Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Year:2003 | Volume:5 | Issue:2|Papers Count:15

This study aims at determining serum copper profile in β-thalassemic patients and the possible association with bone mineral density (BMD) abnormalities. In one hundred thirty one transfusion-dependent β-thalassemic adolescents, serum levels of copper were measured by Flame-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. BMD values at lumbar (L1-L4) and femoral neck were determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Food frequency questionnaire was used to determine patients' dietary copper and calcium intake. Patients’ history of treatment and demographic data were obtained. Low serum copper was seen in 67.7% of female and 75.7% of male patients. Female patients with low therapeutic index (p<0.025) had higher serum copper level (p<0.05). Mean of copper intakes were 0.41±1.08 mg/day in the evaluated patients. Serum copper showed no association with BMD abnormalities neither in lumbar nor in femoral areas. We need more studies to explore different causes of low serum copper levels in our patients; however dietary modification and oral supplementation (under close observation) in these patients are recommended.

discordance is defined as having a BMD result that is in the osteoporotic range at one site while being normal or osteopenic at the other sites (according to the WHO criteria). This study was conducted to assess Prevalence of discordance between different skeletal sites in patients' referred to the BMD center of Shariati hospital during 1379-1382. A cross sectional study was carried out on 4229 patients referring to the BMD center of Shariati hospital during 3 years. Data including demographic information, risk factors, physical examination (height and weight) was collected. Dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed on all cases. BMD results were defined according to the WHO diagnostic criteria. Data was collected from 4229 individuals (91.8% female and 8.2% male) with a mean age of 53.44±11 years. Major discordance, minor discordance and concordance were seen in 2.7, 38.9 and 58.3% of the study population respectively. There was no association between age and incidence of discordance in the BMD results (P=0.009) yet the mean age grew along with the rate of discordance (P<0.001). Discordance was associated with menopause (P<0.001) and also with the number of years past menopause (P<0.001). The high prevalence of discordance may lead to problems in clarifying the BMD results, thus criticizing the validity of this method therefore further study on more reliable densitometry criteria should be carried out. In all prospective studies are required in order to determine the importance of discordance in the prognosis and future risk of fracture in patients.

This study was designed to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in an Iranian male population. Relationships between BMD, dietary calcium intake and blood pressure were assessed as well. An ethnically homogenous sample of 214 healthy men, inhabitants of Tehran, was studied. BMD measurements were done by dual x-ray absorptiometry using a Lunar DPXMD densitometer (Lunar, 7164, USA) at lumbar spine (L2-L4) and different femoral regions. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were measured using an MPC-350 sphygmomanometer. Physicians collected demographic data and participants' dietary calcium intake were determined by using food frequency questionnaires. After adjusting for age, BMI, dietary Ca and exercise history, multiple linear regression models showed that DBP was negatively related to femoral neck BMD (β= -0.145, p= 0.032). SBP was correlated with femoral neck (r=-0.171, p=0.012) and Ward's (r=-0.186, p=0.006) BMD but not after adjusting for possible confounders. Dietary calcium was positively associated with total femoral and femoral neck BMD and BMC. Further studies are needed to determine whether elevated blood pressure is causally related to the development of low bone mass.

QUS (Quantitative Ultrasound) of phalanx is a noninvasive, inexpensive and portable method for bone mineral densitometry. It seems it measures some other parameters in addition to BMD, like elasticity and micro architecture. This study designed to determine the agreement of DXA and QUS of phalanx in Defining Osteoporosis in Healthy Postmenopausal Women Using DXA, BMD of lumbar spine and Different areas of left femur and using QUS, BMD of phalanx was measured in 180 healthy postmenopausal women. The diagnostic agreement between the two techniques in identifying osteoporosis was assessed using kappa scores. According to the World Health Organization definitions, Osteoporosis found in 28.8% of cases with DXA method (18.3% in L2-L4 and 3.9%-7.8% in different region of femur) and in 28.9% of cases with Phalanx ultrasonography). Kappa score was 0.317 for lumbar region and 0.036-0.068 for different regions femur. Results of this study show a weak to moderate agreement of two methods in diagnosis of osteoporosis. It means QUS of phalanx can’t be used as a replacement for DXA method but could be used as a screening method for finding osteoporotic cases.

Today, increasing the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is an important problem in glucose developing country’s Health and the blood glucose monitoring predicts of in sufficient blood glucose monitoring side effects. The glucometer devices are small and used simply so they are used more than the other methods for home blood glucose monitoring. As the variety of the glucometer devices are increasing from day to day. In this study, we assess the difference of capillary glucose level and venous glucose level measured by three glucometer devices; Glucotrend 2, GlucoMen, GlucoCare. 100 diabetic patients took part in this study. The results of 100 patients study, showed that the venous blood glucose level measured by these devices with compare of standard method were 2.14% in GlucoCare, 5.3% in Glucotrend 2 and 17.1% in GlucoMen more than the standard level. The GlucoCare and Glucotrend 2, results had no difference with the standard method and the blood glucose levels measured with these two devices were similar. Otherwise the GlucoMen results are more similar to standard method, it has the least confident. The GlucoCare had the least deference of the mean venous glucose level with the standard method and the most similarity between the capillary glucose level and venous glucose level measured by these devices were seen in Glucotrend 2.

