Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences
Volume:15 Issue: 1, 2010

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrine disorders in women affecting 5-10% of women of reproductive age with abnormal cycles and hyperandrogenism. This syndrome represents an autoimmune disease that demonstrates high concentration of antiovarian antibodies. Bee venom with its immune reaction and its anti-inflammatory–like action works 100 times stronger than hydrocortisone. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of bee venom on the polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats.

The induction of PCOS was achieved by subcutaneous single injection of 2mg Estradiol valerate (EV) dissolved in sesame oil in estrous phase of ovarian cycle adult wistar rat. Sixty days after EV treatment 0.2mg/kg body weight of bee venom were injected intraperitoneally for 10 days. Rats were sacrificed and ovaries were removed to evaluate histopathological and histomorphometrical changes in EV- induced PCOS, bee venom treatment and normal intact animals. The tissues were processed routinely, paraffin blocks were made and 6-7 micron were prepared and stained with hematoxylin & eosin.

Thickness of granuloza layer, theca, number and diameter of cysts and number of atretic follicles were measured and showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in indicated parameters in bee venom treated rats. Moreover, in more than 70% of cases, corpus luteum was observed in bee venom treated ovary, the condition that didnt observe in PCOS, indicating re- ovulation.

Bee venom is a new approach for induction of ovulation in patients with resistant polycystic ovarian disease. It is safe, easy to use, and lacks major side effects.

Dehydration causes major morbidities worldwide. It is estimated on the basis of patient's clinical symptoms. The present study was conducted in Imam Hossein and Mofid hospitals in order to assess the correlation between dehydration severity and urine specific gravity in a group of children with gastroenteritis.

In this descriptive study, children with gastroenteritis were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Dehydration severity was estimated by their clinical signs and symptoms while urine specific gravity, BUN, Cr, Bs and Na were gathered. Finally, spearman correlation index was calculated.

A total of 191 cases were studied. There was a significant correlation between urine specific gravity and dehydration (r=0.68, p<0.001). Meanwhile, there was a significant correlation between urine specific gravity and BUN (r=0.56, p<0.001).

Results revealed a considerable relationship between urine specific gravity and dehydration severity, however applying urine specific gravity as a predictive index for dehydration severity requires further complementary studies.

The NOD2 gene is known to have a strong association with Crohn’s disease, but different trends were reported in occurrence of NOD2 variants in distinct ethnicities. The aim of this study was to assess all exonic sequences of the NOD2 gene in Iranian Crohn's patients and healthy controls to identify any existing variation and evaluate their association with Crohn's disease.

In the present study 90 non-related Crohn's patients and 120 sex- and age- matched healthy controls were included. They were referred to a tertiary center in a three-year period (2006-2009). The exonic regions of the NOD2 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and evaluated by direct sequencing.

Totally, 21 sequence variations were identified among all exonic regions of the NOD2 gene, among which 8 had an allele frequency more than 5%. Eight new mutations (1 in exon 2 and 7 in exon 4) were observed. The three main variants (R702W, G908R, and 1007fs) showed allele frequencies of 13.3%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. Three new variations (P371T, A794P, and Q908H) and R702W mutation were significantly more frequent in Crohn's patients compared to controls.

Eight novel mutations were identified in the NOD2 exons, but the patho-physiological importance of these variants remains unclear. Iranian patients with their different genetic reservoir may demonstrate some novel characteristics for disease susceptibility.

Bone fracture is a major morbidity influencing menopause women quality of life. More than one third of menopause women suffer from osteoporosis-associated fracture. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of quantitative ultrasound in diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia in comparison with dual dexa X-ray absorptiometry.

A total of 149 women were included and bone mass density was measured. First, bone density was measured with Lunar machine (DXA) then measured by quantitative ultrasound using Sonoace2000. Finally data were analyzed using SPSS (version 11.0) soft ware.

Mean age was 53.7±11.5 (24-86) years, weight was 68.0±11.7 kg and body mass index was 28.7±4.1kg/m2. The frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis at lumbar spine was 31.5% and 12.1%, respectively, according to DXA assay. However, osteopenia and osteoporosis was found in 49% and 14.1% by left heel QUS, respectively. The osteopenia rate was higher in QUS than DXA. Left heel QUS sensitivity versus total hip DXA in different groups of <50, 50-65 and >65 years old was 66.6%, 70.5% and 100%, respectively. QUS sensitivity compared with lumbar DXA was 71.6%, 78.3% and 94.4% in different groups, respectively. The sensitivity of QUS increases with age.

