Tehran University Medical Journal

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Persistent air leaks occur after Spontaneous pneumothorax both primary and secondary, and after lungs trauma and lung surgeries are sever problems encountered chest surgeons with. Persistent air leak causes longer patients hospitalization.

Materials and Methods: We used autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak for 30patients with more than 8 days air leaks, during a three years period 1377-1380 (1999-2002).

Results: The patients had 19 years up to 70 years old. Eight patients had thoracotomy and lobectomy and /or segmentectomies 6 with primary pneumothorax, 10 with secondary pneumothorax, and four with penetrated or blunt thoracic traumas. Blood was obtained from femoral or brachial veins and 70-150 mis. Injected in chest tubes. Chest bottle was first lied 80cm higher than body levels. After 24 hours repositioned in normal levels, and patients were supervised. Via chest tube we injected blood 70-100ml.for young patients, and 100-150 ml for older patients into intra pleural space. There were no clamped chest tubes. There were no pain, respiratory distress, fever, or cough in pleurodesized patients. The only patient's complaint was local pain in femoral vein or brachial vein because blood sampling and blood obtaining, although there was no local visible complication as hematoma or bleeding. After 48 hours in 24 patients air leak ceased. In six patients because persistent air leak autologous blood pleurodesis repeated, two patients after 48hours air leak ceased, remaining four patients underwent for thoracotomies, success rate was 86.6%.

Conclusion: According above success rate we suggest autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak is a reliable, effective, and no complicated procedure for persistent air leaks.

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Persistent air leaks occur after Spontaneous pneumothorax both primary and secondary, and after lungs trauma and lung surgeries are sever problems encountered chest surgeons with. Persistent air leak causes longer patients hospitalization.
Materials and Methods: We used autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak for 30patients with more than 8 days air leaks, during a three years period 1377-1380 (1999-2002).
Results: The patients had 19 years up to 70 years old. Eight patients had thoracotomy and lobectomy and /or segmentectomies 6 with primary pneumothorax, 10 with secondary pneumothorax, and four with penetrated or blunt thoracic traumas. Blood was obtained from femoral or brachial veins and 70-150 mis. Injected in chest tubes. Chest bottle was first lied 80cm higher than body levels. After 24 hours repositioned in normal levels, and patients were supervised. Via chest tube we injected blood 70-100ml.for young patients, and 100-150 ml for older patients into intra pleural space. There were no clamped chest tubes. There were no pain, respiratory distress, fever, or cough in pleurodesized patients. The only patient's complaint was local pain in femoral vein or brachial vein because blood sampling and blood obtaining, although there was no local visible complication as hematoma or bleeding. After 48 hours in 24 patients air leak ceased. In six patients because persistent air leak autologous blood pleurodesis repeated, two patients after 48hours air leak ceased, remaining four patients underwent for thoracotomies, success rate was 86.6%.
Conclusion: According above success rate we suggest autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak is a reliable, effective, and no complicated procedure for persistent air leaks.

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Persistent air leaks occur after Spontaneous pneumothorax both primary and secondary, and after lungs trauma and lung surgeries are sever problems encountered chest surgeons with. Persistent air leak causes longer patients hospitalization.
Materials and Methods: We used autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak for 30patients with more than 8 days air leaks, during a three years period 1377-1380 (1999-2002).
Results: The patients had 19 years up to 70 years old. Eight patients had thoracotomy and lobectomy and /or segmentectomies 6 with primary pneumothorax, 10 with secondary pneumothorax, and four with penetrated or blunt thoracic traumas. Blood was obtained from femoral or brachial veins and 70-150 mis. Injected in chest tubes. Chest bottle was first lied 80cm higher than body levels. After 24 hours repositioned in normal levels, and patients were supervised. Via chest tube we injected blood 70-100ml.for young patients, and 100-150 ml for older patients into intra pleural space. There were no clamped chest tubes. There were no pain, respiratory distress, fever, or cough in pleurodesized patients. The only patient's complaint was local pain in femoral vein or brachial vein because blood sampling and blood obtaining, although there was no local visible complication as hematoma or bleeding. After 48 hours in 24 patients air leak ceased. In six patients because persistent air leak autologous blood pleurodesis repeated, two patients after 48hours air leak ceased, remaining four patients underwent for thoracotomies, success rate was 86.6%.
Conclusion: According above success rate we suggest autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak is a reliable, effective, and no complicated procedure for persistent air leaks.

