Tehran University Medical Journal

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Listeria infection is still a dominant infectious problem in Iran, particularly in abortion. Looking for a paraclinical technique other than bacterial methods (which is not always available) lead to serological survey indicating estimation anti listeria antibody by Immunoflourescent test. Unfortunately the false positive results due to cross reaction between "listeria monocytogenesis" and certain gram positive cocci, made it an unacceptable technique. Here we performed a test to extract the Listeria M. (Stranin 4a and 1b) soluble antigen and detecting the antibody by counter immunoelectrophoresis (CEI). The results indicated that of four bacterial soluble antigen fractions F1 and F3 were significantly positive with patients sera. We will discuss using the soluble antigen by CEI technique may be helpful to omit the false positive reactions.

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This study has been conducted on the path reports of diagnostic curettage carried out in Mirza koochek-khan hospital during the 6 months of the year 1989 (April to September). The reports examined have been further classified into incompelete abortion, diagnostic currettage and others. A total number of 645 women have had D&C according to the above criteria. In this period of time, incomplete abortion had the highest rate (34% of all D&C's), of which 62.5% were under 20 years of age and 22.6% were primigravida. The ratio of total abortion to the number of deliveries was 9.8% and post-delivery retention of placenta constituted 4.8% of all D&C's, with the highest rate amongst the age group of 15-19 years old, who mostly had home deliveries. The incidence of hydatidiform mole was 3.07 per 1000 deliveries, out of this number, the highest rate (50%) belonged to the age group of 20-24 years old. The above incidence is 6.4 times more than the U.S. incidence and 0.9 times less than the incidence reported in other Asian countries (6, 8, 10). Knowing the complication of unplanned abortion such as perforation of the uterus, infection, hemorrhage, adhesions (synechiae) and secondary sterility, special attention should be paid to the diagnosis of high-risk pregnancies in prenatal clinics.

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We have studied the effect of amitriptyline, a tricyclic anti-depressant drug on several immune parameters of the Balb/c mice in order to evaluate its immunomodulatory effects. Results showed that amitriptyline will potentiates all of the immunocytes functions except for the production of PGE2 by LPS stimulated monocytes. We have also showed that amitriptyline can normalize the immunosuppressive effect of dexamethasone on mice (experimental stress). These results suggest that one of the mechanisms of action of the tricyclic anti-depressant drugs might be through the modulation of the immune system which has been suppressed by stress or distress

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Histiocytic syndromes have been studied and investigated in these recent years for their cell origin, morphology, pathology, histochemical, immuno-phenotype characteristic, and their nomenclature, but the results of all these studies are confusingly, vague and not acceptable for all scientists and pathologists. Histiocytes very in the morphology, duty and their immunological behaviour. In different lesion these cells are in the form of mononuclear, foamy cell, macrophages like plasma cell and giant cell with many nuclei. When considering malignant Histiocyte cells and benign reactive histiocytes are both present in malignant histiocytic lesion, one can recognize the diagnostic problems of the pathologist. Markers for recognizing histiocytes are numerous and are increasing rapidly, in spite of that monoclonal antibody investigation, and genetic molecular method, the results as yet are not satisfactory. We have to accept that the new method are not at all sufficient and we have to look for a better method which is more sensitive to histiocyte for diagnosis of numerous histiocytic syndromes. In this paper, we discuss the difficulties on encountered in the diagnosis, and problem in defining and nomenclature of these syndromes and, some efforts are made to present the most acceptable classification for them

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This article aim is to introduce a case of PAPVC (partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection). The patient was a 25-year-old women who had dyspnea and palpitation. She expressed no special disease, no past medical history, and no drug usage, but her brother and her aunt had the above-mentioned history. In the physical examination, lungs were clear and the heart had S2 splitting, and there was a systolic murmur in the pulmonary area. Her liver could be palpitated two centimeters below the costal edge, but she didn't have any hepatomegaly. In cardiac catheterism, she had PAPVC, atrial septal defect (ASD), and mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The patient underwent operation had left pulmonary vein was separated from the superior vena cava and anastomosed to the left atrial auricle. By means of the pericardial patch, the left atrium became enlarged and ASD was closed. She was in a good condition after surgery and left the hospital without any complication with a good condition and recovery and had no problem any longer.

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Initial management, incidence and review of hydatidiform mole, chorioadenoma and destruens and chorio carcinoma in Mirza Kochek khan hospital department of ob.gyn and gynecology oncology of women's hospital Tehran-Iran school of medicin from September 1985 to March 1990, 209 patients received primary management for hydatidiform mole at oncology department of Mirza Kochek Khan hospital medical school of Tehran Iran. All of these women HAD complete record available for analysis, of these, 167 women bydatidiform mole, 12 patients chorioadenoma-destruens 30 patients chorio carcinoma a survey was made of factors likely to provide an important clinical perspective patient aye and the status of pregnancy were noted. 41 patient only sharp curettage and 55 patients suction curettage to remove the hydatidiform mole. 97 patient require chemo terapy, suction curettage of the uterus is clearly the best means of management in the most cases their eyperince documents that hydatidiform mole is an high risk pregnancy that requires prompt and in tensive management.

