Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:17 | Issue:2|Papers Count:14

Background & Aims: In regard to the importance of atropine and scopolamine as medicines with natural source, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of chloramphenicol as an inhibitor of protein synthesis on the alkaloids content of Datura stramonium.Method: After initial preparation of medicinal garden seeds, they were planted 50 cm apart in four different sections. Three different concentrations of chloramphenicol (100, 200 and 400 ppm) were sprayed on the plant once a week for a period of 18 weeks. Water was applied for the control group. Replicate samples were taken randomly every two weeks from each section. After extraction and separation of the samples, the quantitative analyses were carried out. The levels of atropine and scopolamine were determined using UV spectroscopy (13 CNMR, UV, IR, Mass).Results: The maximum levels of alkaloids were observed in young stems of the plants. The best result was obtained following applying the concentration of 200 ppm, which caused a significant increase in atropine and scopolamine levels in all parts of plant by 100% and 110% respectively in comparison with the control group (p<0.005).Conclusion: Increase in the availability of amino acids may lead to an increase of alkaloids production following protein inhibition synthesis.

Background & Aims: Despite 20 years of research, there is no compelling evidence about the effect of carnitine supplementation on improving physical performance in healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of long term consumption of acute L-carnitine L-tartarate (LCLT) on fat metabolism and aerobic capacity.Methods: A total of 28 healthy nonathlete male students received either L-carnitine L-tartarate or placebo (Lactose) for 3 weeks (3g orally, daily) in experimental and control groups. The subjects of both groups performed submaximal ergometery Astrand protocol on bicycle for 20 minutes before and after this supplementation period. Following each test, blood samples were drawn immediately to determine the concentrations of plasma free fatty acid (FFA), triglyceride (TG) and other metabolites. Resting and submaximal heart rates were monitored. The collected data of pre and post tests were evaluated by SPSS 13.0 software in the both groups.Results: No significant differences in FFA, TG and resting and exercise heart rates were found between pre and post tests in the both experimental and control groups.Conclusion: Three weeks LCLT supplementation has no effect on fat metabolism and aerobic capacity. Also, chronic intake of LCLT has no effect on substrate utilization or endurance performance in healthy individuals.

Background and Aims: This research is carried out with the aim of comparing anxiety, depression and global assessment of functioning between two groups of bipolar patients at mixed and manic episodes.Methods: Using an analytical cross-sectional approach, a sample of 94 patients with mean age of 32 years old (Standard Deviation: 11.3), who had been categorically diagnosed with bipolar disorder using DSM-IV criteria and admitted in Shahid Beheshti Mental Hospital of Kerman /Iran from autumn 2007 to summer 2008 were analysed. These patients were grouped under two categories of Manic episode (n=48) and Mixed episode (n=46). Hamilton’s Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Hamilton’s Anxiety Rating scale (HARS) tests were performed. Patients’ functionality were rated during their illness and for the period of 6 months before their infirmity using “Global Assessment of Functioning” (GAF) scoring system. Multiple logistic regression analysis, t-test, ANCOVA, MANOVA and Pearson Correlation coefficient were used for data analysis.Results: Mean Hamilton’s depression scores in mixed and mania groups had a significant difference (P<0.001) and mean Hamilton’s Anxiety score of Mania group was significantly higher than that of mixed group. Patients’ functionality rate at the time of admission was reduced considerably comparing to the 6 months prior to the admission in both groups but at admission the functionality of the tow groups did not have a significant difference.Conclusion: Both anxiety and depression in bipolar patients at mixed episode are higher than those in Patients at mania episode. Although the functionality of both of these groups reduces at the time of episode, there is no significant difference between these tow groups in their functionality rate.

