SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KURDISTAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2009 | Volume:14 | Issue:2 (SERIAL NUMBER 52)|Papers Count:14

Background and Aim: Considering insulin like effects of vanadium salts, these compounds have been evaluated as a therapeutic agent for treatment of diabetes mellitus in the experimental models of the disease in animals. This study was performed to study the ultra structure of islet b cells in streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetes in rats after treatment with vanadyl sulfate (VS). Material and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intravenous injection of 40 mg/kg STZ. Equal volume of normal saline was injected via lateral tail vein in sham animals. Seven days after injection animals in both groups were divided into treated and control groups. VS was added to the drinking water of the diabetic treated (DT) and Sham treated (NT) animals with a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml for one week and 1 mg/ml up to three months. Untreated diabetic (DC) and sham rats (NC) received tap water during this period. Two months later all animals were killed. Langerhans islets were isolated from exocrine parts by use of collagen digestion, and were fixed in glutaraldehyde. Ultra structures of islet beta cells were studied by means of transmission electron microscope.Results: VS treatment led to amelioration of the symptoms of diabetes including hyperglycemia and polydepsia in DT rats. DC rats remained diabetic during the period of study. No significant changes were observed in plasma glucose and fluid intake of NT animals. Ultra structural studies of islet b cells of DT rats showed normal cells with normal chromatin distribution, well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, increased cytoplasmic granules and no clear sign of cell injury. Lymphocytic infiltration was not detected in langerhans islets of DT group. Nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic vacuolization, lymphocytic infiltration and signs of cell death such as cell necrosis were found in the islets of b cells of DC rats. Cytoplasm of islets b cells of NT rats were more granular in comparison to NC rats.Conclusion: Considering the results of this study we concluded that amelioration of diabetes signs in VS treated STZ induced diabetic rats are accompanied by preservation of islets b cell ultrastructure.

Background and Aim: Considering the importance of hydatidosis among human beings and domesticated animals, the aim of the present study was to identify the diagnostic antigen of hydatid cyst by immuno-blotting method.Material and Methods: After the preparation of sheep hydatid cyst, four kinds of antigens of raw fluids, boiled fluids, homogenized antigen of protosculex and the antigen of hydatid cyst wall were isolated. The negative and positive serum samples without any impurity were prepared in slaughterhouse. Electrophoresis of antigens by means of SDS-PAGE method using disconnected gel along with isolating gel with the concentration of 12% and compressing gel with the concentration of 5% in the vicinity of a marker with certain molecular weight was carried out. In western blotting method for detection of the specific antigen, a sheet of nitrocellulose membrane was transferred over the gel and electrophoresis was performed. After transferring protein to nitrocellulose membrane, fatless powdered milk was used as a blocking buffer and then, primary and secondary antibodies and benzidin di-amino substrate were used accordingly to identify specific bands.Results: Electrophoresis pattern of the four antigens extracted from the cyst showed that among 14 protein bands, there are 9 protein bands with molecular weights of more than 116 Kilo-Dalton (kD) among which 4 bands with molecular weights of 18, 23,40, and 64 kD were more prominent and similar to the antigens of boiled fluid. In the electrophoresis of wall antigen, 9 protein bands out of 14 bands had molecular weights of more than 116kD and there were 10 protein bands with molecular weights of more than 35kD in the protosculex.Conclusion: By immuno-blotting method in raw fluid antigen, a protein band with molecular weight of 35 kD, and in cyst wall antigen 3 protein bands with molecular weights of30, 33, 46 kD were identified as specific antigens.

