Avicenna Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year:2005 | Volume:12 | Issue:2 (SN 36)|Papers Count:14

Introduction & Objective: Considering the higher incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders in diabetes mellitus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral one-month administration of red pepper (Capsicum frutescens) on the contractile reactivity of isolated aorta in diabetic rats. Materials & Methods: For this purpose, male Wistar rats (n=32) were randomly divided into control, pepper-treated control, diabetic, and pepper-treated diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotcin (STZ) was intraperitoneally administered (60 mg/Kg). Pepper-treated groups received pepper mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 1/15. After one month, contractile reactivity of aortic rings to KCI and noreadrenaline was determined using isolated tissue setup.Results: Serum glucose level showed a significant increase in diabetic group at 2nd and 4th weeks (P<0.001), while this increase was less marked in pepper-treated diabetic group at the 2nd.week (P<0.05). In addition, the latter group showed a lower contraction to KCl (P<0.05) and noreadrenaline (P<0.05) as compared to diabetic group. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between control and pepper-treated control groups regarding contractile reactivity.Conclusion: It can be concluded that oral administration of pepper for one month could attenuate the contractile responsiveness of the vascular system and may prevent the development of hypertension in diabetic rats.

Introduction & Objective: In recent studies on cardiovascular diseases, selenium has received increasing attention. It is argued that selenium can protect the cells by inhibiting peroxidation of lipids and tissue damage and can increase the immunological mechanisms by inhibiting mutagenic processes. The aim of this study was to determine the serum selenium level and its relation to myocardial infarction patients in Kermanshah, Iran.Materials & Methods: A descriptive study was designed in that serum selenium levels of 124 patients (106 males and 18 females) with history of myocardial infarction were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. Results: The means of serum Se in males and females were 80.58µg/l and 80.78 µg/l respectively, which showed no significant differences between the two genders. The amount of serum Se in this study was in the same range of other studies in different countries, however another research in Kermanshah has shown a high serum selenium level (104µg/l) for normal individuals (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, we recommend further studies on the role of selenium in cardiovascular diseases and on determining the base level of selenium in nutritions and various population.

Introduction & Objective: Epiphora is one of the most common problems in the primary adult nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO). The surgical treatment of epiphora is dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) which is performed in two methods: External and Endonasal.Materials & Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial study, results and complications of these two methods were compared in Emam Khomeiny Hospital of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences during 2001-2002. Total cases of PANDO were 50 which was divided in two groups randomly. After surgery all patients were followed for 6 to 12 months.Results: In 92% of both groups, epiphora were resolved clinically, but in 16% of external and 8% of endonasal groups obstruction was seen in irrigation test (P>0.05).In the first week after surgery, all patients of endonasal group and 76% of external group were pain free. Nasal discharge in endoscopic group was significantly higher than external group.Conclusion: In conclusion although the results of these two methods were similar, external OCR remains the procedure of choice in treatment of NLD obstruction.

Introduction & Objective: Most of the CRF patients undergo dialysis to correct the CRF complications. Alterations in biochemical parameters of blood depends on the quality of dialysis. Several factors such as membrane, concentration of dialysis solutions, and dilution are involved in this process. Since the efficacy of the dialysis performed in Hamadan have not been studied previously and there was not information about the efficiency of Iranian made membrane (HD, R4, R3, S3) , this study was designed and performed.Materials & Methods: In this study some biochemical parameters including Hb, Hct, alkaline phosphatase, Ca, P, total protein, urea, creatinine before and after dialysis were measured in all patients referring to dialysis center of Hamadan. After collecting the blood samples before and after the dialysis, Hb and Htc were measured using the ABX cell counter. The other parameters were measured using Technicon RA1000 autoanalyser. The mean of these parameters before and after dialysis were compared using paired t-test. The results of different membranes were compared using ANOVA.Results: Results showed the serum level of total Ca increased 33% after dialysis (P<0.0001)while the P showed 36% decrease (P<0.0001). Alkaline phosphatase activity did not show any significant differences. Comparing the efficacy of different membrane in correction of urea and creatinine, HD membrane showed the most efficiency and R4 had the least (P<0.03). Other parameters did not show significant differences.Conclusion: The data obtained from this study showed a significant change in Ca, P, and ALP level after dialysis. Also it was concluded that different membrane had different effect on correction of studied parameters.

