Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:14 Issue: 6, Nov & Dec 2009

The association between the lipid profiles level and the incidence and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) is very pronounced in epidemiological studies, and an inverse relation between physical fitness and the incidence of coronary heart disease has been observed in many studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a soccer match on lipid parameters of professional soccer players. Twenty two professional soccer players participated in the study. Blood (10ml) for determination of lipid profiles was obtained at rest and immediately after a 90 minute soccer match. Lipid parameters were measured using Boehringer Mannheim kits and Clinilab and BioMerieux analyser. The results of this study showed that the triglyceride was significantly higher before the match than afterwards (159.09 ± 58.2 vs. 88.63 ± 34.1 mg/dl, p < 0.001), whereas the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was lower before the match than after it (98.04 ± 28.9 vs. 112.31 ± 30.5 mg/dl). Moreover, there were no significant differences in cholesterol concentration (171.4 ± 30.28 mg/dl vs. 173.18 ± 32.75 mg/dl) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (34.04 ± 5.58 mg/dl vs. 34.4 ± 4.6 mg/dl) between before and after the match. Although the soccer competitive match has no favourable acute effect on lipid profiles, the lower rate of LDL, cholesterol and triglyceride as well as the higher level of HDL in players suggest a beneficial effect of regular soccer training on arthrosclerosis and perhaps on CHD risk as well.

Cerebral vasospasm is a preventable cause of death and disability in patients who experience aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of cerebral vasospasm following traumatic SAH and its relationship with different brain injuries and severity of trauma. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2006 to March 2007 in department of Neurosurgery in Al-Zahra Hospital. Consecutive head-injured patients who had SAH on the basis of an admission CT scan were prospectively evaluated. The severity of the trauma was evaluated by determining Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography evaluations were performed at least 48 hours after admission and one week thereafter. Vasospasm in the MCA and ACA was defined by mean flow velocity (FV) of more than 120 cm/sec with a Lindegaard index (MVA/ICA FV ratio) higher than 3. Basilar artery vasospasm was defined by FV higher than 85 cm/sec. Seventy seven patients with tSAH were enrolled from whom 13 were excluded. The remaining were 52 (81.2%) men and 12 (18.7%) women, with a mean age of 37.89 years. Trauma was severe in 11 (17.2%), moderate in 13 (20.3%), and mild in 40 (62.5%) patients. From all, 27 patients (42.1%) experienced at least one vasospasm during the study period and MCA vasospasm was the most common in the first and second weeks (55.5%). Traumatic SAH is associated with a high incidence of cerebral vasospasm with a higher probability in patients with severe TBI.

Using two logistic regression models, we determined the associates of poor physical and mental health related quality of life (HRQoL) among beta thalassemia patients. In this cross-sectional study which was conducted during 2006 and 2007 in outpatient adult thalassemia clinic, Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran, Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used for measuring HRQoL in 179 patients with beta thalassemia (major/intermedia). We determined scores higher than third quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores as the cutoff points of good HRQoL. Poor HRQoL was defined scores lower than first quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores. Two distinct logistic regression models were used to derive associated variables including demographic, clinical, and psychological factors. The regression models suggested that poor physical HRQoL was positively associated with somatic comorbidities (OR = 1.472, CI = 1.021-2.197, p = 0.048) and depression score (OR = 8.568, CI = 2.325-31.573, p = 0.001). The variables that were associated with poor mental HRQoL were anxiety score (OR = 9.409, CI = 1.022-89.194, p = 0.049) and depression score (OR = 20.813, CI = 4.320-100.266, p < 0.001). Depression is associated with both poor physical and mental HRQoL among patients with major/intermedia beta thalassemia, however somatic comorbidities and anxiety are associated with poor physical and mental HRQoL, respectively.

