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Background & objectives: Andrographolide has potent antioxidant properties. There is still not a complete understanding of the antioxidant effects of andrographolide. In this study, the effect of andrographolide on the serum antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was investigated in the rats with secondary iron overload. 
Methods: In this experimental study, 32 rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 each. The groups included: 1-Control 2- Receiving iron 3- Receiving iron treated with 7 mg/kg andrographolide 4- Receiving 7 mg/kg andrographolide. The serum activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using colorimetric method. Prussian blue was used to evaluate iron deposition in liver.
Results: The results showed that iron was deposited in the liver. The activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the secondary iron receiving group, compared to control group, was significantly increased (p<0.05). The activity of catalase was significantly decreased in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide, compared to the control and iron receiving groups (p<0.05). Also, the activity of superoxide dismutase in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide decreased significantly compared to the iron receiving group (p<0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde in the iron receiving group were higher than the control group (p<0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide, compared with the iron receiving group, showed a significant decrease (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Andrographolide (7mg/kg) reduced the serum activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde serum levels in rats with secondary iron overload.

 
 

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Background & objectives: Due to the widespread use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and their possible unwanted effects in biological environments, we made an attempt to investigate the effect of ZnO-NPs on the blood lipid profile.
Methods: In this study, 24 male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, the group receiving ZnO-NPs at 25 mg/kg (ZnO-NPs 25 mg/kg) and the group receiving ZnO-NPs at 50 mg/kg (ZnO-NPs 50 mg/kg). The duration of the test was two weeks. The blood samples were taken and the serums were separated. Serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, VLDL, LDL and HDL were determined using standard kits and methods.
Results: Based on the findings of this study, serum levels of triglyceride and VLDL in both ZnO-NPs receiving groups were significantly increased in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Also,  the serum levels of HDL , LDL and LDL/HDL ratio decreased significantly in both ZnO-NPs receiving groups compared to the control group (p<0.05), while the  serum cholesterol levels did not change compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Our results showed that 25 and 50 mg/kg doses of ZnO-NPs had both harmful (increase triglyceride and VLDL and reduction of HDL) and beneficial (reduction of LDL and LDL/HDL ratio) effects on the blood lipid profile.

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Background & objectives: Vaginal microbial infections are common, and involvement of bacterial agents in genital infection is equal to that of fungal and protozoal agents. Gardnerella vaginalis is an organism that is often thought to play the most important role in bacterial vaginosis. The aim of this study was to compare the value of the diagnostic method of cultivation with Amsel standard in the diagnosis of Gardnerella Vaginalis infection in patients with genital tract infection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 150 women aged 15-55 years who complained of vaginal discharge during the period of the study, Jan 2017 to July 2017, in Alawi Hospital in Ardabil and were examined by a clinical examination. For each of the patients, three of the four diagnostic criteria of Amsel, including homogeneous discharge, PH measurements and whiff test were performed, and if two of them were positive, a questionnaire containing general and clinical information was completed. Using three sterile swabs, samples were taken from vaginal discharge. The first swab was used for culture, the second swab for the whiff testing and the third swab for Papanicolaou staining and verifying the presence of clue cell in the vaginal smear sample as a fourth grade of Amsel to diagnose bacterial vaginosis. In general, if three of the four Amsel criteria were positive in one person, it was considered to be positive in terms of Amsel's standard.
Results: Of 150 participants, 21 were diagnosed with Gardnerella vaginalis infection, of which 14 cases (%66.6) had positive Gardnerella culture. All of 21 patients (%100) with Gardnerella vaginalis had clue cells in Pap smear. The pH of vaginal discharge of 20 samples was 4.5 (%95.23), 18 samples had positive Amine tests (%85.71) and 16 samples had homogeneous secretion (%76.19).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that culture method in comparison with Amsel diagnostic criteria did not have sufficient accuracy to detect Gardnerella vaginalis infection. In addition, the culture method is costly and time consuming.

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Background & objectives: Ectopic eruption is a disorder in which the tooth does not follow its usual course and if not diagnosed in a timely manner, leads to occlusal problems. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of ectopic eruption of the first permanent molar and canine in patients referred to Ardabil dental school.
Methods: By observing the panoramic radiographs, recorded from 2016 to 2017, the frequency of ectopic eruption of first permanent molars in children aged 5 to 8 years and permanent canine in children aged 10 to 13 years was determined. The frequency distribution based on sex, involved jaw, unilaterality and bilaterality were evaluated using Chi-Square test.
Results: the frequency of ectopic eruption of the first permanent molar and permanent canine was 2.1% and 6.4% respectively. There was no significant difference in the frequency of ectopic eruption of the first molar, based on the patient's gender (p=0.366), jaw (p=0.132), and unilateral or bilateral involvement (p=0.366).Also, there was no significant difference between the frequency of ectopic eruption of permanent canine and the patient's gender (p=0.384), unilateral or bilateral involvement (p=0.056). The ectopic eruption of the permanent canine in the maxilla was greater than the mandible (p=0.012).
Conclusions: In this study, the frequency values of ectopic eruption were 2.1% and 6.4% for the first permanent molar and permanent canine respectively that were in the range of other studies reported from other populations.
 

