JOURNAL OF RAFSANJAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SERVICES
Year:2009 | Volume:8 | Issue:1 (30)|Papers Count:11

Background and Objectives: Although, more than three hundred thousands types of herbs have been recognized so far, just ten thousand ones have been tested for their pharmacological specificity. Garlic which is not used daily has antiseptic, antibacterial, antihelminths and blood pressure reducing specificities. The objectives of this study are to: 1) study the antifungal activity of the aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. 2) Know the minimum amount of inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the garlic extracts on these dermatophytes. 3) Compare the effects of the different dilutions of garlic extracts with ketoconazole.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the fresh bulb of garlic was cleaned, skinned, dried and powdered. Garlic powder was solved in 80% methanol and distilled water. This yellow solution remained in lab for four days. After steaming, filtering and concentrating, the concentrated solution was kept inside the pipette in oven for 48h in 50oC in order to make the dry extract. Methanol and aqueous dilutions (0.625 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml), from 200mg powder of the concentrated extracts of garlic were prepared separately. Three strains of dermatophytes were cultured on the media which contained different dilutions.Results: The MIC of the aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic on T. mentagrophytes and M. canis was the same; however, the effect of methanol extract on M. gypseum was more than effect of the aqueous extract. In total, extract dilations of 10mg/ml and 20 mg/ml had the highest effects on the growth of these dermatophytes.Conclusion: On the basis of the results of this study, it is clear that garlic plant in either aquatic or methanolic extract could be effective against Geophilic, Zoophilic & Anthropophilic fungi

Background and Objectives: Calmodulin is involved in signaling pathways of opioid receptors. The present study was performed to determine the effect of chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of W-7, a specific calmodulin inhibitor, on the development of morphine tolerance.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 75 male wistar rats weighing 200-250 g. The cannula was placed in the lateral ventricle of rat's brain according to the Paxinos and Watson atlas using the stereotaxic instrument. Rats were allowed a 7 day recovery period after the surgery for implantation of the cannula. Morphine was injected intraperitoneally based on a daily dose of 15mg/kg for 8 days. The development of tolerance to analgesic effects of morphine was measured on days 1, 3, 5 and 8 by Tail-Flick test. W-7 (0.25, 0.5 and 1micromol/rat) was injected as ICV each day 10 minutes prior the morphine administration. On days that Tail-Flick test was performed W-7 was administered after the test.Results: Chronic administration of morphine alone for 8 days induced tolerance to its antinociceptive effect. ICV administration of W-7 in dose of 0.5 and 1 micomol/rat could prevent the development of morphine tolerance. However administration of W-7 in dose of 0.25 micomol/rat could not prevent the development of morphine tolerance.Conclusion: Chronic ICV administration of W-7 (a specific calmodulin inhibitor) inhibited the development of morphine tolerance. These results indicate that calmodulin and calmodulin- dependent pathways may play a role in the morphine tolerance process.

Background and Objectives: Lipid Peroxidation is nominated as a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. Some evidences suggest that oxidative modifications of amino acids in low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles lead to its conversion to an atherogenic form which is taken up by macrophages. Therefore the reduction of oxidative modification of lipoproteins by increasing plasma antioxidant capacity (AC) could be an effective method in preventing cardiovascular diseases. In this experimental study, antioxidant and antiatherogenic effects of L-Ile were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.Materials and Methods: Fifteen male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups (normal control, hypercholesterolemic control and hypercholesterolemic treated with L-Ile). Animals were fed with special diets for five weeks and then plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), conjugated diens (CDs), malondialdehyde (MDA) and AC were measured. Coronary arteries were obtained in order to measure fatty streaks formation by histological studies.Results: Plasma level of CDs was decreased in L-Ile treated group compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group, but it was not significant. The levels of plasma TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and AC, in the treated group had an increase in comparison with the hypercholesterolemic control group, while the levels of plasma TG and MDA were decreased. The mean size of produced fatty streaks also showed significant reduction in the treating group compared to hypercholesterolemic control group.Conclusion: The results showed that L-Ile has prevented fatty streaks formation by increasing plasma antioxidant capacity and decreasing lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Background and Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus carriers are among the important causes of nosocomial infections. According to the studies, medical and health workers have always been considered as a source of nosocomial infections. The aim of this study is determination of the prevalence of the nasal carriers of staphylococcus aureus and antibiotic resistance in clinical wards' staffs in Ali- Ebne Abitaleb hospital, in Rafsanjan.Material and Methods: This cross- sectional study was done in clinical wards staffs, of Ali- Ebne Abitaleb hospital. Two handred and twenty people between 22 and 58 years old were studied. Sampels were obtained by sterile swabs from deep tissue of anterior nares and then cultured. For identification of staphylococcus aureus, the major tests of catalase, coagolase and DNase were done. Disks of penicillin, cefixim, vancomycin, oxacillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, cefazolin, nitrofurantion, co- trimoxozole, ciprofloxacin, cephalothin doxycyclin and methicillin were used for antibiogram. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Chi- Square and T tests were used where appropriate.Results: Among the 220 staffs who were studied, 44(20%) were nasal carriers of staphylococcus aureus. Resistance to antibiotics were as follows: penicillin (100%), cefixim(100%), methicillin (97.7%), oxacillin (77.3%) erythromycin (11.4%), doxycyclin (9.1%), cephalotin (6.9%), ciprofloxacin (6.8%), co- trimoxozole (4.5%), clindamycin (2.3%), cefazolin (2.3%) and nitrofurantoin and vancomycin(sensitive).Conclusion: Considering the remarkable number of nasal carriers of staphylococcus aureus, and specially the high resistance to methicillin, oxacillin and penicillin among hospital staff, in order to prevent nosocomial infections we suggest that the carriers among the staff should be identified and treated properly.