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Persistent air leaks occur after Spontaneous pneumothorax both primary and secondary, and after lungs trauma and lung surgeries are sever problems encountered chest surgeons with. Persistent air leak causes longer patients hospitalization.
Materials and Methods: We used autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak for 30patients with more than 8 days air leaks, during a three years period 1377-1380 (1999-2002).
Results: The patients had 19 years up to 70 years old. Eight patients had thoracotomy and lobectomy and /or segmentectomies 6 with primary pneumothorax, 10 with secondary pneumothorax, and four with penetrated or blunt thoracic traumas. Blood was obtained from femoral or brachial veins and 70-150 mis. Injected in chest tubes. Chest bottle was first lied 80cm higher than body levels. After 24 hours repositioned in normal levels, and patients were supervised. Via chest tube we injected blood 70-100ml.for young patients, and 100-150 ml for older patients into intra pleural space. There were no clamped chest tubes. There were no pain, respiratory distress, fever, or cough in pleurodesized patients. The only patient's complaint was local pain in femoral vein or brachial vein because blood sampling and blood obtaining, although there was no local visible complication as hematoma or bleeding. After 48 hours in 24 patients air leak ceased. In six patients because persistent air leak autologous blood pleurodesis repeated, two patients after 48hours air leak ceased, remaining four patients underwent for thoracotomies, success rate was 86.6%.
Conclusion: According above success rate we suggest autologous blood pleurodesis in patients with persistent air leak is a reliable, effective, and no complicated procedure for persistent air leaks.

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Carnitine is a water-soluble quaternary amine which increases the long-chain fatty acid metabolism by facilitation of their transport to the oxidation site (mitochondria). Carnitine most likely is present in all animal species, in many microorganisms, and in many plants. In this study, we determined the carnitine level of sera in pregnant and non-pregnant women by segade modified method. Average concentration of carnitine in the sera of fifty pregnant women was about 25/83 umol/I: First trimester-30.96 umol/I. Second trimester-29.11 umol/I. Third trimester-25.11 umol/I. concentration of cholesterol and triglyceride in the above-mentioned group was the following: Cholesterol: 258.84 mg/dl triglyceride: 267.02 mg/dl. The above values show that the carnitine level in sera of pregnant women decreases significantly and this decrease is tolerated well by pregnant women. According to our results, the serum carnitine concentration in pregnant women gradually decreases as gestation proceeds. So that the end of this period, is half of its concentration before conception. During pregnancy, there was an inverse correlation between carnitine level and that of cholesterol and triglycerides. Decrease in carnitine concentration and increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be due to the following factors: 1) Increase in FFA oxidation in pregnancy. 2) Hormones. 3) Dilution of the blood. 4) Decrease in Fe storage in pregnant women.

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Results of some cancer researches show that a number of hormones in ceratin tumors are growing up. Often, the majority of these hormones are produced by tumor cells or by an unknown origin in the neoplastic area. Also, it is clear that some of these ectopic hormones are produced only by specific tumors. In addition, different effects of these abnormally produced hormones on the immune system are shown in recent years. Thus, we decided to study the hormonal status of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. The results of this study showed that the LH and FSH levels in the majority of patients are rising above normal while testosterone level in many of them is decreased. In the next step, we are going to study the immunological effects of LH, FSH, and testosterone one the lymphocyte function in vitro.

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During April, 1991 and September, 1993, eighteen patients with major thalassemia admitted to Shariati BMT center. Seventeen patients were transplanted were from HLA identical siblings and one from. his HLA identical father. Eleven of the donors were the known cases of minor thalassemia. The range of patients' age was within 3-10 years (with the average of 5 years and 11 months). Among them, seven patients were male and eleven were female. As the other international BMT centers, we classified our patients into three classes. Our criteria for this classification were hepatomegaly, ferretin, and liver fibrous 60% of our patients were put in class I and 40% in class II. All of our patients revealed a GVHD (severe graft vs. host disease) three weeks post-BMT as pruritus, diarrhea, and skin erythema especially in hands and feet. Two of the patients showed severe GVHD. One of the patients had chimerism after BMT. Although one year after BMT has passed, the patients is still depended on blood transfusion. One patient, despite graft rejection, died nine months post-BMT another one died after +70 due to GVHD. During 2.5 years, the overall graft survival rate was 88% in our center

