Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2002 | Volume:10 | Issue:39|Papers Count:11

Background: Sodium Benzoate is one of the chemical products that is used as a preservative in foods, canned foods, juices, and beverages. In this research, teratogenic effects of Sodium Benzoate with two different doses on rat fetus were studied.Materials and Methods: This experimental research was conducted on 15 rats with 250-350 grams weight which were divided into three groups. Two does of 9.3 and 18.6 mmol/kg of Sodium Benzoate diluted in normal saline were injected intrapritoneally to groups one and two of experimentally pregnant rats in days 7, 8, and 9 of injection respectively. Normal saline was injected only to the control group. In day 20, the height and weight of all the fetuses, and also the weight and diameter of their placentas were measured. Then, their appearance was studied using stereomicroscope. Tissue sections were prepared and stained using hematoxiline eosin. Finally, fetus parameters were statistically analyzed in three groups by variance analyzing test.Results: The results showed that the height and weight of fetuses in the sample groups had reduced significantly in comparison with that of control group (P<0.05), and there was a significantly higher prevalence of death among fetuses in the sample groups in comparison with control group. However, no histological changes were observed in the tissues. Conclusion: Sodium Benzoate can reduce the weight and height of rat fetuses. Other researches on its amount in canned foods are recommended. Also pregnant women are advised not to consume foods containing Sodium Benzoate up to the second month of pregnancy.

Background: Considering the importance of immunologic infertility and also the existence of various screening methods of antisperm antibodies, this study was conducted to evaluate ELISA (Enzyme Linked lmmunosorbent Assey) and MAR (Mixed Antiglobulin Reaction) methods in people referring to the hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: This study was a comparison of laboratory methods which was carried out on 20 fertile and 20 infertile couples. The serum samples collected were studied to determine the level of antisperm antibodies using Agglutination (as standard method), ELISA, and MAR. The data obtained were then analyzed by Fisher exact test and Chi-square for sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV.Results: The frequency of antisperm antibodies in infertile people was 5/2 times more than that of fertile people (P<0.005), and the positive results in the females was 2.5 times more than the males. Age and cigarette smoking were found not to be related to antisperm antibody. Specificity, sensitivity, PPV, and NPV were 98% 16%, 86%, and 57% respectively for MAR and 88%, 13.5%,50%, and 54% for ELISA.Conclusion: MAR and ELISA methods are of less sensitivity but appropriate specificity for diagnosis of antisperm antibodies, but the combination of two or three methods can result in better immunoinfertility diagnosis. More investigations with greater number of samples are highly recommended.

Background: Considering the myelotoxic and leukemogenic effects of benzene on humans and to determine the concentration of benzene vapors in work places this study was carried out in one of the benzene-producing factories in Isfahan, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, forty age and sex matched workers who were occupationally exposed to benzene and forty people who were not exposed to benzene were selected. Air sampling from workplaces was carried out based on NIOSH recommendations, and the samples were analyzed using gas chromatography equipment. Hematological parameters were measured using Sysmex hematology analyser. The differential distribution of leukocytes and alkaline phosphatase in granulocytes, and also nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT) in neutrophils were evaluated by microscopic methods.Results: Benzene concentration in some workplaces was higher than standard values (3.99 ppm vs.lppm). There was no statistically significant difference in non-hematological parameters such as age, length of service and smoking, and also in hematological indices between the two groups. However, mean Hct, leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP), and NBT reduction were associated with a significant increase in exposed workers (P<0.05).Conclusion: Increment in LAP activity and NBT reduction found in exposed workers in some workplaces may be due to neutrophilic lineage stimulation by benzene and its metabolites.

Introduction: Finding a new way to cure lesions in a short time has always been one of the desires of dermatologists as well as medical researchers. Using animal fat as an ointment is a traditional way to cure lesions in southern cities of Iran. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of animal fat in the recovery of lesions considering that such a study had not already been performed.Materials and Methods: In this experimental single-blind study, the effects of animal fat and Sulfadiazine on healing of skin lesions were compared. Eight albino rabbits were selected and four lesions were induced on the skin of shoulders and near the arms of the animals on both sides. The animal fat and the other two lesions on the right were treated with Sulfadiazine. The lesions size was measured by someone who was completely unaware of the study.Results: The findings indicated that the rate of the cure for lesions which were treated with animal fat was significantly higher than the rate for lesions which were treated with Sulfadiazine.Conclusion: Based upon the results, the use of animal fat in the preparation of ointment for the recovery of skin lesions is beneficial. Conducting broader researches in this field is highly recommended.

