مجله دانش و تندرستی در علوم پایه پزشکی
سال نوزدهم شماره 1 (بهار 1403)

 The rise in bacterial resistance to antibiotics and their negative side effects has led to a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants and plant extracts. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Yellow Nasturtium on some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

 In this research, after the preparation of Rosa Foetida extract, its antibacterial properties were evaluated using antibiogram, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. Ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and penicillin were used to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to the extract studied.

The results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Rosa Foetida effectively inhibited bacterial growth and viability, with a more pronounced antibacterial effect on gram-positive bacteria than on gram-negative bacteria. Using the MIC method, the extract was able to inhibit the growth of bacteria with an average of 12.5-100 mg/ml. The results of the study compared to CLSI 2018 showed that only Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and all bacteria were resistant to gentamicin and penicillin antibiotics. The results of the one-way analysis of variance revealed that there was a significant difference between the effect of extract or antibiotics against bacteria (P<0.01).

Collectively, hydroalcoholic extract of Yellow Nasturtium could be a valuable source of antibacterial activity against certain gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Natural antibacterial compounds are efficient for utilization in in vitro phytochemical and biological investigations.

 Epistaxis, also known as a nosebleed, is the bleeding from the nasal cavity or nasopharynx and is a common issue among individuals. Although epistaxis often resolves spontaneously, it can be life-threatening in certain cases, such as in elderly patients or those with underlying health conditions.

 In this descriptive-analytical study, a convenience sampling method was used to evaluate 226 patients presenting with epistaxis at Kamkar and Arabnia Hospitals affiliated with Qom University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a checklist that included demographic information and interventions performed, and were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics.

 A majority of patients diagnosed with epistaxis had local etiologies confined to the nasal area without systemic diseases, representing 51.8% (117 individuals). The study found significant correlations between pack-cell injection and Surgicel application (P<0.001), pack-cell injection and tampon type (anterior, anterior-posterior, or other treatments) (P=0.005), age and Surgicel application (P<0.001), age and tampon type (P<0.002), and age and referral reason (P<0.001). No significant relationship was observed between gender and tampon type (P=0.511).

 Considering the significant correlations between the variables and the decrease in patient revisits for those treated with Surgicel, along with the potential use of pack-cell in critical cases, it is recommended to undertake essential actions to improve patient outcomes. The adoption of Surgicel for patient management is suggested for enhanced care.

 Diabetes causes damage to various tissues, including the testicles. Garlic and Cambodian mushrooms play an important role in preventing diabetes complications in the testicles due to their antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Cambodian mushroom extract and garlic on testicular damage in healthy and diabetic desert mice.

 40 male Wistar rat heads were divided into 5 groups of 8, including control group, negative control group (witness) (diabetic, with mg/kg 55 Streptozotocin intraperitoneal), experimental group 1 (diabetic + mg/kg 50 garlic extract), experimental group 2 (diabetic + 50 mg/kg Cambodian mushroom), and experimental group 3 (diabetic + mg/kg 50 Cambodian mushroom and mg/kg 50 garlic extract). After two months of diabetes, the mice received the extracts subcutaneously for two weeks. The mice were then anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine, and the testes were examined macroscopically and microscopically.

 The diabetic group showed a significant decrease in spermatogenic cells compared to the control group. Conversely, the experimental groups showed a significant increase in spermatogenic cells compared to the diabetic group.

 The findings of this study demonstrate that prolonged oral intake of garlic and Cambodian extract enhances the secretion of the blood hormones insulin and testosterone, and promotes the spermatogenesis process.

 Cryopreservation by various mechanisms, such as the induction of oxidative, osmotic, and temperature stress, causes a reduction in sperm quality after the freeze-thaw process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the simultaneous addition of chlorogenic acid and lipoic acid as an antioxidant supplement to sperm freezing medium in patients with oligoasthenospermia.

 Sperm samples from patients with oligoasthenozoospermia were divided into five groups as follows: fresh sample (pre-frozen semen), control (sperm freezing medium without supplements), CGA group (sperm freezing medium with 100 µM chlorogenic acid), ALA group (sperm freezing medium with 200 µM lipoic acid) and CGA+ALA group (sperm freezing medium with chlorogenic acid and lipoic acid). Total mobility, viability rate (eosin-nigrosin staining) and DNA fragmentation index (Halo test) were assessed before and after freeze-thawing.

 In the control group, there was a decrease in total sperm motility and viability and an increase in DFI. Freezing sperm in the CGA, ALA, and CGA+ALA groups was associated with a significant increase in viability and total sperm motility after thawing. The results of the Halo test also showed that the increase in sperm DFI caused by the freeze-thaw process was less in all three experimental groups than in the control group, and this decrease was statistically significant (P<0.05).

 The simultaneous addition of chlorogenic acid and lipoic acid to the sperm freezing medium can improve the quality of sperm samples after the freeze-thaw process in terms of mobility, viability, and DNA fragmentation, thus increasing the efficiency of this technique in the treatment of male infertility.

