Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2009 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Thalassaemia is one of the most common single gene disorders, which is most prevalent in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Indian subcontinent (malaria belt). One of the mutations that result in Thalassaemia is the deletion in beta globin gene cluster. These deletions cause abnormal expressions of b, d, e, g genes. At least 60 different deletions involving the beta globin gene cluster have been described to date. The molecular tests commonly used to identify these deletions are based on direct and indirect methods. With difficulties in detecting deletions and inadequate information about deletions in Iran, finding a method that can detect deletions very easily is very important.Methods: The patients’ samples for which no abnormalities had been found using conventional DNA techniques were analyzed with MLPA assay. MLPA was done by ABI thermocycler and the result of MLPA was analyzed by Gene Marker software. Confirmation of MLPA results were done by Real-Time PCR.Results: In 17 patients’ samples, we found deletions leaving the beta globin gene cluster completely or partially. Most of the deletions were Sicilian, Lepore and 1 Asian-Indian and Turkish, and some were new ones.Conclusion: MLPA is a rapid and sensitive method for high resolution analysis of the beta globin gene cluster.

Background and Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the cultivated Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) on activity and gene expression of hepatic GK in normal and diabetic rats.Methods: Biochemical parameters such as glucose, insulin, and HbA1c plasma levels and oral glucose tolerance test were all analyzed. The cultivated SKEO was orally administered at different doses (100 mg/kg per day) to normal as well as diabetic rats for 21 days. The level of mRNA hepatic GK was determined using the quantitative real- time RT-PCR technique.Results: The plasma glucose concentrations of diabetic rats receiving wild SKEO compared with diabetic control were significantly decreased. The levels of plasma insulin in diabetic rats treated with wild SKEO were slightly increased compared with diabetic controls. In the present study, we observed decreased hepatic GK activity and its mRNA levels in diabetic control rats compared with normal controls and their moderately higher levels after being treated with wild SKEO. We thought, the slightly increased levels of insulin indicate that the wild SKEO causes a little stimulation in insulin secretion from remnant B-cells through its antioxidant properties.Conclusion: Moderate elevation in activity and gene expression of hepatic GK in diabetic rats treated with the wild SKEO is one of the factors involved in anti-hyperglycemic effect that may contribute to the plasma glucose lowering action of SKEO which seems to be in relation with antioxidant properties of SKEO.

Background and Objectives: Culture of M. tuberculosis is the golden standard for the diagnosis of TB which is a much more sensitive test than Smear examination. There is a strong need to use the new assays in order to speed up diagnostic methods. The aim of this research was to determine the evaluation of Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility culture in pulmonary tuberculosis in comparison with Ziehl-Neelsen stain and Lowenstein-Jensen culture of sputum.Methods: The research method was a Cross-sectional (diagnostic test) and the technique was observational-interview type. If the patient's history revealed clinical criteria compatible with TB and the infectious specialist’s judgment was that of "TB suspected case, the patient was considered a pulmonary TB suspect. Then, in addition to sputum Ziehl-Neelsen stain and culture for Lowenstein-Jensen, we carried out MODS culture as well.Results: 100 patients (48 male, 52 female) with mean age of 52.9±21.83 were evaluated. During sputum examination, 40% were Ziehl-Neelsen stain positive while 30% had positive sputum culture for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Lowenstein-Jensen and 47% had positive MODS culture. In comparison with sputum smear and Lowenstein-Jensen culture, MODS had a sensitivity of 82.5% and 86%, specificity of 77% and 70%, positive predictive value of 70% and 55%, negative predictive value of 86% and 92%, respectively.Conclusion: MODS culture demonstrated faster recovery and higher negative predictive value than by Lowenstein-Jensen method; it could be a simple and rapid method in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background and Objectives: Height, abnormal BMI & weight gain play a very important role in the outcome of pregnancy that hard labor or dystocia is one of the main reasons of the mortality of mothers. This study was done to determine the spread of hard labor and maternal height, BMI and weight gain, the factors related to that in women referring to the public maternity hospitals of Qom in 2006.Methods: The present research is a 6-month descriptive- analytical study conducted upon the 4325 females ready for labor referring to the public hospitals of Qom. The instrument for collecting data was the questionnaire which was completed with observation, interview and examination. Finally, the data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical procedures of X², t-test, correlation & linear regression (OR).Results: The results showed that hard labor had a meaningful statistical relationship with the height of mother, BMI and weight gain. Maximum dystocia was present in women with height<150cm, BMI>35, weight gain >16 kg (p<0.001).Conclusion: The results showed that excessive weight gain, BMI and mother’s height were associated with dystocia. By considering that up till now, no comprehensive epidemiologic study has been reported in Iran about labor dystocia, and with regard to the dangerous impacts of mother and fetus, further studies are recommended.

