KOWSAR MEDICAL JOURNAL
Year:2011 | Volume:15 | Issue:4|Papers Count:11

Aims: Type A influenza subtype H9N2 virus is widespread among domestic poultry. These viruses were recently isolated from human beings in some countries and in several cases mortality has been reported. Since these viruses are prevalent in henhouses of our country and possibility of their transmission to the staff, this study aimed to determine the titer of the specific antibody against H9N2 influenza virus in serum sample of henhouse staff in Azerbaijan-Sharghi province.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 96 henhouse employees who were selected by census sampling method in Azerbaijan-Sharghi province in year 2008. The titer of specific antibody against H9N2 influenza virus was determined by hemagglutination-inhibition test. Hemagglutination-inhibition titers Equal to or more than 1:40 were considered as positive.Results: Hemagglutination-inhibition assay in 79 cases (82%) indicated negative result and 17 cases (18%) of them indicated positive result.Conclusion: Although in this study specific antibody titer against H9N2 influenza virus is not significantly high, the results confirmed that a previous infection with H9N2 had occurred in the studied employees. However, it is recommended that for prevention of serious mutations outbreaks, the henhouse employees asked to follow and obey sanitary rules against Type A influenza subtype H9N2 infection.

Aims: Previous investigations have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of aqueous-ethanol extract of saffron on formalin induced pain in small male mice. Since there is difference between ethanol and aqueous-ethanol extract of saffron, this study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of ethanol saffron extract on acute and chronic pain in small male mice.Materials & Methods: This experimental study was performed on male NMRI mice which weighed 20-25 grams (6 in each test). Drugs were administered 30 minutes before 2% formalin solution injection. Then the animals were evaluated for 60 minutes in 5 minutes intervals. Inflammation was investigated in minute 25 by Mercury immersion method. Data were analyzed with one way variance analysis and Tukey's test by SPSS 9.01 software.Results: Ethanol saffron extract showed anti-nociceptive effect in 5 mg/kg dose for acute phase and in 10 mg/kg dose for chronic phase. Naloxane, Dextromethorphan and L-NAME inhibited the extract action in acute phase as well as chronic phase. Safranal showed anti-nociceptive effect in acute phase and Crocin in chronic phase.Saffron extract with dose of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg controlled inflammation 30%, 66% and 80% respectively, but Safranal and Crocin didn’t show a similar effect.Conclusion: Ethanol extract of C sativus exerts its effect on the acute phase of formalin test, which is possibly caused by Safranal. Probable stimulation of opioid, NMDA glutamatergic and nitric oxide dependent pathways leads to pain inhibition in acute and chronic phases.

Aims: Current therapies against Helicobacter pylori infection, which is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, are performed by antibiotic use. Due to increase of antibiotic resistance and difficulty and cost of treatment, new approaches have focused on using specific antibodies. Accordingly, efficiency of antibodies specific to H. pylori urease has been demonstrated. Considering the longtime benefit and efficacy of DNA vaccination, this study was designed on order to use DNA vaccination for generation of egg yolk immunoglobulin against UreC subunit of H. pylori urease.Materials & Methods: H. pylori ureC gene was cloned into eukaryotic pCI expression vector. Recombinant pCI-ureC plasmid, amplified in E. coli host were purified and used for genetic immunization of chickens. IgY recovered from egg yolk, using Poly Ethylene Glycol precipitation and analyzed by indirect ELISA and urease test.Results: Using DNA vaccination, specific and biologically active IgY antibodies were produced and extracted, which based on ELISA results is able to detect UreC subunit of urease.Conclusion: DNA immunization can be used as a productive and economic method to generate efficient antiurease antibodies for therapeutic proposes.

