Pathobiology Research
Year:2001 | Volume:3 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

In order to study the mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna in Rasht (Guilan province, North of IRAN), an investigation was carried out during July 1996 to October 1997.The whole set of collected and identified larval and adult specimens was consisted of 11 species and 5 genus of the mosquitoes as follow:1. Anopheles maculipennis s.1, 2. An, hyrcanus, 3. An.pseudopictus, 4. Aedes geniculatus, 5. Ae. vexans, 6. Coquillettidia richiardii, 7. Culex mimeticus, 8. Cx. pipiens (including molestus), 9. Cx. theileri, 10. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and 11. Culiseta subochrea.Based on the present investigation, Cx. mimeticus is reported for the first time. from Guilan province, but Cq. richiardii had previously been reported which in Mazandaran province and later on there had been doubt about it, the present study confirms its occurrence in Iran and for the first time in Guilan province.

Researchers from sport sciences and medicine have recently paid attention to positive and negative effects of physical activities on the immune system. Investigations have showed that moderate regular exercise increases some aspects of immune system's function although, in contrast, excessive training or intensive exercise in athletes can result in inflammatory responses and acute or chronic damage to the immune- system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different exercise patterns (eccentric and concentric) on T lymphocyte sub-populations and IL-6 concentration in female athlete students.Twelve female athlete students with the average age of 21±.75 years old, weight of 57±.34 kg and hight of 162±2.71 cm. were selected. Two Physical activities were performed one after ten days from the other. In the first stage, subjects performed a 13 minutes eccentric exercise (down hill run), with pacing on treadmill according to Ellestad protocol. After ten days, in the second stage, a 13 minutes concentric exercise (up hill run) was performed in which subjects paced on treadmill with their face toward treadmill monitor (traditional state). Blood samples were .collected in each stage before, immediately after, and one to two hours after the exercise. Immediately after both eccentric and concentric exercises, T_1ymphocyte sub-populations including CD4 +, CD8 +, CD56 +, and CD4 + /CD8+ ratio were quantified using flowcytometry. The rate of Il-6 concentration was determined by means of ELISA method.The results showed that, although the number of white blood cells increased significantly after both exercises, this increase was greater after eccentric exercise. Absolute number of CD8+, CD4+, CD3+ , and CD56+ increased after both exercises significantly (P<0.01), but one hour after eccentric exercise they deacresed significantly to the half amount of the rest (P<0.01).The IL-6 concentration showed significant increase after the exercise. All these changes returned to normal level in one to two hours after the concentric exercise. But after the eccentric exercise the level of IL-6 dropped to the half value of the resting period, indicating a temporary suppresion of the immune system at 1 to 2 hours after the exercise.

Fascioliasis is one of the common zoonotic diseases in Iran and other parts of the world. Although the largest epidemic of this disease (with 10000 cases) has occured in northern provinces of Iran (Guilan) during the past ten years and a few cases have also been reported in Tehran (being originaly from Isfahan, and East Azarbaijan), there has been no evidence of its' occurrence in western provinces of Iran such as Kermanshah before the recent epidemic. So we have been faced with the first epidemic and have reported it here.The youngest patient was a 4 years old child and the oldest one was a 49 years old patient, (mean=21.65, SD=12.44). 53% of the patients were female and the rest were male, and all of them were farmers. 82% of them had a history of watercress ingestion in a period of 1-2 months before the admission and 18% used unvegetables. Weight loss and weakness were the most common symptoms and ta and hepatosplenomegalia were the most common signs. 54% of patients had 1eukocytosis and 6% of them had 1eukopenia. The average of their peripheral blood eosinophills was 32.35 (SD=26) and the hemoglobin was less than 12 g per deciliter in 41 % of them. The patients' ELISA and CCIE serologic tests were reported positive and in 50% of them IFA test was positive. Treatment response to triclabendazole was excellent with a well-being sense within 5 days, also anemia was corrected after one month and eosinophill count was decreased within 2 months.The clinical symptoms in these patients were similar to that of Guilanian patients but totally with aless severity compared to them. It is necessary to say that there was no sign and symptom of the disease in the patients after nine months of therapy and all of them were well. CBC count and hemoglobin concenteration were completely normal but a mild to moderate eosinophilia was found in half of them. In many of the patients ELISA test was positive, but CCIE test was negative in most of them.

