Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:14 | Issue:6 (72)|Papers Count:9

Background & Aim: Microarray techniques are successfully used to investigate thousands of gene expression profiling in a variety of genomic analyses such as gene identification, drug discovery and clinical diagnosis, providing a large amount of genomic data for the overall research community. Statistical analysis of such databases included normalization, clustering, classification, etc. The present study surveyed the application of fuzzy clustering technique in DNA microarray analysis. Materials & Methods: Golub, et al collected data bases of leukemia based on the method of oligonucleotide in 1999. The data are on the internet for free. In this paper we did analysis on this data set and gene expression data were clustered by fuzzy clustering. Data set included 20 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) patients and 14 Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients. Efficiency of clustering was compared with regard to real grouping (ALL & AML). We used R software for data analysis.Results: Specificity and sensitivity of fuzzy clustering in diagnosing of ALL patients are 90% and 93%, respectively. These results show a good accomplishment of both clustering methods. It is considerable that, due to clustering methods results, one of the samples was placed in ALL groups, which had been in AML group in clinical test. Conclusion: With regard to concordance of the results with real grouping of data, it could be said that we can use these methods in cases where we don't have accurate information of real data grouping. Moreover, results of clustering might distinguish subgroups of data in such a way.

Background & Aim: Postoperative shivering is one of the complications that can increase the amount of oxygen consumption, so ending in a number of complications. This issue is of paramount importance in patients with an underlying cardiovascular problem. New inhalational anesthetics are increasing trends in hope to decrease a number of complications like postoperative shivering. This study was done to assess the comparative effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane on postoperative shivering. Materials & Methods: In a double blind clinical trial, the prevalence of postoperative shivering with isoflurane and sevoflurane was compared. 100 patients aged 18-65 years were selected and divided randomly into one of the two groups considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. Post anesthesia shivering was assessed and compared in the two groups. Data analysis was done using SPSS software. Student t-test and Chi-Square test were used for data analysis. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was no difference between the two groups regarding age, sex and the duration of anesthesia. Also, there was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding the severity and grading of shivering. Conclusion: Post anesthesia shivering is not so much affected using isoflurane and sevoflurane.

Background & Aim: Since Cryptosporidium is a worldwide distributed protozoan parasite and is considered as one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans with autoimmune deficiency, as well as in young live stock, molecular epidemiologic studies of cryptosporidiasis will be helpful for underlying transmission and molecular pathogenesis of Cryptosporidium in humans. The aim of the present study was to determine the species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium among children with diarrhea in Tehran and Qazvin provinces by PCR-RFLP using the three polymorphic regions of SSU-rRNA, COWP and TRAP-C2 genes. Materials & Methods: 1263 stool samples were collected from the children less than 12 years with diarrhea who referred to Pediatrics Medical Centers in Gazvin and Tehran Provinces, Iran, during 2005-2007. After determination of the presence of Cryptosporidium oocytes by Ziehl-Neelsen acid, fast staining genomic DNA was extracted. Nested PCR-RFLP was performed by -rRNA, COWP and TRAP-C2 genes. Results: Results of microscopically positive samples showed that the overall prevalence of infection in children was 31 (2.5 %). Results of nested PCR amplification showed that of 31 isolates of children, all of three targeted gene were successfully amplified. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the zoonotic transmission is the main mode of infection in Iran and indicates that direct or indirect contact with animals, especially calf, is possibly the main route of human infection.

Background & Aim: Recent studies have confirmed association between Campylibacter jejuni infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). However, the characteristics of this association are not well studied in Iran. This study aimed to determine the frequency of this infection in children with GBS, and the clinical and laboratory features of this association. Materials & Methods: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study on 47 children with GBS admitted to Tabriz Children’s Hospital between July 2006 and July 2008. Serologic investigations were used to diagnose preceding C. jejuni infection. Results: There was evidence of recent C. jejuni infection in 40.4% of the patients with GBS. Duration to achieve independent walking was longer in C. jejuni-associated patients (P<0.013). However 95% of C. jejuni-associated GBS patients achieved independent walking at the end of 1 year. Axonal pattern was more common in patients with positive serology (P=0.05). Conclusion: Campylobacter jejuni is a common antecedent infectious agent in children with GBS in Iran.

