Journal of Advanced Biomedical Sciences

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Background & Objective: The 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) consists of 4 subscales.Validation of this questionnaire has been carried out by several studies conducted in Iran. Despite the multiplicity of researches which investigated the sensitivity, specificity and reliability of this questionnaire in Iran, few studies have investigated its factor structure. However, it is important to consider if Persian translations of GHQ-28 will indicate the same 4 factors as demonstrated in forign investigations. the aim of the current research was to assess the reliability, validity and the factor structure of the Persian version of GHQ-28.
Materials & Methods: The current study was designed based on a survey method. A sample of 415 employees in Kerman hospitals participated in this study and completed the questionnaires.
Results: The results showed that GHQ has an appropriate internal consistency for assessing the general health in this sample. Factor analysis using principal component method identified 4 factors in participants’ responses, and these 4 factors accounted for 60% of the total variance. The correlation between GHQ total scores and the Pitsburg sleep quality index was significant at a level smaller than 0.001.
Conclusion: According to the evidence of this research it is concluded that explorative factor analysis identifies four factors in the participants’ responses and the fact that this questionnire has an appropriate internal consistency and an adequate validity for the assessment of general health in this sample.

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Background & Objective: Diabetes Mellitus is an abnormality in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism that can lead to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. This study aimed at assessing the effect of hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Mespilus germanica on the blood levels of glucose and lipids in diabetic male rats.

Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 48 adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups of eight. These groups are included: control group which left untreated sham group which received distilled water treated control group received only 4000mg/kg leaf extract diabetic control group receiving only streptozocine and two diabetic experimental groups of one and two which received 2000 and 4000 mg/kg extract respectively. The extract dosages were administered through gavageing method for sixteen days. Blood samples were taken from all groups and serum levels of glucose and lipids were measured by an auto analyzer. The data were analyzed by SPSS-20 software using ANOVA test.

Results: In the experimental groups of 1 and 2, concentration of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C decreased significantly in respect to diabetic control group, whereas the serum level of HDL-C showed a significant elevation in these groups. As expected, the levels of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C increased significantly in diabetic control group, while, the serum level of HDL-C declined in respect to control group.

Conclusion: The results show that the hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Mespilus germanica may be effective in the treatment of diabetes. This effect can be due to the presence of flavonoieds and their antioxidant features. Keywords: Mespilus germanica, glucose, lipid, rat, diabetes.

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Background & Objective: Due to the burden on citizens seeking access to the pharmacies, the optimal location of pharmacies, patients' access to medicines, and the pharmacies proportional distribution, are some significantly important factors to consider.. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the current distribution of pharmacies and to determine the best location for the establishment of new pharmacies in the study area.

Materials & Methods: This study was a case study that was conducted in the city of Shiraz. This study collected data in the form of a map to locate the service centers, weighting the criteria and compare them with other test methods which were used to analyze the hierarchy in the geographical information system (GIS). The layers (maps) used  in this study were eight dual-layer maps, including 200 meters of daily pharmacies and 1000 meters of overnight pharmacies. In addition, the final weight was calculated for each layer by AHP-Fuzzy method.

Results: 24 locations in the city were demonstrated, as the best places to establish a new pharmacy according to the research criteria layers. The incompatibility rate of 0.8 was calculated, which shows the weight of the layers located within the accepted range. The government hospitals and pharmacies layers are in the highest weight (23%) and the lowest weight (3%) respectively.

Conclusion: By the combination layers of information on the final map, the locations were identified for the establishment of pharmacies. This study showed that the current location of pharmacies in the city of Shiraz do not match the standards and requirements.

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Background & Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by increased levels of glucose. Ginseng has been used to control the diabetes for many years ago. This study investigated the effect of Panax ginseng extract on histomorphometric changes on brachial plexus region of spinal cord in 20 days fetuses of diabetic rats.
Material & Methods: 16 rats were divided into four groups: non-diabetic control, non-diabetic recipient of the extract, diabetic control and diabetic recipient of the extract. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin in diabetic groups and all groups became pregnant. During pregnancy, recipient of the extract groups received ginseng extract every day. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the mothers were anesthetized, and the fetuses were obtained. Brachial region of the spinal cord with vertebral column separated after using the techniques of histology, some histological factors were measured. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software and ANOVA and Duncan statistical tests (P≤0.05).
Results: A significant difference was observed in the transverse and vertical diameter of central canal of the spinal cord in brachial plexus region of fetuses in diabetic control group than non-diabetic groups (P≤0.05). A significant reduction was observed in height of ependymal cells and cell count of gray matter of spinal cord in diabetic control group than other groups (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Extract of Panax ginseng can control hyperglycemia and manage diabetes on spinal cord in fetuses of mothers with gestational diabetes by increasing β-cells stimulation and increasing insulin production.
 

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