مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بابل
سال سیزدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 59، اسفند 1389)

Honey has been noticed as an effective drug more than a nutrient. There is no report regarding cardioprotective effects of postconditioning with natural honey. In the present study, effects of postconditioning by honey on myocardial infarction size in ischemic-reperfused isolated rat heart were investigated.METHODS This experimental study was performed on 42 male Wistar rats weighing 270-330 g. The rat's hearts were isolated and divided into five groups including a control and four postconditioning groups (n= 8-10 in each). The hearts were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion. In the control group, the hearts were perfused by normal Krebs-Henseleit (K/H) solution throughout the experiment, however in the postconditioning groups, they were perfused with honey (0.25, 0.5 and 1%) enriched K/H solution or glucose (equivalent concentration in 1% honey solution) from 10 min before to 10 min after reperfusion. To determine the infarct size, the hearts were perfused with Evans blue dye then cut into slices and incubated with triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Finally, the infarct size was determined by computerized planimetry. Perfusion of isolated hearts with honey as a postconditioning agent significantly decreased infarct size and infarcted volume in the all treated groups. In the control group, the infarct size was 47±3%, however, natural honey (0.25, 0.5 and 1%) and glucose reduced it to 26±3, 6±3, 5±2 and 21±2 %, respectively (p<0.001 for all groups). The results showed protective effects of postconditioning by natural honey against ischemia-reperfusion injuries as reduction of infarction size. Probably, antioxidant activity of honey, scavenging of free radicals and the presence of energy sources in honey composition may involve in these protective effects.

Duration of labor is an important factor affecting pregnancy outcome and fetal and maternal injury. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on specific acupuncture points for reducing duration of first stage of labor and need to oxytocin augmentation of labor in nulliparous women. This double-blind clinical trial study was performed on 64 nulliparous women in active phase of first stage of labor who hospitalized in Razi hospital of Ghaemshar town, Iran. They were randomly divided into two groups (n=32 in each group). Odd numbers and even numbers of patients were allocated by chance to TENS group and TENS placebo group, respectively. According to TENS on four acupuncture points (Hegu [LI-4] and Sanyinjiao [Sp-6]) (n = 32) or the TENS placebo (n = 32), the current output was titrated for each person separately in 4cm dilated cervix. In TENS group, a burst frequency was set to 100 Hz and pulse duration was set to 250 ms and it was periodically used 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. In the control group, the TENS unit was not turned on. Duration of first stage of labor, need to oxytocin augmentation of labor, pain severity and satisfaction in two groups were compared. Duration of the first stage was 180 minutes in TENS group and 238 minutes in TENS placebo group (p=0.002) and need for oxytocin augmentation of labor was 16(50%) in TENS group and 25(78.1%) in TENS placebo group (p=0.04) that in TENS group was significantly shorter than TENS placebo group. Pain severity was less (p<0.001) and consent in intervention procedure was more (p<0.001) in TENS group. There was no difference between two groups in terms of Apgar score. According to the results of this study, TENS on acupuncture points can be used as a non-drug method with no side effects on mother and fetus to augment labor and reduce the duration of the first stage of labor.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is most common health problem during pregnancy and women with GDM are at high risk for development of diabetes mellitus type-2. The disease causes substantial morbidity and mortality and long term complications. Since some studies indicated that high maternal hemoglobin and body iron store were an independent risk factor for gestational diabetes. The aim of study was to compare hemoglobin concentration and body iron stores in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and normal pregnant women. This case- control study was performed on 200 pregnant who admitted to Shahid Yahyanejad hospital of Babol town, Iran during 2007-2008. For every sample of GDM diagnosed by OGTT impaired based on criteria (Carpenter & Coustan) a control sample of routine pregnancy care was selected. In this study 100 women with GDM were compared with 100 healthy pregnant women with normal Oral Glucose Tolerance test (GTT). Two groups were matched for age, gestational age, parity and referred center. Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and iron status measurements including ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were assessed and compared between two groups at the third trimester. In this study, the mean of hemoglobin concentration was 12.17±1.28 and 11.63±2.42 in GDM and control groups, respectively and mean of serum ferritin was 52.10±47.23 and 30.36±23.27 in GDM and control groups, respectively. Hemoglobin concentration and serum ferritin after adjusted BMI were significantly higher in GDM group as compared with controls at the third trimester (p<0.05). The mean serum iron concentration was 95.75±41.14 and 91.48±31.80 in GDM and control groups, respectively that showed no significant differences and TIBC was 354.55±40.47 and 353.02±51.10 in GDM and control groups, respectively. Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and serum ferritin were higher in GDM than normal pregnancy. Therefore it requires more careful in prescribing iron supplementation to all pregnant women regarding to status of hemoglobin and serum iron status.

One of the main aims of root canal therapy is to seal the canal. The aim of the retrograde filling in apical resection operation is to obtain an effective apical sealing. Various materials have been recommended for retrograde fillings. For evaluation these materials the most important characteristics is their sealing ability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of dye penetration in two common retrofill materials (amalgam and MTA) and compare them with hydroxy apatite in root end surgeries. In this invitro study 69 single root extracted human teeth were used and after instrumentation, they were obturated with lateral condensation. 3 mm of the apical root was resected, and root-end cavities were prepared. Then the teeth were randomly divided into three groups of 20 specimens (white MTA, amalgam and hydroxy apatite). The amount of micro leakage in each group was evaluated by using dye penetration technique. Dye penetration at the rate of 0-0.99mm was considered little, 1-1.99mm moderate, 2-2.99mm severe and 3mm or more extensive. Groups were evaluated and compared. Mean microleakage in the moderate, severe and extensive group for amalgam were 0%, 35% and 65%, MTA 10%, 15% and 75% and hydroxy apatite were 5%, 35% and 50% respectively. There was not significant relationship between the three materials (MTA, hydroxy apatite and amalgam) and the amount of dye penetration. The results showed that hydroxy apatite can be used as a retrofill material and it has no significant difference with amalgam and MTA.

Trichomonas Vaginalis is the most prevalent nonviral agent that causes sexually transmitted disease (STD) in human. This organism causes vaginitis, infertility, preterm labour, premature rupture of membrane and low birth weight. This study was carried out to study the cellular immunity system's response to this infection through evaluation of CD3 and CD4 positive lymphocytes and cytokine interleukin 10 in the patients contaminated with this infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare 65 women having developed clinical symptoms of trichomonasis with control group in terms of age as well as social and economic conditions. They were compared in terms of the number of CD3 and CD4 lymphocytes and IL10 cytokine concentration in their blood. Of 65 women studied, 25 (38.5%) were diagnosed with trichomonas vaginalis infection in the lab scale (vaginal discharge culture). More specifically, the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD3 positive cells) in infected women (79.75±0.7%) was (59.95±10%) higher than in the control group (p≤0.0001). Auxiliary T lymphocytes (CD4 positive cells) in the infected women (67.94±0.96%) were also meaningfully (32.52±0.93%) higher than in the control group (p≤0.0001). Moreover, a meaningful difference was observed in the IL10 serum level between the patient group (119 ±42% pg/ml) and the control group (1.02±0.14% pg/ml). (p≤0.001) Based on the results of this study, cellular immunity plays a significant role in controlling trichomonas vaginalis infections. Therefore, another study with more samples and multi centers for confirmation are strongly recommended.