ARAK MEDICAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL (AMUJ)
Year:2004 | Volume:7 | Issue:1 (26)|Papers Count:10

Introduction: Brucellosis, caused by Brucella spp., is an important zoonotic disease that causes abortion and infertility in cattle, and undulant fever in human. At present, live attenuated strain 19 of Brucella Abortus is used to immunize domestic animals, but this vaccine has several disadvantages. Therefore, the development of more effective and safer vaccines is necessary for disease control in animals and of more importance in human. So research on development of subunit vaccine seems appropriate, and regarding this, P39 preplasmic protein have shown to be highly immunogenic.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, we amplified P39 gene by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and sub cloned to prokaryotic expression vector pGEX4T1. Escherichia coli BL21 were transformed with pGEX4T1-P39 and gene expression was induced by IPTG. Then it was purified by GST Sepharose kit. The concentration of P39 was assayed by Bradford method.Results: The recombinant plasmid (pSK-P39) was sequenced. The sequencing result was confirmed by Sanger method and was same as P39 gene. The concentration of purified protein was 200 µg/ml.Conclusion: The vectors that contain fusion protein can produce the recombinant P39 protein.

Introduction: Fractures of distal radius are common in adulthood and treatment of these fractures especially displaced intraarticulars is controversial. External fixation is one of treatments for these fractures. This study was designed to evaluate the results of distal radial intraarticular fractures treatment with external fixator (transfixation). Materials and Methods: This is a study with no control in which 26 patients (30 fractures) with distal radial fractures (universal type IV) where selected by convenience method. Closed reduction and external fixator application for 6 weeks was performed in all patients. Patients were followed for one year.Results: There were 26 patients (4 bilateral cases) including 24 males and 2 females. Their average age was 28±5 years. Average follow up time was 8 months (6 to 20 months). Clinical and radiographic union occurred in all patients. At the last follow up four patients had pain with vigorous activity (13%). Limitation of motion was severe in one patient (3%) and mild in two patients (6%). Average radial shortening was 4 millimeters and average volar tilt and unlar inclination were 5.4±6.6° and 12.5±4.5° respectively. Conclusion: Considering our clinical and radiological results it seems that external fixator is a good method for treatment of displaced intraarticular distal radial fractures.

Introduction: Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are recognized as reliable tests reflecting outer hair cells activity. Thus, they are beneficial for assessing temporary cochlear function alternations following noise exposure.Materials and methods: In a clinical trial study 74 volunteeres, aged 18-25 were evaluated in a simple randomized sampling method. The pure tone audiometry and tympanometry findings were within normal limits in the test day. Initially, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) were evaluated in both ears as a baseline. Then, these emissions were measured two minutes after a 5 minutes duration, 100dB SPL white noise again and the amplitudes of responses were compared before and after noise exposure. Results: In 34 subjects, SOAE peaks were absent or reduced following exposure. Interestingly, we found some new peaks in contralateral side after exposure. TEOAE amplitudes were significantly reduced after exposure in both sides. DPOAE amplitudes decreased significantly in 1685-6299 Hz region in ipsilateral side, but we found no significant differences in contralateral side. Non-significant DPOAE latencies were observed in both ears.Conclusion: It is concluded that OAEs are appropriate tools for detecting noise-induced hearing loss. Furthermore, TEOAEs appear to be more sensitive to noise damage and could be considered as a rapid screening test for susceptibility to NIHL before entering to noisy environments.

Introduction: Decreased Physical activity in childhood and adolescence is one of the main risk factors of coronary heart diseases in adulthood but this topic is neglected. Different studies showed that physical activity is much lower than the standard range. In this study, we assessed the pattern of physical activity in children and adolescents of central areas in Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study is one of the first steps of "Healthy Heart" program in Isfahan. In this survey, knowledge, attitude and practice about physical activity and the duration of television watching were assessed by a questionnaire. Sample of this study were 4000 children and adolescents and their parents and 500 teachers in Isfahan province (Isfahan and Najafabad) and Markazi province (Arak). Analysis was performed by SPSS. Results: The time of regular physical exercise was less than 2 hours in 40% of students in Isfahan and Markazi provinces. The time of physical activites and morning exercise in school was much higher in girls than boys (p<0.00001) but regular exercise out of school and participation in different teams was much higher in boys than girls (p<0.001). More than 77% of parents did not have information about the importance of physical exercise of their children in preservation of their health. The mean duration of TV watching in children at different ages was 4 hours.Conclusion: Physical exercise in students of high schools in central parts of Iran was less than optimal range. In contrast the time of TV watching was much higher than recommended time.

