[Comparison of serum level of heat shock protein 27 [HSP 27] and the amount of DNA damage in acute myocardial infarction patients]

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is most common cause of acute myocardial infarction [MI] and can lead to increased oxidative stress and damage to macromolecules. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine [8- OHdG] as a marker of damage to the DNA and the levels of heat shock protein HSP27 in acute myocardial infarction [MI] patients

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 30 patients with acute MI were enrolled. Serum levels of HSP27, 8-OHdG, cardiac troponin I [C-TnI], creatine kinase [CK-MB] and levels of total antioxidant and malondialdehyde were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 and T-test analysis at the significant level of P50.05

Results: Data analysis showed that serum levels of HSP27 and 8-OHdG in acute MI patients peaked [8-OHdG=9.8 +/- 2.1, HSP27=81 +/- 3.1] after 48 hours of the attack showing a significant increase [HSP27=9.7 +/- 1.8, 8-OHdG=4.4 +/- 1.2] [P50.05] in comparison to healthy controls. Levels of the enzyme CK-MB 24 hours and CTnI and malondialdehyde after 48 hours after acute MI showed the highest values

Conclusion: Increase in markers of DNA damage and heat shock protein levels in MI patients, verify high levels of oxidative stress in MI, indicating that evaluation of changes in 8-OHdG and heat shock proteins is a valuable way to assess the level of damage to macromolecules during acute MI

[Diabetic retinopathy: its mechanism and therapeutic strategies]

Introduction: Today, diabetes as a result of its many complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular problems is attracting much attention as a global pathology. Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of adult blindness in the world, as reported by the World Health Organization, with a prevalence estimated to double by 2030. Diabetic retinopathy can be categorized as two types, proliferative- and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Based on literature available, 20-50% of patients with long duration of diabetes, are mostly diagnosed with the proliferative form of retinopathy, a disorder caused by activation of biochemical pathways associated with hyperglycemia and ultimately increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and nerve damage, resulting defects in micro-vessels of the retina, eventually which can lead to vision loss and blindness. Hence due to the increased production of free radicals and active oxygen species [ROS], and also defects in the antioxidant defense system in this disease, natural antioxidants, such as plant flavonoids can be effective in reducing harmful oxidative stress. Currently the use of medicinal plants and their active components is a field of interest in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Based on the results of several studies on the use of natural products in treatment of diabetes, antioxidants could be used to design new drugs with lower side effects

[Effects of alcoholic and aqueous extract of barberry, jujube and saffron petals on serum level of adiponectin and lipid profile in diabetic rats]

Adiponectin is a protein hormone secreted from adipose tissue that can affect diabetes progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in serum levels of adiponectin in diabetic rats treated with alcoholic and aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants, jujube [Ziziphus jujuba], barberry [Berberis vulgaris] and saffron [Crocus sativus]. In this study, streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with two doses of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the herbs, 25 and 100 mg/kg respectively, for 21 days. After the treatment period, the levels of adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol were measured and the results were analyzed using one way ANOVA test. In all the diabetic groups receiving extracts, serum levels of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and VLDL [very low density lipoprotein], showed a significant decrease [P<0.05]. Serum level of HDL [high density lipoprotein] increased significantly only in the group receiving jujube [P<0.05], whereas adiponectin level was significantly increased in all the treated groups. Given the role of adiponectin in regulating lipid metabolism, and the increased level of adiponectin in the treated diabetic groups, it can be said that the extracts regulate glucose and lipid metabolism by changes in adiponectin level. Further studies are recommended to confirm these findings

Effectiveness of meglumine antimoniate against L. tropica in a recently emerged focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Birjand, eastern Islamic Republic of Iran

With limited options to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis, constant monitoring of the rate of resistance to pentavalent antimony-based drugs is needed. This study identified the infecting Leishmania species and evaluated the results of meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime[Registered sign]] therapy in a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Birjand, eastern Islamic Republic of Iran. Smears from 150 patients showed that 141 patients were infected by L. tropica and 9 by L. major. In total, 141 patients with L. tropica infection completed Glucantime[Registered sign] treatment and follow-up; 63.8% were treated intralesionally and 36.2% by intramuscular administration. The overall success rate after one course of therapy with Glucantime[Registered sign] was 96.5% [136/141], and all the failures [5/141] occurred with intramuscular injections. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the failure rates of intramuscular and intralesional injections. Children < 10 years old had a significantly higher failure rate than adults

[Exploration of students' perceptions of issues in nursing theoretical courses: a qualitative research]

Ensuring the quality of education is one of the responsibilities of nurse instructors. Understanding the educational issues related to theoretical courses to improve the quality of nursing education. The purpose of this study was to explore students' perceptions of issues in nursing theoretical courses. A qualitative design using a conventional content analysis approach was used to collect and analyze data. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 17 nursing students chosen using purposeful sampling. During data analysis, four main categories were developed: "ineffective instructor", "non-dynamic curriculum", "problems regard to external environment of education", and "factors related to the individual student". It was shown that education issues are caused by different factors. It is suggested that educational administrators should provide educational facilities and help with the improvement of instructors' teaching and communication skills in order to take effective steps in removing educational issues, and enhance students' motivation and confidence

[Managers and nurses function of safe patients' care from the nurses Perspective]

Introduction: Integration of safety science with patients' daily cares decreases events and injuries. Nurses whom are doing patients care, promised patients safety protection. This study aimed to determine managers and nurses function of safe patients' care from the nurses prospective

