Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:7 Issue: 1, 2005

The effects of turpentine oil on the concentration of lipids and lipoproteins of rabbit (as an animal model for human studies) were investigated. Methods and Materials: Thirty Five healthy male rabbits were chosen and then randomly allocated into 13 groups. Different percents of turpentine oil and other oil compounds like vegetable oil, cholesterol and animal oil were given to each group (5 rabbits) separately or in combination. Blood serum lipid and lipoprotein levels were analyzed using routine laboratory methods. Treatment with 10% and 20% turpentine oil had a significant decreasing effect on triglyceride, cholesterol, total lipid, VLDL- cholesterol and LDL- cholesterol (P<0.05) and a significant increasing effect on HDL- cholesterol (P<0.05). On occasions which rabbits were fed a combination of different oils such as turpentine oil, animal oil and vegetable oil or cholesterol, varying results were obtained which showed significant differences with the control group in some instances and in some other occasions had no significant difference (P>0.05). Treatment with turpentine oil has a significant decreasing effect on the levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins (VLDL-cholesterol and LDL- cholesterol).

Before adding metformin to oral anti diabetic drugs, only sulfonylureas were available. When sulfonylureas failed, insulin therapy had to be initiated. For this reason utilization of insulin was more than now. The purpose of this study is evaluation of success in reinitiation of oral therapy in insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods and Materials: This study is an outcome study, we attempted reinitiation of combination oral therapy with metformin and a sulfonylurea in 32 patients who had type 2 diabetes for less than 30 years and had received less than 40U insulin for less than 10 years. Of 32 patients, reinitiation of oral therapy was successful in 20 patients and unsuccessful in 12 (P=0.014). In 13 of 16 patients with less than 10 years diabetes duration, and in 7 of 16 patients with more than 10 years diabetes duration, reinitiation of oral therapy was successful(P=0.028).In patients who received 10-25 U/day, %76, and in patients who received 26-40 U/day, %46.7, reinitiation of oral therapy was successful (P=0.05).There was not association between reinitiation of oral therapy and age, duration of insulin therapy, dose of insulin and BMI. This study shows reinitiation of combination oral therapy in insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes, is most likely to be successful with a shorter duration of diabetes and lower insulin requirements.

With regard the high prevalence of anxiety in adolescents and the influence of environment on it, this research was designed to evaluate and compare the anxiety level between the adolescents who living in parenteral home and those who were institutionalized.Methods and Materials: The number of samples was 268 (134 in parenteral home and 134 in institutionalized group). The Cattell Anxiety Questionnaires was used as the device of study. The statistical analysis was performed by the significance bearing discrepancy between two independent ratios (z test). The results showed meaningful difference in sever anxiety scores between adolescents living in parental home and in institutions, a significant difference between boys within different life place (P<0.01) and girls within those groups was observed (P<0.001). Also meaningful difference between boys and girls without considering their life place in moderate (P<0.04) and sever anxiety scores was demonstrated (P<0.001). The results suggest that institutionalized adolescents and girls are more sensitive to anxiety

Steroid hormones affect the proliferation of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to test the effect of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on MCF-7 and MDA-MB468 human breast cancer cell line.Methods and Materials: The human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MDA-MB468 were grown in charcoal striped serum in the presence and absence of 10 nM 17- β-estradiol with different concentration of progesterone and testosterone for 72 hrs. Growth of cells evaluated by MTT method. The results demonstrated that estradiol produced an increase in the cell proliferation rate of MCF-7 cells grown in the presence of charcoal-stripped serum, but had no effect on MDA-MB468 cells. While progesterone had no effect on cell growth when tested alone on both cell lines, it significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells in the presence of 10 nM estradiol. Testosterone had no effect on cell growth of MDA-MB468 cells in the presence or absence of estradiol. In MCF-7 cells, testosterone significantly inhibited the growth of these cells in the absence or presence of estradiol. Proliferation of breast cancer cells are hormone dependent or hormone independent.

