JOURNAL OF GORGAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2010 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 (33)|Papers Count:17

Background and Objective: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which free radicals play an important role in its pathogenesis. It is supposed that diet enriched with Omega 3 fatty acid and antioxidant compounds can be effective in the treatment of this disease. Grape seed extract contains potent antioxidant compounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible useful effects of fish oil and grape seed extract enriched diets on the reduction of colonic damage and inflammation in acetic acid induced colitis.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 50 male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10). Fish oil group (F group) received 1.6 ml fish oil, grape seed group (G group) received 50 mg/kg grape seed extract and fish oil + grape seed group (FG group) received 1.6 ml fish oil + 50 mg/kg grape seed extract orally for 1 month. Rats in control group (C group) and colitis group (Co group) received distilled water. After 1 month colitis induced in groups with intrarectal administration of 1ml acetic acid (4%) to induce ulcerative colitis. The control group received intrarectal saline. Two days after the induction of colitis the degree of tissue injuries and inflammation were assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of colonic mucosa.Results: Acetic acid administration induced ulcers, inflammation and severe crypts damages in mucosal tissue of the colon. The rats with colitis in the FG group showed significantly less macroscopic, microscopic damages and inflammation in colonic tissues compared with those in colitis group. However treatment with grape seed extract and fish oil did not result in any significant improvements in macroscopic and microscopic scores.Conclusion: The result of this study showed that fish oil and grape seed extract enriched diets before colitis induction play a  protecting role against damages due to acetic acid induced colitis.

Background and Objective: Reduction of serum glucose and lipids in diabetic patients due to medicinal plants is clinically very important. Therefore, the effect of Allium schoenoprasum feeding on blood glucose and lipids was investigated in male streptozotocin-diabetic Rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar Rats (n=32) were divided into 4 groups, i.e. control, Allium schoenoprasum -treated control, diabetic, and Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food at a weight ratio of 6.25% one week after the study for 6 weeks. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin was administered at a dose of 60 mg/kg (i.p.). Serum glucose and lipids levels were determined before the study and at 3rd and 6th weeks after the study.Results: Serum glucose was significantly lower in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats at 3rd and 6th weeks as compared to untreated diabetics (p<0.05). In addition, serum total cholesterol did not show a significant change at 6th week in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats as compared to untreated diabetics. There was also a significant lower level of triglyceride in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats (p<0.05) and Allium schoenoprasum treatment caused significant improvement in HDL- and LDL- cholesterol levels in treated diabetic group as compared to untreated diabetic group (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that oral administration of Allium schoenoprasum to streptozotocin-diabetic Rats at a food weight ratio of 6.25% has a significant hypoglycemic effect, reduces serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol level and increases serum HDL-cholesterol.

Background and Objective: The application of herbal extract are used as substitution to either drug or complementary medicine. Cinnamomum zeylanicum is one of the important herb which is used for various diseases. This study was done to determine the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Bark) hydroalcoholic extract on the level of hormones responsible for reproduction in male mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 48 male adult mice divided in six groups, hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamon zeylanicum was injected intraperitonealy in different dose (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/every other day) for 20 days in groups 1-4. Normal saline was injected in only one group as placebo group and the other group was not given any substance and it was considered as a control group. All serum hormones level including FSH, LH and testosterone were measured by Radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique.Results: The concentration of FSH, LH increased following the injected dose of Cinnamon zeylanicum and the most increasing of FSH and LH concentration was in animals which receive 200, 400 mg/kg/every other day of Cinnamomum zeylanicum hydroalcoholic extract. The level of serum testosterone significantly increased in dose of 50, 100 mg/kg/every other day in comparison with control group, too (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamon zeylanicum elevates the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones.

Background and Objective: Patello femoral pain syndrome is one of the most common orthopeadics complains, which effect athletes, militaries and ordinary people. The symptoms is idiopathic disease, but one of the most important reason for this disease can be the structural problem of lower limb and one of the efficient method of conservative treatment of patients with patello femoral pain syndrome can be using neoprene palumbo and geno direxa stable orthoses, but there is only a few experimental researches supporting the effects of these orthoses. This study was designed to determine the effects of neoprene palumbo and geno direxa stable on pain and daily activity of patients with patello femoral pain syndrome.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study 30 male patients (18-40 years old) with patello femoral pain syndrome randomly were divided in 2 groups of 15 patients. Which were placed in Neoprene palumbo and Geno direxa stable orthoses groups respectively. The pain intensity and activity of daily living joint rigidity were assessed before, during and 3 weeks after treatment by visual analogue scale (VAS) and KOOS questionnaire. Following both orthoses application data were analyzed using pair and independent t-test.Results: In both groups the mean of pain intensity decreased and daily physical activity increased after treatment (P<0.05), but there was not significant difference between neoprene palumbo and geno direxa stable methods, on pain and daily physical activities.Conclusion: This study indicated that Neoprene palumbo and geno direxa stable orthoses improved the sign of patello femoral pain syndrome including pain intensity and daily life, activity.

