Feyz Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2010 | Volume:14 | Issue:3 (SERIAL 55)|Papers Count:15

Background: Calcium spikes play important roles in the control of neuronal spontaneous activity. Cerebellar Purkinje neurons fire spontaneous calcium spikes. In this study, the role of potassium channels in the regulation of these spikes was studied. Materials & Methods: Brain slices from the cerebellum of young rats were prepared and the Purkinje cells were visualized using an upright microscope. Using borosilicate micropipettes and Axoclamp 2B amplifier, intracellular recordings were taken from the cells. The role of different K+ channels in the regulation of calcium spikes configuration was determined using different K+ channels blockers and precise analysis of the recorded calcium spikes in the presence of blockers. Results: Application of wide-range 4-aminophyridine and tetraethylammonium blockers increased duration and amplitude of afterhyperpolarization (AHP) of the calcium spikes and converted them from one-peak spike to two- or multiple-peaks spikes. Blockade of small conductance calcium dependent potassium channels increased duration of the spikes but had no effect on the AHP amplitude Blockade of large conductance calcium dependent potassium channels increased duration of the calcium spikes and decreased the AHP amplitude. Conclusion: Our results showed that properties of the calcium spikes in the cerebellar Purkinje neurons were largely controlled by different potassium channels, including calcium dependent types.

Background: Hepatic insufficiency is one of the most important consequences of the diabetes mellitus. A wide variety of herbs has been described for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of present study was to assess the protective effect of turmeric powder on early hepatic injuries in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups. Turmeric powder was added to the food regimen of turmeric treatment groups. At the end of experiment, levels of functional liver markers (AST, ALT and SALP), albumin, total bilirubin and proteins were assessed in the serum. Product of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were also assayed in liver hemogenates. Finally, the biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verification. Results: In the diabetic rats, turmeric powder significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers of hepathic injury, TB, and elevated the levels of Alb and TP. Furthermore, turmeric powder significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the rats. Conclusion: It seems that turmeric powder has protective effect on early diabetic hepatopathy in experimentally induced diabetic rats.

Background: Many studies have focused on the effect of L-arginine supplementation on physical performance and blood lactate level, however, the obtained results are contradictory. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of L-arginine supplementation on blood lactate level and VO2max at anaerobic threshold among the athletes in Tehran-Iran.Materials & Methods: Thirty healthy male athletes (age: 22.66±1.46) were randomly divided into two groups based on a blind placebo-controlled trial. Subjects performed the exercise test before and after the intake of L-arginine (5 gr/day) or placebo for a period of 3 weeks. The exercise tests were carried out on treadmill until the anaerobic threshold (according to Conconi protocol) was reached. In each trial, three blood samples (before, at the end and 30 minutes after the completion of exercise) were obtained.Results: Blood lactate level was significantly decreased in the L-arginine group compared to the placebo one. There was no significant difference between the two groups in VO2max at anaerobic threshold. Only in the L-arginine group, VO2 max at anaerobic threshold was significantly increased. In addition, there was no significant difference in VO2 max at anaerobic threshold for the placebo group.Conclusion: Oral supplementation of L-arginine decreases blood lactate level and may have beneficial effects on muscular fatigue. L-arginine not effectively had no influence on VO2max at anaerobic threshold. Thus, it can be concluded that the dosage used is unable to increase the VO2max at anaerobic threshold.

Background: Alzheimer is a Progressive dementia disease along with destruction of brain neurons and severe deficiency of memory. The present work was designed to assess the effect of the maze training in improvement of learning behavior of the Alzheimeric rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 20 Wistar male rats randomly divided in 2 groups. One group that receiving a dose of beta-amyloid intraventriculrly characterized as alzheimeric rats (ALZ). In the control group (CO) the animals were injected saline at the same volume. To assess spatial learning of the animals in the first phase of the experiment they were introduced to the Morris water maze to locate on fixed hidden platform during 4 trials/day for 5 days. Probe test was applied to evaluate the memory retrieval. In the second phase the same procedure was repeated after 20 days. The measured parameters were the time elapsed and distance passed in during the maze searching. Results: Our findings indicated that in the first phase of experiment, the time elapsed and distance passed for the CO group were decreased compared to the ALZ group. In the second phase, however, significant variation was observable between the two tested groups. There was no significant difference between the performance of the CO and ALZ groups in probe trial testing.Conclusion: It seems that the behavioral training positively influenced the maze learning in the ALZ subjects so that however both groups behaved similarly in the second phase of the experiment.