Background and Aim: Regular blood transfusions in beta thalassemic patients can lead to accumulation of extra iron in the body which may result in cardiac complications and death. Deferrioxamin (DFO) is the standard treatment for this condition but 12-8 hours subcutaneous (SQ) injection of this drug per day can cause local pain which together with lack of patients compliance, it is necessary to use another drug to improve the condition of the patients. Deferiprone (DFP) is an approved drug for this purpose and removes iron from cells including cardiac muscle cells. The aim of this study is to compare efficacy of deferrioxamin with that of combined deferiprone and deferrioxaminon echocardiographic indices in beta thalassemic patients.Material and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial 40 thalassemic patients who met the inclusion criteria of this study were divided into two equal groups. Controls group received SQ deferrioxamin for six days/week and intervention group received deferrioxamin for three days/week and deferiprone orally for four days/week. Cardiac indiceswere measured and compared before and after the study.Results: Mean values of the age of the patients were 15.6±5.1 and 14.1±6 years in the intervention and control group respectively. Right ventricle diameter (RVD) indices in control group was 18.7±7.6 and 20.8±6.6 mm before and after treatment respectively (P<0.05). In the intervention group RVD indices were 19.5±5.8 and 18.0±4.7 mm before and after treatment respectively (P>0.05). Other indices such as LVEDD, LVESD, aortic root diameter, EF and Fs of left ventricle and also indices of the heart valves revealed no significant differences between the two groups. We didn't observe any side effect of the drugs in the patients.Conclusion: We concluded combined therapy with 4 days DFP and 3 days DFO per week did not lead to cardiac complications and deterioration of echocardiographic indices.

Background and Aim: Since discovery of high frequency waves and their application in different industries, their adverse biological effects have been of great attention. Increased male fertility problems have suggested the possible role of microwaves in producing this disorder. Testes are active body tissues, which can be affected by these waves. Age of the patients at the time of exposure can have important influence on the effect of these waves. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiation leakage of microwave oven on rat serum testosterone at pre and post pubertal stages.Material and Methods: In this study we used 18 mature (two months old) and 18 immature (One month old) rats. Mature and immature rats each were divided into control and experimental groups. Experimental groups were exposed to 2450 MHZ microwaves produced by a microwave oven, three times a day, each time for 30 minutes and control groups were kept in the laboratory under identical conditions in view of temperature and light. At the end of experiment blood was collected via heart puncture and serum testosterone was measured by RIA method. Collected data were analyzed by means of t-test.Result: The results of this study showed that the level of serum testosterone in experimental group was less than that of control group in immature rats (P>0.05). But in the mature rats, the serum testosterone level of experimental group was less than that of control group significantly (P<0.05).Conclusion: Exposure to microwaves leakage of microwave oven resulted in decreased testosterone production by testes in mature rats which may be due to the direct effect of microwave on leydig cells or its indirect effect on pituitary and hypothalamus.

Background and Aim: Liver biopsy is one of the most important diagnostic procedures for liver diseases. Pain is the most common complication of liver biopsy and it can lead to clear morbidity. Finding a way to reduce pain of liver biopsy its complication is very important for investigators. There are limited studies on evaluation of pre-emptive effect of acetaminophen on liver biopsy. The aim of this study was to investigate pre-emptive effect of Acetaminophen codeine on the pain of liver biopsy during the first 24 hours after biopsy.Material and Methods: This was a double blind randomized clinical trail study from Oct 2007 to Oct 2008 in gastroenterology and liver disease unit of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj. Sample size included all the patients who were candidate for liver biopsy. Forty four patients (23 in experimental group and 21 in placebo group) were enrolled into the study on the basis of randomized blocking method. Exclusion criteria included any contraindication for liver biopsy or need of penetration of needle for two or more times for biopsy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain after liver biopsy, 0, 1, 3, 6, and 24 hours after biopsy. This study was conducted after approval of Ethical review Committee of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and obtaining the informed written consent from the patients. The patients received acetaminophen codeine or placebo one hour before biopsy. Data were analyzed by means of Chi square, t-test, analysis of variances, and nonparametric tests.Results: The mean value of the pains intensity in zero, one, three, six, and twenty four hours after biopsy in experimental group was higher than that of placebo group but there was no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05). Intensity of the pain after liver biopsy in females was higher than in males in the two groups but there was no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Comparison of the results of the present study with those of other studies shows that acetaminophen codeine is not effective in reducing the pain of biopsy. Further clinical trail studies for determination of the effect of other analgesics drugs are recommended in the future.