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Many years ago the treatment of sarcoma was radiotherapy up to 2000-4000 rad. This treatment was very complicated, due to producing neoplasm after radiotherapy. By this method of treatment of osteosarcoma, the rate of survival became about 20% (two years). The second method of treatment was chemotherapy for a period of 2-5 weeks that amputation was performed afterwards. By chemotherapy, the rate of being alive reached up to 25-27% (five years). Right now, the best treatment for sarcoma is limb salvage. In our report, the chance of being alive in chondrosarcoma was about four years. This was nearly the same as that of the other institutes in the world especially in America, Europe, and Japan. The rate of recurrence was also more than that from different parts of the world. The survival rate in osteosarcomatic patients was about two years less for males the females, and it was more in tall people than short ones. The survival rate of the patients with giant cell tumor was more than osteosarcoma up to five years, and it has no recurrence or metastasis

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IgD myeloma is very rate. It differs from multiple myeloma of other classes in several aspects and its laboratory diagnosis may be difficult, as total plasma protein concentration is often normal, and a paraprotein peak may not be easily demonstrable by the conventional electrophoretic techniques. We report here two cases of IgD myeloma investigated in this laboratory. Immunochemical, biochemical, and hematological studies were carried out: Serum total protein values were within normal range. Quatitation of serum immunoglobulins revealed a decrease in the level of IgG, IgA, and IgM. Bence Jones proteinuria of l type was present in both patients. Serum immunoelectrophoresis, using specific antisera, showed the presence of IgD l paraprotein the diagnosis of IgD myeloma was made after further investigations. Our findings indicate that all patients who have been suspected to have multiple myeloma should be investigated for IgD and IgE myeloma

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The treatment of choice for bladder tumors is TUR, but because of high incidence of recurrence in these tumors, various treatments are suggested. In one study, 32 patients involved with superficial T.C.C. of bladder selected and divided in two equal groups. In the first group, after T.U.R, 10 million IU of a alpha-interferon was injected into the bladder through a catheter and in the other group, after TUR, they treated with injection of BCG into bladders. The results of these two drugs in prevention of recurrence and their side effects were studied and compaired

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A 30 years old female presented with dyspenea, tachycardia and post sternal pain of one year ago in ECG and echocardiography pericardial effusion is suggested there was a large mass M.20×12×5 cm in mediastinum in thymic zone and thymus was not present. The mass was well circumbscribed and encapsulated without invasion to other viscera. The pathology reported as a thymolipoma

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Ito cell (Fat Storing Cell=FSC) is one of the cells which forms the liver sinusoidal wall it also forms the connective tissue of the liver. The cell was first identified in 1963 by a scientist named Ito. It will get damaged due to the plasma fat increase which is resulted from a diet of corn oil 10% and fish oil 10% the damage wil be in form of fat storing cell. The FSC morphology may represent the damage to the liver tissue. The biopsy of an infant's liver reveals that, Ito cell has a very small cell body which contains a core in the middle occupying 2/3 of the area of cytoplasm its basal cytoplasm is hollow and very clear. This study indicated that not only the ultrastructure of Ito cell is circular and three dimensional, but also its presence may show the damage to the liver tissue.

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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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In this study, 1600 pregnant women who had referred to two prenatal clinics (Imam Khomeini and Mirza Kochek-Khan) were investigated. Ninety cases of asymptomatic bacteriuria were observed 77 of those cooperated with us until the end of our study. The subjects, who were within the 14-36 weeks of gestational age, were randomly divided into two groups: Group A received the medicine (Amoxicillin) in a single-dose (3gr.) and, group B received it within seven days (1gr. TDS). The rate of recovery (65% in group A and 56.8% in group B), based on chi-squared test, showed no significant difference (P=0.747%). According to the results of this study, we can conclude that single-dose treatment has the same value as a seven-day treatment and the advantages such as decreased total dose, lower cost, and a better patient compliance.