Background: Folic acid (folate) which is a water-soluble vitamin-B is essential for the life-sustaining processes of DNA synthesis, replication, repair, and also protein synthesis.  Experimental evidence suggests that folate deficiency and its consequent elevated homocysteine level sensitize dopaminergic neurons to environmental toxin, whereby folate deficiency may influence risk of Parkinson disease. Accordingly, in this study, the effects of different doses of folic acid on motor activity of rat were studied using rotarod apparatus.Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into four groups and were injected intraperitonealy a single dose of folic acid or vehicle/day for one week. The there test groups received 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg/day folic acid and the sham group received saline. Then, all groups were introduced to the rotarod test. Results: The results showed that 5 mg/kg/day of folic acid significantly improves motor coordination (P<0.05). Conclusion: Overally, the present results indicate that low-dose folic acid improves motor performance of the rats.

Background: Electricity expenditure in modern societies is extremely spreading out world wide. Since scant information is available about the side effects of this type of energy on body tissues, the aim of present study was to assess the possible effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) on undifferentiated tissues.Materials and Methods: The undifferentiated tissues obtained from 10-day fetal mesenchymal cells of mouse were divided into two groups, each included 10. The tissues were exposed to the EMF (50 Hz, 80 G) for 8 hours. After a 24 hour incubation, the samples were fixed, processed, sectioned (5 mm thickness) and stained with hematoxiline and eosin method. Then, they were studied using light microscopy. Results: Our findings indicated that while the undifferentiated tissues were converted to cartilage in the EMF exposed group they left unchanged in the control group.Conclusion: The EMF may induce the differentiation of tissues in undifferentiated cells.

Background: The use of synthetic mesh for the repair of major congenital diaphragmatic hernia may cause visceral adhesion to prosthesis and ongoing complications. In present study the use of propylen mesh for the repair of diaphragmatic hernia and its role in eliminating of visceral adhesion to repair site is evaluated.Materials & Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 20 adult New Zealand rabbits (age: 6 months) assigned randomly into two equal groups. In one group, after laparatomy a defect (size: 1×1 cm) was created on the diaphragm. The suture was then repaired by sterile propylen mesh and nylon suture (thickness: 3/0 - 4/0). In another group, omentum was fixed on the mesh using a nylon suture (thickness: 3/0). After 30 days the two groups were operated and the visceral adhesion to repair site was compared using Mazuji scale. Results: Nine (90%) out of 10 rabbits with propylen mesh repair had visceral adhesion to the repair site. On classifying the grade of adhesion among the cases, one, three, four and two rabbits were assigned the “0”, “I”, “II”, and “III” grades, respectively. On the other hand, 4 (40%) out of 10 rabbits, in which the diaphragm was repaired by propylen mesh and omentopexy method, visceral adhesion (grade “I”) was seen to the site of repair. The rest of animals displayed no such adhesion (P=0.015).  Conclusions: Omentopexy reduces the visceral adhesion to propylen mesh.

Background: Considering the increased antimicrobial resistance to Staphylococcus aureus and also the importance of vancomycin as a treatment, the aim of this work was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin, the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility, removing the isolates producing beta-lactamase enzyme and determining the risk factors for prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from clinical samples in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan-Iran.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 150 Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The sample strains were identified using gram staining, catalase test, tube coagulase test, growth on manitol salt agar medium and the DNAase test. The antibiotic sensitivity test was determined by disk diffusion method on nine antibiotics. MIC of vancomycin was determined using Broth Microdilution Method. The production of beta-lactamase enzyme was performed using acidometry method. Results: Among the 150 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, MIC value was 0.5-4 mg/mL. The highest MIC of vancomycin was 2 mg/mL. All of isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Mean age of patients was 31.3+25.8. Penicillin and vancomycin revealed the highest and the lowest resistant rate, respectively (93% and 0%). Resistance to methicillin was 62%. Eighty-seven percent of the isolates produced enzyme beta lactamase. Risk factors for prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus were high age and previous antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Considerining the vancomycin as the selective antibiotic, on following the preventive guideline, preparing the antibiogram and adding MIC test are recommended.

