مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 556 (هفته چهارم بهمن 1398)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and third in Iran. Various methods have been investigated for cancer treatment in which the use of cold atmospheric plasma and plasma-activated medium (PAM) are two new research methods in the field of cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the inducing of apoptosis as cell death mechanism by cold atmospheric plasma in cervix cancer cell line (Hela)

At first, the effects of helium and helium + oxygen atmospheric plasma and PAM on the viability of Hela cell line were investigated. Then, the rate of H2</sub>O2</sub> in the medium, and the levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl2</sub>) proteins in both direct plasma and PAM treatments were evaluated using MTT assay, medium H2</sub>O2</sub> assay, and Western Blot analysis, respectively.

The decrease of cells viability in direct plasma treatment group was more than PAM group (P < 0.001), and adding oxygen to plasma increased the rate of cell death. The H2</sub>O2</sub> level in medium in direct method was more than PAM (P < 0.001). Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins in direct plasma were higher than PAM (P < 0.010). Higher ratio of Bcl-2/Bax showed the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells (P < 0.001).

 Cold atmospheric plasma is a source of oxygen and nitrogen reactive species, which can produce free radicals such as H2</sub>O2</sub> in medium that plays an important role in the treatment of cancer. Moreover, direct plasma and PAM induce apoptosis in cancer cells, as a probable mechanism of cell death.

Hospital mortality rate is one of the qualitative indexes, which can be used to assess the quality of care, as well as the mortality patterns in a community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality and morbidity rate of </em>infants and children less than 5 years old hospitalized in Imam Hossein Children’s hospital in Isfahan, Iran.

This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during the years 2012-2017. Patients’ information including age, sex, history, time of hospitalization, season of hospitalization, length of hospitalization, and cause of death were collected by studying their medical files using a checklist. Causes of mortality by age groups and length of hospitalization until death was also recorded.

During this study, 747 under-five-years deaths were recorded among the hospitalized children in Imam Hossein hospital with the total mortality rate of 0.99% (range 0.19% -8.8%). 1%). The rate of mortality was higher in hospitalized boys than in girls (P < 0.050). The rate of mortality among hospitalized children was higher in 1-12 month age group than other age groups (P < 0.050). The rate of mortality among hospitalized children was higher in cold seasons (autumn and winter) than the warm seasons (P < 0.050). The most common causes of death in hospitalized children under 5 years were as cardiovascular disease [151 cases (20.2%) ], infection [149 cases (19.9%)], and congenital anomalies [109 cases (14.6%)].

 The most common causes of death in hospitalized children in this study were as cardiovascular diseases, infection, and congenital anomalies, and this rate was higher during the 24 hours of hospitalization.

Hemodynamic disorders is a common and serious complication during endotracheal intubation with various suggested preventive methods; but there is no consensus. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three different doses of sufentanil on heart rate and blood pressure changes after laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation, and to compare it with the control group.

In a double-blind clinical trial study, 128 patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia were randomly divided into 4 groups of 32. In the first group, as the control group, the drug was not injected, and the other three groups received 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 µg/kg sufentanil, respectively, which was injected before laryngoscopy. Hemodynamic parameters were determined at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes after laryngoscopy, and were compared between the four groups.

The trend of blood pressure changes during laryngoscopy was significantly different between the four groups; but the changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation were not different between the groups. Changes in the level of hemodynamic parameters showed that the group receiving 0.3 µg/kg sufentanil had higher stability during the laryngoscopy.

Dosage of 0.3 µg/kg sufentanil appears to be associated with favorable hemodynamic stability of patients during laryngoscopy and endotracheal tube insertion.