DANESHVAR MEDICINE
Year:2003 | Volume:11 | Issue:47|Papers Count:16

Faecal samples from 3268 randomly selected inhabitants of two provinces in northern region of Iran were surveyed for detection of shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) by colony sweep poly myxin B extraction method. Non sorbitol fermentation (NSF) phenotype and slide agglutination with O157 and H7 antisera were used for screening and detection of that serotype. In this study 0.7% of the population was infected with STEC, none of the isolates belonged to O157:H7 serotype. The children less than six years of age were found to be at highest risk of infection with STEC (p£0.05). Moreover a significant association between the STEC and diarrhoeal could be observed (p£0.001). Distribution pattern of the STEC isolates in the general population was generally random although a kind of clustered distribution could be noticed.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease affecting the lower motor neurons in the brain stem and the spinal cord, upper motor neuron directly connected to them and frequently the prefrontal motor neurons. Recently, it seems that the incidence of ALS is being increased in Isfahan. The purpose of this study was evaluation of clinical and epidemiological aspects of ALS patients. This prospective and observational study was done between 1997 to 2002 in Isfahan. 62 patients (40 male; 22 female) with definite ALS according to history, clinical manifestations, and neurological examination and laboratory findings were evaluated. Investigations for all patients included electromyography, cervical and brain MRI and specific tests for rule out of other similar diseases. The mean age of patients was 51.9 years. 16 patients were farmers and husbands of 8 female patients were farmers. 27 patients had history of sever psychosocial stresses. Tongue fasciculation was seen among 56 patients. Family history of ALS was negative in all patients. Mild degrees of nerve conduction impairment were seen among 13 patients. 57 patients died after 3 years of diagnosis. There was some similarity between epidemiologic findings in our study and other studies. ALS may be related to sex, occupation, psychic stress and physical trauma. Physician must be careful about the presentation of ALS. Mortality in ALS is inevitable and there is not any acceptable treatment.

The aims of the present study were isolation of lectin from phaseolus coccineus seeds, determination of its minimal concentration in haemagglutination process and evaluation of its mitogenic efficacy in stimulation of cell proliferation.The lectin was extracted from the seeds by the reported method of Nagata et al. The amount of isolated protein was 130mg/ml which was measured by the method of Biuret.The minimal concentration of the phaseolus coccineus lectin which was able to cause visible agglutination of 5% human red blood cell suspension was about 0.125mg/ml. This Agglutinin could cause agglutination of all human RBC irrespective of their ABO blood group system.The mitogenic activity of this lectin was measured by lymphocyte transformation test (L.T.T.). The result showed that the isolated lecti was strongly mitogenic for human lymphocyte. The mitogenic activity of 100mg/ml of phaseolus coccineus lectin was equal to the mitogenic activity of the same concentration of PHA (phytohaemagglutinin) which is used routinely in immunologic tests.

There is considerable evidence that vascular fluid dynamics play an important role in the development and prevalence of atherosclerosis, which is one of the most widespread diseases in human beings. Hemodynamics parameters, which are involved in the onset and prevalence of this disease, are largely affected by geometric factors.Most of the arterial diseases, such as atherosclerosis, occur in the arteries with complex pattern of fluid flow. Research shows that arterial stenosis (AS) occurs more frequently in Coronary artery, Aorta bifurcation, Carotid artery, and vessels of lower limbs. During the past two decades, many experimental studies have been done in order to understand the importance of the blood hemodynamic parameters in forming sedimentation on the inner wall of blood vessels. It has been determined that this phenomenon depends on both fluid velocity and wall shear stress. In the present study, the effect of the local stenosis in Carotid artery has been investigated using numerical solution of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows. Among various parameters that have been investigated velocity profile has been shown in different parts and times in a pulsatile cycle, separation and reattachment points on the wall, flow stability length and the variation of wall shear stress over the whole length of blood vessel. Finally we compare the influence of the severity of the stenosis on the separation and reattachment points for a Newtonian and a Non-Newtonian fluid.