Dairy products intolerance is defined by existing of gastrointestinal symptoms following dairy product consumption. Its prevalence varies among different countries. This study is conducted to determine the frequencies and severities of intolerance symptoms in the consumption of different dairy products in Iranian students of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional study, 1041 students from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who apparently were healthy and had not used any drug before, participated.The questionnaire included information about dairy product consumption and avoidance, severity of dairy intolerance symptoms included gas passing, flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal pain and coexistence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The frequencies of dairy intolerance syndromes in milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream consumption were 51.1% (532), 16.6% (173), 11.7% (122) and 13.4% (140), respectively. Most severe symptoms for milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream intolerance were diarrhea (2.11 ± 0.08), gas passing (1.56 ± 0.09) and flatulence (1.49 ± 0.09), respectively. Fifty (9.4%) of symptomatic respondents never drank milk. Correlation coefficient between symptoms severity and the avoidance of consumption in milk intolerance was 0.38. Students tolerate other dairy products better in comparison with milk. In the present study, the phenomenon as irritable bowel syndrome was not strongly associated with the severity of all symptoms in dairy intolerant persons. Also, there were weak association between the severity of symptoms with dairy consumption and avoidance, but more studies are needed to evaluate calcium absorption and osteoporosis in symptomatic cases.

Stomach cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In Iran, the mortality of stomach cancer is the first cause of death due to cancer in both sexes. This study was designed to estimate survival rate of stomach cancer at national level. From the national cancer registry file, 3439 cases of stomach cancer that had telephone number and were diagnosed between years 2001 and 2005 were called to obtain information about their life status. Survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival probability was calculated for the overall cohorts and also for gender and anatomical sites of tumor. Relative ratios (RR) according to demographic and risk variables were calculated by Cox''s proportional hazard model. The overall 5-year survival rate was 12.8%. The likelihood of death was higher in men (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11-1.33) and patients more than 70 years old had worse prognosis rather than those below fifty years old (RR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.46-1.91). The 5-year survival rate for tumors located in antrum was significantly higher than corpus and cardia (p = 0.009). Patients with lymphoma had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate compared to those with adenocarcinoma (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.31-0.66). The status of stomach cancer, including relative low survival rate in Iran, indicates the extremely urgent needs for health authorities to adopt measures of cancer prevention that proved effective in other countries.

Despite well-described histopathologic criteria, the distinction of spontaneous abortion from hydatidiform mole and complete hydatidiform mole from partial hydatidiform mole remains a problem because of interobserver and intraobserver variability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of two immunohistochemical markers in the differential diagnosis of subgroups of lesions of villous trophoblasts and spontaneous abortions. Immunohistochemistry with the P63 and Ki-67 antibody was performed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of non hydropic abortion (n = 14), partial hydatidiform mole (n = 12), complete hydatidiform mole (n = 12) and choriocarcinoma (n = 12). The Ki-67 and P63 labeling index (number of positive nuclei/total number of nuclei) for villous stromal cells, cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts were evaluated separately by counting 100 cells of each population. Statistical analysis was carried out by χ2 analysis, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05 on the basis of 2-tailed tests. None of nonhydropic spontaneous abortions analyzed exhibited positive cytotrotrophoblastic and syncytiotrophoblastic cells for P63. The syncytiotrophoblastic cells were negative for p63 in all of choriocarcinomas. All of choriocarcinomas analyzed exhibited severe expression of Ki-67 in cytotrotrophoblastic cells. None of abortions and partial moles was diffusely labeled with Ki-67. Ki-67 labeling index in cytotrophoblastic cells is the best index to differentiate between abortion and subgroups of lesions of villous trophoblasts as well as between different subgroups of lesions of villous trophoblasts. Ki-67 is a better marker than P63 to attain this goal.

Sister Mary Joseph nodule or Sister Mary Joseph Sign refers to a palpable nodule bulging into the umbilicus as a result of metastasis of a malignant cancer in the pelvis or abdomen. A rare case of Sister Mary Joseph nodule, manifesting as ascites, cachexia and bleeding per rectum, is presented without any primary tumor despite extensive search for the same.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is an aggressive endothelial-derived spindle cell neoplasm that occurs nearly exclusively during childhood and teenage years. The lesion grows rapidly and is often associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.In this study a 24 days old male neonate who presented with an ill-defined deeply situated violaceous mass on his left arm is described. He had also anemia and life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Despite hospitalization in intensive care unit (ICU) and transfusion of platelets and packed red blood cells as well as medical managements such as oral prednisolone, intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone and interferon alpha, thrombocytopenia persisted, so surgical resection was considered. The histopathological findings were distinctive and characteristic of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Following surgery, the infant did not have any complications and was discharged from the hospital in good condition.