Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences
Year:2005 | Volume:6 | Issue:4|Papers Count:14

Background and aim: Contamination of the ecosystems by industrial and agricultural pollutants has been a major recent concern. Recent rapid industrialization in developed and even developing countries and the resultant high demands for industrial products has led to heavy metals pollution. The bioaccumulation of metals in food chain and ultimately in human body could exert deleterious effects on the human health and especially on the sperm quality and quantity. This study was conducted to examine the morphological changes and motility parameters disturbances of sperm due to cadmium exposure. Method: Sperms were incubated with different concentrations of cadmium, then fixed with glutaraldehyde, dehydrated with sucrose and fixed again with osmium tetra oxide, dehydrated with acetone and morphological changes of the sperms were viewed by scanning elctromicroscopy. Results: The results showed that cadmium at concentrations higher than 10 ppm insert extensive morphological effects on the sperms (mainly enlarging sperm's head), so that they cannot swim freely and fertilized ova. Mean percent of abnormal sperms were 80, 100 and 100 percents for 10, 50 and 100 ppm cadmium concentrations. Also, cadmium decreased sperm motility even at 100 ppm with almost complete cessation of movement at 200 ppm and above. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to cadmium disturbs motility parameters of sperm and causes extensive morphological changes and enlargement of its head, so that the sperm cannot enter ovum.

Background and aim: Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonsis. Because of the importance of this disease and the effect of strain variation on strategic planning for the control of this disease, sheep and human Brucella isolates were evaluated for strain variation. Methods: Five human blood Brucella isolates and 25 sheep embryo Brucella isolates were collected from hospitals and veterinary centers in Isfahan. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the collected samples using method of SDS and proteinase K treatment, phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. omp2a and omp2b fragments of all isolates were amplified using 2 pairs of specific primers (omp2a R, F and omp2b R, F) and the PCR products were electrophoresed and stained. These PCR products were then restricted using Alu I, Hinf I and Taq I restriction endonuclease.Results: The PCR products of all human and sheep isolates had the same size 1100bp for omp2a and 1200bp for omp2b. The banding pattern of PCR-RFLP for all of the isolates was similar to banding pattern of the Brucella melitensis biotype 1.Conclusion: Based on the banding pattern of PCR-RFLP of the omp2a and omp2b fragments, it can be concluded that all the studied samples in Isfahan are Brucella melitensis biotype 1. This study should be repeated regularly. This will inform us if new species or biotype of Brucella have entered to the region. This is important in planning for the control of the disease.

Background and aim: The worst effect of mutagens on the human genome is making the basis of some disorders. Mitomycin C (MMC) and UV are the mutagens which are used in health centers but their effects on genome are unclear. In this study the effects of these mutagens (weakened based on the mitotic index) on the genomic instability were compared. Methods: 105 lymphocytes separated with ficol, were cultured in T25 flask contained 5ml F12 with 15%-20% FCS, mitogen PHA (phytohemaglutinin) and BrdU (Bromodeoxy Uridine). Three flasks contained MMC with concentrations of 3ng/ml, 6ng/ml and 9ng/ml and two flasks were irradiated with UV (20 cm from the UV-C lamp of 420 LUX) for 3 or 5 minutes. The control flask had the same number of lymphocytes but no treatment. The flasks were incubated in 370c and the metaphasic cells were halted in metaphasic stage after 72 hours with colchicine and stained by the SCE (sister chromatid exchange) method then the average of sister chromatid exchange was evaluated in one hundred metaphasic plaques. Results: Study of the slides revealed an increase of SCE in all specimens in comparison with control. While the rate of SCE was 3.35 percent in the control group it was 5.43, 7.1, and 8.13 in MMC treated cells with the concentrations of 3 ng/ml, 6 ng/ml and 9 ng/ml respectively. The rate of SCE was 4.43 and 6.8 percent in irradiated cells with UV for 3 and 5 minutes respectively. The differences with the control group were significant (P<0.001). Conclusion :The results indicated that the weakened chemical and physical mutagens cause genomic instability. MMC used in chemotherapy at high dose, can cause genomic instability in the normal cells and prepare them for mutation. Also short time radiation of UV didn't prevent mutagenic effect. As this ray may be in atmosphere due to destruction of ozone, it could be a risk factor for human in the future. This research displayed the importance of weakened mutagens and revealed the usage rate of MMC and UV to decrease their effects as mutagene.

Background and aim: Advanced oxidation processes have been demonstrated as the rapid and effective methods for the treatment of a vast range of the refractory pollutants. The aim of this study was to use ozone in reaction with hydroxyl radicals (high-PH) as the reaction accelerator for MTBE degradation in industrial wastewater and polluted water.Methods: The effect of O3 with the hydroxyl radicals (high-PH) was experimented for MTBE degradation in an aqueous phase. All the reactions were performed in a semi-continuous bubbling column reactor. The effects of PH, reaction time and rate of O3 needed to attain complete MTBE degradation were examined. MTBE ozonation in five different PHs (10, 10.5, 11, 11.5 and 12) during 100 minutes for each PH was performed. Results: The study showed that the PH=11.5 is the fittest PH for MTBE degradation by the radical reactions. In this pH [intermediates] /[MTBE] ratio was 0.6 v/mM that it is 20% more than its nearest ratio (related to PH=11). The least time (70 minutes) and needed ozone (5.3 moles) for 90% degradation of each mole of MTBE occurred at PH=11.5. The test performed to determine the rate of removed MTBE as a result of air stripping showed that this rate was 11-19.5% at different PHs during 100 minutes. There was no significant relationship between the rate of removed MTBE as a result of air stripping and the aqueous PH at PHs=10-12 at level of 5% error.Conclusion: MTBE is relatively resistant to degradation even in advanced oxidation processes, but with continuous oxidation can be degraded completely and the best PH for that is 11.5.