Materials and methods: This descriptive study was carried out with purposive sampling method on 202 nurses working in Uremia Medical University hospitals. Data were gathered using 'Safe Practice for Better Healthcare' questionnaire with 15 questions about managers' function. In addition, 25 questions were about nurses' function of safe patients' care. Validity of the questionnaire was measured by content validity and reliability was determined by testretest [r=0/85]. Regarding data analysis, SPSS software, descriptive statistical testes, Chisquare test and Pearson correlate coefficient were used

Findings: Findings of study showed that most of the nurses [91.6%, 56.9%] believed theirs function of safe patients' care is good and managers' function is moderate. Results showed that between managers' function and nurses' function of safe patients' care, there is statistically a significant relationship [p=0.000]

Conclusion: Regarding to bilateral effect of managers and nurses on the safe care of patients, attention and emphasis on formal and informal communication in health-related organizations can improve patients' safety

[ effect of implementing orem's self-care model on the self- esteem of elderlies resident of nursing home in Urmia]

Regarding the increase in the elderly population, using nursing theories especially Orem self-care model can be effective in self- esteem improvement. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of implementing Orem self-care model on the self- esteem of the elderly resident in the nursing homes in Urmia. In this quasi-experimental study, 50 elderly people who have inclusion criteria were selected through available sampling and were randomly divided into two groups of control [25] and intervention [25]. Self- esteem was evaluated via Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire before and one month after implementing the selfcare program. Data were analyzed via SPSS software v. 16, using descriptive and inferential statistical testes. Results showed that in the control group, need level in 48% of the elderly was low, in 44% moderate and in 8% high. In the intervention group this level was reported low in 44%, moderate in 52% and high in4% of the subjects. Chi-square test did not show a significant difference between the two groups regarding level of needs [P=0.76]. In the intervention group, the mean score of self-esteem before the intervention was 25.70 which increased to 27.96 after the intervention. The difference between the means scores of self-esteem in the two groups was significant [P=0/015]. Implementing orem's self-care model had a positive influence on improving self- esteem of the elderly people. Therefore, nurses and other eldercare providers are suggested to reinforce self-care spirit in these patients, according to the nursing theories and health care programs, to improve self- esteem in the elderly resident in nursing homes.

[Parents' worries about life problems of adolescent girls with diabetes: a qualitative study]

Parents participation in management of diabetes has been recognized to be beneficent. Recognizing parents' worries should be addressed to plan effective health promoting programs. This study aimed to explore parents' worries about life problems of adolescent girls with diabetes. In this qualitative study, 26 parents [16 mothers and 10 fathers] of adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes were recruited using purposive sampling from the Diabetes Society in west Azerbaijan. Data were collected using in-depth and semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the transcripts was guided by qualitative content analysis. Qualitative content analysis demonstrated three original categories from parents' worries: 1] worries about the future; 2] worries about the treatments; and 3] worries about the society. Better perception of parents' concerns may promote effective communication between health professionals and parents. Modification of parents' personal control and perceived threat through appropriate educational programs that acknowledge and address their concerns may be a means of empowering parents

Expression and purification of recombinant mycobacterium tuberculosis [TB] Antigens, ESAT-6, CFP-10 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 and their diagnosis potential for detection of TB patients

One of the most widely used methods to detect tuberculosis [TB] infection is the tuberculin skin test [TST]. The completion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [M. tuberculosis] genome sequence has led to identification of several antigens that can be utilized for accurate diagnosis and control of TB. The aim of this study was to purify the recombinant M. tuberculosis antigens for the evaluation of their potential in TB diagnosis. The recombinant secretory antigens, ESAT-6, CFP-10 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 were produced by PCR and cloning methods. To investigate antigen specific responses of these recombinant antigens in detection of TB, ex vivo enzyme linked immunospot [ELISPOT] test in 30 clinically diagnosed TB patients was evaluated. The selected M. tuberculosis antigens were cloned, expressed and purified in Escherichia coli [BL21]. ELISPOT assay for detection of TB showed the sensitivity of 93, 90 and 100% for recombinant ESAT-6, CFP-10 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 proteins respectively, which is significantly higher than conventional TST. The recombinant antigens of ESAT-6, CFP-10 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 can be used as an accurate means of detecting TB in Iran

[Comparative study on 1D [VP1] region of foot and mouth disease virus [type A strain] among different isolates: Khorasan Razavi isolate and other Iranian and neighboring countries isolates]

Foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] is one of the most important virus disease in farm animals. Types O, A and Asial FMD virus have been endemic in Iran. In this study, samples from suspected livestock were analyzed by RT-PCR experiment. The number of 702 nucleotides determined at 1D- 2B region of type A strain isolated from Khorasan Razavi province sequenced and compared with that of other reported isolates type A from Iran and neighboring countries. The results show that field isolated type A has about 89% similarity with other reported isolates type A from Iran and neighboring countries. Furthermore, this virus shows the most similarity with A/IRN/1/87[Samuel. Phylogenitic analysis revealed that virus was closely related to A22-Iraq/99 and A/IRN/iso/105 that rest in the same lineage. The data showed high similarity between type A viruses involved in the Khorasan Razavi province and A/IRN/87v [vaccine strain]; so that it can be concluded that the vaccine can produce prophylactic antibody against this virus