TEHRAN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL (TUMJ)
Year:2002 | Volume:60 | Issue:5|Papers Count:14

Introduction: Body is exposed to oxidants and free radicals since birth. These compounds are highly reactive and react with different biomolecules. However living organisms possess an antioxidant system to face these compounds. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in immune system cells. like other cells, are produced both as a part of the normal cell metabolism and during specific activities such as phagocytosis. By prevention of oxidative damages to different parts of immune cells, antioxidants provide the conditions for optimal immune system function. Methods and Materials: This study had been carried out in Immunology section, Central laboratory of Iran blood transfusion organization and Immunology department of Medical sciences university of Tehran during March 1999 - October 1999. Correlation method was used in this study in which the correlation between plasma total antioxidant power and two main immune cells functions including lymphocytes proliferation response (L TT test by ELISA method) and neutrophils directed movement (chemotaxis test) were investigated. Sample population in this study were 60 healthy males and females aged 21-60. On each blood sample, plasma total antioxidant power (FRAP method), L TT, and chemotaxis tests were carried out. Then statistical spearman correlation between these variables were obtained. Results: Our results reveal that there are significant correlations (P< 0.0001) between plasma total antioxidant power and the cited variables. Conclusion: It seems what is important in the functions of the immune system, is the fair balance between oxidants and antioxidants level in the body; thus we should be able to use this parameter to evaluate the functions of immune system in health and/ or disease situation.

Introduction: Depression is a. debilitating disease that every one is likely to experience over a short or long term period of his or her life. Methods and Materials:This study aimed to examine the one - month prevalence of anxiety and depression in Tehranian resident population. 1070 men and women (age 20-65) were screened by Beck Depression Inventory (BDl). Then, those who scored above the cut - off point were psychiatrically interviewed. The interviewers were blind to the respondents" scores on BD1; 5% of the total sample were also added to the list of those to be interviewed. Interviewers were the third year psychiatric residents at Roozbeh hospital, Tehran, especially trained for this research"s purpose. Results: The results showed women (BDI= 12.16) are more depressed than men (BOI= 8.47). Furthermore, men (%16.7) were less likely to have depession disorders than women (% 30.50). Conclusion: We will discuss discrepancies between (the present results and the results from previous research by others).

Introduction: Myocardial infarction sequel of coronary artery diseases, can be sometimes asymptomatic. called silent myocardial infarction. Some risk factors predispose the patients to this condition. In this study, we intend to determine the predisposing factors in such patients. Methods and Materials: We included those patients with electrocardiogram changes. consistent with myocardial infarction, who had not any symptoms of ischemia or a previous history of coronary artery disease. consulted for pre-operative work up of eye surgery during the year 2000. Results: we analyzed 100 patients with the diagnosis of silent myocardial infarction. (59 males and 41 females). Among our patients. 99 percent were above age 50 years of age. Their mean age at the time of study was 69.7 years. 78 percent of patients were illiterate. In 41 of them body mass index was above the normal limits (overweight and obese). Their past medical history revealed that 46 patients had hypertension. 38 patients had hyper-lipidemia, and 26 patients had diabetes mellitus. Also. a positive family history of coronary artery disease was seen in 52 percent of the patients. The rate of cigarette smokers and opium addicts, among our patients, was 33 and 13 percents. respectively. Analysis of electrocardiogram changes. showed that 43 patients had inferior myocardial infarction. 24 had antero-septal, and 17 of them suffered from anterior myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Almost all of our patients with silent myocardial infarction were in old age group. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, overweight, hyper-lipidemia, and a positive family history of coronary artery disease were the most important predisposing factors, found in such patients, thus taking into account these predisposing factors and control of them would dramatically reduce the prevalence of morbidity and mortality of silent myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is considered as one of the most important causes of mortality in the world. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CVDs. Regarding the high prevalence of hypertension in people over 18 years in Isfahan (28%), this study was performed to determine mean in-taken salt in Isfahan population and the association of urinary excreted electrolytes with blood pressure. Methods and Materials: In this study, 1800 people (20-60 years old) were selected by multi stage sampling method from Isfahan population (850 men. 950 women). For each person, a special questionnaire was completed regarding personal characteristics, history for cardiovascular risk factors, smoking status, medication, etc. At the same time, the blood pressure was measured twice by WHO standardized method after at least 5 minutes in resting status from right hand and also heart rate was recorded. Then, a graded container was given to each subject and they were requested to collect 24-hr urine. The measurements of calcium, sodium and potassium concentrations were done through flame photometry. Chloride was measured by colorimetry and creatinin was measured by Jaffe method. Of course, those people with kidney failure or dietary salt restriction were excluded. Also, the concentration of urinary creatinin was measured as a scale for verifying urine to be collected through the past 24 hour. Then, false samples were excluded. The obtained data was analysed using Hest and multi regression analysis by SPSS/WIN. Results: The results show that the dietary NaCl was 9.7 gr/day in people aged 2060 years old (903±3.0 gr/day in men and 9.7±3.8 gr/day in women). It is upper than the recommended level (6 gr/day) but still lower than that in western societies (1 0-12 gr/day). Also. the dietary sodium was estimated as 165.6 mmol/day. The urinary excreted potassium was 47.7 mmo1l240hr urine. The mean value for sodium was 165.9-166.6 mmol/24-hr urine in women and 158.5-164.2 mmol/24-hr urine in men (p>0.05). Mean urinary chloride was 128.4 mmol/24-hr urine in women and 133.5 mmo1l24-hr urine in men. After adjusting for age. smoking. contraceptive medication, job and education. no significant direct association was observed between blood pressure and urinary electrolytses. Conclusion: According to the results of this study. the daily level of dietary salt intake is high in our population. Although no relationship was found between blood pressure and dietary salt in normotensive people. it doesn"t seem rationally to discontinue health recommendation for restricting salt as dietary salt is responsible for other disease rather than hypertension. On the other hand. people can"t restrict theil dietary salt favorably due to existing salt in foods as well processed food products. Therefore, officials should invest on correction of consumption status of dietary salt level especially in part of food industry to control in a better way.