Background and aim:The objective of this survey was to carry out the epidemiological study of the psychiatric disorders among over 18 years old individuals in the urban and rural areas of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province.Methods :The sample consisted of 305 persons selected by randomized clustered and systematic sampling methods from the families of Chaharmohal & Bakhtiari province. For each person the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) questionnaire was completed by a clinical psychologist. The diagnosis of the disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria.Results: The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province was 16.42%. It was 20% among women and 13.14% among men. The anxiety and neuro-cognitive disorders with 9.52% and 3.28% respectively were the most prevalent in the province. The prevalence of psychotic disorders in this study was 0.33%, mood disorders 2.63% and dissociative disorders 0.66%. In the group of mood disorders, major depression with 2.30% and in the group of anxiety disorders, phobic disorder with 2.62% had the highest prevalence. We found that 10.49% of the individuals suffered from at least one psychiatric disorder. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province among the age group of 56-65 with 30%, individuals whose spouses had passed away with 25%, urban residents with 15.53%, illiterates with 12.66% and unemployed persons with 21.74% were more than other groups. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the responsibility of the health policy makers for prevention, treatment and medical education for mental health.

Background and aim: Post cesarean section pain causes physiologic and psychological complications for mothers. The aim of this study was to compare the post operative pain between spinal and general anesthesia.Methods: Sixty women candidates for elective cesarean section were double blindly divided into tow groups of thirty. One group was operated under spinal anesthesia and the other group under general anesthesia. After the section, the mean administrated pethidine was calculated and the mark of the pain intensity was measured by MC-QILL questionnaire. Results: Both the means of pethidine used and the marks of the pain intensity were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the patients operated under general anesthesia.Conclusion: Local spinal anesthetics prevent post operative hyperalgesia, and reduce physiologic and endocrine responses. They also reduce the morbidity and expenditure of treatment.

Background and aim: Hyper transfusion therapy has increased the duration and quality of life in the patients with thalassemia major. However it could lead to chronic iron overload and viral hepatitis that induce complications such as glucose metabolism disorders. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of glucose metabolism disorders among β-thalassemic patients and compare with matched normal control group. Methods: The case group consisted of 40 multitransfused thalassemic patients (10-20 years old, F/M=47.5%, 52.5%) and the control group consisted of 40 matched normal persons. OGTT (Oral Glucose tolerance Test: blood sugar response to oral load of 1.75 g/ kg glucose) was performed in all persons. We also determined desferal dosage, serum ferritin level and markers of viral hepatitis (including HbsAg-HCV Ab-SGOT, SGPT, ALK.P) in thalassemic patients. Results: The prevalence of glucose metabolism disorders was higher in the thalassemic patients compared to the normal group (15% versus 0%, P=0.01). Glucose metabolism disorders was not higher in patients with thalassemia and viral hepatitis than thalassemic patients without hepatitis (16.6% versus 8.8%, P>0.05). The high frequency of glucose metabolism disorders in thalassemic patients was related to serum ferritin level (P<0.05).Conclusion: Our data showed the role of iron overload in glucose metabolism disorders and requirement of periodic control of serum ferritin level in β-thalassemia major patients.

Background and aim: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men and is the second cause of men's death due to cancer in the world. This form of cancer usually has no specific sign and can have definitive treatment if diagnosed in early stage.The easiest and most sensitive test for prostate cancer is serologic test for prostate specific antigen (PSA). Since this test has 43% predictive value and 67% sensitivity for PSA of more than 10 ng/mg, it is the first diagnostic method for the screening of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of PSA>4ng/ml.Methods: In this study a group of 120 patients over 50 years old with urinary problems (group A) referred to urology clinic of Kashani hospital compared with a group of 120 men over 50 years old with no urinary problems hospitalized in cardiology ward in Hajar hospital (group B). Blood sera from each group were collected and a questionnaire for each patient was completed. An ELISA test was carried out using IEMA WELL kit. The results then were statistically analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of PSA>4ng/ml was 19.2% and 8.3% in group A and B respectively (P<0.05). Further, there were direct relationships between PSA>4ng/ml and factors such as age, number of children and the severity of urinary blockage. Due to low information we could not find relationship between familial history of prostate cancer, BPH treatment and the pervious vasectomy. Besides there were no significant relationships between cigarette smoking or bone pain and PSA>4ng/ml.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study a screening program for testing PSA>4ng/ml in men over 50 years old especially for those with urinary problems is recommended.

Background and aim: This descriptive study was performed to find the relationship between cancer characters and the life quality of patients under chemotherapy referred to selected clinic of Tehran university of medical sciences.Methods: The sample consisted of 200 patients with different types of cancer (solid tumors) selected by simple sampling method. A questionnaire was filled for each patient using patients' files, self-reports and interviews. Chi-square test was used to find the statistical relationships.Results: Thirty-five percent of the subjects had gastrointestinal cancer, 35.5% were at the stage 3 of the disease, in 61.5% the duration of disease from diagnosis time was less than a year, 41% had mild pain, 91% had accepted their disease, 84.5% had a decrease or loss of organs function and 69.5% had a moderate intensity of fatigue. Conclusion: The quality of life of the majority of the subjects was moderate (66%). There were significant relationships between characteristics of cancer like type of the cancer (P<0.01), intensity of pain (P<0.01), decrease or loss of organs function (P<0.01), or the degree of fatigue (P<0.001) and the life quality, but there was no correlation between acceptance or refusal of the disease, duration of disease from diagnosis time or stage of cancer and quality of life.