Background & Aims: Diarrheal diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and toddlers in developing countries and Rotavirus is the single most important cause of severe infantile gastroenteritis worldwide. This study was conducted to estimate the frequency and clinical manifestations of rotavirus infection in children below 3 years old with acute gastroenteritis referred to Kerman Afzalipour Hospital in autumn 2008 in order to emphasize on infants’ vaccination against rotavirus.Methods: In this study, 118 stool specimens were examined with Gel Electrophoresis for rotavirus. Children less than 3 years old who had gastroenteritis with duration of less than 2 weeks were included into the study.Results: From 118 stool specimens, 24.6% (n=29) were positive for rotavirus. Mean age of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis was 14.4 months. Fifty percent of rotavirus infected children were male and 50% were female. Clinical manifestations of rotavirus infections were fever (65/5%), vomiting (65.5%), rinorrhea (24.1%), mild dehydration (46.4%), moderate dehydration (35.7%) and serve dehydration (17.9%). From all, 51.7% of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis were discharged, 17.3% were admitted in the Emergency room and 31% were hospitalized in the pediatric ward.Conclusion: Rotavirus is a major cause of acute dehydrating gastroenteritis in children in our region. A considerable percent of these children need primary care, visit in emergency room and admission in pediatric ward. Therefore, further studies to pursue the cost effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine comparing to direct and indirect expenses caused by rotavirus gastroenteritis seems to be necessary.

Background & Aims: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease .In the recent decades due to the increase of population age, the prevalence of osteoporosis has been increased. The most important complication of osteoporosis is bone fracture, especially in the hip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis, its mortality rate and direct treatment costs in patients over 45 years old referred to Kashan Naghavi hospital following hip fracture during 2005-2007.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 119 patients with hip fracture following minor trauma admitted during one year to Naghavi hospital in Kashan Iran. Demographic findings, types of fracture, costs of hospitalization, treatment and prosthesis were recorded in a questionnaire. BMD of lumbar spine & neck of femur was done with Osteocore II instrument by DXA method. Data analysis was done by SPSS 14.Results: Mean age of patients was 71/6±9/35 years. From all, 72/3% were female and 27/7% was male and 67/8% had fracture of neck of femur and 23/2% had intertrocanter fracture. In whole, 65% had osteoporosis. In 51.3%, it was in lumbar and in 23.5% it was in femur. Mean hospitalization period was 7.92±3.66 days. Mortality rate was 17/2%. Mean cost of hospitalization and treatment was 277 $ and mean cost of prosthesis for each person was 1670$.Conclusion: Osteoporosis is a predisposing factor for hip fracture in old patients after minor trauma. Since Hip fracture places a high cost burden on the healthcare system, wise programming for prevention of hip fracture seems to be highly necessary.

Background & Aims: Considering the higher incidence of cardiovascular disorders in diabetes mellitus and some evidence on antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of Tribulus terrestris (TT), this study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effect of 6-week oral administration of TT on contractile reactivity of isolated thoracic aorta in diabetic rats.Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into control, TT-treated control, diabetic, glibenclamide-treated, and TT-treated diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotcin (STZ) was administered (60 mg/Kg).Meanwhile, TT-treated groups received TT-mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 6.25% for 6 weeks. Serum glucose level was measured at weeks 3 and 6. Finally, contractile reactivity of thoracic aortic rings to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) was determined.Results: Serum glucose level at weeks 3 and 6 showed a significant decrease in TT-treated diabetic group (P<0.01 and P<0.005 respectively) compared to diabetics. In addition, TT-treated diabetic group showed a significant lower contraction to PE (P<0.05) as compared to diabetic group and such significant reduction was also observed for KCl (P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between control and TT-treated control groups regarding their contractile reactivity to KCl and PE.Conclusion: Oral administration of TT for 6 weeks could exert a hypoglycemic effect and also attenuates the contractile responsiveness of the vascular system and this may prevent the development of hypertension in diabetic rats.

Background & Aims: False memory is more prevalent among PTSD patients. This memory can be affected by group and intensifies the symptoms of the disorder. Psychological Debriefing (PD) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are widely used for the treatment of PTSD patients. The efficacy of these treatments is controversial.Method: A total of 219 PTSD patients were randomly selected and divided into three groups based on the received treatment type (EMDR, PD, control group). All groups were evaluated and compared by using Rodiger & McDremott False Memory Scale.Results: The EMDR group in comparison to the PD and control groups and the control group in comparison to the PD group showed lower rates of false memory (P<0.01).  h square showed that 21 percent of the variance of false memory could be explained by the type of received treatment.Conclusion: Considering lower level of false memory in EMDR group compared with other groups and the negative effects of false memory in identification of PTSD, EMDR is better than PD in the treatment of PTSD patients.