Introduction: It is suggested that the incidence of candidiasis is higher in psoriatic patients than normal people. On the other hand, it has been suggested that candida may have causative role in exacerbation or persistence of psoriasis. Regarding these facts, it was decided to do a survey about the prevalence of oral candida in psoriatic patients.Materials & Methods: This is a cross sectional analytical study in which 43 psoriatic patients & 43 normal people admitted to Isfahan university of medical sciences dermatology clinics were selected randomly and were examined by direct smear and culture for Candida Albicance.Results: 44.2% of Psoriatic patients were colonized with oral Candida that showed meaningful difference comparing with 25.6% of normal people (pvalue = 0.05). Also, There was a correlation between the prevalence of candida and psoriasis severity (p value=0.05).Conclusion: According to our results, it is concluded that oral Candidiasis is seen more commonly in Psoriatic patients than normal patients. We recommend that all Psoriatic patients, especially those who have severe disease, be examined for oral Candida Albicance and if they have positive results, treated with antifungal drugs.

Introduction: Patients with chronic renal failure which are regularly dialysed are candidates for free radical damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of haemodialysis on lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity. Materials & Methods: This is a cross sectional study. 22 patients with chronic renal failure disease who were haemodialysed at 5th Azar hospital of Gorgan dialysis center and 22 age and sex matched healthy controls were selected for this study. Plasma lipid peroxidation (expressed as malondialdehyde) and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismotase) were assessed and comparisoned before and afrer dialysis in patients group. Also in each period the mentioned items were compared with control group. Data was analysed by SPSS software using student T- test.Results: Plasma malondialdehyde showed significant difference between predialysis period and control group (p<0.001). It was increased in postdialysis period when compared with predialysis and control group (each p<0.001). Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme was decreased in postdialysis period when compared with predialysis and control group (p<0.001). Interventions to minimize these chamges can have significant effects on preventing these diseases and also improving patients' quality of life.Conclusion: Decreasing erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity and increasing plasma lipid peroxidation may have an important role in promoting cardiovascular diseases in patients under dialysis.

Introduction: Occult hepatitis B is a new entity in which serum HBsAg is negative but HBVDNA is detectable in serum or liver tissues. In this study the frequency of occult hepatitis B among patients with chronic hepatitis C and also their biochemical and histological changes were investigated. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C with negative serum HBsAg were enrolled. These patients had been referred to RCGLD (Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases) or THC (Tehran Hepatitis Center) during years 2001 and 2002 and had been undertaken liver biopsy. Liver biopsies were reviewed and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBsAg and HBcAg were assayed in liver tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) respectively. Results: From 27 chronic hepatitis C patients studied, HBVDNA was detectable by PCR in 5 (19%). Immunohistochemistry for both HBcAg and HBsAg were reported to be negative in all patients. Histological changes of cirrhosis and symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis were seen just in HBVDNA positive patients. Conclusion: The frequency of occult hepatitis B among chronic hepatitis C patients is more common than other chronic liver diseases. Occult hepatitis B can accelerate the evolution to cirrhosis in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most effective treatments in psychiatrsy. Among the most important anesthetic drugs used in Iran in this procedure are: Sodium Thiopental 0.5-3.5 mg/kg and Propofol 2-3 mg/kg. Each one has it's own effects on different organs and causes different autonumic responses in patients. Materials & Methods: In this study which is a cross over sepuential controlled clinical trial, 40 patients condidated for electroconvulsive therapy, were evaluated. They were sequentially anesthetized with Propofol or Thiopental randomly, and data about convulsion duration, blood pressure, heart rate and alertness were collected in a data sheet and were analyzed statistically. Results: Duration of convulsions in patiens taken Propofol were shorter (P<0.0001). Blood pressure in Thiopental group were significantly higher (P<0.001), and also they showed higher heart rates but it wasn't meaningful statistically. Conclusion: Using Propofol in ECT in comparison with Thiopental has lower side effects and it's use is recommended.