Introduction: Considering the lengthy duration of surgical operations which is one of the causative factors of wound infection, this study was conducted to determine the logical relationship between the incidence of wound infection and the duration of cesarean in resident-training Fatemieh Hospital in Hamedan.Materials and Methods: In this Cohort analytical study, after eliminating all the risk factors of infection. 200 cases of cesarean lasting more than one hour (sample group) and 200 cases of cesarean lasting less than one hour (control group) were compared in terms of the rate of infection incidence. In this study, one-hour period of time was considered as the distinguishing factor between the two groups. This period of time is the mean of the lengthiest operations which had already been calculated by former residents.Results: Among 400 cases of cesarean, 25 cases (6.25%) got infected. of which 14 cases (56%) belonged in the first group (more than one hour) and 11 cases (44%) belonged in the second group (less than one hour). The relationship between the two groups was not statistically significant.Conclusion: The duration of more-than-one-hour cesarean in resident-training centers dose not increase the incidence of wound infection. Broader researches on the complications of other kinds of operations conducted by residents in several hospitals are highly recommended.

Background: Considering the known complications of chronic lead intoxication (Saturnism) and also to determine the level of lead in the hair of the workers exposed to lead contamination, this study was carried out on the workers of a lead industrial complex and also two control groups in Zanjan in 2000.Materials and Methods: This analytical study was carried out on 75 people. The scalp hair samples were collected from 25 workers who were occupationally exposed to lead contamination as case group and also from 25 subjects among the staff of the same factory and 25 subjects among Zanjan citizens as the first and the second control groups respectively. A flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine lead level in the samples. The findings were analyzed statistically using t-test and non-parametric tests.Results: The age of all subjects in the three groups was matched. The mean concentrations of hair lead in the workers (case group), the staff (control group 1), and the citizens (control group 2) Were: 131.7±93.4 µgr/gr, 21.1±13.2 µgr/gr, and 27.9±14.1 µgr/gr respectively. The mean concentration of hair lead in tbe citizens who had used gas vehicles in comparison with those who had not used gas vehicles was statistically higher (36.9±12.2 µgr/gr VS 16.6±4.9 µgr/gr, P<0,00001).Conclusion: Lead industry workers and also citizens who use gas vehicles are exposed to lead contamination more than others. Considering the lead contamination effects on humans, taking serious measures to alleviate the problem and also carring out a research in order to determine the reliability of measuring the hair lead levels for detecting lead contamination are recommended.

Background: Considering the role of iodine deficiency in gaiter formation and its effect on the function of thyroid, and also since our previous study in 1993 showed a severe iodine deficiency in Ahar (a rural area in north of Tehran), this study was carried out after 6 years to monitor the iodine supplementation program in schoolchildren aged 6-14 years.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 61 female schoolchldren who had received iodized oil injection. Then, goiter grade was measured by palation based on WHO classification. Thyroid hormones concentration was measured by commercial kits and urinary iodine by digestion method. The results were compared with the data obtained from our previous research in 1993. Results: A significant decrease in grade 2 goiter from 86% in 1993 to 5% in 1999 (P<0.001) and also a great increase in grade 1 goiter from 10% to 53% (P<0.001) were observed. Gaiter prevalence decreased 39%. The Mean level of urinary iodine excretion showed a remarkable increase from 1993 to 1999 (P<0.001).Serums T4, T3, TSH, and RT3UP were in normal ranges. The mean hormones levels in 1993 and 1999 were 160±41 and 151.626 ng/di for T3, 4.7±1.9 and 1.3±0.7 g/ml (P<0.001) for TSH and 30±4 and 28±25% for RT3UP respectively.

Background: Undernutrition is very common among hemodialysis patients and almost 30-40 percent of them suffer caloric and protein restrictions and 15 percent of them are severely malnourished. Therefore, a study for determining some nutritional markers was conducted on hemodialysis patients in 2002.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on all hemodialysis patients after obtaining their consent. Thus, by upright scale, calipers and measuring tape, anthropometric measures such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Triceps Skin Fold (TSF), Mid-upper Arm Circumference (MAC) and Mid-upper Arm Muscle Cricumference (MAMC) and by 4 mm intravenous blood sample, laboratory indicators such as serum albumin. and total number of lymphocytes were measured at the end of dialysis session by researchers.Results: The results indicated that a considerable percent of patients suffered low weight (38%), visceral protein stores depletion (44%), and structural protein stores depletion (42.9% males and 68% females).Conclusion: Fat stores depletion among males and protein stores depletion among females were dominant. Because of the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies among dialysis patients, broader study on nutritional risk factors and nutritional education methods for modifying nutrition status among this population is highly recommended.