Aims: The most important cause of urinary tract infection is Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) which produces type I pili. UPEC has intracellular duplication after invasion to bladder epithelial cells; therefore, cellular immunity is important in this case. This study was performed in order to design a gene cassette inducing cellular immune system against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.Materials & Methods: At first, fimH gene was amplified by PCR. PCR product was inserted to pcDNA.1 eukaryotic expression vector and the recombinant vector was confirmed by sequencing. The clone was inserted into COS7 cell and then assessed by RT-PCR in order to evaluate gene expression and the correct function of the gene cassette. Gene expression at mRNA level was evaluated by florescence microscope.Results: fimH gene was well amplified by PCR. PCR product was inserted to pcDNA.1 eukaryotic expression vector and pcDNA/fimH gene cassette was constructed. COS7 cells were transfected in order to evaluate the correct function of this cassette. Expression of fimH gene in COS7 was confirmed by RT-PCR.Conclusion: pcDNA/fimH cassette could express inserted fimH gene in eukaryotic cells and is a valuable DNA cassette for urinary tract infection vaccination.

Aims: Vegetable phenols can act as potent antioxidants. Silybum marianum has abundant amount of phenols which their interaction with estrogenic receptors has also been reported. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the role of estrogenic receptors and oxidative stress in protective effect of aqueous extract of Silybum marianum in hemiparkinsonian rats.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 60 male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups including control, extract-treated control, extract and fulvestrant (estrogenic receptors antagonist) treated control, lesioned, extract-treated lesioned and extract and fulvestrant-treated lesioned groups. Two weeks after stereotaxic surgery, the animals were tested for rotational behavior by apomorphine, the number of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC), the concentration of malondialdehyde and amount and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA, T-test and Tukey’s post-test by SPSS 13.Results: In the lesioned group, apomorphine caused a significant contra-lateral turning and reduction in the number of neurons on the left side of SNC (p<0.0001). Aqueous extract of Silybum marianum caused a significant reduction in contra-lateral turning (p<0.05) and reduced of the number of neurons on the left side of SNC in lesioned group (p<0.05) and caused a reduction in malondialdehyde production and increased the activity level of SOD (p<0.05, p<0.01). Fulvestrant decreased the protective effect of extract on rotation behavior, the number of SNC and biochemical factors in brain tissue (p<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that the protective effect of Silybum marianum extract against 6-hydroxydopamine is partially mediated by reduction of oxidative stress and also through estrogenic pathway.

Aims: Although the prognosis of advanced ischemic heart disease is poor, coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricle dysfunction remains controversial. This study was performed with the aim of evaluation and comparison of the surgery results and survival in these patients, regarding left ventricular function and the dysfunction degree.Materials & Methods: This retrograde cohort study was performed on 1024 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft in one of Tehran's hospitals from February of 2003 to February of 2007. Patients were divided into two groups with or without left ventricular ejection fraction lower than or equal to 35%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical indices and Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis SPSS 17 software.Results: One year survival rate was 90.1% for group who suffered from severe left ventricle dysfunction and 99% for the group without left ventricle dysfunction and there was no significant difference between two groups. The hospital mortality rate was 1.4%. Age, left ventricle dysfunction, renal failure, hypertension and NYHA III & IV functional classes had great impact on patient survival but effects were not significantly different between two groups.Conclusion: Coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed safely on patients who suffer from severe left ventricular dysfunction, with a good short-term survival. Although adverse cardiac outcome and mortality rate is higher, it seems to have potential treatment benefits for patients.

Aims: Anesthesia duration is a risk factor of mortality and complications related to anesthesia. Metabolic acidosis is formed in patients who undergo inhalational anesthesia and has shown correlation with anesthesia duration. This study was performed in order to assess the acid-base disturbance prevalence and its related factors in total intravenous anesthesia.Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 69 patients selected by random sampling method, who referred to one of Tehran’s hospitals for elective surgery in year 2009. They were studied in 3 groups of Head and Neck surgery, extremities and abdominal surgery group. Continuous Propofol and Remifentanil infusion was used for anesthesia and acid-base status was measured. Data was analyzed using Chi square, variance analysis, repeated measurements and dependent t-test by SPSS 11.5 software.Results: Metabolic acidosis was significantly correlated with anesthesia duration. The prevalence of acidosis in Head and Neck group was greater than the two other groups. There was no significant relationship between acidosis and core body temperature changes and type and volume of injected intravenous fluids. There was no significant relationship between acidosis requiring treatment and site of surgery and anesthesia duration.Conclusion: Metabolic acidosis prevalence requiring treatment in total intravenous anesthesia is 3% and using total intravenous anesthesia including Propofol and Remifentanil in long duration anesthesia is recommended in order to reduce metabolic acidosis related complications.

