KOWSAR MEDICAL JOURNAL
Year:2003 | Volume:7 | Issue:part 4|Papers Count:17

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the most important components of Gram negative bacteria cell walls which form a hydrophobic unit (Lipid A) and a hydrophilic unit (polyssaccharide ). Extraction and purification of LPS is an essential step in determination of biochemical, pathophysiological and immunological properties. In the present report the LPS of Salmonella typhimurium PTCC 1735 was extracted and purified. The phenol-water solution method was used to extract the bacterial LPS. Proteins and nucleic acids were removed by means of pronase and nucleases and gel filteration. Crude LPS yield was about 1.8% of initial bacterial dry weight. after gel filteration the content of protein and nucleic acids in LPS preparations were calculated to be 0.2% and 0.5% respectively. Profiles of pure LPS by SDS-PAGE were demonstrated.

In the present study, tolerance and cross-tolerance between morphine and nicotine in mice for induction of conditioned place preference (CPP) have been investigated. Mice were treated subcutaneously with morphine (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) once daily for three days in order to produce tolerance to morphine and nicotine for induction of cpp. While injection of morphine (5 mg/kg; s.c.) and/or nicotine (1 mg/kg; i.p.) in normal animals produced significant CPP, in morphine tolerated mice neither drug was effective. Intraperitoneal adminstration of nicotine (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg) three times a day for a period of 12 days also induced tolerance. In conclusion, it can be suggested that nicotine and morphine use for induction of CPP have interactions with each other.

Epilepsy is a common neural abnormality. Many investigations on the role of antiepileptic agents using experimental model of epilepsy have been done. on the other hand, adenosine is a neuromodulator which exert anti epileptic effects via its A1 receptors. In this study effects of intra amygdala infusion of a selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist (N6-cyclohexyladenosine;CHA) and a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist (1,3-dimetyl-8-cyclopenthylxanthine; CPT) on hippocampal kindled seizure were investigated. All animals had a tripolar electrode implanted into the CA1 region of the hippocampus and a guide cannula attached to a monopolar electrode into the amygdala. One week after surgery, the animals were given by electrical stimulation of the CA1 region of the hippocampus to be kindled and prepared for drug injections. The drugs were dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Data showed that intra-amygdala injection of CHA (5nM-1mM; 1µ lit/2min) reduced hippocampal secondary afterdischarge duration and amygdala afterdischarge duration significantly. on the other hand intraamygdala infusion of CPT (0.5 and 1µM) had no significant effect on seizure parameters. Also, intra amygdala CPT pretreatment before CHA, inhibited the CHA effects. Therefore, it may be suggested that in hippocampal kindling, the amygdala has a relaying role in spreading afterdischarge especially in producing hippocampal reactivity and secondary afterdischarges and the activity of adenosine A1 receptors of the amygdala reduced this.

Many studies are done to show different drugs and compounds with contraceptive activity in male. In this study, we have examined the effect of nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone on testicular tissue and spermatogenesis in adult male rats, using histologic and histomorphometric methods. Test compounds were injected subcutaneously. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, in 15 mg/kg doses twice per day for 50 days. The rats were euthanized by decapitation, and thier testis were immediately fixed in 10% formalin. After subsequent preparation, the sections with 5 micrometer thickness were prepared and stained by the Hand E technique. By using software Live 3000 our histomeric studies were computed. The results were as follow: The diameter of seminiferous tubules reduced and the results were consistent with the reduction of circumference and areas of these tubules and subsequent increase in the intratubular space and distance. Atrophy and deformation of seminiferous tubules were seen, in the test groups. Increase in the number of Leydig cells, and reduction of nuclear volume were observed in Nitrofurazone group, but no changes were observed in nitrofurantoin group. Narrowing of tubules and thier blockade by eosinophilic masses were observed in the both experimental groups. Decrease in the number of the spermatogonium class cells within seminiferous were observed in the test groups and spermatogenesis up to the zygoten cells stage were inhibited due to the adminstration of the test compounds. Our finding show that Nitrofurantoin reduced the formation of spermatozoids but did not have adverse effect on Leydig and Sertoli cells, and these cells are remained nearly intact at the end of the experiment and therefore can be considered in the search for the development of a new male contraceptive agent.

