ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Diabetes mellitus can lead to structural disorders in the brain. One of the most common complications of diabetes, diabetic neuropathy is associated with central nervous system disorders. Aloe vera has anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Aloe vera gel on the hippocampus changes as well as the expression of nerve growth factor and receptors TrkA and P75 in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. 25 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including: control (normal saline), diabetic (normal saline), Aloe vera gel (400 mg/kg/day; gavage), diabetic + Aloe vera gel (400 mg/kg/day; gavage) and diabetic + insulin NPH (10 IU/kg/day; subcutaneous). Experimental diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (60 mg/kg; intraperitoneal). All groups treated for 8 weeks. At the end of treatment course, the rat brains were removed for measuring the expression of nerve growth factor, p75 and TrkA receptors were evaluated in the hippocampus. Diabetes induction after 8 weeks caused NGF and P75 expression levels in the diabetic group than other groups significantly increased (p<0.05). The TrkA receptor expression in the diabetic group compared with the control had a significant reduction (p<0.05). On the other hand in the diabetic group receiving Aloe vera gel expression of NGF and P75 expression levels compared to the diabetic group was significantly reduced (p<0.05) and the TrkA receptor expression compared with the diabetic group had a significant increase (p<0.05). The results showed that oral administration of Aloe vera gel in diabetic rats ameliorates diabetes-induced hyperglycemia. On the other hand, Aloe vera gel cause modulation of the expression of NGF neurotrophic factor via increased expression of TrkA receptor-specific and non-specific receptor down-regulation of P75 in the hippocampus of STZ-induced diabetic rats.
RESUMEN: La diabetes mellitus puede provocar trastornos estructurales en el cerebro. Es una de las complicaciones más comunes de la diabetes y la neuropatía diabética y está relacionada con trastornos del sistema nervioso central. El Aloe vera tiene efectos antidiabéticos, antioxidantes y neuroprotectores. Este estudio fue diseñado para evaluar los efectos del gel de Aloe vera en los cambios del hipocampo, así como la expresión del factor de crecimiento nervioso y los receptores TrkA y P75 en el hipocampo de ratas diabéticas inducidas por estreptozotocina (STZ). Se dividieron al azar 25 ratas Wistar macho en 5 grupos de: control (solución salina normal), diabéticos (solución salina normal), gel de Aloe vera (400 mg / kg / día; sonda), diabéticos + gel de Aloe vera (400 mg / kg / día; sonda) y diabéticos + insulina NPH (10 UI / kg / día; subcutánea). La diabetes experimental fue inducida por inyección de estreptozotocina (60 mg / kg; intraperitoneal). Todos los grupos fueron tratados durante 8 semanas. Al final del tratamiento, se extrajeron los cerebros de las ratas para medir la expresión del factor de crecimiento nervioso y se evaluaron los receptores p75 y TrkA en el hipocampo. La inducción de diabetes después de 8 semanas provocó que los niveles de expresión de NGF y P75 en el grupo de diabéticos aumentaran significativamente en comparación con otros grupos (p <0,05). La expresión del receptor TrkA en el grupo diabético comparado con el control tuvo una reducción significativa (p <0,05). Por otro lado, el grupo de ratas diabéticas que recibieron la expresión en gel de Aloe vera de NGF y los niveles de expresión de P75 en comparación con el grupo de ratas diabéticas se redujo significativamente (p <0,05) y la expresión del receptor de TrkA en comparación con el grupo de ratas diabéticas tuvo un aumento significativo (p <0,05). Los resultados mostraron que la administración oral de gel de Aloe vera en ratas diabéticas mejora la hiperglucemia inducida por la diabetes. Por otro lado, el gel de Aloe vera causa modulación de la expresión del factor neurotrófico NGF a través del aumento de la expresión de receptor TrkA específico y no específico y regulación negativa del receptor de P75 en el hipocampo de ratas diabéticas inducidas por STZ.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Nerve Growth Factor/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Aloe/chemistry , Hippocampus/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Rats, Wistar , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/drug effects , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , Nerve Growth Factor/genetics , Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor/drug effects , Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Background: Bringing the psychologically unhealthy personnel is one of the organizational damages and is considerable for organizations like the hospitals which deal with life and health of the people. This study was aimed to investigate the relationships of perceived organizational justice and quality of working life with mental health among hospital clinicians
