Feyz Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2008 | Volume:12 | Issue:2 (SERIAL 46)|Papers Count:12

Background: Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase enzyme (PAP) catalyzes the transformation of phosphatidic acid to Pi and diacylglycerol. Two different forms of PAP have been reported in rat hepatocytes: PAP1 which participates in the synthesis of phospholipids and triacylglycerols, and PAP2 which is primarily involved in lipid signaling transduction. PAP2 has two isoforms n amely PAP2a and PAP2b. In this study, the role of essential histidine residues in PAP2b was assessed.Materials and Methods: The rat liver plasma membrane was solved using N-octyle glycoside and PAP2b purified during several chromatography steps. The fixed kenitics were assessed based on superficial kenitic dilution model. Gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was discontinually performed to evaluate the purity, quantity and molecular weight measurement of enzyme subunit in gel 10%. The number of existing histidine moles in one enzyme mole (purification) was determined based on the formation of N-carbetoxy histidine.Results: Specific activity of the purified enzyme (PAP2b) was 7350 mu/mg protein. PAP2b electrophoresis showed only a single band on SDS-PAGE with a mass weight of 33.8 Kd. The PAP2b was inactivated by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC). The inhibition was competitive with respect to phosphatidate and there were 6 modified moles of histidine residues per mole of PAP2b.Conclusion: The data have shown that the incubation of PAP2b by DEPC plus phosphatidate can prevent the inhibitory effect of DEPC on enzyme activity. Our findings also revealed the role of histidine in the active site of PAP2b.This enzyme is likely to have the same hydrolysis catalytic mechanism as its super family through a phosphohistidine intermediate.

Background: In spite of the use of different methods to decrease pain after subcutaneous heparin injection, the effect of duration of injection on its subsequent pain has not been studied enough. Therefore, this study was carried out to focus on this item.Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 80 patients treating with subcutaneous heparin in medical and surgical wards of Babol Shahid Beheshti Hospital. Heparin was injected randomly to either right or left hand with a 12 hour interval during 10 seconds as control and 30 seconds as study technique. After each injection, patients reported the site-pain (from zero-ten) by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) instrument, immediately and in sitting position. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 15 and ، Wilcox on, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal - Wallis tests.Results: Severity of pain in control group was 2.10±1.40 and in study group 1.65±1.39. The difference was significant (P<0.01). In comparison of the two techniques, the obtained pain from controls was significantly more than cases among female patients, those in medical wards and patients in 40-60 years range (P=0.00 , P=0.03, P=0.00 respectively) . This was also seen among patients in control group (P<0.00, P=0.01, and P=0.01).Conclusion: To reduce the subsequent physical and psychological stresses to patients and increase patient's trust to health care providers and nurses, injection of heparin in 30-seconds is recommended.

Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is an extremely common problem in society. The prevalence of this disease is different in countries. Due to the importance of LBP and vitamin D key role in its manifestation, this research was done to determine the prevalence of osteomalacia and the relevant factors in idiopathic low back pain patients at Kashan during 2005-2006.Materials & Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 100 patients diagnosed with LBP referring to Kashan specialty medical clinics. The secondary etiology of LBP was ruled out through history, physical examination and imaging.A biochemical assay of serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphates (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, and 24 hours urine calcium were considered. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D test was used to confirm the osteomalacia diagnosis. Patients information including age, gender, vitamin D consumption, sun light exposure time periods and vitamin D deficiency (mild, moderate, severe) were also considered. The data were analyzed using statistical tests c2 and t-test.Results: The average (12% male and 88% female) patient age was 41.2±6. Fifty percent of patients were diagnosed to have osteomalacia of which 42(84%) were females and 8 (16%) males. Fifty four percent of osteomalacia patients had not been exposed to sun light effectively while they had consumption of vitamin D. The most and least prevalence of osteomalacia were found in age range of 40-49 years old and under 20 years old, respectively. The mean of 25 hydroxy- vitamin D in patients with osteomalacia was 10.5 ng /ml and 58.5 ng /ml in others (p<0/0001). Vitamin D deficiency was reported mild in 50%, moderate in 24%, and severe in 26% of patients.Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in LBP patients, using different methods like food fortification and patient education to have sun light exposure are recommended.

