Hormozgan Medical Journal
Volume:23 Issue: 1, Jan-Mar 2019

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a tetrameric enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate to L-lactate. The importance of this enzyme is because LDH isoenzymes are involved in cancer, heart, and liver diseases. Inhibition of this enzyme can help prevent and treat different diseases. Morin is a flavonoid found in the Moraceae family and scopoletin is a coumarin found in Scopolia genus. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of morin and scopoletin as two natural products on the activity and structure of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme. Morin and scopoletin were examined for inhibition of the activity of LDH in 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.5, at room temperature using UV-V spectrophotometry. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize protein structural changes in the presence of morin and scopoletin. Km and Vmax of LDH for pyruvate were 11.69 mM and 1.258 mM/min, respectively. The kinetic results showed that morin and scopoletin are LDH inhibitors. The Ki values of morin and scopoletin were determined as 1.78 µM and 0.8 µM, respectively, using a secondary plot. Fluorescence intensity quenching and red shift of the maximum wavelength of emission in a concentration-dependent manner showed that morin and scopoletin bind to LDH and affect its structure. The results suggest that morin and scopoletin bind to LDH, influence its conformation and inhibit its activity. Scopoletin showed more effective inhibition of LDH activity and it can be a promising candidate in the field of tumor metabolism inhibitors.

Assessment of hospital information system (HIS) service quality helps to meet the needs of users and a strategy to expand the interaction between HIS developers and the users. SERVQUAL is an extensively used technique to measure the service quality of information systems. The purpose of this study was to assess HIS service quality by the SERVQUAL model in the teaching hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences (UMSU). This study is a descriptive analysis carried out in UMSU teaching hospitals in 2017. The sample was comprised of 270 users selected randomly via multi-stage cluster sampling. The modified SERVQUAL questionnaire, which included five dimensions, was used to collect data. The gap between the perceptions and the expectations of the users was calculated and the significance of scores was tested. The highest quality gaps in the five dimensions were related to responsiveness (-1.52) and reliability (-1.34) and also the lowest quality gap was related to tangibles (-0.95). There were significant differences between perceptions and expectations of the users in all SERVQUAL dimensions (P < 0.001). This implied that the quality of the delivered services was lower than what the users expected. Given the greatest gap in responsiveness and reliability, it is essential that HIS vendors focus on providing HIS support and updating services and allocate IT staff with the right knowledge and skills to provide the trust needed to use HIS services in the users.

Communication skills are the main features in health care. The current study aimed at determining communication skills and its related factors among medical staff. The current cross sectional study was conducted on 302 medical staff of hospitals (physicians, nurses, midwives, and paramedics) in 2014, Hamadan city, Iran. The subjects were randomly selected from each hospital proportional to population size. Demographic information and the Burton communication skills (verbal, listening, and feedback) were completed using questionnaires. For all of the communication skills, scores 6 to 14 were low, 15 to 22 moderate, and 23 to 30 were considered high. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS version 22 using descriptive tests, Kruskal-Wallis test, t-test, and regression analysis. Subjects gained 19.22, 17.50, and 19.20 average of communication skills including verbal, listening and feedback, respectively. Medical staff communication skills were at moderate level. There was a significant difference between the scores of feedback skills (P = 0.001) and verbal skills in different educational levels (P = 0.018). Also, the verbal and feedback skills in the group of midwives were more than those of the others (P < 0.001). The levels of communication skills among medical staff were not high. Communication skills training should be done at the time of recruitment and for vocational retraining.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables improve health and prevent chronic diseases. This study aimed to survey the relation between decisional balance and self-efficacy with fruits and vegetables consumption among a sample of women in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In this study, 383 women who referred to seven health centers in Bandar Abbas were selected through a stratified sampling method. A valid and reliable questionnaire including the constructs of the transtheoretical model and fruits and vegetables consumption was used to collect data. SPSS version 19.0 was used to analyze the data running one-way ANOVA and linear trend analysis. Analysis of consuming two services or more fruits a day indicated that the majority of women (58%) were at the maintenance stage and the minority (4.2%) at the contemplation stage. Moreover, the majority of subjects (55.6%) were found to be at the maintenance stage of consuming 200 g or more vegetables a day, while the minority (3.7%) were at the contemplation stage. Significant relations were found between the stages of change to consume more fruits and vegetables and such constructs as decisional balance and self-efficacy P < 0.05). According to the results, in designing interventions to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in housewives, it is necessary to emphasize increasing the decisional balance and self-efficacy.

