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Background and Aim: It is known that prolonged exposure to low intensity electromagnetic field (EMF) is hazardous for biological systems. However, the effect of EMF on human being is controversial. Several epidemiologic and experimental studies have shown that EMF has a harmful effect on central nervous system of animals. Previous research works in our laboratory, using light microscopes have shown that EMF could produce morphological changes in Cerebellum. The aim of the present study is to investigate ultrastructural changes of Cerebellum in EMF-exposed rats. Materials and Methods: 30 wistar rats were exposed to 3 mT EMF for 4 hours/day in a period of 4 months. After the experimental period rats in control and experimental groups were killed and tissue samples from their Cerebella were prepared for electron microscopic studies. Statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS software and t-test. p<0.05 was regarded significant. Results: The results of this study clearly demonstrated that the number and size of purkinje cells in EMF-exposed rats were decreased significantly (p<0.01). Other changes included: condensation of nuclei, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolization of cytoplasm, breakdown and disappearance of crista in mitochondria in the purkinje cells of Cerebellum. Conclusion: These findings indicated that long-term exposure to EMF had detrimental effects at cellular level on central nervous system of the rats.

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ABSTRACT Background and Aim: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the most important causes of death and disability all around the world. Blood cells, especially platelets, may play a crucial role in pathophysiology of these disorders. Considering the increased risk of thrombosis after acute physical activities, and the role of the platelets in these disorders, many nutritional approaches had been evaluated for the prevention of thrombosis. Recently, the effects of cocoa consumption on hemostasis have recently attracted the attention of many researchers. In this study we evaluated the effects of cocoa consumption on platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW), during one session of incremental exhausting aerobic exercise in male soccer players. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study included 20 healthy volunteer male soccer players (age: 22±1years BF%: 22.5±1.2 VO2max:52.6±1.5 ml.kg-1.min). After written consent, all subjects performed Bruce Test within two successive weeks. After the first blood sampling (stage one), 0.5 mg/kg of placebo (0.5 g cocoa powder in 300 ml of 4% sucrose solution) or cocoa solution (18.75 g cocoa powder in 300 ml 4% sucrose solution) was randomly given to the subjects. All cases performed Bruce Test two hours later. Blood samples were collected just before Bruce Test (second stage), immediately after Bruce Test ( third stage) and 1 hour after Bruce Test (fourth stage). After preparation of peripheral blood smears, platelet count, MPV and PDW were measured by Mindray cell counter. Using spss 16, data were analyzed by means of two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonfferoni test at the level 0.01. Results:Our results indicated a significant decrease in platelet count, MPV, and PDW after cocoa consumption (P<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in these values after Bruse Test (P<0.01). However, in spite of significant increase in platelet count, MPV, and PDW after Bruse Test, cocoa consumption 2 hours before the test decreased these values significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion: Cocoa consumption before exhaustive physical exercises may prevent exercise induced increase in the platelet indices hence, potentially can prevent cardiovascular and thrombotic events and sudden death in the athletes. Key words: Cardiovascular disease, Platelet, Cocoa, Exhaustive exercise, Bruce Test Received: Jul 25, 2012 Accepted: Sep 10, 2012 Conflict of interest: None declared

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Background and Aim: Environmental contaminants such as bisphenol A, in addition to the environmental problems can affect human health. Epigallocatechingallat has been found to have antioxidant and cytoprotective properties in cultured cells but its effect on toxicity induced by bisphenol A has not yet been determined in mesenchymal stem cells. The aim of this investigation was to study the protective role of epigallocatechingallat in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells following treatment with bisphenol A(an oxidative stress inducer). Material and Methods: In this experimental study, rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted using flashing-out method and cultured in DMEM containing 15% FBS and 100U/ml Pen/Strep. At the end of the third passage, cells were divided into 4 groups: control, bisphenol A, bisphenol A + epigallocatechingallat and epigallocatechingallat. The groups were treated for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs. After treatment with bisphenol A and epigallocatechingallat, viability, morphology, rate of DNA damage and calcium content of the cells were evaluated. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Bisphenol A caused a significant reduction in the viability and calcium content of the cells. In addition, morphological changes such as nuclear breakage and chromatin condensation, as well as cytoplasm shrinkage, were observed in the group treated with bisphenol A. We found alterations in these parameters in the group of bisphenol A+ epigallocatechingallat which were similar to those observed in the control ones. Conclusion: Epigallocatechingallat can produce a protective role against the toxic effects of bisphenol A in the mesenchymal stem cells. Keywords: Epigallocatechingallat, Bisphenol A, Mesenchymal stem cells. Received: Oct 21, 2013 Accepted: Aug 25, 2014

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Background and Aim: Arsenic (As) compounds are environmental toxicants which are among human carcinogens. Sodium arsenite exposure leads to its accumulation in the liver resulting in liver disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of curcumin, as an antioxidant, on the liver tissue in the mice exposed to sodium arsenite.

