Research in Medicine
Year:2002 | Volume:26 | Issue:1|Papers Count:14

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia are complications occurred after the 20th week of pregnancy and could lead to preterm delivery and low birth weight neonates. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between dietary calcium intake and the aforementioned complications.Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 95 parturients. Pregnancy-induced hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg at two consecutive measurements. Preeclampsia was defined as being hypertensive, as defined above, plus having edema and albuminuria (+1). Subjects were distributed in three groups: preeclamptic (n=32), hypertensive (n=33), and control (n=30). Dietary information was obtained using a 24-hour food recall for two days and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for three months. Quantitative and qualitative variables were compared using ANOV A, Tukey HSD, and chi square.Results: All subjects have shown calcium intake of lower than RDA. The average calcium intake in preeclamptic, hypertensive, and control subjects were 940, 880, and 1020 mg, respectively. Preeclamptics calcium intake was not significantly differed from the controls, however, hypertensive subjects had significantly lower calcium intake than controls (p<0.01). Dietary calcium intake significantly related to pregnancy-induced hypertension (p<0.01), but its relation to preeclampsia was not statistically significant (p>0.05).Conclusion: Our results provide additional support for the view that calcium intake during pregnancy may be inversely related to the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Background: HCV is the main cause of transfusion-dependent hepatitis. Thalassemic children who received transfusion are highly susceptible to HCV infection. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence of HCV in thalassemic children.Materials and methods: 113 thalassemic children had entered this cross sectional study. Anti HCV (anti hepatitis C virus) and ALT(alanine aminotransferase) tests were carried out, while, RIBA(recombinant immunoblot assay) was performed on those positive cases for Anti HCV.Results: HCV infection was found in 23% of the cases. M/F ratio was 1.3. Chi square and Fishers exact test have shown significant relationship between HCV infection and age, number of received blood units, and the level of ALT (p<0.01).Conclusion: The spectrum of HCV infection obtained in our study was coincided with that reported in reference text books. Further studies regarding the prevention and treatment are highly recommended.

Background: Evaluating universities is of utmost importance for promoting their quality. To meet this demand, determining the performance indicators seems inevitable.Materials and methods: In this descriptive study, a questionnaire including 16 components (factors) and 216 performance indicators was formulated and distributed among 150 medical authorities in IranResults: Factors such as "medical information center", "publications", "universities aims and destinations" had the highest preference, whereas, factors related to universities graduation and financial-official affaires were of lower prference.Conclusion: These 16 components evaluated in this research, had different importance and preference. Promoting and developing medical information centers are strongly recommended.

Background: Iran is recognized as an endemic area for lung hydatidosis. Surgical removal of some hydatid cysts would have had serious morbid consequences. To determine the charactristics of these special cysts, the present study was conducted over the patients referring to shaheed Modarres hospital since 1989-1998.Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, postoperative and anesthetic complications as well as surgical approach were determined in complicated hydatid cysts. Complicated cysts are those greater than 10cm,ruptured cysts, or bilateral cysts.Results: Of 110 patients, 62 had revealed to have complicated hydatid cysts of lung. 50 underwent surgery, while cystostomy was performed in 43(86%). Complications were reported in 11 (19%) cases, 3 as early-onset and 8 as late-onset complications. Conclusion: Presurgical co-operation of surgeons and an experienced anesthetist could result in better outcome

Background: Breast cancer still continues to be the most prevalent cancer in females, where early detection and management have significantly improved its prognosis. Materials and methods: The study population included 1000 females complaining of nonbreast disease, referring to general surgery and gynecology clinincs in Loghman Hakim hospital during a 12-month period. Results: of 1000 patients, 28 have revealed to have breast mass. Among these, 2 were detected as breast carcinoma. Conclusion: Public education and self-examination could be helpful in patients screening.

Background: self-esteem strongly affects learning skills. Teenagers suffering from cerebral palsy have encountered numerous problems. Thus, the present study was carried out over the affected teenagers to determine the efficacy of self-esteem in learning skillsMaterials and methods: The present research was a quasi experimental study which aims to evaluate the relationship between self-esteem and rate of learning of self-care skills in 11-15- aged teenagers suffering from cerebral palsy in Tehran Welfare Center in 1998. Among all, 28 were selected due to self-esteem criteria according to Cooper Smith test; 14 had a high self-esteem and 14 had a low self-esteem. Moreover, a checklist was evaluated in 2 steps: first before the self-care teaching and then after that period. T duplicated and independent t tests were used for statistical analysis.Results: The low self-esteem group in the self-caring process has reached from the mean of 26.21 to the mean of 32.71, while the other group has researched from the mean of 38.28 to the mean of 50.71. The difference was statistically significant. The group of higher self-esteem has shown better learning skills in all fields except the nutrition skills.Conclusion: Teaching could promote self-care performance, however, those with higher self-esteem could take more advantages.

