Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:15 | Issue:3 (SERIAL NUMBER 57)|Papers Count:14

Background and Aim: Chronic opiate administration induces tolerance to the analgesic effect. Despite extensive investigations in this ground, the precise cellular mechanisms underlying opioid tolerance and dependence remain controversial. Several studies have indicated that glutamatergic transmission and nitric oxide/ N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) pathway could play an important role in morphine-induced tolerance. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-cerebro-ventricular (ICV) administration of minocycline (a second-generation tetracycline) on morphine-induced tolerance and elevation of glutamate level in cerebral cortex and lumbar region of spinal cord of rats after administration of morphine.Material and Methods: Different groups of rats received either morphine (IP) and distilled water (ICV) or morphine (IP) and different doses of minocycline (ICV) or minocycline alone once per day. Nociception was assessed using a hot plate apparatus. The glutamate concentration in both regions was measured with a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus.Results: The results indicated that ICV administration of minocycline with doses of 60, 120, 240 mg/10ml/rat attenuated the morphine-induced tolerance and decreased glutamate level in the cerebral cortex. But glutamate level in the lumbar spinal cord decreased after administration of minocycline with doses of 120, 240 mg/10ml/rat.Conclusion: We found that central administration of minocycline attenuated morphine-induced increase of glutamate level in the cortex and lumbar spinal cord of rats which can be regarded as a possible mechanism for effect of minocycline on morphine-induced tolerance.

Background and Aim: b-thalassemia (b-thal) is one of the most prevalent hereditary diseases in Iran. There are more than two million carriers of b-thal in Iran. Detection of the beta globin gene mutations is necessary for a definitive diagnostic and management plan such as prenatal diagnosis of b-thalassemia. In our country, the PCR-Amplification Refractory Mutation System (PCR-ARMS) has been frequently used for detection of beta globin gene mutations.Material and Methods: Here, we used the PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) assay for detection of mutations of beta globin gene. In the patients with confirmed mutations, we amplified 281base pairs containing exon of one of a beta globin gene by PCR. Based on SSCP technique 2.5 ml of the reaction products appeared in polyacryamide gel electrophoresis and the bands were visualized by silver staining. Seven mutations and one polymorphism were evaluated by PCR-SSCP assay.Results: The results of this study demonstrated that the patterns of mobility of single strands were different from each other and those of control sample.Conclusion: Our study showed the PCR-SSCP technique can meet the need for direct genomic sequencing of DNA and could be applied in the developing countries where financial resources are limited but genetic hemoglobin disorders are highly prevalent. Key words: Thalassemia, SSCP, b-globin gene.

Background and Aim: Wheat flour is a complex organic particle containing an array of different allergic and antigenic components. Exposure to flour dust may result in a variety of respiratory problems such as allergic responses, occupational asthma and allergic rhinitis. The aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of inhalable dust and gliadin of flour dust as an important wheat flour allergen and to determine the relationship between concentrations of flour dust and that of gliadin in the air breathed by the workers in different workstations of wheat flour mill factories.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study.64 air samples were collected by means of universal air sampling pumps. Inhalable flour dust density was measured by gravimetric method and flour dust gliadin concentration was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: The mean flour dust density was higher than that of permissible limit in all wheat flour mill factories (1.64-4.68 mg/m3) and showed a significant positive relation with gliadin concentration (R2=0.708, p<0.05) in all factories. In addition, Inhalable dust density and gliadin concentration have been different in different stations of the factories and were highest in flour packing workstation.Conclusion: This study revealed the density of Inhalable flour dust had been higher than the level of permissible limit (0.5 gr/m3) and the workers in Hamadan flour mills are exposed to a dangerous level of flour dust, and inhale a high level of gliadin in all flour packing unites of the factories in Hamedan.

Background and Aim: Different studies have indicated that glutamate and dopamine are involved in producing anxiety. Furthermore, interaction between NMDA and dopamine receptors has been demonstrated in the modulation of some behaviors. In the present study, the role of dopaminergic D2 receptor in producing anxiety-like behavior induced by inhibition of NMDA receptors was investigated in male wistar rats.Materials and Methods: Rats were anesthetized with intra-peritoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride, plus xylazine and then placed in a stereotaxic apparatus. Two stainless-steel cannuale were placed in the CA1 region of hippocampus. All animals were allowed to recover for one week before beginning behavioral test. The elevated plus maze test was used to test anxiety-like behaviors.Results: The results of this study showed that intra-CA1 injection of MK801 (2 mg/rat) induced anxiolytic effects. Intra-CA1 injection sulpiride (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg/rat) by itself had no effect on anxiety-like behaviors, but administration of the same doses of sulpiride 5 mins before injection of the effective dose of MK801 (2 mg/rat, intra-CA1) inhibited anxiolytic effects of MK801.Conclusion: The results indicated that CA1 region of hippocampus have an important role in anxiolytic effects of MK801; and anxiolytic effect of NMDA receptors antagonist is at least partly mediated via D2 receptors of the dorsal hippocampus.