QUS has a reliable sensitivity in diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in menopausal women especially in subjects aged >65 years old. This method is recommended for screening of high risk patients.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmia and is a risk factor for stroke and heart failure. Prior investigators have proposed relationship between reactive oxygen species and their enzymatic source such as xanthine oxidase. In this study, we compare the level of serum xanthine oxidase in patients with lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) and control group.

In this case–control study, 26 LAF patients without any other important disease such as CHF, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, CAD, valvular heart disease, and rheumatic heart disease, as well as 27 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Serum xanthine oxidase was measured by xanthine oxidase assay kit. Finally, chi square and Mann-Whitney were used for data analysis.

The study population included 26 patients and 27 controls with the mean age of 49.7±12.4 and 53.1±11.1 years, respectively. The mean serum level of xanthine oxidase was 13.40±7.53 U/L in patients and 9.70±6.40 U/L in controls.

Results revealed significant elevation in xanthine oxidase level in lone AF group. This elevation was more significant in older patients. Therefore, the inhibition and control of the enzyme level could be important in lone AF patients. Perhaps it would decrease cellular changes and prevent recurrence of the AF and its complication.

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium and leads to an acute and/or chronic gastroenteritis. The disease appears as a self-limiting infection in immunocompotent person, but it causes a chronic disease and extra-intestinal infection, which finally leading to death in immunocompromised patients. With respect to the prevalence of infected immunodeficient patients worldwide and in Iran, there is a need for modeling cryptosporidiosis in laboratory animals.

Samples were collected from human and animal stools, centrifuged by Paraseb kit, and smear was prepared and assessed with acid fast staining method. After identification of oocysts, it was separated, and concentrated by sucrose floatation. Balb/c and C57bl/6 mice were immunosuppressed by intraperitoneal dexamethasone injection, the immonusuppression was confirmed by lymphocyte proliferation assay, and finally cryptosporidium oocysts were orally inoculated into inbred mice. Having proved the infection, the animals were humanely killed and the target organs including lungs, liver, intestine and spleen were collected, stained with hematoxyline & eosine method and examine for histopathological effects of the organism in samples.

The results of lymphocyte proliferation assay showed that the C57bl/6 mice were more immunesuppressed than the Balb/c one; which facilitate them to be more susceptible to the infection than Balb/c mice. Therefore, the majority (80%) of C57bl/6 mice infected with cryptosporidium oocysts and 40% of them died, whereas only 20% of Balb/c mice were infected and none of them died due to infection. No histopathological alterations were observed in H&E stained sections of liver, spleen, lung and intestine in control and test groups. Moreover, no infection was detected in impression smears.

This study is the first report of experimental cryptosporidiosis and modeling of infection in immunodeficiency in laboratory animals in Iran. The findings indicated that immunosuppressed C57bl/6 mice were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium infection than Balb/c ones. No extra-intestinal infection was detected in study groups, which may be due to short period of infection in experimental animals.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a novel, non-invasive therapeutic approach, may be considered a valuable strategy. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of PDT in treatment of BCC.

This clinical trial was achieved on 28 BCCs from 12 patients. Patients were treated with PDT monthly for 1-6 sessions and evaluated for clinical response, cosmetic results and probable side effects.

The study was achieved on 28 lesions from 12 patients. Complete response was achieved in 9 (32.1%) lesions (p<0.05). Patients who were younger (p<0.01) and those with smaller lesions (p<0.001) showed more complete response. Superficial BCC had also significant higher complete response rate (p<0.01). Complete response rate was lower in patients with positive history of radiotherapy for tinea capitis in childhood (p<0.05).

PDT would be a good therapeutic approach in patients with BCC, especially superficial type. It is associated with high efficacy rate and low side effect.

Considering the importance of epidemiologic studies, and with respect to the absence of adequate studies in salivary gland tumors in Iran, the present study was carried out on 55 Iranian patients in a 10-year period to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of these tumors. The clinical data of patients referred to Loghman Hakim Hospital between April 1997 and March 2007 was reevaluated. The statistical importance of different factors was assessed using t-test and chi square test. A total of 55 patients were included of whom 55% were male and 45% were female. Salivary gland tumors were more frequent in forth decade of life. The incidence of malignant cases increased with increasing age. The most common tumor in general and also the most common benign tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Among malignant tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common one. Parotid was the most common site of involvement. No case of minor salivary gland involvement encountered in this series. Our findings are more or less in accordance with other societies, however, the prevalence of Wartin’s tumor was lower than those of other similar studies. The most frequent presenting symptom was painless lump and the most frequent sign, was a palpable mass with average size of 3cm.