Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume:29 Issue: 3, Sep 2004

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), a potent nephrotoxin can cause degeneration and necrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells in rodents. Its toxicity is due to conjugation with glutathione to form the related cysteine conjugate. This metabolite is then taken up by the kidney and cleared through renal tubular epithelial cells as a reactive thiol derivative by the enzyme β-lyase. To evaluate the protective effect of verapamil against HCBC nephrotoxicity. Five groups of Winstar Albino rats were treated as follows: Group 1(corn oil), Group 2 HCBD (50mg/kg), Groups 3 and 4 verapamil (50 and 100µg/kg) one hour before HCBD (50mg/kg) and Group 5 verapamil (100µg/kg) one hour before HCBD (100mg/kg). All animals were killed after 24 hours. Histopathologic examinations showed substantial necrosis in straight portion of the proximal tubules. In verapamil-treated groups the kidney appeared normal. The concentration of urea and creatinine, as a marker of kidney damage, was significantly higher in HCBD-treated, as compared with the control group. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, can protect the kidney against toxic effect of HCBD in rats.

Patients with Trichotillomania (TC) have an irreversible urge to pull their hair. This self-mutilation behavior is associated with high level of tension before and a sense of gratification and relief after TC. To investigate the personality characteristics of patients suffering from TC. The study was performed on 43 TC patients and 43 gender and age-matched non-psychiatric control individuals who were asked to complete a Persian version of the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R). The TC patients had significantly higher scores on Neuroticism (p<0.0001) and Agreeableness (p<0.05) domains. The TC patients were high scorers in all Neuroticism subscales including anxiety, angry-hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsivity, and vulnerability to stress. The patient group had lower scores on the compliance scale, a subscale of Agreeableness. According to Costa and McCrae (founders of the NEO PI-R) suggestions, the picture of the personality traits or characteristics displayed by our data resembles borderline personality disorder.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) of endothelial or neuronal origins in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injuries are far from being settled, extending from being important to not having any role at all. To investigate the role of NO of endothelial and neuronal origins in ischemia/reperfusion injuries in focal cerebral ischemia, L-NAME, a non selective NO synthase inhibitor (NOS), and 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a selective neuronal NOS were used. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by 90 min occlusion of middle cerebral artery, followed by 24 hr reperfusion. Vehicle (saline, DMSO), L-NAME (1 mg/kg) or 7-NI (50 mg/kg) was administered ip at 30 min before or 60 min after the onset of ischemia. At the end of reperfusion period, neurological deficit score (NDS) test was performed. Then under deep anesthesia the brain removed and prepared for the evaluation of cortical and striatal infarct volumes using Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Pre-ischemic administration of L-NAME significantly lowered cortical (-66±6%) and striatal (-45±12%) infarct volumes with a concomitant improved NDS (-38±10%). A significant decrement in cortical (-39±7%) and striatal (-26±5%) infarct volumes occurred during post-ischemic administration of L-NAME without an improvement in NDS. Pre-ischemic administration of 7-NI also significantly reduced cortical (-37±10%) and striatal (-37±13%) infarct volumes, but did not change NDS significantly. Whereas, post-ischemic administrations of 7-NI neither changed cortical and striatal infarct volumes nor changed NDS. Our presumptive conclusion is that, in the rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia, NO of neuronal origin is involved in ischemic and that of endothelial origin participates in reperfusion injuries.

Differences in the prevalence and impact of hyperhomocytenemia on vascular disease between countries and races have been reported. Most studies have been undertaken in North American and European populations and the importance of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level as a risk factor for coronary artery disease in the Middle East particularly in Iran, however, is not known. To determine the association of hyperhomocysteinemia with coronary artery disease in Shiraz population, a city in the South West of Iran. A case-control study was conducted in 195 men with angiographically defined coronary artery disease and 201 healthy controls. Plasma tHcy concentrations were analyzed in baseline samples by high performance liquid chromatography. Geometric mean of plasma tHcy was significantly higher in patients (10.6±5.2 mmol/l) than in control (7.9±3.1 mmol/l) group (p<0.001). Comparing the top fifth (quintile), of the plasma tHcy distribution to the bottom fifth, the adjusted odds ratio of coronary artery disease was 2.3 (95% CI 1.0–5.5) and there was a positive trend of increasing risk across quintiles of the plasma tHcy distribution (p=0.02). High plasma tHcy is associated with coronary artery disease in Iranians living in Shiraz.

Recent studies have shown a relationship between H. pylori and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (CITP). The present study was performed to evaluate this relationship in Iranian patients. The antibody (IgG) against H. pylori was studied in sixty-two patients with CITP, comprising 25 males and 37 females (mean age: 30.38±12.23 yrs) The patients positive for H. pylori were given quadruple therapy including omeprazol, metronidazol, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate for two weeks and antibody assay was repeated after six months to determine the rate of H. pylori eradication. Platelet counts at onset of the study were less than 100 ×109/L After eradication therapy, increases in platelet counts above 150×109/L and those above 30×109/L of the basal values were considered as complete and partial responses (CR and PR) respectively. The H pylori-negative patients served as control group. The study included 28 patients with H. pylori infection, including 11 males and 17 females and aged from 16-63 yrs (29.7±11.58 yrs). H. pylori infections were eradicated in 25 patients (89%) comprising 16 women and 9 men. Platelet response was achieved in 11 cases (44%) including 3CR and 8PR with mean age of 26.86±7.84 yrs. Control group did not show any significant alteration of the platelet count during the follow-up period. The eradication of H. pylori infection led to a good platelet response in CITP patients. It is therefore suggested to search for H. pylori infection in these patients.

