Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:9 Issue: 2, Mar & Apr 2004

There is no information on renal size and its relation to age, sex and height in the area of Isfahan. The aim of this study was to define sonographically measured absolute renal lengths and their relations to height in normal Isfahani adults. 400 healthy Isfahani subjects aged 20 to 69 years with normal blood pressure, no history of renal disease in them or their first degree relatives and with normal sonographic appearance were chosen in 2002-2003. The study was cross-sectional. With real-time sonography, absolute renal length was measured. Four hundred healthy adults (230 men and 170 women) aged 20 to 69 years (39.6 ± 13.6 year) were evaluated. The length of left kidney was longer than the right one (111 ± 9.8 mm vs. 109 ± 8.4 mm in right kidney; P < 0.01). Renal length was significantly greater in males compared to females (P < 0.01). Renal length decreased with age and the rate of decrease was accelerated at the age of 60 years and older. There was a significant correlation between kidney length and the subject''s height (P < 0.01). The result of this study shows the normal values for renal length in Iranian males and females, which may be helpful in assessing the size of patients’ kidneys in different clinical settings.

Congenital Rubella syndrome is a public health problem in many developing countries which has not yet been sufficiently put into account. There is an urgent need for collecting appropriate data to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a potential global Rubella control program. This study was conducted to determine susceptibility to Rubella in women who are going to marry or consult for pregnancy. This study began in 1997 and ended in 2000. The study was analytic descriptive and prospective. Eight hundred and thirty eight women who referred for premarriage tests or counselling for conception were included. According to antibody levels, test results were reported as immune and non-immune (susceptible) for every individual. Among 838 cases, 253 women (30.1%) were non-immune (susceptible) and 585 women (69.9%) were immune. The educational status of the two groups were recorded. Analysis of data showed that the higher the educational level (62.2% for University degree holder), the lower the immunity against Rubella would be (75.2% for unfinished high school individuals). Furthermore, immunity in the younger group was higher (73.9% in 30 years). More than one third of pre marriage and pre conceptional women were non-immune (susceptible) to Rubella, so health providers should be aware of Rubella prevention and control in childbearing age via screening and vaccination. Immunity against Rubella can vary over time and the socioeconomic status is believed to play an important role in the level of immunity.

Annually, millions of people are affected by traumatic brain injuries which cause long - lasting sequels such as cognitive or motor system dysfunctions. Methylphenidate, a neurostimulant drug, has been proposed as a therapeutic agent in brain injuries. Unlike previous reports, new studies have shown more benefits from its use in traumatic brain injuries. This clinical trial was going to define the value of methylphenidate use in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. A double blind, randomized clinical trial was implemented. 60 patients, hospitalized in Intensive Care Units, were randomly put into treatment and control groups. In the treatment group, methylphenidate was administered 5 mg daily, from day 5 to 9 of their hospitalization and 10 mg daily thereafter. Normal Saline was administered as placebo to control patients. All the patients were followed by monitoring these parameters: vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and brain function. Physicians, who were responsible for patients’ monitoring, did not know patients’ status of drug reception (drug or placebo). During the first day GCS in the treated group was 5.43 ±1.52 and in the control patients was 5.37±1.30 (P = 0.87). After 14 days, GCS was 14 ± 0.66 and 10.37 ± 2.13 in treated and control patients, respectively (P < 0.05). This study confirmed the results of similar recent studies done during the past 5 years. They found improved brain functions using methylphenidate in traumatic brain injuries.

Stress is one of the risk factors for the development of so many physical and especially psychological disorders. Now, the impression is focused on coping strategies versus previous emphasis on nature and severity of stress. The present study was performed to evaluate if fasting, not only as a religious behavior but also as a coping strategy can influence the way of coping with stress in humans. In a pre-test / post-test survey, 100 medical students were evaluated for stress coping strategies before and after the holy month of Ramadan using CS-R scale. The results revealed that the use of ineffective coping strategies was significantly decreased after the holy month with no alterations in other strategies. In details, uses of superstitiousness, wishful thinking and self-medication coping strategies were statistically lower after Ramadan compared to values before it (P < 0.05). The present study showed that Ramadan fasting (a religious behavior or belief) as a coping strategy has beneficial effect on the way of coping with stress in humans.

