مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قم
سال نهم شماره 6 (پیاپی 41، شهریور 1394)

Chemerin is a newly discovered adipokine, which induce insulin resistance in skeletal muscles. The present study examined the secretion rate of plasma chemerin and its effect on insulin resistance index after 8 weeks of resistance exercise in male rats.

In this study, 24 male Wister rats (mean weight, 161±23g and age, 5 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups of 8 each (healthy control, insulin-resistant control, and insulin-resistant training). A resistance training program was performed, including climbing a ladder carrying a load suspended from the tail (3 days/week, for 8 week). After 8 weeks of resistance training, the rats were anesthetized and sampling was performed. The levels of chemerin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance index were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.

Chemerin levels significantly decreased (p=0.01) in resistance training group. Also, a significant reductions was observed in plasma levels of glucose (p<0.001) and insulin (p<0.001). Resistance training reduced Insulin resistance index (p<0.0001).

According to the results of this study, it seems that resistance training can be considered as an important factor in reducing chemerin levels and improving insulin sensitivity.

Leek (Allium porrum L.) has a wide range of biological activities, such as antibacterial, hypotensive, and digestive properties. In traditional medicine, diuretic activity of leek (Allium porrum L.) has not been yet scientifically investigated. This study was performed with the aim of determining the diuretic effect of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of leek in adult male rats. In this experimental study, 49 male rats were randomly allocated into 7 equal groups. Initially, the animals were pre-treated with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) at an oral dose of 5ml/100g body weight. Control negative animals were treated with distilled water. Experimental animals received leek ethanolic extract intragastrically (at doses of 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200mg/kg body weight). Control positive animals were given furosemide (10mg/kg body weight). Immediately after treatment, the rats were placed individually in a metabolic cage. Then, their urine was collected and the urine volume was measured every hour for 5 hours. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA statistical test. Treatment with leek ethanolic extract at doses of 75 and 100mg/kg body weight, significantly increased urine volume and urinary electrolytes (Na+ and K+), which was similar to furosemide (p<0.05). The results of the present study indicated that leek extract has significant diuretic activity, providing evidence for its folkloric use.

Participation of fathers in the reproductive health is a new strategy in the promotion of maternal and child health. The present study was conducted with the purpose of determining fathers’ participation rate in child care and household chores in the first 8 weeks after birth. In a descriptive cross-sectional study, participation rate of 403 fathers was investigated using stratified random sampling method after obtaining written informed consent. Data collection tool was a self-structured questionnaire, including demographic characteristics and questions on men’s participation as a four-part Likert scale. Weighted average was calculated for the obtained scores. Content validity was confirmed by content validity ratio (CVR) of 0.89 and its reliability by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.78-0.90. Data were analyzed using statistical indices, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-wallis test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression model at 95% confidence. In this study, over half of the fathers had participation in both components. The highest percentage of participation in household chores was related to the complying with spouse's requests, child care, and playing with them. Education and age of marriage were effective factors in men’s participation, so that with increasing educational level, the chance of participation in household chores increased 1.81 times and increase of age increased 2.15 times. According to the results of this study, participation of men in both components were almost favorable. Therefore, considering that the fathers’ function is affected by individual factors, fathers’ participation, especially young fathers with low education, in prenatal preparation classes seems necessary.

Obesity is a complex disorder, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. Leptin is a peptide hormone, which is basically secreted by adipose tissue and involved in the regulation of body weight and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on the serum leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) in obese young girls. A total of 24 obese girls participated in this quasi-experimental study, who were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control). Experimental group performed aerobic training (3times/week for 8 week, with intensity of 55-75% maximum heart rate). The duration of each exercise session in the first week was 45 minutes, consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up, 25 minutes of aerobic exercise, and finally 10 minutes of cool-down. Two minutes were added to the training time every week, and training time increased to 60 minutes in the final sessions. In the both groups, serum leptin levels and anthropometric indices were measured 48 hours before and after training period. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests at the significance level of p<0/05. In this study, aerobic exercise caused significant decreases in weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and leptin level, but did not cause any significant changes in waist hip ratio (WHR). According to the results of this study, performing aerobic exercise, due to weight loss and decrease in leptin levels, could be an appropriate method for weight regulation in obese girls.

Urinary tract infection is the most common infectious diseases. Empiric treatment of urinary infections depends on predictable levels of the causative agents of this kind of infections and awareness of antibiotic sensitivity pattern. This study was conducted to identify causative agents of urinary tract infection and to determine their susceptibility to antibiotics.

