Payavard Salamat

Synergistic Apoptotic Effect Of Indole-3-Carbinol And Doxorubicin On Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

Ahmad Kazemi

Background and Aim: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in Brassica species vegetables, exhibits antitumor effects. It has been shown that I3C induces apoptosis in various cell types through inactivation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- k B) pathway. Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, is widely used in the treatment of hematological malignancies, induce apoptosis in tumor cells via DNA damage and activation of p53. However, NF- k B pathway that activated by anthracyclines as a part of DNA damage response can induce chemo resistance. In this study the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin in combination with NF- k B inhibitor I3C was assessed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Materials and Methods: Human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, NALM-6 cells, were preincubated with various concentrations of I3C for1 hour and then treated with 125nM doxorubicin at 37 ° C for 24 hours. Cellular DNA content assay and Annexin V-FITC staining were performed by flowcytometry for evaluation of apoptosis.

Results: DNA histogram analysis of NALM-6 cells indicates that combination of I3C with doxorubicin synergistically escalated the percentages of sub-G1 population cells (apoptotic cells) as compared to doxorubicin-only treated group. Annexin V-FITC staining showed that cotreatment of NALM-6 cells with I3C and doxorubicin increased the proportion of Annexin-V positive cells (early apoptotic cells) in comparison with the doxorubicin treated cells.

Conclusion: The results of cell culture treatments and cell death analysis by flowcytometry suggest that I3C synergistically potentiates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human leukemia NALM-6 cells.

Patient Safety Status In Hospitals Of Tehran-Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Standards: 2013

Zohreh Mazhari

Background and Aim: Patient safety standards are a set of requirements that are crucial for the implementation of patient safety in hospitals. Process evaluation of patient safety in hospitals has developed a mechanism to determine the level of patient safety. This mechanism can also start a program aimed at improving patient safety and evaluate programs that are being used.

Materials and Methods: This analytic study was to determine the status of compliance with critical safety standards for patients in 10 hospitals in Tehran in May to August 2013. All segments of the population are hospitals in Tehran and were selected randomizely. Research tool was a checklist and its validity and reliability was approved. SPSS version 16 software for data evaluation and statistical techniques were used.

Results: According to the data of this study, the mean level of standards was 76.69%. Also, according to the average standards, the highest level of respect in Group D (80.40%) and minimum standards in group B (56.33%) were observed. Hospitals that had more than 400 beds (71.73%) and hospitals with less than 200 beds (66.22%) have been met with standards.

Conclusion: According to these results, we can increase patient safety standards of our country by establishing the culture of patient safety, patient-centered approach to service delivery, training of staff and patients and legal barriers.

The Effect Of Peer-Nurses' Lecturing On Critical Units Nurses’ Retaining Knowledge Of Electrocardiogram Interpretation

Ali Fakhr-Movahedi

Background and Aim: Learning basic issues in nursing requires new strategies that can enhance knowledge retention among nurses. This study aimed to determine the effect of lecturing by peer-nurses on critical units nurses’ retaining knowledge of electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, two units (as test and control groups) were selected randomly from among critical care units of Semnan University of Medical Sciences hospitals. First, a pretest was performed on nurses in both groups. Then, the nurses of test group were trained by a peer-nurse how to interpret ECGs. A posttest was performed on the two groups both a week and a year later. Finally, the data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, t-paired and t-tests.

Results: The mean of nurses’ scores of ECG interpretation in pretest was 9.55±2.73 in the test group and 10.82±3.43 in the control group. In the first posttest, mean scores of nurses’ knowledge in test and control groups were 15.27±2.57 and 11.36±3.29, respectively. In the second posttest, nurses’ mean scores in test and control groups were 10.82±4.07 and 11.33±2.95, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pretest and the first posttest in the test group, but there was no such difference for the second posttest (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Lecturing by peer-nurses can enhance nurses’ knowledge about ECG interpretation in the short run, but it cannot enhance knowledge retention. So it is suggested that other educational methods be used in nurses' in-service training programs designed for ECG interpretation.

The Relationship Between Ethical Priciples, Job Satisfaction, And Psychological Empowerment With Organizational Citizenship Behavior Among Private Hospitals Staff Members In Shiraz

Mohammad Ali Nadi

Background and Aim: Based on theories and researches, three variables effective in the organizational citizenship behavior are e thical values, job satisfaction and psychological empowerment. The present study aims to explore the relationship between these variables and the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) among the staff members of private hospitals in Shiraz.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study. Some 330 staff members (147 males and 183 females) were selected using stratified sampling technique. The data collection devices consisted of five standardized questionnaires, the reliability of which turned out to be 0.85, 0.93, 0.70, 0.89, 0.90 and 0.70 Besides, the construct validity was confirmed through factor analysis. The data were analyzed inferentially using Pearson’s correlation test, stepwise regression analysis and SEM.

