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Introduction & Objective: Coronary arteries diseases and atherosclerosis are the most prevalent mortality and morbidity in the world. This study was designed with goal of effect of frankincense extract on accumulation of fatty streaks in coronary arteries of high- cholesterol fed male rabbits. Materials & Methods: Twenty white male rabbits (wt = 1.780 kg) were weighed and blood samples were taken for analysis of serum cholesterol, TG, LDL, HDL, VLDL. After taking the sample rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. For 40 days group 1 (n=10) was given high cholesterol (1%) diet with frankincense extract (500 mg/kg) and group 2 (n=10) were fed with high cholesterol with distilled water. Then, both groups weighted and blood samples were taken. Finally, the animals were sacrificed and their coronary arteries were dissected. Pathological smear were prepared and stained with H&E. The plaque of atherosclerotic was evaluated by light microscope. Results: Results of this study indicate that rabbits which received frankincense extract showed significant difference in cholesterol, TG, LDL, HDL, VLDL in compare with other group (p < 0.05). Also, our results showed a significant difference in mean of pathological scoring of four branch of coronary arteries (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Significant differences in all of parameters such as weight, serum cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL might be related to effect of frankincense extract on lipid metabolism. Pathological results showed that frankincense extract could decrease accumulation of fatty streaks in all branches of coronary arteries. Thus frankincense extract can be for preventing of used cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis and for treatment of lipidemia

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Introduction & Objective: Relaxation is one of the efficient methods in decreasing the occurance of ventricular arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of relaxation methods on the rate of ventricular arrhythmia in patients swith myocardial infarction. Materials & Methods: This study is a clinical trial in which 60 patients with myocardial infarction have been randomly divided into two, experimental and control groups. Data collecting tools were a demographic characteristics form and also a ventricular arrhythmia checklist. In order to assess the effect of relaxation, relaxation method was performed on experimental and control groups and the rate of occurance of ventricular arrhythmia was compared before and after relaxation in both groups. Results: Most of the studied cases were married with primery education level and their monthly income was more than 2000000 Rials. The findings of this study showed that the rate of ventricular arrhythmia in the experimental group was lower in comparison with the control group and this difference was statisticaly significant. Conclusion: Relaxation can be used as an efficient element in decreasing ventricular arrhythmia in patients with myocardial infarction.

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ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Hyperinsulinemia is related to obesity, diabetes and hypertension, but its relation to coronary artery disease, as an independent risk factor, is questionable. This study was conducted to compare the insulin level in patients with acute coronary and non coronary diseases. Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which two groups of hospitalized patients in emergency department, 32 patients in each group (acute coronary and non coronary disease) were evaluated for fasting insulin level. Diabetes or a family history of it, previous history of coronary artery disease or family history of it, pancreatic origin of abdominal pain, hypertension, overweight or obesity, or using steroids were exclusion criteria for this study. Collected data were analyzed using Mann-Withney test. Results: There was not any statistical difference in age and sex of both groups. No significant difference was noted in insulin level of coronary and non coronary patients in this study. Conclusion: Having these results, we can not include hyperinsulinemia as an independent risk factor for CVD.

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ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality in developing countries like Iran. Due to failure of classic risk factors to completely explain epidemiologic variability of the disease, other risk factors, for example infection diseases are under investigation. One of these infectious agents is Helicobacter pylori which have been investigated in numerous studies. This study was designed to assess the controversies about Helicobacter pylori prevalence in acute coronary syndrome, Materials & Methods: All the patients with ACS including unstable angina and myocardial infarction who referred to Fatemie Hospital between 20 Feb 2003 to 9 Feb 2004 and were admitted in CCU ward were included in this cross–sectional study. A total of 411 patients with ACS were evaluated for prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibody. Results: Mean age of patients was 59.97and 56% of them were male. The serological test for Helicobacter pylori infection was positive in 45.6% of cases, negative in 43.8% and borderline in 10.6% of patients. 191 patients had unstable angina and 220 patients had myocardial infarction. Conclusion: This study showed that prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with acute coronary syndrome was not high. Thus acute or chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori could not be a risk factor for ACS.

