Journal of Research in Health Sciences
Volume:3 Issue: 2, 2004

Both azadirachtin and rotenone, two botanical pesticides have shown inhibit the growth of cultured insect cells. The inhibitory effect of rotenone on cell growth is through disruption of electron transport chain, but exact mechanism of effect of azadirachtin on growth of cell is unknown. This study was carried out to compare the effect of these phytochemical on oxygen consumption by cultured cells. Electron transport and oxygen uptake were measured using the oxygen electrode, which continuously determines the concentration of oxygen in solution. Rotenone was used as a positive control to investigate if azadirachtin had its effect on respiration of the cells. Estimates of oxygen uptake for Sf9 and C6/36 were done at 30°C and for L929 at 37°C. Preliminary results indicated that concentration of 104 M of azadirachtin had the maximum effect on cell respiration. Also rotenone in concentration of 10-8 M reduced the cell respiration by 50%. However using purified mitochondria, the effect of azadirachtin on respiration rate was not significant. Interestingly in present test, both azadirachtin and rotenone could reduce the total oxygen consumption. Azadirachtin had only a minor effect on the respiration rate in both mammalian and insect cultured cells and there was only a slight difference between them. Due to low sensitivity of insect cells and also presence of same sensitivity in mammalian cells it seems that the effect of azadirachtin on cell respiration is different to that of rotenone. Also the results of this study suggest that while cell growth assessment. is not appropriate for all phytochemical pesticides, it is useful for those, such as azadirachtin and rotenone whose effect is on the essential mechanisms of insect cells in general.

There was not documented evidence of Toxoplasma infection in Hamadan previously, but a brief report of isolation of a T. Gondi strain from a turkey that it had high virulence to mice. In order to study of Toxoplasma infection in the at risk population and to determine seropositivity in this target population, women aged 15 to 45 years, a study carried out in Hamadan. A total of 360 blood samples collected randomly from general population of women, residents of Hamadan city. Sera were separated in laboratory and examined for Toxoplasma antibodies by Indirect Fluorescents Antibody Test (IFAT).A titer 1:20 considered as positive for Toxoplasma infection in the tested subjects. A total of 140 samples (38.9%) were positive at titer 1:20 or more. Frequency of different titers was as follows: 1:20, 22.8%; 1: 100, 9.7%; 1:200, 3.3%; 1:400, 2.8% and 1:800 or more, 0.8%. Infection rate in the housewives were 56.3% and was significantly more than other groups (P < 0.001). The most subjects had the titer 1:20. Sero-positivity was increased significantly with age, duration of residence in the region, marital status, touching cats and illiterate individuals. No significant correlation was found between sero-positivity and kind of drinking-water, vegetable and unfreezed, under-cooked meat consumption. The highest rate of infection observed in married women. We did not find any positive evidences in relation to transfusion history and sero-positivity. Regarding to other reports, this area has a relatively high sero-positivity in this group. More studies are recommended to detect the incidence of infection in at risk women, as well as the congenital toxoplasmosis, which can be a problem in this area.

Despite the fact that school nurses perform visual screening of pupils in Iranian primary schools; very few studies have been done to determine the validity of the screening test. This study was conducted to assess the validity of visual screening test by school nurse compare to optometrist diagnosis. A total of 878 pupils aged 6-15 year were studied. A school nurse performed screening for visual ability using E-chart. Also all the pupils referred to an optometrist for definite diagnosis. Then the results obtained by the school nurse were compared to the optometrist diagnosis. In comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were calculated to show the value of the screening test. From all the pupils, who were screened by the school nurse, 64 screened out positively. These pupils were referred to the optometrist, 87.5% were diagnosed as having vision disorders. 91.5% of the other pupils, who were screened out negative and referred to the optometrist, were healthy. Comparison of the results of the vision screening with the outcome of a full eye examination, gave a sensitivity and specificity of 44.8% and 98.9% respectively. The use of E-chart by school nurse to determine visual "defects" of school children, is low sensitive but highly specific. To improve the present system of visual screening in the schools, training of the school nurses is recommended.

The goal of the present study was to report the results of two parallel works in which the incidence of fetal deaths and also congenital malformations among the progenies of the Iranian chemical victims were studied. The subjects were progenies of a randomly selected population from survivors of chemical attacks during Iran-Iraq conflict. Totally 807 male cases ranged 18-85 years old (average=33.5) were included in the test. They were married and had been injured at lea t once with chemical warfare; all of them had been brought back to their normal voiding condition. The selected subjects were categorized into case and control groups: children were born after and before their parents being injured chemically, respectively. The incidence of fetal deaths and congenital malformations in these two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). Parental exposure to chemical weapons may be associated with an increased risk for some congenital malformations.