Yafteh
Year:2006 | Volume:8 | Issue:3 (29)|Papers Count:16

Background: Micronutrients deficiency is one of the most health problems in the world. Iron and zinc deficiency and their interaction with vitamin A are important, too. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of iron and zinc, alone or combined, on vitamin A status of primary school children. Material and methods: The study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which 81 primary school children, 11 y of age, were randomly supplemented for 4 months with iron (20 mg/d), zinc (20 mg/d), or iron+ zinc (20 mg of each/d). Plasma retinol was measured at beginning and after 4 months by HPLC method. SPSS version 11.5 software was used. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and paired t test.Results: Plasma retinol changes in Iron, zinc, and iron +zinc groups were: -0.1±0.2, -0.1±0.1, -0.1±0.1 mmol/L, respectively. These changes in female and male were, respectively: -0. 18±0.2,-0.03±0.1 for iron group, -0.1±0.1, -0.08±0.09 for zinc group, and -0. 14±0.2,-0.06±0.1 for iron + zinc group retinol decreased in all supplemented groups. Deficient or non-deficient basal serum zinc had no effect on result. Conclusion: Plasma retinol was decreased in all supplemented groups. As, decrease in plasma retinol results :tromthe supplementation, more studies should be carried out on this subject.

Background: Ketamine is one of the most common drugs that used in general anesthesia. Water solubility, high efficacy for Anesthesia induction and low cardiac and respiratory side effects make it suitable drug for general anesthesia. But this drug has side effects such as increased airway secretion, ICP, IOP, IGP that can be managed comfortably. The most common side effect of ketamine is postoperative hallucination with incidence of 5 to 30% in adult. This problem has no treatment but can be prevented using benzodiazepines. In this study we assessed the effects of prophylaxis with diazpam and midazolam for ketamine induced postoperative hallucination.Materials and methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was done on 50 patients who were candidate for ketamine administration. Patients were divided into two groups. In the first group diazepam, was administrated on premedication and in the other group, midazolam was administrated, then occurring of hallucination assessed in both groups and comparried with each other.Results: Incidence of hallucination in the first group is 36% and in the other group is 8%. Chi- Square test demonstrates a significant statistical difference between the two groups (p.v=0.017 and K.sq=5.71).Conclusions: Analysis of data demostrated that midazolam is more effective than diazpam for prevention of ketamine induced postoperative hallucination. According to the above although postoperative hallucination induced by ketamine has no effective treatment but can be prevented effectively using benzodiazepines especially midazolam.

Background: Shark cartilage is one of the complementary medicines for cancer patients that inhibit tumor progression by several mechanisms. There is not sufficient evidence on its effects on human immune system; thereby we investigated its modulatory effects on some cellular immune response parameters in breast cancer patients.Material and methods: After preparation of shark cartilage powder and its distribution in capsules, drug packages were coded. Test group patients consumed shark cartilage and control group consumed starch capsules according to the specified protocol, along with hormone therapy. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment. After isolating and culturing mononuclear cells, the quantity of IL4, IFNy, as well as CD4+T/CD8+T percentage and ratio were evaluated by ELISA, and Flow cytometry techniques.Results: After treatment, there was a significant increase in the quantity of IFNg, lymphocyte proliferation and CD4T/CD8T ratio in test group patients, while there was not a significant change in these parameters in control group.Conclusion: It seems that shark cartilage could help strengthen cellular immunity which is important in tumor regression in breast cancer patients. So we suppose that it could be a good candidate for cancer treatment along with conventional medicine.

Background: Distal radius fractures are one of the most common fractures of skeletal system and because of the aging of population, its incidence is rising. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the close reduction and percutaneous pin fixation as a treatment option.Material and methods: 44 patients who were type 2 according to universal classification or type 2 or 3 according to older classification studied for 3 years at 6 months period. Fractures reduced under general anesthesia with Image intensifier and fixed with 2 pins. Results evaluated radiologically in term of radial length radial inclination and volar tilt and clinically by demerit point rating system.Results: Excellent results were achieved in 68% of patients radiologically and in 84% clinically by Demerit point rating system with no obvious deformity in wrist and no complication affected gross function of the patients.Conclusion: Putting the simplicity and minimal invasiveness of the operation and low complication rates, close reduction and percuteneous pin fixation is an appropriate way to treat distal metaphyseal radius fracture.