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Introduction & Objective: The previous investigations show that cardiovascular diseases, which are spreading all over our country, account for most health and social problems. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between demographic factors, medical history as well as para clinical factors and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) within a period of 30 days for patients with chest pain. Materials & Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients referred to the emergency department of Tehran heart centre with a chief complaint of chest pain without ST ـ segment elevation were followed for 30 days. The outcome variable was coronary artery disease. The Poisson Regression Model was applied in order to identify significant predictors of outcome. Applying this model, we could calculate Adjusted Risk Ratio and 95% confidence interval. The data were analyzed by standard statistical tests using SAS and Stata software. Results: 609 eligible patients were enrolled. Of these 51% were male and 49% female. Based on the final model of Poisson Regression, variables like sex, blood pressure history, heart disease history, changes in electrocardiogram, WBC and CRP had meaningful relationship with CAD. Conclusion: We concluded that prognosis in patients with chest pain needed considering clinical factors (acquired through interview), electrocardiogram and lab findings. Also we were conducted not to rely on traditional risk factors such as history of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and family history of heart disease for prediction of the disease.

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ABSTRACT : Introduction & Objective: Following thoracic and abdominal surgery, all patients experience a decrease in pulmonary volumes and atelectasis. Different methods such as lung physiotherapy, intermittent positive pressure breathing, positive expiratory pressure and incentive spirometry are suggested for improvement of pulmonary volumes and blood gas parameters in these patients. Due to cheap, simple and easy use of incentive spirometry, we aimed at evaluating the effects of it on pulmonary volumes and blood gases parameters (ABG) in coronary artery bypass patients. Materials & Methods: This is a randomized, clinical trial study. From February 2004 to February 2005, 150 consecutive male patients who were hospitalized for coronary artery bypass surgery in Madani heart hospital were divided into two groups at random. On the first day of operation, group I used incentive spirometry and group II was routinely followed up. Data were collected through a questionnaire including age, left ventricular function (LVEF), smoking and number of grafts. Blood gases parameters and spirometry volumes were measured in 3 phases before, in the morning of the first day of operation and after using incentive spirometry. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using paired or unpaired student’s t-test. Results: There were no significant differences between two groups as to the mean age, LVEF, number of grafts and duration of mechanical ventilation in ICU. Comparison of ABGs before anesthesia and on the first day of surgery showed a significant decrease in systemic O2 saturation and arterial Po2 in all cases (p<0.001), but no significant differences were found between the second and third phases in both groups. Spirometry parameters showed a decrease of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) after surgery in all patients (p<0.0001), but by using incentive spirometery, no significant changes in spirometeric pulmonary volumes occurred. Conclusion: Using incentive spirometery on the first day of operation has no significant impact on pulmonary volumes and blood gases parameters.

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Abstract Background & aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation with omega-3 and 8 weeks of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular risk factors - vascular lipid profile in elderly men, respectively. Methods: In this present quasi-experimental study, 36 non athletic elderly men with the age range of 37/3 ± 37/57 years of age from Genaveh, Iran were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups of 9 (training + omega-3 supplements, training + placebo, omega-3 supplements and placebo) groups. Aerobic exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, term (30 to 45 minutes) and intensity of 55 to 70% Maximum heart rate was performed. Daily intake of omega-3 supplement was 2000. After 14 hours of fasting, blood samples before and 48 hours after the last study session were conducted. For data analysis, kolmogorov -smirnov-test, t-dependent, one-way ANOVA was used (p≤0/05). Results: After 8 weeks of training, TC levels of omega-3 supplements, omega-3 supplements, aerobic exercise and aerobic exercise with placebo significantly decreased (p≤0/05). But they were not significantly different in the placebo group (p≥0/05). Serum TG levels in groups supplemented with omega-3, aerobic training, supplementation with omega-3 a significant reduction was found (p≤0/05), but in the placebo group and aerobic training placebo, the reduction was not significant (p ≥0/05). Amounts of LDL-C were not significant in various groups (p ≥0/05). Levels of HDL-C in aerobic training, supplementation of omega-3 and aerobic training + placebo were significant (p≤0/05), but the omega-3 supplement and placebo groups showed no significant change (p ≥0/05). Changes in TC / HDL-C in the supplemental omega-3, aerobic training, supplementation of omega-3 and aerobic training + placebo a significant reduction was found (p≤0/05), but in the placebo group, no significant change was observed (p ≥0/05). Conclusion: Considering that aerobic training alone and omega-3 supplementation alone resulted in a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk factors - are cardiovascular, aerobic exercise and the intake of omega-3 supplements can be beneficial in preventing and reducing these diseases. Key words: Aerobic Exercise, Omega-3 Supplements, Lipid Profile, Heart Disease -Coronary

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Background & aim: Different psychological factors may have a negative effect on our physical health and may also cause or exacerbate various diseases such as heart disease. The purpose of the present study was to compare stress, emotional suppression, rumination and anxiety in two groups of patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects.

