ACTA MEDICA IRANICA
Year:2000 | Volume:38 | Issue:3|Papers Count:14

Botulinum toxin A (BTA) inhibits presynaptic release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction and has reportedly been successful in the treatment of spastic disorders.To evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin on cerebral palsied children with spastic or mixed type of the disease, especially those patiens having spasticity as a cardinal symptom without joint contracture, we designed the following study. Ninety-one cases (55 of referred patients to pediatic Neurology outpatient clinics of children’s Medical Center) were given BTA injections in affected muscles of the lower limb. They were reevaluating 3 to 5 weeks and 3 months later for type of walking and range of affected joints’ movement. The study showed a clinically significant gait improvement in 71.2% of patients (P<0.0005) and also an overall increased range of motion in affected limbs after BTA injection (P<0.04). Side effects occurred only in two cases as transient generalized weakness, gent recurvatum and ptosis. Drug effectiveness was time-limited, lasting abot 3 months in all patients ( a golden time for rehabilitation therapists to improve the patients’ condition). Overall, BTA has improved both the type of walking as well as the range of joints motion in our patients. So its’ administration is suggested in cerebral palsied children if the spasticity is a major and disabling sign 

Enhanced oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus may contribute to the pathogenesis of diaetic complications. In this article, the stress oxidative generation has been studied in experimental diabetes by ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, a sensitive and simple method, and by other oxidative damage markers. The ferric reducing ability of plasma values as a total antioxidant capacity were significantly decreased at the 3th 4th weeks of stuy ( P<0.02), while the thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) levels in plasma wre increased at the 3rd and the 4 th weeks ( (P<0.05). the plasma carbonyl groups (PCG) were not affected, and total thiol groups (TG) were significantly decreased at the 4th week (P<0.02).In conclusion the present study suggests that hyperglycemia in diabetes leads to oxidative stress, as shown by ferric reducting ability of plasma assay. This method is rapid, simple and economic

The values of fourteen carbohydrates assimilation patterns were investigated for typical and atypical strains of Microsporum canis. Thiry eight strains of typical and twenty two strains of atypical Microsporum canis, Microsporum canis NCPF 352 and one Microsporum distortum were included in this study. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that despite limited variations within the pattern of carbohydrate utilization, no correlation. The results also revealed that erythritol and trehalose were best utilized for sporulation by the typical and atypical strains of Microsporum canis. Production of obundant macroconidia, microconidia and chlamydoconidia by use of erythritol and trehalose suggested that these two carbohydrates were effective in production of fluffly appearance in colonies examined. The Microsporum canis NCPF 352 strongly utilized glucose, mannitol and melibiose in addition to the two above-mentioned carbohydrates. Weak erythritol assimilation was observed by Microsporum distortum.Carbohydrate utilization pattern is unable to differentiate typical and atypical strains of Microsporum canis. But it could be regarded as a valuable aid for identification of Microsporum distortum as well as marker in epidemiological investigations.

When grown in monolayer culture at low density and with the addition of serum, cartilage cells dedifferentiate or are overgrown by fibroblast-like cells. The aim of this study was to optimize the cultivation of chondrocytes in monolayer culture and to slow down their transformation or their overgrowth by fibroblast-like cells. The interaction between chondrocytes and cartilage-specifc matrix is mediated largely by the β1 subfamily of integrin receptors. This interaction can be regulated or synergized by growth factors, such as IGF-I, which stimulates many chondrocyte functions.For this reason isolated chondrocytes of cartilage anlagen from 17- day old mouse embryos were grown on collagen type II-coated substrates with or without the addition of IGF-I (Insulin like Growth Factor-I) Using this model chondrocytes grown on collagen type II with or without IGF-I maintained their round phenotype until the end of cultivation. The neutral red assay revealed that chondrocytes cultivated on collagen type II in the presence of exogenous IGF-I, showed a significantly higher density of chondrocye adhesion from the beginnig of cultivation onwards in comparison to chondrocytes cultivated on collagen type II without IGF-I treatment. The cartilage-specific surface receptors (integrins of the β1- group) could also be demonstrated on the membrane of these cells. Chondrocytes cultivated on plastic with or without treatment with IGF-I, resulted in mixed cultures consisting of fibroblast-like cells and round chondrocytes as observed from the beginning of cultivation onwards. After a 3 to 5 culture period, flat fibroblast-like cells predominated.Hence, collagen type II and IGF-I prevent chondrocyte dedifferentiation to fibroblastike cells and this model allows a pure chondrocyte culture.