Background: Pending solids concentration and turbidity are the main drawbacks of waste water stabilization ponds used in hot climates for sewage treatment to reuse effluent. The effectiveness of chemical coagulation and lime addition in upgrading the ponds effluent quality is the purpose of this study.Materials and Methods: The effects of three coagulants including Alum, Ferric sulfate, and Ferric chloride and Lime with variable dosages on suspended solid and turbidity were studied in Kashan University of Medical Sciences living compounds stabilization ponds during the summer 2005. Data analyzed using Jar test.Results: Ferric sulfate 20 mg/l dosage reduced suspended soil concentration from 215 to 11.8 mg/ l and turbidity from 189 to 14.9 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit). Maximum TSS (Total Suspended Solid) and turbidity removal was 94.5 % and 92.1 %, respectively.Conclusion: Chemical coagulation can efficiently upgrade the ponds effluent quality compared with Iranian organization of environmental health standards (TSS and turbidity less than 100 mg/l and 50 NTU).

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the most common complication and important intervention factor in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. It is presented by right - sided heart failure, hepatic congestion, hypoxemia, ascites and peripheral edema. This study was conducted to assess the correlation of pulmonary artery pressure with hematological and respiratory indexes in COPD patients.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 81 hospitalized COPD patients in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan during 2005-2006. The increase of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) by transthorasic echocardiography (TE), force expiratory volume in first second (FEV 1) by spirometry, PaO2 and PaCO2, with arterial blood gas analyzer (ABG), hemoglobin (Hb), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspirate aminotransferase (AST), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum albumin with blood samples were determined. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as increasing the mean of pulmonary artery pressure grater than 25 mm/Hg. The relationship between PAP and other parameters was evaluated by Pearson analyzing test and correlation index.Results: Among 81 patients with COPD, 77 subjects (95.1 %) had pulmonary hypertension (PAP> 25 mm Hg). In this study the mean s±SD of studied parameters were as: age= 69 ± 9.2 yrs, FEV1 =38.1 ± 13.1% predicted, PaO2= 54.6±13.1 mm Hg, PaCO2= 52.5±10.5 mm Hg, Hb= 41.58±1.8 g/dl), AST= 39.9±70.5 IU/dl, ALT= 39.7±74.02 IU/dl, serum albumin= 3.8±0.49 g/dl, and ESR= 6.6±9.1. There was not significant correlation between PAP and the other parameters.Conclusions: According to the echocardiography results PAP>25 mm/Hg was found in most COPD hospitalized patients, having no correlation with the respiratory and biochemical indexes. So, to predict PAP, routine echocardiography for COPD patients, instead of the mentioned indices, is recommended.

Background: It has been reported that induction of diabetes mellitus is associated with increasing production of reactive oxygen species and depletion of the antioxidants defense systems. Grape seed has potent-free radical scavengers called proanthocyanidins and hence provide significant protection against oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether black grape seed (Shahani grape) plays any protective role against hyperglycemia and beta cells damages in the injected alloxan rats.Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (200 - 220g) were purchased from the institute pastor animal house in Iran. Totally, 90 rats were used and divided into three groups: 1) control group (given 2 ml distilled water) 2) a test group given high dosage grape seed (2gr/kg.bw/day) group 3) another test group given low dosage grape seed (1 gr/kg.bw/day). Rats in groups 2 and 3 were pretreated by aqueous grape seed’s suspension via oral gavage). Pretreatment continued for 4 days (once daily). Then alloxan was injected subcutaneously (70 mg/w). 24, 48 and 72 hours after alloxan injection, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. Their blood was collected and its serum glucose level (by commercially kit) serum insulin level (by ELISA kit) and serum total antioxidant power (by FRAP assay) were measured.Results: The results indicated that only high dosage of grape seeds significantly inhibited the increase of serum glucose level caused by alloxan (p<0.05). Also, high and low dosages grape seed caused a significant increase in serum insulin level on pretreated rats in 24, 48 and 72 hours after alloxan injection (p<0.05). While serum total antioxidant levels increased significantly (24 and 48 hours) in rats receiving low doses grape seed (p<0.05) it was not significant in other groups.Conclusion: The study suggests that grape seed is effective in ameliorating the oxidative damage to pancreatic tissues in experimental diabetes mellitus. Such an effect may be related to their potent antioxidant properties among other factors. It seems that in addition to the existing proanthocyanidin factor in the grape seed, there also exist other related factors.

Background: Considering undesirable postoperative pain in recovery phase, and many side effects of narcotics, the preemptive analgesic effect of oral dextromethorphane on cholecystectomized patients was studied in this study.Material and Methods: In this double blind, randomized, clinical trial on 44 patients in Shari’ati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 22 patients received placebo and 22 received 45 mg oral dextromethorphane 2 hours preoperatively. The anesthesia method was the same in both groups. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was recorded for each group in 1, 6 and 24 hours. Used morphine amount was recorded. As dextromethorphane causes drowsiness the patient's alertness was also recorded with Ramsey scores after operation. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney-U-tests.Results: Mean postoperative pain intensity was 9.55 in case and 8.33 in control group respectively. This was statistically significant but limited only to the first postoperative hour. No difference was observed in 6th, 24th hour pain, sedation, and alertness between the groups.Conclusion: Premedication with 45 mg oral dextromethorphane decreases post operative pain in first hour, so it can be used as an alternative analgesic drug along with narcotics.

