Yafteh
Year:2005 | Volume:7 | Issue:1 (24)|Papers Count:13

Background: The steroidal alkaloids incurring great interest because of their various pharmacological properties that isolated from various species. The aim of this investigation has been to studying of the effects of Steroidal alkaloids isolated from olive leaf on cerebral ischemic-induced inury on rats.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 48 male wistar rats divided to six groups of eight. Then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury produced by 10 min bilateral occlusion of the common carotid and vertebral artery, followed by 5 day reperfusion.Findings: Intravenous setroidal alkaloids isolated from olive leaf (0.5, 1, 1.5 mg/kg) markdly reduced the stroke index, enhanced the recovery of EEG (Electroencephalogram) amplitude during reperfusion and decreased the concentration of cortex calcium and LPO (lipid peroxidase) in a dose dependent manner. However, no significant effects on water and sodium contents were observed.Conclusions: These results suggested that steroidal alkaloids exhibited protective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, and its mechanism might be related to reducing calcium accumulation and lipid peroxidation.

Background: Morbid obesity contributes to many health risks including physical, emotional, and social problems. The increasing prevalence of obesity is a major public health concern since obesity is associated with several chronic diseases. Morbid obesity is one of the biggest independent risk factors for early mortality. Various options for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity have been developed with varying results.Materials and methods: LAGB technique with MID-BAND was carried out on 32 patients with morbid obesity (27 female and 5 male; median age 34, range 21 to 56) that had no hypothyroidism, hypercortisolism and diagnosed psychiatric diseases. Mean weight and body mass index were 117 (92 to 159) kg and 43.4 (34-56) kg/m2 respectively before operation. The mean follow-up period was 12 months (range 6 to 18).Findings: Mean excess weight loss were 29% (range 8% to 62%), 46% (range 18% to 90%) 60% (range 26% to 92%) and 75% (range 36% to 98%) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post operation respectively (P<0.001). Median operative time was 55 (range 25 to 125) minutes and median hospital stay was 36 hours (range 12 to 72 hours). Early complications were seen in 12 (38%) patients most commonly nausea/vomiting or hair loss. As late complication, port infection in 2 (6.3%) patients, band infection in 1 (3.2%) patient and band malposition in 1 (3.2%) patient was seen. One patient (3.2%) had conversion to open. Mortality rate was zero.Conclusions: Although, this study was the first experience in LAGB, weight reduction in comparison with other studies was excellent. Additionally, the complication rate was reasonable with no mortalities.LAGB is an effective and safe operation for the treatment of morbid obesity.

Background: Brucellosis is one of the endemic and a Zoonotic disease of the Iran. Science the rapid diagnosis and quick treatment are very important, selection of a sensitive and specific test solving this problem is of a great importance. The main aim of this study is comparison of routine serologic test with standard Elisa test. Materials and methods: In this survey, 176 suspected patients with conformed clinical signs, were selected and them routine diagnostic test like Wright (rapid), Standard tube agglutination (STA), Coombs Wright test and selective and quantitative Elisa test was performed for all sample referred to diagnostic laboratory. Findings: out of 176 sample, 92 (52.27%) were male and 84 (47.73%) female. On performing Wright (rapid), standard tube agglutination (STA), Coombs Wright and Elisa, 45 (25.57%), 49 (27.84%), 58 (32.95%) and 72 (40.91%) sample were positive respectively. The range of age distribution was 15-65 years. The geographical distribution of population is 72.4% rural and 27.6% of urban category. The sensitivity of above mentioned test as compare to Elisa was 62.5, 68.0 and 80.0 percent respectively with 100% of specificity for all.Conclusions: The Elisa posses the highest diagnostic value as compare to other routinely performed tests. After Elisa other test namely Coombs Wright, standard tube agglutination and Wright (rapid) respectively. Have the highest diagnostic value with consideration to above findings, it is obvious that due to ability to find quantitative value, determination of antibody classis and stage of disease, Elisa is the best method of choice in diagnosis of brucellosis.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most important and lethal diseases in the world. CAD represents a board spectrum of disease from silent ischemia at one end to sudden cardiac death at the other end. The middle of this spectrum consists of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UA). Recent data show that the inflammatory process plays a major role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome. In this study we evaluated the difference in complement factors C3 and C4 between AMI and UA, and the relation between early completions of AMI and UA and the amount of C3 and C4.Materials and methods: In this cross – sectional analytic study, 30 patients with AMI and 30 patients with UA were compared with healthy subjects. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Blood samples were obtained on arrival and at 12.24 and 48 hours. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed. All patients were monitored for 14 days after discharging from hospital. For all patients ECG was taking on arrival and then daily bat.Findings: Complement activation occurred in patients with AMI and UA. In AMI activation of complement factors was significantly higher than in UA (p<0.01). In Q wave MI and congestive heart failure, this elevation of activity was prominent (p<0.01). In AMI a positive relation was found between complement factors and Cratin phospho kinas level (r=0.71). There was a positive relation between complement and mortality, and an inverse relation with ejection fraction (r=0.71). There was significant difference among complement factors in the UA, AMI, and control group (p<0.01).Conclusions: Elevated levels of complement factors in AMI were related to the degree of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Q-wave MI, and mortality. However, in UA, elevated levels of complement factors were unrelated, with the exception of the serum C3 level, which was related to LVEF.

