Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2001 | Volume:5 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

INTRODUCTION: The sedative and anxiolytic effects of zizyphus jujube has been reported. Mixed herbal medicine containing jujube is used to treat heart palpitation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcohilic zizyphus spina christi fruit extract (from the same Rhamnaceae family) on the rate and contractility of perfused frog heart.MATERIALS & METHODS: The zizyphus spina christi fruit was extracted by percolation method using 70% alchohol. In either sex of pithed frogs (n=19), heart was perfused with Ringer`s solution through vena cava. Percentage changes in cardiac contractility and heart rate were recorded by an isometric transducer after applying final concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/ml of the extract for 1.5-2 min. RESULTS: Cardiac contractility increased in lower concentrations dose dependently (P<0.0001) but it reduced in higher concentrations (P<0.0001). The extract caused cardiac arrest in concentration of 20 mg/ml. It was reversed by washing but not by electrical stimulation. The heart rate also reduced in a dose dependent manner (P<0.0001). The inhibitory effect of high concentration of the extract abolished the positive inotropic effect of epinephrine (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Regarding the constituent`s similarity between Z. jujube and Z. spina christi, it may concluded that jujuboside A or a similar compound binds to calmodulin to inhibit its intracellular functions and consequently decrease excitation and contraction of the frog heart.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive rodents studies have confirmed that dietary calorie restirction improves health, exends mean life span and increases efficacy of immune system. Many researchers have also reported that low calorie diet delays aging of immune system. Fasting in Ramadan month causes low calorie intake, so we decided to assess the effect of fasting in holly month of Ramadan on human humoral immune system. MATERIALS & METHODS: Thirty-six fasting and twenty-five control, healthy young male medical students of Tehran university with mean age of 24 5yrs have been volunteered to participate in the study. In both groups, components of complement system and the serum immunoglobulins (IgG,IgA,IgM) were measured by single radial immunodiffusion method. Specific antirubella immunoglobulin and total serum IgE concentration were also measured by ELISA method. All tests were performed twice, once before and next time at the end of the Ramadan month. RESULTS: There were not significant difference in serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3c and C4 value following the fasting month in both groups. The ratio of gammaglobulin to total serum protein didnot alter. The concentration of total serum IgE significantly decreased in fasting group (P<0.05) while it showed no change in control group. The concentration of anti rubella IgG also showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: Regarding our study, it can be concluded that Ramadan fasting has no effect on humoral immune system. However, it causes significant decrease in concentration of serum IgE which has a reverse relationship with efficacy of cellular immune system. So, further evaluation is recommeuded to evalute effects of holly Ramadan fasting on cellular immune system.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease with unknown ethiology, characterized by symmetric joint involvement with progressive deformifies. This leads to limitation of motion and reduction of daily activities. This study was aimed to demonstrate the effects of exercise therapy on mobility of joints in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a quasiexperimental study. Forthy patients with rheumatoid arthritis were selected. They were studied for 12 weeks. In all subjects, range of motion of the joints, force of grasping, and the time of walking for 15 meters were measured at the beginning of the study, before exercise (6 weeks after coming), and 6 weeks following the exercise. The results were evaluated by paired t- test and one-way ANOVA test. The data was collected by questionnaire and using a goniometer. RESULTS: The data revealed that mean range of motion in the subjects changed significantly from 0.278 (SD= 0.028) to 8 (SD=3.57) following the exercise (P<0.0001). The mean time of walking for 15 meteres decreased following exercise (P<0.0001). The force of grasping increased from 7 (SD=0.29) to 8.5(SD=3.1) following exercise (P<0.0002). The effects of exercise therapy were not influenced by sex, job, motion limitation in the ankles, type of onset and duration of the disease, age and the patient`s level of education.CONCLUSION: This study confirms effectiveness of exercise therapy on improving mobility of the joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during the remission phase

INTROUDUCTION: Cardiovascular disease and inadequaey of dialysis are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the dialysing pateints. To be increased the dialysis efficacy has important role in improving the patient`s prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of dialysis in three dialysis centers in Kurdistan province. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in three dialysis centers in Kurdistan province. The variables including the pateint`s weithg before and after dialysis, ultrafiltration, and BUN before and after dialysis, were registered in a check list. Computerized analysis of the data was performed and clearance rate of urea by dialysis(kt/v)* * was measured. RESULTS: The mean kt/v was 0.94 ± 0.37. The mean kt/v in females was 0.37 and in male was 1.03. The hieghest mean of kt/v was 1.16 which was obtained in Sanandaj center. The lowest mean of kt/v was 0.95, obtained in Marivan center. Mean of kt/v among the three centers variated significantly. The mean time of dialysis was 9 ± 2.7 hours per week. There was no significant association between dialysis efficacy and mean time of dialysis per week.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the dialysis in Kurdistan province is not efficient. Further evaluation to determine causes of the dialysis inefficacy throughout the Kurdistan province is recommended.