In several conditions we have face cranial bone defects. Reconstruction of these defects remains one of the most challenging problems encountered by craniofacial surgeons. To evaluate bone repair in cranial bone defects by use of an implant made of octacalcium phosphate in combination with bone matrix gelatin (OCP/BMG). We used 40, 5–6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. A full thickness standardized trephine defect—5-mm in diameter—was made in the rat parietal bone and OCP/BMG was implanted into the defect. No OCP/BMG particles were implanted in control group that was otherwise treated identically. After sacrificing the rats chronologically and processing the tissues by routine histological procedures, 5-mm thick sections of bone were stained and examined under light microscope. On the 5th day of implantation, inflammatory cells were seen around the implanted materials, especially around the OCP particles. By the end of 21st day, almost all of the OCP/BMG particles were absorbed and bone trabeculae, bone marrow cavities and bone marrow tissues were seen. In the control group, at the end of 21th day, a few areas of new bone were seen near to the defect margins and host bone, however, in much less amount than in the experimental group. Implant of OCP/BMG appears to stimulate new bone regeneration in bone defects. These biomaterials can be used for repair of cranial bone defects.

Pyelonephritis can lead to renal scar. To evaluate the effects of betamethasone in preventing renal scarring in rat model of pyelonephritis. Sixty three female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups. Group A was the control. Mannose-sensitive E coli was directly inoculated into the left kidney exposed under general anesthesia in groups C–G. Group B received normal saline. Two days after bacterial inoculation, groups C, E and F received gentamicin for 10 days. Betamethasone was injected for three days to animals in groups of D, E (2 days after bacterial inoculation) and F (5 days after bacterial inoculation). Group G received no treatment. Eight weeks after bacterial inoculation, animals were sacrificed and the volume (amount) of renal scar was determined using the stereological techniques. Changes in the weight and volume of the kidneys were not statistically significant. No scar was detected in group A, but all other groups including group B with intrarenal injections showed scarring. The volume density and absolute volume of the scar in groups C–G were significantly more than group B (p<0.001), whereas they did not differ significantly from each other. Betamethasone and/or gentamicin, when used two days after induction of pyelonephritis were not effective in preventing renal scar.

Vaginal epithelium is the most important site for initial contact of the parasite infection in humans. To investigate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and pH on attachment of T. vaginalis isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients to vaginal epithelial cells (VECs). Following 1-4 hrs contact of parasite with VECs, wet mounts were prepared and used for measuring cell adherence in vitro. This was done by addition of whole LA, its excretory secretory product (ESP) and changing the pH of the media either by HCl or LA. The mean of the three readings of the experiments was taken to compare the isolates and their controls. The exposure of VECs to whole LA for one hour led to enhancement of adhesion and then a gradual fall with ultimately non-viability T.vaginalis after 4 hrs of incubation with T. vaginalis. In the presence of ESP a gradual decreased of adhesion was observed. The number of VECs attached by T.vaginalis was higher in symptomatic than asymptomatic women’s isolates when pH was reduced to 4.5 by HCl, when pH was reduced to a similar level by LA this ratio was 47% and 35% respectively. The presence of LA enhanced the attachment of parasite at initial steps of infection, but its effect was deleterious thereafter. This study should be paralleled by appropriate in vivo experiments and if substantiated can be used for effective therapy and prevention of human trichomoniasis.

Although, iron depletion is a common disorder among athletes, little data exist regarding the effect of gymnastic training on iron status. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of gymnastic exercise on body iron status and hematologic profile. The present investigation involved 35 male gymnasts aged from 6 to14 yrs. Serum ferritin level, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), iron and transferrin saturation, along with hematological indices (RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC) were analyzed in venous blood samples before starting the exercise course and 10 weeks later. The second readings of serum ferritin level, RBC, Hct, and Hb were decreased significantly (p<0.05) as compared to the baseline values, whereas TIBC increased significantly (p<0.02). We concluded that gymnastic training is associated with a reduction in the body iron stores, leading to early stages of iron depletion which might compromise the health and performance of athletes.

Herein, we report on a 24-year-old woman with a large well-marginated gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. She presented with dysphagia and epigastric pain. In esophago­gastro­duodeno­scopy there was a huge bulging submucosal mass with normal appearing mucosa in the cardia in addition to a grade B gastro-esophageal reflux disease. She was treated with a proton pump inhibitor and an intramural gastric mass was confirmed by a computed tomography scan. She underwent surgical operation and was well in her last follow-up visit after 16 months.

A 65-year-old female presenting with hepatobiliary cystadenoma (HC) comprised of multiple cysts in the liver and a non-specific epigastric pain is reported herein. Ultrasound study demonstrated dilated common bile duct (CBD) and intrahepatic bile ducts, plus two spherical stone-like bodies filling defects in the proximal CBD. Sphincterotomy and basket performed for the patient were not successful. Upon surgery, two cystic masses were found in CBD and were resected. Histopathological examinations showed hepatobiliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma.

Hepatitis A infection is usually a self–limited disease during childhood. Autoimmune manifestations are rarely reported among patients with HA infection. We describe a previously healthy 6-yr-old male with acute hepatitis A who developed immune thrombocytopenia.