dizgah

Precise and quick diagnosis of AMI is of main medical and pecuniary concerns. The aim of this study was to detect saliva total aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity -as an available guideline- in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A case-control study was performed in 31 subjects as the control group and 31 ones as the AMI group. Saliva and serum total AST activities were measured in the first and second mornings following the AMI by IFCC method. Mann-Whitney U and Spearman rho tests were performed as statistical analyses. AST activities in both serum and saliva in the resting and stimulated conditions were significantly greater in the AMI than the healthy controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum AST showed a significant partial correlation with resting saliva AST in both first and second mornings following the AMI (rho = 0.368, P =0.017 and rho = 0.352, P = 0.024, respectively) and also with stimulated saliva AST (rho = 0.331, P = 0.034, rho = 0.443, P = 0.003, respectively). It presumes that saliva AST may be used as a biomarker in the patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction.

  Sleep is an organized behavior that is repeated every day as a vital necessity based on the biological rhythm. Sleep deprivation is known as one of the major problems that can cause functional impairment in individuals. Therefore, it is expected that sleep deprivation in interns also causes problems in their performance. According to the importance of cognitive health in health care workers, we decided to study the effects of partial and chronic sleep deprivation on attention and working memory in the emergency medicine interns in Yazd University of Medical Sciences. The number of 50 emergency medicine interns were randomly selected and their demographic information was entered the data collection form. The subjects were examined before and after the one-month period of the shift work. Working memory and attention in participants were compared with the application of working memory and attention tests in 2-time points. Finally, the collected data were entered the SPSS software version 16 and statistical tests were performed subsequently. The results showed that there is no significant difference between the mean of direct and reverse auditory working memory, direct and reverse visual working memory, as well as the divided attention of participants before and after the one-month period of the shift work, but there was a significant difference between the average of selective attention of participants before and after the one-month period of the shift work (P value < 0.05). Also, this study showed that, regardless of the effect of sleep deprivation, the mean of divided attention and working memory are different between males and females. According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that the type of sleep deprivation in the emergency medicine interns only reduces the selective attention and this effect was not dependent on the gender.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) can be associated with pain in other areas such as the neck. Multiple causes have been suggested for TMDs; parafunctional habits such as bruxism and clenching are among the most commonly suggested etiologies. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the amendment of oral parafunctional habits in the improvement of TMDs and neck pain. This before-and-after interventional study was conducted on 136 patients with TMDs, parafunctional habits, and neck pain. The patients were instructed on how to quit their parafunctional habits and were followed up for two months. The neck pain disability index (NPDI), anamnestic dysfunction index (Ai), and clinical dysfunction index (Di) of TMD were evaluated before and after the modifica-tion of parafunctional habits. Data were analyzed using paired Student’s t-test, Wilcox-on, Mann-U-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. Most TMD patients were women (74.5%). The patients’ scores significantly de-creased from 4 to 1 in the Ai, from 8 to 1 in the Di, and from 49 to 25 in the NPDI two months after the intervention (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the NPDI, Ai, and Di scores following the amendment of oral parafunctional habits between males and females or among different age ranges. Age did not significantly correlate with the changes in the NPDI, Ai, and Di scores after the improvement of oral parafunctional habits. The NPDI significantly correlated with the Ai score. It seems that parafunctional habit modification improves TMDs and neck pain.

  Endoscopic method for many surgeries with minimal access is proposed to be effective for preventing the excessive scar formation, reducing pain, cosmesis, and the early return to work. Surgical outcomes of endoscopic and open methods for tendon harvest in treatment of radial nerve palsy were evaluated. In a randomized single-blind clinical trial study, 10 patients with radial nerve palsy who referred to the Plastic Surgery Department of the Fatimah Zahra Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran were divided into two equal groups. Flexor carpi radialis (FCR), flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and the palmaris longus (PL) tendons were harvested by endoscopic or open techniques. The outcomes (tendon harvest time, rate of post-surgical pain, amount of pain medication, patient satisfaction, amount of scar, and length of scar) are measured. There was no significant difference in time of surgery between two methods. Vancouver scar scale, cosmetic satisfaction, severity of postoperative pain and also drugs for pain relief after tendon harvest surgery were significantly lower in endoscopic method than open method. Regarding the low invasiveness, high satisfaction rate of patients, low pain severity, low scar and the little need for opiate to reduce pain in the endoscopic method, endoscopic tendon harvest technique for radial nerve palsy seems to have priority over open method

Physiological changes in spacecraft situation (endurance of gravity and circadian rhythm changes) can alter the neuromodulator. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of 14 days of simulated microgravity and alteration of circadian rhythm (as simulated spacecraft situation) on the serum leptin level in rats. 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (free motion groups with 12/12 hours or 45/45 minutes dark/light cycles and unloading tail suspension condition groups with 12/12 hours or 45/45 dark/light cycles). The serum leptin level was analyzed 14 days after the beginning of the intervention by ELISA. Data were analyzed by the two-way ANOVA. The data showed that the unloading situation significantly increased the serum leptin level. However, light/dark changing cycles had no significant effect on the serum leptin level. It seems that the unloading situations were much more effective than the light/dark changing cycles on the serum leptin level.