Background: Infant's growth and development is highly depended on maternal nutritional profile during the pregnancy and the infants feeding adequacy. With respect to the susceptibility of infants, evaluating their nutritional status is of great importance. Materials and methods: To determine the effects of iron, folate, vitamin Bl2 and A deficiencies on neonatal height and weight, 230 neouates borned in Shaheed Mofatteh hospital in Varamin, had entered this study. Serum folate, RBC folate, and serum Bl2 were determined using RIDA test, however, serum iron and TIBC were determined through Auto analyzer RA-1000. Meanwhile, transferrin saturation was calculated as below: (serum iron/TIBC) 100. Serum vitamin A was determined using Thomsom fluorimetric.Results: Results have implied that 8% and 8.9% of the infants were malnourished according to the birth weight and height, respectively. The mean of vitamin A concentration in serum and the proportions of polynuclears of newboms under-2500 gr were significantly lower than the normal-weighted newbons. The mean of proportions of lymphocytes and eozinophils of newbomes under-2500gr were significantly higher than normal-weighted newbomes. Deficiency of serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, serum folate, RBC folate and serum Bl2 were reported in 0.5%, 2.5%, 2.5%, 22.7%, 3.8%, and 5.4% of the neouates, respectively. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 27.1%, however, this was more prevalent among boys rather than girls (34.8% vs.17.1 %). A significant relationship was found between the weight and height of newborns and the serum vitamin A (p<0.03).Conclusion: Since vitamin A had important impact on fetal growth, height and weight changes and mortality could be due to its deficiency.

Background: Coronary artery disease is becoming more prevalent in developing countries, particulary in urban areas. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Tehran urban population.Materials and methods: The prevalence and distribution of high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, dislipoprotenemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity was determined in 15005 subjects, aged 3 years or above, selected through a cluster random sampling in Tehran urban district-13 between February 1999 to August 2001. Total energy intake, percent of energy derived from protein, carbohydrate, and fat were assessed in a subsidiary of 1474 persons by means of two 24-hour food recalls.Results: In adults, 78% of men and 80% of women presented at least one CVD risk factor. The percentage of adult females with two or more risk factors was significantly greater than the one for males. In children and adolescents, two or more CVD risk factors were found in 9% of the boys and 7% of the girls. The mean percentage values of energy intake derived from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 57.8±6.9, 11.1± 1.8, and 30.9±7.2, respectively.Conclusion: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Tehran urban population is high; particulary of high total cholesterol, low HDL, and high waist to hip ratio. An effective strategy for life style modification is a cornestone of a population approach to the cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, these results will serve as a baseline for assessment of future trends in the risk factors studies.

Background: The clinical presentation of neonatal sepsis/meningitis is non-specific. Because of this and also since sepsis with and without meningitis during neonatal period has high mortality and morbidity rate, one should have high index of suspicious in order to diagnose and treat patients with these problems promptly and reduce the incidence of complications and mortality in these infants. Materials and methods: In this study of existing data type, we reviewed the records of 180 patients who were admitted with the persumptive diagnosis of neonatal sepsis/meningitis during a two-year period in Mofid hospital. We focused on epidemiologic data, risk factors, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and complications.Results: Of 180 patients, positive blood, urine, and CSF cultures were reported in 19(11%), 23(12.7%), and 6(3.3%), respectively. Among those with positive blood culture; M/F ratio was 1.7, early-onset and late-onset sepsis were reported in 42% and 58%, respectively. The most common organisms grown in blood cultures were; Staphilococcous epidermis (47%), Staphilococcous aureous (10.5%), pseudomonas (10.5%). The most .prevalent clinical signs/symptoms were: refusal of feeding, jaundice, fever, lethargy, and respiratory distress. Blood transfusion was achieved in 2 cases with positive blood culture due to hyperbilirubinemia. PROM was presented in 4 cases (21%) and mortality was seen in 2(10%). Meningitis was documented in 10.5% of the patients with positive blood cultures.Conclusion: Since the clinical manifestations of sepsis/meningitis is non-specific, thorough investigations are highly recommended in case of any suspicion to meningitis.

Background: Diarrhea is the leading cause of children mortality in developing countries. According to the WHO published reports, each year 12 millions children are died due to different diseases, of which 5 millions are died due to diarrhea. Bacteria play important role in diarrhea through variable mechanisms. One of the leading causes of food borne intoxicationis is the heat-stable enterotoxins produced by certain number of Enterobacteriacea. ELISA, Gene Probe, and Suckling Mouse Assay (SMA) are used to assess heat-stabl enterotoxins.Materials and methods: 1081 food samples were evaluated for Enterobacteriacea in this cross sectional study.Results: Of 1081 food samples, 265(24.5%) have revealed to be infected by Enterobacteriacea. A total of 203 contaminating bacteria which were members of Enterobacteriacea [including E-coli (102), Enterobacter (44), Klebsiella (30), Cytrobacter frondi (27)] and previously reported to have the ability of producing heat-stable enterotoxins were studied by SMA method. Among these, 14 starins were shown to be positive for heat-stable enterotoxins production.Conclusion: With respect to the relatively high prevalence of enteric bacteria-related enterotoxigens, further investigations over food processing are strongly recommended.

Although the presence of Mullerian-remanants due to normal secretion and function of the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) may be incidental inpatients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), but the sporadic reports of this association suggests the probable existence of an interrelation between the two abnormalities. We found normal depth vagina and bilateral fallopian tubes in a patient with CAIS. In our opinion this association is due to absence of androgen effects and resultant unopposed antagonist effect of endogenous esterogen on AMH.

Supernumerary tooth in the nasal cavity is rare especially if teeth numbers and occlusion are normal. In the present article we report a case of a 33-year old woman with Supernumerary tooth in the nasal cavity. Supernumerary tooth was removed completely through an oral cavity incision.