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Background & objectives: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is accompanied by systemic inflammations and is characterized by irreversible airflow limitations. Leptin is a cytokine with pre-inflammatory effect. However, there have been no studies on the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the serum leptin concentration in COPD patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the effect of CLA on the serum leptin level, lung function and quality of life in COPD patients.
Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 90 COPD patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (supplement and placebo) with 45 patients per group. After obtaining written consent from the patients and recording their demographic characteristics, the spirometry was performed and COPD assessment test (CAT) score was calculated. Moreover, a fasting blood sample was collected from each of them in order to analyze their serum leptin concentration. After that, the patients in the supplement group were administered with 3.2 g/day of CLA for 6 weeks. The patients in another group received placebo. After the intervention, spirometry, CAT score calculation and blood sampling were repeated for all of the patients and the obtained results were analyzed.
Results: after the intervention, a significant decrease both in the serum leptin level and in CAT score as a quality life marker  was observed in the supplement group (p<0.05). Moreover, the FEV1 levels as a lung function test, increased significantly in the supplement group after the intervention (p<0.05). Although, the difference between the two groups was not significant.
Conclusion: The use of CLA supplement can improve COPD patients’ quality of life through decreasing the serum level of leptin in their blood.
 

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Background & objectives: The main motivator of hospitals is manpower. The expansion and complexity of educational medical centers and the appearance of new diseases such as Covid-19 have increased the need for effective management. During the Covid-19 crisis, in which hospitals are at the forefront, special measures should be taken for better management in critical situations. The current study has been conducted with the aim of identifying the main factors affecting management in crisis and its control.
Methods: The study method was the "Mix Method" performed in two stages. The first stage was exploratory; in this stage 19 university experts as a research sample were selected by simple random sampling. The second stage was a quantitative, confirmative, and survey study. 202 patients were selected randomly as a research sample from both educational-medical centers involved in Covid-19 of Ardabil city. Data were collected by using a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of data was performed using SPSS software for heuristic factor analysis, and LISREL software was also used for confirmatory factor analysis and finding correlations between factors.
Results: In this study, 17 factors were identified and confirmed, affecting the crisis management in 5 dimensions, including; safety training, crisis control, trust in human resources, sense of vulnerability, the physical and mental health, transparency, justice, participation in decision-making, trust in the manager, honesty, the expectation of needs, efficiency, reward, elimination of stresses, fulfillment of manager's promises, controlling of crisis, inter-sectorial solidity. There was a significant correlation between factors with latent variables.
Conclusion: From the perspective of management, being prepared and training the committed forces are very important in controlling the crisis. Manpower plays the main role in the Covid-19 crisis and treating patients, so paying attention to them by considering the factors and dimensions of leadership, social, motivation, organization, and quickness has high importance.
 

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Background & objectives: One of the main effective factors in combating gastric cancer is having good health literacy in the community. The aim of this study was to determine the health literacy of gastric cancer in clients and patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Medical Center in Ardabil.
Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. The sample of this study consisted of clients and patients admitted to Imam Khomeini educational -medical center in Ardabil in the second half of 2019. The sample size was 320 people which were randomly sampled. Researcher-made tools were used after ensuring validity and reliability. The questionnaire had two parts: demographic characteristics and items of health literacy dimensions. Patients' informed consent was obtained before completing the questionnaire. Data were collected by nurses and entered into SPSS-26 software. By using descriptive and analytical statistical parameters such as frequency and frequency percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA analyzed.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of participants was 42.98±14.35. The overall level of health literacy about stomach cancer was calculated as 31.13. The average gastric cancer health literacy in five dimensions in the clients and patients of Imam Khomeini educational-medical center in Ardabil was calculated as follows: access to health information resources was 38.02±10.6, reading health information was 13.47±4.41, understanding health information was 30.37±6.9, evaluation of health information was 16.73±4.58 and decision-making and application of health information was 58.49±10.77. Apart from reading in other dimensions of health literacy, no significant difference was found between clients and inpatients.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the mean score of health literacy of clients and patients admitted to Imam Khomeini medical center in Ardabil from gastric cancer is low and not sufficient. Considering the role of health literacy in energy storage, cost and time management of the individual's disease, it is necessary to plan and perform more efficient interventions to promote health literacy in the community, especially clients and patients admitted to Ardabil educational medical centers on gastric cancer.