Background: Retinopathy is one of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries between ages 20-70 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of retinopathy and related factors on Iranian population.Materials and methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study on a population of diabetic patients referred to Baqiyatallah hospital, admitted in internal medicine ward. Using sample size estimation equation for proportions 300 subjects was randomly selected and results analyzed with chi square and Fishers Exact test. Findings: Prevalence of retinopath was 5.6 percent mean age of subjects with retinopathy was 60.3 years old (SD=701) and mean duration of diabetes was 15 years (SD=7.1). Frequency of non prolifrative diabetic retinopathy was 52.8 and 47.2 percent respectively. Our study showed that there are significant relationship between retinopathy and subjects age, high levels of fasting blood sugar, history of hyperlipidemia, smoking and ischemic heart diseases (p<0.001). There are also significant relation ship between retinopathy and history of hypertension (p<0.05) in this study there was no relationship between retinopathy and sex, drugs used and history of stroke.Conclusions: Based on our findings we- suggest considering retinal examination in diabetic patient and controlling glucose level in normal values. Regarding relationship between hyperlipidemia, smoking and hypertension with retinopathy we also suggest to control these factors in diabetic patients.

Background: Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) agonists have been effective in the treatment of withdrawal from benzodiazepines, sedatives and alcohol, and reducing the craving for cocaine. Valproate is a GABAergic drug effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain and also in withdrawal from benzodiaepines, sedatives, and alcohol. The purpose of this double-blind trial was to evaluate the efficiency of valproate in reducing acute opiates withdrawal symptoms and duration of detoxification. Materials and methods: A total of 60 opium addicts, who met the DSM-IV criteria for opiate dependence were assigned randomly to treat with sodium valproate or placebo during a 26 day double-blind clinical trial. Both groups received methadone on an as-needed basis, tapered gradually, and clonidine. The severity of withdrawal symptoms were measured on days 2, 5, 9, 12, 19 and 26 using the modified short opioid withdrawal scale (SOWS).The results were compared between two groups with independent t-test.Findings: Valproate was not more effective than placebo in reducing physical symptoms of withdrawal syndrome or the duration of detoxification process. However, valproate was significantly effective in the management of mental symptoms.Conclusions: Sodium valproate may be an effective adjunctive therapy for management of the mental symptoms of opiates withdrawal. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings and to assess the efficacy of sodium valproate in the management of protracted abstinence syndrome and relapse prevention.

Background: Heart failure is one of the common cardiovascular diseases and digoxin has the positive effect on it. But unfortunately in spite of its positive effect on heart failure therapeutic and toxic level of it in patients is different and close to each other. The aim of this research was determination of digoxin serum level in failure heart patients.Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study 31 patients with heart failure and consumption digoxin refer to clinic was assessment. Some important factors including age, clearance creatinie, ejection fraction, urea, potassium, calsium and digoxin level were measured.Findings: The statistical analysis of data showed that there was a correlation (r=0.57, p<0.01) between age and digoxin level. Digoxin level correlated positively with serum urea (r=0.046, p<0.01) creatinine (r=0.049, p<0.01), and potassium (r=0.47, p<0.01).Conclusions: It was concluded that continues monitoring of digital level with due attention to creatinine clearance and measurement of digoxin level for prevent of digoxin toxicity was necessary was necessary to prevent digoxin toxicity.

