مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قم
سال چهاردهم شماره 11 (پیاپی 106، بهمن 1399)

Learning is essential for understanding mental disorders, normal behavior, and forgetfulness. In this regard, the hippocampus plays an important role in the learning process. It has been reported that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the hippocampus are involved in learning and memory mechanisms and some diseases, such as epilepsy and Alzheimerchr('39')s. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coumarin on retention, tissue index, and GABA type A receptor gene expression in the hippocampus of male gonadectomy rats.

The population of this study consisted of 40 Wistar rats, which were randomized into 5 groups (n=8 each). These groups included healthy without treatment, gonadectomized without treatment, gonadectomized receiving solvent or Dimethyl sulfoxide, and gonadectomized receiving coumarin at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg. The treatment was administered intraperitoneally once daily in 2 weeks. A shuttle box was used to test the memory retention of the rats. At the end of the research process, the rats were exterminated in accordance with research ethics. After removing the brains of rats, in each group, in four brains histology test was implemented with Niels staining, and in four other brains, the hippocampus was removed quickly. The hippocampi were placed inside the micro type and frozen with liquid nitrogen. Finally, a gene expression test was taken from the hippocampus using a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Based on the findings, in the memory retention test of initial latency to enter the dark room (step through latency), the gonadectomy group showed a reduction, compared to the healthy group.  Moreover, a significant decrease was observed in the number of healthy hippocampal pyramidal neurons; however, GABAA gene expression showed no significant difference. In the gonadectomy groups receiving treatments with different doses of coumarin, the amount of STL  (Step Through Latency) and number of healthy pyramidal neurons in the memory retention test showed a significant decrease, compared to the gonadectomy group receiving solvent; nonetheless, a significant increase was revealed in the GABAA-α2 gene expression.

It can be concluded that Gonadectomy caused memory impairment and coumarin affects memory impairment by increasing the GABAA-α2 gene expression and decreasing the number of healthy hippocampal neurons.

Oleuropein is an important phenolic compound found in olive leaves that has important pharmacological functions in the central nervous system and neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the improving effects of oleuropein on the formation of scopolamine-induced spatial memory.

The statistical population of this study consisted of 35 male rats, which were randomly divided into five groups (n=7 each). The control group received normal saline, the scopolamine group was subjected to intraperitoneal scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 3 weeks, and the treatment groups were administered oleuropein in three doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. At the end of the behavioral tests, blood samples and brain tissues (hippocampus) of the animals were removed for biochemical and molecular tests.

Based on the results, scopolamine significantly decreased spatial memory, whereas the injections of different doses of oleuropein improved spatial memory and learning. On the other hand, scopolamine decreased the antioxidant capacity of the serum and hippocampus, while oleuropein significantly increased these values. Our results also revealed that treatment of rats with oleuropein significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene in the hippocampus.

According to the results of this study, oleuropein can be a neuropharmacological agent against scopolamine-induced amnesia.

 Despite the many applications of nickel oxide nanoparticles (Nio NPs) in industry and biomedicine, limited studies have been performed in the case of the cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles onnervous system yet. In many neurobiological studies, the human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) wich have the ability to become adult human neurons have been used. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity effects of nickel oxide nanoparticles on human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) in vitro.

 The effect of different doses of NiO NPs (0, 1, 10, 20, 50, 100 μg/ml) on SH-SY5Y cell line was determined by MTT, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and caspase-3 activity tests. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS software and student t-test.

 Based on the results of MTT test, the viability rate of SH-SY5Y cells were decreased dose dependently after 24 hours treatment with NiO NPs, compared with control group. While there was no significant increase in levels of LDH enzyme compared with control group. The activity of caspase-3 enzyme was also significantly increased in a dose dependent pattern of nanoparticles.

 The results of the present study showed that the Nickel oxide nanoparticles do not cause membrane damage in SH-SY5Y cells. While these nanoparticles induce their toxic effects by damaging the mitochondrial membrane, increasing the caspase 3 activity, and activating the apoptotic pathway.

Since the pathology of pigmented lesions varies from benign to malignant, the availability of data on the prevalence and clinical features and factors associated with pigmented oral lesions can assist dentists in the diagnosis. Nevertheless, no study has been conducted on oral mucosal pigmentation in Qom; therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with oral mucosal pigmentation.

This study was performed on 2000 patients referring to Qom Dental School and Salamat Clinic. All subjects were evaluated for the presence or absence of pigmented lesions, and information form, including demographic characteristics, clinical features of the pigmented lesion, and medical history were completed. Afterward, the data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20) and Chi-squared and independent t-tests.

In total, 496 (24.8%) patients had oral pigmentation which was mostly caused by physiological pigmentation (46.4%), followed by inflammatory pigmentation (28.2%), smoker melanosis (11.1%), amalgam tattoo (2%), drug melanosis (1.8%), systemic disease pigmentation (1%), and pregnancy (0.4%). There was a statistically significant relationship between smoking and drug use with oral pigmentation (P<0.05).

The frequency of pigmented lesions in this study was estimated to be 24.8%. The prevalence of diffuse pigmentation was higher than focal pigmentation and the prevalence of macular pigmented lesions was higher than nodular pigmented lesions. Moreover, the most common site of pigmentation was the gingiva, especially in the area of the attached gingiva.

Fatigue and pain are the common complications in multiple sclerosis patients, which is influenced by the patients’ psychology as well as stress. The current study aimed at investigating protective mediating role of sense of coherence in the relationship between perceived stress and fatigue/pain in Iranian MS patients.

