin seed extract could improve the above‐mentioned parameters remarkably in CP‐treated rats. Our findings indicated that pumpkin seed extract might be used as protective agent against CP‐induced reproductive toxicity.     

Human Linguatulosis Caused by Linguatula serrata in the City of Kerman,South-eastern Iran- Case Report

Human linguatulosis poses an important medical and veterinary concern in endemic countries. Animals, as reservoir host, play a major role in transmission of infestation and epidemiology of the disease. This study reports a case of human linguatulosis caused by Linguatula serrata in the city of Kerman, South-eastern Iran. A woman suffering from upper respiratory symptoms is presented. The patient consumed raw liver of sheep who was admitted to the Afzalipour University Hospital in Kerman for the symptoms of upper respiratory tract. In microscopic examination of the nasopharyngeal discharge, L. serrata was detected. This report has future medical implication in precise diagnosis of L. serrata in patients with complaints of nasopharyngeal symptoms.     

Partial and transient relief of conduit obstruction by low-pressure balloon dilation in patients with congenital heart disease

Seven patients underwent attempted low pressure balloon dilation of stenotic conduits or homografts from right ventricle to pulmonary artery (n=5), in the aortic valve position (n=1), or from right atrium to left pulmonary artery (n=1). In the right ventricle to pulmonary artery group, mean gradient reduction was only 17%. At follow-up, two patients underwent surgical conduit replacement, one had a stent implanted at cardiac catheterization, the other two are awaiting surgical intervention. The patient with a homograft in the aortic valve position had a good initial result but restenosed within 1 year and underwent a pulmonary autograft operation. The patient with the Fontan homograft stenosis had transient obstruction relief but subsequently required stent implantation. Low-pressure balloon dilation of conduits or homografts is only partially and transiently successful. Whether stent implantation will offer better long-term results remains to be determined.     

Experimental Life Cycle of Hypoderaeum conoideum (Block, 1872) Diez, 1909(Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) Parasite from the North of Iran

Background:

Human Echinostomiasis is an intestinal disease caused by the members of family Echinostomatidae parasites. The aim of present research was to identify echinostomatidae cercariae emitted by Lymnaea palustris snails from Mazandaran province in the north of Iran based on the morphological and morphometrical characteristics of the different stages of experimental parasite life cycle.

Methods:

Echinostomatidae cercariae were collected from L. palustris (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) of the north of Iran. To collect metacercaria, 50 healthy snails were infected with cercariae experimentally (50 cercariae for each). To obtain the adult stage, 9 laboratory animals (3 ducks, 2 rats, 2 mice and 2 quails) were fed with 60 metacercaria for each. To identify parasite, the different stages of worm were examined using light microscope and then the figures were draw under camera Lucida microscope and measures were determined.

Results:

Averagely, 15metacercaria were obtained from each snail that had been previously exposed with cercariae. Ducks presented worm eggs in feces after 10–15 days post-infection. Intestinal worms were collected and identified as Hypoderaeum conoideum on the bases of figures and measures of cephalic collar, the number of collar spine, suckers diameter ratio, testes arrangement, etc.

Conclusion:

H. conoideum cercariae and adult worm are described. This is the first report of the different stages of the experimental life cycle of this parasite in Iran.