Using single unit recording in the nucleus paragigantocellaris (PGi) neurons, located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla and measuring the precipitated withdrawal syndrome, we investigated whether chronic morphine administration would produce the adaptive changes in adenosine system.Caffeine (50 mg/kg; i.p.) induced withdrawal signs (head shakes, teeth chattering, ejaculation, chewing, and irritability) in morphine dependent rats 10-18 min after the injection. But only the teeth chattering and diarrhea were expressed following a direct PGi injection of caffeine (200µM; 0.5µ1). There was also a significant enhancement of spontaneous activity of PGi neurons 8-15 min after caffeine administration (50 mg/kg; i.p.) in both control and morphine-dependent rats.However the effect of caffeine in morphine-dependent rats was higher than that of control ones.These data suggest that there is an increase in sensitivity to chemicals, which interact with adenosine receptors in morphine dependent rats, and the adaptive changes in PGi adenosine system due to chronic morphine play a role in the expression of physical dependence on opioids.

This research was a quasi-experimental study conducted to assess the effect of a mid-day snack plan on toddlers' antropometric indexes.Ninty toddlers, having 18-30 months, were selected using simple non probablistic sampling method during a period of one month. Then, they were randomly put in the case and control groups.Regarding all variables of interest (gender, age, height and weight of toddlers; and age, job and education of parents), the two groups were matched and had no significant difference (P>0.05). Data was collected using a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire (24 hours recall type) filled by direct interviewing of mothers. The antropometric growth indexes (weigh, height, and arm circumferences) were also measured using the standard tools.The plan was then executed using the face-to-face education method for mothers in six "15-minute session" ever a period of three months. Then, there was no intervention for a period of 45 days, thereafter the above data was collected again for the both groups.Comparison of the results showed a significant difference between the knowledge and attitude of the mothers before and after the intervention in the case group and a significant difference between the case and control groups after the intervention (P=0.0001). There was also a significant difference between the case and control groups regarding the mothers" practice (in iron intake, calory, and calcium) and the toddler' weigth growth index after the intervention (P<0.05). Results of this study indicated that the mid-day snack plan has affected the toddler's weight, and the mothers" nutritional practice, knowledge and attitude about the plan. Therefore, it is recommended that to improve the todler's growth indexes, the proposed snack plan of this study should be used.

Over a period of one year, 24 soil samples collected from different parts of Abyaneh region in Esphahan were analyzed for the presence of aflatoxin producing strains of Aspergillus flavus and A.parasiticus.Twenty-one isolates were identified based on the macroscopic and microscopic criteria. These isolates were present in 50% of the samples and their ability to produce aflaloxin was examined in glucose-yeast extract (GY) agar medium by ultra-violet (UV) photography. In the UV photographs, aflatoxin-producing mould colonies (8 isolates) were appeared in gray or black color, whereas aflatoxin -nonproducing mould colonies (13 isolates) were appeared in white color. All the UV positive or negative isolates were confirmed by thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis of chloroform extracts obtained from GY agar and yeast extract-sucrose (YES) broth media. Among 8 anatoxin-positive isolates, 3 isolates produced both aflatoxins B1 and B2 whereas 5 isolates produced only aflatoxin B1.The concentration of aflatoxin B1 in the isolates producing aflatoxin ranged from 0.45 to 2.31µg/g GY agar medium. The results showed that the UV photography in GY agar medium could be used as a rapid and reliable screening test for identification of the isolates.of A flavus and A parasiticus strains that produce aflatoxin.