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Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and proliferative skin disease that has a wide distribution throughout the world. The immune system plays a critical role in developing this disease. In this survey, we have studied 50 patients suffering from Psoriasis and 50 control subjects for various immunological factors, simultaneously. Anti-stratum corneum (SC) antibody was evaluated by immunofluorescent technique that showed a high significant level of it in patients (P<0.005). The titer of immunoglobulins (IgG, M, and A) measured by radial-immunodiffusion (RID) method was also higher in normal population. CIC estimated by PEG precipitating technique demonstrated high concentration in patients. TNF, a cytokine with strong performance to induce inflammation, had no significant rising amount in patient sera, but in synovial fluid in Psoriasis arthritis may have higher levels. We discuss that due to immunological findings we consider that Psoriasis is probably as an autoimmune disorder. The prevention, treatment and prognosis of the disease may follow the same procedures as other autoimmune diseases and further investigation will be helpful to achieve the above goal

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The purpose of this study was the utilization of different methods of tissue culture in proliferation of epithelial cells and autologous graft to cover surface areas without skin specifically, which is due to thermal burns more than 50%. In this experience we performed from rabbits and success to cover almost 24 times original donor site with autograft.

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Proximal weakness specially in extremitas is a common neurologic symptom of patients, for which the physician should consider toxic, metabolic, infectious and paraneoblastic diseases affecting muscular system as well as primary myopathies. Osteomalacia is one of the most common considerations which is treatable but disabling as its natural course. Osteomalacia is the most often due to VITD or calcium deficiency but work up is necessary to find other primary defects that cause this disease. Renal tubular acidosis is one of these primary defects and osteomalacia secondary to it dose not respond to classic treatment of osteomalacia, so specific management is necessary. In this article we report six patients who have been referred to the clinic of neurology of Imam Khomeini Hospital since 1370 to 1374 with proximal weakness for whom RTA has been diagnosed

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A seventeen-years old woman was presented with infertility and primary amenorrhea. She had normal stature, femate phenotype and normal development of breasts, external genitalia, vagina and cervix. Pelvic examination showed a large lobulated mass. On sonography there was a mass with probable origin of ovary. Paraclinic tests were carried out. Gonadotropins were in postmeno pausal limits. Alpha Fetoprotein, Beta Subunit (B-HCG) assay were normal Laparotomy revealed a gonadat mass on right side, normal uterus and left streak gonad. Pathologic report of tumor was dysgerminoma and teratoma. Due to pathology of tumor and Y chromosome, we advised the patient to remove the other streak gonad and have irradiatio

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The effect and arrangement of cytoskeleton (microtubules, microfilaments and neurofilaments) in neurulation of chick embryo examined by immunoperoxidase method from stage 6 to stage 12. The results were as follows: 1) Microtubules aggregated in the perinuclear region from which they radiated to take longitudinal course beneath the membrane. 2) Microfilaments were aggregated in the apical ends (free-surface) of neural epithelium causing the cells to become flask-shaped. 3) Neurofilaments (Nfs) had no important role in neural tube formation

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It seems, rapid destruction of gram negative bacteria by antibiotics contribute to the clinical deterioration of some patients with lethal endotoxemia. In this research we evaluated LPS (lipopolysaccharide) release during antibiotic killing of salmonella typhi (Ty2-5536). The organism was incubated in the presence of Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin and Co-trimoxazole at concentrations that killed >99.9% of the organisms as determined by quantitative culture techniques. After incubation the antibiotic-bacterial cultures were centrifuged and the supernatants were filtered and collected for "in vivo" and "in vitro" studies. Injection of 1 ml/kg of filtrates in rabbits raised normal temperature of the animals by 1.2°C that it showes the presence of LPS in the filtrates. Quantitative chromogenic limulus amebocyte lyssate (L.A.L) assay was used to determine the amount of LPS in the filtrates. The amount of LPS was 86.67±2.53 Pg/ml for chloramphenicol, 113.33±8.07 Pg/ml for Ampicillin and 134.18±11.59 Pg/ml for Co-trimoxazole. According to our investigation chloramphenicol is the best antibiotic against S.typhi because it decrease the induced-pathological effects of LPS in gram negative infection

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This is a report of 30 cases of pediatric functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). 28 of these children had chronic sinusitis and 2 had acute sinusitis the most common chief complaints were: 1) Chronic Rhinorea 2) Nasal obstruction 3) Chronic cough. Systemic predisposing conditions were allergy in 7 pts and immotile cilliasyndrome in 2 pts, all of the procedures were performed under general anesthesia. The most common procedures were: 1) Resection of lateral part of the middle turbinate. 2) Antrostomy of the maxillary sinus. 3) Turbinoplasty of the inf turbinate. 4) Anterior erhnoidectomy, (Messerklinger, Approach). There were no kajor complication and only 3 cases of minor complication (2=regeneration of polipoid tissues, 1 synechia) occurred. The duration of follow up was from 6-18 mths recovery occurred in 26 pts. Two of the pts didn't respond because of severe allergy and were referred to immunologist for further therapy 2 others didn't respond appropriately because of immotile cilliasyndrome

