Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2006 | Volume:11 | Issue:3 (SERIAL NUMBER 41)|Papers Count:13

Background and Aim: It is known that prolonged exposure to low intensity electromagnetic field (EMF) is hazardous for biological systems. However, the effect of EMF on human being is controversial. Several epidemiologic and experimental studies have shown that EMF has a harmful effect on central nervous system of animals. Previous research works in our laboratory, using light microscopes have shown that EMF could produce morphological changes in Cerebellum. The aim of the present study is to investigate ultrastructural changes of Cerebellum in EMF-exposed rats.Materials and Methods: 30 wistar rats were exposed to 3 mT EMF for 4 hours/day in a period of 4 months. After the experimental period rats in control and experimental groups were killed and tissue samples from their Cerebella were prepared for electron microscopic studies. Statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS software and Hest. p<0.05 was regarded significant. Results: The results of this study clearly demonstrated that the number and size of purkinje cells in EMF-exposed rats were decreased significantly (p<0.01). Other changes included: condensation of nuclei, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolization of cytoplasm, breakdown and disappearance of crista in mitochondria in the purkinje cells of Cerebellum. Conclusion: These findings indicated that long-term exposure to EMF had detrimental effects at cellular level on central nervous system of the rats.

Background and Aim: In epileptic patients, seizure and behavioral disorders are the most important signs; therefore evaluation of these disorders using animal model can be conducive to advantage. Determination of the role of zinc in seizure and the relation of zinc concentrations in serum and hippocampus may be beneficial in developing preventive and therapeutic measures for epilepsy. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc on seizure and its relation with GABAergic system activity.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, empirical and blind study. 48 adult male Sprauge-Dawley rats were randomly assigned in six groups (n=8). 3 groups were treated with zinc and other 3 groups with tap water. Epileptic model was induced by injection of Lithium chloride (127 mg/kg) and 24 hr later, pilocarpin (50 mg/kg) into peritoneum. After first injection, group 1 and 4 received saline, group 2 and 5 bicuculine (1 mg/kg) and group 3 and 6 pentobarbital (10mg/kg) injections. Episodes of seizure disorders were recorded at 1 and 2 hrs after injection.Results: The results of this study showed that Zn had a potentiating effect on seizure. GABA A antagonists had the same effect as Zn on seizure but GABA A agonists ameliorate it significantly. Serum zinc level didn't change significantly among the animals but hippocampus zinc declined significantly in Zn treated animals compared with those of the controls.Conclusion: This study shows that Zn deleterious effects on seizure were probably carried out via GABAergic system.

Background and Aim: Postoperative pain relief is one of the most important therapeutic aims, especially in orthopedic patients. This study was designed to compare the analgesic requirement in smoker and non smoker men after ORIP surgery under general Anesthesia.Materials and Methods: This was a "cohort study". 116 patients with fractures of both tibia & fibula, were placed in 2 equal groups. G.A was performed with halothan 0.8% and fentanyl and atracurium under mechanical ventilation. 4, 8 and 24 hours after the surgery, post operative pain was evaluated by means of VAS in recovery room. Collected data were recorded in designed questionnaires and injected doses of the opioid drug (pethidine 1 mg/kg) were extracted from the patient's sheets. Data were analyzed by means of SPSS. Mann Whitney U and T-tests were used for comparison of pain sensation in smokers and non smokers and analyzing quantitative data respectively.Results: In summary, pain sensation and opioid requirement were more in smokers than nonsmokers, and with respective p values of 0.033 and 0.003, significant differences were detected in both aspects.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that smokers felt more pain, and needed more opioid for pain relief. Therefore smoker men need more pain control.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional regimen and habits of the students in the fasting month of Ramadan and usual days together with obtained energy and macro/micro nutrients intake.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study. Every group included 60 female students who had been assigned randomly in three positions of home, dormitory and the fasting month of Ramadan. The groups received the 24 hr diet recall questionnaires in order to fill them out in 3 above mentioned positions.Finally 174 questionnaires .were evaluated. Using descriptive and comprehensive statistic formulae, the data were analyzed by means of SPSS win software.Results: The results of this study showed that the mean values for daily energy, unsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol and protein intake were 2258±823 Kcal 71.38, 7.26,263.93 mg and 84.9 gm respectively. Also intake of some nutrients and vitamins like calcium, zinc and folic acid were less than normal. The comparison of the food intake by students in home, dormitory and Ramadan month showed that the students had received more nutriments at home so that in some instances such as cholesterol and fat intake significant differences were detected (p<0.05).Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, it is necessary to add vegetables, fruits and dairy products to the nutritional regimen of the students.

