KOWSAR MEDICAL JOURNAL
Year:2008 | Volume:13 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

Introduction: In the present study, the impotency of galanin receptors 2 (GalR2) in the inhibitory effect of LFS on perforant path kindling acquisition was investigated. Methods: Animals were kindled by perforant path stimulation in a rapid kindling manner (6 stimulations per day). LFS (0.1 ms pulses at 1 Hz, 600 pulses, and 50-150 µA) was applied immediately after termination each kindling stimulation. M871 (1.0 mM per site) a selective galanin receptor type 2 receptor (GalR2) antagonist, were daily microinjected into the dentate gyrus before starting the stimulation protocol and behavioral seizure stages and afterdischarge durations were recorded. The expression of GalR2 in the dentate gyrus of different groups of animals was also compared using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Intra-dentate gyrus microinjection of M871 significantly prevents the inhibitory effect of LFS on kindling acquisition. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that after kindling acquisition, the GalR2 mRNA level decreased in the dentate gyrus but application of LFS prevented this decrease. Conclusion: According to these data it may be suggested that activation of galanin receptors by endogenous galanin has an important role in mediating part of the inhibitory effects of LFS on perforant path kindled seizures. This role is mainly exerted through GalR1 during focal- and through GalR2 during generalized-kindled seizures.

Introduction: Extended exposure to low levels of lead causes high blood pressure in human and laboratory animals. The mechanism is not completely recognized, but it is relatively implicated with generation of free radicals, oxidant agents such as ROS and decrease of available nitric oxide (NO). In this study, we have demonstrated the effect of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant on nitric oxide metabolites and systolic blood pressure in rats exposed to low levels of lead.Materials and Methods: The adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-250g were divided into four groups: control, lead acetate (receiving 100ppm lead acetate in drinking water), lead acetate plus ascorbic acid (receiving 100ppm lead acetate and 1g/lit ascorbic acid in drinking water) and ascorbic acid (receiving 1g/lit ascorbic acid in drinking water) groups. The animals were anaesthetized with Ketamin/Xylazine (50 and 7 mg/kg respectively ip) and systolic blood pressure was then measured from the tail of the animals by sphygmomanometer. Nitric oxide levels in serum were measured indirectly by evaluation of its stable metabolites (total nitrite and nitrate (NOx)) using spectrophotometric method of Griess reaction. Results: After 8 and 12 weeks, systolic blood pressure in lead acetate group was significantly elevated compared to the control group. Ascorbic acid supplementation could prevent the systolic blood pressure rise in lead acetate plus ascorbic acid group and there was no significant difference relative to the control group. The serum NOx levels in lead acetate group significantly decreased in relation with the control group, but this reduction was not significantly different between lead acetate plus ascorbic acid group and the control group.Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that ascorbic acid as an antioxidant prevents the lead induced hypertension. This effect can be medicated by inhibition of NOx oxidation and thereby increasing available NO.

Background and Aim: In recent years, fungal systematic infections due to pathogenic yeast have been considered as the most important causes of dead. Current antifungal therapies using routine antifungal drugs have not completely effective, in last decade, different formulations of combined antifungals have tested against some pathogenic fungi which shown good synergistic effects. Materials and Methods: In present work, antifungal effects of Allium cepa and some azoles e.g.fluconazole (Flu). Itraconazole (It) and ketoconazole (Kcz) were studied in intact forms and also in combinations to each other against some pathogenic yeasts including Candida albicans PTCC5057,Candida dubliniensis CD36,Cryptococcus neoformance CNE1 and Malassezia furfur MF1,invitro. The microdilution method was used for assessing antifungal susceptibility of above-mentioned compouneds in two culture media sabouraud dextrose broth (for all fungi except M.furfur) and modified Dixon broth (for only M.furfur). MIC and MFC values were calculated for each compound based on comparing colony counts of test and control samples. Findings: On the basis of obtained results, Allium cepa and azoles were inhibited the growth of all fungi tested in a dose-dependent manner. MIC ranges of Allium cepa, in combination with Flu, It and Kcz for C.albicans (0.25-32, 0.25-32, 0.25-16 mg/ml), Candida dubliniensis (0.25-32, 0.25-8, 0.125-4 mg/ml), C. neoformance (0.125-32, 0. 25-32, 0.125-16 mg/ml) and M. furfur (0.25-8, 0.125-1, 0.06-1 mg/ml) were obtained, respectively. The compounds showed higher antifungal activities in all combined formulations as compared with their alone forms (P<0.05).Results: Our results showed that Allium cepa is more effective than Flu on Candida albicans.Allium cepa and Flu have a same effect on Mallassezia furfur, but Flu and Allium cepa more effective than Allium cepa on Candida dubliniensis and Cryptococcus. neoformance. Also Allim cepa is more effective than it and Kcz on all yeasts. Allium cepa in combinations to azoles is the most effective on Malassezia furfur.