INTRODUCTION: The age at menarche is different in various societies. There has been no study in this field in Kermanshah city; so the main goal of this study was to determine the age at menarche and it`s relation to the height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic state of middle school students in Kermanshah city in 1999. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The subjects were 810 middle-school girls that their menarche had been during 2 months before the study. The method of sampling was triple-stages clustering from three different socioeconomical districts of Kermanshah. The data was collected by a questionnaire including age, height, weight, parent`s job, parent`s level of education, race and age at menarche. The height and weight were measured and other data was collected by interviewing with the subjects.RESULTS: The age at menarche in our study was 13.4 ± 0.76 years. The height, weight and BMI of the subjects during menarche were 158.82 ± 5.78 cm , 44.01 ±7.30 kg and 17.67 ± 2.93 kg/m2 , respectively. The age at menarche wasn`t significantly related to height, weight and BMI. However, there was a significant relation between age at menarche and socioeconemic state of the middle schools; higher socioeconomic state was associated with lower age at menarche.CONCLUSION: To be decreased the age at menarche is due to higher socioeconomical state and it isn`t related to somatic characteristics (including height, weight and BMI) of the girls

INTRODUCTION: Health employees have always high risk to be affected by hepatitis B. This study was conducted to determine serum concentration of anti HBs antibody in employees of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj that were previousley vaccinated against hepatitis B.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was a descriptive study. The subjects were 100 empolyees of Tohid hospital of Sanandaj. The data was registered in a check list. The serum samples were titrated by ELISA method.RESULTS: Serum titer of anti HBs Ab in forthy two subjects (42%) was more than 100 IU/li. It was 10-100 IU/li in 25% and lower than 10 IU/li in 33% of the subjects. The serum titer of anti HBs Ab was related to the time of last dose of vaccination (P<0.025). However, it was not related with sex, age and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. CONCLUSION: According to this study, immunization is effective in 67% of the subjects while it is not effective in 33%. So, repeat vaccination may be recommended in many high risk persons

INTRODUCTION: Enuresis is one of the most common disorders in children following allergic disorders. Its prevalence is reported to be 5-20 percent in more than 5-years-old children worldwide. Enuresis has variable frequency regarding age and area througout the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enuresis and associated factors among primary school students in Sanandaj. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a cross- sectional population-based study. The statistical population was included all of the primary school students in Sanandaj in 2001. The subjects were 681 students which selected by random cluster sampling. The data was collected using a questionnaire and by interviewing with the student`s parents. RESULTS: The prevalence of enuresis was 8.8% (60 students). Eleven percent of the subjects (75 students) had only the history of enuresis. So the overall prevalence of present and old enuresis was 19.8%. Enuresis was found to be strongly associated with urinary tract infection (p=0.007) and night anal pruritus (P=0.008). However, there was no significant association between enuresis and history of oxyuriasis (P=0.04). Sex was associated with enuresis so that it was more prevalent in girls (P=0.00).CONCLUSION: This study affirms that the prevalence of enuresis in Sanandaj is the same as mean workdwide frequency. Higher frequency of enuresis in the girls may be due to lower pay attention to the girls and higher prevalence of urinary tract infection among them.

INTRODUCTION: The tuberculin skin test is a screening test for diagnosis of tuberculosis. This study was aimed to evaluate tuberculin skin test among middle school students in Sanandaj in 2001.MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The subjects were 1381 middle school students in three different socioeconomical districts of Sanandaj. They were selected by random sampling. The skin test was performed by intradermal injection of 5 unit of tuberculin solution. The site of injection was evaluated after 72 hours. The data was collected by a check list. RESULTS: The study showed that 26.3% of the subjects (363 students) had positive tuberculin test, 22.5% had suspicious result and 51.2% had negative tuberculin test. There was a significant difference in results of tuberculin skin test among the students regarding sex (P<0.001) and district (P<0.004). However the relation between scar of BCG vaccine and the test result was not significant. In 197 students with positive tuberculin test clinical examination and chest radiography were performed. Abnormal chest radiography was reported in 14 cases (7.1%).CONCLUSION: Regarding the fact that the most of the students have negative tuberculin test, complementary studies to evaluate immunity and effectiveness of BCG vaccine in middle school students are recommended.