Tehran University Medical Journal

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Beta Thalassemia major patients receive repeated transfusions in order to compensate anemia and use desferal to remove iron overload. Comparing immunoglobulins and complement components in the serum of these patients with normal range shows a significant increase (P<0.001) in IgG, IgA and IgM and a decrease in C3c and C4. The regression analysis confirms a relation between the numbers of transfusions and the mentioned immunological factors that means increasing the number of transfusions, increases immunoglobulins and decreases the complement. Also, this evaluation shows that use of washed RBC and regular in take of desferal will prevent excessive increase of immunoglobulins or decrease of complement

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A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was performed among medical and paramedical students. This study was conducted to assess evaluation of teaching quality of teachers from students' point of view, using a questionnaire administered by interviewers to 21171 students randomly selected among target population. 650 subjects were recorded during the year 1996-1997. The questionnaire was a 14 item, Likert scale designed to measure teaching quality of teachers. The possible score range on the questionnaire was 14 to 70, so the mean score was 42. The scores equal or more than 42 were suggested as "Good teaching quality" and the scores less than 42 considered as "Poor teaching quality". Findings indicated that the mean score and standard deviation on total faculties were, 54.6 and 12.2 respectively. 79.3% have positive point of view of quality teaching. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the influence of faculties on subjects' scores on the questionnaire. A significant main effect of faculties on mean score (F=44.29: P<0.0001) was noted

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Background: Prolonged antiacid and antibiotic usage in gasterointestinal diseases may predispose candidial colonization in GI tract. In order to isolate and diagnose of candida infections in patients with gastritis, duodenitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, this study have been planned.

Methods: We studied 300 biopsy specimens of patients referred to hospital, 51.7% of the patients were male and the others were female. The isolated fungi were identified by direct examination and culture of specimens.

Results: Forthy four cases of yeasts were isolated in this investigation. Isolated yeasts have been identified as follows: 26 cases of C.albicance , I case C.tropicalis, 2 cases of C.krusei, and finally 1 case of unknown yeast.

Conclusion: All the patients had a positive history of long lasting antacid taking for gastric ulser or gastritis. Candidiasis must be investigated in patients with gastritis, duodenitis and gastric ulcer, who are refractory to classic therapies and also in patients who have the chronic disease .

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Background: Rapid tissue growth and development during puberty increases the need for energy and nutrients. On the other hand, the prevalence of obesity is accelerating among adolescents. Controversies exist regarding meal frequency, obesity and adequacy of nutrients in particular, a more frequent snacking pattern has been associated with overconsumption of calories in children and adolescents and also with greater body weight. We investigated the meal frequency of adolescents in relation to meeting nutrient requirements.
Methods: This cross-sectional study, in the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), included 367 boys and girls aged 10-19 years that were randomly selected. Dietary recalls for 48 hours were gathered and participants divided to three groups according to meal frequency group 1, 2 and 3 with <4 meals, 4-6 meals and ≥ 7 meals, respectively. The nutrient intakes were compared with the dietary reference intake (DRI). ANCOVA, Bonferroni and partial correlation by adjusting total energy intake were used for statistical analyses.
Results: The mean age of these 169 boys and 198 girls was 14±3 years old. The weight of the first group was higher by one-third in boys (54±18 vs. 45±13 kilogram, p<0.05). There were no other significant differences in anthropometric indices of the studied subjects, nor was there any difference in the vegetable and meat intake between the groups. But the first group had lower intake of fruits and milk groups (p<0.01). Individuals in all three groups had inadequate intake of calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, pyridoxine compared with the DRI, although the vitamin C and riboflavin intakes were adequate. Higher meal frequency was associated with sufficient intake of magnesium, vitamin C, riboflavin and pyridoxine.
Conclusion: Adolescents tend to have inadequate intakes of calcium, pyridoxine, zinc, copper, all of which are essential for health and proper growth. Increasing the number of meals per day, without increasing energy intake could help to boost the quality of the diet.

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Background: Hyperhydrosis, excessive sweating, can profoundly affect the quality of life of the patient, with severe impairment of daily activities, social relationships and occupational activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of thoracoscopic sympathectomy in patients with palmar hyperhydrosis.

Methods: In a clinical trial at Imam Khomeini, Milad and Velenjak Hospitals from 2003 to 2006, 33 patients older than five years of age with palmar hyperhydrosis underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy of T₂ and T₃ ganglions. The variables regarding operation duration, length of hospital stay and early post-op complications were recorded. In addition, the quality of life of the patients was evaluated using the DLQI questionnaire, while the satisfaction of the patients was evaluated using the visual analogue scale before, immediately after and six months after the operation.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 23 years and 63.6% of our patients were female. The sites of hyperhydrosis were hand, foot and armpit in 72.7% of the patients. In 90.91% of the cases, disease onset occurred during childhood and 78.79% of the patients had a family history of hyperhydrosis. Hyperhydrosis impaired function and had social, interpersonal and emotional effects in 72.7% of the cases. The mean duration of the operation was 40.3 minutes and the mean hospital stay was 1.45 days. The most common early post-op complications were atelectasis (7.57%), short-term pulmonary complications (3.03%) and pleural effusion (3.03%). Compensatory hyperhydrosis occurred in 60% of the cases, while 18.75% experienced gustatory sweating. Palms were reported to be totally dry immediately after and six months after the operation in 81.82% of the cases, while 18.18% reported acceptable levels of perspiration. The mean level of satisfaction immediately after and six months after the procedure was 0.81. All patients felt improvement in all aspects of their lives immediately after and six months after the operation. In terms of quality of life, the mean of DLQI score was significantly lower immediately after and six months after operation (18.78 ± 501 vs. 1.60 ± 0.81 and 1.64 ± 1), indicating that symptoms had less effect on the patients' lives. All patients were willing to re-experience the operation if necessary.

Conclusion: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for palmar hyperhydrosis with a great rate of success and a slight chance of complica-tions. This operation results in a remarkable improvement in various aspects of the patients' lives. Willingness to re-experience the operation indicates the high degree of satisfaction.

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