Assessment of music effect on concentration and attention among students of Azad University of medical sciences, Tehran unit

This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess impact of short time music listening on the attention and working memory performance. Forty medical students randomly assigned to music and control groups. This randomization was performed in a way to maintain an equal sexual distribution between the two groups to lower probable bias. Fifteen minutes of classical music [Piano sonata K576 by Mozart] played for volunteers in music group, while in control group 15 minutes of rest allowed before performing tests. Wechsler memory scale and reverse digit count test were performed by both groups. The results were compared between two groups and analyzed by statistical methods. Corrected WMS score in music group was 113.97 so it was higher than control group witch was 107.22 [p < 0.01]. Resulted memory quotient [MQ] in music group was 131.75 and it was higher than control group which was 116.6 [p < 0.01]. Performing time of reverse digit count test [from 100 to 1 by interval of 7] in music group was 41.50 sec and it was lower than 51.0 sec of control group but it was not statistically significant [p > 0.05]. Reverse digit count test errors in music group was 0.45 and was lower than 1.20 of control group and it was statistically significant [p < 0.05]. Music listening improved attention and memory performance in music group comparing to control group

Sequencing and expression of elastase 11 gene in polymorphoneuclear leukocytes in healthy individuals for determination of single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] by RT-PCR

ELA2 gene responsible for coding human neutrophil elastase, a powerful serine protease carried by blood neutrophils and capable of destroying most connective tissue proteins. The NE gene consist of 5 exons and 4 introns. Peripheral blood obtained from healthy individuals. Total RNA was isolated using RNA standard techniques from fresh separated cells by polymorphoprep. RNA was analyzed by employing PCR amplification of reveres transcribed using a total of ten specific primers. We amplified five exon of ELA2 gene separately and sequenced each exon. Mutational analysis was performed by directed capillary sequencing method. We have found new single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in exon II codon 44. It was a silent mutation G to A substitution but no changes in amino acid sequences were seen. The codon sequence was GCG that has changed to GCA. The purpose of SNP detection is mainly recognition of susceptible people to certain diseases and providing suitable drugs based on each person genetic information. SNP information in Iranian patients can be used for analysis of drug response to human diseases

[Evaluation of garlic extract on ACE activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus induces several complications and causes damage to organs. However the etiology of complications of diabetes still remains poorly understood. An increased serum ACE activity has been reported in diabetic subjects with vascular complications and in animal model of diabetes. Studies suggest that ACE inhibitors may be useful in diabetic complications. ACE inhibition by garlic extract has been reported in vitro. Therefore, because of the importance of changes in ACE activity in diabetes and ACE inhibitory effect of garlic, the study of this extract on ACE activity, affected complications of diabetes, is more considerable. In the present study, the level of ACE activity has been measured in the serum of streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats treated by garlic extract and compared with ACE level in diabetic rats without treatment, normal rats, and normal rats treated by garlic extract. ACE activity was measured by Cushman and Cheung colorimetric method at start of study and after one and two mounts. Results showed that ACE activity increases in STZ- induced diabetic rats compared to normal subjects but in STZ- induced diabetic rats treated by garlic extract this increase in ACE activity was not found. Therefore garlic extract can be introduced as a useful ACE inhibitor to prevent complications of diabetes mellitus

study comparing cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in childhood culture positive and culture negative meningitis

Despite recent innovations in the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial from nonbacterial meningitis, solid data-necessary for early determination of bacterial meningitis [BM] before organism growth in the culture medium-are missing. Therefore cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] lactate levels were evaluated as a possible means of differentiating the two clinical entities. This was a retrospective study. Patients were studied in one year. They were divided into three groups: Group one included 10 patients with culture positive meningitis; Group two included 10 patients with culture negative meningitis compatible with a viral etiology; Group three consisted of 10 febrile children without any biochemical or cytological CSF abnormality as the normal controls. CSF lactate level determinations were made enzymatically with Boehringer Mannheim reagents in addition to the formal biochemical and cytological investigations, consisting of cell counts and differential plus glucose and protein levels and CSF/blood glucose ratio in all three groups. Group one had a mean CSF lactate level of 12.90 [ +/- 3.08] mmol/L, while in groups 2 and 3 the level was 1.89 [ +/- 0.52] mmoL/l and 1.63 [ +/- 0.31] mmol/L respectively. Lactate levels were significantly higher in patients from group one with respect to the control group [p= 0.001] whereas there were no significant differences between group 2 and the control group. Regarding temporal profile of CSF markers and considering the rapid rise in CSF lactate levels in bacterial meningitis, its measurement seems appealing to confirm a bacterial etiology instead of awaiting the results of CSF culture

Measurement of serum angiotensin converting enzyme [SACF] activity in patients with sarcoidosis in Iran

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme [SACE] activity was measured in 275 patients suspected of sarcoidosis and compared with 114 normal controls and 30 tuberculosis cases. The mean SACE value, plus or minus the standard deviation [X +/- SD], in the normal control group [108 of 114 cases] was 35.56 +/- 10.5; while in the sarcoidosis group [82 proven cases out of 275] it was 77.76 +/- 21.8. The SACE range in the tuberculosis group [29 proven cases out of 30] was 24.58 +/- 8.35. In 14 patients with sarcoidosis who were treated with steroids or showed spontaneous remission, ACE activity was repeated at an interval of two to 10 months. A reduction of up to 50% of ACE activity was noticed. In 10 cases with normal ACE activity however, with highly suspicious biopsy specimens, follow-up measurements in 2-4 months revealed an increase in ACE activity. Considering that the clinical, paraclinical, and histopathological features of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis are often overlapping, we conclude that the SACE assay can be a valuable aid in distinguishing between the two diseases