Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:18 Issue: 71, 2010

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy. In order to find out a simple and cost effective method with acceptable sensitivity and specificity, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and one hour 50-g glucose challenge test (OGCT) were compared in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this prospective cohort study, pregnant women without preexisting diabetes underwent FPG and OGCT tests between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. If the OGCT threshold values exceeded ≥ 130 mg/dl, the 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed using Carpenter and Coustan criteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the two tests. GDM was diagnosed in 7.3% and impaired glucose tolerance in 3.2%. The best cut-off points for GCT and FPG were 134mg/dl(sensitivity: 99.24%, specificity: 76.57%) and 87mg/dl(sensitivity: 80.15%, specificity: 85.62%).By using GCT, an optimal cut-off values of GCT<135mg/dl (sensitivity: 96.95%) to rule out GDM and values ≥ 165mg/dl (specifity: 96.10%) to rule in GDM, would eliminate the need for the OGTT in 80.1% women (misclassification rate: 3.83%). By using FPG, an optimal cut-off values of <76mg/dl (sensitivity: 95.42%) to rule out GDM and values ≥ 91mg/dl (specifity: 95.56%) to rule in GDM, would eliminate the need for the OGTT in 51% women (misclassification rate: 4.43%). The results showed that the best test for predicting macrosomia, preterm delivery and caesarian section is OGCT and for preeclampsia and respiratory distress is FPG. As OGCT can decrease the necessity of OGTT performance with lower misclassification rate comparing to FPG, OGCT would be the best screening test for GDM in Iran.

Use of medicinal plants for attenuation of hyperglycemia and restoration of lipids to normal level is clinically very important. In this study, the effect of oral administration of Lycium barbarum (LB) fruit on serum glucose and lipids was investigated in diabetic rats. Thirty two female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups control, LB-treated control, diabetic, and LB-treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant (fruit)-mixed pelleted food (at a weight ratio of 6.25%) for 6 weeks. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol levels were determined before the study, and at 3rd and 6th weeks after the study. LB treated diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in glucose level compared to non treated group at 3rd and 6th weeks (P<0.01- 0.005). There were no significant changes regarding to total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Meanwhile, LB administration significantly increased HDL-cholesterol level (P<0.05) and reduced LDL-cholesterol level (P<0.01) in treated diabetic group as compared with untreated diabetic group. Oral administration of LB fruit has a significant hypoglycemic effect and led to appropriate changes only in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Antibody against Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A can be used in immunotherapy together with antibiotics to treat acute burn patients. Exotoxin A is one of the virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that comprises of three domains, binding domain, translocation and catalytic domain. The purpose of this study was to produce recombinant domain of the catalytic part of this microorganism in order to produce antibody against it. Methods and Materials: Pseudomonas aeruginosa samples were isolated from burn patients hospitalized in Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan, Iran and Pseudomonas aeruginosa species were identified by Biochemical tests. Bacteria genomic DNA was extracted and exotoxin A gene determined by PCR. Catalytic domain of exotoxin A was amplified by PCR. Products and plasmid extracts was digested by restriction enzymes. Subsequently PCR products and plasmids transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Clones containing gene of interest was determined by PCR, restriction enzyme and sequencing. The sequence homology of the catalytic domain of exotoxin A was compared with that of the published gene data bank. The results showed a complete homology between our gene species and the published genome in data banks. The results of this study showed that about 90% of the isolated bacteria contained exotoxin A and there was a sequence homology between our species and published gene data banks.

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease and the most prevalent disorder in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes mellitus is a kind of diabetes that is recognized in pregnancy. Many risk factors have been recognized for gestational diabetes mellitus. Determining new risk factors help to identify women who are at risk for diabetes. This research was conducted in order to determine the relationship between cigarette smoking before or during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus in women referring to health care centers in Tehran during 2008-2009. This case –control study was conducted on 110 pregnant women with gestational diabetes (case group) and 96 pregnant women without the condition (control group) referring to healthcare clinics affiliated to Research Centers of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Ayatollah Taleghani Hospitals as well as Iran Research Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism. A questionnaire was used for collecting data by interviewing the subjects. Both groups were matched for age and parity. Demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. There was a significant difference between the two groups in cigarette smoking before or during pregnancy and occurring diabetes mellitus (p=0.0001) with an estimated odds ratio (OR) of 3.79 (%95 CI = 1.37 – 10.53). The present findings showed a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Acne is one of the medical problems and propionibacterium acnes is the pathogenic agent that has received a considerable attention. Different parts of Juglans regia have been shown to have antibacterial activity on many bacteria. Its leaves have antioxidant property and if it shows antibacterial effect on propionibacterium acnes, it might be an alternative drug for the treatment of this problem. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the antibacterial effects of walnut leaves on propionibacterium acnes in vitro. In this experimental study, ethanolic extract of walnut leaves was examined for antibacterial activities on propionibacterium acnes using the disk-diffusion minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) and macrodilution methods. Ampicillin (10µg) was used as a positive control. Ethanolic extract of walnut leaves had an inhibitory effect on Propionibacterium acnes using the agar-diffusion and macrodilution methods. The most inhibition zone was 25 ± 1.7 mm in 150 mg/ml concentration. The minimum inhibitory concentration was 12.5 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration was 15 mg/ml. These findings showed that ethanolic extract of walnut leaves had antibacterial effect on Propionibacterium acnes and may be considered as an alternative drug for the treatment of external infections due to this microorganism.

