Koomesh
Year:2008 | Volume:10 | Issue:1 (29)|Papers Count:13

Introduction: Considering the importance of serum paraoxonase (PON1) in preventing from production of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and consequently, its role in prohibiting from development of atherosclerosis, we investigated paraoxonase and arylesterase activities of PON1 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and with different coronary stenosis.Materials and Methods: In the present study, 120 patients with CAD were examined and their stenosis documented by coronary angiography. Then, the patients were divided into two groups: 60 patients with less than 50% of stenosis and 60 patients with more than 70% of stenosis. Paraoxonase and arylesterase activity was measured with substrates of paraoxon and phenylacetate, respectively.The effects of eight drugs, which are prescribed in cardiovascular diseases, were assayed on paraoxonase activity.Results: There were no significant differences in LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels between two groups, but HDL levels in patients with >70% of stenosis were significantly decreased as compared with those of patients who had <50% of stenosis (P<0.03). Both paraoxonase and arylesterase activity in patients with >70% of stenosis were significantly lower (P<0.05) than patients with<50% of stenosis.Conclusion: Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities of PON1 and HDL levels in patients with >70% of stenosis were lower than patients with <50% of stenosis. In other words, the PON1 activities and HDL levels decrease with progression of atheroma. Therefore, the study might support the important role of HDL-bound PON1 in preventing from formation of ox-LDL and its anti-atherogenic activity.

Introduction: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be accompanied by serious long-term sequel such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. One of the transmission routes of HCV is by blood or blood products transfusion. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HCV among blood donors and their motivation for blood donation in Shiraz Blood Transfusion Organization in 2007.Materials and Methods: This case control study was performed on the blood donors who attended for blood donation in Shiraz blood transfusion center between January 2007 and January 2008. A number of 150 donors with HCV infection, documented serologically with ELISA and RIBA test, were considered as cases and 300 donors with negative result for HCV in the screening tests were defined as controls. A questionnaire including the flowing three sections was prepared: 1- demographic status 2- motivation for blood donation 3- risk factors. Samples were randomly selected from blood donors. They were invited to enroll the study and filled up the questionnaires.Results: Between Jan 2007 and Jan 2008, a total number of 93987 persons presented for blood donation to the department, of which 203 had a positive result for HCV test. Therefore, the prevalence of HCV was 0.21 % among the blood donors. 10.5 % of these donors had a positive result for HIV test as well; however, none of them were positive for HBV infection. HCV infection was more prevalent in male, married, first-time and low educated blood donors (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in their average ages (P>0.05). The motivation of control was more for altruistic reason and in case group was more for positive effect on their health and check up. The transmission risk of HCV infection was greater in blood donors who had a previous history of IV drug abuse in compared with those were not drug addict (OR=62.7). In addition, the transmission risk of HCV infection was greater in blood donors who had unsafe sexual contact compared to those had never sex before (OR=11.7).Discussion: In this study, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection was 0.21% that it was lower than other studies in other countries. This might be due to a lower prevalence of HCV infection in our general population, a lower prevalence of HCV in the blood donors or due to a better donor selection.In addition, the main risk factor of hepatitis C in the study was IV drug abuse, which is similar to other studies.

Introduction: The study was performed to investigate the dependency of the wedge factors (WF) of a linac internal wedge with the depth and field size for 6MV photon beams. In addition, the current study was performed in order to accurate determination of the WF to introduce an algorithm to be incorporated it in treatment planning to decrease the level of systematic error due to this factor in clinical applications.Materials: An Elekta linac head structure with and without the internal wedge was precisely simulated based on the data provided by the manufacturer using MCNP 4C Monte Carlo code. The simulated linac was then benchmarked against the experimental measurement. Thereafter, a mini - phantom was simulated using the same Monte Carlo code. Then, the relevant linac wedge factors due to the internal wedge were determined for different symmetric field sizes of 4, 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm2 at various depths ranged from 0.5 to 34cm, while the mini phantom was present in the fields. The wedge factors were determined based on the values, which are measured at 100cm SAD and 10 cm depth for each field size. Linear trend lines were fitted on the set of depth dependent wedge factors for each of the field sizes. Then the trend lines’ constants were analyzed for investigating their field size dependency.Results: Results indicated that the wedge factor is dependent on the depth for each field size. In addition, it was noted that the level of the wedge factor dependency on the depth varies for different field sizes. For example the wedge factor calculated at a depth of 10 cm had a variation of %7.4 when the field size varied from 4 to 20 cm2 symmetric square fields.Conclusion: In this study, a more accurate algorithm was determined that it can be used instead of the usual wedge factor look-up tables used for MU calculation in radiotherapy planning. The variation of the photon beam due to these circumstances can be determined accurately using Monte Carlo method and the proposed algorithm. This algorithm enables us to reduce the level of possible systematic errors encountered in clinical practices.

