فهرست مطالب علیرضا یزدی نژاد

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death in younger people. It activates neuroinflammatory responses that play an important role in breaking the blood-brain barrier and resulting in brain edema. Various studies have indicated the anti-inflammatory effect and the ability of lettuce extract to reduce oxygen free radicals. Therefore, it is expected to improve the consequences of TBI. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of lettuce extract on the outcomes of patients with TBI admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

This is a randomized clinical trial. Patients were divided into two groups of intervention (n=15) and control (n= 15). In the intervention group, patients received 250 g of lettuce aqueous extract twice a day for 7 days. In the control group, a placebo was administered.  For all patients, the levels of inflammatory markers and variables related to the patient outcome were recorded. The data were analyzed in SPSS v.18 software using t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures ANOVA, and chi-square test.

There was no significant difference between the study groups in any study variables (P>0.05).

Lettuce aqueous extract is not effective in improving the outcomes of patients with TBI in ICUs, which can be due to the small sample size, short study duration, the illness of patients, the influence of confounding factors such as acidosis, and use of different lettuce cultivation method.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergo hemodialysis to maintain their health. Hemodialysis has many complications, chronic pain is one of the most common that is associated with some psychological variables, so it is important to find ways to reduce pain in these patients. Accordingly, the present study was performed to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy and aromatherapy on pain intensity in renal patients undergoing hemodialysis.

In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and follow-up with a control group, among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Zanjan in 1397, 20 patients were purposefully selected and divided into two groups of 10 (receiving Virtual reality treatments combined with aromatherapy were divided into groups over two months in 8 one-hour sessions and control. The NRS-11 numerical scale was used to measure the pain intensity variable. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 26 using mixed analysis of variance.

The results showed that the mean pain in the experimental group in both post-test and follow-up stages was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.001).

Virtual reality therapy along with aromatherapy can considered as an effective treatment method in reducing the pain intensity of renal patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, it is suggested that therapists and specialists in the field of psychology and counseling use the results of the present study in order to promote patients health.

Thymus kotschyanus is one of the most famous medicinal plants in Iran from the mint family and it has many applications in traditional medicine, such as relieving the symptoms of colds and coughs and relieving some gastrointestinal diseases. It also has antibacterial and antifungal effects. This study was performed to investigate the diversity of antibiotic effects of this plant.

Essential oils of fourteen different ecotypes of Thymus kotschyanus were extracted by using the Clevenger apparatus. After oil analyses with GC-MS device, the minimum inhibitory concentration of growth and also the minimum lethal concentration of 7 types of bacteria and 2 types of fungi were measured by microdilution method in the range of 0.01 to 5.12 mg/ml.

Oxygenated monoterpenes were the major fraction (64.60–90.60%) of the oils, and thymol and carvacrol were considered as the most abundant constituents (27.23–75.55%). The amount and concentration of these two phenolic substances in thyme essential oil are directly related to antibacterial and antifungal effects. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the essential oils ranged from 0.24 to 5.12 and 0.08 to 0.96 mg/ml, respectively. The most active antimicrobial activity is related to the essential oil of Salmas and Nodoshan ecotypes and the least activity was seen in Rudbar ecotype.

Geographical characteristics of the place where plants grow have a significant role in the type and amount of compounds in the essential oil of the plant. In this regard, different biological effects and antibacterial and antifungal properties can occur from each ecotype.

Hemodialysis prolongs the life of patients with chronic renal failure, but hemodialysis complications always cause these patients to suffer. Chronic pain is one of the most common problems for patients undergoing hemodialysis and is a debilitating condition that is associated with some psychological variables. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on pain severity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

The present study was a semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group. The study population consisted of hemodialysis patients in Zanjan in 1397. 20 patients were selected by purposeful method and were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10). Patients in the experimental group received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in 8 sessions within two months and the control group did not receive any treatment. The 11-point Numbered Rating Scale (NRS-11) was used to measure the research variables. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance using SPSS 24 software.