Background: Hemorrhagic Transformation of Infarct (HTI) is an important finding which has been reported mainly in cardio embolic strokes. Although clinical status of the patients is not often deteriorated, however decision making for anticoagulation is difficult in HTI patients. The goal of this survey was to determine the prevalence and the cause of HTI in patients in the Vali Asr hospital in Khorasan.Materials and Methods: This descriptive – cross sectional study was carried out in all of the stroke patients admitted in Valie Asr Hospital, Khorasan from 2001 to 2003. The HTI was diagnosed by CT scan within 24-48 hours of stroke onset and the arterial territory of infarct was confirmed by topographic maps of brain in CT. Clinical status of the patients was evaluated each 12 hours during hospitalization period. Etiologic work up of our stroke patients were included routine blood chemistry and hematologic tests, ECG, transthoracic echocardiography and carotid duplex and transcranial Doppler sonography.Findings: 26 of 302 stroke patients (13 female and 13 male) or 8.6% had HTI. 88% of the HTI occurred within MCA territory. The lenticulostriate artery was involved alone in 46% and with other MCA branches in 23% of cases. In patients with HTI, clinical status was deteriorated in 15.4%, recovered in 38.5% and stabilized in 46%, during hospitalization periods respectively. The cardio embolism consisted 34.6% of etiologies in our HTI patients.Conclusions: Cardio embolism was not the main etiology in our patients with HTI. This finding reduces generality of the Fisher– Adams hypothesis. HTI infrequently leads to clinical deterioration of the patients.

Background: Migraine is the most common type of headache in the world and is one of the most important causes of patients to come to the neurologist office. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of migraine in high school students.Materials and methods: This is a descriptive study which was done on 2213 high school student, that accidentally chosen from couple of times a multi- step random sampling. Gathered instrument of information was a questionnaire from, which includes two parts: first part contained basic questions (age, sex, …) and the second part was the main questions specially headache, nausea, vomiting, time when headache started, visual problem and …The information was analyzed by SPSS 9.0 soft ware Findings: The overall incidence of headache was 44.46% (31.09% in male and 68.9% in female group). The most common type of Migraine was common Migraine (65.44%). According to the general population incidence of common Migraine is 13.06 percent, 0.4% ophtamoplegic and 32.53% tension headache. Conclusions: According to high school incidence of headaches in population were studied and many problems coming after headache, so attention to treatment of headache is very important.

Background: One of the most important nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems is vitamin A, and is considered as an important dietary agent for reducing cardiovascular diseases.Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the serum vitamin A status in women who used low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) containing 0.15 mg levonorgestrol and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and also in postmenopausal women who took hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and comparison of them with control group.Materials and Methods: In this case – control study one hundred and thirty nine healthy, non pregnant and non lactating women with a mean age of 32 years old (70 were OCs users and 69 were non-OCs Users) and sixty healthy postmenopausal women, with a mean age of 51 years old (30 were under HRT treatment and 30 were untreated) were studied using biochemical procedures, anthropometrics measurements and interview with the subjects. Data were analyzed using the t-test and x2 test. Findings: There was no significant difference between either OCs and non-OCs users or HRT and non-HRT groups in terms of mean BMI, number of pregnancies and dietary intakes of vitamin A and fiber. Mean serum vitamin A level in OCs Users was significantly (p<0. 001) higher than that of non – OCs users (79.97±23.56 μg/dl vs. 64.56±22.15 μg/dl). There was no significant difference between HRT and non-HRT groups in terms of mean serum vitamin A level (71.76±15.91 μg/dl and 67.65±22.39 μg/dl respectively). There was a significant (P<0.004) relationship between serum Vitamin A status and use of OCs analyzed using x2 test. This test did not show significant relationship in postmenopausal women.Conclusions: Using OCs and subsequent hormonal alteration are an effective factor for increasing serum vitamin A level in childbearing aged women. Taking HRT has not resulted in altered vitamin A levels in postmenopausal women.