Results: The findings revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between ethical principles, psychological empowerment and job satisfaction with organizational citizenship behavior (p<0/001). Moreover, the findings of stepwise regression analysis showed that ethical climate played a significant role in predicting OCB.

Conclusion: The staff members’ effort to enhance OCB is mostly influenced by psychological empowerment in private hospital.

Evaluation Of Effects Of Alfalfa Extract And Risk Of Breast Cancer

Seyed Majid Hosseini Aghoosi

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. A subset of isoflavones such as phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) have mammalian estrogen-like properties. Alfalfa has high isoflavone content. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alfalfa’s isoflavones on breast cancer and lipid profile in these patients.

Materials and Methods: Thirty BALB-C mice (17±2 gr weight range) were selected. The rats were divided into four groups. The first and second group triggered to breast cancer by implanting cell lines. The third and fourth groups were healthy. Alfalfa extract was prepared by vacuum distillation.

Groups I and II received extraمct of alfalfa. Groups II and IV (control) received no treatment. After 6 weeks the blood serum of all mice were prepared. Concentration of estradiol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol were measured.

Statistical analysis was performed by t-student and Graphpad statistical software. The significance level was set at P=0.05.

Results: The level of estradiol, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in the first group versus the second group (P<0.00 for all). The level of HDL-cholesterol increased insignificantly in the first group when compared to the second group (P=0.09).

Conclusion: Alfalfa extract with effect on esteradiol levels and lipid profile in mice with breast cancer could be useful in improving the patient’s condition.

Assessment Of Training And Internship Programs In Hospitals Based On A Survey On Tehran University Of Medical Sciences Students

Fereshteh Farzianpour

Background and Aim: Every educational system, whether micro or macro, needs its training programs to be studied and educationally evaluated. This study aims to assess training and internship programs in hospitals based on surveying the students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with survey descriptive design. The data collection tool was a questionnaire with 14 five-point Likert style items. The TUMS Educational Development Center (EDC) surveyed all 185 students of training and internship programs, using a questionnaire with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.81 in 2011, in order to adjust the education with the society’s needs and to improve its quality.
Results: The mean assessment scores of training and internship programs were 3.32%, 2.98%, 3.38%, and 3.29% for applied training, mental skills, communication skills, and practical skills courses, respectively.
Conclusion: The students’ satisfaction rate regarding the quality of educational courses of training and internship programs was 50.2%. Educational authorities have made necessary attempts to implement these programs and use potential resources for realizing the objectives and achieving the educational quality however, they should make further attempts in this regard.

The Relationship Of Work-Family Conflict And Spillover To Affective Well Being Of Female Nurses

Mohsen Golparvar

Background and Aim: Work-family conflict and spillover are among threatening factors in hospital environment for nurses’ well being. The present research aimed to study the relationship of work-family conflict and spillover to affective well being among nurses.
Materials and Methods: The research method was correlational and the statistical population consisted of female nurses of two public hospitals, among whom 197 persons were selected using availability sampling method. Data gathering instruments were the previously made questionnaires including work-family conflict questionnaire, work-family spillover questionnaire and affective well being questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the instruments were verified and the data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.
Results: The results of regression analysis revealed that work-family conflict had a significant predictive power for the prediction of negative and positive affect. Also, the results of regression analysis revealed that homework spillover had a significant predictive power for the prediction of negative affect and that free time spillover had a significant predictive power for the prediction of positive affect.
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that work-family conflict and spillover could cause problems to nurses’ affective well being. Therefore, it is necessary that nurses be trained to manage work-family conflict and spillover in a suitable way.

The Effect Of -401CT And -401CT Polymorphisms Of GGH Gene On Methotrexate Serum Level And Toxicity In Iranian Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Under Treatment In Ali Asghar Hospital In Tehran

Farhad Zaker

Background and Aim: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients show differences in serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate after its treatment. Pharmacogenetics is an important determining factor for these differences. In this study, the effect of +452 C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate was studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of +452C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on methotrexate level in serum and its associated toxicity in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Furthermore, the frequency of the above polymorphisms was investigated for the first time in Iran.
Materials and Methods: The prevalence of these polymorphisms was assessed in 83 Iranian patients with ALL using PCR and RFLP. The relationship between the polymorphism and serum methotrexate levels and its toxicity was estimated by calculating the Odds Ratio.
Results: No correlation was found between +452CT polymorphism and serum levels of methotrexate and methotrexate-related toxicity. -401CT polymorphism was found to be correlated with methotrexate-related toxicity leading to thrombocytopenia (95% CI= 0.009-0.019, odds ratio=0.265) and leukopenia (95% CI = 0.021-0.042, odds ratio = 2.182) in consolidation phase of the treatment.
Conclusion: Evaluation of patients for methotrexate-related polymorphism of GGH gene may be useful in selecting the appropriate dose of methotrexate and reducing the toxic side effects associated with its administration.