Methods: This is an analytical and cross-sectional study done in 2015-2017. A total of 423 clinical personnel of the chosen hospitals of Yazd province, Iran were selected via stratified sampling and participated in the study. Required data were gathered using Nihoff and Mormen [1993], Walton [1973] and Goldberg and Hiller [1979] questionnaires and were analyzed using the AMUS and SPSS22 and via structural equations method [SEM]
Results: The results show that the perceived organizational justice affects mental health and quality of working life. Also the quality of working life affects the mental health
Conclusion: Findings show that organizations paying attention to the quality of working life and improving the fair behaviors enjoy psychologically healthier employees
ABSTRACT
Background: Given the competitive environment prevailing in the market, service organizations are looking for loyal customers and hospitals are no exception. In the meantime, attention to relationships' quality and establishment of long term relationships have an important role. The objective of the present study is to examine the effect of relationships' quality on loyalty of patients in selected state hospitals
Methods: The present cross-sectional research was conducted in 2014 in selected state hospitals of Arak and Yazd. The population consisted of 160 patients in the selected hospitals. Simple random sampling was conducted to choose participants. Data were collected through two questionnaires; a part of Hon and Gruning's measurement of relationships questionnaire with four dimensions [satisfaction, trust, commitment, and mutual control] and loyalty questions as a part of the Parasuraman et al.'s behavioral tendencies with one dimension [loyalty dimension]. Data were analyzed with SPSS19 using Spearman correlation coefficient and regression
Results: Results from Spearman correlation indicated a positive and significant relationship between relationships quality and loyalty [r = 0.722, P-value = 0.001]. In addition, results from regression indicated that 60% of the variance of patients' loyalty is explained by satisfaction
Conclusion: Findings revealed that strategies to improve the quality of relationships with patients could lead to loyalty in patients
ABSTRACT
Background: Activity-based cost evaluation is used as a tool for accurate assessment and calculation of the cost of any operation .The goal of this study was to estimate the absolute cost of an operation on hernia in Shahid Sadughi hospital of Yazd using Activity Based Costing [ABC] method in 2012
Methods: This applied, descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted in 2012. The required data were collected through interview with hospital officials and personnel of related units, observance of surgical wards' activities, studying documents and notebooks in these sections, as well as other official and supportive units. In order to estimate the cost share of other sectors in surgical wards' services, initially the allocation bases were determined. Afterwards, by applying two-way partitioning method [mathematics], costs were estimated. Finally, by using Activity-Based Costing [ABC] approach, and applying the Excell software, the absolute cost of an operation on hernia was calculated
Results: Studies showed that the absolute cost of an operation on hernia is 307.56 [dollar sign] [1[dollar sign] = 12050 Rials]. The cost of personnel is 165 [dollar sign] which is 53.69%, and the cost of medications and consumed products is 96 [dollar sign] which is 31.2% of the total absolute cost of a hernia operation
Conclusion: Based on the findings, the absolute cost of services can be reduced by improving performance, especially by reforming operations of human resources management and standardizing consumption
ABSTRACT
Background: Health care organizations are faced with a new technology called telemedicine which provides a platform for remote cooperation, training, and consulting. Telemedicine is the use of information technology for clinical care of patients. This study aimed to establish the feasibility of telemedicine in two educational hospitals of Yazd
