Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:18 | Issue:3|Papers Count:13

Background & Aims: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequently acquired bacterial infections caused by a large genetically heterogeneous group of Escherichia coli, which are called uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Cystitis and pyelonephritis are two most common symptoms seen in patients with UTI. The genetic diversity of this organism has hampered the identification of UTI strains and it is unclear whether all UPEC isolates are capable of causing both cystitis and pyelonephritis. Therefore, Careful selection of appropriate genotyping methods is mandatory. The most popular method is Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) that is used in the present study to evaluate the genetic patterns of UPEC. Methods: In this cross-sectional study a total of 90 E. coli strains consisting of 48 isolates causing pyelonephritis and 42 isolates causing cystitis in children were analyzed by PFGE and their corresponding patterns were compared. Results: Sixty six PFGE profiles were obtained from the genome of E. coli strains by this genotyping method. Most strains exhibited twelve and thirteen bands and the patterns with eight or nineteen bands had the lowest rate. Genome size of strains was between 1610-4170 kbp. Conclusion: According to these results, it can be suggested that in some cases the strains causing pyelonephritis or cystitis have common patterns and different clinical symptoms could be attributed to different gene factors.

Background & Aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a health problem in the world, including Iran. The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology of CL and determination of the causative parasite species in the city and suburb of Mohammadabad, Jiroft district.Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed in census manner. Diagnosis was based on direct smear microscopy and Nested-PCR technique was applied for the identification of species.Results: Overall, 3516 individuals consisting of 1743 females (49.6%) and 1773 males (50.4%) were physically examined for the presence of active lesion or scar. The prevalence rate was 6.2% in female and 4.5% in male subjects with a significant difference (P<0.05). Most of the infection was in the age group of 11-20 years (10.5%) and the lowest was in the age group of 21-30 year (3%). Most of the lesions were on the face (47%) and the majority (64%) had one lesion. Based on Nested-PCR technique all examined cases were Leishmania tropica.Conclusion: This study has been conducted for the first time in north of Jiroft district in proximity of Bam district. Increasing rate of this disease after the earthquake and in accordance with the epidemic condition in the city of Bam is due to the frequent traveling of people to this rural area.

Background & Aims: Some Candida species especially Candida albicans are known as flora of human and animals body and coexist in skin, throat and gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. They can primarily be colonized in hospitalized patients and cause diseases. Resent studies have reported increasing rate of candidauria in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of candiduria in ICU patients with urinary tract catheterization.Method: In a descriptive cross- sectional study, 110 hospitalized patients in ICU over 18 years old who had more than 7 days urinary tract catheter were studied. Urine sample was taken immediately after catheter replacement, sent to the laboratory in less than 1 hour, and analyzed. Data collection was done by a questionnaire and check list.Results: A total of 110 patients including 65 men (59.1%) and 45women (40.9%) were studied of whom 29 ones (26.4%) had candiduria based on urine culture. Candida albicans was the most common species (34.3%). Risk factors of candiduria were age, duration of hospitalization and urinary tract catheterization, using more than two antibiotics, corticosteroid consumption, and diabetes mellitus.Conclusion: Due to the increasing rate of candida infection in hospitalized patients especially ICU patients, more attention for prevention of candiduria especially in those with candiduria risk factors is recommended.

Background & Aims: While iodine is an essential element for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, epidemiological studies have showed that excessive iodine intake leads to autoimmune thyroid diseases, with an unknown mechanism. Previous studies have showed disturbance in the circulating cytokines could lead to autoimmune diseases. To determine the role of iodine in cytokine production and development of thyroid autoimmune diseases, whole blood was stimulated with NaI (10 mm) and I2 (0.5 mm).Methods: After evaluation of laboratory results of 25 healthy females (aged 40-45 years), 10 subjects with matched results were selected. Ten ml of sterile heparinized peripheral blood was taken from each subject and immediately were divided into 6 groups (control, NaI stimulated, I2 stimulated and matching groups in presence of standard stimulators (LPS 1mg/ml & PHA 10mg/ml). Three identical sets were setup to investigate cytokine production at 24, 48, and 72 hours. All samples were incubated in cell culture incubator (95% O2 and 5% CO2) and after elapse of appropriate time, plasma was separated from each well and kept at -70 ºC till the time of cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, INF-m and TGF-m1) analysis.Results: NaI could significantly decrease the production of TGF-m1at all time points (P<0.02), while it did not affect the level of other cytokines. On the other hand, I2 significantly decreased the level of IL-4 and IL-10 (P<0.01). In the presence of LPS/PHA, NaI also reduced the production of IL-10 (P<0.02), while I2 decreased the level of IL-4 as well as IL-10 (P<0.01). Conclusion: For the first time, the results of this study indicated that high levels of NaI and I2 may reduce the level of protective cytokines in circulation. Finally, since neither thyroid hormones nor thyroid gland had role in this process, it may be concluded that thyroid autoimmunity is initiated from high consumption of iodine leading to the imbalance in cytokine production.