Background: Patients with morbid obesity have different signs .The overall morbidity rate among the patients with 50% over-weigh is twice. Many types of operations are invented to overcome the problem, one of which is gastric banding with mesh.Materials and Methods: Thirty patients treated with gastric banding with mesh were identified for this study. A prosthetic mesh was used to create a small upper gastric pouch. All patients were checked 1 and 6 months post operation. Moreover, 14 patients were followed 12 mouths after the operation.Results: Ninety percent of the patients were female and the rest were male. The average age of 43.3% of the patients was between 30-40 years and 60% of them have one or more co-morbid disease in the beginning of the study. Early and late complication was seen in 6.7% and 26.7% of the patients, respectively. The morbidity rate was 0%. The mean primary weight was 123±22.2 kg with a BMI of 46.9±7.1. After 1 mouth the mean weight excess was 10±4.6 kg, the mean BMI 43±7.3 (P<0.0001), and the mean BMI excess 3.9±1.8. In the end of the study the mean BMI was 31.5±5.1 and the mean BMI excess 16.8±6.6.Conclusion: This study shows that the acceptable rate of BMI excess is 1, 6 and 12 mouths after the gastric banding. Moreover, 6 months post operation many of the complications of obesity were improved. Considering the limited and reversible complications of the procedure, gastric banding with mesh can be used as a useful treatment of very obese patients.

Background: Kawazaki is an acute febrile vasculitis accompanied by cardiovascular complications. This study was conducted for the evaluation of clinical and paraclinical findings of Kawasaki disease among the children admitted in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 69 children diagnosed as Kawasaki. Medical documents of all cases were reviewed during the years 1998-2008 and all of the registered patients were invited to perform echocardiographic and cardiologic studies. Results: Sixty-nine out of 44 Kawasaki patients (63.8%) were male and the remaining 25 (36.2%) were female. 37% of cases were admitted in spring. All patients had fever, 89.9% elevated ESR and 24.6% elevated LDH. Among the 71.20% of cases albumin was lower than the normal range and 51.2% and 40% had elevated ALT and AST, respectively. 18.8% of Kawasaki patients had unqualified Kawasaki. Among the 2 cases with cardiac complication the serum albumin was lower than the normal. An ascending trend for the incidence of Kawasaki was seen since1998 till 2008.Conclusion: Considering the rising incidence of Kawasaki in recent years, paying careful attention to the disease signs, specially unqualified cases of Kawasaki in terms of on-time prescribing of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), prevention of complications and also the evaluation of serum albumin level seems very important.

Background: The prevalence of depression among teenagers is %10-%70. Among the different risk factors, insufficient satisfaction of psychosocial needs is notable. Hence, the present study was carried out for evaluating the prevalence of depression among this age group and also determining its correlation with psychosocial need satisfaction (PSNS) by their parents.Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 762 female high school students in Kashan province during the year 2006. Sampling was done using random clustering method from different grades among the public and private schools. The Beck depression test, PSNS questionnaire as well as the relevant demographic data was collected. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficient tests. Results: The prevalence of depression in our study was %53.5. The frequency of undesired PSNS by parents was %27.8. While there was a significant correlation between depression and PSNS of teenagers met by parents (P=0.01) or also father's education (P=0.05), but no significant correlation was seen between depression and the student’s age, parent’s age, job, mother’s education and also the years of parent education.Conclusions: Inclusion of regular meetings in psychosocial health program by parents is recommended for relief of depression.

Background: Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a progressive maternally inherited multi-organ disorder caused by a mutation in a mitochondrial gene. In this disorder recurrent migraine headache, seizure, cerebral insults causing hemiparesis, hemianopia, progressive hearing loss and cognitive problems may occur.Case presentation: The patient is a 12-year girl manifested with malaise, tonic-clonic convulsion and unilateral weakness in left upper and lower extremities. Her problem was begun with seizure, headache and recurrent vomiting, 5 months before the admission. On clinical examination cerebrovascular events was diagnosed. On broader diagnostic studies, also a genetic mutation in A3243G gene, as a definite characteristic for the establishment of the disease, was detected by muscle biopsy.Conclusion: Patients suffering from the syndrome gradually display delayed motor and cognitive development. Therapeutic management of the disease consists of administration of multi-vitamins and coenzyme supplementations, and lowering the serum lactate level using dichloroacetate.