Background: Post partum psychosis is a mood disorder which starts 2 or 3 weeks after delivery. In acute form, the symptoms of this disorder are so obvious that the sick mother doesn't want to take care of her child in some cases, she wants to hurt either the child or herself or both (the child & the mother). It seems that there are some psychosocial factors that cause this problem to occur.Material and methods: The present study aims to survey the effect of social, cultural, economical and related factors on the post partum psychosis in 2003-2005.The study was cross sectional. The study included all the women who immediately return to the one of the clinical and educational centers for psychosis symptoms. All the women came to the clinics with one of the symptoms of mood disorder 3 to 12 weeks after their delivery. They were examined by psychiatrists. They were also interviewed by clinical psychologists. Those who recognized as having acute depression and psychotic symptoms were included in the study. The data were analyzed using "SPSS" software.Results: Most of the subjects were in the range of 20-30 years old. They were housewives. In most case, they gave birth to a female newborn and the delivery was done in a normal way. Most of the patients declared that they had unplanned pregnancy. 29.6% of the patients had mental disease background. 9.1% had major depression, 5.6% had dysthymic disorder. 18.5% of the subjects had physical disease. Like UTI, hyperthyroid and seizure. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between post partum psychosis and variables such as age, education, job, and disease background, number of delivery and lack of child acceptance. It is suggested that for prevention of post partum psychosis, there should be a very suitable situation for pregnant mothers. Moreover by planning and designing educational programs, we could provide the proper background for child birth in the family.

Background: Nosocomial infections are the most important problems of health. The prevalence of nosocomial infection is 7-10 percent of admitted patients. The present study was carried out to determine the degree of following the preventive principles of nosocomial infections in educational hospitals of Khorramabad city at 2004-2005. Material and methods: This descriptive, cross -sectional study covered all wards (23 wards) of educational hospitals expect operation rooms. Physical environment, resources and equipment and staff practice on infection control were observed. Data were collected by two checklists. Wards status and staff practice were categorized to three levels (good, medium and low). Collected data were analyzed by SPSS V.11 software.Results: The degree of following infection control principles in most of the personnel's was medium (53.7%) and in hand washing was low (90%). Wards status about physical environment (47.83%), resources and equipment (78.3%) were medium level.Conclusion: Continuous education of personnel in different job categories, using instruments and methods to reduce infection, improvement of resources and equipment and physical environment, establishment of National Nosocomial Infection surveillance system (NNISS), yearly epidemiological investigations and performing regular microbiological cultures are the most important strategies for infection control that must be performed in educational hospitals.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a main health problem in our country. It is thought that the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through the endoscopic procedures is a rare event. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of conventional disinfection in the transmission of HCV.Materials and methods: A prospective study, comprising 456 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies was carried out in our endoscopy centers by using conventional disinfection (exposure of the endoscope to 2% glutaraldehyde for 4 minutes), without altering the routine procedures. Anti-HCV antibodies were tested for all patients; and a questionnaire was fulfilled by the patients to obtain information regarding the risk factors for HCV infection. Six months and one year later anti-HCV antibodies were repeated and positive results were confirmed by the PCR method. Five hundred healthy blood donors were used for the control group. Results: Five patients (1.09%) were anti-HCV-antibody positive. Anti-HCV antibody- positive patients confirmed in three patients by PCR method. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 6 healthy blood donors (1.2%) of controls. Transfusion, no intravenous (i.v.) drug abuse, dental procedures, were found to be independent risk factors of HCV-positive the patients and controls groups No significant differences were observed between the patients and controls groups regarding the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies (P = 0.74).Conclusion: HCV does not seem to transmit through the endoscopic procedures. Conventional disinfection of the endoscope and accessories is sufficient for prevention of HCV transmission.

Background: Telogen effluvium is a self-limited, non-scarring disease that shows itself as a diffuse hair loss of the scalp that usually occurs 3 months after an acute illness. Theoretically, Minoxidil solution has been suggested as a treatment for this condition. In this study, we compared the efficacy of the minoxidil and an herbal drug containing urtica diocia, chamomilla, thymus vulgaris, equisetum avenues and foeniculum vulgare for treating telogen effluvium. Material and methods: This study was a double - blind prospective study. 24 patients with telogen effluvium were allocated randomly in two groups and were treated with minoxidil and the herbal drug. Data were analyzed statistically. Results: The mean duration of telogen effluvium in the minoxidil group was 17 weeks and in the herbal drug group was 7 weeks. This difference was statistically significant.Conclusion: From this study, it is condoled that this herbal drug is effective in telogen effluviumalthough more studies are recommended in this field.

Background: Because of increasing resistance to current antibiotics, many attempts have been made by the researchers to find new compounds of plant derivatives as substitute for non-effective antibiotics. This research was performed to study the antibacterial properties of aquatic and alcoholic extracts of thyme on the clinical and standard strains of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.Material and methods: After drying, the thyme leaves were added to ethanol 85° and distilled water; separately. Then the compounds of plant were extracted by distillation method. The antibacterial properties of extracts were investigated by tube dilution method in broth media. By using different concentrations of the extracts, MIC & MBC were determined and equal amounts of these concentrations were added to excavated wells in Mueller - Hinton agar. Then the mean diameter of growth inhibition zones for extracts and strains were compared.Results: Certain concentrations of the alcoholic extract showed significant antibacterial effect. Alcoholic extract with O.780mg/ml showed growth inhibitory effect and bactericidal effect on strains, whereas the aquatic extract didn't show any effect on the given strains.Conclusion: Some of the concentrations of the alcoholic extract showed pronounced antibacterial activity on the strains of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli; but it is necessary to do more studies on its antibacterial effects.

