Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2008 | Volume:10 | Issue:3 (27)|Papers Count:18

Background and Objective: Dentate gyrus is a part of hippocampal formation that plays an important role in memory and learning. Astrocytes are one of the important glial cells in nervous tissue that play a more active role in neuronal activity, including regulating ion flux currents, energy production, neurotransmitter release, and synaptogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial memory effect on the number of astrocytes in Rat’s dentate gyrus.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was done on 18 male Wistar Rats with using Morris water maze and Reference and Working memory methods. After spatial learning the Rat's brains was carried out and histological preparation was carried out, the slices were with PTAH method. The data analyzed, using T-test and One-way ANOVA.Results: The results showed significant difference in astrocytes number in dentate gyrus area between Reference memory (300.57±5.98) and control (73.73±22.61) groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that spatial learning such as Reference memory and Working memory increase the number of astrocytes in dentate gyrus and this increase can be due to duration of learning.

Background and Objective: Tuberculosis is one of the major problems facing of globle health. Drug resistance of mycobacterium tuberculosis to antimicrobial agent has strongly emerged the need for achiving the new drugs. Garlic as medical plants has long been taken under investigation. This study for antibacterial effect was done to determine the morphological alteration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis due to garlic choloformic extract. Garlic extract contains allicine (thio-2-propen-sulfonic acid-s-allil ester) is one of its effective antimicrobacterial substance.Materials and Methods: In a in-vitro study, the standard strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV and clinical isolated strain was cultured in the middle broke 7H9 broth with different concentration of garlic extract in different 12, 24, 48, 72 hours. Morphological althertits of mycobacterium inspected with macroscopic and microscopic studies.Results: The garlic exteract caused conversion of rough colonies to smooth and mucoid colonies and in microscopic studies morphologic change of mycobacterium from bacilli form to coccobacilli and cocci was observed. Also 0.67 mg/ml of garlic exteract on 48h period inhibited both of sensitive (standard strain of H37RV) and resistance (clinical strains) Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Conclusion: This study showed that garlic extract in addition to inhibiting growth, change the morphology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from baccilli to cocoibaccill form and also alter the colony apearance from rough to smooth shap.

Background and Objective: Due to high mortality and morbidity of the cervical cancer we decided to compare benefits and advers effects of Gemcitabine plus conventional chemoradiation with conventional chemoradiation with cisplatin alone in Imam Hossein hospital, in Tehran, Iran.Materials and Methods: This double blind clinical trial, was carried out on 34 patients with documented cervical carcinoma during 2006-07 the patients divided into two sub groups: (A) Conventional concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin (N=18) versus(B) concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin plus gemicitabine (N=16). The patients with clinical stage of IB2-IVA and normal cell blood count with normal renal and liver function tests included in the study. Irradiation was delivered to all patients through external and internal beams with same dose and schedule. The patients followed for 3 months at least. Clinical response rate and adverse events included Neutropenin, Thrombocytopenia, anemia, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting compared in two groups with fisher exact test, and t-test.Results: Despite increasing of complete response rate with adding gemcitabine to conventional treatment (81.2% vs. 66.7%), the difference in two groups was not statistically significant.Conclusion: This study indicated that the addition of gemicatabine to conventional chemoradiation with cisplatinrevealed no significant benefits. All adverse events in combination chemotherapy group were greater than conventional treatment.

Background and Objective: Zinc is one of the micronutrient with many roles in health, especially among the growing children. It has been thought that Zinc deficiency cause diarrhea, and Zinc supplementation can prevent it in children.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out to determine the effect of Zinc sulphat on 4-24 month old children dirrahea. This clinical trial study was done double blind, the sample were study 4-24 month old afflicted with acute diarrhea in pediatric ward of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran during 2006. The sample size was 40 and mached by Blocks Randomization. The children in case group (intervention) received Zinc sulfate (9 mg/kg/day) during ten days. In the Control groups they there given distilled water instead. The data was analyzed, using t-test and manwitney test.Results: During ten days of monitoring there was a not significant difference between two groups. Duration of diarrhea in case and control groups was 5.72±3.15 and 5.32±2.58 days respectivley this diffence was not significant.Conclusion: This study showed that Zinc sulfate has no benefit on acute diarrhea in childhood.

