satisfaction rate of authors from Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2005 and 2006

Scholarly activities as well as growth in Science and technology have been well established as the basis for development in every country. In recent years due to more attention to research the number of research projects and published articles in Iranian and International journals has gained a rapid increase. Therefore, the evaluation of Medical journals as sources of publishing the results of research projects is necessary. This study was performed to assess the satisfaction rate of authors from Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and compare it with their satisfaction rate from other Iranian journals. In this descriptive-analytic study a three-part questionnaire was designed and distributed among corresponding authors whose manuscripts were accepted or were under consideration by Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire's reliability was confirmed by using alpha-Cronbach and validity was confirmed by getting experts opinions. Data analysis was done by using Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests. The response rate was 78.2%; and the mean age of the participants was 43.7 [28-62] years and mean number of their published articles was 18.9 +/- 2.3. In regard to satisfaction rate, 14.8% were very satisfied, 40.7% were satisfied and 44.4% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The satisfaction rate of the same authors for other journals was as follows: 14.3% were very satisfied, 35.7% were satisfied, 47.6% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 2.4% were dissatisfied. There was no significant difference in this regard

[ relationship between copper and zinc concentration and free radical markers in copper industry workers]

Copper and zinc play a key role in oxidative reactions and in vivo studies have shown their different effects. In this study we examined the influence of exposure to copper and zinc on catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities in erythrocytes, total serum antioxidant capacity and malondiadehyde [MDA] production of copper industry workers. In the present study, 70 workers in a Copper Industry and 70 healthy controls with the age range of 35-55 years were studied. The catalase assay and SOD activity in RBC lysate and total antioxidant were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Using thiobarbitoric acid reaction, MDA concentration was determined. The results showed a higher copper and zinc concentration in serum of worker group [113.8 +/- 2.2 and 148.3 +/- 3.2micro g/L respectively, P<0.001] in comparison with the control group [104.5 +/- 1.5 and 107.7 +/- 2micro g/L respectively]. Serum catalase and SOD activities in RBC were higher in workers [7621.7 +/- 199.3 and 1489.5 +/- 12.3micro /l] than in the control group [7049.1 +/- 157.4 and 1421.7 +/- 11.1 micro /l respectively, P<0.05, for SOD only]. Serum total antioxidant was significantly higher in workers than controls [1.6 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.01] and it was the same for MDA concentration [245.5 +/- 3.7nmol/gHb in the worker group compared to 205 +/- 3.2nmol/gHb in the control group]. No correlation were found between copper and zinc concentrations and the other factors [P>0.05]. These results suggest that occupational exposure to copper and zinc induces oxidative stress followed by anti oxidative defense system

[Role of angiotensin II in reactive oxygen species production and modulatory role of nitric oxide [no] in vessel responses to angII in acute joint inflammation in the rabbit]

It has been approved that in most tissues NO production increases during acute inflammation and Angiotensin II has a role in production of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. As regulation of joint blood flow [JBF] is important in this situation, this study was performed to investigate the interaction of local Ang II and ROS production and the modulatory role of NO on regulation of JBF during acute inflammation. The study was performed on 24 Newzealand white rabbits divided into three experimental and one control groups. Acute knee joint inflammation was produced by intraarticular injection of 0.5 ml of a 2% solution of carrageenan in knee joint. In the first group after 24 hours animals were anesthetized by thiopental sodium and carotid artery, jugular vein and saphenous artery were cannulated for recording blood pressure, injection of L-NAME and local injection of AngII and losartan respectively. Blood flow was recorded by laser Doppler flow meter. Joint vascular resistance [JVR] was calculated by dividing arterial blood pressure [ABP] by JBF. In the second group, knee joint tissue was used for homogenization and ROS measurement .In the third group, Losartan [10mg/kg] was administrated orally 2 hours before induction of inflammation. L-NAME increased JVR significantly. JVR in response to AngII was significantly increased. This response was significantly potentiated by L-NAME [P<0.01]. Losartan completely blocked the effect of AngII on JVR. Data showed that total amount of antioxidant and catalase activity nonsignificantly increased in inflamed group. Losartan significantly returned the catalase activity of the inflamed joint to the control level [P<0.01]. NO plays a role in the regulation of joint vascular tone and modulates the AT1 receptor response to AngII in acutely inflamed joints. Ang II increased the production of ROS and as a result the amount of antioxidants in acutely inflamed joints and this is via angiotensin II and through AT[1] receptors

[Comparison of antioxidant system in patients with ischemic heart disease and control group and its relation to ceruloplasmin]