Traditionally, medicinal plants have been used to treat many diseases. To investigate the effects of different plants extract on cardiovascular system, five native southern Khorasan plants were used. Different concentration from the decoction of ziziphora, achillea millefolium (A.M) and aqueous extract of valeriana officinalis (V.O), viola and peganum harmala (P.H) were made.Methods and Materials: Animals, Male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g, n=25) were anaesthetized with sodium thiopental (30 mg/kg, i.p.), then systemic arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) was measured. Mean arterial blood pressure was 140 ± 5 mmHg. Intravenous administration of extract reduced the arterial blood pressure (eg. administration of 0.03 mg/kg of aqueous extract of valeriana officinialis changed the blood pressure from 140 ± 5 to 77 ± 10 mmHg, P<0.0001). There was a non-significant bradycardia with the administration of this extract. These results show that extract of ziziphora, V.O and A.M have hypotensive effects in the control rats and the most potent is V.O. By attention to non significant effect of these extract on heart rate, it is suggested that their hypotensive effect is induced by depletion in peripheral vascular resistance. For investigate of possible mechanism on vascular resistance, the isolated thorasic aorta rings in male rat were used. Therefore in another sets of experiments, after measuring blood pressure, chest was expanded and thoracic aorta was removed and cut into rings (3-4 mm). Aqueous extract of V.O, in isolated aortic rings which was contracted by phenyl ephrin relaxed. Incubation of tissue with L-NAME (10-5 molar) for 20 minutes significantly increased the response to different concentration of extract. Thus the vasodilatory mechanism of V.O is nondependent endothelium manner but it accomplish by vascular smooth muscle relaxation. In future, the effects of these extracts will be studied in the hypertensive rats, so that in case obtaining the same results and safety proof, these extracts on other systems, we can recommend take of these plant accompaniment by other treatment.

One of the applicable methods in determination of nutritional status and health is surveillance and assessment of physical growth. The attention to growth of children can be determined failure to thrive and protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in primary period of life. According to above stated, the objective of this study was to detect percentile of body weight and height children under 6 years, in Zahedan and its comparison with the standard NCHS.Methods and Materials: In a descriptive – analytical, cross-sectional study 4500 children under 6 years (2250 girls and 2250 boys) referred to treatment and health centers were selected by proportional and randomized method from 5 area of Zahedan. The body weight and height were measured, Statistical analysis were applied using SPSS. The findings showed weight growth in girls were higher than the boys in third and fifth percentiles of one year old, but the body weight of boys was higher than that of the girls. The variations of body weight and height indices were very much and a different degree of PEM was in our population. On the basis of weight index for age 21.9% and 29.7% of the girls and boys between 61–72 month old were under 3rd percentile, 5.1% girls and 5.8% boys were more than 97th percentile in comparison with the standard NCHS. On the basis of as: height for age 31% and 36.5% of girls and boys between 61- 72 month respectively were under 3rd percentile (stunting). According to the percentile of height for age there was not a significant difference between different age groups in boys (P>0.05). According to 3rd percentile the trend of height growth in the boys were higher than that in girls. In the boys, with age increase the percent of under weight, wasting and stunting cases were more than those in girls (P<0.0001).On the basis of different mean in percentile of body weight and height in the boys and girls in comparison with the standard NCHS, there were chronic PEM (stunting)and acute PEM (under weight) in the children. There were PEM in the boys more than girls. The results showed that NCHS standard could not be applied for determination of weight and height in all different groups of Iranian children, especially our population had different variation of epidemiologic and demographic characteristics. Hence, for more precise assessment it is recommended to design longitudinal study in the population.