Background and Objective: Many factors are known to be involved in a number of human pathologies of obesity including serum leptin and thyroid hormones levels. The purpose of this study was to compare the serum levels of leptin and thyroid hormones in obese and non-obese women, in Shiraz-Iran during 2006.Materials and Methods: In this case- control study, 35 women with BMI ³ 30 Kg/m2 recruited as an obese group (Case group) and 35 women with healthy BMI (BMI<25 Kglm2) were selected as a control group. General information data were gathered from each sample using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured and BMI, WHR and percent of body fat (%TBF) were calculated for each subject. Venous blood samples were drawn from subjects and serum was separated to determine the concentrations of serum leptin and thyroid hormones (T4, T3 and TSH) levels.  Results: Mean serum concentration of leptin was significantly higher in obese group than control group (p<0.001). Serum leptin levels positively correlated to anthropometric indices (BMI, WHR, %TBF). No significant difference was observed between obese and non-obese groups in serum thyroid hormones concentration. Serum leptin levels positively related to serum T3 levels (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study indicated that obese women had higher leptin levels compared to nonobese. The interaction between thyroid hormone in particular T3 and leptin can be one of the reasons for increasing the serum leptin level among obse women.

Background and Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited disorder in Caucasian populations caused by mutation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The type of mutations and their distributions varies widely between different countries and/or ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to characterize mutations involved in this disease in Mazandaran province, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study thirty unrelated Iranian cystic fibrosis patients were screened for delta F508, N1303K, G542X, R347H and W1282X mutations in the CFTR gene using Reverse Dot Blot method during 2004-06. This technique uses biotinilated PCR products for simultaneous hybridization with several normal and mutant probes specific to known mutations fixed on Biodyne C membranes.Results: DeltaF508 mutation was found in 13 (21.66%) alleles. 6 patients were homozygote and one was compound heterozygote for this mutation.Conclusion: These findings reveal an important heterogeneity of CFTR gene mutations in Mazandaran Province. Thus regarding the relative low rate of detectable mutations, it is necessary to undertake larger studies for molecular diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in this province.

Background and Objective: Primary TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus) and Treponema palidum infections in the mothers can lead to severe fetal anomalies. This study was done to explore the prevalance of TORCH antibodies in newborns with congenital malformations and their mothers in Gorgan-Iran.Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was done on newborns with major congential malformations, during 20 months (2003-04) in Dezyani hospital- a referal gynecology center in Gorgan, in north of Iran. The blood sample of 64 newborns with congenital malformations and their mothers collected. Serologic testes were done on newborns and mothers' sera to determine IgM and IgG levels against rubella, toxoplasma gondeie, Cytomegalo virus, Herpes simplex type II with ELISA test. For Terponema palidum PRP test was used.Results: Four of 64 infants (6%) had positive IgM antibody titers for Toxoplasma, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus. Nine of mothers with affected newborns (14%) had positive IgM antibody titers for Toxoplasma, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus.Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalance of TORCH antibodies are observed in 6% of birth defects, in this region.

Background and Objective: Esophageal and gastric cancers are among the most common and fatal cancers. These are diagnosed at the latest phase and the prognosis is too poor. Due to the importance and high incidence rate of the upper gastrointestinal cancers in Golestan province, this study was conducted to explore the overall survival rate of these patients in rural area of this region.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross - sectional study, a total of 121 pathologically confirmed esophageal or gastric cancers, with rural place of residence, were retrieved from the cancer registry at the health department in Gorgan. After conducting interview with patients or their relatives, analysis of their sociodemographic and clinicopathologic features was performed. The median survival rate was compared regarding age groups and gender using Kaplan-Meier statistical test.Results: Male to female ratio in esophageal and gastric group was 1.2 to 1 and 3.8 to 1, respectively. Short-term survival rates were 54.76% and 26.2% for esophageal cancer and 66.6% and 37.5% for gastric cancer. Collected information regarding patients’ sociodemographic and clinicophathologic factors did not have significant association with patients’ survival in both esophageal and gastric cancers. The mean survival rate in patient with gastric and esophageal cancers according to age and gender was not significant.Conclusion: This study showed that the overall short-term survival rates for upper gastrointestinal cancers are very low in Golestan province. Therefore the need for intervention the need and allocating more diagnosis and therapeutic resources for upper gastrointestinal cancers are required.

Background and Objective: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men after lung cancer. Therefore, this study was done to assess of risk factors for prostate cancer in Mazandaran province, Iran.Materials and Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted on 104 prostate cancer patients and 104 controls in Mazandaran province during 2005. The addresses of the patients were obtained using the cancer registry information existed in Babol research center in Iran. The data were collected using a questionnaire by in-person interview of cases and their controls and were analyzed using STATA (8.0).Results: Univariate condition logistic regression showed that age, prostatitis, drinking alcohol, using chopoghe, family history of prostate cancer, having other cancer, intensity of activity, time of job activity were found to be the risk factors although higher BMI and exercise were protective for prostate cancer (P<0.20). Conclusion: This study identified prostatitis, age, alcohol consumption and family history of prostate as the independent risk factors for prostate cancer. We suggest that men after the age of 60 should be screened for prostate cancer annually.