Introduction: The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on neuropathic pain are not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSC) in the effects of corticosterone on neuropathic pain behaviors in CCI model in rats.Materials and Methods: Male adult Wistar rats (200-300 gram) were used in this study. Chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI) was produced in the animals by loosely ligating in their common sciatic nerve. Two weeks after inducing CCI, the effects of corticosterone (15 mg/kg) on neuropathic pain behaviors were examined in the presence or absence of verapmil, a blocker of L-VSC channels, at the dose of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg. Behavioral pain responses including thermal hyperalgesia and thermal and mechanical allodynia, were studied using standard procedures.Results: Our findings indicated that peripheral administration of corticosterone suppresses both hyperalgeisa and allodynia. Verapmil pretreatment attenuated the effects of corticosterone on both thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. In addition, the administration of verapmil alone and at high dose suppressed both thermal allodynia, and mechanical allodynia.Conclusion: These findings showed that inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on neuropathic pain behaviors, at least in part, might mediate through L-type VSC channels. Our findings suggest a potential role for glucocorticoid receptors agonist in combination of L-type VSC channels antagonists in the clinical management of neuropathic pain.

Introduction: The umbilical cord is an important site for bacterial colonization. Several agents have been used for umbilical neonatal cord care, and some of them have established bad effects for neonate.In respect to no clinical trial study about human milk effects on bacterial colonization in umbilical cord, we decided to compare the effect of topical application of breast milk and dry cord care on bacterial colonization and cord separation time in neonates.Materials and Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial which was done at Omolbanin hospital in Mashhad (Iran) in 2006. 118 neonates with 38-42 weeks gestational age, singleton and with ought congenital anomaly were chosen in base of interview and registration information from mother and her neonate, and they divided in two groups, Mother's milk for group 1, and dry cord care for group 2. All mothers in two groups received an instructed one-to-one cord care education within 3 hours of birth.Group 1 was applied breast milk to the umbilical stump 3 hours after birth and continued every 12 hours until 2 days after umbilical cord separation. Nothing was applied to the umbilical stump of the dry cord care group. Three hours after birth and the third day of life, were obtained an umbilical swab either from the base of the cord or from the umbilicus if the cord was already sloughed. Rate of bacterial colonization were recorded in both groups.Results: The most common cultured organisms were S.Epidermidis, S.Aureus, E.Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae in the umbilical stump, there were significant differences between two groups in colonization rate.Conclusion: Topical application of breast milk on umbilical cord care leads to reduced bacterial colonization and cord separation time and can be used as easy, cheep, non injury methods for umbilical cord care.

Introduction: Wound infection is one of the most common complications of surgical procedures.At present, different procedures are used to reduce wound infection including prophylactic antibiotics.Since laparoscopy controls the most sources of wound infection such as mechanical factors, the role of prophylactic antibiotic therapy may be in doubt. In this study, we evaluated the antibiotic effects in prevention of wound infection in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods and Materials: In this double-blind clinical trial study, patients who were candidate for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided randomly into two groups: antibiotic receivers (38 patients) and placebo (Normal Saline) receivers (32 patients) group. The patients were visited in 24 hours, 4-7, 10-15 and 30 days after surgery for wound infection and then 2 groups compared.Results: The study showed that there were no significant differences between two groups with respect to age, body mass index and smoking. In addition, no wound infection was observed in first 24 hours, 4-7, 10-15 and 30 days after operation in both groups.Conclusion: The findings showed that prophylactic antibiotic therapy in laparoscopic cholecystectomy has no effect on the incidence of wound infection. Therefore, it is suggested that prophylactic antibiotic therapy does not use in laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of producing antibiotic resistance, unnecessary complications and also reducing economical costs.

Introduction: The elderly is an important period of human growth. The elderly persons have their own needs and individual interests. Social and cultural cognition models respect to the elderly persons should be recognized. The purpose of this study was to determine the items on interests on individual activities in the elderly person.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study. The interest checklist was administered to 80 elderly between 65-85 years. The subjects resided in 8 Institutionalized places in Tehran, sponsored by Tehran Welfare Organization. The items on the interests checklist empirically cluster in to the 3 categories of interests described by Matsutsuyua and Klyczek tool.Results: The results indicated the 3 categories of individual activities that most in the activities daily living set including, the attention to appearance and dressing, shopping and the women were interesting in cooking of (more than 80%). The most interests in the cultural - educational set activities, including religious studies, attending in lectures, scientific studies, saying the prays and men the concert and historical studies (more than 80%). The most interests in the physical activities set including working- out, body building and the men swimming (more than 70%).Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the elderly of both sex interested in some activities including activities daily living, educational-cultural and physical exercises. Also some different interests observed between male and female subjects, i.e., males interested in swimming, concert, study of chronological and females interested in cooking.

