Tehran University Medical Journal

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Yersinia enterocolitis causes a wide spectrum of human diseases including gasteroentritis, which is the most frequent of its manifestation. Other diseases and clinical syndromes resulting from Yersinia enterocolitica are septicemia, mesenteric lymphadenitis, apendisitis, exudative pharyngitis, reactive artiritis, nodosum erythema and rarely Reiter's syndrome. In many countries such as western European, Scandinavian and north American countries, Australia and Japan the role of Yersinia enterocolitica particularly the 0:3, 0:8 and 0:9 serotypes in human diseases have been clearly identified. In spite of significant development in the field of separating Yersinia enterocolitica from feces as well as from the environmental specimens during the last decade, there has been only one documented report of isolating Yersinia enterocolitica in Iran in 1977. Thus we decided to test 300 samples of feces within 5 months. In this method, CIN agar as a selective and special medium and Mac conkey agar as classic medium were used. Also cold enrichment method in PBS (pH=7.8) was used. In order to determine importance of enterocolitica, we separated other pathogens of intestine such as salmonella, shigella and entropathogenic E.Coli. The achieved results from abundance points of view are as follows: 17 strains of EPEC (5.66%), 9 strains of shigella (3%), 8 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica (2.66%) and 6 strains of salmonella (2%)

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In our investigation, rabbit hyper-immune serum to V.cholerae ogawa was absorbed with V.cholerae inaba whole-cells and vice versa. Applying ammonium sulphate precipitation method, mono-specific g globulins were purified and concentrated from the absorbed whole serum. These antibodies were fixed on staphylococcus cowan 1 NCTC-8325 whole-cells, using different chemical fixatives. It was observed that maximum fixation of g globulin to protein-A was achieved by 1-propanol 50% at 3 hours, which revealed through single radial immuno-diffusion techniqe. The rectal swab samples were cultured in an enrichment bile-peptons broth. After 5 hours 37°C while agitations, one drop of each sample was mixed with one drop of vibrio-cholerae bivalent mono-specific coagglutination reagent (VBCR). The results were read after 2 to 3 minutes. Finally though statistical analysis sensitivity and specificity of coagglutination test were calculated to be 95.1% and 99.2% respectively, when compared to positive & negative controls and conventional culture methods. Using VBCR, coagglutination test can be therefore considered as a simple, reliable and rapid method to detect V.cholerae O1 in the stool of patients in endemic area and less equipped laboratories

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Serum copper, zinc and the cu/zn ratio were measured in 55 patients with breast disease (20 with benign breast disease and 35 patients with breast cancer) and 30 healthy subjects. The mean serum copper levels were higher in breast cancer than in benign breast diseases (127.5 µg/dl versus 92.4 µg/dl) (P<0.0005) and controls (127.5 µg/dl versus 75.6 µg/dl) (P<0.0005). Patients with advanced breast cancer had higher serum copper levels than did patients with early breast cancer (163 µg/dl versus 103.9 µg/dl) (P<0.0005). Patients with advanced breast cancer had lower serum zinc levels than did patients with benign breast disease (68.9 µg/dl versus 135.9 µg/dl) (P<0.0005) and controls (68.9 µg/dl versus 129.9 µg/dl) (P<0.0005) but no significant difference have seen between serum zinc levels of early and advanced breast cancer patients (68.9 µg/dl versus 72.9 µg/dl) (P<0.05). Serum zinc levels were not decreased in patients with benign breast disease

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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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The discovery of antifertility activity of gossypol led the scientists and researchers to the development of compounds with antifertility activity that can be used as male contraceptive. It is obvious that without the contribution and sense of responsibility in men, the population control programs and family planning will have no considerable success. In the present study, I have tried to evaluate two newly synthesized analog of diaminopyrimidines compounds with the chemical name of 2,4-diamino-5 (3,4-dichlorophenyl) 6-alcheloxymethylpyrimidine (ethyoxy and isobothyloxy) on male rats. This study indicates that this compounds without any toxic effects, significantly decrease the serum testosterone, sperm mortility (SM), percent of viable sperms, daily sperm production (DSP), epididimal sperm reserve (ESR) and fertility rats

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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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In this study, 307 samples of the sediments of fish breeding pools of the different parts of North of Iran were tested for the survey of different environmental Mycobacteria. After the process of cultivation, 107 cases of Mycobacterium were gained which after the performance of different biochemical tests. 112 cases of Mycobacterium were identified. From among the isolated Mycobacteria, the highest rank belonged to M.fortuitum with the frequency of 13.97% and the next M.gordonae 10.66% M.xenopi, M.nonchromagenicum 8.2% and the last M.marinum with the frequency of 5.74%. M.marinum was the case of Tuberculosis of fish and had important role in the creation of granuloma. Next to that, M.fortuitum, M.kanasasii and M.gordenae had less importance. The existence of such Mycobacteria in the fish breeding pools were on one hand the cause of pollution of fish and on the other hand the fishman and other people who are somehow connected to the fish and the pools sediments are subject to disease in case of existence of injury in their hands or feet

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To improve visual disturbance, optic nerve decompression can be performed via transcranial or tran-sphenoidal approaches. Although the surgical exposure in transcranial approach is favourable, yet the optic nerve's presence in the field may make it vulnerable to damage. Of fighty patients with different types of pituitary adenomas, 35 cases with medium-sized (1-3 cm) tumors have been studied in a randomized clinical trial during a three year period, to compare the applicability of these approaches. While short hospital stay with better visual outcome was observed in fifteen trans-sphenoidal cases, in comparison to 20 trans-cranial cases, however the preoperative visual status and underlying disorders were similar in both groups. Decompressing the optic apparatus, trans-sphenoidally, seems beneficial, where there are no contraindications for the procedure in medium-sized pituitary adenomas

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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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In a corss sectional survey, anthropometric indices of 205 women in Hassanabad Khaleseh, rural area of Eslamshahr on the basis of weight (WT), height (HT), body mass index (BMI), midarm circumference (MAC) and waist to hip ratio (W/H) has been investigated. The dependence of these indices to some independent variables were determined. The findings of this study indicated that the mean of WT, HT, BMI, MAC and W/H were 62.5 kg, 154.6 cm, 29.1 kg/m², 278.7 mm and 0.78 respectively. The relation between all anthropometric indices and level of education, gravidy, number of alive children, age at first pregnancy were statistically significant. Also the relation between all anthropometric indices (Except Ht) and marital status and age were statistically significant. The results of this study showed that the most important problem among the women is overweight

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The lower respiratory tract is vulnerable to infection by a wide variety of microorganisms, because it is one of the organ systems which communicate directly with the environments. Although viruses and fungi can cause lower respiratory tract infections, bacteria are the dominant pathogens. Among bacteria the common causes of lower respiratory tract infection is Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophillus influenzae and Legionella species. This study has been carried out to investigate pathogenic bacteria isolated from sputum of 220 patients with suspected pulmonary infection. The results were obtained as follow: Mycoplasma pneumoniae: 17 cases 22.7 percent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis: - cases - percent, Streptococcus pneumoniae: 17 cases 22.7 percent, Klebsiella pneumoniae: 12 cases 16 percent, Haemophillus influenzae: 10 cases 13.3 percent, Staphylococcus aureus: 15 cases 20 percent, Pseudomonas aeroginosa: 4 cases 5.3 percent.

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Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease. A retrospective study of the signs and clinical course of this disorder was performed by evaluating medical records. Our fidings indicate that the prevalence of pheochromocytoma was equal in men and women, and most patients (56%) were in their second and third decades of life. In 10% of the cases, the disease was bilateral, and in 13% it was outside the adrenal (totally para-aortic). The tumor was more common on the right side (8%), and 3.5% were familial. Almost all cases had a history of hypertension and hypertensive crises. Attack-like episodes of clinical symptoms and signs and hypertension were observed in 98%, headache in 71% and profuse perspiration in 68% of the cases. An abdominal mass was palapated in 13% of the cases, 26% had overt diabetes, 23% had ECG changes. Malignancy was observed in 4%, with metastases to the liver (n=2) lung (n=1) and spine (n=1). In the latter four cases, the metastic lesion was histologically proven to be pheochromocytoma. In three of the 28 female cases, the first hypertensive crisis occurred during pregnancy causing abortion in one case.

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Primary hyperaldosteronism is one of the few causes of hypertension that can be cured by surgery. Primary hyperaldosteronism is caused by adrenocortical adenoma or hyperplasia. It is important to differentiate between adrenal adenoma and hyperplasia because the preferred treatments are different. In all patients with new-onest or worsening hypertension the primary hyperaldosteronism should be considered as an etiology. Patients with primary hyperaldosteronism classically have hypertension with spontaneous hypokalemia. The serum sodium concentration is usually normal in patients with primary aldosteronism who are not taking diuretics. Weakness, fatigue, paresthesia, tetany and even paralysis may develop. Renin and angiotensin II are suppressed in both forms of primary hyperaldosteronism due to feedback. Polyuria may develop secondary to vasopressin resistance from chronic hyperkaliuria. Hypertension or eclampsia during pregnancy is common in women with primary hyperaldosteronism. Case report: A 42-years-old woman presented with headache, severe hypertension, general weakness, easy fatigability, vertigo, palpitation, visual disorders and nocturia. She had a past history of eclampsia 10 years ago. In laboratory investigation there was hypokalemia, elevated serum aldosterone, low renin activity and hyperkaliuria. In abdominal CT-scan there was a hypodense mass measuring 2 cm in diameter in her left adrenal gland. The patient had primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosteronoma.

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L-fucose (6.deoxy. L.galactose) is the only monosacharide which is placed in non reducting position of glycoproteins structure in L-deoxy form. L-fucosidase and fucosy 1 transferase directly take part in the elevation or decrease of sorum L-fucose levels. Tumors may directly induce enzymes that release L-fucose from glycoproteins formed in the neoplastic tissue, or the glycoproteins may be released indirectly as a result of body-defense metabolic secretion of glycoproteins and their filtration in glomeruls, and has a close correlation with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In this study we compared urinary L-fucose of 30 known cases of cancer versus 40 healthy people. Fifteen patients had Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and 15 patients Gyneclologic (Gyn) cancer. There was significant difference between urinary L-fucose of patients with GI cancer and controls (P<0.01), and also we saw the same result (P<0.01) in Gyn patients in comparison with controls. Significant elevations of urinary L-fucose, in GI and GY cancers may lead us in the way to further evaluation of its relationship with L-fucose levels to make its early diagnosis and better prognosis in susceptible individuals and those at a high risk of developing cancer, possible.

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Acute infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most common infectious diseases of humans in the world. Diarrheal disease still ranks very high as a major cause of illness and death especially in developing nations. This study has been carried out to investigate enteropathogenic bacteria isolated from 2517 specimens of patients with diarrhea. The results obtained are as follow: Salmonella typhimurium: 6 cases 3.1 percent, Salmonella havana: 5 cases 2.6 percent, Shigella dysenteriae: 12 cases 6.2 percent, Shigella flexneri: 26 cases 13.5 percent, Shigella boydii: 8 cases 4.1 percent, Shigella sonnei: 24 cases 12.4 percent, Enteropathogenic E.coli: 11 cases 5.7 percent, Enteroinvasive E.coli: 2 cases 1 percent, Yersinia enterocolitica: - cases - percent, Vibrio cholera: - cases - percent, Aeromonas hydrophila: 6 cases 3.1 percent, Plesiomonas shigelloides: 1 cases 0.5 percent, Toxigenic C.difficile: 36 cases 18.7 percent, Enterotogenic c.perfringens: 6 cases 3.1 percent, Campylobacter jejuni: 50 cases 25.9 percent.

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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.

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In this research anxiety and depression and their association with 32 different factors in students of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences were measured. Levels of anxiety and depression were assessed by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (from 2, Trait) and Beck Depression Inventory. A questionnaire made of demographic data, educational and noneducational activities, the presence of medical or psychiatric disorders (over last year) and students' feelings about relationships with their parents as well as educational and financial matters was given to the subjects. Seventy percent of all of the university students completed the two inventories plus questionnaire. Twenty-one percent had a number of 18 or more (the cut-off point for depression) in Beck inventory and 33.4% had a number of 51 or more (the cut off point for anxiety) in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (from 2, Trait). Differents levels of depression and anxiety and associated variables in each group were determined and discussed.

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The growth and developmental status of 252 children with low birth weight (<2500 gr) born from 1988 to 1989 as cases were compared with 312 children with normal birth weight (>2500 gr) at the fifth birthday. The results of comparing these two groups of children show that: 1) In relation to weight for age of survivors, with increasing of age, weight gaining is higher in the control group in comparison with the case group (P=0.00). 2) In relation to height for age the study revealed, that this indicator differs in two groups but the difference is not significant. 3) In regard to Gomez classification: The percentages of all grades of malnutrition (mild, moderate, severe) is grater in the case group than controls. 4) By considering the developmental criteria (skipping, drawing triangle from copy, naming 5 colors, repeating sentences of 10 syllables, counting of 10 coins correctly and respectively): The study showed that developmental indicator of the case group differs from controls. The test statistic "t" showed, there is a significant difference between two variables (P=0.005). 5) By using the Riven test for evaluation of IQ, our findings characterized that, the IQ mean of the LBW and NBW are not truely different.

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Disodium hemiphthalate Glycyrrhetinic acid (DHGA) possesses anti-inflammatory and analgestic activities. In our research, this agent was injected intraperitoneally to mice, according to the following schedule.
1) 25 mg/kg, 50mg/kg & 75mg/kg at 7th day of pregnancy.
2) 50 mg/kg & 75mg/kg at 8th day of pregnancy.
3) 50mg/kg & 75mg/kg at 9th day of pregnancy.
DHGA with doses of 50mg/kg and 75mg/kg at 7th, 8th and 9th day, delays the growth, decreases developing of ossification centers (specially in hand and foot middle phalanxes), decreases the number of caudal vertebrae of sacro-illiac joint and results in slight but important increases in fetus mortality.
Abbreviations
H & E=Haematoxylin & Eosin
CRL=Crown-Rump Length
BPD=Biparietal Diameter
W=Weight
ETS=Embryo Toxicity Score