 

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 38 men. 19 male patients with coronary artery disease who were referred to Tehran Rajaie Shahid Heart Center in 2014. Moreover, 19 healthy men were selected using Targeted and peer-oriented methods. The tools of this research include the "beliefs about emotions", "worry", "rumination" and "perceived stress". Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and multivariate analysis of variance.

 

Results: The results of t-test showed that the two groups of patients and non-patients are similar in terms of age and level of education and were not different. The results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test displayed that the assumption was that the data were normal and a parametric test can be used. The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that the patients were not significantly different in terms of perceived stress (p = 0.15), however, the two groups considered the variables of emotional suppression (p = 0.05), rumination (0.05) = p) and worry (p = 0.001). Also, the results of Mbox test and Loon test, homogeneity of covariance and variance for multi-variable variance analysis were confirmed.

 

Conclusion: The findings of the research indicate that healthy group and coronary artery disease patient experience an equal level of stress, but the patients experience worry, rumination and emotional suppression more than healthy control group. The results Indicate that the high level of emotional suppression in the patient group may lead to increased rumination and mental worry and mental continuity of stress and, consequently, adversely affects the health worsens the condition of illness over time.

 

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Background & aim: Maternal infections are the most important risk factors to fetal health in humans, most of which are caused by viral agents. Viruses are among the most contagious infectious agents that can cause many complex and irreversible complications, including; Stunted growth, intracranial calcification, microcephaly and fetal death. The aim of the present study was to report a case of stillbirth in the second trimester in a pregnant woman infected with the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
 
Case Report: A 23-year-old woman with a first gestation and a gestational age of 23 weeks based on the first day of her last menstrual period, with fever symptoms and complaints of pain in the abdomen and flanks, along with a referral for a gynecologist (UTI) and to check the possibility of kidney infection refer to the gynecology department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Kazerun. An ultrasound performed one hour after the mother was admitted indicated that the fetus was healthy, but the next morning during the examination, the mother showed signs of severe shortness of breath and the fetal heart rate was not heard. The mother's lungs were scanned immediately and her infection with the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed. The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) may alter immune responses in the mother-fetus relationship and jeopardize the potential risks of a cytokine storm following maternal infection.
 
Conclusion: Following the physiological adaptation changes in pregnancy, respiratory problems increase in pregnant women, so given the current state of the new coronavirus epidemic, it is necessary to provide more care of pregnant women.
 
 

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Background & aim: The prevalence of Covid 19 disease has different consequences in economic, social and psychological levels. Anxiety is one of the psychological consequences of this disease. Some individual variables, such as defense mechanisms has important role in anxiety. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and investigate the relationship between the use of various defense mechanisms and the anxiety of corona virus.
 
Methods: The present descriptive correlational study was conducted in 2020. The statistical population of the study was selected from all people aged 20 to 80 years in the southern provinces of the country, including Fars, Khuzestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Isfahan. Sampling method was available and based on the consent of individuals for cooperation. This method was selected due to Covid 19 disease limitations. The anxiety questionnaires and Andrewsm singh and Bond defense mechanisms were completed virtually through social networks. The collected data were analyzed using multiple regression tests.
 
Results: The results revealed that high levels of Coronavirus anxiety (in physical and mental dimensions) were positively correlated with high scores in psychologically disturbed and underdeveloped defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms furthermore predicted 58% of Coronavirus anxiety. Based on beta coefficients, among the three defense mechanisms, the highest positive and statistically significant effect power was not statistically related to the defense mechanism (β=29) and the lowest effect was the psychologically disturbed defense mechanism (β=21) and the defense mechanism was developed. It had a negative predictive power(β= -27).
 
Conclusion: The results disclosed that proper use of defense mechanisms is one of the ways to maintain mental health and in dealing with any crisis, apart from health measures, attention to intrapersonal variables, especially in the field of defense styles and confrontations, can help to develop more complete and indigenous treatment protocols.
 
Keywo

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Background & aim: Traumatic pandemics have been repeated periodically in human kind history. Covid 19 or coronavirus is one of the last and most pervasive until yet. Adherence to quarantine and attention to health related protocols are the most effective strategies for prevention from this pandemic and therefore warranting the social health. Therefore the recognition of effective and associated factors in this area is important. The present study was designed to assess quarantine and health related protocols adherence and some related factors.
 