Background and Aim: breathing is a vital process in living creatures, which let the oxygen in and CO2 out of the body. The process is disturbed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Breathing maneuvers are the most important methods in minimizing breathing disturbances. This study was conducted to assess the effect of breath training as a respiratory maneuver on O2 saturation and respiratory patterns in COPD patient in medical wards of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan City.Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental research, in which the effect of breath-training on O2 saturation (O2Sat) and respiratory patterns was evaluated in 60 COPD patients. The accessible samples were entered into this study. The demographic variables, like age, sex, and respiratory rate (RR) and rhythm were recorded before educating the patients. By means of pulse oximeter, the O2 saturation was measured before and after instructing the patients. The patients were requested to breath with puckered lips for 10 minutes and O2 saturation and respiratory rhythm were assessed immediately after and also in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 minutes following puckered lip breathing. Non-parametric tests like Wilcoxon matched pairs and Macnemar tests were used for data analysis.Results: 43.3% of the patient were farmers and 30% were working in textile industries. 56.3% of the patients were smokers. The mean values of O2Sat were 87.4% and 93% before and immediately after training; and the amount of 02Sat was significantly higher at all intervals except in the 5th minute after exercise (p<0/001).The decrease in RR was 27.7% immediately after exercise and maximal decrease was encountered in the 5th minute after rehearsal. But RR gradually increased to pretraining rate. Respiratory rhythm did not show any significant change due to the breath exercise.Conclusion: We concluded that breath exerxises such as puckered lip breathing led to an increase in O2 saturation, deep breathing patterns and finally improvement of lung function. So, breath training should be included in respiratory physiotherapy programs for COPD patients to increase their quality of life.

Background and Aim: Herbal medicine is one of the common methods of treatment in alternative medicine. Considering the ever-increasing rate of using the unconventional and herbal medicine in different societies, the evaluation of the knowledge of medical society members about herbal drugs and their administration is very important. This study was performed to determine the attitudes of Sanandaj medical society members and the extent of their knowledge about herbal drugs and their prescription in 2001.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic one. The population under study included all physicians, dentists, pharmacists and midwifes in Sanandaj. Sample size comprised 248 people. Collected data were recorded in questionnaires and analyzed by means of SPSS. win and X2 descriptive statistical test.Results: This study showed that 52.2% of population had affirmative views towards herbal drugs 23.5% expressed poor, 22.2% average and 16.7% good knowledge about herbal drugs. 81.4% of the population had prescribed at least one herbal drug. There was a significant relationship between the extent of knowledge about herbal drugs and job of the subjects under study, so that the highest and lowest knowledge ability were of pharmacists and midwifes respectively (p=0.001). There was a significant relationship between prescription of herbal drugs and job, so that pharmacists with 74% and general physicians with 81%had highest prescription rates (p=0.05).Conclusion: According to our findings Sanandaj medical society members had average knowledge and positive attitudes towards herbal drugs so that holding seminars and workshops are considered of special importance to increase the knowledge of medical staff about herbal drugs and also educational courses about herbal 'drugs for medical students and establishing the herbal drug pharmacies are conducive to advantage.

Background and Aim: Bread constitutes the main food of Iranian people. The consumption of bread supplies 70% of protein and 20% of calorie needed by body. The zinc content of Iran's agricultural soil is less than 0.7 mg/kg while the standard value is more than 1 mg/kg. This study was carried out to assess the effect of soil enrichment with zinc compounds on the serum zinc level in general population.Materials and Methods: In the first stage agricultural soil was enriched with 15 kg/hectare iron sexsothirin, 40 kg/hectare manganese sulfate and 50kg/hectare zinc sulfate. The amount of zinc in the prepared flour, before and during the study, was measured by atomic absorption machine through dry oxidation. 1795 people were selected from rural areas of Urmia city, in Iran for this intervention. Blood samples were obtained from 10% of the population before and after intervention. The amount of serum zinc was measured by means of auto analyzer machine Hitadin 704 using UK Randox kit. This was a clinical trial study and collected data before and after intervention; considering mean, standard deviation and confidence interval 95% for all sex and age groups in the population were analyzed.Results: The mean values for serum zinc before and after intervention were 80.05 and 109.73 microgram/deciliter blood respectively (CI=102.58, 116.89), (p<0.0001), showing a significant difference. The mean values for serum zinc in women and men before intervention were 75.23 and 87.92 accordingly with p=0.028, the difference between the two groups were significant. The mean values for serum zinc levels after intervention in women and men were 103.39 and 108.66 respectively which showed no significant difference. (p=818%). Differences between the mean values for serum zinc levels in women anci men before and after intervention with respective: (p<0.0001) and (p<0.001) were significant. Conclusions: This study indicated use of zinc compounds for soil enrichment led to improvement of zinc standards in wheat and use of enriched flour for 6 months resulted in an increase in the serum zinc level in both sexes and all age groups of the community.