Food allergy is responsible for most frequent allergic reactions in children under one year of age. Diagnostic tests such as skin test or specific IgE assay commonly need highly purified preparations of allergenic proteins. The aim of the present work was to purify three main proteins; casein, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin allergenic extracts. First, casein was isolated by isoelectric precipitation of skimmed fresh milk serum or whey. Purification of alpha-lactalbumin was based on fractionittion of whey proteins by ammonium sulphate and gel filtration on a Sephadex G-50 column. Beta-lactoglobulin was purified by polyethylene glycol fractionation of whey proteins and ion exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column. The isolated proteins were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel from fresh skimmed milk by hydrochloric acid were more soluble in weak alkaline water and purer than the other preparations. Purity of extracts in SDS-PAGE was estimated 95 percent. SDS-PAGE result of isolated alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin and reaction of these products with specific antibodies produced in immunized rabbits showed that they are highly pure. Electrophoretic pattern of purified alpha-lactalbumin or beta-lactoglobulin were composed of a -Singleband, in 14 or 18 KD respectively. In the present investigation three major milk proteins were highly purified. These products can be used in specific tests, i.e. skin test or ELISA.

Toxoplasmosis is an important congenital disease, which may have dangerous consequences for the fetus, following the affliction of mother during pregnancy. The affliction risk of the fetus is usually about 50%, which is closely related to the trimester when the mother is contaminated. The risk amount of contamination increases with the term of pregnancy, but at the same time, the intensity and severity of contamination is reduced. Fetus contamination varies from syndrom-free infection to very severe neurologic pathologies. Moreover, abortion may occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. In this study, 2761 samples of the blood from umblical cords (1651 samples on programmed basis and 1110 samples on random basis) of the newborns at the time of birth, as well as the blood of all the children were sampled and tested at periodic intervals, according to the research program. The mothers blood was tested using IFAT method, while IgM/ISAGA method was used to test the blood of umblical cords of the newborns, and finally IgM/ISAGA, IgM/IFA and TOTAL/IFA methods were used to test the toxoplasmic children. The results show that from 18 cases of pregnancy contaminated with the parasite, one case ended to abortion, and eight cases caused fetus contamination. From the samples of umblical cords which were collected randomly, four cases were reported to be positive from the viewpoint of toxoplasmosis antibody. one infant died and the other three were contaminated. The Newborns contamination varies from subclinical congenital toxoplasmosis to cases with complications such as retinochoroidities, purpura, convulsions, diplopia, mental retardation, etc.

Renal transplantation in patients with renal disease is an effective renal replacement therapy. The quality of life in renal transplanted patients is higher than those on hemodialysis in Iran. However, the higher risk of infection due to immuosuppressive therapy, especilally one year after renal transplantation can result in death or other complications. We conducted a prospective and cross-sectional study to evaluate the incidence of infection six months after renal transplantation on 287 recipients who have undergone renal transplantation in labbafinejad hospital from 1993 to 1997. Thirty-one patients who returned to dialysis status after graft failure or did not have regular follow up were excluded. one hundred and seventy nine cases (70%) were male and 77 patients (30%) were female. one or several infectious events occurred in 71%. Incidence of infection was higher among old patients (60-70yrs)whereas, young group (20-30 yrs) had lower incidence rates. Forty-one percent of infection episodes were seen in the first month and the rest were observed two to six months after renal transplantation. Infections seen 6 months after renal trasnsplantation included: urinary tract infection (62%), upper and lower respiratory tract infections (16.5%), mucocutaneous infections (4.2%) and the others (5.8%). The most common urinary pathegens were E coli (45%), pseudomonas (16%) and coagulase negative staphilococci, respectively. In conclusion, post renal transplant infection in six months after surgery was frequent and UTI was the most common cause of it. Thus, 6-12 months prophylactic antibioticctherapy is recommended to prevent UTI.

