Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal
Year:2003 | Volume:- | Issue:36|Papers Count:14

The study of T. gondii virulence is an important aspect in parasitology. A virulent T. gondii were isolated from sheep and rooster brains using mice bioassay. After intraperitoneal inoculation of tissue cysts, tachyzoites were harvested from the peritoneal cavity. Forty-six serial passages of tachyzoites were used exudates with the exception of 23 to 26 th passages. Number of harvested tachyzoites and survival times of mice were compared in 1th, 5th, 12th, 22th and 46th passages. The number of tachyzoites and survival time were also compared with RH strain. Virulence of T. gondii was increased after serial passages of virulent tachyzoites in the mice. Initially, tachyzoites were non-lethal for the mice, although after serial passages they began to kill the mice. Interestingly at this stage, even inoculation of 500 tachyzoites were iethal for the mice. In comparision with RH stain, the number of harvested tachyzoites were significantly decreased, but survival time of the mice were slightly increased.

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional pattern of 3 to 5 years children in 6 day care centers of Ahwaz universities. All 155 children (53% girls and 74% boys) with 49.3±9.9 months of age were assessed and food frequency, socio-economic, anthropometric and behavior questionnaires were completed.Results showed that boys were heavier and taller than girls and their mid arm circumferences were greater (P<0.05). Twenty percent of children did not have breakfast and those who consumed sweet snacks had heavier weights than others (16.9±3 vs 15.1±1.4Kg, respectively, P<0.05).Overactive boys consumed more preserves and pickles than others (P<0.05). Daily milk and egg intakes were prevalent in majority of subjects but meat and salad consumption in 1/4 and 1/3 of children was not in their dietary habits, respectively. Based on the results, modification of nutritional practices can be achieved by basic nutrition education and overactive children need more attention from their instructors and parents.

The aim of this study was determination of the rate of iron over load and adequacy of desferral usage by major thalassemic patients, and to determine in serum ferritin levels of 243 patients. Age of patients was 4 to 16 yr years and location of study was clinic of Ahwaz Thalassemia Research Center. All of the patients precisely assessed in clinic for transfusion of blood and followed up of disease. Method of measuring serum ferritin was IRMA, and false positive cases of serum ferritin levels were excluded from the Study. It was found that in spit of taking of desferral to patients. As necessarily medications, treatment outcomes were not successful.Only 20% of patients had acceptable iron load, and serum ferritin levels of them was lesser than 2000 µgr/lit, 30% of patients had serum ferritin levels of 2000- 4000 µgr/Lit that this level is unacceptable. By supervision and regulation of desferral dosages and cooperation of a social worker it will be improved. In 50% of patients serum ferritin level was greater than 4000 µgr/Lit and this group of patients are at high risk and should refer for reducing of iron load wgently and admed for treatment in collaboration with a social workers.

The main objective of this research was to determine the effect of dietary Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) on hot flushes in postmenopausal women and to compare the Kupperman index in two groups of the subjects. The study design was a double - blind, randomized, placebo - controlled trial on 61 menopausal women with at least three moderate hot flushes per 24 hours. Information was obtained from eligible subjects by using observation record-sheets and diet records. Candidates were screened by physical and pelvic examinations and FSH tests. Subjects were assigned randomly to receive daily either 50 grams of SPI or placebo. For each subject, the study lasted 4 weeks but took 6 months to cover all the candidates. The results were recorded and finally descriptive statistics t and Chi-Square test were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that the mean number of hot flshes per 24 h in the case group, dropped from 10.38 to 5.45 at week 3 and 4 (p<0.001). The mean of severity of hot flushes in the SPI group at the beginning was 28.90, which dropped to 9.00 at week 4 (p<0.001). The mean of Kupperman Index in the case group before intervention was 29.76, which decreased to 11.38 at week 4 (p<0.0). The results indicate that SPI caused a decrease in the mean number and severity of hot flushes.

All cirrhotic patients referred to the GI units in teaching hospitals during last 2 years were screened and performed colonoscopy. Rectal varices and its realationship to the severity of the liver failure, ettiology, and the treatment of whom received sclerotherapy of the esophgeal varices were studied.The aim of this study was to determinal the prevalence of rectal varices and its realation to the child grade classification, the type of cirrhosis and treatment received for esophageal varices.In this prospective study 39 patients were admitted and undervent colonoscopy during a 2 year period.Among 39 patients, 7 had rectal varices who were male and belonged to the c class of the child's classification and 6 of them received sclerotherapy.Varices and their bleeding diathesis is one of the most common cause of death in the cirrhotic patients.With recent advance in controlling of GI bleeding from esophageal varices, it seems to see more cases with ectopic varices especially in the rectum. Rectal varices are formed mostly in advanced cirrhotics with child c classification who have recived sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. According to this study, those pati should be considered and examined for rectal varices.