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A 16 year old woman with Tangier disease in palatine tonsils is reported. She has recurrent sore throat. In physical examination the palatine tonsils are hypertrophied and has very yellowish points. The facial skin is yellowish but the skin of another areas of body is normal. After tonsillectomy the pathologist report Tangier disease in palatine tonsils

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Pain is one of the most important and sometimes difficult problems, that patients and physicians are encountered. It may be clinically acute or chronic, acute pain has usually definite cause and favourable response to treatment. On the other hand there are difficulties in diagnosis and management of chronic pain. Peripheral and cranial nerves convey pain impulses toward central nervous system, and modulations take place at several levels. Diagnosis of different pains, including nociceptive, nerve trunk pain and deafferentation types is essential to acceptable management. In this article we review pain pathway, neurotransmitters and modulation.

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A cross-sectional study was conducted on type II diabetic patients during 1991-1996 in Isfahan. By systemic sampling, 715 patients were enrolled. Variables studied, include: age, gender, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), literacy, smoking habits, hypertension, lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose (FBS), retinopathy, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), proteinuria and type of treatment of diabetes. Prevalence of IHD in males (37.4%) was more than females (32.6%). Logistic regression analysis revealed a direct association between IHD prevalence with age, BMI, hypertension, proteinuria, diabetic retinopathy and type of treatment. Conclusions: 1) The factors mentiond are good predictors of IHD, but genetic influences may also contribute to the risk of IHD. 2) As obesity and BMI are prone to medical manipulation, control of these risk factors may decrease prevalence of IHD.

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Organochlorine pesticides are a group of persistant compounds which have been used for a long time. Due to their stability, some of them such as DDT, BHC and their derivatives are still used in the areas with malaria epidemic condition, hence the chance of food contamination always exists. The present survey demonstrated that human milk is one of the best indicator substances in monitoring the environment and human body contamination by organochlorine compounds. We studied the level of residues in the milk of nursing mothers who could be exposed to these compounds through food chain in their contaminated environment. In this investigation, we collected 40 samples from the nursing mothers of two hospitals located in the north and south of Tehran. Detection was carried out by Gas chromatography (GC) with 3% OV17 column and Ni63 ECD (Electron Capture Detector). Reference substances were obtained from WHO. Results are discussed in the text.

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Only orchiectomy is still commonly used today either as a single therapy or in combination regimens. Hypophysectomy & adrenalectomy showed such devastating effects on the endocrine equilibrium as to be inconsistent with an acceptable quality of life or even with survival. Chemical adrenalectomy was also tried with drugs (eg. aminoglutethmide, spironolactone) leading to consequences superimposable to those of surgical adrenalectomy. Along with orchiectomy, three groups of substances are commonly used today for the hormonal therapy of prostate cancer: estrogens, LHRH agonists & anti androgens. Bilateral orchiectomy removes 90-95% of circulating testosterone. Clinical studies document 60-80% of positive responders to castration, on continued evaluation, relapse occurs usually within 6-24 months in responders, with a death rate of 50% within 6 months. The androgenic activity still remaining after castration may explain the partial & progressively decreasing effectiveness of this & other testosterone reducing therapies. Antiandrogens define substances that act directly at the target site, where interacting with steroid hormone receptors, they impede the binding of androgens. A trend towards the combination of testosterone-reducing & androgen-blocking treatment is developing in modern therapy of prostate cancer. This is due to the complementary characteristics of the two different pharmacological mechanisms that are involved. In this study castration+antiandrogen is compared to castration alone. The results demonstrate a significantly greater percentage of positive objective & subjective responses with antiandrogen than with placebo. In addition survival time was increased in patients treated with castration+antiandrogen than castration+placebo.

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325 female students of Zahedan at the average age of 16.2 years old (16-22) were randomly selected to study the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia. Hb, hematocrit, MCV, MCHC, iron, TIBC and ferritin were measured. Results showed that in the population studied 3.4%, 27.7%, 4.3%, 11.7%, 25.5%, 11.4% had their Hb, MCV, serum iron, tranferrin saturation, ferritin respectively below the WHO standards. The correlation coefficient between Hb, MCV and hematocrit, serum iron was r=0.54, P<0.00001, r=0.38, P<0.00001 respectively. Also the correlation coefficient between transferring saturation, serum iron and ferrin was r=0.94, P<0.00001, r=0.31, P<0.00001 respectively. Our study shows that hematological and biochemical markers of iron status of the young Zahedan girls at puberty are lower than WHO standards and these girls might be at risk of iron deficiency anemia.

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A case-control study was performed by the Research Center of Isfahan University, to determine the predisposing factors of early atherosclerosis. Children of cases admitted to a university hospital in Isfahan with early myocardial infarction (MI) were considered for the study. The affeckted cases (n=116), had 120 children aged 2-14 years. The control group were selected from children of the neighbors of the cases. The two groups were similar in age of parents, children and socio-economic status. Mean cholesterol and triglyceride levels and the frequency of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly higher in the children of MI cases. The mean lipid concentration of the controls was significantly higher than standard levels. These results emphasize the importance of evaluating children of high risk cases for risk factors of MI.