The efficacy and side effects of intranasal midazolam and oral ketamine for pediatric premedication was studied. In this double blind trial 102 children who scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to three different groups in order to receive intranasal midazolam (0.3mg/kg), oral ketamine (0.2mg/kg) or intranasal placebo (0.06ml/kg of normal saline ). We measured levels of acceptance of medication, sedation, hemodynamic variables, fear, cooperation, and reaction to separation from parents. The three groups were homogeneous. Total questionnaire scores and its subscales (sedation, reaction to separation from parents, fear and cooperation) were significantly higher in midazolam group and lower in placebo one. Considering the results of this study it seems that both midazolam and ketamine are useful and that midazolam is effective. It is also recommended that the efficacy of intranasal midazolam and ketamine to be compared as well.

Regular blood transfusions for patients with thalassemia major have improved their overall survival, but carry a definite risk of being infected with blood born viruses especially hepatitis B and C. Now a days,it has remained as main health concern about these patients. In this study we tried to define the prevalence rate of hepatitis B and C and survey the related risk factors among a group of thalassemic patients in Ghazvin-Iran. We followed up all of thalassemics in Ghazvin, Iran(103 cases) and could access to 96 patients who were enrolled. The initial data were recorded and the sera were tested for HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV Ab and anti- HIV Ab using ELISA second generation and confirmed by RIBA second generation. Then samples were tested to measure hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels. 23 patients (24.2%) were anti-HCV Ab positive. One patient (1.1%) was HBs Ag positive and there was no anti-HIV positive case. Patients age, and transfusion duration were significantly higher in anti-HCV seropositive patients (P=0.01, P=0.03 repectively). Furthermore, HCV prevalence rate has significantly d(opped after applying anti-HCV Ab screening in blood donors (33.3% vs. 0%, P=0.002), and there was no new infected case thereafter. There were no significant associations between anti-HCV Ab seropositivity and history of splenectomy, vaccination against HBV, Patient and family history of hepatitis, and transfusion intervals. The mean of hemoglobin did not differ between two groups, but anti-HCV Ab positive patients had higher serum ferritin compared with anti-HCV negative patients (P=0.007). Hepatitis C Prevalence rate is very high among thalassemics. Screening of blood donors seems to be able to decrease prevalence and incidence rate of HCY infection effectively. Furthermore, serum ferritin level seems to play a significant and independent role on liver injury in thalassemic patients.

A descriptive-analytic study performed on social-psychological factors affecting post-partum depression was done. In this study, the degrees of depression of 254 woman were measured through their responses to the Beck test and social-psychological factors were surveyed through a questionairre. Ages of subjects ranged from 15 to 38, having one to nine pregnancies and natural (Vaginal), cesarean, and apparatus deliveries. The subject resided in Karaj Iran. They had not immigrated during the past ten years, and there had been no cases of mental disorder among their immediate or second level relatives. Distribution tables (frequency, percentage) were used in the analysis of the date obtained and X-squared test was employed to determine whether a correlation exists between the variables. The result of the study show that there was no significant correlation (p=0.95) between the structural features of the subject, i.e. age, number of pregnancies, number of deliveries, number of children, occupation, studies and kind of delivery, and their degree of post-partum depression (except for the kind of delivery). The results showed no significant correlation between psychological factors, job satisfaction, the subjects relation with her mother in the childhood, and post-partum depression. However, there were significant correlations (p=0.95) between care post-partum morbidities, relation with the husband, relation with father in the childhood, and disappointing events in the past year, and post-partum depression. As to relationships between social factors and post-partum depression, it was found that no significant correlation (p=0.95) between satisfaction with relations with colleagues and degree of depression; between adequancy of income, relations with the husbands family, kind of relation with the subjects own family, and level of social relations, and degree of post-patrum depressions. Future research and means to decrease the incidence of this mental disorder.

In recent years, with raised possibility of terrorist activities in general, the likelihood of nuclear terrorism has also increased. As well, there is a potential of nuclear weapons which could be used through wars in different ways. Considering specifications of terrorist activities and nuclear weapons, the threat is no longer restricted to the battlefields, and therefore metropolitan areas are at a definite risk too. After such incidents, there will be a great number of radiation-exposed or contaminated casualties. In respect to limited military hospital resources, these patients cannot be handled appropriately without contribution of other nonmilitary hospitals and health care facilities. Preparation of the emergency ward of a general hospital should be done in a specific order, so that during management of casualties, there would be minimal risk of spreading of nuclear contamination into the hospital environment, and also minimal threat to the health of the caregivers.