Background and Objectives: Maternal environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) or passive smoking would be a risk factor for maternal and new born morbidity. This study was conducted to determine this relationship with in pregnant woman referring to Shabihkhani Maternity Hospital of kashan, Iran, during 2006-2007.Methods: The study was carried out on 150 Nonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS greater than or equal to 5 cigarettes per day smoked by others in the mother's presence in all of pregnancy period as exposed group and 150 Nonsmoking pregnant women who were not exposed to ETS as the non-exposed group. Birth weight, height and head circumference were compared in the two groups and analyzed by t- and X² tests.Results: The mean birth weights in the exposed group and non exposed group were and 3137.5±437.8 and 3270±499.5 grams respectively, the t- test showed this difference to be significant (p=0.015). The mean birth height and head circumference in the two groups were not significantly different.Conclusion: Nonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS gave 133 g reduction in birth weight compared to unexposed women. Further studies are needed to determine if ETS decreases birth height and birth head circumference.

Background and Objectives: Intimate partner abuse during pregnancy is a major problem associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. However, this relationship has not been adequately explored, especially in the developing countries.The present study seeks to determine the relationship between of intimate partner abuse and reproductive health outcome among pregnant women attending Gachsaran Hospitals in 2007.Methods: This is a correlation descriptive study performed on 500 pregnant women attending Gachsaran hospitals chosen by convenience sampling. The data collecting instrument was a questionnaire which was completed by the researchers and consisted of the section: demographic characteristics of samples and their partners, questions related to abuse screening and information of health outcome. Validity and reliability of the tool were respectively established using content validity and test-retest technique.Results: The findings of this study indicated that 48.6% of women during pregnancy had suffered abuse from their husbands and there were significant correlations between abuse and unwanted pregnancy, inadequate prenatal visit, short birth interval, lack of use of contraceptive methods and delay in the initiation of breast feeding. (p<0.05)Conclusion: According to the results of this study, intimate partner abuse can negatively affect reproductive health of pregnant women. It is therefore, necessary to detect cases of intimate partner violence at a primary health care level.

Background and Objectives: Tourism is one of the three major global industries with 4 percent annual economic growth. Qom with roughly 17 million tourists in 2005 was the second religious tourism center in Iran. This study was designed to determine the environmental health criteria of Qom hotels and inns in 2007.Methods: This descriptive - cross sectional study was carried out based on a standard check list of substance of edible, drinkable, cosmetic and hygienic products law from ministry of health and medical sciences. The checklist included 73 questions which were completed by face to face interviews and sanitary inspections. After analyzing the results of each residential center, the questionnaires were classified into three categories: hygienic (over 80 score), sanitary (40-79) and unacceptable centers (less than 40). The data were presented and analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods such as X2 and Fisher exact test.Results: The percentages of hygienic, sanitary and unacceptable conditions of hotels and inns were 35.5, 54.8 and 9.7, respectively. There was a direct relationship between academic degree of residential managers and the validity of employees health card (P=0.042).Conclusion: Based on this the research, the environmental status of Qom hotels and inns was in relatively desirable conditions. Residential places with unacceptable condition were almost located in the old region of the city (e.g. around the Holly Shrine). Due to the structural failures, architectural problems and tremendous cost for repairs, it’s better that their activities be stopped and banned by government. With regard to the high percentage of hotels with sanitary conditions, at least improvements in health conditions accompanied by training and supervision are recommended.

Background and Objectives: Liver hemangioma is the most common benign tumor of the liver. Most cases with liver hemangioma are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally. But in the greater types with diameter of over 4 cm they are called giant hemangioma , which can become symptomatic due to their local pressure on other visceral organs. However, in general, in papers and case reports there have been no cases like our case in size, it should be mentioned that the tumor had been recognized by our patient and resection of tumor was finally performed by surgery.Case Report: The patient was a 49 year-old woman who referred to a physician because of abdominal pain and felt mass in her upper right quadrant. The pain was constant, without radiation, and with feeling of heaviness. During physical examination a visible and palpable hepatomegaly was detected in RUQ shifting centrally and under umbilicus. Sonography reported a hepatic mass in posterior part of the right lobe of liver which was characterized by hyperechoic, lobulated and irregular borders. CT scan and triphasic MRI reported the liver mass with size 230*109*94 mm was characterized by peripheral nodular enhancement in the arterial phase and centripetal enhancement in delay phase or portal phase which proved to be a very large hepatic hemangioma .Ultimately right hepatic lobotomy was performed, which led to the patient's complete improvement.