Background and Aim: Depression is one of the most ancient and prevalent mood disorders in psychiatry. Risk of depression is 10-25% in women and 5-12% in men. Since diabetes mellitus and its complications can lead to depression and vice versa, control of blood glucose levels in patients with depression and knowledge of the effect of antidepressant drugs on blood glucose levels are important. This study was performed to determine the effect of Fluoxetine and Imipramine on the fasting blood sugar (FBS) of patient with major depressive disorders.Material and Method: This study was a parallel randomized clinical trial based on diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV-TR. The subjects were selected randomly from the patients referring to Shahid Hashemi Senejani Hospital of Arak and private office. The patients were assigned into two groups; each group consisted of 40 subjects. Group A received fluoxetine 20 mg/day and group B received imipramine 100 mg/day. Measurement of FBS was performed before treatment, four weeks and eight weeks after treatment. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, KS (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test) and paired t-test.Results: There were no significant statistical differences between first and second times mean FBS values in groups A and B, but there were significant statistical differences in the third time mean FBS values between the two groups (P=0.001). Also there was not any significant difference in the first and second time mean FBS values in group A (P=0.424) too. A significant decrease in the first and third time mean FBS values was noticed (P=0.039). There was also a significant increase in the second and third times mean FBS values compared with the first time mean FBS values in group B (P<0.05)Conclusion: This study revealed a decrease in FBS mean values after 8 weeks of treatment with Fluoxetine and an increase in FBS after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with Imipramine. Therefore, we recommend Fluoxetine for treatment of depression in the patients with hyperglycemia, and Imipramine for depression in the patients with hypoglycemia.

Background and Aim: previous studies in the developing countries showed that some of the presentations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had been observed in the patients with no history of smoking or industrial or occupational exposure, but presence of anthracotic plaque had been reported in their bronchoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and para-clinical findings in antrachotic bronchitis patients with those of smoke induced COPD patients.Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Among 170 patients who had undergone bronchoscopy, 40 patients had antrachotic bronchitis and history of exposure to wood or other biomass smoke. The demographic characteristics, clinical and radiologic findings of these patients were compared with those of another 45 patients with diagnosis of smoke induced COPD (with exposure to wood and other biomass smoke), whose diagnosis had been based on clinical, spirometrical and radiological findings. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, Chi square, Fisher's exact test and t-test.Results: Among patients with anthracotic bronchitis 70% were house wife, 75% female, and 80% were from rural areas. But in COPD patients 40% were farmer, 84.4% men, and 57.8% were living in rural areas (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical findings such as cough, hemoptysis, sweating, and weight loss between the two groups. The most common radiological findings in anthracotic bronchitis patients were lung infiltration (77/5%), right lung infiltration (67/5%), and reticular lung opacity (40%) and in COPD patients the most common findings were increased bronchovascular marking of the lung (100%), hyper airiation of lung (92.5%), and calcification of hilar lymph nodes (12.5%). The most common findings and anthracotic plaques in bronchoscopy of anthracotic bronchitis patients were located in lobar bronchus (94.6%) and main bronchus (37.1%), but deformity was seen in 36.4% of them.Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in patients with clinical presentation of COPD who had not a clear-cut history of occupational or other risk factors, taking an exact history of exposure to wood or biomass smoke and also living in rural area as main risk factors for anthracotic bronchitis should be taken into consideration.

Background and Aim: CagA antigen is found in 60-80% of Helicobacter Pylori organisms. It seems that CagA positive strains have more virulance. The aim of this study was to compare the eradication rate of CagA positive and CagA negative genotypes using current quadruple regimens.Material and Methods: The patients who had positive results for Helicobacter Pylori after endoscopy in Hazrat-Rasool Hospital were enrolled into the study. In 56 patients with positive rapid urease test (RUT), Anti CagA was determined and a 2-week quadruple regimen (Omeprazole, Amoxicilin, Metronidazole, and Bismuth) was prescribed. The UBT was performed two months after the end of treatment. Results: Of 56 patients who were infected with Helicobacter Pylori, 36 (64.3%) had CagA antibody. 15 (26.8%) patients had positive UBT and 41 (73.2%) patients had negative tests. The success rate of treatment was 69.44% (25 patients) in CagA positive and 80% (16 Patients) in CagA negative participants. This difference was not statistically significant (P=0.533).Conclusion: The presence of CagA is associated with higher success rate in conventional triple regimens but sufficient data for quadruple therapeutic regimens are not available. We did not find any association between CagA positivity and eradication rate of H.pylori.