Results of repeated measure ANOVA showed that after intervention, the severity of pain severity score was significantly decreased compared to the control group (P <0.01) and the stage was not significant in any of the subscales (P <0.01).

In general, the results of the present study showed that Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is considered as an effective therapeutic approach in reducing the severity of pain in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it is suggested that therapists and specialists use this type of intervention to improve the health of patients.

Psychological factors play an important role in developing and maintaining health in hemodialysis patients, so this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in hemodialysis patients.

The present study was a semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group. The study population consisted of hemodialysis patients in Zanjan in 1397. 20 patients were selected using Purposive sampling and were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10). Patients in the experimental group received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in 8 sessions during the two months and the control group did not receive any treatment. The DASS-21 Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 was used to measure the research variables. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance.

The results of repeated measure ANOVA showed that after the intervention, the scores of all three sub-scales of depression, anxiety and tension significantly decreased compared to the control group (P <0/01) and the stage in none of the following Scales were not significant (P> 0/01).

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is considered as an effective treatment to reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it is suggested that therapists and specialists use the effects of the present study to improve patients' health.
Keywords: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis in chronic renal failure leads to affecting all patients' existential dimensions and the development of anxiety, depression and tension. Considering the significant role of psychological factors in the treatment and improvement of patients, this study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of "virtual reality therapy with aromatherapy" on anxiety, depression and stress of renal patients under hemodialysis. The present study was a semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group. The statistical population of the study was hemodialysis patients in Vali-e-Asr and Bahmanan hospitals in Zanjan. Twenty patients were selected on purpose basis based on entry and exit criteria. Then, 10 patients were randomly assigned to "virtual reality treatment with aromatherapy" and 10 subjects in the control group. To assess the variables in the research, pre-test, post-test and follow-up were used for "Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale" (DASS-21 Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21). The validity of the questionnaire was verified by the counselors and the reliability of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's alpha. In order to perform the intervention, patients with virtual reality therapy with aromatherapy for 8 sessions of 1 hour after attachment of the patient to the dialysis machine, a handkerchief dipped with three drops of essential oil of the Lavandula plant was attached to the patient's collar, and the patient was requested to be inadvertently breathing At the same time, at the same time, virtual reality treatment was performed using glasses that were placed on the patient's eyes and the control group did not receive any treatment. Data was analyzed using SPSS. 24 software. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that after the intervention, the scores of all three sub-scales of depression, anxiety and tension significantly decreased compared to the control group (P < 0.01). “Virtual Reality Therapy compound with Aromatherapy," is considered as an effective treatment to reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in renal patients under hemodialysis. Therefore, it is recommended that therapists and practitioners use the results of this study to improve the health of patients.

Candidiasis is the most common oral fungal infection and today due to side effects of anti-fungal medications, research has directed to find an alternative herbal remedy.
This study aimed to determine the antifungal effect of the essential oils of Prangos frulacea, Ziziphora tenuior, Ferula gummosa and Dracocephalum moldavica against Candida albicans.
This experimental in vitro study has been performed in dental school of Zanjan in 2014-15. After preparing the essential oils of Prangos frulacea, Ziziphora tenuior, Ferula gummosa, and Dracocephalum moldavica, antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated Candida albicans was evaluated by antibiogram test and then MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) values were obtained.
Findings: All studied essential oils showed higher diameters and there were Prangos ferulacea, Ziziphora tenuior and Dracocephalum moldavica in an ascending order, except Ferula gummosa that had similar diameter of zone of inhibition to chlorhexidine (28mm). Minimuminhibitory concentration of all the studied essential oils were less than chlorhexidine (1.56µg/ml) and the least amount belonged to Ziziphora tenuior (0.26µg/ml). Also, the minimum bactericidal concentration of all the essential oils were less than chlorhexidine (1.56µg/ml), except Ferula gummos(4.56µg/ml).
The results of this study on Candida albicans species showed that inhibitory and bactericidal effects of all the studied essential oils were stronger than standard drug chlorhexidine except Ferula gummosa, and Ziziphora tenuior has more antifungal effects than other plant essential oils.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent human parasites globally distributed with a wide range of hosts including humans and animal species. The available anti-toxoplasma treatments have faced several problems. To deal with these issues new drugs and compounds are required to be evaluated. This study was aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts of propolis on acute toxoplasmosis in mouse model.