Gluteal injection of diclofenac Na for children and as an ambulatory prescription was banned in Iran after observation of Sciatic nerve injuries in many cases. Ten victims during 12months have been studied by physical examination of muscle at ankle dorsiflexors and by peroneal nerve conduction studies in associated with electromyographic evaluation of Sciatic innervated muscles at foot and leg.Sciatic nerve paralysis after diclofenac Na injection was not limited to the pediatric age group and not directly depends on misdirected injections because some injection were far from sciatic nerve passage at buttock.In four patients onset of paralysis was acute and rapidly progressed after injections but in the other cases, paralysis occurred subacute and slowly in four to eight hours. Muscle power in the first day of examination by standard muscle power measuring scale in seven patients was 0/5 and improves up to 2-3/5 during 12 months after injection. In 7 patients there were not any recordable motor action potential by peroneal nerve stimulation and pick up on extensor digitorum brevis at the first week of injection. But by spending four months there were recordable action potential in 4 of them.There was not any recordable spontaneus activity by needle examination of extensor digitorum brevis and tibialis anteior muscles at the first week of injection. However, they appeared in 8 patients by spending one month after injection time.Three out of eight patients who had recordable spontaneus activity at peroneal muscle have suffered from burning pain and increased longitudinal arch of their involved foot.By considering above findings we can conclude that presence of extensor digitorum brevis evocked response at first week after injection, is not a perfect indicator for good prognosis.

Osteoporosis is one of the important complications of systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary fractures, which often makes it problem for the patients. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of bone density among the SLE patients referred to Rheumatology clinic of Ahwaz city. 101 lupus patients with mean age of 30.7 years and 106 healthy individuals with mean age of 36.8 years were selected as the control group. The BMD was measured for lumbar spines (L2-L4) and femoral neck by DEXA.The results of this study showed that the amount of BMD in femoral neck of SLE patients were decreased compared to control group (P<0.001), while the amount of BMD in lumbar spines of SLE patients were increased compared to control group (P<0.001)

Multiple Myeloma results from malignant proliferation of plasma cells.It cause important metabulic, infective, hematologic and skeletal complications.In this study patients, charactristics, presenting symptoms and signs, cours of disease and it's complication as well as stage of the disease and survival was evaluated in 42 patients, Mean age was 56.9 years, 90% of patients were symptomatic at least 6 mounth before referal.Important presenting symptoms and signs was bone pain, pallor, recurrent infection, bleeding diathesis, fractures and neurologic signs.Paradimical result finding were anemia, elevated ESR and serum M component. Bone marrow plasmacytosis, azotemia, and lytic lesion were sear. All patients were at stage III.We concluded that Multiple Myeloma is uncommon in Ahwaz but not rare. Comparing to western countries our patient was younger and presented in more advance stage. ESR and CRP are good screening test.

Retained foreign bodies, especially surgical sponges in body cavities are uncommon but are continuing problems and can cause serious complications for the patients.About 50% of these foreign bodies are symptomatic. In the early postoperative period they may cause fever, abscess formation, enteric fistula, bowel obstruction and delayed wmmd healing. Chronic symptoms include abdominal mass or chronic and ambiguous abdominal pain that can remaine for decades after operation.Strong suspicion, sonography and radiology especially CT Scan are of paramount importace for making a diagnosis. Surgical or laparoscopic removal is the only effective treatment for this problem and its complications. In this study, six patients that operated in Ahwaz Imam Khomeini Hospital, between 1994-2000, is reported.

Insolinoma is a rare, mostly benign pancreatic tumor with 0.5% incidence in general population and is presented in variable size and its different clinical presentations make it to be worthy of making accurate and fast diagnosis. The most clinical manifestations are in the form of psycho-nervous and unconsciousness features due to severe withdrawal of blood glucose. The accurate diagnosis is obtained through the clinical manifestations, especially fasting test and Whipple triad and would be confirmed by mesurement of blood insulin-proinsulin and cortisol levels. For a better determination, other paraclinical investigations are endoscopic or intraoperative ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI, and selective arterial-venous sampling (SAVS) respectively. Moreover, other less accurate but available diagnostic techniques like ultrasonography and daily blood glucose control could be helpful. Treatment is mainly surgery with preoperative localisation of tumor and medical management. Apart from cellular hyperplasia, excision of tumor would be efficient. In this paper, two interesting case of last two years, are presented in which the details are confirmed. Both patients have common characteristics, for instance, age (38-40), suffering period (6-8 years), clinical and diagnostic methods and treatment ways before diagnosis. First patient has cured by surgical- enucleation and the second by surgery and pancreaticoduodenal resection (whipple procedure) because of anatomical situation of her tumor. Cure was 100% in two cases and the follow up results were excellent. Regarding the importance and capability of diagnosis of insolinoma by history and the most simple available paraclinical methods; Consequently, the necessity of recognition and being familiar with clinical course of involvement that needs to be followed by relevant referring, is determined. Specially, it has been impressed on "no symptomatic treatment until complete certain diagnosis".

Major variations of the principal arteries of the upper limbs have long received the attention of the anatomists. Although numerus variations of radial artery and its place of arising and its course have been already reported, but this artery may arise from the brachial artey more proximally than usual, from the axillaty artery, or from the brachial artery lower than the bend of the elbow. The presented case had high origin of radial artery. It has arisen from the brachial more proximally than usuale, then the radial artery divides in the distal fourth of the forearm into two branches of nearly equal size. It descends into the palm of hand, that is a very rare case. All of the above finding was observed in the right upper extremity, 50 year old male cadaver.