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2019. The study population consisted of patients registered in Iranian MS association of Tehran, Karaj, and Qom cities. The sample was recruited via convenience sampling method in multi-center fashion form MS centers in Tehran, Karaj, and Qom cities. In total, 452 patients with a mean age of 38.45 (9.36) engaged in the study. Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ-13, Antonovsky, 1978), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS, Cohen et al., 1983), and Visual Analogue Scale for fatigue and pain (VAS-F and VAS-P, Hayes and Patterson, 1921) were investigated. The mediation analysis was carried out via PROCESS macro for SPSS software application in 95% confidence interval.

Pain and fatigue showed significant positive and negative relationships, respectively, with perceived stress and sense of coherence (P < .001). Sense of coherence could reduce a quarter of the total effect of perceived stress on fatigue and pain; however, the results remained significant in the presence of gender, education, employment status, and illness duration only for fatigue (indirect effect = -0.07, [0.01, 0.14]).

Sense of coherence reduces the effect of perceived stress on fatigue, while it does not affect the relationship between perceived stress and pain in MS patients.

In addition to addressing the physical problems of patients with AIDS, special attention should be paid to their psychological problems, and one of the best ways is to use psychological interventions. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and logotherapy (LT) on psychological well-being and death anxiety in patients with AIDS.

This semi-experimental study was performed based on a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The study population consisted of all women with AIDS in Tabriz who referred to medical clinics in Tabriz in 2019. In total, 30 women were selected using the purposive sampling method who were randomly divided into three groups. Members of both experimental groups received their treatment in eight 1.5-h sessions. The findings were analyzed through repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test.

In the pre-test stage, the mean values of psychological well-being and death anxiety of the ACT group were 45.8±6.6 and 10.1±2.2, respectively. Furthermore, in the LT group, the mean values of psychological well-being and death anxiety were 44.0±5.1 and 9.9±2.2, respectively. Moreover, in the control group, the mean values of psychological well-being and death anxiety were 43.3±6.4 and 10.2±2.3, respectively. Based on the results, in the post-test stage, the ACT and LT increased the psychological well-being and reduced the death anxiety in AIDS patients, compared to the control group (P<0.001). In the follow-up phase, the effects of ACT and LT on psychological well-being and death anxiety persisted (P<0.001). The results also showed that the effects of ACT and LT on psychological well-being and death anxiety during the post-test and follow-up stages were not different (P>0.05).

The ACT and LT are likely to lead the AIDS patients to the acceptance of the disease and conscious exposure to the death anxiety. Therefore, it can help them to better cope with the disease and also increased their psychological well-being.

In spite of all scientific advances in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, the increasing incidence and prevalence of non-communicable and chronic diseases are among the challenges of policymakers in the field of prevention and treatment in medicine, the main reason for which is modern lifestyle, especially regarding nutrition. Despite the existence of various strategies and methods in the field of nutrition in conventional medicine, human societies encounter many issues and problems in the field of prevention and treatment of diseases caused by malnutrition and improper diets. In this regard, Persian medicine has effective strategies and practical methods, one of which is the nutrition program based on temperament, which will be described in the present study.

In this descriptive review study, written sources of early and late Persian medicine scholars, Tebe Noor Comprehensive software (version 1.5), and PubMed and Google Scholar scientific databases were examined. Relevant data were extracted, filtered, categorized, and written.

Regarding food recommendations and beverages according to the diverse temperaments of human beings, there are several views and suggestions in the statements of Persian medicine scholars. By summarizing and reasoning and inference based on the sources of Persian medicine, a single, appropriate, and practical solution can be proposed to suggest dietary measures appropriate to various human temperaments in order to maintain and promote health and prevent and treat diseases.

Based on the principles of Persian medicine and conclusion drawn from the opinions of Persian medicine scholars, food is offered to individuals based on two important factors, including individual characteristics or temperament as well as food quality or temperament. Accordingly, for a cold and dry temperament in a healthy state, it is recommended to have foods or beverages with warmer and wetter temperament. Certainly, it does not mean that these individuals should not eat cold and dry foods in a healthy state. Rather, their general desire for daily or weekly foods is better to be toward warmth and wetness; the level of desire for warmth and wetness depends on the degree to which an individual’s temperament deviates toward cold and dryness. Likewise, appropriate dietary measures can be suggested for other temperaments.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is one of the major causes of acute renal failure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gamma oryzanol administrated by gavage and intraperitoneal methods on the antioxidant function and status of the kidneys and brain tissue after the induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the kidneys of rats.

The statistical population of this study consisted of 24 male rats divided into four 6-member groups, including the sham group without ischemia, control group with ischemia-reperfusion induction, ischemia-reperfusion group receiving treatment with 100 mg/body weight intraperitoneally, and ischemia-reperfusion group administered with a dose of 100 mg/body weight by gavage method. Gamma oryzanol was administered 1 h followed by the onset of left renal ischemia for 30 min. After 6 h of reperfusion, blood creatinine and urea and antioxidant function of the kidneys and brain tissue were measured.

The results showed that the administration of gamma oryzanol by both methods of intraperitoneal injection and gavage caused a significant reduction in creatinine and blood urea levels, compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the amounts of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total oxidant capacity of kidney and brain tissue were significantly increased in the groups receiving treatment with gamma oryzanol; however, malondialdehyde level was significantly reduced in the same group, compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Based on the results, gamma oryzanol improved renal function and reduced the negative severity of ischemia-reperfusion injury in renal and brain tissues. It was also found that the gavage method performed better than the intraperitoneal injection method.