Anticardiolipin antibody(aCL)has been recognized as a marker for increased risk of Cerebral Vein Thrombosis (CVT). However, there are only rare reports on CVT associated with other antibodies against different phospholipids such as phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidic acid and beta 2 glycoprotein I. In this study, we studied the presence of these antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), demographic and clinical characteristics in 30 patients with CVT. After diagnosis of CVT in 30 patients with MRI, we measured the titer of aCL and aPL (IgM and IgG) in all cases. The titers of IgG and IgM type of aPL and aCL were estimated in the sera. Anticardiolipin antibody was solely detected in 20% (n=6) and aCL and other aPL in 23.3% (n=7) of patients, indicating one patient positive for other aPL but not for aCL (non-aCL). Although the aPL positive group did not differ from the aPL-negative group from the stand point of clinical and demographic characteristics, yet seizure, infarct, superficial veins and sinus involvement and the use of OCP were seen more frequently in aPL-positive group Our findings suggest that in addition to aCL, other antiphospholipid antibodies may be an associated condition that plays a role in the pathogenesis of CVT. The presence of aPL in CVT patients is probably associated with more superficial sinus or veins involvement and as a result death rate was lower in aPL- positive group. Further investigations are necessary to establish this hypothesis.

Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is one of the most frequent and difficult to treat obstetric problems. Different drugs and techniques have been suggested for its treatment with variable success rates. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of prednisolone with promethazine for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. Fifty six pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum were randomly divided into two groups to receive either prednisolone or promethazine orally. Severity of nausea and vomiting, severity of malaise, body weight and serum electrolytes were measured and compared before and after treatment. The severity of nausea and vomiting decreased significantly in both groups, but the decrease was significantly higher in the prednisolone group. The result of this study shows that oral prednisolone is a better choice for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of EDTA and citric acid on smear layer removal in different regions of root canals. In this study, mesial roots of 48 freshly extracted human mature mandibular first molar teeth with curved mesial roots of about 15-45 degrees and lengths of 20-23 mm were used. Instrumentation was done using the crown down technique by hand and rotary filing. Irrigant used during instrumentation was NaOCl. The teeth were divided in three groups. The mesial canals of teeth were irrigated by 17% EDTA in group I, 7% citric acid in group II and 5.25% NaOCl in group III as the control group. Then, the mesial roots were split in to two parts and studied under scanning electron microscopy. The degree of cleanliness by 17% EDTA and 7% citric acid were 96.55% and 95% respectively. Although both solutions seem to be appropriate, their difference was statistically significant (P

Conventional Lithium carbonate (LC) tablets produce rapid and relatively high peak blood levels resulting in adverse effects. These drawbacks can be overcome by designing a suitable sustained or controlled-release LC preparation. Sustained-release matrix tablets were therefore developed using different types and ratios of polymers including carbomer (CP), Na carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), to assess the release profiles and in vivo performance of the formulations. The tablets were prepared by either direct compression (DC) or wet granulation (WG). In the DC method, 69% (450 mg) LC, 5, 10 or 15% CP or Na CMC (of total tablet weight), lactose and /or Avicel (to maintain constant tablet weight) were mixed and directly compressed. In the WG method, 450 mg LC and 10, 20, or 30% HPMC were granulated with Eudragit S100 solution, dried, and then compressed to formulate the tablets. In vitro and in vivo, newly formulated sustained-release LC tablets were compared with sustained-release commercial tablets (Eskalith and Priadel). In vivo studies were conducted in nine healthy subjects in a cross-over design, with a 3x3 Latin square sequence, and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using classical methods. The matrix tablets containing 15% CP exhibited suitable release kinetics and uniform absorption characteristics comparable to that of Eskalith. In vivo, this formulation produced a smooth and extended absorption phase very much similar to that of Eskalith with the identical elimination half-life and extent of absorption. The matrix tablets containing 15% CP reduces the incidence of side effects often associated with high serum concentration of Lithium and blood level variations. Direct correlation between the dissolution profiles and the relative bioavailability of the formulations could be observed.

There is a relationship between dental caries and high blood sugar. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among diabetic children in Isfahan, Iran. Diabetic children from pediatric ward of hospitals were compared to a control healthy group of children. The mean DMFT was significantly higher in diabetic children compared to the control group. The result of this study confirms previous researches on prevalence of dental caries in children.

Oral lesions of TB have frequently been reported but its probable association with arteritis has rarely been noted. A 57 year old woman is presented here with chronic headache associated with oral lesion of TB.