Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Year:2012 | Volume:22 | Issue:90|Papers Count:15

Background and purpose: Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Targeted drug delivery to cells, tissues or specialized receptor cells is an advanced technology in treatment of HCC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity properties of DTX nanoparticles. In this research nanoparticles were prepared through radical polymerization.Materials and methods: HepG2 cells were seeded in 96-well plates at a density of 10, 000 viable cells per well. Then 0.01-0.50 mg/ml of the nanoparticle and the free drug was added the day after seeding. Afterwards, the number of viable cells was counted and the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenase enzymes of the cells was detected in 24, 48 and 72 hrs using MTT assay.Results: The results of MTT assay showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of HepG2 carcinoma cell growth of the nanoparticle compared with DTX. Inhibitory concentrations (IC50) that was obtained for nanoparticles and free drug incubation times of 24, 48 and 72 hours were 1.02±0.68, 0.39±0.86, 0.20±0.93 and 10.39±1.34, 8.87±0.97, 5.99±0.76 mg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The results showed higher cytotoxity effect of nanoparticles in comparison with free drug against HepG2 cell lines in all mentioned incubation times. Hence, thiolated-chitosan nanoparticles could be a potentially useful delivery system for docetaxel as an anticancer agent in treatment of liver cancer.

Background and purpose: The prevalence of malignancy in thyroid nodules have been reported 1-10%. Epidemiological studies suggest that thyroid cancer incidence is rising over the last 20 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules in patients referred to Imam Khomeini hospital in recent decades (2003-2011) in Sari.Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional, retrospective study. The results of cytology were recorded and compared with pathology results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of fine needle aspiration for prediction of malignancy were assessed.Results: The study population included 2002 patients with thyroid nodules, 210 cases were male (10.5%) and 1792 women (89.5%). Cytology results in 1598 cases (79.8%) were benign, 205 (10.2%) unsatisfactory, 53 (2.6%) suspicious and 146 (7.3%) malignant.217 reports of pathology results of patients with thyroidectomy were available, 153 (70.5%) specimens were benign and 64 (29.5%) malignant. The sensitivity of fine needle biopsy was 81.2% and specificity, 75.1%. positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 63.4% and 93.5 percent respectively.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, thyroid fine needle aspiration is still a good way to predict thyroid malignancy and the incidence of thyroid malignancy in our patients has not increased in recent decades.

Background and purpose: Preterm birth is defined as birth before 37 weeks’ gestation and is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The present study was done to determine the association between blood lead level in pregnant women and preterm delivery.Materials and methods: A longitudinal prospective study was performed on 1033 pregnant women referring to prenatal centers in Tehran from May 2010 to September 2011. All women’s gestational age was 14-20 weeks. Reproductive-demographic questionnaire was completed for data collection. Meanwhile, blood samples were taken to determine the lead levels. Blood lead level analysis was done by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry method.Results: The mean age of mothers was 26.7±4.4 years of whom more were primiparous (53.3%) with normal BMI (51.1%). The incidence of preterm birth was 7% and the mean of blood lead level was 4.7±4.9 mg/dl. Statistical analysis did not show any significant correlation between blood lead level and preterm birth (P=0.7).Conclusion: The mean of blood lead levels in present study was in normal range (<10 mg/dl). The results of this study indicated that blood lead level in normal range has no effect on preterm birth.

Background and purpose: The Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) is a potent dilator of cerebral vessels and that now thought to play a central role in the underlying pathophysiology of migraine. The purpose of present study, therefore, was to investigate effects of endurance, resistance, and strength training on CGRP content in Wistar rat’ trigeminal nerve.Materials and methods: A number of 21 rats randomly assigned into four groups including Control, Endurance, Resistance, and Strength training. Treadmill running endurance protocol including 5 days a week, 60 min/day, 30 m/min speed, animals of the resistance training group were housed in metal cage with a wire-mesh tower; the strength training protocol consisted of climbing a 1-meter–long ladder. Forty-eight hours after last session of protocol, animals were anaesthetized and trigeminal nerve ganglion was exited after head separating and skull excision. Then, tissues were quickly frizzed in liquid nitrogen. For data analyses, one way ANOVA was used.Results: Data analysis showed that there was a significant different between control and strength training groups in trigeminal nerve ganglion CGRP (P=0.03). But, the content of CGRP in trigeminal nerve ganglion was not significantly different in endurance and resistance groups compared with control group (respectively, P=0.35 and P=0.57).Conclusion: It is considered that intensity of training plays a key role in CGRP increase. It is suggested that moderate to low intensity of physical activity probably lead to less CGRP release in brain vessels and trigeminal nerves.

