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Showing 4 results for Experimental Studies
Effectiveness of community based intervention on improvement of pregnancy and delivery process in district 4 of Tehran
Mamak Shariat , Farnaz Ehdaeevand , Mahasti Ataie , Zahra Karami , Leila Hadipoor Jahromi Hadipoor Jahromi, Zahra Farahani ,
Volume 73, Issue 7 (10-2015)
Abstract

Background: To reduce cesarean section rate, we need complex interventions to modify related behavior. We aimed to identify the effectiveness of a community-based intervention on prenatal care status, delivery and decline of cesarean section rate. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out on mothers residing in Khak Sefid and Javadiyeh in Tehran from January 2011 to September 2014. Study population was 274 mothers attending in health centers for first vaccination of their neonates. Mothers' demographic data were recorded in some questionnaires. One year interventions including consultation, distribution of educational package and training courses (for mothers, fathers and their families, educational programs for midwives, obstetricians and gynecologist, residents, medical students), accomplishment of 10 steps baby-friendly principles and provision adequate personnel in labor-delivery room were implemented in community, hospitals and health centers. After intervention, 250 mothers who were attending in health centers for vaccination of 2 months aged neonates were assessed and their data were recorded in the same questionnaires. The effectiveness of intervention on cesarean section rate and cesarean tendency in before and after intervention groups were compared. P< 0.05 was considered as level of significance. Results: Of 274 mothers in "before intervention" group 193 (70.44%) and of 250 mothers in "after intervention", 169 subjects (67.6%) had cesarean section. Although a significant decline was seen in cesarean tendency in "after intervention" group (P= 0.034), no significant difference was seen between 2 groups' cesarean section rates (P= 0.48). In "after intervention" group episiotomy, induction of labor rate and maternal morbidity were significantly lower than "before intervention" group (P= 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.01). Although no significant difference was seen between two groups neonatal birth weight (P= 0.69), a significant difference was seen between two groups' gestational age (P= 0.007). Conclusion: After intervention, in spite of no decline in cesarean section rate, NVD tendency and morbidity rate were raised and improved respectively. It seems that cesarean section rate was influenced by other important factors.


The roles of Sertoli cells in fate determinations of spermatogonial stem cells
Maryam Khanehzad , Farid Abolhasani , Seyed Morteza Koruji , Iraj Ragerdi Kashani , Fereshteh Aliakbari ,
Volume 73, Issue 12 (3-2016)
Abstract

Background: Spermatogenesis is a complex and highly organized process of proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) as a unique stem cell have the potential to self-renewal, differentiation and transmit genetic information to the next generation and play a vital role in maintaining fertility. Sertoli cells as the only somatic cells within the seminiferous epithelium play central roles in the formation of niche and balance between self-renewal and differentiation by secrete many growth factors. Given the importance and widespread use of SSCs, particularly in the treatment of infertility, the aim of this study was to create an optimal environment for the proliferation of SSCs. So we decided to study of undifferentiated (ID4) and differentiated (c-Kit) gene expression in SSCs followed by co-culture with Sertoli cells for a one-month.

Methods: This experimental study was conducted from November 2013 to December 2014 in Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, on immature NMRI mouse (6-3 days old). Initially, Sertoli cells and SSCs were isolated from neonates mouse testes during the two-step enzymatic digestion characteristics Sertoli cells with vimentin marker and SSCs with promyelocytic leukemia zinc-finger (PLZF) marker were confirmed. Then SSCs were cultured in two groups: co-culture with Sertoli and without co-culture (control). Undifferentiated (ID4) and differentiation (c-Kit) gene expression were evaluated by Real-time PCR technique.