 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and gradual progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal protein accumulation, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. Hydrogen sulfide, a novel neuromodulator, has neuroprotective effects and regulates learning and memory. It has be shown that Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates homocysteine-induced impairment in cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), as an H2S donor, on Spatial Learning and Memory in streptoztocin (STZ) rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

 Animals were divided into: Control, NaHS (2.8 mg/kg per d) and Alzheimer’s rats group include (STZ, STZ + Saline and STZ + NaHS groups) which were the Alzheimer’s rats and received Saline and NaHS (2.8, 5.6 mg/kg per d) for 10 days. For induction of AD, STZ (3 mg/kg, 10 μl/injection site) were administered into lateral ventricles. All rates were trained in the Morris water maze.

our results show that i.c.v. injection of STZ significantly increased escape latency and Swimming distance to find the hidden platform in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). The amnesic effect of STZ was prevented with NaHS treatment So that The latency time and Swimming distance to find the platform in the STZ+ NaHS group rats were significantly lower than STZ + DMSO groups (P<0.05). Conversely, the percentage of time spent and distance swimming in the target quadrant in the probe test in the STZ+ NaHS group rats were significantly higher than those in the STZ + saline group. 

sodium hydrosulfide, improved, learning and memory in the STZ rat model of AD. The results suggest that treatment with sodium hydrosulfide is useful for treatment of cognitive impairment in AD.

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival rate and complications and compare surgical and non-surgical treatment methods in esophageal cancer patients referred to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran.

 In this retrospective cohort study, 96 patients with esophageal cancer between 2011 and 2016 were included using census sampling. The patients were categorized into esophagectomy and non-surgical treatment groups. The data was analyzed using SPSS 24 software, employing descriptive methods and the Chi-square test for analysis.

 Among 96 patients with esophageal cancer, 58 (60.4%) were male and 38 (39.4%) were female. Among all patients, 37 (38.5%) underwent esophagectomy surgery while 59 (61.5%) received non-surgical treatment. The highest incidence of tumors was found in the lower 1/3 of the esophagus, affecting 47 patients (48.95%). The most frequent post-surgery complication was minor, occurring in 14 patients (37.8%). In the surgical group, the average survival time was 28.1 months, whereas in the non-surgical group, it was 13.1 months on average. When comparing survival rates, a significant difference was observed between the one-year and three-year survival periods in both the surgical and non-surgical groups.

 The results indicate that esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy had longer survival times compared to those receiving other treatments, with fewer complications and lower mortality rates. The low incidence of complications following esophagectomy at the Baqiyatallah treatment center reflects the center's effective approach to treatment procedures.

 The ureteral stent is one of the most useful devices in urology to remove obstructions that can cause problems for the patient. This study was conducted to determine the effects of lettuce on improving symptoms caused by stents.

 The clinical trial included 60 male participants with ureteral stones who were treated with ureteroscopy and stone fragmentation through the urethra. Urinary symptoms were evaluated using the USSQ questionnaire initially and again two weeks after the intervention. The participants were divided into two groups: the intervention group, which received tamsulosin and lettuce extract, and the control group, which received tamsulosin and a placebo. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, utilizing appropriate statistical tests with a significance level set at 0.05.

 The average age of the patients studied was 44.6±14.5 years. For the control group, the initial mean score for urinary symptoms was 26.64±3.13, which decreased to 16.58±2.84 two weeks after the intervention. In the intervention group, the initial score was 28.27±5.05, reducing to 15.68±2.42 post-intervention. There was a statistically significant difference noted within each group (P=0.001). However, between the two groups, no statistically significant difference was observed either before (P=0.136) or after the intervention (P=0.198).

 In the comparison of the two groups, lettuce did not demonstrate a significant effect on reducing urinary symptoms in the study subjects after the intervention. This issue can be due to the small sample size, the short duration of the study, the underlying disease of the patients and the type of lettuce planted. Future studies with longer duration are recommended.

 Acinetobacter baumannii is a common cause of infection in hospitalized patients, particularly in intensive care, surgical, and burn units. The ability to form biofilms is considered one of the major virulence factors of this bacterium. The expression of pga genes plays a crucial role in exopolysaccharide synthesis, bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. This study aims to investigate the presence of pga genes in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii clinical isolates and their ability to form biofilms.

 This descriptive cross-sectional study examined 97 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains for the presence of pgaA, pgaB, pgaC, and pgaD genes using PCR. The biofilm-forming capacity of the strains was assessed using the microtiter plate method, and the results were analyzed using SPSS software and Pearson's correlation test.

 Among the 97 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains, 72.16% carried the pgaA gene, 58.76% carried the pgaB gene, 1.03% carried the pgaC gene, and 51.54% carried the pgaD gene. The presence of the pgaA gene was more prevalent compared to other genes, while the pgaC gene showed lower prevalence. Additionally, 29 strains (29.89%) exhibited strong biofilm formation, 30 strains (30.92%) exhibited moderate biofilm formation, and 38 strains (39.17%) exhibited weak biofilm formation.

 The results suggest that the pgaC gene may play a lesser role in biofilm formation in A. baumannii since its expression was lower in strong and moderate biofilm-forming strains compared to other pga genes. The other pga genes showed a relatively similar distribution among strong and moderate biofilm-forming strains.