Background and Aim: Gabapentin (structural analog of GABA), is an antiepileptic drug that its preoperative administration results in postoperative pain reduction. Considering the hypnotic effect of propofol, which is mediated by its attachment to GABAA, this hypothesis was propounded that administration of gabapentin can probably decrease the need for propofol and remifentanil during total intravenous anesthesia.Materials and Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were assigned into two equal groups (n=25) in this randomized double blinded clinical trial. Study group received oral gabapentin (1200mg), and control group received placebo 3hrs before operation. Premedication and induction of anesthesia were the same in all patients. For the maintenance of anesthesia, oxygen and nitrous oxide (50%-50% mixture) and propofol and remifentanil infusion were used. The rate of propofol infusion was adjusted to maintain BIS in the range of 40-60, and dose of remifentanil adjusted to maintain hemodynamic variables in the range of ±20% of baseline values. At the end of anesthesia the duration of anesthesia and the total amount of propofol and remifentanil used for every patient were recorded.Results: The demographic parameters were similar in both groups (p>0.05). Doses of propofol and remifentanil used for study group were significantly lower than doses used for control group (p<0.01). The mean values of baseline systolic, diastolic, mean arterial, heart rates and BIS in the study group were lower than the corresponding values in the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that a single dose of gabapentin before operation can decrease the need for propofol and remifentanil in total intravenous anesthesia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background and Aim: Reduction of health inequalities is one of the main objectives of health systems. To attain this objective, special methods for measurement of inequalities are required. This study was performed to assess the trends of disparities of death indices in rural areas of Iran’s provinces in a period of 15 years from 1993 to 2008, by use of highest to lowest rate ratio (RR) and index of disparity (IDisp).Materials and Methods: In this study, we used the data extracted from vital horoscopes or 'Zij' of rural areas in provincial and district areas to study the trend of alterations in disparities of mortality. We estimated the annual index of disparity (IDisp) and highest-to-lowest mortality rate ratio (RR) for every index; and the trend of alterations was studied in a period of 15 years.Results: In spite of the regular decreasing trend of mortality indices, the trend of alterations of IDisp for NMR, IMR, and U5MR was irregular at different times. The IDisp for CDR was increasing. The RRs indices had irregular trends.Conclusion: In spite of obvious improvement in all indices studied in this country, the trends of alterations in disparities of mortality indices were not desirable. We concluded new policies and programs are required to decrease health disparities between provinces.

Background and Aims: In new prospect of motor control, the effect of muscle force is considered important not only in producing movement but also in inducing stability and control of activity. The aim of present study was to evaluate the electrical activity of periarthicular shoulder muscles by surface EMG in order to identify the muscular activity during series of static and dynamic pattern of movements.Materials and Methods: This Quasi experimental study was performed on 30 healthy male and female volunteers with age of 20-30 years and mean age of 23.2±2.9. The subjects were enrolled into this study by simple non-probability sampling and were exposed to different movement patterns randomly. During the experiment the surface EMG of every muscle was recorded. The external load applied to shoulder was assessed at three levels in static as well as dynamic situations.Results: According to the results of this study, increasing the external load on the scapulothoracic muscles caused a significant increase in the activity of the muscles except for upper trapezious muscle in descending phase of the movement (p<0.05). After increasing the external load on shoulder in ascending phase, most of the investigated muscles showed significant differences in their activities. (p<0.05). In static situation by application of external load only teres major muscle showed significant difference in its activity compared to the reference position (p=0.01).Conclusion: It can be concluded that application of external load during ascending phase of push up is more effective than its application during descending phase. It can be claimed that during ascending phase slight increase in external load as low as 2% of body weight, would induce more alterations in muscular activity compared to higher external load such as 4% of body weight, but in static situation no significant change could be detected.