Objective: Rapid identification of important pathogenic candida fungi species by one round of PCR and evaluation of frequencies of them in acute candidiasis. Materials and methods: Four isolated and standard candida species were prepared first and after phenotyping, DNA extraction was performed on these samples. PCR was also optimized using a specific pair of primers on the CHS1 gene to obtain different fragments of the candida species. Sixty samples from patients with acute candidiasis were obtained. All of procedures were performed for clinical specimens. Results: The results of genotyping of 60 samples were as follows: 48 cases for C. Albicans, 4 cases for C. tropicalis, 2 cases for were C. Parapsilosis and 1 case for C. Glabrata. Only 5 out of 60 samples didn’t amplify in PCR and the phenotyping study showed that 3 samples of them were C. Krusei and 2 remaining samples might be another species of candida such as C. Dubliniensisc.Conclusion: The most fungal infection has emerged from candida species. Rapid detection of these species is important in the clinical laboratories. In this study 83.3% of samples with acute candidiasis were well-recognized with one round PCR which the candida albicans has consisted 80% of the samples. Before treatment with drugs, screening the candidiasis samples with the rapid mentioned procedure is recommended by this study to do in any clinical centre. For identification of the rare pathogenic candidiasis, the conventional phenotypic methods could be used. The more comprehensive study with more samples could be able to demonstrate importance of this procedure.

Introduction: Among late disorders of mustard gas, respiratory problems especially chronic bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis are the greatest causes of long-term disability. Colchicine has anti-inflammatory effects and also indication of usage in pulmonary fibrosis. According to these and note to the effect of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis, the therapeutic effects of Cochicine and the role of oxidative stress in its mechanism have been studied.Material and methods: One group of mice that had inhaled SM one month ego was treated by Colchicine. After sacrificing and sampling, biochemical indexes of chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis of experimental group, compared with positive and negative control groups.Results: significant decrease was seen in alveolar space percentage, serum vitamin C, Catalase and increase in hydroxylproline concentration, lymphocyte infiltration and serum H2O2 in positive control group in comparison with negative control. Vitamin C and Catalase increase and hydroxylproline concentration, lymphocyte infiltration and serum H2O2 decrease in experimental group in comparison with positive control group.Conclusion: Colchicine has therapeutic effects on delayed lung complications of SM injury and diminishing the oxidative stress can be one of mechanisms of this drugs.

Introduction: Sulfur mustard is one of the chemical agents’ causes long-term dermatologic complications and pruritic lesions in exposed veterans. This chemical agent also can affect immunologic system of exposed persons and compromised it. This survey was design to evaluate impact of sulfur mustard on T helper and T cytotoxic percent and its correlation with pruritus.Materials&Methods: At this cohort 36 sulfur mustard exposed male veterans after 20 years and 26 male patients with pruritic lesions without sulfur mustard exposure were enrolled randomly. Evaluation of itching was done with pruritus score. Assessment of T helper and T cytotoxic were done with fluocytometric monoclonal antibody; antiCD3, anti CD4 and anti CD8.Results: There are no significant differences between means of T helper and T cytotoxic at both groups (P=0.925, P=0.816).There is no correlation between severity of pruritus and CD4/CD8 ratio at both groups (P=0.920, P=0.977).Conclusion: CD markers associated with T helper and T cytotoxic lymphocyte in chemical injured veterans exposed to sulfur mustard after 20 years that have dermatologic complications is similar to patients with non chemical pruritus and percent and proportion of CD4 and CD8 have no impact on severity of pruritus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain an objective standard for distinguishing the relation between patients' skin symptoms and the history of exposure to mustard gas.Materials and methods: In this Analytic Cross-Sectional study, the amount of skin erythema and melanin in both palms, both dorsal of hands, forehead, and suprasternum of the total population of 309 person (87 patients with skin lesions caused by sulfur mustard [group 1], 71 patients exposed to sulfur mustard without skin lesions [group 2], 77 patients with pruritus and xerosis unexposed to sulfur mustard [group 3] and 74 normal individuals [group 4]) was measured by Mexameter MX18 probe. The achieved data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal wallis, ANOVA and T test, and SPSS software.Results: In group 1, level of erythema at dorsal of the left hand, suprasternum and the palm of the right hand was significantly less than group 2, and the erythema at suprasternum and the palms of both hands was significantly less than group 3. Also the amount of melanin at the dorsal of both hands and forehead was significantly more than group 4. In group 2, the levels of erythema and melanin at dorsal of both hands and the level of melanin at forehead were significantly more than group 4. In group 3, the amount of erythema and melanin at the dorsal of both hands, the level of melanin at forehead and suprasternum, and the level of erythema at the palm of the right hand were significantly more than group 4. In the whole studied society, the amount of melanin at suprasternum was significantly decreased by increasing of the age.Conclusion: This study can not define an objective standard for distinguishing the relation between patient's skin symptoms and the history of exposure to sulfur mustard. There are variations at levels of erythema and melanin in the skin of studied areas, and these variations are significant in comparison with normal population (Group 4), but not with patients with skin problem not related to sulfur mustard (Group 3). More studies are needed, regarding other factors such as occuption.

