Annals of Military and Health Sciences Research
Year:2003 | Volume:1 | Issue:3 (serial Number 3)|Papers Count:11

Background: Chemical war agents have been used in world war I extensively, and their ocular, cutaneous, blood and digestive system complications were reported in various textbooks. Iraq had used these agents in imposed Iran -Iraq war frequently. This study was done to evaluate the effects of sulfur mustard gas on endocrine system.Materials and Methods: ln a descriptive case series study, 146 military men(18-54 years) who had been exposed to Sulfur Mustard gas, were evaluated. Serum level of testosterone, gonadotropins, prolactin, ACTH, Cortisol, TSH, free T3 and T4 were measured. The effects of chemical war agents on endocrine system were Assessed.Results: The serume level of thyroid hormones decreased and serum level of reverse T3 and ACTH increased in first week of exposure. ln third week, free T4index and TSH increased .The increasing level of ACTH sustained up to fifth week. In forth and fifth week after sulfur mustard exposure serum level of cortisol decreased significantly .We encountered significant decrease in the level of total free testosterone and DHEA-S, one to three years post exposure.Conclusion: The effect of chemical gas with sulfur mustard on Endocrine system included decrease the level of Thyroid hormones and increase T3 and ACTH (in first weeks), increase FT4l, TSH (in third weeks), The reduction of cortisol (in forth and fifth weeks). Besides the reduction of total and free testestrone and DHEA-S has been reported.

Background: Sulfur Mustard gas has been used at Iran-Iraq war and caused ocular, respiratory and dermatologic complications in most cases. There are more than one million victims suffering from different degree of functional pulmonary system disability. This study has been done to determine the relationship between the long-term Ophthalmic complications and the functional pulmonary failure in victims exposed to sulfur mustard gas.Materials And Methods: During this study, 500 victims exposed to Sulfur Mustard Gas has been voluntary chosen throughout Iran. The degree of ocular lesion was classified as mild, moderate, and severe. The functional respiratory system disability was assessed by pulmonary tests. Results: Of study group, 55%, 35% and 10% had Asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease and diffuse Pulmonary fibrosis respectively. We studied 500 injured (mean 36.5±5.2 years) of whom 99.2% had cutaneous injuries. These patients has severes (6.8%), moderate (13.2%) and mild (80%) ocular injuries. Severe functional respiratory injury was present in 11.4%, and 19.4% and 62.2%had moderate and mild functional respiratory injury respectively. There was significant relationship between functional pulmonary disability and severity of ocular lesions.Conclusion: Functional pulmonary system failure, was more than severity of ocular lesions. In comparision with world war II casualties, moderate to severe functional pulmonary failure (30.8%) was more prevalent in Iranian victims, perhaps due to low dose sulfur mustard gas used in world war II.

Background: Antisperm antibodies are a contributory factor in 8% to 12% of all subfertile couples. There is little information addressing the relationship of serum antisperm antibody level with antibody level in cervical mucus. Some studies showed no relation between serum antisperm antibody and its presence in female reproductive system secretions. This study initiated to find out any relation between antisperm antibody in serum and cervical mucus of infertile women.Materials and methods: as a cross sectional study, in 153 women who underwent infertility evaluation, serum and cervical mucus samples were obtained and the level of antibody and antisperm were measured by Immunobead test. Datas has been analyzied by statistical software of SPSS10 and regression statistical test.Results: The antisperm antibody level in serum did not correlate with the antisperm antibody level in cervical mucus. Also, the level of antisperm antibodies in serum didn't correlate with changing in estradiol levels.Conclusion: The data suggest that measurement of antisperm antibodies from a single fluid is not sufficient when evaluating a woman for immunological infertility. There are numerous and complex factors contribute to the expression of antisperm antibodies in women.

Background: One of the most important cause of infertility in men is spinal cord injury (SCI). In our country the incidence of this kind of infertile men raised after the war. Reduced fertility in men with SCI results from inability to ejaculate and poor semen quality. IVF-ICSI technique is one of the most effective methods for treatment of these patients. This study compares the influence of some semen parameters of healthy and SCI men on the rate of successfulness of ICSI method in both groups.Materials & Methods: 71 male with SCI and 44 healthy men (unexplained infertile couples) were treated with ICSI method between 1376 - 1380 in Kowsar Assisted Reproductive center. Routine semen analysis was performed to evaluate semen's parameters including: volume, PH, Viscosity and Liquification in both group.Results: The results show that these paramerters of semen don't influence the rate of fertilization on both groups, except Viscosity (p=0.013) Conclusion: It seems that the best choice of assisted reproduction treatment for couples with spinal cord injured men is IVF - ICSI technique. Of course several parameters can influence The fertility in these couples, so we need more researches in this field.

