Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

Importance of Self-Care in Managing of Chronic Diseases

2026-06-21T09:51:16+00:00

Abstract: Chronic diseases, also called non-communicable diseases, account for more than 70% of deaths worldwide. The major ones include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. Self-care is the ability of individuals, families, and communities to prevent disease and control their conditions even without direct supervision from health professionals. Education in self-care management can help patients with chronic diseases to manage their symptoms, improve their dieting habits, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle, all of which play an important role in control of chronic diseases. Therefore, it should be considered an important component of treatment of patients with chronic diseases.

Health Consequences of War: From Trauma to Chronic Diseases

2026-06-21T09:51:15+00:00

Introduction: War is among the most devastating threats to human health, and its consequences extend far beyond direct injuries and fatalities on the battlefield (1). It leads to a wide range of short- and long-term health problems that affect individuals, families, and entire communities. Major consequences include psychological trauma, chronic non communicable diseases, infectious diseases outbreaks, malnutrition, and the collapse of healthcare systems (2).

Studying the Effect of Physical Activity and Mobility on the Physical and Mental State of Children with Autism

2026-06-21T09:51:14+00:00

Introduction: Current evidence shows that regular physical activity can help improve motor abilities and promote mental hetallth among children with autism. The aim of this study was to study the effects of physical activity and mobility on the physical and mental state of children with autism. A total of 60 articles were setalrched through collection from reliable databases including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Scholar Google, MagIran, SID, and finally, 60 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. Physical activity strengthens the motor structure of children with autism. Aerobic, strengthening, and balance training letald to improved body function. Psychologically, participating in regular exercise programs is associated with the secretion of endorphins, reduced cortisol levels, and better regulation of stress responses, which letalds to a decretalse in repetitive and anxious behaviors and an incretalse in feelings of satisfaction and motivation.

Conclusion: Regular and targeted physical activity, as an effective non-pharmacological intervention, possesses the potential to improve performance and motor skills, regulate body mass index, reduce stereotyped behaviors, and promote mental hetallth, social interactions, and communication skills in children with autism. The results of this review showed that physical activity interventions with appropriate structure and intensity are beneficial for both physical fitness and mental hetallth in children with autism.

Impact of Auriculotherapy with a Focus on Stimulating the Shenmen Point on Urogenital Organ Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review Study

2026-06-21T09:51:13+00:00

Introduction: Functional disorders of the urogenital system, including urinary and fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain, can significantly impair women's quality of life, mental health, and social relationships. In this context, complementary therapies—particularly auriculotherapy with a focus on stimulating the Shenmen point—have gained attention as a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for improving these disorders. This narrative review examined studies published between 2010 to 2024 by searching databases including PubMed, SID, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The following keywords and their combinations were used: auriculotherapy, ear acupressure, pelvic floor disorder, pelvic floor dysfunction, chronic pelvic pain, fecal incontinence, sexual function, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence OR overactive bladder, pelvic congestion, chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The findings of the reviewed studies indicate that stimulation of the Shenmen point in auricular acupressure modulates autonomic nervous system function, leading to reduced stress, increased endorphin release, pain relief, improved urogenital organ function, and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. This intervention has shown effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence, overactive bladder, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. By reducing stress, it also significantly enhances women's quality of life.

Conclusion: Auriculotherapy targeting the Shenmen point appears to be a safe, well-tolerated, and effective complementary therapy when used alongside conventional treatments for urogenital disorders in women. Incorporating this technique into multimodal treatment programs represents a valuable step toward enhancing both the physical and psychological health of affected individuals. women's physical and mental health.

Rescue of Dystrophin Protein Expression by Interfering of mRNA Processing

2026-06-21T09:51:12+00:00

Introduction: Exon skipping has emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), because it restores the correct reading frame of dystrophin mRNA without directly modifying the genome. Delivery systems based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) enable long-term expression of exon-skipping components and improve therapeutic efficiency.

Methods: In this study, an AAV-based vector encoding a modified U7 snRNA designed to induce skipping of dystrophin exon 51 was constructed using a ligase-independent cloning (LIC) strategy. Recombinant AAV particles were produced and used to transduce immortalized human myoblasts. Exon 51 skipping efficiency was evaluated by RT-PCR, and dystrophin protein expression was assessed by western blotting.

Results: RT-PCR findings demonstrated effective exon 51 skipping in the treated cells, producing a shortened dystrophin mRNA transcript. Western blot analysis revealed increased expression of a truncated but functional dystrophin protein in AAV-treated myoblasts compared to controls.

Conclusion: These results indicate that the engineered AAV-U7 system effectively induces exon 51 skipping and restores dystrophin expression at the protein level. The LIC-based platform enables rapid generation of personalized exon-skipping vectors and represents a versatile and scalable approach for the development of RNA-based gene therapies for DMD.

Effect of Resistance Training on Cellular Adhesion Molecules and Lipid Profile in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Patients: A Clinical Trial Study

2026-06-21T09:51:11+00:00

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents one of the most prevalent chronic liver disorders characterized by inflammation processes. Within the underlying mechanisms, cellular adhesion molecules specifically ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are essential for leukocyte migration and the progression of hepatic inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training on serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and lipid profile in men with NAFLD.

Methods: In this study, a total of 30 young male subjects (age range: 30–40 years) suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were randomly assigned to either a training group or a control group. The intervention group participated in eight weeks of resistance training, whereas the control group maintained their usual lifestyle. Anthropometric indices, as well as lipid profile parameters, serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and hs-CRP were measured at baseline and after the intervention using the ELISA method. To compare mean values between groups, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied via SPSS, Version 20.