Background and Objective: Previous studies have shown that vitamin D is involved in host immune response toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The aim of this study was to determine if administration of vitamin D can improve treatment outcome and whether is able to increase the rate of sputum clearance of MTB in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 96 patients with lung tuberculosis in Ahvaz, Iran during 2008-09. The patients were 18>=years old with sputum positive for acid fast bacillus. Patients were placed in two equal groups as cases and controls. Cases were treated by standard anti TB regimen plus 800 IU/day vit D orally. Controls were treated only by standard anti TB regimen. Follow up sputum examination for presence AFB was performed at the end of month 1, 2, 3, 4 and treatment period. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16 by using descriptive statistics test, chi square and fisher exact test.Results: Mean±SD age of cases and controls was 39.1±17.8 and 38.3±17.6 years, respectively. Overall cure rate in case and control was 93.8% and 95.8% respectively, with no significant difference. The rate of negative sputum of cases in the end of months 1, 2, 3, 4 and treatment period was 66.7%, 78.5%, 93.8% and 93.8% respectively, and for controls was 35.4%, 66.7%, 91.7% and 95.8% respectively. There was significant difference between two groups in the end of first and second month (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D as a supplemental drug does not improve the overall treatment outcome among lung TB patients, but it may be able to increase the rate of sputum clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background and Objective: Muscle size is considered to be a good indicator of muscle function. Previous studies demonstrated a major role for longus colli muscle in cervical spine stabilization. This study was designed to compare muscle size and shape of cervical longus colli muscle between patients with bilateral chronic neck pain and healthy subjects.Materials and Methods: In this case – control study, bilateral ultrasound images of longus colli muscle, 2 centimeters below the thyroid cartilage were taken in 20 subjects (10 males and 10 females) with bilateral chronic neck pain and in 20 healthy subjects during 2008. Cross sectional area (cm2) and muscle shape ratio (ratio between lateral and anterior posterior dimensions) were measured. T- test was used for comparison of cross sectional area and shape ratio of right and left sides between the two groups.Results: In healthy subjects the cross sectional area of longus colli muscle in right and left sides were 0.85±0.11 and 0.86±0.12 respectively which was greater than that of neck pain patients: 0.76±0.11 and 0.68±0.07 respectively (P<0.05). In addition, longus colli muscle shape ratio of healthy subjects in right and left sides was 1.18±0.17 and 1.16±0.19 respectively which was smaller than that of neck pain patients: 1.50±0.25 and 1.50±0.27 respectively (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showd that patients with bilateral chronic neck pain had generally smaller cross sectional area and larger shape ratio of longus colli compared to controls.

Background and Objective: Today, drug abuse is one of the most important medical and social problems of world population, which can be a threat to human’s health. Cannabis as a common substance can create psychotic symptom, psychiatric disorders and antisocial behaviors. This study was designed to compare the prevalency of psychoticism and neuroticism among cannabis and non-cannabis abusers in this region of the country.Materials and Methods: This case control study was done on100 cannabis users whom seek for drugs in public gardens of Golestan province as case group and 100 non-abusers who spend their leisure time in this place as control group. Two groups matched with regard to age and education level. The data gathered by using self-reported adult version of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). The data was analyzed in the SPSS-13.5 software by Chi-square, t-test and Mann-Whitney.Results: The mean score of psychoticism and neuroticism in case and control group was 9.37 and 5.72 respectivley (P<0.05). The mean score of neuroticism in cases and controls was 15.9 and 12.19, respectivley (P<0.05). The relationship between psychoticism and patterns of cannabis consumption was significant (P<0.05). There was a relationship between cannabis consumption and the history of drug misabuse in other substances in cannabis users and in their families.Conclusion: The result of this study can clarify the importance of preventing intervention in substance abuse for improving mental health.