Background and Aim: Entrance of phosphorous into the lakes leads to algae growth and eutrophication the aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of iron nano particles as a new suitable and applicable method for removal of phosphorous.Material and Methods: In this study Lewatit FO36 resin was covered with Fe (III) nano-particles, and it was used as a new way to eliminate phosphate. Column experiments were carried out in 11 stages in fixed bed columns with constant flow rate of 9 ml/min and the empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 2.1 min. phosphate solutions with concentrations of 1 to 16 mg produced at neutral PH were used in 6 steps of experiment NaOH and NaCl solutions were used for regeneration of resin. Then the effect of competing anions, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate and their compounds on the efficiency of the resin was assessed. Finally the efficiency of the resin for removal of phosphate from water treatment plant sewage in Ghods suburb was studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS 13 soft ware.Results: The capacities of adsorption of phosphate, with concentrations of 1 to 16 mg, by each gram of resin were 1.31, 1.35, 1.53, 1.64, 1.7 and 1.75. The capacity of regenerated resin for removal of phosphate with a concentration of 6 mg/l was 1.6 mg for each gram of resin which showed a 8.5% decrease.Conclusion: The result of this study showed increased adsorptive capacity of resin with increased concentration of phosphate. Chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate ions and the combined anions had no effect on phosphate removal.

Background and Aim: Atrial Fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias. Most statistical analyses had been performed on intra atrial electrocardiograms while, diagnosis of this disorder is made more commonly by use of surface electrocardiogram. The aim of this study was to investigate the abnormality of the electrical system of the heart by using the 12-lead ECG.Materials and Methods: The 12-lead ECGs of 5 patients with atrial fibrillation and that of a healthy subject were studied for 2.5 minutes and compared with each other.Results: our study showed that in both normal and abnormal hearts, (V1, V2, V3), (V4, V5, V6), (I, II, III) and (aVR, aVF, aVL) were correlated. The correlation between I, II, III leads had no relation to AF whereas correlation between aVR, aVF and aVL decreased in the patients.Conclusion: This study showed that we can consider both focus and reentrant theories acceptable for explanation of electrical behavior of heart in AF patients.

Background and Aim: Groundwater pollution due to leakage and penetration of leachate containing variety of compounds and contaminants is a problem in landfill sites that leads to diverse healthy and environmental problems. The purpose of this study was to assess groundwater chemical pollution in downstream regions of Sanandaj landfill.Materials and Methods: In this study, 5 wells near the landfill were selected. Water samples were obtained 6 times in spring and summer, and different parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, turbidity, COD, PO4, NO3, TDS, pH and EC were measured by standard methods and the results were compared with those of control wells and standards of drinking and agricultural water.Results: Results of this investigation showed the chemical parameters in water of surveyed wells, compared with those in water of control wells and standards of drinking water, were higher and showed significant differences (p<0.05). But, most of these parameters in surveyed wells were lower than those of standards of agricultural water.Conclusion: The water of the wells of the study area due to the high values of most of the chemical parameters measured is not potable, but can not be used in agriculture. Therefore fundamental and continuous monitoring of groundwater resources in this area is necessary to prevent contamination of water and soil resources.

Background and Aim: Since no study on the prevalence of refractive errors had been performed in this optometry clinic, this study was designed to determine the prevalence rate of refractive errors among the patients examined in this clinic in 2008/2009.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the files of the patients examined in optometry clinic in 2008/2009 were reviewed. Variables included age, sex, rate and type of refractive errors and health of anterior and posterior eye segments.Results: The prevalence rates of myopia, hypermetriopa, astigmatism and emmetropia were 11.83%, 15/38%, 45%, 27/34% respectively. The respective prevalence rates of refractive errors in men and women were: 10/3% and 13/1% for myopia, 16.7%, 15.1% for hypermetropia, 45.6% and 44.5% for astigmatism, and 27.4% and 27.3% for emmetropia. The mean ages of the patients with myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism were 36.1±19.36, 41.27±22.06 and 32.16±20.98. Respectively Difference of the ratios of the patients with different ages suffering from refractive errors was significant (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in the male to female ratio in the patients with refractive errors (P<0.741).Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence rate of myopia increased up to the age of 20-30 years but that of hypermetropia decreased, and prevalence rates of myopia and hypermetropia in some age groups increased after the age of 40. In addition, the prevalence rates of refractive errors in different age groups were not similar and gender had no effect on the prevalence of refractive errors. These results are compatible with the results of other studies.