Results: Resistance training led to decreases of 38% in total cholesterol, a 31% decrease in triglycerides, and a 22% drop in LDL, along with an 8% increase in HDL compared to baseline (p ≤ 0.001). In addition, serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and hs-CRP were reduced by 6%, 4%, and 29%, respectively, following the training intervention (p ≤ 0.001). Post-intervention comparisons showed that the Total Cholesterol, TG, LDL and serum concentrations of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and hs-CRP were significantly lower in the training group than in the control group (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, after the intervention, the training group exhibited significantly higher serum HDL levels compared to the control group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Resistance training, by improving body composition and lipid profile as well as reducing levels of cellular adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers, plays a significant role in modulating systemic inflammation. These findings suggest that resistance training may serve as a targeted non-pharmacological intervention at the cellular level, offering an effective approach for slowing the progression of NAFLD.

Isolation, Characterization, and Cryopreservation of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using the Enzymatic Method

2026-06-21T09:51:09+00:00

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a significant role in regenerative research due to their strong self-renewal capacity, their ability to differentiate into various cell lineages, and their secretion of trophic and regenerative factors. Among different cell sources, adipose tissue is considered particularly valuable because of its easy accessibility and high yield. The aim of this study was to isolate adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell using collagenase type I and to characterize the isolated cells for establishing a cell bank at the Cell Culture Center of the Department of Anatomy

Methods: In this study, adipose tissue samples obtained through liposuction were enzymatically digested using collagenase type I to isolate the cells. The isolated cells were cultured in an appropriate culture medium, and the expression of mesenchymal surface markers was then analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the differentiation potential of the cultured cells toward adipogenic and osteogenic lineages was also evaluated through lineage-specific induction followed by appropriate staining procedures. Finally, the cultured cells were cryopreserved and stored in a liquid nitrogen for long-term preservation.

Results: The mesenchymal phenotype of the isolated cells was confirmed by the high expression of CD90 and CD73 and the low expression of hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. Oil Red O and Alizarin Red staining further verified the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of the cells, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the cells isolated using the collagenase enzymatic method exhibited morphological, immunophenotypic, and functional characteristics consistent with the standard criteria for mesenchymal stem cells, indicating their strong potential for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Histopathological Evaluation of Testicular Tissue and Examination of Hormonal Changes Related to Infertility after Varicocele Induction in Adult Male Rats

2026-06-21T09:51:08+00:00

Introduction: Varicocele is the leading cause of reduced sperm production and quality, resulting in male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological changes in testicular tissue, levels of LH, FSH, and testosterone hormones, and sperm parameters –specifically viability, number, and motility– in adult male rats following the varicocele induction.

Methods: This fundamental laboratory study utilized 12 adults male Wistar rats, characterized by an age of 12 weeks and mean body weight of 160 grams. The samples were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Within the experimental group, varicocele was surgically induced in the left testicle through a procedure involving the left renal vein. Following a two-month period, specimens of blood, sperm, and testicular tissue were collected from both groups for testing. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (version 9.4; GLM procedure) alongside GraphPad Prism 10, with mean differences analyzed through the independent t-test.

Results: Data revealed that varicocele led to significant decline in testicular mass, where the mean testicular weight being 2.5 ± 0.3 g in the sham group compared to 0.5 ± 0.1 g in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). Additionally, sperm viability was reported as 8.5 ± 0.9% in the sham group and 4.5 ± 0.6% in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). Varicocele also significantly decreased sperm motility (P < 0.05). The LH hormone level increased in the varicocele group to 4.4 ± 0.2 IU/L compared to 3.9 ± 0.3 IU/L in the sham group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the FSH level was 10.3 ± 0.5 mIU/mL in the varicocele group versus 9.2 ± 0.4 mIU/mL in the sham group (P < 0.05). In contrast, testosterone levels significantly decreased in the varicocele group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it is concluded that varicocele disrupts the quality and quantity of sperm and the coordination of sex hormones by causing disorders in the testicular tissue and cells responsible for spermatogenesis.

Compilation of Medical Tourism Map of Iran

2026-06-21T09:51:07+00:00

Introduction: Today, medical tourism represents a significant segment of the global tourism industry. It combines two key elements: travel and the provision of medical and therapeutic services. In recent years, this field of tourism has developed into an attractive economic industry that not only contributes to national income but also promotes cultural exchange and may generate political advantages for countries. The present research aimed to investigate the medical tourism hubs in Iran while introducing and importance of the medical tourism industry. Designing a comprehensive map of medical tourism is a road map that refers to policy making in this field, planning for attracting, introducing capabilities and capabilities of this field. This research was applied in nature and followed an exploratory as well as descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected using documentary and library sources along with official records from the Ministry of Health. Data analysis was conducted through the VICOR decision-making method, and the results were integrated and visualized through Arc GIS software to determine the best provinces to create and promote medical tourism.

In this research, the best destination is Razavi Khorasan province with a VIKOR index equal to 0.0086 and finally North Khorasan province with a rank of 0.9997 is a destination that lacks medical tourists. Among the cities, Mashhad holds the leading position in receiving international patients, largely due to its advanced medical facilities and hospitals as well as the presence of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S), which significantly enhances its appeal to visitors.