Introduction: Wide variations in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema have been reported in the world, between regions and countries. The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) was developed to provide standardized method to ascertain the prevalence of asthma and allergies in different regions. Comparisons of prevalence rates across geographic regions may help to identify factors that influence the development of these conditions in individuals. Methods and Materials: For doing this descriptive study the ISAAC written questionnaire was completed by the parents of 3000 school children aged 6-7 years in Kashan, the central area of Iran, with different geographic and cultural characteristics, during the fall of 1998. Results: The overall cumulative and 12 month prevalence of wheezing were 10.2 percent, 6.9 percent in the girls and 18.2 percent, 13.1 percent in the boys respectively. The prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma were 1.3 percent and 2.2 percent in the girls and boys. Rhinitis symptoms were reported by 14.7 percent, 16.9 percent and chronic pruritic rashes by 5.1 percent and 8.3 percent of the girls and boys respectively. Conclusion: Allergic disorders are common in this area and prevalence is comparable to other parts of Iran and many other countries. Prevalence of asthma by medical diagnosis is relatively low with respect to other studies performed with the same methodology.

Introduction: Anxiolysis and sedation with oral midazolam are common practice in pediatric anesthesia. Good or excellent results are seen in only 50% to 80% of cases. so we decided to investigate if addition of a low dose of oral ketamine to midazolam (ketamine2.5 mg /kg ,midazolam 0.25 mg/kg )resulted in better premedication compared with oral midazolarn 0.5 mg/kg or ketamine 6 mglkg alone. Methods and Materials: in a prospective, randomized ,double -blind study we study 105 children (mean age 6 ,range 2-10 yr. ) undergoing non thoracic and non cardiac surgery of more than 30 min duration. The patients were in ASA 1, 2. After oral premedication the child"s condition was evaluated by assigning 1-4 point to the quality of anxiolysis, sedation, and separation from parents in the induction room .The groups were similar in sex, age, weight, intervention and duration of anaesthesia. Results: The score of sedation before transfer to the operation room was significantly better in the ketamine, midazolam combination group than in the ketamine or midazolam group. Success rates for anxiolysis and behavior at separation were grater than 90%with the combination, approximately 80% with midazolarn and 70% with ketamine alone. The incidence of salivation, excitation, nausea and vomiting was grater in the ketamine group but were very low in other groups. During recovery there were no difference in sedation or time of possible discharge. Conclusion: In summery, significantly better anxiolysis and separation were observed with a combination of ketamine and midazolarn, even in awake children than with midazolam or ketamine alone. Duration of action and side effects of the combination was similar to those of midazolam.