Background & Aims: It is believed that uterine septum, because of its effect on infertility and recurrent abortion is very important and pregnancy outcome is obviously improved by hysteroscopic metroplasty (HM). In this study, the probable relationship of uterine septum dimensions (length and width) with infertility and recurrent abortion has been investigated.Methods: This clinical trial was carried out from Jan. 2004 to Feb. 2007 on all patients referred to Ahwaz educational hospitals for evaluation of infertility and recurrent abortion and underwent hysterosalpingography (HSG). Patients with suspected uterine septum were referred to Imam Khomeyni Hospital and underwent simultaneous hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. After that hysteroscopic metroplasy was done. The participants were checked by new HSG after one month and were evaluated for pregnancy outcome after one year.Results: In whole, 50 patients (28 cases with infertility and 22 cases with recurrent abortion) were studied. In 62.5% septum width was equal or less than 3cm and in 48% length of septum occupied two thirds of uterine cavity and there was no significant difference between the tow groups in regard to septum's width and length. Rate of pregnancy occurrence was 71.4% in patients with infertility and 76.5% in patients with recurrent abortion and no significant difference was found between the two groups in this regard.Conclusion: According to the findings, it seems that septum dimensions (width and length) have no role in infertility and abortion. Therefore, resection of uterine septum regardless of its size is recommended. In patients with uterine septum who suffer from infertility and recurrent abortion, HM is an appropriate approach.

Background & aims: Lead poisoning is a global problem and considered to be the most important environmental disease in children. Exposure to even low amounts of lead is dangerous. Lead containing eye make ups due to the long time contact with skin and eye mucosa can lead to blood and eye symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of lead in powders of kohl in Kerman.Method: In this study, from 12 types of kohl in Kerman sale centers, 48 samples were prepared. After preparation, the lead content of samples has been measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometery.Results: Mean concentration of lead in measured samples was 254.5mg/g. Minimum and maximum concentrations of lead were 3.2mg/g and 1219.4mg/g, respectively. Totally, average lead concentrations of plant-base samples were lower than that of mineral-base ones.Conclusion: According to the results, high levels of lead in available Surmas in Kerman city requires some cultural measures for changing peoples’ attitudes toward using this cosmetics as eyeliner or revision in their formulation in order to remove lead or decrease it to the standard limit. Since use of Kohl is associated with increase of lead in blood and ocular problems, determination of blood lead concentration and ocular problems in consumer groups are highly recommended.

Unicystic ameloblastoma is a tumor of odontogenic origin. It is not a rare neoplasm and most often the lesion is asympthomatic. However, large lesions may cause painless swelling of the jaws. Here we report a case of unicystic ameloblastoma with pain, swelling of the posterior jaws along with teeth mobility. Samples of incisional biopsy of the lesion and also interaoperative frozen section were sent for pathology and for both samples pathology report was solid ameloblastoma. Due to observing a thick fibrotic wall during the operation, the surgeon decided to perform enucleation.Knowing histopathologic variations of odontogenic tumors and also knowledge about differential diagnosis and clinical and radiographic features can lead to appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Foodborne listeriosis is a rare and very dangerous disease which is caused by Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is found in the nature in very high population, but can cause disease only in certain groups of people. Listeriosis usually happens after consumption of unpasteurized dairy products especially soft and unripe cheeses and ready to eat meat products like hot dog by susceptible people. In general, pregnant women, infants, elderly people and immuno deficient patients are susceptible to this disease. Listeria monocytogenes is able to produce septicemia, meningitis and abortion in human. The important characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to live inside the cells of immune system and by this way, it is able to distribute through body easily. In order to prevent listeriosis, susceptible people should avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products and ready to eat meats.