Background and Objective: Previous reports on the effect of treatment on the serum immunologic parameters in patients with infective endocarditis are controversial. This study was conducted to asses the serum levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), RF (rheumatoid factor) and CIC (circulatory immune complex) before and after treatment in patients with infective endocarditis.Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study 30 hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis in Razi Hospital in Ahvaz during 2006. Blood samples obtained before and after treatment. 2.5 cc of each sample were used for CRP and RF and remaining 2.5 cc preserved at -20ºC until CIC examination. CRP and RF were measured by using nephlometry and CIC was detected by immundiffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and t-student test.Results: Out of 30 patients, 26 (86.7%) were male. Mean age was 29.53±10.28years. The mean values of CIC, CRP and RF before and after treatment were 0.847, 72.38, 60.45 and 0.80, 44.1, 41.2, respectively. The means of CRP and RF before and after treatment were statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that the serum level of CRP and RF reduce after effective treatments because most of the our patients were intravenous drug user, CRP and RF indeces may be useful measurment for treatment evaluation responses to infective endocarditis in these population.

Background and Objective: Noninvasive methods have been proposed as surrogate markers for liver biopsy in recent years. It was shown that serum laminin level increases with the development for liver fibrosis The aim of this work was to determine serum laminin level cutoff point for predicting liver fibrosis, highlighting its diagnostic value and determining the effect of treatment on its level.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study during 2008-09, serum laminin levels in chronic hepatitis patients (n=62) and controls (n=20) before the beginning of the treatment and three times in a 2 month's interval i.e. 2.4 and 6 months after the beginning of the treatment- were compared by ELISA and stages of fibrosis were assessed according to the liver biopsy.Results: Mean serum laminin concentration in patients (91.9±20.9 ng/ml) was greater than the control (46.2±10.2 ng/ml, P<0.05). Serum levels of laminin in all stages of hepatic fibrosis were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls (P<0.05). A cutoff point of 52.0 ng/ml of laminin serum was obtained for the discrimination of patients with liver fibrosis than the healthy control showed a good sensitivity (96.8%) and specificity (80%). After 6 months of treatment, a gradual decrease in serum laminin level was observed, however the level was still higher than that of the healthy group (P<0.05).Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that serum laminin level is a useful non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis due to strong positive correlation between serum laminin level and the degree of liver fibrosis.

Background and Objective: Occult hepatitis B infection is a form of hepatitis in which despite of absence of detectable HBsAg, HBV-DNA is present in peripheral blood of patients. The mechanisms which are responsible for progression of OBI yet to be clarified but some investigators believed that the genetics and immunological parameters may are different in resistant individuals and patients. Cytokine network system could be leading alteration in viral immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between polymorphisms +874 region of IFN-g with occult hepatitis B infection.Materials and Methods: In this study, the plasma samples of 3700 blood donors were tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs by ELISA. The HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples were selected and screened for HBV-DNA by PCR. HBV-DNA positive samples assigned as occult hepatitis B infection cases and ARMS-PCR technique were performed to examine the present polymorphisms in +874 region of IFN-g genes of patients with occult hepatitis B infection.Results: 352 (9.51%) out of 3700 blood samples were negative for HBsAg and positive for anti-HBc antibody. HBV-DNA was detected in 57 (16.1%) of HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples. Our results showed that there was not any significant difference between patients and control group in polymorphisms in +874 region of IFN-g genes.Conclusion: This study showed that there is not any significant difference between polymorphisms in +874 region with IFN-g occult hepatitis B infection.

Background and Objective: Several organization such as AAPM (American Association of Physicist in Medicine), ACR (American College of Radiology), ACMP (American College of Medical Physics) and ESTRO (European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) recommended the need for periodic quality control procedure in radiation oncology. One of the best methods for quality control is in vivo dosimetry, while radiotherapy is performed. The aim of this study was to design and optimiz a protocol for the quality control of radiation treatment of patients with head and neck malignancy.Materials and Methods: In this case series study midle line dose was measured in vivo in conjunction with portal imaging in 19 patients that were treated using a Co-60 unit, in August and December 2007. Distribution of entrance and exit dose was determined using two diodes, off axis ratios and portal imaging together with a user code written in MATLAB. User code was applied to convert optical intensity of portal film to optical density. Midline dose was calculated in one centimeter intervals using entrance and exit dose with the Huyskens algorithm method.Results: The midline dose was calculated in 165 points. The mean and standard deviation between measured and prescribed dose was about 4.27±3.61%. In 110 points (66.66%), the deviation was less than 5% (2.27±1.37), in 41 points (24.84%) the mean deviation was between 5 and 10% (6.51±1.2) and in 14 points (8.48%) mean deviation was more than 10% (13.37±2.34). The maximum and minimum deviations were found in center of the field (2.6±1.63) and 5cm away from center of the field (7.24±4.86) respectively. Maximum and minimum deviations correspond to the equivalent field of 14cm2 (5.08±3.53) and 8cm2 (2.95±2.13) respectively.Conclusion: This study showed that using a portal detector in conjunction with two diodes is a simple and accurate method for daily quality control in radiotherapy. The data is acquired in this way can be used for evaluating the accuracy of treatment steps including; determination of output of a treatment machine, quality control of a treatment planning system and precision of calculations and patient setup.