Background and purpose: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is a main outcome in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several psychological factors are mentioned as effective factors in determining HRQOL in IBS patients. The aim of this study is to determine the association between patient’s illness perceptions and HRQOL in IBS sufferers.Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study 160 patients with IBS who were referred to psycho-somatic clinic (related to Noor hospital of Isfahan) were participated. Patients’ illness perceptions and HRQOL were assessed by Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) and IBS specific quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL-34). Information gathered from questionnaires was finally analyzed by descriptive statistic methods, Pearson correlation and Canonical correlation method.Results: Results of analysis performed by canonical correlation method showed significant association between patient’s illness perception and HRQOL in IBS sufferers (Canonical correlations: 0.84, P<0.001). Among illness perception subscales, Emotions (P<0.001, r=0.69), Consequence (P<0.001, r=0.67), Identity (P<0.001, r=52), Concern (P<0.001, 0.51), Timeline (P<0.001, r=49) and Personal Control (P<0.001, r=0.19), respectively, had the most significant correlation with HRQOL, and there was no relation found between Illness Comprehensibility or treatment control and HRQOL.Conclusion: Patient’s illness perceptions seem to play a role in determining HRQOL in IBS sufferers. Therefor] psychological interventions based on patients’ Illness perceptions are recommended for these patients.

Background and purpose: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure in children which is triggered by variety of causes. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum level of magnesium (Mg) in three groups: children with FS (A), febrile children without seizure (B) and normal children (C). Also, this study investigated the relationship between severity of fever and serum level of magnesium.Materials and methods: This case-control study included 94, 93, and 40 children in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The subjects aged between 6 months to 6 years. The serum magnesium levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were applied to analyze the data.Results: The mean axillary temperature s were 38.8±0.4oC in group A and 38.4±0.44oC in group B. The mean levels of magnesium in groups A, B, and C were 15.66±2.85, 14.61±1.97, and 19.44±1.86 mg/L, respectively. However, these levels significantly decreased in groups A and B when compared with normal children. Moreover, we found a significant negative correlation between the serum magnesium level in children with FS and severity of fever (r=-0.312, P<0.005).Conclusion: Magnesium plays an important role in pathogenesis of febrile seizure. In fact, the increase of fever is correlated with the reduction in serum magnesium level in febrile children.

Background and purpose: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe illness that has serious impacts on the lives of such patients and their families. Today families of individuals with BD are actively involved in providing care to their loved ones. Therefore, successful management of these patients relies significantly on the health of caregivers. The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of health according to family members who care for adult patients with BD.Materials and methods: A phenomenological qualitative research was carried out in the family members caregiving to BD patients in Farshian Psychiatric Hospital, Hamedan, 2010. The subjects were selected using purposive sampling. By reaching data saturation the number of participants was 12. In order to collect the data in-depth interviews were conducted and then analyzed by Van Manen method.Results: Six main themes with 14 subthemes were identified in this study including ‘living in hell’, ‘mental-emotional exhaustion’, ‘self-neglect’, ‘the need to receive support’, ‘condemned to isolation’ and ‘feelings of shame’.Conclusion: This study underlines the necessity for comprehensive support among family caregivers of BD patients. Hence, support and interventions regarding such families’ health have to be considered by all mental health treatment providers.

Background and purpose: Nowadays, tuberculosis (TB) is still growing as one of the biggest human killers in all ancient years, in spite of there are effective drugs and diagnostic tools. In recent years, the incidence rate of this disease has increased. This study was conducted to evaluate the epidemiologic status of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and its associated risk factors in Qom province during 2002-2010.Materials and methods: This study was performed as a descriptive-analytic study, on TB patient’s diagnosing during 2002 to 2010 in Qom Province. The data obtained from TB patient’s documented files. Data analysis has been done by SPSS software, and with T-test and chi-square.Results: A total of 1035 Pulmonary TB patients (744 positive smears and 291 negative smears) were diagnosed during 2002-2010. Lowest incidence rate were observed in 2002 (9.59 per 100000) and the highest rate were observed in 2008 (13.6 per 100000). Mean age of injured population was 47.43±20.92 Disease incidence rate during years of study hasn’t increasing or decreasing significant trend (p>0.05).Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, more attention to case finding in the age group 65 and upper years and foreign refugees (afghan) is recommended. It seems to be necessary some workshops for general physicians about case finding, early diagnosing of patients, and also general health education for public are suggested.

Background and purpose: Giardia lamblia is an intestinal flagellate of important protozoan parasites of medical and public health in Iran and the world. Given the importance of treatment in patients with Giardiasis, particularly with the use of medicinal plants and parasite resistance to chemical drugs, in the present study the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Artemisia annua on the cystic stage of the Giardia lamblia in vitro was done.Materials and methods: In this experimental study hydroalcholic extracts of A. annua prepared in 1, 10, 50 and 100 mg⁄ml concentrations, and cysts of Giardia isolated from stools of patient by sucrose solution 0.85M. Then, hydroalcholic extract after diluting affected on Giardia cysts, the results were compared with the control groups.Results: Results of this study indicated that concentration of 50 and 100 mg⁄ml of hydroalcholic extracted of A. annua after 3 and 24 hours has the most killing and cytotoxicity activity on G. lamblia cysts in vitro.Conclusion: According to our results, the concentration of 100mg⁄ml of A. annua after 24 hour has the highest cytotoxicity effect on G. lamblia cysts. Therefore, the in vivo study on A. annua in animal models is recommended.