Coronary heart diseases, specially myocardial ischemias due to atherosclerosis, are among the major causes of mortality in industrialized societies. Oxidative stress occurs during ischemia. This finding has been confirmed by in vitro studies which have shown some changes in antioxidant concentration during ischemia. However, antioxidant system status and its relation to ceruloplasmin as a risk factor have not been studied in patients with ischemic heart disease [IHD]. This study was conducted to evaluate this status. This case-control study carried out on 99 men, aged 35-55 years. Two groups including 29 patients with IHD due to coronary artery stenosis above 70 percent, confirmed by angiography and exercise tests, and 70 healthy men without heart disease, diabetes and hypertension background were studied. Blood samples were collected from all subjects early in the morning. Then catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities, total antioxidant of serum [TAS], ceruloplasmin and malondialdehyde [MDA] concentrations were measured by a spectrophotometric method. TAS, SOD and catalase levels were 0.9 +/- 0.04 mmol/L, 1224 +/- 21.40 U/g Hb and 5657 +/- 290.60 U/g Hb respectively in patients which were significantly lower than those of controls 1.6 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, 1488 +/- 13.03 U/g Hb and 7546 +/- 176.80 U/g Hb [p<0.05]. MDA and ceruloplasmin concentrations were 36 +/- 0.92 mg/dl, 277 +/- 6.90 nmol/g Hb] respectively in cases and 29 +/- 0.60 mg/dl and 247 +/- 4.20 nmol/g Hb in controls which showed a significant difference [p<0.05]. There was no statistical correlation between antioxidants and ceruloplasmin level in these groups. In patients with IHD, antioxidant system capacity was lower than that of controls which can explain higher lipid peroxidation in these patients. Also we can not predict lipid peroxidation severity by measuring ceruloplasmin level because no association was found between these two factors

[Evaluation of ghrelin and leptin in patients with thyroid malfunction]

Leptin and Ghrelin are hormones that have been discovered in the last decade and were shown to be involved in appetite and metabolism regulation and body weight. Thyroid hormones are also involved in general metabolism and changes in their circulating levels bring about changes in appetite and body weight. Results of animal and human studies regarding Leptin level and its relation to thyroid hormones are opposing each other, and there is no data about Ghrelin level in thyroid malfunction. To determine the relation between thyroid function and circulating levels of Ghrelin and Leptin, we evaluated serum concentration of these hormones in patients with untreated thyroid malfunction. Thirty hyperthyroid and 30 hypothyroid females that were aged between 14-52 years and 30 healthy females with the same age range [control group] were randomly selected. From each participant 5 ml of fasting blood was collected and after processing, serum levels of T[4], T[3], T[3]-uptake, TSH, Leptin and Ghrelin were evaluated by radio-immunoassay or enzyme-link immunoassay methods. Evaluated results showed that neither Ghrelin nor Leptin levels show significant change in patients with thyroid malfunction. But there was a positive significant correlation between Leptin level and BMI of all participants [r=0.41, P<0.01]. In addition, there were negative significant correlations between Ghrelin and thyroid hormones [r=0.27, P<0.05].

The present results show that Leptin variation is due to BMI. Furthermore, negative and weak correlation between thyroid hormones and Ghrelin may indicate that increase in appetite of hyperthyroid patients and its decrease in hypothyroid patients are not due to circulating level of Ghrelin

[Mechanism of antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of myrtus communisL. on E.coli Kl2 HB101]

Myrtus Communis, L. is a medicinal herb, which has antibacterial activity and is used against many pathogens. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of this herb against E.coli K12 HB101.In this experimental study E.coli K12 HB101 containing plasmid pBR322 was cultured in Muler Hinton agar under different concentration [1.56-6.25 mg/ml] of Myrtus communis air-dried extract. The cells were lysed by repeated sonication and freeze -thawing. The catalase, and superoxide dismutase[SOD] activities, total antioxidant [TAS] and malondialdehyde determination were performed on the cell lysate. Plasmid DNA was purified and the electrophoretic behavior of the purified DNA grown under different concentration of the extract were compared.Various Concentrations [SIC] of the extract did not show any changes in the DNA topology. When the extract concentration in the culture increased from 1.56 to 6.25 mg/ml the catalase specific activity of the cell extract reduced from 20.47 +/- 0.7 to 5.1+2, 9unit/mg protein. Under the same condition, SOD activity was decreased from 63.86 +/- 5.2 to 20.04 +/- 1.6 units/mg protein. Total antioxidant capacity in the cell lysate significantly decreased in the test samples compared to the control cultures [18.07 +/- 3.1 vs 6.19+2.1 mmole/L]. Malondialedhyde concentration was elevated from 23.09 +/- 7.6 to 49.92 +/- 3.4 microg/mg protein of the cell lysate.The extract of Myrtus communispersumabably does not change the DNA topology of E.coli as judged by excision of plasmid pBR322. The results however showed that, Free radicals are one of the major causes of the antibacterial action of this medicinal herb

[Measurement of the serum level of copper, molybdenum and lipids in personnel of copper complex of sarcheshmeh [Kerman]]

Background: Copper [Cu] and molybdenum [Mo] are among the essential trace elements and affect on lipids Metabolism

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the serum levels of Cu and Mo and investigate the connection of these two trace elements and lipids concentration in SCC personnel

Methods: This was an analytical sectional study that was carried out on 3 groups of volunteers [40 in each group]. Group I [case group] consisted of the workers of molybdenum unit that were highly exposed to Cu and Mo. Group II includes the official employees of SCC. Group III, age matched adult men who were living in Rafsanjan city. Fasting blood samples of the volunteers were collected, then serums were separated and the concentration of Mo and Cu were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum cholesterol [Cho], HDL-C and LDL-C were measured in serum by autoanalyzer

Findings: The mean concentration of Mo was significantly higher in group I comparing with group II and III [P<0.001]. The average level of Cu had the same pattern as Mo, but the P value was different between group I and II [P<0.01]. Cho and LDL-C levels in group I were lower than those of group II and III [P<0.001]. while HDL-C was higher in group I than group II and III [P<0.001]

Conclusion: The results suggest that exposure to high amount of Mo and Cu decrease cho and LDL-C along with increasing the level of HDL-C Mo and Cu