Introduction & Objective: Although emergency cesarean section is performed to save mother and neonate life in many cases, but this is not always safe in all cases, especially in elective one. In addition to maternal problems it can increases neonatal morbidity and mortality rate especially in term neonates. One of the most prominent problems in this regard is neonatal respiratory distress following elective cesarean section, which are studied in this research.Materials & Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. The neonatal respiratory morbidity incidence and admission length between term infants delivered by emergency and elective cesarean section were evaluated and the results were compared between two studied groups (200 cases in each group).Results: Infants delivered by elective cesarean section had an increased rate of respiratory complication compare to infants born by emergency cesarean section (8.5% vs. 3.5% p<0.05). Comparing with the former group the latter group had longer hospital stay that wasn't statistically significant.Conclusion: Elective cesarean section increases neonatal respiratory morbidity significantly.

Introduction & Objective: The aim of this study was to optimize MRI conventional protocols for BMD (Bone Mineral Density) measurements using MRI Relaxometry in systems not facilitated with special multi echo protocols. Since, cortical and trabecular bone separation can not be performed in DEXA, so the results might lead to erroneous; interpretation of BMD values. One method for bone quality determination is MRI Relaxometry that derives R2 (=1/T2), R2*(=1/T2*) and R2' (=R2*-R2).Materials and Methods: This study was performed by 1.5T MRI system (Picker Vista-Q800), an uniformity phantom (1.25gr/1 CUS04, with T2=200ms for calibration), a body RF-Coil, 7 normal, 7 osteopenia, 7 osteoporosis volunteers and Lunar DEXA system (DPX-MD). To determine R2* and R2, multi GE and SE protocols with different TE/TR were used.Then in phantom and in coronal section of femoral-neck, relaxation rates were compared with BMD. The slope of neperian-logarithm of signal vs. TE in GE as -R2* used for protocol optimization.Results: For phantom calibration, optimized GE parameters of TE=13.42/18/26.8 ms, TR=800msand ST=8mm used for the measurement of R2*, while, the measurement of R2 required the optimized SE parameters of TE=30/60/90/120ms, TR=800ms and ST=8mm, with CV (R2*)=2.75%, CV (R2)=2.17%, respectively. In volunteers for SE, TE of 36/54/63/72ms and TR=800mswere used, while, for GE the TEs/TR were the same as those of phantom study. R2* and R2' showed a significant positive correlation with BMD, r=0.62 (p<0.003) & r=0.62 (p<0.003) respectively.Conclusion: In accordance with DEXA values, the results showed that MR-Relaxometry is a proper tool for BMD-measurements in femoral-neck. Also it may be used as a complement method for DEXA failure in BMD-assessments.

Introduction & Objective: Obesity (a scaled weight-by-height index) charts of a cohort of 317 healthy infants and their parents living in Shiraz (Southern Iran) are presented. Materials& Methods: An adjusted weight-for-height was used to develop power type obesity indices, Ip=W/HP. Polynomial modelling was used by applying the HRY (Healy, Rasbash, Yang) non parametric method to estimate age-related smoothed centiles of obesity.Results: The optimal value of p was found to be 2.5 for infants and / for their parents. No more than cubic and quadratic polynomials were needed to fit obesity-for-age smoothly for infants and their parents respectively. Infant's obesity increases from birth to six months of age and decreases later on to the age of 21 months when it becomes stable. Infants obesity in age - dependent however, parents obesity is almost age - independent.Conclusion: Using age - dependent obesity index (a scaled weight by height) is an appropriate one which explores the degree of fatness .A local standard for assessing obesity in clinical practice as well as community health programmes in Iran is of urgent need, which our data serve this purpose.