Background: Giardia lamblia is the most frequent human intestinal protozoan worldwide. Diagnosis of G. lamblia by microscopic examination of stool is common, but ELISA & IFA methods have been used in research and epidemiological studies recently. To produce polyc1onal antibodies for designing ELISA & IFA kites; molecular and genomic studies (PCR and parasitic culture) as well as other epidemiological purposes, purification of parasite cysts is required. Different methods were designed for this reason. A method, which can save the safe cysts without debris and other contamination, is required. In this study we decided to purify cysts from positive specimens with known methods and compare them on the basis of purification grade.Material and methods: three different methods were used for purification of cysts from positive samples (sucrose one stage, sucrose- percoll, and sucrose two stage gradients). The resulting product of these methods compared on the basis of elimination of debris, cysts purification grade and recovered cyst by using direct examination and Neobar chamber counting.Results: Cyst solutions from first and second methods were contained debris and cellulose. In third method approximately all of bacteria were eliminated and cysts obtained safely but cysts recovery rate was low (3x104 per 2gr of stool).Conclusion: third method (sucrose two stage gradients) was better than two other for isolation and purification of parasitic cysts and debris was less; it seems designing a new simple method is highly needed for better elimination the debris and higher recovery rate of cysts.

Background: Although consumption of three or less than three meals per day (gorging regimen) is usual in some communities, in western population there is an inclination towards many small meals a day (nibbling regimen). Up to now the effects of meal frequency on serum immunoglobulins have not been investigated in laboratory animals. There is also some controversy information about the effect of meal frequency on serum insulin in human and animal studies. The aim of present study was to investigate, the effects of meal frequency on immunoglobulin profile in rat. The effect of meal frequency on serum insulin was also surveyed.Material and methods: In this experimental study, thirty female Wister rats aged 11 weeks (210 ±15g), after 10 days of acclimation period, were weighed and randomly assigned into two equal groups. They were fed the same food as eight meals at 2-hours intervals starting from 6 p.m. (nibbling group) or as two meals at 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. (gorging group) for 60 days. Blood samples were taken before and after intervention. ELLISA method was used to measure insulin and immunoglobulin in serum. All values were expressed as Mean±SD using Student's t-test based comparisons. The research project was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.Results: Diet regimens caused a non-significant reduction (P>0.05) in the serum insulin and IgA levels after sixty days of intervention. Although serum insulin level in the two regimens was non-significantly decreased, but the percentage of decrease in nibbling regimen was more than gorging one (-5.3% vs.-2.3%). Serum IgM and IgG levels in the two regimens were significantly increased (P<0.05), but there was no-significant difference (P>0.05) between the two regimens before and after the intervention.Although, in both groups, serum IgM and IgG levels were significantly increased, but the percentage of increase was more in nibbling regimen than gorging one (56% vs. 38% and 37% vs. 28.7% for IgM & IgG respectively). The food and water intakes were no significantly (p>0.05) lowered in the gorging group compared with the nibbling one.Conclusion: Although there is not a significant difference between the nibbling and gorging dietary regimens regarding the serum IgM , IgG, IgA and insulin but, nibbling regimen affects serum insulin, IgM and IgG more than gorging one in rat.More research on human and animal subjects is advised.

Background: Leukocyte infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS) in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) have been implicated in subsequent disease pathogenesis and progression. It suggested that vitamin D3 (active form of vitamin D) ameliorates the symptoms of EAE when administered after the onset of clinical sings. The aim of this study was to understand the efficacy of vitamin D3 against EAE, we examined the effect of vitamin D3 on the leukocyte infiltration into the brain of male C57BL/6 mice with MOG35-55- induced EAE.Material and methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two therapeutic groups (n=8 per group) with age and weight-matched as follow: Vitamin D3-treated EAE mice (5p.g/kg/every two days of vitamin D3 given i.p.) from day -3 until day +19 after disease induction. Non-treated EAE mice (EAE control) received vehicle alone with same schedule. In addition,. 5 age and weight-matched male C57BL/6 mice served as normal (non-EAE) controls.Results: Vitamin D3-treated mice had significantly less clinical score of EAE (3.2±0.8) than non-treated mice (5.3±0.44), (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between vitamin D3-trated and non treated mice (p<0.01) in relation to the number of the infiltrating cells in the brain.Conclusion: These results indicate that vitamin D3 treatment reduces infiltration of leukocytes into the brain of EAE mice, and ameliorate the disease. Thus, vitamin D3 treatment may be of therapeutic value against inflammatory disease processes associated with infiltration f activated mononuclear cells into the tissue.