Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2006 | Volume:16 | Issue:4|Papers Count:12

Background & Aims: Phospholipids are distributed asymmetrically between inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane of live cells. During early apoptosis this asymmetry is disrupted and phosphatidylserine becomes exposed on the outside surface of the plasma membrane. There is little information about the effects of vitrification on apoptosis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of vitrification on apoptosis of subfertile and fertile men. Materials and Methods: In this study, semen samples were collected from subfertile (n=20) and fertile men (n=10) after 48h abstinence of intercourse. After semen analysis according to WHO criteria, each semen sample was divided into two portions. First portion was assessed by Annexin V-flous staining kit for showing apoptosis in subfertile and fertile and second portion was assessed after vitrification-thawing.  Results were analyzed by paired t-test and Independent t-test. Results: After vitrification-thawing, mean percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa has increased 3 and 6 times in subfertile and fertile men, respectively. This difference is significant. Discussion: Vitrification-thawing could disrupted membrane asymmetry and caused apoptosis. Therefore, it causes reduction of functional spermatozoa in access of Assisted Reprouction Technologies (ART).    

Background & Aims: Intestinal parasitic infections are of the most important hygienic and economical problems of millions of people in all over the world, mostly from developing countries. Understanding their epidemiological situation and relation to environmental and social factors is necessary for struggling with them in every society. This investigation was designed to study the prevalence of parasitic intestinal infections among primary schools attending students in Nazloo region of Urmia district in 2004. Materials & Methods: 271 students were chosen randomly from 7 schools upon their population. Having their questionnaires filled, two fecal samples were taken from each student and examined with direct wet mount and formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Scotch tape was also applied in order to detect the enterobiasis and taeniasis. 271 students completed the test. Results: Overall prevalence of parasitic protozoan infections was 29.5%. Giardia Lamblia was found in 28 cases (10.3%), Entamoeba Coli in 27 cases (10%) and Blastocystis Hominis in 2 cases (0.7%). 28.4% of students had Enterobius Vermicularis and just one  case(0.4%) showed Hymenolepis Nana infection. Concomitant infections were found in 17 cases (6.3%) for Giardia and E. Coli, 2 cases (0.7%) for Giardia and B. Hominis, one case (0.4%) for E. Coli and B. Hominis, one case (0.4%) for Giardia and E. Vermicularis and one case (0.4%) for E. Coli and E. Vermicularis. Discussion: With regard to high prevalence of giardiasis and enterobiasis, they increase the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. It is suggested to decrease the rate of these parasitic infections in the region by strict programs that help to increase the knowledge of students, their parents and teachers about hygiene.        

Background &Aims: Evaluation of a teachers' knowledge about school children's voiding dysfunction needs an appropriate tool. This study tries to develop a Farsi questionnaire to fulfill that is needed. Materials & Methods: A standardized questionnaire used in foreign studies was obtained and translated by permission into Farsi. First, its validity was approved. Later, to assess its reliability, two pilot studies were designed using the questionnaire in a test-retest of 20 primary school teachers, 4 weeks apart. Cronbach's Alfa was used to calculate the reliability of the tool. Results: In the first test-retest Cronbach's Alfa of the questionnaire was calculated as 0.3958. To improve on this figure, questions were suggested for deletion. The final amount would be 0.6037. Instead of omitting the items, we decided that the content should be re-written to make it more comprehensible and the test-retest was repeated with the revised questionnaire. This time, an apposite validity was obtained and as for reliability, the calculated Cronbach's Alfa reached a very appropriate amount of 0.8523. Discussion: In the development of measurement tools by using  translated questionnaires, paying attention to dissimilarity in linguistic comprehension and cross-cultural variations is essential. In this study, rewriting the original questions improved the final Cronbach's Alfa. The questionnaire is now appropriate for using in larger populations in cities or even in a national project.    