Today, the most commonly used instrument for determining the inferior face height is lateral cephalometry; however, due to the fact that some lateral cephalometric radiographs are given to the patient while taking radiation, and with regard to the overlaps and distortions of structures in this radiograph. The purpose of this study was to study the inferior height of the face based on the one-third of the face in photography and then compare its correlation with the results of cephalometry. This descriptive-analytical study was carried out with photographic and lateral cephalometric radiographs of 75 randomly selected participants (38 women and 37 men) from among patients consulting the orthodontic clinics in Bandar Abbas in 2012 - 2013. All participants had all their permanent teeth (without third molar involvement). Patients signed an informed consent form for participation. There was no history of head and face trauma, orthognathic surgery, previous orthodontic treatment, and congenital anomalies. The anterior height of the face was evaluated based on the one-third of the face on photography according to the results of FMA (Frankfort-mandibular plane angle), Sn-GoGN, Bjork, and Jarabak, and the correlations of these values with each other were determined. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using chi-square test, kappa coefficient, and Pearson coefficient. No significant correlation was found between the photographic and cephalometric data of face height (r = -0.03, P > 0.05). There was a significant inverse correlation between the results of FMA and Jarabak index (r = -0.6, P < 0.05). There were significant direct relationships between the results of FMA and those of Bjork (r = 0.8, P < 0.05) and Sn-GoGn (r = 0.7, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant relationship between the facial form and class I and II skeletal occlusions (P > 0.05). There was no meaningful relationship between the results of FMA angle and facial form in class 1 and 2 occlusion subjects (P > 0.05). However, this association was found stronger in class I than in class II occlusion. There is no meaningful correlation between photographic and cephalometric measurements of facial height, and we always need lateral cephalometrics for the correct orthodontic treatment plan and as a golden standard. Cephalometric variables are correlated with each other for determining the vertical growth pattern, and each can be used for diagnosis alternatively.

Genetic counseling is the process of guidance in which people understand and adjust to the psychological, clinical, and familial implications of genetic impacts on disease. As a preventive strategy, genetic counselling has an important role in increasing families’ knowledge and awareness about their condition. The present study was conducted to assess knowledge and attitude of couples who referred for premarital laboratory testing in the south of Iran. One hundred and twenty-five couples were recruited randomly from the premarital referrals to the Bandar Abbas Health Center in Hormozgan province, south of Iran. The questionnaire has been considered by five experts in the field. Context validity index has been calculated as 0.89. All questionnaires were filled by each partner. The collected data were statistically analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 16.0). The total mean age was 26.7 years which among them 125 couples, 41.6% were consanguineous. There were significant relations between education, monthly income, job, religious beliefs and history of a genetic disorders in the family members and some aspects of awareness and attitude toward genetic counselling (P < 0.05). Our present study showed the impact of socioeconomic status on attitude toward genetic counselling in marriage decision and co-operation for genetic counselling in multiple secessions. Based on our finding we suggest improvement of awareness toward genetic counselling. An educational curriculum can be designed at the school and undergraduate level besides national media in all aspects especially premarital and fertility decisions.

New pieces of evidence show that the leptin released from adipose tissue is associated with obesity; however, leptin response to different types of exercise programs in humans is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic versus resistance training on serum leptin and insulin resistance in sedentary men. Thirty male volunteers with a mean age of 23.2 ± 1.23 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.9 ± 0.95 kg.m-2, fat percent 18.28 ± 1.15, and waist-to-hip ratio 0.89 ± 0.02 were randomly assigned into three groups, including aerobic, resistance exercise, and control groups (n = 10). The resistance exercise program was performed for 60 minutes at 70% of one repetition maximum for 3 sets. Every set consisted of 10 repetitions per move (RPM) followed by a 30-second-rest interval between every station accompanied by a 2-minute-rest between every set. The aerobic exercise program consisted of running on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 60 to 70 percent of reserved heart rate (maximum heart rate-heart rate rest). Fasting blood samples were collected before and after 6 weeks after the termination of the exercise protocol in order to determine the plasma leptin level and insulin resistance. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that body fat percentage and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly decreased in both experimental groups and maximum aerobic power and one repetition maximum of bench press plus leg press were significantly increased (P < 0.05). In addition, insulin resistance levels were significantly decreased in both exercises groups compared with the control group. However, the leptin level was significantly decreased in the aerobic exercise group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). According to these findings, both aerobic and resistance training without changes in body weight and body mass index appear to be a non-prescriptive therapeutic approach to lower the insulin levels and insulin resistance in sedentary men. However, aerobic versus resistance training may play a role in regulating systemic leptin.

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most important parasites transmitted through sexual contact. Therefore, it is considered a major public health problem. Best to our knowledge, there are no new reports about the prevalence of T. vaginalis in Bandar Abbas. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of T. vaginalis in women referred to the urban and rural health centers of Bandar Abbas, Iran. In addition, other risk factors associated with this parasite were investigated. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2017 and June 2018. Five hundred samples obtained from vaginal discharges or fluid were examined using wet mount and culture in Diamond medium. Moreover, the demographic data and related risk factors were gathered as a questionnaire. To analyze the data, SPSS ver. 20 was used and the statistical tests of chi-square and Fisher’s exact were applied. In this study, T. vaginalis was detected in 13 (2.6%) out of 500 samples of the vaginal discharges or fluids in which 12 (2.4%) were detected by wet mount and 13 (2.6%) by culture method, respectively. A significant difference was observed between the incidence of the parasite and place of residence, the level of education, and abortion. The relatively low parasite outbreak in the studied samples is likely as a result of continuous monitoring and appropriate treatment.