Dynamic range of human visual system is approximately one in bilion. This expanded dynamic range cause spatial and temporal luminance discriminations. In this study, the spatial changes of luminance according to its adaptations and visual system response have been evaluated. Twenty five young normal male tested. Every subject fixated at blank white or black background that specific point of it which determined by a definite programme change its color coordination's to black or white. The test has been done in three spatial frequencies (25 cpd, 5 cpd and 2 cpd) that its sequences determined randomly.The results show that the average of contrast threshold in white background significantly (P<0.0001) higher than black background. The contrast threshold has direct proportion with spatial frequency (P<0.0001). These results can be explained by WeberFechner, Lateral inhibition, Mach Band phenomena and receptive field theory, but none of them cannot explaine it complitely. Therefore it seems in psychophysical test the primary adaptation can influence the final results. In fact the final results should be reported by primary adaptatins. In psychophysical tests activation and inhibition of visual system in a specific condition there are main deterministic parameter in quality and quantity of responses.

The mosquito Culex pipiens pipiens is common pest of medical importance that has been reported from most parts of Iran.Considering the potential of house mosquito in transmission of different diseases to man and the discomfort caused by its painful and infectious biting, the study of its biological and ecological characteristics is prerequisite for its effective control. However, its successful rearing in laboratory remains the first step in this respect.In this study we investigated a new rearing method for raising the Culex pipiens pipiens in the lab conditions using a commercial brand of milk powder and golden hamster for larval feeding and adult blood feeding respectively. During three successive generations, the ecological fitness of the insect was examined by measuring seven ecological characters namely survival rate, fecundity, speed of larval development, larval mortality, pupal mortality, total mortality, and sex ratio.We observed significant increases in survival rate, fecundity, and speed of larval development, but reduced larval, pupal and total mortality. However, there was no remarkable change in sex ration when compared to other data on conventional methods of rearing. Our results indicate that the new rearing method supported a Culex population of higher abundance and fitness for lab experiments.

Pityriasis versicolor is a normal flora fungus superficial infection affecting the skin, created under special Pityriasis conditions resulted from the fungous named lipofilic Malassezia fur fur or some versicolor which drains wastes in areas of neck, breast, back, arm and the other parts of body in the form of some crust, smooth macula which are irregular and crusted spots in various sizes. This study was done to findout the relationship Pityriasis versicolor, Cholestrol of and Triglyceride in referrals to Kashan and Aran, Bidgol pools in 2000.A descriptive-analytical study was performed on individual's referred to Kashan, Aran and Bidgol pools. Individuals information including age, job, level of education, the place of illness, residential location, amount of blood cholestrol and triglyceride and much use of antibiotics and chronic infections were investigated. About 60 patients were considered as the case group and 78 men of refering ones who were demographically similar to the case group and different only invivo of suffering from pityriasis versicolor were considered as the witness group. Blood cholestrol and triglyceride were determined RA-1000 autoanalyzer using technicon biochemical kits. In order to compare the findings, the statistical test (T Student) was used.Out of 1565 individuals under study, 3.8% were sufferring from prevalence pityriasis versicolor. It was proved that the of this disease was 4.4% in Kashan pool, 3.1% in Aran and Bidgol pool. The maximum contamination was observed among 10-20 years old and minimum was seen among employees and highly educated people. The research showed that there was no significant relationship between pityriasis versicolor and serum level of cholestrol but it showed significance relationship with serum level of triglyceride.Due to the hygenic poverty, chronic infection, out of cell glycogen, high serum level of triglyceride and cholestrol are effective causes for making pityriasis versicolor it is suggested for those who have a higher level of triglyceride and cholestrol than normal to be immuned against pityriasis versicolor. Some preventive measures have be taken in hygienic planning and the ways of using the swimming pools.

Wide variations in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema have been reported in different regions and countries of the world. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was developed to provide standardized method to ascertain the prevalence of asthma and allergies in different regions. Comparisons of prevalence rates across geographical regions may help to identify factors that influence the development of these conditions in individuals. For doing this descriptive study the ISAAC written questionnaire was completed by 3000 schoolchildren aged 12-14 years in Kashan, the central area of Iran, with different geographic and cultural characteristics, during the fall in 1998. The overall cumulative and 12 month prevalence's of wheezing were 20.6%, 12.3% in the girls and 28.2%, 16.6% in the boys respectively. The prevalence's of doctor diagnosed asthma were 1.6% and 1.8% in the girls and boys. Rhinitis symptoms were reported by 24.6%, 34.6% and chronic pruritic rashes by 8.1% and 11% of the girls and boys respectively.Allergic disorders are common in this area and prevalence is comparable to the other parts of Iran and many other countries. Prevalence of asthma by medical diagnosis is relatively low with respect to the other studies performed with the same methodology.

