Effect of zinc on spermatogenesis and sperm chromatin condensation in bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin treated rats

Objective: The incidence rate of testicular cancer among young males is high. Co-administration of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin [BEP] has increased survival rate of patients with testicular cancer. Although BEP is one of the most effective treatment for testicular cancer, but it severely affects the reproductive system that ultimately leads to infertility. In addition to its antioxidant activity, zinc has an important role in progression of spermiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of zinc on sperm parameters, chromatin condensation and testicular structure after BEP treatment

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were divided into 4 groups [control, BEP, BEP+ zinc and zinc] and examined for 2 spermatogenesis periods [i.e. 18 weeks]. The rats in BEP and BEP+ zinc group were treated with BEP at appropriate doses [0.75, 7.5, and 1.5 mg/kg] for three cycles of three weeks. Zinc at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day was administered to BEP+ zinc and zinc groups. After 18 weeks, we assessed sperm parameters, and excessive histone in sperm chromatin using aniline blue staining, as well as testicular structure and germ line cells using periodic acid-Schiff staining

Results: After BEP treatment, significant decreases were observed in normal sperm morphology, motility, and concentration, as well as alterations in rat sperm chromatin condensation and testicular tissue [P<0.001]. Furthermore, after zinc consumption for 9 weeks, we observed significant improvements of sperm parameters and chromatin condensation as well as a significant retrieval of spermatogonia, leydig cells and tubular architecture [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Zinc administration after chemotherapy with BEP in testicular cancer might be potentially useful in declining the off target consequence associated with oxidative stress

feasibility of industrial production of lipases with an emphasis on its applications in food enrichment

Background: Lipases are the most flexible biocatalysts and they catalyzes Bioconversion reactions wide range. These enzymes have beneficial effects on food substrates such as natural oils, synthetic triglycerides and fatty acids. Lipases are used in a wide range of modern biotechnology industries, such as the synthesis of biopolymers, biodiesel and the pharmaceutical industry in addition use in the food industry about to enrich the omega-3 fatty acid [Docosa hexaenoic acid] in soybean oil, processing of fats, dairy products and the development of food biosensors

Methods: Online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar were searched without any restrictions

Results: The results of these studies show that due to the extraordinary potential of lipase In the food and medicine industry, codification a strategic plan in the country, To develop mass production technologies for these enzymes and Practical steps, It seems necessary in their use in essential food enrichment

Conclusions: Characteristics of the use of lipase catalytic reactions have a significant commercial potential in industrial biotechnology. The production of these enzymes in the industry has a significant commercial potential in industrial biotechnology

effect of yoga on the quality of life in the children and adolescents with haemophilia

The problems caused by haemophilia lead to impairments of the quality of life in patients with haemophilia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yoga on quality of life in the children and adolescents with haemophilia in Shiraz, Iran. This semi-experimental study with pre- and post-test design was performed on 27 boys between 8 and 16 years old who suffered from haemophilia. The patients were divided into two groups. The number of bleedings, absences from school, and referrals to the clinic was evaluated. The demographic data were collected through interviews and using the patients' records in the haemophilia center. Besides, the quality of life was assessed through the Haemo-QoL questionnaire. Then, the yoga intervention was performed for 14 weeks and the data were collected in three stages. The collected data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 18 and were analyzed using non-parametric Friedman test. After the intervention, significant differences were observed in the mean scores of quality of life dimensions and the number of bleedings, school absences, and referrals to the haemophilia clinic [P<0.001]. Thus, yoga may improve the haemophilia children's and adolescents' perception of quality of life without the risk of injury. This intervention also seemed to be effective in reducing the number of bleedings, referrals to the haemophilia clinic, and absences from school

Effect of coping strategies training on its use by thalassemia major adolescents: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Thalassemia is a chronic disease with serious clinical and psychological challenges. The incidence of thalassemia in a family member may cause a psychological crisis in all family members and in this case coping strategies are required. This clinical trial study aimed to determine the impact of training coping strategies on their use by major thalassemic adolescents referred to Dastgheib Hospital in Shiraz. In this randomized clinical trial, 87 adolescents with major thalassemia who were randomly assigned to two groups of experiment and control were enrolled. Then the experiment group attended six sessions of coping strategies training program in isolation, each lasting for one and half hour. In order to examine the coping strategies, Jalowice's coping strategy questionnaire was used in three periods including pre-intervention period and one month and two months after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-test and Chi-square. Mean scores of problem-focused coping strategies in the experiment group increased in one month and two months after the intervention from 45 +/- 12.7 to 54.8 +/- 7.3 and 55.7 +/- 7.2, respectively. Also, the difference in mean scores of problem-focused coping strategies was significant in the two groups [P<0.001]. Furthermore, the difference in mean scores of emotion-focused coping strategies was significantly different between the two groups in two months after the intervention [P=0.007]. Based on the obtained results, teaching coping strategies has improved the use of problem-focused coping strategies and also effective coping with stress and disease problems in patients with thalassemia major. Therefore, it is recommended that authorities should consider this as a part of treatment program

Effect of orem self-care program on the life quality of burn patients referred to ghotbal-din-e-Shirazi burn center, Shiraz, Iran: a randomized controlled trial