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Association of Helicobacter pylori with pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders (including gastritis in children with special endoscopic anteronodular) have significant importance in prognosis of infection resulting from this bacteria in children. However, in this research it was found that there is significant and clear correlation between nodular anteritis (in endoscopy) and active presence of lymphoid follicle (in histology findings with replacement of H.pylori) was noticed in children. In this research 14 persons (34.1%) out of total patients were positive. The average age of positive H.pylori patients was clearly higher than negative H.pylori patients. So increase of possible infection occurrence together with increase of age in children was confirmed. Meanwhile, there is significant relationship between presence of bacteria and clinical symptoms particularly epigastric pain, vomiting, and nausea. One of the other results of this study was confirming the relationship between history of gastrointestinal disorders in immediate family members and infection resulting from H.pylori in patients.

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Studies were undertaken to evaluate content of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, CH50 and proteines of sera from 53 drug addicts by immunological methods. Results shows an increase of IgG and no significant variatrion in the level of other Ig(S). In the same time we have seen an augmentation of gamma globuline in the protein electrophoresis pattern. The level of C3 and C4 of complement component rest unchanged.

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Alpha-interferon therapy has been approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis C and B. Candidates for treatment are patients with well-compensated liver disease and histologic evidences of chronic hepatitis who have demonstrated abnormal aminotransferase levels for more than 6 months. From 30 patients with chronic hepatitis with diseases prolonged more than 6 months, we selected only 16 patients with necessary criteria for interferon therapy (10 patients with chronic HBV and with evidence of viral replication, and 6 patients with chronic HCV). Dose of interferon used for hepatitis B was 5mu TIW for 16 weeks and for hepatitis C was 3mu TIW for 24 weeks. At the end of treatment, HbeAg was eliminated from 3 patients. From 10 patients chosen, from none of them the HBsAg was not eliminated at the end of 4 months treatment. In comparison with 10% elimination of HBsAg in treated groups that have been reported in other countries, our results demonstrated that interferon therapy is less effective in Asian patients in comparison with western patients.

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The present survey covers a number of 91 Iranian repatriated war prisoners who, six months after their freedom, approached three psychiatric clinics in Tehran during 1989 and spring 1990. Of these, 34 persons (37.4%) who showed higher symptoms of disorders were hospitalized and 57 (62.6%) who showed milder signs of disorders were carefully diagnosed mentally and psychologically as outpatients. The prevalent disorders revealed by this study were adjustment disorders (48.3%), mood disorders (22%), schizophrenia (11%), anxiety disorder (9.9%) and organic mental disorders (7.7%). The survey showed statistically the existence of a meaningful relation between the disorder severity with such factors as negative opinion of the prisoner's family on his going to the war front, and observance of martyrdom of co-fighters by the patient. However, no significant relation was observed between the severity of disorders and such factors as being involuntarily dispatched to the front, duration of captivity, type of being captive (singular or in group), having a previous record of solitary imprisonment, observing the treason of co-fighters during his captivity.

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In the past years, there was a tendency to excise the patella in pathologic conditions affecting this bone. The patella has many critical effects in the function of the knee joint. For example, after its exicision the force of quadriceps muscle decreases by forty percent (40%) and the knee joint becomes prone to early osteoarthritic changes. For these reasons, in the recent years the "biologic resurfacing of patella" has been used in pathologic conditions instead of its complete removal. In this new method after resection of the diseased part of the bone, the fascia of the quadriceps muscle, with its intact base, is used to cover the resected part of the bone. In practice, after pain relief, the active motion of the joint is started. Then the limb is placed in a splint or brace and after a period of 3 weeks, passive motion is begun.

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We report our experience with 124 patients were referred 70 our urology clinic in Sina hospital for urinary retention. Serum PSA analyzed by using a monoclonal assay. All patients underwent digital rectal examination. The patients devided in 3 groups: Group 1 (87 men) with a serum PSA level less than 4 ng/ml, group 2 (26 men) with a serum PSA level 4-10 ng/ml and group 3 (11 men) with a serum PSA level greater than 10 ng/ml. After prostate biopsy and trans urethral resection or open prostatectomy, of the 87 men in group 1, one man had cancer of the prostate, of the 26 men in group 2, 2 men had cancer of the prostate and of the 11 men in group 3, 9 men had prostate cancer.