Lithium is a drug, which is administrated in treatment of bipolar disorder, mania and major depression. To prevent recurrent of disease using of this drug should be continued in pregnancy. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the fetotoxic effects of lithium carbonate on crown- rump length, fetal body weight, biparietal diameter and macroscopic malformation in rat’s embryo. 30 female and 10 male Sprague dawely rats were chosen. After coupling and observation of spermatozoa in vaginal smear, it was taken as zero day of gestation. Then pregnant rats were randomized into test and control groups (n =6). The test group received 50mg lithium carbonate in 7th –10th –13th –16th 19th day of gestation by intraperitoneal injection .In 20th day of gestation, following deep anesthesia, the embryos removed and examined for macroscopic abnormalities. Their fetal body weight (FBW), crown-rump length (CRL) and biparietal diameter (BPD) measured and statistical analysis done. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in mean of FBW, BPD and CRL following lithium administration (p<0.05). It seems that lithium may cause decrease in growth of fetal rat.

Lead is one of the heavy metals, which has adverse effects on renal function and driving to nephropathy. The aim of present experiment was to surveyed changes in gross anatomic parameters of kidney following lead poisoning by an unbiased stereological technique. In this experimental study 66 male adult Wistar rats selected randomly and divided into 6 groups, 3 control and 3 administration groups (n=11). Administration groups received a solution of 0.13% lead acetate as drinking water for a period of 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively. Simultaneously controls received distilled water at the same periods respectively. There after at the end of each period kidney dissected and after fixation in Lilie’s solution, embedded in 7% agar, sectioned into 1 millimeter slices by means of a tissue slicer. Then stereological analysis includes determining total volume of kidney, volume of renal cortex and medulla performed by a method based on Cavalier’s principle. Data were analyzed by oneway ANOVA and differences between groups less than 0.05 considered significant. There was an increase in mean total volume of kidney in administration groups compared to their controls. This was significant in groups, which received lead acetate as drinking water for 8 and 12 weeks (P<0.01). Mean cortical volume increased in administration groups in comparison to own controls. This was significant just in 12-weeks group (P<0.01). Mean medullary volume increased in administration groups in comparison to own controls. This was also significant only in 12-week group (P<0.01) . Total volume and cortical volume of kidney in lead administration groups showed that total volume in 12 weeks administration group had significant differences in comparison with 4-weeks and 8-weeks groups (P<0.01). There was also showed in 12-weeks administration group a significant difference in comparison with two other administration groups (P<0.01). There was also a significant difference between medullary volumes of 12-weeks administration group with 4-weeks administration group (P<0.01) but when it was compared with 8-weeks administration group, there was not any significant difference between these groups (P<0.05). This study by using a quantitative and precise stereological method showed that Lead may cause renal injuries in long periods.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‚ which plays a major biological function in immune response is generally associated with so many human diseases. During recent years a strong relationship between allergic diseases and HLA antigens have been demonstrated. This study was done to investigate the relationship between allergic asthma and HLA antigens in Iranian’s atopic asthmatic patients. This case control study was done on 30 atopic asthmatic patients and healthy controls in 1376 in Tehran. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed by standard N.I.H procedures and the results analyzed. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relation between allergic asthma and some of class II HLA antigens i.e: frequency of DR2 and DR53 antigen in patient group in comparison with healthy group has been increased and frequency of DR5, DR11, DR52 and DQl has been decreased.

The amount of gastric acid secretion is not the same and changes during the time. May of the sex hormone effect on gastric acid secretion, all attempted were to use male animal in experiments. Because of different reports on basal acid output in rat (10 to 70 μmol/h), in present study was attempted to evaluate the effect of sex and body weight on basal acid output. There was rats (n=51) range weight 140-370 g male and female was kept in temperature (23 ± 2 C) and light period. (12h light, 12h dark) Experiments were started in 8:00 AM, and 18 hours before experiment, animal were starved from food (except water). Animal’s anesthetized with Sodium thiopental, and a silicon tube was inserted in stomach via duodenum. The amount of acid was measured with aid of automatic acid titrator (TTT 80), with Na OH 0.1 N to pH=7. Using student t-Test and Spearman correlation coefficient compared the results (P<0.05). In this study the mean of basal gastric acid secretion did not showed any difference between male and female. Means of the body and stomach weight were more in male (P<0.05), but the ratio of the stomach / body weight was bigger in female (P<0.05). In both male and female, basal acid output was correlated with body weight (r=0.4, P<0.01) and stomach weight (R=0.44, P<0.01). However, it seems that is no difference in the mean of basal acid output between male and female rats. Despite of difference in body weight, there in no need to use only male animal in these kinds of experiments.