A total of 40 BALB/c mice with average weight of 20-25 gr, were divided into 8 groups of 5. Each mouse was inoculated intraperitoneally with parasitic suspension of approximately 10,000 tachyzoites. Two groups of mice, including a non-infected group and an infected but not treated group were used as control. Twenty-four hours after the infection, treatment was initiated for six groups, inoculating 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg/kg of propolis extracts orally for 7 days.

The average survival time was 6.4 to 7.2 days in the propolis treated groups of mice and 4.6 days in the control group, that was significantly different. The number of Toxoplasma tachyzoites in the test groups was significantly lower than the control group (P< 0.05). It was 10×104 in the group of 300mg and 20.4×104 in the control group with minimum and maximum parasite numbers, respectively. The most effective dose of propolis extract on survival time of the infected mice was 150 mg/kg.

The results indicated that the propolis ethanol extracts can relatively inhibit Toxoplasma infection development in mouse model.

In order to evaluate the effect of drought stress on grain yield and its components of fennel accessions, a field experiment was conducted as a split plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications. This experiment was conducted in research farm of Agricultural faculty of Zanjan University in 2012. In this study water stress in two levels included control and drought stress at reproductive stage were assigned to the main plots and five Iranian accessions of fennel included Zanjan, Lorestan, Esfahan, Hamedan and Kashan were assigned to the sub plots. The results showed that the effect of drought stress on grain yield and its components, biomass yield, grain essential oil percent and essential oil yield was significant (p≤0.05). Also there were significant differences between Fennel populations about all studied traits. Majority of measured traits decreased under drought stress condition. So the highest grain yield (3284 kg/ha) was obtained in Zanjan accession and control conditions and the lowest amount of mentioned trait (1306 kg/ha) was obtained in Esfahan accession under drought stress condition. Kashan and Isfahan accessions had the highest and lowest essential oil yield respectively.

Depression is a prevalent disease in students that has symptoms such as depressed mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and increased fatigability. It also can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction or lead to suicide. Present research aimed to study the prevalence of students depression based on demographic parameters. This descriptive cross-sectional study, using access sampling were selected 83 pharmacy students in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences during the year 2014. Data were collected using Beck depression questionnaire as well as the relevant demographic and analyzed by SPSS-18. the research results indicated that the prevalence of depression was 9.4%. Also results showed that there is significant difference in the prevalence of depression between native and non- native students (p<0.01). But didn’t observe significant difference in the prevalence of depression based on sex. In additive, there wasn’t significant relationship between education mean and depression. The results provide some evidence that living distance from family can affect the prevalence of depression in students. Therefore, in order to decrease the prevalence of students depression, it may be useful to consider regular psycho-training courses and native selection for student

Root rot is one of the important diseases of bean in Zanjan province and two fungal pathogens، Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani are the major causal agents of this disease in the region. In this research، the inhibitory effect of N-hexane، di-ethyl-ether، chloroform and ethanol extracts of five plant species، hermel (Peganum harmala)، thyme (Thymus kotschyanus)، yarrow (Achillea wilhelmsii)، pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and garlic (Allium sativum) on mycelial growth of R. solani and F. solani was studied using poisoned food technique at four levels of 100، 250، 500 and 1000 ppm with three replications. After laboratory experiments، the most effective extracts، were applied against bean root rot under green house conditions. According to the results from in vitro studies، N- hexane extract of thyme and pennyroyal (both at the level of 1000 ppm) had the most inhibitory effect against both pathogens and also caused cytoplasm granulation and leakage of intracellular compounds of hypha of both fungi. At greenhouse experiments، hexane extract of thyme and menthe not only significantly reduced the root rot percentage، but also had significant increasing effect on most plant growth parameters (P = 0. 05).