Background & Aims: Warts are lumpy lesions which make cosmetic problems for patient and cause difficulties in the social contacts, especially during the school course. There are lots of methods with different complications for wart treatment. Cryosurgery is an effective and safe method, except in the thicker parts of the skin or in limited parts like the nails. There are complications such as hypertrophic scar, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, wet ulcers and superficial destruction in of nerves nervous system. Because of the presence of side effects, patients need to have knowledge. Determination of complications of this disease was achieved in the population undergoing therapy in the last trimester of l381. Materials & Methods: Collecting informations by a questionnaire and investigation of patients' files were done and Cryosurgery's efficacy in patients admitted in Talegani hospital's department was determined considering age, sex, type of wart, number of therapy sessions and side effects. Results: Obtained results show that studied patients are at least 5 and the most 41 years old, and the age average is 18±9.5 years old. 53.3% of cases were male and 46.7% were female. Number of warts was at least 1 and the most 30. The average numbers were 6. Number of cryosurgery's sessions was at least 1 and the most 5 sessions, and average number was 3 sessions. The therapy leads to complete cure in 19 cases of 30 (63.3%), with no recurrence. Complete cure was seen in 68.8% of males and 57.1% of females. The most curable warts were the filiform and genital warts (100%) plan and plantar warts 33.3%. common warts were the most common type. Discussion: Obviously, cryosurgery is useful for Treatment of wart in any age and sex. The best result of therapy was seen in filiform and genital types but using other methods was recommended in multifocal common and plantar warts. Although the obtained results were not valuable for general population because of the little number of cases, but give useful information about efficacy of cryosurgery on wart lesions.    

Background & Aims: A few methods exist for ureteroneocystostomy in kidney transplantation. These methods are divided to two types: extravesical and intravesical. Extravesical ureteroneocystostomy are better in kidney transplantation methods. In this study, with combination of two extravesical techniques (Barry & Taguchi) and evaluation of incidence of vescoureteral reflux in patients that operated, we tried to compare results with previous methods. Materials & Methods: 50 patients, who were underwent kidney transplantation with this new technique, evaluated with ultrasonography and VCUG on the average, six months after transplantation. Results: Mean age of patients was 34.8 years, 33 male and 17 female, mean time from translation evaluation was 6.6 months. Two case of asymptomatic vesicoureteral reflux found in these patients. Discussion: 4% asymptomatic VUR in this new technique is acceptable in comparison with other techniques. We think that this technique, due to simplicity and rapidity, can be a suitable choice in kidney transplantation.    

Background & Aims: Absenteeism is defined as being absent for any reason. There are two types of absenteeism, each of which requires a different type of approach: authorized sick absence and unauthorized sick absence. Authorized sick absence refers to employees who are absent for reasons beyond their control; like sickness and injury. Sick absence may be a symptom of a broader health problem in the workplaces, an early warning sign of inadequate occupational health. This study is designed to assessing occupational health picture of a national industry company in accordance with main sick absence measures. Materials & Methods: This cross sectional research performed on 20 workplaces of a national industry company that have been employing almost 2600 people and, main measures of sick absence such as GAR, SAR, UAR, AFR, SR and DR were calculated. Results: The survey found that the GAR was 88%, SAR 35% and UAR 52%. The other measures including SR, DR and AFR were 4.4 per day, 0.78 per day and 0.69 people per day. Short spell duration of sick absence (1 to 3 days) was the most frequent in the subjects (61%). The long-term spell duration (8 – 14 days) was calculated 21%. Short spell duration of sick absence was the highest in the lesser than 20 old-years and median spell duration (4 - 7 days) was frequently more than others in the range of 40-49 old-years. The most frequent of long-term absence (8-14 days) was found in the range of more than 50 old-years. Discussion: The causes of absenteeism were abundant and include: serious accidents and illness, poor working conditions, lack of job satisfaction, boredom on the job, inadequate leadership and poor supervision, personal problems (financial, marital, etc.), poor physical fitness, inadequate health surveillances, transportation problems, stress and workload. The needs of the organization and its staff could be met through a structure on integrated support services that would increase both productivity and health promotion and could produce benefits of safety and occupational health care legislation.    