Background & Aim: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibody directly against acetylcholine receptors on post-junctional membranes. The complete removal of the thymus has been the logical goal of operation, but there has been controversy on its relation to long term results. In this study, we try to describe the efficacy of long term result of transsternal thymectomy, and the rate of improvement in patients with myasthenia gravis that presented to Loghman Hakim Hospital, in Tehran, between 1993 and 2007. Materials & Methods: The study descriptively analyzed all patients with general myasthenia gravis with transsternal thymectomy. At first all patients with myasthenia gravis on the study year’s period were found and invited. Efficacy of surgery was studied with dosage of used drug, signs, age, sex, thymus pathology, etc. and was statistically expressed. A maximum of 15 years of post-surgery follow-up was studied (Mean= 9 yrs). Results: In study years, 63 patients underwent thymectomy, 48 of whom met the criteria to enroll in our study (76.2%). Overall, surgical benefit after thymectomy was 77% and 31.2% of the patients were completely cured. In 45.8% of the patients, drug doses were reduced. In 18.7% of the patients drug dose had not changed. In 4.2 % of patients, the disease had progressed. Most of the improvement was seen in the first 2 years post- thymectomy. Conclusion: Thymectomy is a beneficial treatment modality in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis. The efficacy of transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis had satisfactory results by examining and long-term follow-up of patients. But further investigation in mass population in clinical trials is needed.

Background & Aim: Today, plastic surgeries are among the most popular types of surgeries worldwide, and Iran is placed as one of the tops on the list of plastic surgeries. Considering these facts, this study was designed to evaluate the volunteers' motivations, their attitudes and informational sources performed in Panzdah Khordad Educational Hospital, in Tehran, during 2005-2006. Materials & Methods: The study was conducted on a cross- sectional basis. All patients undergoing plastic surgeries, and referred to this center during that time, were evaluated and necessary information was recorded. All the findings were evaluated statistically and the results were presented by descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: 75 patients were studied in this research. The average age of the participants was 33±13 (minimum of 17 and maximum of 63 years old). Rhinoplasty (52%) and abdominoplasty (8%), were the most and less common surgeries done. The major motivators were friends, relatives and classmates (40%) and the least important ones were magazines and journals (4%). 10.7 percent of the participants described the posture and function of their target organs perfect, but they planned to improve it by the aesthetic surgeries. Conclusion: No relation was found between the motivations and type of the surgeries and educational stand, but the motivations were dependent on patients' occupation, marital status and attitude towards the target organ.

Background & Aim: Self-medication is one of the most serious health problems inducing many problems for society and people. This occurs more in women, because this group may be in sensitive periods, for example pregnancy and milking; therefore, birth abnormal neonatal situations may cause many social and familial problems. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of educational program based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on preventive behavior of self-medication in woman with pregnancy in Arak, Iran. Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental study two hundred women with pregnancy, and referring to health centers participated. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental and control groups (each group consisting 100 women). Sampling was done with clustering based on mailing address in the city. Data collection was performed with a questionnaire based on HBM (perceived susceptibility, severity, barrier and benefit, and cues to action and performance checklist about self-medication was used in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program. Before intervention, data collection for both groups was conducted upon a questionnaire and checklist. Then, intervention was done in 1 month consisting of 4 sessions, each 50 minutes post intervention. 1 and 2 months after intervention, two follow up sessions were held, and 3 months after, data were recollected and analyzed. Results: The average age of case and control groups were 29.2± 4.7 and 27.1± 3.8 years, respectively; and mean time of pregnancy was 7.2. ± 4.6 weeks. The results indicated that the mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility and performance about self-medication was lower than average, while severity، barrier and benefit about self medication were in higher than average. The mean score of all HBM elements of experimental group changed significantly after the intervention and in comparison to the control group, and performance of women about self-medication reduced (p<0/05). Conclusion: The more the knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity and benefit are higher, the less will be the women performance about self medication. Findings of this research confirmed the effect on health education based on HBM (compared with educational traditional methods in control group health centers) on self medication in women with pregnancy. Therefore, proposed education based on this model is suggested to be performed in other health center for reducing this problem.

Background & Aim: Early revascularization is the main step in treatment of patients with acute MI which since a few years ago has been done via P-PCI. Since thrombolytic therapy is performed as a standard method of therapy of acute MI in all centers not equipped with angiography and angioplasty systems, we decided to compare these two methods in the university centers in Iran. Materials & Methods: This prospective study was conducted on STEMI (ST Elevation MI) patients referred to emergency department of Shohadaye Tajrish and Shahid Modarres Hospitals, in Tehran, for early revascularization using thrombolytic therapy or Primary PCI. We compared these two methods of revascularization based on the effects on ejection fraction, ST-resolution and complications. Results: 287 patients (144 in T.T group and 143 in P-PCI group) were enrolled in our study. There were no differences in ejection fraction between the two groups, but ST-resolution was significantly better in the P-PCI group (P< 0.001). The rate of complications was similar in both groups. Conclusion: It seems the P-PCI is more effective than T.T in patients with STEMI.