Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2011 | Volume:19 | Issue:74|Papers Count:17

Background and Objective: This clinical trial was conducted to evaluate optimal time of injection of a small dose of fentanyl during anesthetic induction to attenuate circulatory responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.Materials and Methods: 120 patients who had enrolled in this clinical trial, with ASA physical status of I or II scheduled for the elective surgery. The patients were randomly allocated to five groups. In groups II, III, IV, and V, patients received fentanyl (2 mcg/kg) 1, 3, 5, or 10 min respectively before tracheal intubation. In group I patients did not receive fentanyl and served as the control group. After induction with thiopental and atracorium, an oral tracheal intubation was accomplished in each patient. Changes in each circulatory variable after tracheal intubation were based on the differences between baseline values and values obtained 1 min after intubation.Results: Increase in postintubation heart rate, diastolic and mean arterial pressure compared with preinduction values in group III was less than the other groups. Increased systolic pressure in group IV was less compared with other groups; but there was not a significant difference between groups III and IV.Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the optimal injection time of fentanyl in blunting the circulatory responses to tracheal intubation is 3 min before intubation.

Background and Objective: Metformin is a widely used medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, the effect of various doses of metformin on the mouse islets of langerhans volume was investigated. Materials and methods: Twenty four C57BL/6 adult male mice weighting 30±5 gr were randomly divided into 4 groups. Normal saline was given to the control group (group 4) and the experimental groups (groups 1-3) received 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg metformin daily by intraperitoneal injection for seven days. One day after the last injection the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their pancreases were fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The volume of the islets of langerhans was estimated by using Cavalieri method.  Results: Volume of the islets of langerhans in doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg Metformin showed a non-significant difference in comparison to control group (P>0.05). 300 mg/kg metformin treated mice showed a significant increase in islets of langerhans volume compared to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Metformin increases in the islets of langerhans volume in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing effects of Metformin on the islets of langerhans volume may be due to proliferation or hypertrophy of beta cells.

Background and Objective: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common seizures seen in childhood with a prevalence of 2-14% in different societies. This study was carried out regarding the possibility of the relationship between serum zinc levels and occurrence of FS.Materials and Methods: 117 children ranging from 6 months to 5 years were divided into four groups: FS (n=39), febrile patients with no seizures (FNS) (n=40), control group of afebrile patients with no seizures (AFNS) (n=32), and patients with seizures without fever (n=6). After completion of a questionnaire and obtaining blood, serum zinc levels were measured. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.Results: The mean serum zinc levels in 39 FS patients was 75.67 mcg/dl, 40 febrile patients with no seizure had a mean serum zinc level of 87.58 mcg/dl. 32 afebrile patients with no seizure had a mean serum zinc level of 89.06 mcg/dl and in 6 afebrile patients with seizure; the mean serum zinc level was 96/67 mcg/dl. The serum zinc level in FS patients was significantly lower than the other groups (p=0.002 and p=0.001), whereas the 3 other groups had no significant difference (P= 0.971).Conclusion: Regarding the high incidence of hypozincaemia in FS, low serum zinc levels may be associated with the occurrence of FS.

Background and Objectivs: Trichophyton rubrum is considered as the most common causes of dermatophytosis in human skin and nail tissues. Microsporeum canis is a zoophile dermatophyte which can be transmited to human. HSP70 is a 70 KD heat shock protein in fungi. In this study, the effects of variable CO2 concentrations were examined on HSP70 expression in T. rubrum and M. canis. Materials and Methods: Strains used in this study were obtained from skin scales and nails of the patients who were suffering from onychomycosis. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose broth (SDB) and incubated at 25oC for 2, 4 and 7 days under 3%, 5%, and 10% of CO2 concentrations. Control cultures maintained for 7 days without CO2 concentrations. Then, RNA was isolated from the harvested mycelia mass, and HSP70 gene expression was studied in T. rubrum and M. canis by RT-PCR. The obtained results were compared to the Beta actin as a house keeping gene. Results: The results of this study revealed the maximum variations under 3%, 5%, and 10% of CO2 concentrations in maximum 7 days incubation period, and the expression of HSP70 gene showed different  variations  under different CO2 concentrations. Conclusion: Our results showed a negative effect of CO2 concentrations in the expression of HSP70 in T. Rubrum and a positive effect in M. canis comparing to the controls.