Background & Aims: The role of immunization of mice with sonicated antigen in protection of Helicobacter induced gastritis and invitro survey of lymphocyte response in immunized/ challenged mice in compare with infected mice was studied. Materials & Methods: Two groups of mice were immunized with 3 mg of sonicated antigen and along with the 2 groups of naive (non-immunized) mice were challenged by alive H.felis. The lymphocyte proliferation index, were determined by dividing the counts obtained from Ag-stimulated cells by counting from unstimulated cell/well. The assay of IFN- γ and anti-H.felis antibodies were done by sandwich ELISA. Results: Eight weeks after challenge, the lymphocyte stimulation index in infected and Immunized/challenge mice were respectively 45&25.lFN- γ production due to Immune/challenge and infected mice were respectively 300 and 170 Picogram/ml. The antibodies titer of Immune/challenge and infected mice obtained 1:8000 and 1:500 respectively. Discussion: The data showed that cellular response of immunized mice were significantly higher (p<0.05) than infected mice, early after challenge. Whereas, declined within 8 weeks in Immunized mice in comparison with infected mice. On the other hand, the higher production of IFN- γ and anti-H. felis antibody by immunized mice, compared with infected mice, suggest that specific response, mediated by Th1 and then Th2 (via antibody production) play a role against Helicobacter-induced gastritis.    

Background &Aims: Hydatid cyst is zoonosis disorder and is one of the global health problems, especially in the developing countries. There are different diagnostic methods for the hydatid cyst. In this study, sensitivity of serologic and imaging methods has been studied comparatively. Materials & Methods: This study carried out cross-sectionally on the 45 patients with hydatid cyst. For all patients serologic tests (IHA, ELISA) were done and results of these tests with imaging findings were studied.  Results: from 45 patients in this study, in the 16 patients with surgically established hydatid cyst, sensitivity of IHA and ELISA in the diagnosis of hydatid cyst of liver and lung was 85.7% and 55.5% respectively which showed no meaningful statistical difference(p-value=0.11). Sensitivity of imaging methods in the diagnosis of surgically established hydatid cyst was estimated 100% for hydatid cyst of lung and 85.7% for hydatid cyst of liver which showed meaningful statistical difference in comparison with serologic methods(p-value=0.01)Discussion: This study showed sensitivity of imaging methods in the diagnosis of hydatid cyst is greater than serologic tests. So, it seems that imaging findings could be more useful in the diagnosis of hydatid cyst.    

Introduction: Cerebrovascular diseases are the third leading cause of death in developed countries. Evaluation of Vertebrobasilar arteries with MRA and TCD is very important in these patients. In carotid arteries and intracranial branches findings of MRA and TCD are good correlated and compatible but still unproven in vertebrobasilar arteries. Case Report: A 54 years old woman with coma and signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency admitted and CT and MRI proved bilateral thalamic and midbrain infarctions. TCD detected reduced flows of both vertebral arteries and no flow in basilar artery. These finding were compatible with MRA findings of these vessels. Discussion: In this patient compatibility of MRA and TCD findings indicates the importance of these two noninvasive methods in evaluation of vertebrobasilar arteries and possible compatibility between their results. The patient is well and can walk.    

Background & Aims: The epidermoid cyst of spinal cord is a rare tumor in internal spinal channel. Depending on location and associated anomalies, it can be seriously complicated, for example: risk of compression on adjacent nervous system and it causes recurrent C.N.S infection. Case Report: A 33 months old boy was referred to our department with a 12 month history of left flank pain. MRI showed a solid tumor that located in conus medullaris (vertebral level L1-T12). This condition last  without neuralgic sign. Discussion: The epidermoid cyst can be either congenital or acquired. The acquired form of epidermoid cyst may be occurred after single or multiple lumbar punctures. Imaging evaluation of the patient revealed an interaspinal tumor. Its histopathological diagnosis of the tumor was compatible with epidermoid cyst. Clinical features in epidermoid cyst of spinal are nonspecific and diagnosis needs to have attention for this disease and therefore it may be considered in a differentional diagnosis of back pain and flank pain in children.