Aims: Ischemic preconditioning is a powerful physiological process in which previous exposure to transient cardiac ischemia provides protection against lethal ischemia. Several pharmacological agents can induce the same effects as this process, including drugs used in anesthesia that one of them is Remifentanil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Remifentanil preconditioning on coronary artery bypass graft patients.Materials & Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial which was performed on 54 patients, Scheduled for elective CABG surgery in year 2009. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The Remifentanil group received Remifentanil and the control group received normal saline. Then 5 samples were taken from patients at pre-induction, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after the release of aortic cross clamp in order to measure cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Postoperative inotropic use in ICU, length of ICU admission and hospital stay were recorded.Data was analyzed using inferential statistical tests including exact Fisher, Chi square, multiple measurements and independent t-test, by SPSS 14 software.Results: There was no significant statistical difference between troponin I level, inotorpe use, and hospital and ICU lengths of stay between the two groups.Conclusion: The protective effect of Remifentanil on myocardium was not proved in this study. Further studies with higher sample volume are necessary for definite confirmation.

Aims: Hearing loss is the commonest type of sensory loss in children. Recent studies have confirmed the desirable effect of early cochlear implant on auditory and lingual skills. This study was performed in order to compare auditory and speech ability after cochlear implant surgery in <2 years old children and children aged between 2-4 years.Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 210 pre-lingually deaf children, including 85 under 2 years old children and 121 children aged between 2-4 in year 2009 in Baqiyatallah cochlear implant centre. All samples underwent surgery in the same center and were evaluated before implantation and 12 months after the device was switched on. Hearing ability was evaluated by means of Categories of Auditory Perception Scale (CAP) and speech ability was assessed by Speech Intelligibility Ratings (SIR). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test by SPSS 16 software.Results: The mean CAP score after surgery for age group under 2 years was 5.14±0.38, and in age group 2<years old was 4.38±0.21, which was significantly higher in the first group (p=0.01). SIR results didn’t show significant difference between two groups.Conclusion: In consistence with other recent studies, this study demonstrates that better auditory outcome can be achieved when cochlear implantations is performed in younger age. Noticing that complications are rare and equal in both groups, performing cochlear implantation before 2 years of age is recommended.

Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of important malignancies in the world and is the most frequent gastrointestinal cancer. There is limited data on epidemiologic features and related factors of this malignancy in Iran.The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic features and survival analysis of colorectal cancer and some of its related factors in Iran.Materials & Methods: This case series descriptive study was performed on 241 colorectal cancer patients who referred to a hospital in Tehran from 2004 to 2009. Data collection was based on medical records and phone calls. Survival analyses were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox-regression methods in order to determine the survival and compare the survival rates in subgroups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 15 software.Results: Mean age of participants was 59.7±14.7 years, 22.4% were smoker and 24.5% had family history of CRC. Rectum cancer was the most common anatomic site of CRC and cancer grading reported well differentiation in most cases. 83.8% of study units were alive till the end of study. The mean survival time was 56.5±1.9 months. The lowest and highest mean survival time were 47.7±5.8 for secum cancer and 61.1±3.2 for non smokers respectively. The highest odds ratio of survival was 2.12 (95% CI: 0.28-15.87) and belonged to patients with rectum cancer.Conclusion: The mean survival time for CRC is about 5 years and depends on some risk factors. Evaluation of these risk factors seems to be necessary in lower ages.