Introduction & Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the resting energy expenditure and metabolic efficiency before and after of aerobic exercise in spastic cerebral palsy children (mean age of 11 years) and also to compare with those of normal children.Materials & Methods: Fifteen dipelegia spastic cerebral palsy children (experimental group) participated in exercise-rehabilitation program by voluntarily and the peers eighteen able body children (control group) were selected randomly. The experimental group (cp) performed rehabilitation program for 3 months, 3 session in week with work intensity (%HRR=46±2.5) equal to 144bpm of heart rate. The values were measured on tantory cycle ergometer according to Macmaster protocol.Results: Rest and exercise heart rate and exercise intensity (%HRR) in patients decreased after rehabilitation program (p<0.05). The resting energy expenditure was similar in cp and normal groups. The rate of oxygen cost of patients decreased in post test (P<0.05) that showed increasing in metabolic efficiency. Conclusion: cerebral palsy children have greater exercise energy cost and lower cardiovascular fitness than normal children and exercise-rehabilitation leads to enhance of metabolic efficiency in this patients that is remarkable from clinical perception.

Introduction & Objective: Many studies carried out about breast feeding and its relationship with overweight and obesity. In some of these studies the incidence of overweight and obesity in breast fed babies has remarkably decreased, but some other studies have rejected the positive effect of breast milk on decreasing the incidence of overweight and obesity. Considering these contradictions we decided to do a study about this subject on primary school children in Hamadan.Materials & Methods: 1400'students were included in the study and the way of feeding them in the first 6 months of their life and their present weight and height were recorded in the check list.Results: In this study 89 children were overweight (6.4%) and 80 children were obese (5.7%). When we compared overweight and obesity in the breast fed group with the non breast fed group, we indicated that overweight and obesity in breast fed babies were 6.1% and 4.8% respectively, whereas in non breast fed babies it was 7.5% and 9.7% respectively.Conclusion: We concluded from comparing these data, that the incidence of overweight and obesity in breast fed babies was much less than non breast fed babies and the difference between them was statistically meaningful (Pv=0.004).

Introduction & Objective: Today, a lot of work forces are lost and this problem costs too much for the patient and the governments. Exercise therapy is one of the most important plans for these patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of coordination training, Endurance training and combinations of them on CLBP.Materials & Methods: We performed a randomized trial on 60 patients with CLBP who were referred to Shiraz Masjedorrasool physiotherapy clinic. Patients were divided into three groups and all groups were treated by the same routine physical therapy management. The first, second and third group received Endurance exercises, Coordination exercises and combinations of them respectively. Pain and disability were compared among three groups.Results: All three methods were effective in pain relief (p=0.00) but the 3rd method was more effective than the 1st and 2nd methods (p=0.001 and p=0.003 respectively). Also, the 1st and 2nd methods were not significantly different from each other in treatment of CLBP (p=0.718). All three methods were effective in reducing patients disability (p=0.00).But the 3rd method was more effective than the 1st and 2nd methods (p=0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Also, the 1st and 2nd methods were not significantly different from each other in reducing disability (p=0.529).Conclusion: Endurance training besides coordination training is more effective than each one alone.

Introduction: Milliary metastasis to the brain is absolutely rare and there are few reports in the medical literature. These reports were cases with calcified and well known origin milliary metastases.Case Report: In this paper we report a 42-year-old man with milliary metastasis to cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres and brain stem from an unknown etiology without any mass effect edema or calcification.Conclusion: Pathological study of brain biopsy revealed mucinous papillary adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: There are several introduced forms of treatment for patients with relapse-remitting & secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in recent years. Interferon beta-1 b (Betaferon) is the first of these agents that administered subcutaneously once in every two days.Case Report: This report is related to a 33 years old female. After 6 times of Betaferon injection vasculitis necrotizing was occurred with perforated ulcer (3×3.5 cm) on the Lt side prox. lower limb. Simultaneoulsly ulcer (0.5×0.5cm) on the Lt side prox. Upper limb, small ulcer (1×1 cm) on the Rt side prox. lower limb and erythemia on the Rt side prox. upper limb around injection site.Conclusion: Betaferon was stopped to ensure ulcers is healed. The patient showed improvement after 3 months without debridment. It is recommended to proceed with the above plan until complete recovery is achieved.