Background and Objective: Antibody secretion in human may be the result of the changes in protein structure. Probably these changes in protein structure or polymorphism in human thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene is the reason for presence of the anti TPO. In this study, we examined the association of T2229/C exon 12 polymorphism of TPO gene in respect to anti-TPO level.Materials and Methods: In this study 168 individuals (47±2 years) were selected as case and control groups based on anti-TPO titer above and below 100 IU/L. PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism) was used to amplify the segment of exon 12 polymorphism. Results: In exon 12 the allele frequencies were 0.8698 for C allele and 0.1301 for T allele and there was no significant association between this polymorphism and anti-TPO level (CC=127.5± 308 IU/ml vs. TT=126±224 IU/ml).Conclusion: This study indicated that there is no significant association between anti-TPO levels and T2229/C exon 12 polymorphisms. Meanwhile, selected SNP of exon12 directly has no effect on anti-TPO levels.

Background and Objective: Preparation of proper antigens is an important issue in serology of hydatidosis. Investigators have been able to obtain excretory/secretory antigens (E/S Ags) by short-term culture of protoscoleces in a couple of culture media. However, no data are available about production rate of such antigens in different culture media. The present study was carried out to evaluate the production of E/S Ags (proteins) in PBS complemented with glucose, DMEM and RPMI culture media.Material and Methods: To obtain E/S proteins, protoscoleces of echinococcus were cultured in PBS complemented with 10% glucose, RPMI and DMEM for 72 hours. Proteins secreted in culture media were concentrated and assayed. To characterize different components, proteins were electrophoresed on SDS-PAGE. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests.Results: The mean concentration of E/S proteins in PBS medium in 24 hours of culture was significantly higher than DMEM and RPMI (P<0.05). However, such a difference was not observed between E/S proteins in DMEM and RPMI media. E/S proteins obtained from PBS medium were separated into 12 major bands and the two other media into 14 major bands within a range of molecular masses of 16 to 67 kDa.Conclusion: PBS complemented with glucose is more appropriate than the two other media for E/S proteins production. The best time to obtain E/S proteins is the first 48 hours of culture.

Background and Objective: Cefixime is an antimicrobial agent which has a widespread ability against various pathogens, especially gram-negative organisms. Today, physicians apply cephalosporins especially cefixime in a wide scale. Regarding the side effects of some of these antibiotics on reproductive system, this study was conducted to determine the effect of cefixime on pituitary- gonadal hormones, gonadotrophins and testes morphology in adult male mice.Materials and Methods: Eighteen male mice (age: 12-16 weeks, weight: 35 5 gr) were divided into three groups; control, sham and experimental (6 mice in each group). Experimental group received cefixime (0.5 gr/kg/day) as a solution in dimethyl solfoxide (DMSO) for 10 days; the sham group received only drug solvent (DMSO) via IP injection and the control group remained intact. The animals were weighed and sacrificed. Level of hormones was measured by Radioi Immuno Assay (RIA) method. Then, tissues were fixed in Buin's fixative. Sections were cut into 5 µm thicknesses and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H& E). Data were analyzed using T-test and SPSS software.Results: Count of spermatogenic, Sertoli and leydig cells and titer of FSH significantly decreased in the experimental group in comparison with the control and sham groups (P<0.01 and P<0.05). In the experimental group, DHEA hormone decreased significantly (P<0.05) in comparison with sham. No significant differences were seen in other factors between the groups.Conclusion: Regarding physiological role of Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis, reduction of FSH hormone may lead to negative effects on the sperm production and reproductive potential of male mice.

Background and Objective: Discovery of genetic changes which contribute to cellular neoplastic and malignant tumor transformation is one of the major aims in oncology researches. The aim of this study was to investigate the DMBA-induced breast cancer in SD rat strains using bioinformatical methods and also to find their homologous regions in human chromosomes.   Materials and Methods: In this research, we used SD rat strains as a suitable model for DMBA-induced breast cancer. We gavaged the rats twice with 10 mg DMBA solved in 0.5 ml sesame oil. After tumors appeared in DMBA-treated rats, they were subjected to histopathology and immunohistochemistery studies, cell culture, metaphase chromosomal preparation, and finally G-banding stain. According to databases, we collected genes in the affected area and prepared a gene list by comparing genome of the rats and human in changed chromosomal segments.Results: Our data showed numerical and frequent structural changes in different number of chromosomes. For example, we found recurrent gain in chromosomes 3, 4, 8, 12, 17, loss in chromosomes 3, 9, 12 and 15, also deletion in chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 20 and addition in chromosomes 11, 15 and 19.Conclusion: According to these chromosomal changes and based on bioinformatics studies we predict that  the genesTGFBR3, HACE1, UBR5, CALB2, HPR, LCP1, RRM2B, ABO, ZFHX3, TNFSF11, ABL1, EPSTI1, PRDM1, REG3A, FOXA1 and PRKD1, probably may contribute to the development of breast cancer.