Background and Objective: Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis that is more common in tropical and semitropical regions and in flat area of Guilan province, nothern Iran, caused by pathogenic leptospires. Serotyping by MAT is complicated, expensive and time cosuming. Molecular typing can be useful alternative. This study was performed to identify the typing of endemic pathogenic leptospires, isolated in Guilan province, by PCR-RFLP.Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study, specimens were taken from patients in Razi hospital, Rasht, Iran, from April to August 2008. DNA of all positive cultures were extracted by Phenol-Chloroform method. PCR was performed by using two primer sets: B64-I, B64-II for Kirschnery serovars whose PCR product were digested by HinfI for RFLP, and G1, G2 for all other species whose PCR products were digested by DdeI. Band profiles of digested PCR products were compared to band profiles of standard servers to determine species and subspecies.Results: 65 of totally 107 blood cultures were positive. 56 Samples were amplified by G1, G2 included Interrogans and Borgpeterseni and 9 samples were amplified by B64-I, B64-II including Kirschneri species.Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of leptospires species are Interrogans and Borgpeterseni. Regarding to several existing problems in Seortyping of leptospires by MAT, PCR-RFLP can be useful for identifying isolating and studying the serovars in different certain species. It seems that PCR-RFLP can be performable for clinical samples for both early diagnosis and characterization.

Background and Objective: Hemodialysis is one of the common therapulic proceduce for terminal renal failure. Insufficient and low efficient hemodialysis increases the mortality rate, therefore the assessment of hemodialysis efficacy is important. This study was done to determine the hemodialysis efficacy based on urea reduction ratio (URR) model and kt/v (Clearance Time Volume) criteria in Gorgan, Northern Iran.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study 113 heomdilysis patients were selected prior to hemodilysis and five minutes after pump stopping, arterial blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was measured and then kt/v and URR were calculated. Also kt/v relations with weight, gender, educational level, length of hemodialysis session, blood flow rate, TMP (Terans Membran Presure), filter Ku/f (Clearance Ultrafiltration), preliminary disease, time of hemodialysis per week and the type of vessel access were determined. Data analyzed using SPSS-13 and independent t-test, chi-square, fisher exact test and Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The mean of hemodilysis history was 37 months and mean of Patient's ages were 51.6 years. 77.9% of subjects had hemodialysis efficacy according to Kt/v and URR critrial. There was a statistical significant correlation between hemodialysis efficacy and time of hemodialysis session, blood flow rate, time of hemodialysis per week and type of vessels access (P<0.05), but there was not any significant correlation between hemodialysis efficacy and weight, gender, education, TMP, filter Ku/f and preliminary disease.Conclusion: This study suggested that hemodialysis efficacy in this center was better that other studies in Iran.

Background and Objective: Opium usage for sedating/relieving from diarrhea or cough causes a public health problem. In the northeast of Iran (Golestan province), opium is used widely for symptomatic therapy of routine illnesses in young children. It may cause severe intoxication and even death. This study was done to determine the toxification with opium in five years old children in Golestan Privine in Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in collaboration with “Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Committee” in Golestan University of Medical Sciences. All members of ADR committee in pediatric centers trained to complete a certain valid questionnaire in children under 5-years-old, which either referred or admitted for opium intoxication (September 2006 to February 2007). Data analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher exact tests.Results: In this survey, 67 opium-intoxicated children were recruited. Minimum age of the subjects was 6 days and maximum was 5-years-old. In 41.3% of subject. The opium was given by the mother with low awakness and 61.2% of in toxicated children reside with rural area. More that 80% of the parant had the educational level below. The highschool diploma in 63.6% of cases the pure form of opium were consumed, diarrehea anxiety, were the two main cause for consuming the opium. In this study four subjects decleard dead due to toxification of the opium.Conclusion: Opium intoxication has a high prevalence among children under 5-years-old in our area. Therefore it is suggested that the intoxicated children accompanied with parant ambigious explanation opium toxification should be taken seriously.