Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Year:2002 | Volume:9 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

Calcium mobilization is known to be an important factor in the activation of cells involved in inflammation, so, calcium-channel antagonists are be expected to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of two calcium channel blockers, verapamil and nifedipine on adjuvant induced chronic inflammation in rat paw. Sixty adult male rats were divided into 5 groups. Chronic paw edema was induced by intraplantar injection of 0.1 ml of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Inflammatory edema measured in 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after adjuvant inoculation. Verapamil (25 mg/kg), nifedipine (100 mg/kg), ibuprofen (12mg/kg) with DMSO (dimethyl sulphoxide) were given to animals daily through intragastric device from day 7 after adjuvant injection. Assessment of edema preformed by calculation of volume changes and by extravasations of Evans blue (E.B.) in the test groups compared to the control. FCA caused a remarkable increase in paw edema (0.8±0.05 ml) after 28 days. Verapamil significantly reduced the paw edema (62.5%) at day 28. A marked inhibition was induced by mifedipine (50%) and ibuprofen (60%). No significant differences were found between inhibitory effects of ibuprofen and other drugs. None of the drugs have any effect on the extravasations of E.B. These data suggest that calcium channel blockers, inhibit adjuvant induced chronic inflammation in rats and these effects are comparable to that of ibuprofen.

In order to determine the effect of root canal sealer on microleakage of obturated root canals by lateral condensation technique (LCT)-with and without tug-back (TB), seventy extracted single root canal teeth were examined. After preparation of root canal with step-back technique, teeth were divided to six groups as follows: 5 teeth as positive control group that obturated by LCT with gutta-perch without sealer. 5 teeth as negative control group in which entire root surfaces and apical foramen coated with nail varnish, and four experimental groups (each group consisted of 15 teeth). Group I ZOE with TB, group II ZOE without TB, group III Roth sealer with TB, and group IV Roth sealer without TB. Then the teeth were immerssed in Pelikan ink for 72 hours and weparated in two peices through vertical long axis. Stereomicroscope observation showed that TB groups (I & III) have statistically less microleakage than non TB groups (II & IV) (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences between two TB groups. Results also showed no relationship between root canal sealer and apical leakage with and without TB in both type of sealers.

In this randomized clinical trial 200 pregnant women referred to Niknafs maternity center from November 1997 to May 1998 were divided into two groups and underwent cesarean section. In the first group (control) the parietal and visceral peritoneum were approximated with delayed absorbable material whereas in the second group (case) the parietal and visceral peritoneum were left open. The mean age of the patients was 27.5±5.5. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the age parity, gravidity, gestational age, indication for surgery, the type of anesthesia, incision type, administration of antibiotics and accompanied tubectomy (P> 0.05). The mean time for the procedure was 36±5.7 and 42±Z9 minutes in the case and control group, respectively. The severity of postoperative pain was lower in the case group as compared with the control group. There was significant differences regarding the postoperative pain, the time of procedure and the mean time for the return of bowel sound movements between the two groups. It is concluded that non closure of the peritoneum is associated with lower rate of morbidity and it seems to be more beneficial.

Depression is an important problem among persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It appears to be more prevalent among persons with RA than in the general population. Moreover studies of individuals with RA have demonstrated cross-sectional relationships between depression and disability of RA patients. To examine the relationship between disability and depression in RA patients in Kerman prospective cross sectional study with consecutive sampling in private rheumatology clinic was designed. Logistic regression models showed that depression is the risk factor for disability (Odds Ratio = OR= 6.8 p= 0.009) and for the depression (OR= 7.2 p= 0.007). The findings determined that disability and depression are interrelated, each of them is a risk factor for other.