Background & Aims: In this study the efficacy of traditional method, methadone tapering method and rapid method as three opiate detoxification treatments was compared based on demographic features and naltrexone consumption in a 6- month follow up. Method: This Cohort prospective study was performed on 140 opioid addict men referred to opiate detoxification center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman/ Iran from 2005-2007. They were divided into three groups of traditional method (n= 61), methadone tapering (n= 34) and rapid treatment (n= 45) and followed up for 6 months in order to evaluate the results of detoxification treatments.Results: At the end of the first month, the rate of abstinence in whole was 80.7%, and this rate was 83.6% in traditional treatment group, 82.4% in methadone group and 75.6% in rapid treatment group that shows no significant difference. After the 6th month the rate of abstinence was 12.8% in whole, 16.7% in traditional treatment group, 16.7% in methadone group and 6.3% in rapid treatment group. These rates, too, show no significant difference among three groups. The rate of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 1st month was 75.7% in whole, 52.5% in traditional group, 47.1% in methadone group and 97.8% in rapid treatment group that shows significant difference among three groups (P<0.05). There was no case of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 6th month.Conclusion: Since the rate of relapse and results of three detoxification methods have been the same the best detoxification method for each patient should be selected based on the physical condition of the patient, available facilities, probable expenses and physician's clinical judgment.

Background & Aims: Apple (Malus domestica Borkh. from Rosaceae family), a rich source of phytoestrogenes has not been thoroughly tested for its reproductive effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of apple diet on rats' reproduction.Method: Nine groups of NMRI rats (n= 10 females + 2 males) with different apple diets (free- apple diet and apple diet in every other day and every tow days intervals) were studied for pregnancy outcome (number of offsprings and sex ratio). Statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA. Results: Sex ratio of offsprings in none of the groups changed, but the total number of offsprings in the group that had apple diet every other day, showed a significant increase in comparison to the control group (p <0.05).Conclusion: The obtained results show that parents, every other day apple diet causes significant increase in the total number of offsprings without any change on sex ratio.

Background & Aims: Increase in abdominal pressure can lead to the so-called intra–abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) that is often observed during the first 24 hours after sever abdominal trauma and surgery. Measurement of the intra abdominal pressure through the bladder as a non-invasive measurement can provide a quick and accurate assessment of abdominal pressure changes. This study was performed to compare the diagnostic value of intra-abdominal pressure measurement through the bladder with that of physical exam in the diagnosis of surgery indication.Methods: This descriptive- analytical study was performed on patients with intra-abdominal compartment syndrome due to blunt abdominal trauma referred to Nemazee hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Tools for data collection included a check list consisting demographic information, and intra-abdominal pressure measurement instruments. Data analysis was done through SPSS software.Results: Of 100 patients with abdominal trauma whose abdominal pressures were measured, 28 ones had abdominal compartment syndrome of whom, 21 ones (75 percent) were referred to the operation room by physician. Among all patients who were sent to the surgery room, 5 patients (23.80%) were survived and all those who were not sent to the surgery room died. Mean diagnosis time of measuring abdominal pressure for detection of operation indication was significantly lower than that of physical exam (P<0.01). Age, sex, type of trauma and type of injury to internal organ had no significant relationship with the rate of abdominal compartment syndrome. Also, there was no significant difference between the two methods in finding surgery indication. Conclusion: Implementing education on methods of early diagnosis of intra-abdominal pressure increase for medical team especially nurses is one of the treatment priorities.

Background & Aims: Human beings are constantly exposed to different radiations that have always been recognized as a health hazard. Radon -222 and its daughter products are major sources of natural radiations and a significant total inhalation dose is related to them. Hence, the measurement of radon activity in the environment has gained an increasing importance. In this study, with the measurement of radon concentration, the indoor radon activity level and radon effective dose rate in Jooshan hot spring were determined.Method: Concentration of radon gas inside the pool of Jooshan hot spring was measured using the active detector Rad7 type and the annual effective dose was estimated for individuals inhaling the indoor air of this pool for a specified period of time. Results: Concentration of indoor air radon gas was 98.3±4.9 Bq/m3 and for a person staying in the pool twice a week and each time for two hours, the annual effective dose rate, due to the inhalation of radon, equals to 0.06±0.003 mSv/y.Conclusion: Comparison of the obtained effective does with the standards of Environmental protection Agency and Health physics Society, it can be concluded that for individuals that normally use Jooshan hot spring pool, the resulted dose is in the recommended range.

The extensor indicis is a narrow, elongated skeletal muscle in the deep layer of the dorsal forearm that originates from the one third of the distal posterior surface of the shaft of ulna below the origin of the extensor pollicis longos and interosseous membrane. It runs through the fourth tendon compartment with the extensor digitorum under the extensor retinaculum. The extensor indicis joins to the ulnar side of the extensor digitorum communis opposite the head of the second metacarpal bone. This muscle allows independent extension of the index finger. In a cadaver dissection we observed two extensor indicis muscles with the same origin but two separate belleis and tendons. One of them was attached to the dorsum of the index finger and another one to the tendon of extensor digitorum muscle and to the index finger via extensor expansion.