[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

[Effects of high intensity interval training and ginger on cardiac structural and functional adaptations]

Introduction: The present study investigates the effects of 10 weeks of High Intensity Interval Training [HIIT] and ginger consumption on structural and functional cardiac adaptations in overweight women

Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental randomized, placebo controlled study, 24 overweight women aged 20-30 years, randomly divided into 3 groups of Ginger [n=8], HIIT+ginger [n=8] and HIIT+placebo [n=8], were followed for 10 weeks of HIIT [40m-maximal Shuttle run] and ginger consumption [3 gr of ginger supplement or placebo pills daily]

Results: Systolic Left Ventricular Dimensions [LVDs] increased in the HIIT+ginger [p=0.006] and HIIT+placebo [p=0.002] while stroke volume [SV] [p=0.019] and left atrium dimension [LA] [p=0.015] increased in the HIIT+ginger group. In addition, significant decreases of systolic blood pressure were seen in the HIIT+ginger [p=0.001] and the ginger [p=0.001] groups, and diastolic blood pressure attenuation in ginger [p=0.01] group only. However, no significant difference between groups in any variable was detected [p>0.05]

Conclusion: Either HIIT per se or with ginger, leads to modest improvements of structural and functional cardiac adaptations in overweight women, while, consumption of just ginger, attenuated systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No significant difference was observed between the effects of High Intensity Interval Training and ginger consumption on cardiac structural and functional adaptations

[Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Birjand adolescents]

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in high school students in Birjand. This cross- sectional study was performed in 2005 in Birjand, on 2230 students [1115 boys and 1115 girls], 15-18 years old. Subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling from four districts of Birjand. Overweight and obesity was defined based on the 85[th] and 95[th] percentiles of body mass index for age and sex, respectively, as proposed by CDC in 2000. The overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 6.1% and 2.3%, respectively. The prevalences of overweight were 5% in high school boys and 7.1% in girls; the prevalences of obesity were 2.8% in boys and 1.8% in girls of high schools. Overweight and obesity increased with the higher educational levels of father and mother, working fathers and private schools. According to this study, prevalences of overweight and obesity in Birjand adolescents are lower than in other areas of Iran; it is however necessary to perform further similar researches periodically in this area, to confirm these results

[ relationship of plasma antioxidants and serum lipid levels with seborrheic dermatitis [SD]: a case-control study]

Evidences shows that the defect in the synthesis of some fatty acids can lead to seborrheic dermatitis and elevated serum lipids in lipophilic fungi activities. Epidemiologic reports suggest a relationship between antioxidant levels and serum lipids in a number of dermatitis. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between antioxidant levels of plasma and serum lipids with seborrheic dermatitis. In this case-control study 70 patients suffering from SD were compared with 70 healthy people as control group. The two groups had been matched in terms of age and sex. Lipid levels and plasma antioxidants were measured by FRAP [Ferric Reducing A Bility Of Plasma Assay] in both groups. In patients skin lesions samples were tested through web spread to confirm the diagnosis and severity of pityrosporum ovale. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS software, T-Test and Chi-Square tests. The mean level of cholesterol in treatment group [120.5+39.9 mg/dl] was higher than control group [166.5+39.1 mg/dl] and the mean triglyceride level in treatment group [138.1+65.3 mg/dl] was higher than control group [91.7+44.2 mg/dl], which were both statistically significant [p<0.001]. No significant difference was observed between HDL cholesterol in treatment and control groups [p<0.177]. However, the mean LDL level was higher in treatment group [143.5+37.6 mg/dl] than that of control group [106.3+35.6 mg/dl] which shows a significant difference [p<0.001]. No significant difference was observed between the mean plasma antioxidants in treatment and control groups [p>0.05]. The study findings suggest the relationship between SD with total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood plasma LDL. However, there was no association between SD and plasma antioxidant and HDL levels

Study of status of clinical skills' education among interns of Birjand University of medicine

Acquiring clinical skills is one learning goal for medical students. Clinical skills are essential to diagnose diseases and to accomplish therapies. The aim of this study is to review status of clinical skills among interns in Birjand University of Medicine. This was a cross sectional study in which all interns of Birjand University of Medicine anticipated. A questionnaire including questions about 8 essential clinical skills was developed Have Interns responded the questionnaire and questionnaires been collected, data were coded and analyzed. More than 90% interns lack required skills for intubation, cardiopulmonary, ressusitation and normal vaginal delivery. Despite the fact that more than 80% of interns assumed these skills as highly useful, most of them hadn't been trained by qualified trainers. It seems that the usual methods of teaching clinical skills is not adequate and needs to be modified at University. Using some new teaching setting like skill labs and observational evaluation methods will have an important role in development of clinical skills

serum magnesium level in patients with congestive heart failure

Electrolyte disturbances, specially hypokalemia and hypomagnesaemia are common in patients with congestive heart failure [CHF]. This study was carried out to determine the serum concentration of magnesium [Mg] in patients with CHF. This descriptive analytical study performed at Mashhad Ghaem hospital between shahrivar 1382 and shahrivar 1383. Serum Mg concentration of 60 patients with symptomatic CHF was measured by spectrophotometric absorption technique and analyzed based on clinical variables and echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function. Data was analyzed in SPSS software by t-test at alpha=0.05. From 60 patients with CHF, 52% were male and 48% were female with mean age 63 +/- 13.15 years. 56.5% of patients were in the range of 60-80 years old. Hypomagnesaemia was showed in 55% of patients. No significant correlation was found between serum Mg level, age, sex, functional class and LVEF. Hypomagnesaemia was common in the presence of arrhythmia, Atrial fibrillation [60%] and PVC [80%] Hypomagnesaemia is common in patients with CHF especially in patient with arrhythmia [AF, PVC]