Background and Aim: Considering the relation of teratogenecity with decreased plasma zinc level and expression of hypotheses concerning effect of folic acid on absorption of zinc, this study was designed to deal with the effect of folic acid on plasma zinc concentration in female rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study we assigned 12 albino rats randomly in 2 groups (6 rats in each group). The rats had been bred in equal environmental and nutritional states. Control and experimental groups received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline 4 CC/Kg and folic acid 4 Mg/Kg respectively.All the rats were beheaded and plasma zinc concentration was measured by use of flameless atomic absorption method. Quantitative data presented as Mean±SD, were analyzed by means of T-test.Results: Mean plasma zinc levels in the experimental and control groups were 27.90±2.23, and 42.1±0.579 respectively (p=0.000) (t=15.14).Conclusion: These results indicate that intra-peritoneal injection of folic acid decreases plasma zinc concentration in rats. This adverse effect of folic acid may play a role in the development of congenital defects. Therefore we believe that administration of zinc during pregnancy is at least as important as the administration of folic acid, to prevent occurrence of congenital anomalies.

Background and Aim: Adequate vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy are necessary for neonatal calcium homeostasis, bone maturation and mineralization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin D in mothers and their newborns.Materials and Methods: This study comprised 552 pregnant women from Tehran University hospitals. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained in delivery room just after child birth. The serum samples were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone.Results: prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and cord blood were 66.8% and 93.3% (<35nmol/l) respectively. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood levels of vitamin D. In mothers with vitamin D deficiency, cord blood vitamin D levels were lower than those of normal mothers (p=0.001). Conclusion: Furthermore, considering increased requirements of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy; intake of higher amounts of these nutrients is recommended.

Background and Aim: Isolated deep bum of perineal area is rare and usually occurs in cases with extensive bum. The etiology of this kind of bum may be of thermal, chemical or electrical origin. Treatment in most cases is conservative and surgical intervention rarely required. Isolated deep bum of perineal area has been reported in some special circumstances such as falling into furnace or pots containing hot fluids and sitting on exhaust pipe of vehicles; but no dysfunction of anal sphincter after formation of perineal annular scar had been detected. Our objective is to focus on particular cases of perineal bum and its complications. Case Report: A 12 years old Afghan boy with history of previous bum of perineal area at the age of 6 months, due to falling into boiled water, referred to Tohid Hospital with chief complaint of fecal incontinence. At that time the patient had been managed conservatively for his bum. As far as the patient's parents remember, he had been suffering from fecal incontinence since his childhood. In physical exam an annular scar around anus together with lack of sphincter tone were detected. By releasing the scar and use of skin graft, sphincter tone improved gradually.Conclusion: In special cases of isolated perineal deep bum, conservative management may lead to scarring and dysfunction of anal sphincter with fecal incontinence, imposing physical, social and psychological impacts specially on children. Proper and timely treatment is recommended to prevent this complication.

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is one of the prevalent infectious bacterial diseases, common between human and animals, This disease has a variety of signs and has been named great imitator. Except TB and syphilis, there are no other diseases like Brucellosis with so many variable signs. The responsible organism causing the illness in human and animals is called Hot Negative coccobacilli. In Iran, the common signs are related to bones and muscles. Also non specific signs and symptoms occur. Skin, lungs, cardio vascular, and male reproductive system may be involved.Case Report: A 47 years old man with pussy discharge from an abscess in right gluteal area referred to Tohid Hospital. Considering endemicity of brucellosis in Kurdistan province, diagnostic lab. tests were ordered. Wright and 2ME tests were positive. The patient was treated for brucellosis and revealed a favorable response. The patient's general condition improved and he was discharged from the hospital. In the follow up, the patient showed a marked improvement.Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of this disease in Iran, it should be kept in mind that presenting signs and symptoms may be non specific. Therefore reaching to final diagnosis in such a case is of particular importance.