Acute glomrulonephritis is a common renal disease in children. It can be primary disease or secondary to systemic diseases. Various forms of glumerulonephritis have different prevalence and prognosis in each region. The present study was designed for evaluation of prevalence of various types of glomerulonephritis in Iranian children, their prognosis and related factors. Methods and Materials: This study was done on 140 children with diagnosis of glomerulonephritis between 1981-2002. Data about their types of glomerulonephritis, prognosis and presentation were obtained by referring to patient’s files. The patients were aged 2-18 years and girls were more. The most common type of glomerulonaphritis was lupus nephritis (34.28%) that followed by MPGN (24.28%). Twenty percent of patients was recovered, 19.2% hypertensive, 31.44% chronic renal failure and 5.7% dead. The most related factors were severe proteinuria, type of glomerulonephritis, sonography finding. Mean renal and patient survival was 56.6±3.09 and 90.09±4.4 months respectively. In evaluation of children with glomerulonephritis, we must consider prevalence of various types of glomerulonephritis in the region and factors related to prognosis. It also is important that prognosis is related to more than one factor.

There is considerable controversy in scientific literature regarding the need to monitor the complete blood count of patients undergoing radiation therapy. While some advocate weekly examination of the peripheral blood, others deem it unnecessary. Since reduction in the number of blood cells has considerable effect on the treatment outcome, this study evaluates the effect of pelvic radiation therapy on the number of blood cells.Methods and Materials: This study designed as a cohort study of pre- and post-treatment evaluation. After excluding patients who didn’t complete treatment or had problem in first blood count, 51 patients who had received radiation therapy in pelvis area selected, evaluated by taking a blood sample before and 24-48 hours after completion of the radiation course, thus comparing the mean count of the circulating blood cells before and after therapy. The average of hemoglobin and white blood cell count compared by t-test and after stratified patients according to dose and volume to “low”, “moderate” and “high” groups, averages compared by ANOVA. Fifty-one patients included 25 male and 26 female evaluated. The mean of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets decreased. However, a significant difference in white and red blood cells was found. In despite of significance difference between means of red and white blood cells, there is no need for blood transfusion or increase risk of infection due to this reduction, so this reduction isn’t clinically significant. It is recommended that weekly monitoring of CBC in patients with normal CBC before radiotherapy is not necessary.

The description of Brucellosis arthritis feature with other findings is the main goal of this study. Methods and Materials: This is a 2 years descriptive and prospective study, which includes 40 patients who diagnosed as brucellosis and join involvement. In this study, arthritis involvements were as follow: Sacroilitis (70%), Peripheral arthritis (15%), Sacroilitis and arthritis (12/5%) and Spondylitis (2/5%). The other finding of this study include: Range of age between 15-30 (80%), male to female ratio (5:1), rural to urban ratio (2: 1), fever more than 38 degree of Centigrade (60%), Normal CBC (90%), relative lymphocytosis (70%), ESR more than 25 mm/ 1st hour (100%), Wright titer 1:320, and 2ME titer 1:160. With beginning of standard anti brucellosis regimen and supportive care, there was a 100% cure rate and no any sequel of arthritis. There was no relapse in next few months follow up of them. This study confirms previous findings, which indicate, Brucellosis arthritis have a good prognosis and outcome, without any sequel. So it seems that Brucellosis arthritis are rather inflammations than infection of joint (Septic arthritis).

Sciatic is the thickest nerve of the body with three quarter of an inch. It is forms from L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3 of spinal nerves as a part plexus in pelvis.It leaves the pelvis via great sciatic foramen, and aises in gluteal region in infra piriformis fossa. Then passes between great trochanter and ischial tuberosity and arrives to the posterior surface of thigh. At the level of superior angle of pobliteal fossa, it divides into two common, proneal and tibial branches.Muscular injection in upper lateral part of gluteal region is performed within gluteus medius and minimus muscles. The former is carried out with a considerable distance to avoid any harm to sciatic nerve.However this variation that includes two parts of sciatic nerve passes throw the supra and infra piriformis fossa is an important one. The later variation induces proximity between nerve and injection site, particularly in neo natales, furthermore, recognition of such variation helps in identification of piriformin syndrome. This type of variation is regarded as one of the rarest type of variation, and has not between referred to in many anatomical dictionaries.