Materials and Methods: This clinical-experimental study was carried out on 90 patients randomly selected from 160 cases referring to Tehran University Consulting Centers, Shahed University and Saba Rehabilitation Clinic and met DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. They were divided into 3 equal groups including CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) with CBT, and TAU (Treatment As Usual). The first and second groups received psychological treatment while the third received medications. They were between 18 and 45 years old with two depression episodes and evaluated through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and self–report by Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), in two pre and post tests. Data were analyzed by t-test, and Co-variance analysis.Results: MBCT with CBT and CBT groups have significantly reduced MDD psychiatric symptoms and psychological distress. The combined method has effects similar with traditional CBT therapy.Conclusion: Elements from MBCT and CBT in comparison to CBT made treatment more effective.

Background: Lymphadenitis is one of the clinical signs of toxoplasmosis. Co - Trimoxazole (CTM) has a good therapeutic effect on ocular and cerebral infection of T.gondii. Since this infection is epidemic in Ahvaz and due to lack of study of therapeutic effect of CTM on Toxoplasmosis Lymphadenitis (TLA), this study was carried out to determine the therapeutic effects of CTM on TLA in Ahvaz from 2005-2007.Methods and Methods: Forty six patients with TLA were enrolled in this controlled clinical trial study. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, serological tests (chemiluminisent) and histopathological examinations. Palpable lymph node, IgM>8 IU and follicular hyperplasia were defined as positive findings. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 23.The test group was treated by CTM (48 mg/kg/day divided in 2 doses) for 1 month. The control group was only observed for 1 month. The patients were followed up by physical and serological examination in month 1, 3 and 6. No palpable lymph node and IgM<6 IU were found as clinical and serological response. The data was analyzed in SPSS software using c2 test.Results: At the end of treatment, clinical response was observed in 15 patients (65.2%) from on the test group and 5 (21.7%) from the control group. Serological response in the test group and the control group were 52.2% and 13% respectively. There was a significant difference in therapeutic effect between two groups (p<0.05).There was no difference concerning age, sex and site of infection between the two groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: CTM displays a good therapeutic effect on TLA and may be used in the selected patients who need treatment.

Background: Cancer represents a stressful life with negative consequences requiring social support for the patients. This study describes the correlation between perceived social support and network with quality of life in cancer patients.Material and Methods: This descriptive - correlative study with continuous sampling method was performed on 220 patients in Firoozgar, and Hazrat Rasool hospitals and Emam Khomeini cancer Institute. Data obtained through social support questionnaires (SSQ) and the Ferrans and Powers quality of life index- Cancer version (QLI-CV), and analyzed using SPSS version 13, descriptive statistics, spearman correlation and multiple linear regression tests.Results: 56.4% of patients had experienced a moderately good quality of life, while most of them received a moderate to high social support from their middle-size social networks. A significant positive correlation was found between perceived social support and quality of life (rs=0.415, p<0.001) especially with family dimensions and size of social network (rs =0.245, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression test represents 20.20% variation of quality of life related to perceived social support (R2=0.2020).Conclusions: Perceived social support accounted for only 20.20% of variants in quality of life while a large amount of variances remain unexplained; so further researches are recommended on this issue.

Background: As the population ages, a greater demand for long-term care is expected. Admitting older people to care unit and residential home has been identified as the most significant relocation. Studying risk factors resulting in entrance to nursing home and developing programs to delay or prevent it are important.Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative phenomenological study using purposive sampling of elderly residents of private and state nursing homes in Isfahan continuing until data saturation encountered e.g when sample size became 10 participants. They were between 66-85 years old (3 men, 7 women). Data were collected by interviewer, and through field notes. Colaizzi's method was used for data analysis. The rigor of present study was based on transferability and credibility.Results: Two themes of voluntary and compulsory entry were found. Voluntary entry sub themes were entry with previous agreement, due to financial and family problems; sub themes of compulsory entry were entry with cheating, and in unconscious condition, each with specific sub concepts.Conclusion: Several elders have resided voluntarily for taking care or getting ride of family problems and the rest have resided compulsorily with family care giver agreement. The ability of families, friends, neighbors and other community- based caregivers to provide support should be strengthened.