Advances in treatment and critical care have largely improved the survival following burns; therefore, the importance of quality of life in burn patients is an issue beyond question. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Orem self-care program on Quality of Life of burn patients. A randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 110 eligible burn patients who were selected using easy sampling method and allocated randomly into two groups of experiment and control. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire, containing demographic and burn information and burn-specific health scale-brief [BSHS-B] questionnaire. For the experiment group, 5 sessions of theoretical training and 75-90 minutes of practical training were accomplished. The quality of life of the patients with burns was assessed in three phases by the BSHS-B questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS-17 using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Independent t-test and repeated measurement multivariate test. After one month and two months of the use of self-care model, the quality of life of the cases improved from 73.33% to 83.78% and 98.12%, respectively [P<0.001]. But the changes in the quality of life of the patients in the control group were not statistically significant [P>0.05]. Based on the obtained results of this study, designing and implementing a self-care program based on Orem's model and the needs of burn patients will improve their quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended that this program should be considered as a part of treatment program for these patients.

quality of life of children with hemophilia in Shiraz, Iran

Hemophilia might impact the quality of life [QOL] in children and adolescent. This study aimed to assess the quality of life in children with hemophilia and identify the factors that predict their QOL. It was a cross-sectional study. A consensus sample of twenty-seven male children aged 8-16 years old with hemophilia participated in this study during 2011. The Haemo-QoL questionnaire version age group II [8-12 years old] or age group III [13-16 years] was used to measure the quality of life in children with hemophilia. Data were analyzed in SPSS using Spearman's rho, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. The total mean score on the Haemo-QoL was 54.1 +/- 7.3. Haemo-QoL correlated with the number of bleeding event and school absence, family income, mothers' education level, severity of hemophilia, person who performs his/her infusions, insight to health status and insight to suffering from hemophilia [P0.05]. QOL was predicated by family income [fiN-0.69; explained 73% of variance] and infusion of the clotting factor replacement by parents [P=-0.33; explained 81% of variance]. The QOL of a sample of male children with hemophilia was impaired. Moreover, number of bleeding event, number of school absences, mother s' education level, severity of hemophilia, insight to health status and insight to suffering from hemophilia were associated with Haemo- QOL. In addition, family income and parent- administration of the product were the factors which predict the QOL in children with hemophilia

[Association of serum adipsin levels with polycystic ovarian syndrome]

Adipokines are proteins secreted from adipose tissue that are involved in metabolism control. Adipsin is one of the adipokines that has a systemic role in lipid metabolism or physiological systems relating to energy balance. Serum levels are found to be associated with BMI, and insulin resistance in several studies. The aim of this study was to assess adipsins association with Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOS]. This case-control study was performed on patients who referred to the clinic of the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences of Shahid-Beheshti University in 2011. Forty five patients with PCOS and 45 normal individuals as control group were selected by easy given sampling method and studied. Fasting adipsin and insulin serum levels were measured by Elisa method and fasting glucose serum level was measured by enzyme-calorimetric method. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA by SPSS 16 software. Adipsin serum levels did not correlate with insulin resistance in PCOS [15.93 +/- 7.24 ng/dl in PCOS patients and 14.21 +/- 7.53 ng/dl in control group]. Glucose and insulin serum levels increased in PCOS [104.1 +/- 13.4 mg/dl and 10.8 +/- 5.2 mU/L respectively] in comparison with controls and these PCOS patients had insulin resistance. This study does not show the correlation between adipsin level and PCOS. It is possible to find a relationship between PCOS and adipsin through expanding the population or limiting the age levels

[ association between serum chemerin concentration and polycystic ovarian syndrome]

Adipokines are proteins which are secreted from the adipose tissue. These groups of proteins are involved in the control of metabolism. Chemerin is one of these adipokines with different proposed biological roles. Serum levels of chemerin have been associated with increased body mass index, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between serum chemerin concentrations and polycystic ovarian syndrome. This case-control study was performed in Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2011. On 45 patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome and 45 normal individuals as the control group. The participants were selected by easy given sampling method. Body mass index, fasting chemerin and serum insulin concentrations were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELIZA] method. Fasting serum glucose was measured by the enzyme-calorimetric method and insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR] was measured by the calculation of relevant equation. Data was analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient by SPSS version 18. Serum chemerin, insulin, and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome than the control group. There was no significant correlation between body mass index, serum levels of insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, or chemerin in cases and controls. This study showed that serum chemerin levels increase in polycystic ovarian syndrome. The findings also suggest that changes in chemerin serum levels could be considered as a criterion for polycystic ovarian syndrome

[Prevalence of androgenetic alopecia among women between 20-70 years old in Isfahan province in 2008-2009]

Androgenetic alopecia is an extremely common disorder affecting both men and women. The incidence is generally considered to be greater in males than females, although some evidence suggests that the apparent differences in incidence may be a reflection of different expression in males and females. This genetically determined disorder is progressive through the gradual conversion of terminal hairs into indeterminate hairs and finally to vellus hairs. Patients have a reduction in the terminal-to-vellus hair ratio, normally at least 2:1. Following miniaturization of the follicles, fibrous tracts remain. Patients with this disorder usually have a typical distribution of hair loss. This is a cross sectional study that conducted in Isfahan health center in 2007-2008. Using simple random sampling, we selected 1800 women in urban health center areas for hair loss. We evaluated the type of hair loss by Ludwig classification. The data was collected through administration of a specifically designed questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS software. The chi-square and student tests were used for data analysis. According to results of this study the of 1800 women, 712 [39.6%] had hair loss. Mean age of females who had hair loss was 50.4 +/- 13 years. Thyroid disorders, ferritin serum level and androgenic hormones may play role in hair loss and their existance should be assessed