In present study the possibility of citric acid production from date wavte (Le .ryrup and solid date wavte) has been investigated by A.niger (PTCC 5010).Date syrup solution has been analyzed for protein, sugar, humidity and ash content. The date syrup with 57% sugar and solid waste date with 37% sugar has been selected as the main substrate for further investigation. Different parameters on each substrate have been studied. Different inoculums size from preculture medium 108 spores) have been added to production medium. The best results obtained when 8-12% was the size of inoculums (~250-350 pellet) for date syrup and 8-10% (~250-300 pellet) for date solid waste. The depicted results of pretreatment of date syrup with tricalcium phosphate and potassium Ferro cyanide with concentration of 1.5% and 0.025% (W/V), showed the best results of citric acid production. Pretreatment of date solid waste with 0.025-0.075 potassium Ferro cyanide showed a sound response.The ideal pH was between 4.5-6 for date syrup and 3.5-4.4 for date solid waste. The best concentration of Ammonium sulfate for date syrup was 1.5-2g/l. using the methanol on both the substrate of 2% and 4% (V/W) concentration increased the citric acid yield.Complete fermentation period of date syrup Was 8 days, yielding 73.5g/l of citric acid whereas solid state fermentation resulted in 156.4 g/kg of citric acid in the same period. The percentage of sugar utilization for both media was 70.2 and 81.5%, respectively.

Attention to nursing and prognosis determination in ICU for each patient needs scientific and subtle criteria that are useful for ICU and medical care assessment.This study performed on 588 patients in ICU of Bahonar Hospital of Kerman Medical University between the year in 2000-2001 by APACHE II scoring system for assessment of patients' prognosis.Of the subjects 27% were women and 73% were men. Mean age of patients was 37.2±21.7 years that hospitalized 5.8±8.3 days in ICU. Among these patients, 219 persons (37.4%) died and 366 persons (62.6%) recovered and transferred to the other wards.Total mean score in persons was 10.8±5.5 and in dead patients it was 14.1±6 while in recovered patients was 8.9±4.3. There was a statistically significant difference between these scors (P<0.0001).Also a significant relationship was observed between patients' age and their APACHE II score so by increasing of age the score also increased (t=0.34).APACHE II scoring system is useful in determination of prognosis of surgical patients, in previous studies; this system has demonstrated its efficacy in intraabdominal infections, acute pancreatitis, pritonitis and posthepatectomy.

According to the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) in induction of gastroduodenal diseases, and its high prevalence in Iran, it is important to have an available sensitive and easily used diagnostic method. Common methods used for H. pylori diagnosis are based on invasive and non invasive techniques. Among non invasive procedures, serologic tests are convenient choice. Here we evaluated the efficiency of ELISA and Indirect Immuno Fluorescence Assay (IFA) for H. Pylori diagnosis. Crude antigen, extracted from bacterial isolates of Iranian patients, was used for ELISA and intact bacteria were used in IFA.175 patients suffering 1from gastroduodenal diseases, who were referred to Shariati and Taleghani Hospitals in Tehran, were included. From each patient, two biopsies and 5 ml blood samples were collected.Rapid urease test, culture and direct smear with gram staining were performed on biopsies. These tests used as a gold standard. ELISA and IFA which were previously standardized were carried out on patient's serum.The sensitivity and specificity for ELISA were 93.2% and 95.4%, and for IFA method were 98.6% and 72.7% respectively. In addition the sensitivity of rapid urease test, culture and direct smear were 84.3%, 85%, 91.2% respectively.However, microbiologic methods have high specificity but each of them shows reduced sensitivity compared to serologic tests. Serologic methods are economical, easy and safety, to perform; therefore they can be employed in diagnois of H. pylori infection and also in epidemiological studies.

Splenic rupture is a very rare event which may occures in early pregnancy, during labor, after delivery or cesarean surgery. It is a rare and fatal complication. Approximately 5% of reported cases have involved the postpartum period. We report the case of 33 years-old woman of splenic rupture during the elective repeat cesarean surgery due to fundul pressure for delivery of fetus.