Background and Aim: Postpartum depression is a disabling illness which can influence in the women's social relationship and their ability to achieve the task of neonatal care. Early diagnosis of depression and recognition of its related factors, preventive and therapeutic measures can be considered which can lead to health of mother, neonate, family and society. The aim of this study was to investigate postpartum depression and its relation to unplanned pregnancy and baby gender in the women who had given birth in community oriented medical clinic of Kermanshah University.Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. 531 primiparous women, who had referred to community oriented clinic between 10-40 days after delivery, were included in this study and evaluated for depression. Sampling method was census. Data were collected by use of Edinburgh postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) and an informational form about demographic characteristics, baby gender, planned or unplanned pregnancy and history of depression. SPSS software was used and data were analyzed by means of analytical statistics (chi-square and t-test).Results: 40.7% of the subjects had postpartum depression. Postpartum depression revealed a significant relationship with unplanned pregnancy and the history of depression (p=0.002), but no significant relationship was found between postpartum depression and neonatal gender.Conclusion: Postpartum depression has a high prevalence in our study affecting approximately 50% of mothers. Therefore screening for postpartum depression should be considered mandatory in postpartum care. Also special measures should be considered for women with unplanned pregnancy and history of depression during pregnancy and postnatal period.

Background and Aim: Delayed onset time of neuromuscular blocking is one of the limitations of using nondepolarizing muscle relaxants for facilitation of endotracheal intubation. This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was designed with the presumption that ephedrine can increase cardiac index and muscle blood flow and therefore it may shorten the onset time of muscle relaxation by atracurium.Material and Methods: Sixty patients, aged 18-60 yr, with ASA physical status I, II, were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Baseline vital signs were recorded and then all patients received intravenous midazolam and fentanyl, as premedication. One minute before induction of anesthesia with propofol and atracurium, the experimental group received intravenous ephedrine 70mg/kg and control group received an equal volume of normal saline. Muscle relaxation was assessed by means of peripheral nerve stimulator, based on TOF pattern of stimulation on ulnar nerve. The time interval between atracurium injection and the absence of TOF response (TOF=0) was recorded in all patients. Using SPSS software, data were analyzed by means of student's t-test and Chi-square test.Results: Demographic data and baseline vital signs were similar in both groups (p>0.05). The mean time taken for onset of relaxation, needed for endotracheal intubation (from atracurium administration to the time of TOF=0), was less in study group compared to control group (185.1±21.59 vs. 258.43±20.63 seconds) which was statistically significant (p<0.001).Discussion: Intravenous injection of ephedrine shortens the onset time of atracurium induced muscle relaxation which is similar to other nondepolarizing muscle relaxants, such as vecuronium and rocuronium.

Background and Aim: Children are vulnerable because of their special age characteristics. Investigation of nutritional status of students can lead to design appropriate plans on teaching and hygienic programs. Correct nutrition is an important factor influencing learning ability, development of the educational growth, improvement of teaching, leading to increased investment on education and national profit. The aim of this study was to use anthropometric techniques for assessment of nutritional status in primary school students in Kurdistan Province, Iran.Material and Methods: This was a descriptive- analytic cross-sectional study and included 1100 students selected by cluster sampling. Indices measured in this study were weight for age (WIA), weight for height (W/H), and height for age (HIA) and were compared to indices of NCHS standards. Based on the view of Ministry of Education, Kurdistan Province was divided into three parts; affluent, semi affluent and less affluent areas. Some data were collected by interviewing students and their parents or obtained from their healthrecords.Epi-Info2000and SPSS were used for data processing. X2 and ANOVA tests were used for data analysis.Results: According to the results of this study, the prevalence rates of malnutrition were 27.5, 32.3 and 36.9 percent for indices of W/A, W/H, and H/A respectively. There was a significant relationship between the mothers' occupations and chronic malnutrition (HIA), and also W/H (p<0.01). There was a significant relationship between the parents education level and H/A, and W/H (p<0.01) A significant relationship was noticed between weekly consumption of meat and chronic malnutrition (p<0.05). There was also a significant relationship between weekly consumption of cheese and milk and chronic malnutrition (p<0.01). The study showed a significant relationship between consumption of soft drinks and chronic malnutrition (p<0.01) and a significant relationship between consumption of confectioneries and W/H (p<0.01).Conclusion: The prevalence rate of malnutrition in the primary school students in Kurdsitan province was higher than those of other countries, but it is more desirable than those of some of other provinces of Iran.