In a descriptive cross-sectional study, during August 2012 to September 2013, from all outpatients suspected of urinary tract infection, who referred to Imam Reza specialized polyclinic of Arak University of Medical Sciences, urine sample was collected for analysis and culture, of which 750 patients were culture-positive. Identification of bacteria was performed using standard tests, and their susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method. The data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test with 95% confidence interval. Significance level was considered less than 0.05.

The most frequently isolated pathogen were Escherichia coli (66.8%), Enterobacter spp. (13.1%), Nonhemolytic Streptococci (6.1%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (3.9%), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (2.9%). The results of antibiotic resistance analysis for Escherichia coli, as the most prevalent pathogen of urinary tract infection, were as follows: co-trimoxazole (55.1%), nalidixic acid (54.9%), nitrofurantoin (2.2%), norfloxacin (36.2%), ciprofloxacin (37.2%), co-amoxiclav (86.8%), ceftizoxime (18.8%), gentamicin (30.5%), cefixime (30.5%), ceftriaxone (25.6%), ceftazidime (25.7%), and cefotaxime (37.5%).

According to the results of this study, in order to select the appropriate antibiotic for treatment of urinary tract infections, bacterial spectrum and antibiotic susceptibility of urinary pathogens should be considered.

Clinical governance is a systematic approach for continuation and promotion of the quality of patient’s healthcare services in a health system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of three dimensions of clinical governance system on hospital performance.

This study was performed as a quasi-experimental study in Kamkar hospital in Qom, 2014. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed based on three criteria of clinical governance (patient and public involvement, risk and safety management, and use of hospital information systems). Results of the research were compared before and after intervention. Data analysis was done by paired sample t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon test.

The indexes related to the domain of patient and studied hospital invovement had a positive and significant relationship before and after establishment of clinical governance system (p=0.04). The indexes related to the applying data domain had a significant relationship before and after intervention measures (p=0.02).

According to the findings of this study, application of clinical governance system can be effective in improving patient and public interaction and use of information.

Leishmaniasis is a vector borne disease, which is transmitted by sandflies. This study aims to determine the epidemiological status of leishmaniasis and ecological characteristics of sandflies in Maraveh-Tapeh County, Golestan province. In this study, incidence rate of the disease was calculated and its distribution in different rural district was determined using GIS method. Then, 3 villages were randomly selected, and sampling of sandflies was performed in July, August, and September. Ten sticky traps were installed once a month in living places of human, livestock, and birds, rodents’ burrows, and unroofed places. All captured sandflies were collected and their species were identified. A total of 159 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were reported in 2011-2012, of which the highest incidence rate was in Maraveh-Tapeh district. Furthermore, a total of 1983 sandflies were collected and 13 species of sandflies were identified. Ph. papatasi (31.6%) was the predominant species in the district, and also predominant species in rodent burrows, and human and livestock indoor living places. S. sintoni was the predominant species in bird indoor living places and unroofed places. There was a significant association between different species of sandflies and various capture areas (p<0.001). In this study, the sandflies capture rate per trap was 7.93, of which the highest rate was in rodent burrows and lowest rate was in human indoor living places, which were 17.94 and 2.3 sandflies per trap, respectively. The results of the present study showed that rodent burrows are suitable places for rest and reproduction of sandflies.

Students are the main stakeholders of educational system in universities, who evaluate the quality of educational services according to their expectations and perceptions. Therefore, nowadays the viewpoint of students about the quality of educational services is considered as an essential factor in monitoring the quality of education in all scientific centers all over the world. This study was conducted to determine the gap between expectations and perceptions of students on educational services of Qom University of Medical Sciences.

This study was carried out as a descriptive cross-sectional study on the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences, studying in 5 faculties (Medicine, Paramedical Sciences, Health, and Nursing and Midwifery) in the first semester of 2013 academic year. A total of 307 students were selected for the study using systematic random sampling. Data collection tool was a standard SERVQUAL questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc Duncan tests.

There was a quality gap in all dimensions of educational services quality and related measurement phrases. The highest average of quality gap was observed in the responsiveness dimension (-1.6), followed by tangibles (-1.5), assurance (-1.4), and empathy (-1.2), and the lowest average belonged to reliability dimension (-1.1).

According to the findings of this study, in general, there were negative gaps in different dimensions of educational services quality between expectations and conceptions of the students in Qom University of Medical Sciences. Therefore, to reduce this gap, it is necessary to revise education method and education management.