Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:13 Issue: 3, 2007

The aim of the present study was to show the capability of captopril as a thiol ACEi (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor),in suppressing mitochondrial toxicity due to paraquat. In this study, rats liver mitochondria were isolated with buffer using refrigerated centrifuge. In order to obtain the minimum toxic dose of paraquat and the effective dose of captopril, different concentrations of paraquat (1 to 100mM)and captopril (0.08 to 1mM)were investigated by determining LC50, viability indices, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial swelling, catalase activity, GSH and GSSG. Simultaneous treatment of mitochondria with captopril (0.08mM) and paraquat (5mM) significantly ameliorate the mitochondrial toxicity of paraquat (5mM) alone. Our results show that captopril is a effective antioxidant. The antioxidative action of captopril appears to be attributable to the sulphahydryl group (SH) in the compound. This effect may be due to captopril abilities to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Our results indicate that Captopril can ameliorate oxidative stress induced by paraquat and therefore, can be used for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by environmental toxins.

Blood pressure (BP) in children could be effected by a lot of factors such as environmental, cultural, social and genetic factors. Therefore it is dynamic and varies from each society or era to another. This study was conducted to compare BP of Iranian children with the American standard and for the first time BP smoothed centiles on height in 6-12 elementary school children were determined. Height, systolic and diastolic BP were measured with standard methods in 2494 elementary school children selected by multi stage sampling. BP percentiles on height percentiles were determined and compared with National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP) results by using its suggested regression equation. Meanwhile BP smoothed centiles on height were drawn by Healy-Rasbash-Yang (HRY) method. The results of this study showed that BP levels in Shiraz children are lower than American standard and BP in children was not related to age by controlling of height. It is suggested that in each society local standards are used and in order to have more accurate diagnosis of hypertensive cases it would be better to calculate BP centiles on height instead of age.

Povidone Iodine and Cetrimide-c are important and valuable antiseptic compounds that have been used for many years, as disinfectant for wounds, burns, instruments and the environments such as surgical rooms in the hospitals. Recently, bacterial resistances to these antiseptics have been reported in multi-drugs resistance bacteria such as Enterococci, which are important causes of nosocomial infections. This study was done to confirm the antiseptic activity of these agents. In this study 5 isolates of Escherichia coli and 13 isolates of Enterococci being resistant or sensitive to at least 5 antibacterial agents, including vancomycin, isolated from urinary tract infections were used. The concentrations of 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20 and 1:100, of povidon Iodoine, and 1:200 and 1: 500 for cetrimide-c were used. Concentrations of 5 ×107 and 1×107 CFU/ml (Colony Forming Unit) of the bacteria were tested at room temperature in the presence of Povidone-Iodine and Cetrimide-c for 2, 10, 30 minutes. After treatment of the bacteria with antibacterial agents the bacteria were washed three times with phosphate buffer in order to remove the small amounts of antibacterial agents that were present in the inoculums used for bacterial growth. The results shows that in all cases the bacteria which were in contact with the antiseptic agents were unable to grow on solid media, whereas the control bacteria which were not in contact with the antibacterial agents had complete growth on the solid medium. Since resistance to the above mentioned antiseptics were not detected at different concentrations of antibacterial agents and the bacterial suspensions, these agents can still be used in the hospitals and other clinical centers for the disinfection of the skin and contaminated instruments. However continuous monitoring of the antiseptic activity of these compounds is recommended.

The current study has been designed to compare the diagnostic value of pipelle sampling as a simple and cost effective method with that of more complicated and expensive methods in the detection of pathologies in abnormal uterine bleedings. In 60 patients scheduled for hysterectomy due to persistent uterine bleeding, endometrial sampling was done twice, once with pipelle and then by D&C prior to the hysterectomy. First the pathological reports of pipelle and D&C specimens were compared with each other and then both were compared with hysterectomy as the gold standard. In all cases pipelle was passed to the uterine cavity without any need for cervical dilatation and anesthesia. The most frequent results in all tree kinds of sampling were proliferate endometrium and early secretary phase respectively. According to the pathological reports, pipelle and D&C in 89% of the cases, pipelle and hysterectomy in 80% of the cases and D&C and hysterectomy in 90% of the cases showed agreement, that shows so significant difference in diagnostic accuracy among three methods. Considering high agreement between pathological reports of pipelle biopsy as an outpatient method and those of D&C and hysterectomy, pipelle sampling is suggested as the first diagnostic procedure, while D&C and hysterectomy that necessiate anesthesia and take more time and expense should be reserved for just special cases.