Nowadays cardiovascular diseases have affected more women than men. A healthy diet and physical activity are two essential factors in life style Unhealthy life style have direct effect on these risk factors. A survey of women’s lifestyle due to their important role in family life style can help to recognize problems as well as to establish guidelines for society family health Promotion programs. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, life style and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases was evaluated by standard Monica questionnaire in Zanjan. In this study 997 women older than 20 years were analyzed. The majority of the subjects had a good knowledge about the effect of exercise (66/7%) and the attitude (4/62%) on cardiovascular disease prevention. But a few of them had appropriate performance (24/1%). There was a significant statistical difference in the level of blood cholesterol (P=0/02) fasting blood sugar (P=0/03) and blood pressure (P=0/02) and physical activity and exercise. But there was no significant statistical difference in the level of knowledge about diet with the level of blood cholesterol, sugar, hypertension and their performance. Knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee the performance of individuals. An intervention in order to improve the health behaviors is necessary.

Children suffering from failure to thrive (FTT) may have significant impairments in physical growth as well as cognitional and developmental functions. After 6 months of age approximately one third of the energy needed for a child should be provided by supplemental nourishments. Studies have shown that poverty itself is not a factor of malnutrition alone and the role of the mother’s knowledge in proper use of the family income and the use of the supplementary nutrition in appropriate time with proper food is significant. The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal knowledge about nutritional status of children and its related factors. This cross sectional study was conducted on three hundred mothers who had a child between 6 to 12 months, at the health care center of the community oriented medical education in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. The mothers were interviewed about supplemental nutrition. Information about maternal age, education, number of children, and family income were also gathered. One hundred eighty one (60/3%) of mothers were between the ages 20-29years and 35/3% had only elementary education. Fifty five percent lived in rental houses and 47/5% had one child. 42/3% of them were found to have average knowledge. Eighty two percent knew the appropriate time to start supplemental nutrition but 92% did not know that the best time of supplemental nutrition was after breast feeding. According to this study, there was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge about supplemental nutrition and maternal age, education, and the number of children P (0.0001). However there was no significant relationship between mother’s knowledge and family type of home ownership. It seems that up-grading maternal knowledge plays an important role in prevention of FTT.

Anthropometry is the most common way for measuring body growth in human which today is raised as a predictive indicator in epidemiologic, metabolic and appearing illness related to obesity as well. The research is part of a study named” a Healthy Heart” had been carried out among people of Zanjan in 2003 with cross-sectional research design. About 1821 people of Zanjan inhabitants above 15- year-old participated using multi-stages random cluster sampling method. Questionnaire consisted of personal information and anthropometric indicators which the results then compared with standard charts of NCHS. The average of the weight in men and women was respectively 68.7 ± 12.5 and 61.7 ± 11.8 kg, and average of the height was 170 ± 7 and 156 ± 7 cm respectively. The average of the BMI index men and women was 23.73 and 25.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2 respectively. 32.8% of participants were overweight and 12.5% were obese. 27.7% of women and 10.7% of men had abdominal obesity (P<0/05). Positive and significant relation was observed between BMI and age (R=.36), BMI and marital status(R=.39). A reverse and significant relation was observed between BMI and education level (R= -.18). According to the findings of this study which reveals that considerable amount of women affected by abdominal obesity, paying attention to life style especially women’s in all age groups is proposed.

Menopause is defined as the ability of fertility to infertility and has a significant role in personality, social and cultural aspects. Menopause has a special situation in reproductive health. One of the problems during the menopause period is decreasing of sexual desire or sexual satisfaction. Sexual aspects of postmenopausal women can promote their health and quality of life. This study was conducted to determine affecting agents on sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women referring to healthcare clinics affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2007. In this descriptive study 270 menopause women were selected by convenience sampling method. A questionnaire was used for data collection comprising of two parts: demographic and sexual satisfaction questions. Mean age of menopause women was 52.49 ± 4.93 years. A desirable sexual satisfaction rate was 58.9% and 66.3% had undesirable sexual satisfaction. Sexual desire dimension was associated with womens’ job (P<0.05). Sexual excitation dimension was associated with primary and intermediate education of postmenopausal women, intermediate husband's education and free job of spouses. Sexual orgasm and relaxation after coitus was associated with unmasturbation and sexual activity of their women. Total sexual satisfaction rate was associated with age of menopause (P< 0.01), primary and intermediate education of postmenopausal women (P< 0.05), primary and intermediate education of spouse and satisfaction rate from sexual activity (P< 0.01). Although postmenopausal stage is associated with decreased level of sexual hormones and drive intimate relationship with spouse, increasing education level leading to increasing knowledge and adaptation with menopause, can elevate sexual satisfaction.

Nowadays primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) is the treatment of choice for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction and has absolute advantage to classic thrombolytic drug therapy. But primary PCI itself has an important drawback that is “no reflow phenomenon”. In recent years several medical and mechanical solutions have introduced to overcome this problem. Gradually manual thrombus suction established as an effective mechanical and safe method. In this report we present the first patient who treated by primary PCI and manual thrombus suction in Zanjan province with completely successful results.