مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بابل
پیاپی 1 (زمستان 1377)

In this study the effect of caffeine on pentazocine analgesia in rats was assessed by “Tail-immersion test”. This study was performed by “Tail-immersion test”. Animals were juvenile M-Mari Rats (Male or female) weighing 120-160 gr. The average control latencies in “Tail-immersion test” were about 1.5-2 sec. The response latencies of rats which had been given caffeine (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg I.P) or propyleneglycol (40%) were not significant comparing to those receiving an injection of the control vehicle over the 2 hours of testing period. The response latencies of pretreated parts with caffeine (100 mg/kg I.P) during 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the injection of (10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg S.C) of pentazocine were significantly higher than those of control group. But injection of lower doses of caffeine and pentazocine did not show a significant analgesic effect compared with the control group.

Growth retardation in children is one of the most prominent signs of malnutrition. In order to know the malnourished child, one must continually measure the height and weight of the child and compare them with standard criteria. Then, if the child is proved to suffer from malnutrition, the professionals must think of proper ways of treatment. In March 1993, a cross-sectional study was conducted with random-cluster sampling on 8 year-old students in 54 schools, with a sample size of 1938 i.e. 902 girls and 1036 boys. Height and weight of children measured without shoes and with least clothing. The average of height of the girls (124.0±5.58 cm) has shown to be lower than of the boys (125.0±5.41 cm), and shown statistically significant by student’s T-test. The average of the weight of girls (23.5±3.66 kg) is lower than that in boys (23.9±3.27 kg) with a significant difference (P<0.01). Height and weight of school children of Kashan is higher than school children of Shiraz, Qazvin and Guilan. 8 year-old girls and boys from Kashan are shorter than girls and boys from Kermanshah (As mush as 2.4 cent.), and higher than them (As much as 4.5kg). Girls and boys from Kasha are shorter than and lower in height and weight, respectively, than counter parts in America, England and Canada. We can not consider the measurements of growth in other countries as justifiable criteria for comparison, and it is recommended that we try to determine a specific average for height and weight to evaluate growth of our children in Iran.

To examine the causes and mortality of poisonings in Mazandaran province. A total of 411 poisoning cases referred to Shahid Yahyanejad hospital in Babol in period of one year (1993-1995) were included in this study. Various parameters in relation to poisonings have been investigated retrospectively in these cases. Data in these cases showed greater rate of poisoning for females (55.5%) than males (45.5%) but the rate of mortality for males was greater than that of females (65% versus 35%). Most of poisonings occurs at the age range of 16-25 years. Oral ingestion was the most common route of intoxication. Most cases of poisoning were referred to hospital between 8 and 12 a.m. Most of poisoning cases occurred intentionally followed by accidentally and occupationally. Of drugs diazepam (24.5%) was the first, followed by unknown drugs, carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, acetaminophen, aspirin and amitriptyline. Of chemicals, pesticides (More frequently organophosphates) were the first cause of poisoning. Respectively opiates, aluminum-phosphide, rodenticides, petroleum and ethanol intoxications were also commonly observed. Pesticides (Organophosphates and aluminum-phosphide) poisoning were most often lead to death, particularly in spring and summer. In total, 85.4% of cases were recovered without any sequale and 9% died. The majority of poisoning cases in adults occur intentionally and in children accidentally. Therefore, consideration should be given to limit and control the availability of chemicals and drugs. Further attempts to establish poison information centers in different parts of this province are highly suggested.

Hydatidosis is one of the most prevalent zoonoses in Iran. Because there is no effective medical therapy, surgery remains the principal mode of treatment. In this retrospective study, 24 patients were operated for hydatid disease between March 1991 and March 1996 in three medical centers of Babol University of Medical Sciences, and the results were analyzed. 117 cases (70.8%) were operated in Shahid Beheshti hospital. There were 12 men (50%) and 12 women (50%). Most patients (33.3%) were in 41-60 years age group. 16 cases (66.6%) were from rural areas. The results indicated that the highest percentage of infection was among the housewives (37.5%). Liver was the most affected organ (41.6%). A case of bilateral hydatid lung disease is reported. In conclusion, local as well as national programs, community participation, health education, epidemiological and serological studies especially in high risk groups are necessary for hydatidosis control.