For evidence based decision-making and designing more accurate health system planes for effective prevention on drug dependency, incidence rate and time trend of number of new cases are necessary. This survey was conducted based on data of Kerman drug detoxification agencies in order to determine the time trend of incidence rate of opioid dependency and the effects of various factors on lag time (the time between onset of substance use and first treatment request). In this retrospective cohort study, 4309 opioid users visiting Kerman Welfare Organization between 1997 and 2004 were analyzed. Subgroups were shaped according to the first year of consumption. Estimated incidence of addiction was determined by using backward calculation method. The Effect of various factors on lag time was calculated by multivariable regression method. Relative incidence of addiction between 1997 and 1999 was increased by 70% annually, followed by a slightly decrease to 540 persons in 2000. The minimum estimated number was seen in 2003 (400 cases) and it peaked to the maximum in the next year (1145 cases). The average of lag time was 7.98±6.47 years with median 6 years. The lag time of opium users was 7.81±6.48 and for opium syrup – a liquid prepared from the ashes of smoked opium – users was 8.32±6.17 years (p=0.001). Individuals who have consumed both opium and opium syrup simultaneously, had a more lag (p=0.0001). Men with lag time of 8.1±6.41 years, had a significant longer lag time than women (7.05± 6.78 years).In compare with cases with 20-30 ages (7.86±6.38 years) and cases older than 30 years (7.7±6.44 years), the lag time for persons less than 20 years old (8.62± 6.68 years) was significantly more (p=0.0001). The lag time for illiterates (10.73±7.59 years) was more than cases with academic education (7.87±7.27 years). The lag time for married persons (8.87±6.8 years) was significantly more than singles (4.9±3.76 years). Time trend of addiction can be divided into two parts in recent years. First part is from 1997 to 1999; in this period the number of new cases of addiction increased but from 2000 to 2002 it is fairly constant. Some factors such as being women, younger, more literate, single and simply opium users have a negative correlation with lag time.

Progesterone, the most important progestin in humans, is indicated in several conditions. Progesterone suppresses menstruation and uterine contractility that is very important for the maintenance of pregnancy. After oral administration, it is almost completely metabolized in the first passage through the liver and its intramuscular injection causes local irritation and pain. Therefore rectal or vaginal suppositories of progesterone are used in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, puerperal depression (Cyclogest®, 200-800 mg/day) and luteal phase defects(25 mg/12h) in patients with infertility and sterility. The main objectives of this study were to prepare different formulations of progesterone suppository in hydrophilic and lipophilic bases and to select the suitable formulation based on drug release from the bases. Hydrophilic (PEGs), hydrophobic (Witepsol H35) bases and additive ingredients were used to manufacture the suppositories. The replacement factor was determined and suppositories were prepared by using the fusion method. In order to control the physicochemical characteristics, various parameters such as weight variation, liquefaction time (Krowczynski method) and content uniformity were determined. Dissolution testing was done by dialysis cell method in dissolution apparatus (Pharmatest, PTSW3-Germany). The amount of drug released during dissolution test was determined by using UV spectrophotometer at 241 nm. Content uniformity, weight variation and liquefaction times of manufactured bases were acceptable according to official pharmacopoeia (BP and USP). Releasing profiles in normal saline containing 0.1% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate showed that the rate of release from PEGs formulations is faster than Witepsol bases. PEGs and Witepsol bases could be successfully used to prepare progesterone suppositories. In vivo bioavailability of progesterone after rectal and vaginal administration and the clinical assessment of the selected formulations are future plans.

Bifidobacteria are one of the most important probiotic bacteria and their benefits have been known since many years ago. Probiotic organisms are required to be safe, viable and metabolically active within the gastrointestinal tract and to show enough resistance against bile and gastric juice. In this research, the ability of growth and survival of 42 strains, isolated from Iranian subjects, were studied in MRS3 containing 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2% of bile salts and simulated gastric juice with pH 3. The cultured strains were incubated under anaerobic condition and at 37°C for 48 h and then the survival/growth rates were examined at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hrs. The results demonstrated that some strains had significantly high tolerance against bile salts and simulated gastric juice. The strains with high tolerance are suggested as Iranian strains for future work especially in preparing Iranian starter and bifidus products.

Measles Involves 45 millions and Kills 1.1 Millions in the World Annually. In Iran before mass campaign, the incidence rate of measles had increased dramatically. This study was done on 5-25 years old individuals in Baft and Kahnooj districts in order to compare their Immunity level, against measles, after and before the national mass campaign for M.R. vaccination (2003). In this study, blood sampling was done twice. The first four weeks before and the other four weeks after mass campaign. Total number of cases were 1089, of whom 552 cases before and 537 cases after mass campaign were tested by E.nzygnost-Anti Measles Virus IgG Kit. In addition, demographic data such as sex, age, place of residency and history of vaccination were collected through a questionnaire. According to the results mass campaign vaccination was considerably effective and increased seropositive cases from 42.6 percent to 100%. Before mass campaign, the level of seropositive cases among four age groups of 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 and 20-25 years were 46%,46%,41.7%, and 34.1% respectively. In regard to sex, before mass campaign, 46.4 % of males and 34.3% of females had seropositive responses. In Baft district 54.5% and in Kahnooj district 31.3% were seropositive. In urban areas 47.1 % and in rural areas 32.6% of cases had seropositive responses. All mentioned rates, increased to 100% after Mass campaign. According to the results, before MR. mass compaign immunity had reverse relation with age and M.R. mass campaign was significantly effective in rising the immunity to a favorite level (from 42.6% to 100%).