Methods: This cross - sectional study was conducted in 2014. Census and random sampling were applied to recruit 200 out of 722 clinical and administrative staffs of both hospitals. Data were then collected through a standardized three-part questionnaire entitled "telemedicine measurement tools". The first two parts of the instrument were in the form of checklist that evaluated the infrastructure, administrative culture, and education dimensions. Questionnaires were distributed among hospitals' managers and IT staffs. The third part of the questionnaire was in a five-item Likert questionnaire format that evaluated staff preparation and also any obstacles to the deployment of telemedicine from the employees' perspectives. Data were analyzed through SPSS18 software and by using descriptive statistics, frequency, and percentage
Results: Providing raining and providing care were selected as the best applications in telemedicine by respectively 82.4% and 76.2% of respondents. Additionally, lack of technical staff and insufficient bandwidth in telemedicine were reported by respectively 85.4% and 77.8% of participants as the biggest barriers for use of telemedicine. Distance learning and remote monitoring were experienced by 14.5% and 10% of employees, respectively. There was no strategic plan and support for the use of telemedicine in the two hospitals. Employees had the necessary knowledge on the benefits of telemedicine, as well as barriers to its deployment. Technical infrastructure required for the deployment of telemedicine at the two hospitals was not available
Conclusion: For the deployment of telemedicine, the two hospitals should invest in technical infrastructure and administrative culture. Also, the preparation of the two hospitals' staffs is the reliable implementation of this plan
ABSTRACT
Purpose: to investigate the histopathological aspect of the tissue in pigeons infected with parasites
Materials and Methods: pigeons were naturally infected with oocyst, worm ova and arthropod. This study was conducted from February to September 2013, on 125 [net trapped] wild pigeons living freely in the old obstructed tunnel [Rano] and rocks of Zakros Mountain, located on the road between Ilam and Aivan city, South West of Ilam province, Iran. Gizzard, liver, spleen, pancreas, esophagus, intestine, proventriculus, and tracheal glands were separated and preserved. Fresh fecal samples were examined and the Egg per gram was counted. Randomly, different tissues of 15 birds were collected and preceded in Hematoxylin and Eosin for a histopathological study. The birds were checked for ectoparasites
Results: degenerative changes in the epithelial tissues of the esophageal and proventriculus glands as well as destructive changes in the esophagus, duodenum and cecum of infected pigeons were evaluated. A massive congestion was seen in the tissue of pancreas and trachea. The prevalence of Raillietina spp, Tetramers, Syngamus, Capillaria, Ascaridia columbae, oocyst of protozoa, Phthiraptera, Ceratophy llus Columbae contamination and multiples infection were 29%, 5%, 8%, 15%, 4%, 8%, 2%, 5% and 24%, respectively. Collected ectoparasites included feather lice [Phthiraptera] and pigeon fleas [Ceratophyllus Columbae]
Conclusion: the prevalence of different parasites in wild pigeons is somewhat different from racing and domestic pigeons in the same area, whereas it might be due to having different immune responses. Paras ite infection could have some histopathological effects on different tissues, though few such reports exist to the best of our knowledge
ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis including visceral and cutaneous types is an endemic disease in some parts of our country. The current study aimed to investigate some epidemiologic aspects of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [CL] and comparing the effects of a traditional ointment and Amphotricin B. This prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted to evaluate epidemiologic pattern of CL and comparing different therapeutic agents including Amphotricin B and local traditional ointment containing onion juice in Mehran- Ilam province, Western Iran during 2003-2008. 150 confirmed cases [40 case in topical treatment group and 100 cases in Amphotricin group] out of 925 suspected patients were enrolled into the study. Diagnosis criteria were based on biopsy and microscopic findings. CL prevalence was significantly increased from 16% in 2003 to 25.3% in 2008 [P<0.001]. Mean age of patients was 23.1 +/- 6.4 years and male gender and age 16 to 24 years were risk factors to involving CL [P=0.05]. Healing period was 133 +/- 15 days for patients who administered traditional ointment and 120 +/- 12 days for Amphotericin B group [P<0.02]. Local itching was observed more frequently in Amphotericin B than traditional ointment [P=0.04]. Increasing CL trend in this tropical area is a real threat for shifting from an endemic to an epidemic disease, which needs serious attention. It seems that the traditional medicine have noticeable effects on CL treatment, so it can be a potential alternative medicine after achieving appropriate technology and performing randomized clinical trials