Methods: The present study was conducted by internet questionnaires via social networks on 202 participants during quarantine days in January 2020.In the present study, one researcher made questionnaire and NEO5 personality questionnaire were used to assess aimed factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS.
 
Results: According to the results of the study, about 67% of people over 75 adhered to the principles of quarantine and 72% adhered to the same guidelines. On the other hand, the results showed that in both fields (adherence to quarantine at the level of 0.06 and observance of instructions 0.001 were significant) women had higher scores than men. Accordingly, the urban population had a higher score than the rural population in the amount of investment to fight the corona and follow the announcement of the trustees. In terms of investment, married people had a higher score (significance 0.04). Regarding age, only the rate of participation in voluntary activities by the group of 20 to 35 years was almost significantly different (0.06). The results correspondingly revealed that the literacy variable in these behaviors, especially the willingness to invest (significant 0.03) and following the instructions of trustees (0.04) had a significant difference which had higher scores in both doctoral and higher literacy. In the field of job variability, the results indicated that the treatment staff reported the highest score in adherence to the principles. In addition, no significant relationship was observed between personality traits and adherence to the two mentioned issues.
 
Conclusions: This study revealed that the rate of quarantine and observance of hygienic principles was higher than most reports elsewhere. On the other hand, the degree of quarantine adherence and observance of health principles had a significant relationship with the variables of gender, residence, age, occupation, education and marriage and there was no significant relationship in terms of personality traits.
 
 

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Background & aim: The prevalence of coronavirus worldwide has led to severe limitations including reduced physical activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a period of inactivity due to the outbreak of coronavirus on the body composition and maximum oxygen consumption of adolescents.
 
Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study conducted in 2020, 178 male adolescents (mean age 13.85 05 0.057 years) participated voluntarily. Indicators such as height, weight, body mass index and maximum oxygen consumption were measured in two time intervals with an interval of 6 months as pre-test and post-test. Cooper test was used to determine the maximum aerobic capacity. After data collection, first the normality of the data was calculated using the K-s test and then the pre-test data were compared with the post-test using the dependent t-test. Correlated t-test was used to analyze the mean values ​​of pre-test and post-test data.
 
Results: The results of the present study indicated that lifestyle changes due to the spread of coronavirus caused the mean weight index to change from (50.34 ± 0.79) to (54.25 ± 0.89) and body mass. Change from (19.64 ± 0.26) to (20.26 ± 0.29) and the maximum oxygen consumption likewise changes from (31.04 ± 0.29) to (30.12 ± 0.27). From these effects, it could be understood that COVID-19 causes a significant increase in body mass index (p = 0.001), weight (p = 0.001) and also a significant decrease in maximum oxygen consumption (p = 0.032).
 
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it can be noted that a six-month period of inactivity caused by the outbreak of coronavirus causes changes in body composition and therefore threatens health.
 

 

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Background & aim: Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest is a common tool for imaging in pneumonia that is relatively easy and quick to detect. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the different characteristics of CT scan of patients with COVID-19 in Ahvaz hospitals.
 
Methods: The present survey was a descriptive-analytical retrospective study conducted in 2020. The statistical population included all patients referred to Corona Specialized Hospital who had positive COVID-19 and RT-PCR test and are hospitalized for treatment. Of these, 40 (22 men and 18 women) were included in the study. Patients who refused a CT scan of the chest or hospitalization, any coronary syndrome, any aortic or pulmonary embolism, or who were reluctant to participate were excluded from the study. All scans were reviewed and reported by a radiologist. The collected data were analyzed using Chi-square and t-test.
 
Results: Image analysis indicated that multiple involvement was observed in 37 cases (92.5%). Frosted glass opacity (GGO) was more observed in the posterior sections (p <0.001). Consolidation was more common in the posterior sections, with the posterior section of the right lower lobe (RLL) being more involved (p <0.001). Crazy paving was more common in part 6 of the right middle lobe (15%) (p <0.001). Halo and reversed halo were observed in only 1 patient (2.5) and 2 (5%), respectively.
 
Conclusion: In conclusion, a typical CT-Scan sign obtained for patients with COVID-19 in Ahvaz, Iran, was multipolar bilateral sub pleural ground-glass opacity (most seen in RLL posterior segment) followed by consolidation and crazy paving.