مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 227 (هفته اول اردیبهشت 1392)

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Considering the importance of sex cells in reproduction and transmission of hereditary traits, in this study, the effects of lithium were investigated onto the level of testosterone, gonadotropins, testis tissue, and spermatogenesis.

An experimental study was performed on 16 rats in two groups. The experimental group was intraperitoneally injected with 180 mg/kg/body weight of lithium carbonate solution for 40 days. The control group did not receive any medicine. The testes were removed, fixed in 10% formalin, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and the collected data was analyzed.

LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Weight and length of the testes and weight of epididymis showed significant reductions in the experimental group compared to the controls. Significantly fewer spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and spermatid were seen in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.001). However, the two groups were not significantly different in terms of testis width or the number of Sertoli cells.

Lithium must be cautiously prescribed by considering each patient’s test results, dose of drug, and duration of use.

Stress urinary incontinence, the most common urinary incontinence in women, occurs when the intra-abdominal pressure increases. Although many studies have introduced normal vaginal delivery as a risk factor for future stress urinary incontinence and considered cesarean as a preventive method, others have raised controversy about such a predictive effect. This study evaluated the frequency of stress urinary incontinence in primiparous mothers giving birth in Shahid Beheshti Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) to understand the effects of type of delivery on developing the condition. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 women in three groups of normal vaginal delivery, elective cesarean, and emergency cesarean. The subjects had given birth in Shahid Beheshti Hospital within six months prior to the study. Stress urinary incontinence was assessed with the Bonney test. The overall frequency of stress urinary incontinence was 5.6%. It was 6.0%, 4.0%, and 7.0% among women with normal vaginal delivery, elective cesarean, and emergency cesarean, respectively (P = 0.41). No significant relation was observed between the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence and type of delivery.

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), a milk-transmitted retrovirus, is considered to be involved in the development of breast tumors in mice. Although several previous studies have identified MMTV-like sequences in human breast cancer, the presence of human endogenous retrovirus (HERs) makes these results controversial, i.e. the role of MMTV in breast cancer has never been definitely proven. In addition, various results have been reported in this regard from different countries. We selected MMTV envelope (Env) gene sequences to eliminate the effects of HERs.

In this case-control study, DNA was extracted from 59 paraffin-embedded malignant tumor tissues and 59 normal control samples. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to detect MMTV Env-like sequences.

MMTV genome was detected in 19 malignant breast samples (32%) and three normal control samples (5%) (P < 0.001).

Based on our findings, MMTV can play a major role in the development of breast cancer in Iranian women. According to PCR results, the obtained sequences had 99% homology with BR6 strain of MMTV and 100% homology with GR and C3H strains.

It was previously believed that insulin only has environmental performance and is not capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier or affecting the central nervous system. However, it is now clear that insulin and its receptors are present in the central nervous system. This hormone not only passes the blood-brain barrier, but may also be synthesized by neurons in the brain. As a neuropeptide, insulin is involved in the development and function of the nervous system. Deficiency of this hormone or dysfunction of its central receptors causes serious damage to cognitive processes including learning and memory. Such effects might be due to the non-metabolic effects of insulin. This study reviewed the role of insulin in neuronal processes.