A comprehensive study was carried out in Qazvin, (Iran) during 1998-99 in order to find fauna as well as the role of main important vectors (Argaside) in transmission of Borrelia parasites. Among the villages of Qazvin 54 villeges were selected randomly and ticks were collected from their habitats according to the standard method. A total of 3179 Argas ticks were collected from stables and domestic animal shelters. The dominant species and their frequencies were as follows: Ornithodorous tholozani (7.2%), O.1ahorensis (45.4%), O.canestrini (6.3%), Argas persicus (36.7%) and A.reflexus (4%). It should be noted that 12 ticks of Ornithodorous erraticus were collected from 12 rodent borrows. Results of this study revealed that among 231 specimens of O. tholozani, collected from Amir Abad, only 8.8% were infected with Borrelia persica, whereas 50% of the population of O.erraticus were infected with B.microti.

In this study a simple and rapid method was used for the preparation of hydatid cyst B-group antigens. In this regard, after the elimination of albumin and globulin from the cyst hydatid fluid, the antigen fluid was derived including B-group and 5-group antigens. The 5-group antigen was removed from the fluid by boiling. To determine the purity degree and molecular weight of the remained antigens, the Native-PAGE and SDS-P AGE methods were used. For evaluating the antigenicity of the fluid Dot-ELISA was employed. The result showed that , B-gruop antigen contains 8-12 , 16 and 20-24 KDa proteins.These antigens can be used for hydatid cyst diagnosis with high specificity specially by Dot-ELISA technique.

This investigation was a quasi-experimental study carried out on two case and control groups using three-stage evaluation method to assess the effectiveness of the problem solving training method on the self concept of male adolescent students of Gonabad high schools in 1999.The data has been derived from Roger"s self-concept check list and a demographic questionnaire of 66 students of two high schools using "simple two-stage cluster" sampling method. The problem solving training -plan was designed and carried out on three sub-groups of the case group using the tools mentioned above. After completing the planned sessions, the self-concept scores of the two groups were separately evaluated using the above scales, at two stages, once immediately and again one month after the completion of the sessions. Then the effectivenes and consistency of the method was compared between the groups.The results indicated a significant difference between the case and control groups after the intervention (P<0.001), while statistical tests indicated no significant difference before and after the conduction of the plan in the case group (P<0.001). In this research primary causes of the poor self-concept were not studied but the demographic data and open questions of the filled questionnairs were compared and evaluated with the self-concept scores. The results indicate that in addition to the positive effect of the problem solving training method on the adolescents" self-concept, it also maks this to increase. To have this effect continued, follow-up and reminding of the method is required.

The aim of this study was to review the Avicenna's views on geriatric medicine and to look for the origin of this medical term, being regarded as a very important discipline in the health and medicine, which has wrongly been addressed to as the scientific achievement of the second half of the 20th century. To achieve this, after having the complete copy of Avicenna's Canon of medicine (translated by Abdolrahman Sharafkandi) computerized, a search was carried out on related keywords on aging, geriatrics, elderly and so on. We encountered with more than 500 related terms, including many current geriatric medical topics/titles in various chapters and main topics of this book.In addition, there was a detailed description of health issues, healthy eating, drinking, sport, sleep, ... of old people. Furthermore, other subjects such as effect of environment on early premature aging, the effect of aging on the susceptibility and resistance to infectious diseases, severe fevers, and fatal pains were also addressed in this book. Therefore, in this way, at the beginning of the third millennium, the principles of geriatric medicine have been presented and its" differences with regard to other age periods have been highlighted. Considering the increase in our population life expectency, obvious changes happening to the life pyramid leading to an increase in elderly population, and their present and future medical and health needs; it is required to pay more attention to this important field of medicine and health (geriatrics) in our medical education and research policy at the Ministry of Health, Medical Sciences Universities, and Educational-Treatment centers of the country, with a reference to leading ideas! views of Avicenna of 1000 years ago and recent emphasizes made by WHO at the begining of the new millennium.