Background: Cervical favoring or ripening which is evaluated by Bishop score is an important factor for predicting the type of delivery, especially at the induction of labor. Higher bishop score predicts more vaginal delivery and reduction of cesarean. The present study is designed to assess the effect of intercourse during the last four weeks of pregnancy on cervical ripening for giving birth.Material and Method: In this case-control study, cases were included 74 primigravid women with unriped cervix (Bishop<4) and control was 102 primigravid women with ripped cervix (Bishop>4).The two groups were referred for vaginal delivery at term and compared based on times of intercourse and experiencing orgasm during the last four weeks of pregnancy. The data were collected by examination and interview using a checklist.Results: Case and control group were matched based on age, job and economic situation. Mean times of intercourse were 1.8±2.3 and 3.1±3.2 in case and control groups, respectively. Mann-Whitney u test showed that the control group reported more intercourse than the case group in the last four weeks of pregnancy, significantly (P<0.01, Z=2.8). In case group, 41 persons (55.4%) and in the control 72 persons (70.2%) experienced orgasm during intercourse. This difference was also significant.Conclusions: According to the results of this study, sexual relationship and orgasm in the last four weeks of pregnancy are related to cervical favoring and so declining cesarean.

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications affecting more than 50-60% of diabetic patients and it is a common cause of non-traumatic amputation and autonomic failure.Neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone (PROG), have been recently identified as promising neuroprotective agents in several models of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of PROG in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy.Material and Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (with 10 rats in each), control (non-diabetic), untreated diabetic and diabetic PROG-treated. Diabetes was induced in the animals by a single dose injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg kg-1, i.p.). In the PROG-treated group, 4 weeks after inducing of diabetes, the animals were treated with PROG (8 mg kg-1, i.p., every two days) for 6 weeks.Results: Diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), mean myelinated fibers (MFs) diameter, axon diameter and myelin sheath thickness in the sciatic nerve after 6 weeks. In the untreated diabetic group, endoneurial edema was observed in sciatic nerve and the numbers of MFs with enfolding into the axoplasm, irregularity of fibers, myelin sheath with unclear boundaries and alteration in myelin compaction were also increased. Long-term treatment with PROG increased MNCV significantly and prevented all these abnormalities in treated diabetic rats.Conclusion: Our findings indicated that PROG as a therapeutic approach can protect neurophysiologic and histomorphologic alterations induced by peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

Introduction: Obsessive rumination is a component which plays an important role in depression and obsessive - compulsive states. It leads to dept and continue others psychological disorders. In this study, rate of obsessive rumination on depressive and obsessive - compulsive’s patients was studied.Materials and Methods: This is a causal - comparative study which was performed on 60 patient and 60 normal subjects that randomly were selected. 30 patients with depression (15 women, 15 men), and 30 obsessive - compulsive patients (15 women, 15 men) from clinics and psychiatric centers of Tehran and Semnan cities were selected randomly. 60 normal subjects (30 women, 30 men) who were matched in age, sex and job, randomly selected from the same places. Depression and Obsessive - compulsive questioners were selected as tools and used for collecting data. Multivariate analyze variance was used for analyzing data.Results: It was found significant differences obsessive in rumination between three groups (normal, obsessive - compulsive and depression). Components of isolation and tendency to explanatory in depressive patients were more than normal subjects. Rate of repeating feeling about problems, worrying about unsolved problems, and also self-criticizing was significantly more in depressive and obsessive patients than normal subjects.Conclusion: These findings indicated that obsessive - rumination factor plays an important role in depressive and obsessive - compulsive. Thus, obsessive - rumination treatment is needed base on psychotherapy programs, modification of inefficiency attitudes, teaching thought control and learning problem solving skills.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection. It usually affects immunocompromised patients with poorly controlled blood glucose and ketoacidosis. The diagnosis of mucormycosis is very hard, particularly in severely immunocompromised patients. Here we describe a case of pulmonary mucormycosis in a well controlled diabetic patient who had limited clinical signs and symptoms. The patient was unsuccessfully treated with amphotericin B and died. This report seems to be a rare case of pulmonary mucormycosis in well controlled diabetes mellitus.