A middle-aged woman with the chief complaints of dysnea and chest pain was referred to our center. Chest X-rays and computed tomoram revealed a mass in the posteriof mediastinum, which was excised in toto. Pathologicat report of the specimen labeled it as normal thyroid tissue (aberrant thyroid).

Exploration of the interlead QT variation (QT dispersion) introduced cardiologists to some new concepts including the need to define a standard for lead selection in the measurement of QT interval and the reason or factors contributing to QT dispersion. However, still there dose not exist a generally acceptable standard for lead selection and the reason for the QT dispersion has not been given the importance it deserves. Only a few hypotheses have been suggested, none of which have been seriously experimented. Finding important factors causing QT dispersion can lead to a better understanding of its basics and more accurate usage of QT dispersion as an index in clinical practice. This paper examines the “Vector cancellation theory” on the basis that if “Vector cancellation” affects the QT interval duration in different leads, the nearest lead to the mean QRS axis must have the longest QT interval and vice versa. This was tested on the electrocardiograms taken from 34 people without cardiovascular problems. We came across a statistically significant inverse correlation between the QT interval in each limb lead and its angle to the ECG’s mean QRS axis. Thus this study gives weight to the vector cancellation theory. And as the nearest lead to the mean QRS Axis is likely to have the longest QT interval and given its practicality, it can be suggested as the standard lead for measuring QT interval in an electrocardiograph.

The effects of Zinc and Mercury on human erythrocyte Acetylcholinesterase activity were studied. Blood used in this study was obtained from 24 apparently healthy individuals and after hemolysation, was treated with 3 different concentrations of Zinc and Mercury. Significant suppressions in Acetylcholinesterase activity were recorded in treated samples by Zinc and Mercury. When compared to controls the remaining activity was found to be 53% with the highest concentration of Zinc (2.1 mg/dl, P<0.01), 72% with the middle (1.4 mg/dl, P<0.01 and 85% with the lowest one (0.7 mg/dl, P<0.01). In the case of mercury, the remaining activity was found to be 55% with the highest concentration (8.4 ng/g, P<0.01), 72% with the middle (5.6 ng/g, P<0.01) and 79% with the lowest one (2.8 ng/g, P<0.01). Mercury showed a good correlation between doses used and decreases in activity (R=0.98). Zinc also showed a linear correlation (R=0.99). The direct interaction of metal ions with Acetylcholinesterase is proposed as a mechanism for depressed enzyme activity. It is concluded that Zinc and Mercury contamination during Acetylcholinesterase measurement can be a source of error that must to taken into account.

Breast conservation surgery combined with radiation therapy is now an accepted option for the treatment of early breast cancer. So we decided to evaluate the results of such treatment in our first group of patients treated by this method. From 1992 to 1996 , one hundred patients with Stage I and II breast cancer treated with breast conservative surgery (lumpectomy or quadrantectomy). Were irradated at Tehran Cancer Institue and Marie Curie Clinic. In stage II the whole breast and the draining lymph-node areas, and in stage I only the breast were irradiated to 50 Gray (Gy) in 5 weeks using cobat 60. a bososter dose of 10 Gy was given at the primary tumor site by photons in 1 weeks. Thirty- eight percent of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Tomoxifen was given to 96% . with a mean and median follow-up time of more than 3 years, three local recurrences and eight distant metastases occurred. The estimated 5 –year recurrence-free survival rate was 92% and the metastasis-free survival rate was 81%. Seventy-seven percent were disease-free with preserved breast. Young patient and those with positive margins had a higher risk for local failure. Nodal metastasis and the omission of adjuvant tamoxifen increased the distant failure rate. Complications were rare, excep for mild telangiectasia in four patients. The cosmetic result was exccllent or good in 90% of patients and the only factor with a statistically significant effect on cosmetic result was the treatment of both tangential fields per day.

