Tehran University Medical Journal

Although cellular immunity involving activated macrophage is important in resistance to Brucella infections, serum factors and polymorphonuclears (PMNs) play some role in the initial responses to Brucella infections. In this research, we studied respiratory burst of PMNs against opsonized yeast and opsonized inactivated Brucella melitensis in chronic Brucellosis patients and controls with no previous history of Brucellosis. A group of 41 patients and another group of 20 blood donors as control, were included. The other 2 groups included 10 cases and 6 controls. Mean responses of PMNs of patients and controls to opsonized yeast were 110.3 and 129.3 milivolt respectively and the difference was not statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was observed between respiratory burst of PMNs exposed to inactivated Brucella in 10 patients with chronic Brucellosis (Mean 67.2) and 6 control blood donors (Mean 112.5), so we concluded that inactivated Brucella melitensis can't inhibit activity of myeloproxidase enzyme.

Background: The role prophylactic antibiotics in otologic surgery continues to be debated and perhaps misused. Prior studies have provided conflicting evidence with benefits obtained from the use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic otitis media.

Materials and Methods: The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic antibiotics in the wound infection and outcome of surgery for chronic ear disease. It was the authors' impression that there was no difference between topical and systemic antibiotics in such surgery. Patients who met the inclusion criteria (n=193) were randomly assigned to a topical treatment group or a control group receiving only intravenous antibiotics for 1 dose intra operatively and 3 dose there after. Patients were followed post-operatively and observed for clinical evidence of infection, graft failur and hearing status.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence of postoperative infection or graft survival.

Conclusion: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic otitis media can be recommended as an alternative method.