Results: Spermatogonial stem cells purity was obtained 66.91% by flow cytometry. The relative expression levels of gene ID4 in co-culture group at the end of each week, compared to the control group showed a significant increase (P<0.05). While the expression of this gene significantly decreased in each group over time (P<0.05). The results of the comparison of the relative expression of c-Kit gene in co-culture group are indicated significant decrease than the control group at the end of each week (P<0.05). In addition, this gene expression was showed significant increase in each group individually over time (P<0.05) ID4 gene expression showed a significant (P<0.05) increase toward the control group, while in the expression of c-Kit was observed a significant (P<0.05) decrease compared with the control group at the end of each week.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, co-culture with Sertoli cells maintains SSCs in the prolifration stage for long-term, so can be used to optimize the culture medium at the clinic.


The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on mental toughness and life expectancy of patients with multiple sclerosis
Fatemeh Khayat Sarkar , Mahmoud Shirazi ,
Volume 75, Issue 8 (11-2017)
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic diseases creating major psychological challenges. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on mental toughness and life expectancy of MS patients.
Methods: The design of this quasi-experimental study has been with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with control group that was performed in Zahedan MS community, Iran, from September to November 2016. The sample of the study was selected voluntarily from 30 MS patients which were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Among 200 patients, 80 patients had the required qualifications to participate in the study and 38 patients volunteered to enter the study. At last, only 30 patients were selected and put randomly into two experimental and control group. The experimental group received treatment in 8 weekly sessions (90 to 120-minute-long sessions with the classroom task and homework and group discussion) but the control group did not go under such treatment. The research instrument being used in this study was Halajian life expectancy questionnaire and mental toughness questionnaire (MTQ-48).
Results: For the groups to be homogeneous in age and the level of education, T-test and chi-squared test were used respectively, which did not show a meaningful difference between experimental and control group. The analysis of covariance showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) group has resulted in meaningful increase in mental toughness and life expectancy of patients. The results showed the average of mental toughness to be 1.05 in for the experimental group in the pre-test, 1.24 in the post-test, 1.21 in the follow-up and the average of life expectancy 4.56 before treatment, 7.20 after treatment and 7.01 in the follow-up (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Practicing group cognitive-behavioral therapy in the process of MS patients’ treatment led to the increase in their mental toughness and life expectancy.
 

Preparation, characterization and evaluation the effects of microemulsion containing sesame oil on fibrinogen and factor VII level in animal model
Mahmoud Ebrahimi , Mohammad Karimi , Faranak Dehghani , Amir Biriaei , Nafiseh Farhadian, Shiva Golmohammadzadeh ,
Volume 77, Issue 3 (6-2019)
Abstract
Background: Sesame oil can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, by reducing the levels of fibrinogen and factor VII. The aim of this study is to prepare a microemulsion containing sesame oil as a drug nanocarrier for improving the aqueous solubility and therapeutic effects of this vegetable oil on the reduction of the fibrinogen and factor VII levels in animal model.
Methods: This experimental study was performed for microemulsion preparation and animal test at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Cardiovascular Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, respectively, from April 2015 to January 2017. To prepare the microemulsion samples, Tween 80 and span 80 were selected as surfactant couple and surfactant ratios of 8:1, 9:1 and 10:1 were determined for construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. The Zealand white rabbits were categorized in three groups: receiver of base diet group, high cholesterol diet and high cholesterol diet plus microemulsion.
Results: The average particle size of the samples was in the range of 16.64±0.1 to 21.16±0.2 nm with a uniform particle size distribution. Zeta potential was in the range of -10.7 to 18.4 mV, refraction index was approximately 1.39. Electrical conductivity coefficient was in the range of 297 to 311 μz and pH of all the samples were approximately 6.42 for all samples. All of the microemulsion samples were physically stable and the prepared sample with 9:1 surfactant ratio was selected to investigate the animal test due to the higher oil percentage in comparison with the other samples that be stable over 6 months. Significant decrease in the levels of fibrinogen and factor VII in the third group of rabbits was observed compared to the other groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the effective performance of nanostructured drug delivery systems in the form of microemulsion to improve the aqueous solubility and therapeutic effects of hydrophobic compounds such as vegetable oils.

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