The term reflex epilepsy in reserved for a small subgroup o seizures that occur regularly in response to specific stimuli. Our patient is a 20- year old male, who had pleasure, euphoria, loss of conciousness and generalized tonic- clonic convulstion when he watched TV since ten years. During puberty the patient that self-induced reflex epilepsy with photic stimulation, when watching TV or looking at sun and with had moving in front of his eyes to produce flickers. The patient first had sex pleasure, euphoria, erection and ejaculation, and then developed loss of consiousness and generalized tonic- clonic seizure, that took about 4-5 min. what is more intersing is that he asked us for a kind of drug that controlled his generalized tonic-clonic seizures but not his pleasure and orgasm, and he said that he would refuse any drug interfered with his orgasm

Stage-specifci developmental forms of Lesihmania major promastigotes were grown in vitro. Procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes were cultured and separated by peanut agglutinin. The axenic amastigote form were prepared by culturing the promastigotes in acidic medium at 35C.These three forms of parasites were used as antigens to study cytokine production in whole blood culture of healthy individuals (no= 13) and early IFN-γ and LI-10 production were determined by specific sandwich ELISA. The results showed that logarithmic promastigotes were more potent to induce IFN-γ production than metacyclic and axenic amastlgotes parasites. In contrast, LI-10 production was significantly higher in supernatants of cells stimulated by the two infective forms. In addition, the adjuvant effect of BCG on cytokine production induced by these three types of promastigotes was studied. BCG showed augmenting effect on cytokine production, however three were still differences between logarithmic and the two other forms since logarithmic parasites still induced higher amount of IFN-γ and lower amount of LI-10 These results demonstrated that logarithmic promastigotes of L. major are more potent to induce T helper 1 response which might have implication in vaccine preparation

It has been well-established that common atrial flutter is due to intra-atrial macroreentry and its reentry circuit locates in the right atrium. This reentry circuit has been characterized to involve an area of slow conduction identifiable electrophysiologically at the low post-eroseptal right atrium and anatomical narrow isthmus surrounded by the inferior vena cava, coronary sinus ostium and tricuspid valve annulus. We performed radiofrequency catheter ablation for common atrial flutter using anatomical approach in one patient. In this report, we discuss the efficacy of catheter ablative therapy and its results in our patient

This study was conducted to determine whether precordial ST segment depression in admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with acute phase inferior myocardial infarction (MI) eligible for thrombolytic therapy and subsequent angiographic evaluation, influences the incidence of left anterior descending artery (LAD) disease. 31 consecutively admitted patients were entered in our study. 20 patients had precordial St segment depression (group A) and 11 patients were without ST segment depreesion (group B). After adjusting for baseline variables there was no significant difference in incidence of LAD and circumflex and 3 vessel disease between the two groups. Ejection fraction and wall motion abnormality were also identical. Group A had higher complication rate (P<0.05) than group B. right ventricular (RV), lateral and posterior MI that influence the degree of ST segment depression were meaningfully different between these groups. RV infarction was observed 63% in-group B and 35% in group A (P<0.05). Sum of lateral and posterior MI were 38% in group A and 9% in group B (P<0.05).

The effects of some histaminergic agents were evaluated on stress- induced immunosuppression in immunized nale rats. In rat immunized with sheep red blood cells ( SRBCs). Restraint stress (RS) prevented the booster-induced rise in anti-SRBC antibody titre and cell immunity response. Intracerebroventicular (I.C>V) injection of histamine (150 µg/rat) induced a similar effect with RS. Pretreatment with chlorpheniramine (50 µg/rat) reduced the inhibitory effect of Ras on immune function. Also histamine could inhibit the effect of RS on immune function. Also histamine could inhibitory the effect of chlorpheniramine when injected simultaneously. Pretreatment with ranidine (10 µg/rat) had not a significant effect. Serotonin (3 µg/rat) and dopamine (0.2 µg/rat) could reverse the effects of chlorpheniromine when injected with chlorpheniramine (P<0.05). Epinephrine (0.2 µg/rat) had not a significant effect. The results indicate that histamine mediates the immunosuppression of restraint stress by influencing the histamine H1 receptor in the brain and this effects of histamine may be modulated by serotoninergic and dopaminergic system.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoanibodies (ANCA) were detecte in patients with certain autoimmune vascular disease such as Wegner’s granulomatosis, polyarthrits nodosa and systemic luuc erythematous. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) technique was employed to detec these autoantibodies.ANCA have been recently detected in some forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (U.C). Crohn’s disease (C.D) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). By IIF method, two general patterns of ANCA were seen: a cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) and perinuclear form (P-ANCA). In this study we evaluated the presece of ANCA in 52 U.C. patients and 69 matched normal control group by IIF technique, and it’s relationship with disease activity. Site of colon involvement and, lesion extent. The results showed that all control group were ANCA negative, but 58% of patients had ANCA, and most cases (70%) had C- ANCA. The obtained results also revealed that there was no relationship between ANCA and disease activity