Barbiturates as hypnotic drugs are widely used in medicine. They act as sedative or analgesic and are used to control seizure disorders. References show that the number cases of poisoning by this drug is very high. Rapid determination of Phenobarbital in blood of poisoned patients can lead to good treatment approaches. Several laboratory methods are currently available for the detection of barbiturates, but few are suitable for emergency use. In this study we evaluated the use of a modified uv-spectrophotometric method in determination of Phenobarbital levels in blood of poisoned patients. This method is based on differential spectrums of Phenobarbital in two alkaline environments. We compared analytical results obtained by this method with previous acceptable spectrophotometry method. There is good correlation (r=0.998) between these two methods. Our results indicate that the procedure time was approximately 45 minutes, sensitivity 2 mg/ml, precision 7.034%, recovery 99.1%. The clinical signs and symptoms and medical examinations of poisoned patients are also recorded. Our results indicated that Phenobarbital overdose is mainly manifested by sedation, tachycardia, neurologic disturbances, hypotension, myosis and hypoxemia. All of the patients had attempted suicide and were discharged alive from the hospital. We found good correlation (r=0.945) between increase in pulse rate and blood Phenobarbital levels. It may be of value in diagnosis of the severity of Phenobarbital overdose. We could not find any correlation between blood Phenobarbital levels and the rate of consciousness or grade of coma. In conclusion, the use of this method for an emergency determination of phenobarbital overdose in toxicology centers is recommended.

Trauma is the third leading cause of deaths in developed countries. Treatment costs are more than those of total expenditures on cancer and cardio-vascular diseases, and abdominal trauma accounts for 20% of events in urban areas. In a descriptive retrospective study to determine the demographic and pathologic features of patients with abdominal blunt trauma attended the emergency department of an educational and treatment center in Rasht, the medical records of 154 patients eligible for participation in the study were examined. Sex and age distribution of patients was determined, and mechanism of injury to the patients was specified. Diagnosis procedures used were determined and their diagnostic value was compared with positive findings during the surgical operation. Frequency of injury to each intra-abdominal organ was measured. Ratio of males to females was 3:1. Accidents by motor vehicles have accounted for nearly 7/8 of the total cases. Ratio of females undergone with abdominal blunt injury to total females affected was more than the similar ratio in males. Mean age of females was less than that of males affected. Diagnostic value of physical examination alone in early diagnosis of abdominal blunt lesions was equivalent with diagnosis through physical examination and lavage of peritoneum. Diagnostic value of using ultrasonography and/or CT scan with peritoneum was greater than all other procedures. The highest frequency was seen in spleen and liver and the least was seen in urethra, inferior vena cava and decollement of placenta.

Pleurisy is a very common syndrome in pulmonary medicine. Every physician must know how to evaluate pleurisy correctly. One of the primary diagnostic measures to be taken to figure out the etiology of pleurisy is the puncture of pleural fluid and differentiation between exudate and transudate. In this study, cholesterol, protein and LDH quantity of pleural fluids of 70 patients compared with levels of these parameters in their blood simultaneously, then according to the lightest criteria distinction was made. Exudate, transudate and cholesterol findings from pleura were compared with the plasma levels of them. For the pleural findings, diagnostic sensitivity was 90.6% for cholesterol, 90% for protein and 86% for LDH. Diagnostic specificity was 90% for cholesterol, 100% for protein and 85% for LDH. In conclusion cholesterol is valuable, compared to the other parameters and can be used as a single distinguishing factor between exudative and transudative pleural fluid.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among cortisol level of depressed patients and dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The study was conducted with 50 depressed patients (28 females and 22 males) and 50 age and sex matched normal subjects. This research was a cross-sectional type in all referred cases to an outpatient clinic, during 6 month sampling time. (DST) in mild and moderate depressed group was normal, positive results limited to severe depressed patients, bipolar I, II (6.4 micg/dl vs. 2.2 micg/dl P<0.01). Plasma cortisol level in depressive spectrum is not uniform. This data is concordant with heterogeneous content of depressive spectrum disorders.

It has been established that drugs can’t be useful without causing side effects at the same time. There are many different variables contributing the development of these adverse effects, such as pharmaceutical (Change in the main effective substance of drug, excipients and other), pharmacodynamic (Pharmacological effect of drug leading to development of adverse effects) and pharmacokinetic including the role of digestive system in formulation of drugs or the activity of liver enzymes in elimination or absorption of them. Some of the side effects may be patients dependent, e.g. some patients have shown to be allergic to specific drugs. However, individual variation is a determinant of the type of adverse effects of drugs administered. The symptoms of drug side effects are fever, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, CNS disorders such as dizziness, sedation, dementia and complex mood-affective reactions etc. Sometimes, the reactions may affect breast fed infants whose mothers have been using the drugs. However, it is very important to know that drugs should not be used in place of foods.