Background and Objective: Asthma is one of the chronic diseases of childhood that affects patients' quality of life. Planned education is considered as an important factor in management of sufferers from chronic diseases. Subsequent implementation of such programs leads to almost 70% decrease in chronic diseases and reduction of the confined- to- bed individuals. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of group vs. computer education on the quality of life in 8-12 year old children suffering from asthma in Zanjan Vali-e Asr Hospital.  Materials and Methods: This quasi- experimental study was conducted in 80 children aged 8-12 years who were suffering from moderate to mild asthma. Data collection tool was a questionnaire in which 11 items were about individual characteristics and 25 items were about quality of life concerning physical, psychological, mental and social dimensions. Samples were selected by a non- random method and then they were randomly divided into two categories; group and computer education. The questionnaires were completed by the researcher before and after the intervention. After one month the data were collected and then analyzed statistically.Results: According to the analyses, mean and ranking of the quality of life in our study, regarding WHO standards, indicated an increase in the  quality of life  and there was a significant increase after the intervention in the quality of life in both groups (p<0/05).Conclusion: The findings showed that not only education in both ways was helpful in the improvement of the quality of life, but the computer based education had an outstanding impact on it. Therefore, perseverance and promotion of the quality of life by means of continuous computer education for these patients are recommended.

Background and Objective: Utilization of ionizing radiation in some surgery operations (especially orthopedic operations) is inevitable.  One of the main occupational hazards of physicians and other personnel could be radiation exposure risks. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure doses received by operating room personnel in such surgery operations. Materials and Methods: 30 personnel of operation room in university affiliated hospitals of Hamadan city (excluding physicians and nurses) were studied as they received radiation doses. 3 TLD (thermoluminescent dosimeters) chips were fixed on the apron of each staff member. To estimate the high risk examinations, staff members also completed a questionnaire about the type and number of the radiological examinations that they had participated.  Results: Minimum and maximum level of doses received by the participants were between 0.24 and 0.56 mSv in a four month period. Therefore, amount of annual doses received by the personnel would be between 0.73 and 1.7 mSv, respectively (without reduction of background radiation). As the accuracy of TL dosimeters is normally about 0.1 mSv; therefore, it can be claimed that the received doses by the personnel was very low and comparable with background radiation.   Conclusion: The results indicated that the radiation doses received by operating room personnel  were  very low. They were less than maximum predicted doses reported by the International Commission of Radiation Protection. However, the use of dose recording systems for awareness about absorbed doses beyond permitted limits is necessary. 

Background and Objective: Injection Drug Users (IDUs) include more than 69.9% of known HIV/AIDS cases in Iran. The most important causes of HIV among them are syringe sharing and high risk behaviours such as sexual practice with different partners. Since IDUs are hard to reach and there is little information about them, this behavioural survey conducted to explore Zanjan district’s injection drug users in relation to HIV/AIDS.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, 61 IDUs, inhabitants of Zanjan, were selected in non-random sampling by referring to the most probable sites and places of their presence. Data was collected using a standard Family Health Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) questionnaire designed especially for IDUs.Results: Mean duration of non injected and injected drug use was 12.1±5 and 4.5±3.5 years respectively, and age of the first injection was 24±5.4 years. The most frequently injected drug was Heroin (96.7%) and the most non-injected one was Cannabis (85.2). 55.7% of IDUs injected 4 or more times per day, and 32.8% reported needle sharing. 100% of the subjects knew the role of used syringe in HIV transmitting. 44.3% had taken an HIV test, and 70.4% knew about their HIV status.Conclusion: The early age of starting drug injection, needle sharing, coverage of voluntary HIV testing in less than 25%, and unawareness of 1/3 of them about their HIV test status indicate the significance of priority and service delivery to this most high risk group.

Background and Objective: In this research, landfill leachate treatment in Karaj city was investigated by a linked septic tank and aerated lagoon.Materials and Methods: At first, characteristics of the leachate were determined. Then a pilot plant with anaerobic-aerobic (Septic tank and Aerated lagoon) parts was installed and started. Results: Results showed that Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency for septic tank and subsequently to lagoon for influent COD of 19537 mg/L, were 8401 and 432 mg/L, respectively.  The septic tank and aerated lagoon also operated with different flow rates and the best results for septic tank and aerated lagoon obtained in 23.6 L/day and 9.3 L/day respectively with maximum COD removal efficiency of 91.2%. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the hybrid system had 90% COD removal efficiency. Therefore, leachate COD loading could be effectively removed in this system.