Background and Objectives: Poor responding of ovaries to ovarian stimulating drugs is one of the most important problems in assisted reproductive technologies. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting the gonadotropin-induced ovarian response to induction of ovulation for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted using data of 306 women under 40 years old who had undergone IVF for the first time. The participants were divided into three groups, based on the number of dominant follicles as follows; poor, normal, and high responders. Factors affecting ovarian response and also independent predictor variables of fertilization were assessed by multiple regressions.Results: The mean age of the poor and normal responders was higher than that among the high responders. There were no significant differences among the three groups regarding the mean duration of infertility, the basal serum level of FSH and LH on day 2, the number of prescribed vials of gonadotropin, and the duration of ovarian stimulation. The mean number of retrieved oocytes with a significant difference were as follow; poor responders (2.73±1.79), normal responders (6.62±3.3) and high responders (14.8±5.62). Poor responders had fewer transferred embryos than high responders. Multivariate analysis showed that only duration of infertility and basal serum level of LH were independent predictors for clinical fertilization.Conclusion: The results of the multivariate regression analysis showed that apart from the serum level of LH on day 2 and duration of infertility; the other markers of ovarian responses were not applicable. More investigations are needed to introduce factors that could be used for selection of women eligible for IVF cycles.

Background and Objectives: Evidences suggest that acid ascorbic (AA) has antioxidative effects and stroke patients with high levels of acide ascorbic (AA), show better behavioral outcomes. In this study, the neuroprotective effect of AA, was investigated 3 hours after embolic model of cerebral ischemia.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rats were assigned to vehicle, AA and sham-operation. Stroke was induced by embolizing a preformed clot into the right MCA. For measuring infarct volume, 48 h later, the brain was removed, sectioned and stained with triphenyltetrazolum chloride and analyzed by a commercial image processing software program. Behavioral tests including neurological deficits and sensory impairment were also applied at 24 and 48 hours after the embolization.Results: The infarct volume in control and AA groups was 29.41±2.6% and 9.52±1.57%, respectively. Compared to the control group, AA significantly decreased infarct volume (p<0.001). AA late therapy also improved neurological deficits (p<0.05) and sensory impairments (p<0.001) at 48 h after the stroke.Conclusion: Our data showed that AA may have beneficial effects on treatment and management of stroke. Further studies should be undertaken to clarify the neuroprotective effects of AA after stroke.

Background and Objectives: Many therapeutic exercise programs like isometric exercises have been recommended to treat patients with chronic neck pain. The aim of this study was to detect and compare the effectiveness of neuromuscular facilitation exercise (NFE) and traditional neck exercise therapy (TET) on the treatment of patients with chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP).Materials and Methods: In this randomized control trial study, thirty-one patients (16 males, mean age 35.6 years old and 15 females, mean age 36.9 years old) with CNNP participated. The patients were all bank employees. Patients were randomly assigned into the treatment groups (Group NFE, n=11 and Group TET, n=10) and a control group (group C, n=10). The control group was instructed to care about their correct position while working and during activities of daily living. Neck muscle strength was measured using an isometric neck muscle strength measurement device, and neck pain was assessed using visual analogue scale.Results: The strength of neck extensor and flexor muscles were improved up to 24.6% and 21.5% in NFE group and 13.8% and 11.1% in the TET group respectively. The mean percentage differences of pain were 78.1% in the NFE group and 31.3% in TET group. Only minor changes occurred in the control group (1.5%, 2.6% and 5.9%).Conclusion: Neuromuscular facilitation exercise therapy program used in this study appeared to be a more effective method than the traditional one for restoring neck muscle strength and in reducing pain in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. This program may be a useful method to reduce pain and disability in patients with non-specific neck pain.

Background and Objectives: Bronchopulmonary foregut malformations are a group of rare congenital anomalies affecting the respiratory and upper gastro-intestinal tract. Congenital Broncho-esophageal fistula (BEF) if not associated with esophageal atresia is a rare anomaly. Further BEF in which the right main stem bronchus originates from the esophagus with lung hypoplasia is a very rare anomaly. Only 12 cases have been reported up to date.Case Report: The patient, a 3-month-old infant, was admitted with cough, wheezing, tachypena and FTT. Chest X-ray revealed right lung aplasia. Chest CT scan demonstrated lung hypoplasia. Perfusion scan demonstrated negligible function on the right lung. Rigid bronchoscopy showed absence of right main bronchus. An upper GI contrast study demonstrated a right bronchoesophageal fistula. Right posterolateral thoracotomy was discovered as the right main bronchus originating from the lower third of the esophagus communicated with a hypoplastic of the right lung. The right lung was removed and fistula was ligated.Conclusion: In patients with pulmonary aplasia in CXR, we should rullout broncho-esophageal fistula after pulmonary CTscan with esophagography.