Background: The age of pubertal changes onset can vary depending on the race, socioeconomic conditions and nutrition; its determination is necessary for diagnosis of abnormal conditions, like precocious puberty. This study was designed to determine the age of different stages of puberty in south part of Tehran.Materials & Methods: This is a prospective, cross sectional study of 658 cases from four schools of shahr-e- Ray of Tehran. Sampling method was random clustering, excluding the cases with any health problem. The questionnaire was about socioeconomic and educational condition of the families. Height and weight were measured and stages of puberty were determined with physical examination by educated physicians.Results: Data from 658 cases at the ages of 6.5 to 17.5 years showed that they were from low socioeconomic condition and all growth indices were lower than the mean of NCHS curves. The mean ±SD for onset of breast development was 9.75±0.82, for growth of pubic hair was 10.45±1.12 and for onset of mensturation was 13.42±1.4.Conclusion: The study of this low socioeconomic population showed that the onset of puberty was the same as the white girls of US and the school girls of eastern Tehran, but menarche occurred later; so low socioeconomic condition can delay the progress of puberty.

Background: Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disease. Considering its high prevalence and side effects (like sadness ,lack of motivation, suicidal thought and lack of decision making)a research in this field seems necessary. We initiate this research, to recognize the prevalence of the disease among patients of the 506 hospital in 2002.Materials & Methods: It is a cross-sectional research performed on 200 patients by BECK diagnostic test and clinical interview.Result: 89% of patients suffer from some degree of depression, (24% mild, 24% moderate, and 41% Essential (Severe) depression).Conclusion: considering high prevalence of depression, establishing some consulting centers, specializing some budget on organizaing pilgrimage and Trips for the Personnel, solving their economic problems could improve the situation.

Background: The steady increase in the use of industrial tools, and also manufacturing of high-speed cars, has resulted in an increased probability of body injuries in accidents. This necessitates coordinated and timely cooperation in the emergency and healthcare units. Particulary, the treatment of injuries of certain areas requires special attention. Treatment of the maxillo-facial trauma which includes the brain and other critical organs, need more intense and coordinated teamwork.Material and Methods: It's a descriptive study, performed on all referred cases to the plastic and maxillo-facial surgery ward of the Bessat teaching hospital. Cases included injuries to the soft tissue and fractures in facial regions such as mandible, maxilla, dentoalveolar, zygoma, and orbital cavity. our study includes the total number of 50 cases, 45 male (90%), and 5 female (10%) in a period of 22 months.Results: Most frequent fractures were observed in the mandible (46%),followed by nose (20.2%), zygoma (17.3%), and maxilla (8.6%).Automobile accidents were the most common cause of the injuries. ln this study associated injuries were observed in 18 cases (36%), most of which were orthopedic. the most frequent clinical features were edema (24%), followed by tenderness (23%), and malocclusion (16%). Thirty five percent of cases were treated by O.R. I. F., and 33.7% by closed reduction. No fatality was observed. Morbidity was observed in only one case (2%). Safety devices were used in only one case (2%) during the accident.Conclusion: Maintenance of airways, haemostasis, prevention of aspiration, and diagnosis of associated injuries can prevent mortality and post-traumatic Complications. Increased teamwork in early treatment, and also increased trauma handling capabilities, and repairative operation by specialized plastic and Maxillo-facial surgeons can help patients return to their daily and routine life.

Background: Castleman's disease is a very rare disease with unknown etiology that can involve different lymph node region. Considering pathology, it is devided to hyaline vascular and plasma cell type. There is an elevated IL-6 serum level due to a begnin lymphoprolifrative disorder of unknow etiology.The patients represent with fever, anemia, increased ESR, elevated C-Reactive protein, poly colonal gamaglobulinemia and various spectra of auto antibodies.Cases: Case 1: A 54 years old woman complaining of recurrent fever from five years ago accompanied with symmetrical joint arthritis and arthralgia without morning stiffness. Case 2: A 99 years old woman complaining of dyspnea accompanied with a 8 month history of 40°C fever and weakness and malaise.Case 3: A 31 years old man complaining of fever associated with weight loss and bone pain. The three cases underwent blood, urine and bone marrow culture. Chest X ray, abdominal sonography and C.T scan. The diagnosis was made after lymph node biopsy. Among these cases, 2 were plasma cell type and one was hyaline vascular.Conclusion: In this study the plasma cell type was more common. Systemic presentations (fever, anemia, poly colonal hypergamaglobulinemia, organomegaly and weight loss) were observed in the both type. In hyaline vascular from localized lymphadenopathy and in plasma cell type multiple, notable lymphadenopathy has been detected.

Background: The AIDS is a fatal and pandemic disease all over the world. That is a health problem for all of the countries. Since 1988, over 20 million people have died of AIDS. Military personnel in biggest army forces are evaluating for HIV infection. These personal are educating for prevention of HIV infection. Military personal and recruites are in high risk of exposure to HIV infection. Although prevalence of HIV infection in Iranian military personnel is low, ignoring the education of preventive methods results in increasing spread of HIV infection. Materials and Methods: For this review article we have searched through the sites www.pubmed.com and www.who.org by the following keywords: AIDS, HIV transmission, military, prevention. The complete assays have been searched in Ovid and proquest sites from 1995 to 2003. Finally,we have found over than 60 related articles.Results and Conclusion: The greatest portion of military forces are young adults, thus educating them of HIV preventive measures are essential.