Material and Methods: Thirty NMRI mice with mean body weight of 31±2 g. were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, scheme (receiving DMSO),curcumin (15mg/kg/day), sodium arsenite (5mg/kg/day) and sodium arsenite+curcumin groups. Every group consisted of 6 mice. The exposure was by intraperitoneal injections and carried out for 5 weeks. Then the mice were killed and the liver tissue was removed and weighed. Histopathological and stereological analyses were performed and the incidence of hepatocyte cells apoptosis (by the TUNEL method) was determined. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA, and the differences among mean values were considered significant at P<0.05.  

Results: A significant increase in the mean relative weight of liver, total volume of sinusoids, bile ductules (p<0.001) and total number of hepatocytes (p<0.03) and a significant decrease in the total volume of the central veins (p<0.001), the mean volume of the hepatocytes (p<0.04) and their nuclei (p<0.001) were observed in sodium arsenite group compared to those in control and scheme groups. Histopathological examination also revealed parenchymal disorganization, inflammatory cell infiltration, necrosis of hepatocytes and destruction of reticulin fiber scaffold in the mice liver treated with sodium arsenite. Most of sodium arsenite-induced liver damage improved in the sodium arsenite + curcumin group to the same extent as control group (p<0.05).

Conclusion:  Treatment with curcumin reduced liver damage induced by sodium arsenite.

Keywords: Curcumin, Liver, Mouse, Sodium arsenite, Stereology.

 

Received: Oct 31, 2015      Accepted: Dec 21, 2016

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Background and Aim: Cancer is associated with psychological pressure and negative emotions. Therefore, identification and application of psychological therapies can be effective in the prevention and improvement of psychological pressure and problems in the patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of emotional schema therapy on cancer-related fatigue and self-care behaviors in patients with breast cancer.
 Materials and Methods: This was a pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental study with a control group, and its statistical population included all women with breast cancer referring to nongovernmental oncology center of Urmia in 2020. 30 women with breast cancer (15 in the experimental group - 15 in the control group) were selected by convenient sampling method. Our inclusion criteria included female patients with breast cancer, , minimum age 40 and maximum age 60 years, in the phase 1 and 2 of the disease, undergoing chemotherapy, and disease duration of at least 6 months and having diploma as minimum certificate in education. The patients randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Okoyama Cancer Fatigue Questionnaire (2000) and researcher-made self-care behaviors questionnaire were used to collect data. The experimental group received 12 sessions of Leahy's emotional schema therapy (2002). Every session lasted 90 minutes. Data analysis was performed using multivariate covariance test.
Results: The mean age of the participants was (56.36) with standard deviation (8.09). The results of multivariate covariance analysis showed that the mean scores of cancer-related fatigue and self-care behaviors after implementation of emotional schema therapy were significantly different in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. This means that emotional schema therapy reduced cancer-related fatigue and improved self-care behaviors.
Conclusion:  According to the results of this study, emotional schema therapy is effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue and improvement of self-care behaviors in the women with breast cancer.

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Background and Aim: Nosocomial infection is an infection that a patient develops 48 hours after hospitalization or up to 72 hours after discharge. The infection should not exist at the time of admission, and should not be in the latent stage. Nosocomial infections can lead to economic, social, and physiological problems for the patients and hospital staff. Since nurse aids and service staff have important roles in controlling nosocomial infections, this study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitude, and performance in regard to nosocomial infections.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2019. Questionnaire items were extracted by searching SID, Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases using Google Scholar search engine. The questionnaire validity was assessed using the opinion of 10 nosocomial infection control specialists. In order to assess the reliability and face validity, the questionnaire was given to 135 nurse aids and service staff working in Tehran hospitals. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 software and LISREL8.8.
Results: The content validity index and content validity ratio for knowledge, attitude, and performance sections of the questionnaire were between 0.8 and 1. The face validity of the questionnaire items ranged from 1.6 to 5. In the knowledge section of the questionnaire, Kuder- Richardson reliability coefficient was 0.7 and Cronbach's alpha for attitude and performance sections were 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient for knowledge, attitude, and performance were 0.86, 0.89, and 0.93, respectively. Three-factor confirmatory analysis showed the questionnaire had a good fit The mean scores of employees’ knowledge, attitude, and performance in regard to nosocomial infections were 0.44±0.19 (intermediate), 0.71±0.18 (positive) and 0.63±0.16 (intermediate), respectively
Conclusion: The questionnaire had good validity and reliability for assessment of nurse aids’ and service staffs’ knowledge, attitude and performance in relation to nosocomial infections. The levels of performance and knowledge of the nurse aids and service staff working at Tehran hospitals about nosocomial infections control were moderate and their attitude was neutral.