To evaluate colostrum total protein differences between left and right breasts and between mothers of boy and girl infants. A cross sectional study for delivery was carried out on 30 boy-delivered and 30 girl-delivered mothers aged 16 to 36 years, conducted at the Izadi and Al-Zahra Hospitals in Qom city, Iran. Colostrum was collected from both breasts by manual milking within the first day of delivery. Total protein concentration was assessed by Biuret method using affiliated kits. The data was analyzed through the student’s t-test using the SPSS program. Colostrum total protein was significantly higher in the left (166.9±13.1 mg/ml) and right (165.3±14.7 mg/ml) breasts of the boy-delivered mothers than in the left 144.8±4.1 mg/ ml) and right (122.7.3±7.4 mg/ml) breasts of the girl-delivered ones. It was also significantly higher in the left breast than the right breast in the girl-delivered mothers. However, there was no significant difference between the two breast colostrum total protein levels in the boydelivered mothers. The results of the present study suggest that total protein of colostrum in the boydelivered mothers is greater than the girl-delivered mothers.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is classified as a potential malignant disorder, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) may play a key role in cancer development. The aim of this study was to compare serum and saliva EGF among patients with OLP and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A cross sectional study was performed on 27 patients with OLP (10 reticular and 17 atrophic-erosive forms), 27 patients with OSCC and 27 healthy control group. The study was conducted at the Cancer Department, Clinic of Oral Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The serum and saliva EGF were assayed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of ANOVA was used. The mean serum EGF in OLP and OSCC patients was significantly lower compared to healthy control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between OLP and OSCC patients. There was no significant difference in mean salivary EGF among groups. As serum EGF levels appear to be statistically similar in OLP and OSCC, it seems that EGF might play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP and its cancerization.

Unstimulated whole salivary p53 was evaluated in non-involved subjects, in patients suffering from oral lichen planus (OLP) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A total of 34 patients with OLP, 24 patients suffering from oral SCC and 41 non-involved participants were enrolled. The unstimulated whole saliva p53 level was assayed by ELISA. Data was analyzed by ANOVA followed by the Tukey post hoc test. Saliva p53 concentration in patients with SCC (5.36±1.08) was significantly higher than in healthy participants (0.41±0.04) and in patients suffering from OLP (0.94±0.31). This study could not confirm the precancerous nature of OLP based on the relatively low p53 expressions in comparison to SCC.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) has been classified as a pre-malignant condition. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) or collagenase-3 may play a key role in cancer development. The aim of this study was to compare serum and saliva MMP-13 between patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This cross sectional study was performed on 30 patients with OLP (8 reticular and 22 erosive forms) and 20 patients with OSCC (6 in low stage and 14 in advanced stage) who were selected randomly. The study was conducted at the Cancer Department, Clinic of Oral Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The serum and saliva MMP-13 were assayed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of the Student’s t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient was performed. There were no significant differences in mean saliva and serum levels of MMP-13 between patients with OSCC and OLP and their subgroups. Serum MMP-13 correlated significantly with unstimulated (r = 0.307, p= 0.048), but not with stimulated, saliva MMP-13. Serum and saliva MMP-13 levels appear to be statistically similar in OLP and OSCC.

Resistance training is one of the most essential components of exercise programs. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of blood flow restricted resistance (BFR) training on serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). A total of 30 healthy young men (aged 19-24 yrs) were volunteered for this study. Subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: a low intensity blood flow restricted resistance exercise (BFR) group (20% of 1-RM, 3 sets 15 reps), a traditional high intensity resistance exercise without blood flow restriction (HI) group (3 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM) and a control group. Both BFR and HI groups trained 3 days per week for 3 weeks for knee extension and squat exercises. Fasting growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 levels were measured in the morning pre-and post- exercise sessions. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA in the level of p< 0.05. GH and IGF-1 significantly increased in post exercise in BFR group compared to baseline (P<0.05). GH significantly increased in post exercise in HI group compared to baseline (P<0.05). After 3 weeks, serum GH and IGF-1 levels increased significantly in BFR group compared to HI and control groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, short term BFR exercise stimulated increases in anabolic hormones in young men.

Varicocele is the most prevalent cause of infertility in men. This study examined the prevalence rate of the disease in wind instrument players and drivers. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 42 wind instrument players of a military band and 31 drivers working for Iran's military were selected and the varicocele rate in their left and right testis was analysed. The varicocele prevalence rate was higher in players than in drivers. Furthermore, the left testis was affected more than the right one by this disorder. It seems that both prevalence and rate of varicocele are higher in the left testis rather right one. Wind instrument players whose acts are along with valsalva maneuver suffer from this disease more than other people.

Dry mouth or xerostomia is a major complaint of many elderly individuals especially in menopause. The exact mechanisms that mediate xerostomia have not been firmly established. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum cortisol level in menopausal women with dry mouth.

A case-control study was carried out on 96 selected menopausal women aged 42 to 77 years with or without dry mouth (48 as case and 48 as control) conducted at the clinic of oral medicine, Tehran university of medical sciences. Serum concentration of cortisol was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis of Student’s unpaired t-test was used.

The mean concentration of serum cortisol was significantly higher in the case group (109.2±5.5 ng/ml) compared to the control group (93.1±5.4 ng/ml) (P<0.05).

The results showed that subjects with dry mouth had an increased serum level of cortisol compared with those without this symptom, which suggests an association between cortisol and symptoms of oral dryness. Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran.