Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the major etiological factors of permanent kidney impairment, resulting in renal scarring and severe and pernicious side effects, such as arterial hypertension and renal failure. The purpose of this study was to clarify the impression of renal parenchyma involvement by first UTI (on the basis of acute DMSA scan) and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR-on the basis of VCUG/ RNC) on the renal scar formation (on the basis of late DMSA scan).

Methods: Children diagnosed with their first UTI at the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, were evaluated. For each patient, we recorded age, sex, results of VCUG/RNCs and acute DMSA scan, as well as those of a late DMSA scan performed 4-6 months later. The results of acute and late DMSA scans were compared along with the results of VCUG/RNCs.

Results: This study included a total of 103 children, of whom 16 (15.5%) were boys and 87 (84.5%) were girls. The mean age was 27.2±27.7 months. The frequency of renal scars in kidneys with mild (28.6%, 8.7%) and moderate (33.3%, 18.2%) pyelonephritis with or without VUR was not significantly different, while the frequency of renal scars in kidneys with severe pyelonephritis (84.6%, 23.1%) in the presence of VUR was significantly higher than non-refluxing kidneys with severe pyelonephritis (p=0.005). Furthermore, the frequency of renal scars in refluxing kidneys increased significantly with the severity of pyelonephritis (normal 8.3%, mild 28.6%, moderate 33.3%, and severe 84.6% p=0.001). This pattern was not significant in non-refluxing kidneys (0%, 10.3%, 18.2%, and 23.1%, respectively p=0.062).

Conclusion: The present study indicates that the incidence of renal scarring increases with pyelonephritis severity in patients with VUR. Furthermore, we can estimate the risk of renal scar formation from the results of acute DMSA scan and VCUG/RNC.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: This study was designed to explore the contribution of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with indication for coronary angiography. Coronary angiography is defined as the radiographic visualization of the coronary vessels after injection of radio opaque contrast media. Despite the recognition of risk factors for CAD, the association between related risk factors and angiographic findings remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between Gensini scores and major cardiovascular risk factors in patients with indications for coronary angiography.
Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 495 patients who had been hospitalized at Dr. Shariati Hospital during September 2009 to September 2010 and had undergone coronary angiography. The patients were evaluated for the severity of coronary lesions on the angiogram by Gensini scoring system. The patients were also evaluated for the presence or absence of DM, hypertension, family history of cardiac diseases, low HDL, hyperlipoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and cigarette smoking. Statistical analysis wad done to find any relationship between Gensini scores and cardiovascular risk factors.
Results: The study population consisted of 249 men (50.3%) and 245 woman (49.5%) with a mean age of 58.1±10.3 years. A positive correlation was found between age (P=0.04), sex (P=0.008), HDL (P=0.04) smoking (P=0.0001) and diabetes (P<0.013) with Gensini scores.
Conclusion: In patients with indications of angiography, Gensini scores provide valuable prognostic information on cardiovascular risk factors. Age, sex, HDL, smoking and diabetes are related to the severity of coronary lesions on the angiograms.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Too many studies are in the process of determining the probable role of immune system in the etiopathogenesis of nasal polyposis. This study was designed to identify the probable participation of Th1, Th2 lymphocytes in the induction and progression of nasal polyposis.
Methods:  Seventy-five patients, 42 male and 33 female, with nasal polyposis were examined for total serum IgE, specific serum IgE and reaction to skin test for differentiating allergic from non-allergic participants in Rasoul Akram Hospital during 2010. To determine the possible correlation of allergic reactions in the upper respiratory tract and nasal polyposis, cytokine gene expression was evaluated on the extracted RNA by RT-PCR. The data were analyzed by using c², independent t-test, correlation and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results:  The mean age of participants was 38 years (18-81 years). IFN-γ and IL-4 gene expressions were more prevalent in allergic than non-allergic individuals (IFN-γ: 39.5% vs. 14.2%, P=0.3 and IL-4: 44.7% vs. 18.9%, P=0.02, respectively). IL-10 and IL-12 (P35 and P40 fractions) genes were not significantly different between the two groups. IL-10 and IL-12 (P35, P40) genes did not differ significantly either.
Conclusion: This research suggests that overproduction of cytokines and an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cell production may play an important role in the pathophysiology of allergic or non-allergic nasal polyp formation. Thus, although nasal polyposis is a multifactorial disease with several different etiological factors, chronic persistent inflammation is undoubtedly a major factor irrespective of the etiology.

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Background: Staphylococcus aureus secretes numerous superantigenes which trigger the inflammatory mechanisms of sinus mucosa and cause chronic rhino-sinusitis. This study was designed to evaluate the role of staphylococcus aureus superantigens in polyp tissues of patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis in comparison with a control group.
Methods: Polyp tissue samples of 28 patients and mucosal specimens of 19 healthy individuals were evaluated for staphylococcus aureus bacterium superantigens, exotoxins A, B, C and D and TSST-1 with RT-PCR and ELISA methods Rasoul Akram Hospital during 2 years.
Results: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results revealed that 88.2% of the patients and 45.5% of the controls had at least one type of superantigen (P=0.03). Evaluation of superantigens using ELISA method showed presence of at least one type of superantigen in the nasal samples of all patients and in 35.3% of the controls (P<0.001).
Conclusion: A relationship between staphylococcal superantigens and nasal polyps is concluded from this study which indicates the probable role of these superantigens in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.

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Background: Nasal polyp (NP) is a benign mucosal mass located in both sinuses and nares which is mostly seen in association with cystic fibrosis, asthma or oversensitivity to aspirin. The prominent histological feature of NP is inflammatory cell infiltration with eosinophil predominance. Superantigens role in causing NP complications is already proven. Superantigens, which are mostly originated from Streptococci and Staphylococci, activate T cells strongly and increase the process of production and release of cytokines, and secretion of IgE from B cells, which in turn directly affects proinflammatory cells such as eosinophils, both in their tissues infiltration and functions.
Methods: The samples are collected from patients referring to ENT clinic in Rasoul Akram training Hospital in Tehran after thorough clinical and paraclinical examinations. For control group the samples collected from patients undergoing rhinoplasty. All the samples kept frozen and sent to immunology lab. The DNA of the excised tissues extracted and amplified by using the superantigens specific primers and PCR product detected by gel electrophoresis. The date analyzed by using mean and SD and χ2 analytical tools. 
Results: Fifteen healthy individuals, 25 patients with rhinosinusitis and 24 with polyposis entered this trial. Group A Streptococcus toxin detection was significantly more frequent in those with nasal polyp and rhinosinusitis compared to healthy individuals (P=0.001 and 0.005, respectively), but the results were almost the same for those with nasal polyp and rhinosinusitis (P=0.4).
Conclusion: Streptococci may play an important role in induction or clinical exacerbation of polyposis and group A Streptococcus pyogenes exotoxin (SPEs) with superantigenic effects may have a crucial role in etiology and pathogenesis of polyps with or without rhinosinusitis. It is postulated that, T cells polyclonal activation by SPEs may cause recruitment of inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa. These inflammatory cells include IgE producing B cells laeding to allergic and inflammatory reactions in NP.

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Background: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a dangerous consequence of Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The early detection for infections of Staphylococcus aureus in burned children is very important, also the pre-vention for consequences of TSST-1. Fever is one of the most noticeable sign in burned children. On the other hand, fever is one of the important consequences of TSST-1 pro-duction. Methods: This study aimed to assess the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 level in the wound’s specimens of two groups febrile and afebrile in the hospitalized burned chil-dren in Motahari hospital Tehran, Iran in the year 2013. In this case-control study, 90 children who admitted to the burn unit, divided in two groups of 45 patients: febrile (cases group) and afebrile (control group). All of burned children under went wound biopsy, and then all of wound’s specimens were tested by PCR for specific primer of toxin producing genome. Finally all of data collected and statistically analyzed. This data include group febrile and afebrile, demographic characteristics, percentage of burned surface severity and result of PCR. Results: The positive result for PCR test, production of TSST-1 in febrile burned chil-dren (cases group) was 37.7% and in afebrile burned children (control group) was 11.1% that this different was statistically significant (P=0.003). The mean and stan-dard deviation for percentage of burned surface (severity) in samples with positive re-sult for PCR test was 30.9±16.93 and in samples with negative result for PCR test was 20.09±11.02 that this different was statistically significant (P=0.01). There was no dif-ference between positive PCR result and negative PCR result of age and sex. Conclusion: Direct association was approved between the production of TSST-1 and the occurrence of fever in burned children. Increased surface severity of burns also re-lated to the production of TSST-1. Further research is recommended.

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Background: Red Blood Cell's (RBC)’s folate may be related to decreased risk of colorectal adenoma. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key regulatory enzyme in folate metabolism. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is located in the Exon 4 region and is associated with the change of folate level. This study evaluated the associations between RBC’s Folate levels and colorectal adenoma risk, taking into account whether this associations is modified by MTHFR Polymorphism. Methods: In a case-control study conducted from January to October 2007 in Endoscopy-Colonoscopy ward of Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz. Participants were 177 case of colorectal adenoma who had pathologic-confirmed adenomatous polyps in full colonoscopy examination and 366 controls without polyps in full colonoscopy. Fasting venous blood were drawn from patients in order to determine RBC’s folate and to identify the MTHFR polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results: Gender Distribution in the patient group were 57.6% male and 42.3% female and control group consisted of 55.1% male and 43.9% female. 50.2% of cases and 49.2% of controls were in the age group “45 years and above”. The T allele frequency was 56.6% in control group and 34.4% in colorectal adenoma patients. There was a significant association between T allele in -677 position of MTHFR gene and colorectal adenoma susceptibility (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 0.76-4.24, P<0.001). Mean concentration of RBC’s folate was not statistically significant among three groups with TT genotype (mutation homozygote), CT genotype (heterozygote), and CC genotype (wild-type homozygote) (P>0.05) but mean concentration of RBC’s folate was the lowest in TT genotype compare with two other genotype. Odd's Ratio for low (<140ng/ml) versus high level of RBC’s folate in participants with TT genotype was (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 0.10-2.19, P<0.05) as compare with the CC ones. Conclusion: The result of this study suggested an inverse association between RBC's folate concentration and colorectal adenomas risk, which may be more relevant for those with the MTHFR TT genotype.

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Background: Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) culture for distinction between aseptic and bacterial meningitis can be difficult and long-term, and other diagnostic methods are under studying. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value for the levels of Interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and IL-8 of CSF in the children and adolescent with meningitis. Methods: Fifty-one patient with meningitis between one month and 18 year included in a Cross-Sectional Studies in the Rasul Hospital, Tehran, from 2012 to 2014. All of samples underwent aspiration of CSF. The routine tests performed that include culture coloring and biochemical of CSF. The concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) method and all of data were analyzed. Results: Frequency of bacterial and aseptic meningitis was equal (49%). 64.7% of samples were boys and gender had not different between two bacterial and aseptic group (P=0.7). Mean (±SD) of the age in total was 358.46±858.40, and bacterial group had a higher mean of age than aseptic group (P=0.047). The level of IL-1 was 10.87±37.04 pg/ml in bacterial and 0.55±1.64 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had not different (P=0.168). The level of IL-6 was 90.51±139.3 pg/ml in bacterial and 21.36±67.84 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had significant different (P=0.030). The level of IL-8 was 365.40±765.52 pg/ml in bacterial and 50.66±59.34 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had significant different (P=0.047). Diagnostic value of IL-1 was noted in the 80.77% of bacterial and 68.00% of aseptic group that had not different (P=0.349). Diagnostic value of IL-6 was noted in the 53.85% of bacterial and 64.00% of aseptic group that had not different (P=0.572). Diagnostic value of IL-8 was noted in the 80.77% of bacterial and 28.00% of aseptic group that had significant different (P=0.000). There was not different between two group of CSF variables include coloring degree, WBC and RBC index, glucose and protein. Conclusion: Although the concentration of IL-6 and IL-8 was higher in bacterial meningitis than in aseptic patients, only IL-8 had suitable diagnostic value for distinction between different types of meningitis.

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