Background and purpose: Surgical site infections are infections of the tissues, organs, or spaces exposed by surgeons during performance of an invasive procedure, and the development of SSIs is related to the degree of microbial contamination of wound during surgery, duration of the procedure, and host factors.Inguinal hernioplasty is one of the most common surgical operations. The use of prophylactic antibiotic in Lichtenstein hernioplasty is controversial. Hence this study done to evaluate the prophylactic antibiotic effect in reducing the post operative wound infection in Lichtenstein hernioplasty.Materials and methods: This is an interventional double-blind randomized trial on 282 patients under going, Unilateral primary elective inguinal hernioplasty with Lichtenstein method. Using polypropylene mesh. They were randomized to receive 1gr/1v cephalotin (keflin) or equal volume of placebo 30min before incision. Patients were evaluated 1week, 2weeks and 12weeks after surgery by an independent surgeon or resident. Wound infection was defined according to the criteria of centers for Disease control and recorded. Results were assessed using chi-square and t-test as appropriate.Results: We included 282 patients in this study between March 2010 and october 2011. The total number of wound infection was 13 (4.7%), 4 (2.8%) in antibiotic group and 9 (6.4%) in placebo group (p=0.29). There was 1 deep infection only in placebo group. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in two groups.Conclusion: The results show that, in Lichtenstein hernioplasty, routine use of prophylactic antibiotic is not indicated, as it does not significantly reduce the post operative surgical site infection rates.

Background and purpose: Shoulder injuries are very common among volleyball players. Functional disability of shoulder is one of the most important reasons for the players’ absence in match and training sessions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain and functional disability among Iranian premier league volleyball players and also to determine the correlation between pain prevalence and functional disability with some factors such as age, gender, body type and the activity of these players.Materials and methods: Following ethical approval from the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, a cross-sectional study was carried out on 103 volleyball players of whom 55 were male (mean age 23.21±3.80 years old, mean height 190.69±8.77 cm and mean weight 84.60±10.4 Kg) and 48 were female (mean age 24.0±7.63 years old, mean height 170.94±4.72 cm and mean weight 61.42±6.58 Kg). Information including demographic and sport characteristics were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire was completed to determine the pain intensity and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used in order to assess the functional disability.Results: The results indicated that 22% of the volleyball players reported pain at the time of completing the questionnaire (point prevalence); 29% during last six months; 36% during last year and 38% suffered during their lifetime. Almost 70% reported a level of functional disability with the average DASH score of 12.7±9.2. No significant difference was found in pain intensity and functional disability of shoulder between male and female volleyball players (P>0.05). Moreover, we found a significant correlation between pain prevalence and body mass index, level of sport, number of training days per week, number of training sessions per week and number of training sessions per day (P<0.05).Conclusion: This research found a high prevalence of shoulder pain and functional shoulder disability among Iranian premier league volleyball players. Considering identified risk factors, more focus on preventive strategies is recommended to prevent shoulder injuries among Iranian volleyball players.

Background and purpose: Exposure to formaldehyde (FA), a highly-used chemical in industries, can induce serious health problems. Aim of this study was to explore the status of oxidant and antioxidant parameters in liver tissue of rats exposed to FA inhalation Materials and methods: Twenty-one male albino Wistar rats divided into 3 separate groups randomly (n=7). Rats in groups 1 and 2 were respectively exposed to atmospheres containing6 and 12 PPM FA continuously (8 hours/day, 14 days), while animals in group 3 which served as control group were not exposed to any stress source. The animals were anesthetized by CO2 and after decapitation, liver samples were collected and processed for estimation of MDA and GSH levels in the supernatant by spectrophotometric method in control and exposed groups. Data were analyzed bynonparametric tests and significance was expressed as P<0.05.Results: The present research findings showed statistically significant body weight loss in FA (12ppm) exposed group compared to the control and also FA (6ppm) exposed groups. However, a statistically significant decrease in liver weight and liver/body weight ratio was observed in the exposed groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). FA exposed groups showed a statistically significant decrease in GSH levelin liver tissue and statistically significant increase in MDA level in liver tissue (P<0.05). However, the levels of changes inbiochemical parametersin FA exposed groups were not dosedependent.Conclusion: The results of present study show that exposure to formaldehyde is toxic to liver tissue. Further research for exploring the toxicity of FA in occupationally exposed groups is recommended.

Adenocarcinoma of fallopian tube is a rare malignancy of genital tract which bares many complications. If hysterectomy is performed without oophorectomy, saving the fallopian tubes is not necessary because they could cause tumors. In our case Cauliflower mass was seen many years after hysterectomy, accompanied by a rare condition in which the tube was attached to the vaginal cuff. The diagnosis of vaginal vault cancer was made and surgery was performed. However, post-operation diagnosis was fallopian tube cancer.