JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (JMR)
Year:2002 | Volume:1 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

Background: Cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist, has been shown to be clinically valuable in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Recently, the effect of cimetidine on the reproductive system has been studied in detail and there are some reports showing the untoward effects of cimetidineon this system. We have previously reported that, cimetidine treatment decreased sperm count and motility in rats. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of cimetidine on serum testosterone, testes, prostate, seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Apart from the above objective, the mechanism through which cimetidine can affect sperm motility and count was also sought. Materials and Methods: Eighty male rats were divided into 8 Groups: Group 1 (control) received no treatment, Group 2 (sham) received normal saline for 5 weeks and the experimental groups received 100 mg/kg of body weight of cimetidine for 1 week (Group 3), 2 weeks (Group 4), 3 weeks (Group5), 4 weeks (Group 6) and 5 weeks (Groups 7 and 8). However, to evaluate the reversible effects of cimetidine, Group 8 did not receive any treatment on week 6. Serum testosterone was measured before the experiment, one day after the first injection, and thereafter once every three days throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, testes, prostate and seminal vesicle were removed and weighed. These organs as well as the vas deferenses were prepared for the histopathologic staining and evaluation. Results: The results showed that serum testosterone and the weight of testes and prostate and their ratios to body weight were unchanged after cimetidine treatment. However, the weight of the seminal vesicle and its ratio to body weight were significantly decreased after 5 weeks of treatment, although these changes were reversible one week after termination of treatment. Conclusion: It seems that cimetidine might have a direct effect on the seminal vesicle probably by decreasing its zinc content. The results suggest that, the effects of cimetidine on sperm count and motility is either direct or through a change in the seminal vesicle secretary machanism.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by polyarthritis in association with various systemic symptoms. Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in serum and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients and may be involved in the inflammatory process. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of various drugs used in the treatment of RA on NO production and if this effect varies with respect to the drugs that were tested. Materials and Methods: Different doses (1-1000 µM) of methotrexate, sulfasalazine, chloroquine and azathioprine were administered to measure IFN-γ and reaction. Results: Azathioprine, chloroquine and sulfasalazine inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Azathioprine. reduced NO production at all drug concentrations (p<0.05). Chloroquine and sulfasalazine reduced NO production when given at 10-1000 µM Correspondence: LPS-induced NO production in peritoneal macrophages of Balb/C mice. NO production was measured by Griess concentrations (p<0.05), but methotrexate reduced NO production (p<0.05) only when given at a high (1000 µM) concentration. Conclusion: The results suggest that, NO inhibition by these drugs can be regarded as a mechanism of action of these medications in the treatment of RA.

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is characterized by premature activation of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting In accelerated growth and bone maturation with clinical signs of puberty before the age of 8 years in girls. The most common type of CPP in girls is the constitutional type. Short adult stature is one of the most important outcomes of CPP that is due to early closure of epiphyses. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a LHRH agonist on the final height of girls with precocious puberty. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 15 girls with a definite diagnosis of precocious puberty were selected and treated with decapeptyl, a longacting LHRH agonist, 60µg per kilogram of body weight as i.m. injections every 28 days. Results: The age and bone age ranges of the patients were 8-9.5 and 8-11.5 years, respectively. The predicted adult height increased from 151.34±3.6 cm at the beginning of treatment to 158.7±4.08 cm on the iast examination after 5 years of treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion: The present data indicates that treatment with long-acting LHRH-agonists markedly affects final height in epp without any significant complications.

Background: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a progressive neurological disease of children due to measles virus. Dementia, ataxia, myoclonus and focal neurological signs with a fatal outcome are seen in this disease. Anti-measles vaccination programs have substantially decreased the incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Materials and Methods: Over a period of 14 years, between 1988 to 2002, thirty patients who had presented with neurological signs, were confirmed to have subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The diagnosis was based on neurological signs, EEG findings as well as high titers of anti-measles antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid using ELISA. Results: The age range of the patients was 3-15 years with a mean of 7±1 years. Nineteen patients were male and 11 were female with a male 11 female ratio of 1.7. Myoclonus (24), convulsion (18), hemiparesis (10), ataxia and coma were the most common signs in order of frequency followed by cranial nerve involvement, athetosis and delirium. Conclusion: Cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis are being diagnosed in spite of anti-measles vaccination. This may be due to incomplete measles vaccination in our region.