Background and Objective: Short stature among children is often due to physiological causes but it can be a sign of important and curable diseases. Thus early detection of problem, before epiphyseal closure, is critical. This study was done to determine the cause of short stature among children in Gorgan-Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional research study was done on 100 children of 6-14 years of age during 2005 in Gorgan-Iran. Children were selected by census. Demographic character of children, history of serious disease, prematurity, blood and provocative growth hormone tests, physical examination, wrist radiography and standard deviation score (SDS) were recorded for each child. Data were analyzed by t-student and chi-square tests.Results: The finding of this study showed that most children with short stature were girl (66%). Mean±SD of calendar and bone age of female children was 10.4±2.25 and 8.4±2.32 year, respectively. The most frequent causes of short stature were constitutional (57%), Growth hormone deficiency (30%) and familial causes (8%). Mean±SD of calendar and bone age of males children was 10.79±2.32 and 7.89±2.19 years. Children with growth hormone deficiency had lower bone age and children with constitutional short stature had higher standard deviation score than others. (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that since growth hormone deficiency was one of the common and important pathologic causes of short stature. Therefore growth hormone determination and therapy is recommended, after elimination of familial and constitutional factors.

Background and Objective: Thalassemia major is a genetic disorder. Blood transfusion is critical for survival in these patients. Over the course of the past two and three decade’s hyper transfusion therapy in these patients has increased significant improvement in life expectancy and quality of life. Unfortunately this type of therapy increased the frequency of complication due to iron overloud. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalencey of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in patients with thalassemia major, with 10-27 years of age in Tabriz.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on 56 patients between 10-27 years of age with thalassemia major. The demographic informaiton theraputic regiment, the age of first transfusion. The level of blood transfusion, the history and dosage of familial history of diabetes, Fe, TIBC, ferritin levels were assessed and recorded. For each patient glucose tolerance test, blood glucose level is performed.Results: In this study prevalence of diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance test were found in 8.9%, 28.6% and 7.1% of patients respectively.Conclusion: This study showed that despite recent therapy with Desferal in the management of beta-thalassemia major, the risk of secondary endocrine dysfunction remains high. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance test are greater than general population. Endocrine evaluation in patients with thalassemia major must be carried out regularly especially in those patients over the age of 10 years.

Background and Objective: Brain computed-tomography (CT) scan has a well documented accuracy in detecting the tumors; this study was carried out to assess the conformity and correlation of CT-Scan diagnosis of the brain tumors with pathological findings in Ghaem Hospital Mashad University of Medical Sciences-Iran.Materials and Methods: This descriptive prospective study was done on 75 patients, 5-83 years, with the clinical suspicion of brain tumors. According to the CT-Scan findings 1-3 differential diagnosis were made for each patient. This was followed by surgery and biopsy, and the CT-Scan diagnoses were compared with pathological findings.Results: The best conformity and correlation of radiologic and pathologic diagnosis was seen in pituitary adenoma, acoustic neuroma, epidermoid cyst and craniopharyngioma. Also, according to the CT-Scan findings, the highest degree of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, were related to pituitary adenoma, high grade astrocytoma and meningioma.Conclusion: This study showed thant no single imaging modality may claim optimal sensitivity or specificity for the assessment of CNS disorders, although several imaging methods carry independent and complementary information, and CT-scan has different ability for diagnosis of different kind of tumors.

Adrecortical virilizing tumors are rare in the pediatric age group. There is 1% incidence for adneral cancer. In comparison with adult patients, there is function adrenalectomy tumor in pediatric group. The patient in this report was a 20 months old female presenting with clinical signs of virilizition that were characterized by increased bone mass, pubic hair growth external genitalia. The laboratory test showed: High level of testosterone (400 ng/dl), andrestandion (3.6 ng/ml) and progesterone (19.9 ng/ml) and very high level of (8000 ng/ml) dehydroepiandrosterone. In CT scan there was right adrenal mass with size>5 cm. The diagnosis of right an adrenocortical functional tumor led to the choice of open surgical adrenal with flank apreach between 10 and 11 ribs. Pathologic examination showed carcinoma of the adrenal. Patient discharged 5 days after operation. Surgery was done via lumbar incision and follow up was carried out for 10 years, and there was not any pathological lesion.

Brucellosis is a zoonosis with a variety of clinical syndromes including spondylitis. Spondylitis and sacroiliitis are the most frequent complications of skeletal system involvement in brucellosis, but muscle infection and abscess formation are a rare complication and frequently secondary to spondylitis. In this article two cases of brucella spondylitis are presented which has led to abscess formation in one of them, these patients referred with back pain, fever, and with subsequeint MRI examination, wright positive test, were diagnosed as spondylitis. The antibiotic regiment including Doxycycline, Refampin, was prescripted for four months. The clinical signs were disapeared subsequently.