Physicians’ awareness about Helicobacter pylori association with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has changed the natural course of this prolonged disease. Eradication of this organism has declined the incidence of complications and recurrence of PUD significantly in recent years. The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of general practitioners (GPs) and internal medicine specialists (IMS) about Hpylori, its relationship to peptic ulcer and the management. The study was conducted on 206 practicing clinicians (179 GP, 27 IMS) by using a self administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed with following results. The mean age for GPs was 35.7±10.3 years and that of IMS's was 42.7±8.5. Correct rate in KAP domains for GPs was 45.8%, 25.4%, 34.6% respectively as it was 81.5%, 70% and 74% for IMS. Regarding the causes of PUD, 49.2% of GPs and 81.5% of IMS believed in more than 50% role for Hpylori. 40.2% of GPs and 81.5% of IMS pointed at the necessity for treatment of Hpylori infection; however 77.8% of IMS and 8.9% of GPs treated the cases by a standard eradication therapy. 53.7% of GPs referred the patients to specialists. From a maximum of 40 scores, the average score for GPs was 16.4±2 whereas for IMS it was 33.8±1.9. By using Pearson correlation there was a direct but weak correlation between knowledge-attitude (r=0.20) and knowledge-practice (r=0.12) for GPs. These figures for IMS were r=0.35 and r=0.46 respectively. The results of this study indicate that appropriate management of H.pylori in PUD by physician is inadequate and it needs educational attention especially for GPs.

The requirement of iron increased in growing children due to accelerating rate of growth. However nutritional iron intake and capacity to adopt iron deficiency are limited. It is not surprising then, that iron deficiency is most common in infants and children. Therefore iron deficiency aneamia (IDA) is a topic of importance, not only for the management of individual patients but also for necessary public health measures to improve the diet of the population as a whole. Mothers should especially be educated to improve better diet health behaviors for their children. The present study was carried out to survey 160 mothers' knowledge, attitude and practice towards iron deficiency anemia and their preventive behaviour against this problem in their children by using precede model. Analysis of data was done with precede model by path analysis method. Results indicated that the following variables had direct significant effects on mother's preventive behaviors: Mothers' knowledge, attitude, diet advice from relatives and friends, willingness to participate in relevant classes, availability of ferrus sulfate drop and the financial ability of the family. Moreover, mothers' preventive behavior had direct significant affect on variable of anemia. Finally, the study indicate that PRECEDE model (Predisposing, Enabling and Reinforcing factors) could be used to predict preventive behavior of IDA.

The benign tumors of paratesticular tissues are uncommon and their frequency rating is as follows: adenomatoid tumor, leiomyoma and papilliferous cystadenoma. This paper reports two new cases of epididymal adenomatoid tumor in 43 and 25 years old males presented with testicular pain and a mass in their testes. Diagnosis was achieved through physical examination and sonography with confirmed pathological examination. A simple tumorectomy was performed for both cases.

Beckwith arid Wiedemann for the first time described a syndrome characterized by macroglossia, macrosomia and omphalocele. Nowadays inaddition to the above symptoms, visceromegaly, mild microcephaly, facial nevus flammeus, earlobe crease, persistent neonatal hypoglycemia, and polycythemia are also considered various manifestations of Beck with-Wiedemann syndrome. This study reports a female neonate with macrosomia, macroglossia, earlobe crease, exomphalus, infraorbital crease, facial nevus flammeus, persistent hypoglycemia and polycythemia. The patient was first treated for hypoglycemia. Two days later she was lethargic and had convulsions. The patient was suspected to have septicemia and was treated with antibiotic. Laboratory findings include hypoglycemia, and culture results were positive for E.coli in CSF, blood and ophthalmal discharge. Eventually the patient died due to gram-negative septicemia.

 Lucilia sericata larva is an obligatory parasite which causes myiasis in animals and rarely in humans as an ectoparasite. It belongs to the family of arthropoda and has many forms including egg, larva, nymph and adult. Infestation in humans and sheep occurs in wounds, mouth, ear, eye, and nose. Infestation with this parasite causes itching, pain, inflammation, erythema, eosinophilia and secondary bacterial infection. This study introduces a case of myiasis caused by lucilia sericata larva of the left hand wound in Shahid Beheshti hospital, Kashan, 2000. The case is a 36year-oldman, with 12 years history of addiction to opium, living in Kashan, which has had heroin injections since 3 years ego.  After an overdose he was referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan with signs of hypoxic encephalopathy, decreasing mental alertness and coma. He was diagnosed as HBsAg, HIV negative and HCV positive. Liver function tests LFT, CBC, ESR were normal however staph aureus was isolated from his wound. Also, a total of 38 alive larvae in stage 3 were removed from his wound. The larvae in laboratory changed to adult forms and adult flys proved to be lucilia sericata. Considering the above report, and observation of lucilia sericata in Kashan, it is recommended that attending physicians, who observe similar clinical signs, refer the patients to the laboratory for further evaluation and possible diagnosis of this parasite.