Background: Rickets is a failure in mineralization of growing bone or osteoid tissues. The characteristic early changes may be seen roentgen graphically at the ends of long bones. Clinical manifestations appear late in the course of the disease. Studies have suggested an association between rickets and pneumonia. Increased susceptibility to infection in rickets may be in part due to impaired immune system, phagocytosis and skeletal changes in the chest cage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of rickets in children under 5 years of age who had pneumonia. Materials and Methods: Eighty inpatient children younger than 5 years of age with pneumonia (Group I) were screened for evidence of rickets clinically, radiologically and biochemically. Simultaneously, 80 age-matched children without pneumoma were selected randomly (Group II) and underwent the same investigations. Results: Rickets was present in 12.5 percent of cases in Group I and 1.25 percent of cases in Group H. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0.02). A high rate of rickets was seen in children that had not consumed vitamin D. Conclusion: Rickets may be an important predisposing factor for pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. Efforts to prevent vitamin D deficiency may result in reduction of pneumonia in these children.

Background: Musicians' performance-related musculo-among skeletal problems ranges from mild pain during performance to severe pain, which may lead the instrumentalist to quit playing. The aim of this study was to investigate musculoskeletal problems and its prevalence Methods: This research was performed on Daf and Setaar students in three teaching centers and 90 persons (12 in the control group and 78 in the case group) were included. After taking a thorough medical history, the volunteers underwent a standard upper extremity physical examination with special attention to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Presence of pain, tenderness, joint range of motion, sensory or motor problems were sought and all of the cases underwent a nerve conduction velocity study. Results: Out of 78 students, 42 played the Daf (15 males, 25 females) and 36 played the Setaar (16 males, 20 females). In the whole group, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 53%, but no one had carpal tunnel syndrome. The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among Daf students was greater in comparison with Setaar students (57% versus 47%, respectively) although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study reveals that the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among non-professional Daf or Setaar players is equal to professional classical music performers in the West. Why this is so, remains to be studied.

Background: Different treatment modalities have been recommended for enuresis which is a common childhood problem. To our knowledge, the effect of interferential currents (IF) on enuresis has not been studied previously, although there are some studies on the effect ofelectrotherapy in the treatment of this disorder. Materials and Methods: In this study 40 patients who were unresponsive to other modalities of treatment for enuresis, were selected for IF therapy (3 times/wk, 15 minutes per session, up to a total of 12 sessions). Half of the children had used medications previously with no response. None of them had used an enuresis alarm. Results: The age range of the children was 5 to 15 years (mean=9.2 years) and half of them were female. Complete response was observed in 6 patients (all of them were female) and partial response (at least 50% reduction in the number of wet nights) was seen in 21 cases. Overall 67.5% of the cases had complete or partial responses. The condition remained unchanged in 23 patients who had responded for about 8 weeks after completing the treatment. There was no significant difference in clinical response between patients who had or had not received any previous medication. While, only one of the 8 patients with secondary enuresis was unresponsive, 12 out of 32 patients with primary enuresis were unresponsive to IF therapy. There was no correlation between the response and age. No complication was found during the study. Conclusion: It can be concluded that IF is effective in reducing enuresis and with more trials in the future, it may be recommended as a modality of treatment.

Background: Visual evoked potential (VEP) is a valuable diagnostic test in symptomatic and subclinical cases of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and abnormal patterns of VEP in patients with definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred definite cases of multiple sclerosis including 144 women and 56 men (15-52 years old) were enrolled in the study and underwent VEP examination. Latencies and amplitudes of potentials were registered. The control group consisted of 25 healthy men and 25 healthy women with an age range of 16 to 48 years. Results: Among the 200 definite clinically proven cases of multiple sclerosis, 147 cases (73.5%) had an abnormal VEP and 121 cases (60.5%) had visual problems. Seventy-nine cases (39.5%) had no visual problems. In the first group, 119 cases (98.3%) and in the second group, 28 cases (35.4%) had an abnormal VEP, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the most valuable diagnostic findings were prolonged P1 latency and its interocular difference. Amplitude changes alone had less diagnostic yield.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a malformation characterized by herniation of the abdominal contents to the thorax through a defect into the diaphragm. When the abdominal organs enter the chest through such a defect, lung development may be impeded, the heart may be displaced and the vascular structures may be distorted. These alterations cause pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertention and cardiac abnormalities resulting in neonatal mortality and morbidity. In this article, we report a right-sided Bochdalek hernia associated with upper exterimity anomalies in a newborn infant with a gestational age of 32 weeks. He died one hour after birth due to respiratory distress. Gross examination revealed hernaition of the liver, small and large intestines into the thorax through a 6 by 6 centimeter foramen in the right hemidiaphragm. Upper exterimity abnormalities included radial deviation of both wrists and internal rotation of left hand.