Background: Febrile seizure is the most common form of childhood seizures. The purpose of this study was to determine febrile and afebrile seizure recurrence frequency and its, relationship with paraclinical findings of first febrile seizure attack.Methods: In a descriptive prospective study, 139 children with first febrile seizure admitted between March 2004 to August 2005 evaluated from view of seizure recurrence and its, relationship with serum levels of sodium, potassium, glucose, calcium, hemoglobin, WBC count and MCV.Findings: 76 boys and 63 girls with mean age of 2.03±1.21 year followed up for 25.1±5.5 months. Type of febrile seizure was complex in 33% of children. 37.4 % had febrile seizure recurrence with mean survival recurrence rate of 6.7±5.9 months, among whom 88 % occurred in first year and no recurrence was seen after two years. 6.4 % of them had later afebrile seizure with mean survival recurrence rate of 7.8±9.4 months. Age of less than one year and lower hemoglobin level were associated with an increased recurrence of statistically significant febrile seizure risk.Conclusion: In this study, anemia was one of febrile seizure recurrence risk factors. Therefore seizure recurrence may decrease via treatment and prophylaxis of anemia.

Background: Introducing pain as the fifth vital sign by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations underscores the significance of better choosing the optimal pain relieving technique for one of the most severe types of pain a woman will endure in her lifetime, labor, which is still a matter of debate.in this study we Compare the pain relieving and sedating capabilities and complications of epidural and spinal analgesia in vaginal delivery.Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 75 healthy primiparous, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I candidates of vaginal delivery were included consecutively. Mothers were allocated to 3 equal-sized groups receiving spinal or epidural analgesia and a control group. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Ramsay scale and Modified Bromage scale (MBS) were used to quantify pain, sedation and lower-limb motor block respectively. Nausea, vomiting, itching, hypotension, urinary retention, headache and backache, also necessity of the cesarean section or instrumentation and duration of the active and second stage of delivery were registered.Results: Spinal and epidural analgesia were statistically similar according to their pain relieving and sedating capabilities. There were also no differences between the probabilities of complications except for higher incidence of itching for spinal analgesia (p< 0.001). Contrary to the active stage of delivery, second stage of delivery were longer in epidural analgesia than in spinal analgesia and control (p= 0.009). Conclusion: epidural analgesia increases the rate of instrumentation and duration of the second stage of delivery while having the same sedating and pain relieving capability comparing with spinal analgesia.

Introduction: The auditory neuropathy is a disorder characterized by no or severely impaired brainstem responses in presence of cochlear hair cells functions preservation. Speech perception ability of these patients is disproportionate with their hearing sensitivity that results from impairment of temporal processing of auditory stimulus and auditory nerve dys-synchrony. Case Report: The patients were two 19 and 20 years old young women with no history of hearing loss, speech and language difficulties and hereditary or chronic diseases in their family. The auditory neuropathy in these patients was confirmed based on behavioral, electroacoustic and auditory evoked potentials tests. The neurologic, visual and somatosensory evaluations show no sensory and/or motor accompanying problems despite of several years after beginning of disorder. The result of MRI was normal too. Conclusion: According to all evaluations that reveal remarkable loss of speech perception because of eight nerve impairment without other accompanying neurologic disorders, these patients may be considered as two rare cases of pure auditory neuropathy.