Tehran University Medical Journal

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The use of Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children may be associated with adverse effects especially behavioral and cognitive and teratogenic potential effects. The main propose of this study was to find an answer to the question of which factors in EEG of patients before AED withdrawal could have prognostic role in our decision. We studied 106 children whom their medication had been withdrawn 2 years after their last seizure. Before starting of this, an EEG was recorded and interpreted by an expert neurologist. Many variables such as background activity, focal spike, generalized sharp and spik waves, focal slowing, in comparison with the EEG of patient at the time of diagnosis, and also final result of the trace interpret also examined. Follow-up visits were scheduled every 3 months at least for one year. If seizure relapsed, AEDs was resumed and follow up terminated. The overall probability of remaining seizure free was analyzed as a function of time by Kaplan-Meier survical analysis. Prognostic factors affecting seizure relapse were evaluated by using the log-rank test. The overall probability of seizure recurrences was 24.8 percent (95 percent C.I, 22.5 to 28.5) at 12 months. EEG comparisons with previous times were a significant factor for prediction of relapses. Relative risk of this factor was about 1.98 (95 percent C.I, 1.01 to 3.91) (P<0.05). We found that EEG interpretation at the time of diagnosis was not a significant factor but if it divided by sex, there is a significant difference in gender (P=0.06). According to our study the rate of AED withdrawal in children is small. The benefits of continuing AED therapy must be weighted against the risk of potential adverse effects. EEG comparison with previous traces could be evaluated as a prognostic factor before AED withdrawal in children.

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Sepsis is one of the most critical medical emergency situations. Treatment with anti microbial drugs should be initiated as soon as samples of blood and other relevant sites have been cultured. Available information about patterns of anti microbial Susceptibility among bacterial isolates from the community, the hospital, and the patient should be taken in to account. It is important, pending culture results, to initiate empirical anti microbial therapy.
Materials and methods: In a descriptive study during 3 years (1377-1379), microbial and anti microbial susceptibility patterns evaluated in Amir alam clinical laboratory on 2000 specimen of blood culture received from 765 hospitalized patients at Amir Alam hospital wards.
Results: 113 specimens from 77 patient (10 percent) were positive for microbial growth. Enterobacter, S. aureus, S.epidermidis, Pneumococci, Ecoli, and Pseudomonas were the most common isolated etiologic agents(80 percent) . The most common organism was Entenobacter in 1377, S.aureus in 1378 and pseudomonas in 1379 There were significant change in patlern of organisms, increase resistance to some important available antibiotics and change in antibiotic susceptibility pattern during three years (disc diffusion method).
Conclusions: According to Results of this study due to change in pattern of organism and their antibiotic susceptibility, dynamic microbiological study provide important data for Ordering empirical and culture oriented treatment of patients with bacteremia, Sepsis, anti microbial Chemotherapy, anti microbial susceptibility empirical anti microbial therapy, microbial pattern.

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Atrial septal anomalies suggested to play important role in enhancing tendency to induce cerebral embolic events. This study was undertaken to find the frequency of atrial septal anomalies including Patent Foramen Ovale, Atrial Septal Aneurysm and Atrial Septal Defect in patients with etiologically unknown stroke categorized as cryptogenic.
Materials and Methods: 32 patients were studied by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
Results & Conclusion: The mean age was 50.2 years and standard deviation 10.9 years. 17 patients were male and 15 females, of them 40.6 percent had Patent Foramen Ovale, 15.6 percent had Atrial Septal Aneurysm and 6.3 percent had Atrial Septal Defect. 60 percent of patients who had Atrial Septal Aneurysm had also Patent Foramen Ovale.

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Radioiodine therapy is the safest, simplest, least expensive and most effective method for treatment of Graves' disease. Due to difficulties in previous methods for dose determination, fixed dose method of 1-131 is now considered the best practical method for 1-131 therapy in Graves' disease, but there is no consensus on the dose. We compared two routinely recommended fixed doses of 5 and 10 mCi for this purpose.
Materials and Methods In this clinical trial, 59 patients with Graves' disease referred for radioiodine therapy were randomized into two groups, one group was treated with 5 mCi of 1-131 and the other with 10 mCi. All patients were followed for two years, with 6-month intervals.
Results: Totally, among 59 patients treated with 1-131, 20 (33.9%) patients became euthyroid and 19(32.2%) became hypothyroid, while failed therapy (no response or relapse) was noticed in 20 patients (33.9%). In the group treated by 5 mCi (33 patients), 10(30.3%) were euthyroid, 6(18.2%) were hypothyroid (overall cure of ^8.5%), while 17(51.5%) remained hyperthyroid by the end of the follow-up period. From the 26 patients treated with 10 mCi, the euthyroid and hypothyroid states were observed in 10(38.5%) and 13(50%)patients, respectively (overall cure rate of 88.5%), and hyperthyroid state in 3(11.5%). No relationship was noted between the outcome and age, sex, size of the thyroid gland and thyroid uptake, but the relationship between the disease outcome and the amount of administered radioiodine was significant (P<0.003). Although the incidence rate of early hypothyroidism (by the end of 2 years) in the group treated with 5 mCi is less than those treated with 10 mCi, the incidence of failed therapy is higher in the former group. In addition, it is known that long-term hypothyroidism prevalence is not significantly different by using different doses of I-131. On the other hand, if the initial dose is so little to cure, cost and time for perfect treatment, number of office visits and morbidity due to untreated hyperthyroidism are markedly increased.
Conclusion: Regarding lower rate of failed therapy with 10 mCi, and as there is no significant difference in late hypothyroidism between low doses and high doses of I-131, we concluded that 10 mci is the optimal fixed dose for treatment of Graves' disease.

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Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive fungal infection that spreads from nose and sinuses to brain in short time. Cunent hypothesis about brain involvement explains that infection initiates in nose and progresses into orbit through ethmoidat sinuses via erosion of lamina papyranea. Then infection spreads from orbit apex to cavernous sinus and brain. Therefore, in addition to medical therapy surgical debridement of the sinuses plays a major role in treatment of these patients. The aim of this study is introduction of a new point of view about extension of mucor from the nose to orbit and brain. Also we discuss clinical implication of this perspective on surgery.
Materials and Methods: Since 1997-2002 nine patients with mucormycosis involving nose. Sinuses and orbit were admitted in ENT ward of Imam Khomeini general hospital. 8 patients with positive pathology entered the study. Variable such as age, underlying diseases, symptoms, site of involvement, extent of debridement and its times, and outcome were studied.
Results: After review of the history, surgical reports and pathological results, we found these findings in almost all patients: 1) facial pain, facial anesthesia, paralysis of buccal branch of facial nerve, paralysis of extrocular muscles, chemosis, periorbital edema 2) involvement of cheek subcutaneous tissue, buccal fat pad, IOF, SOF, orbital apex, infraorbital and maxillary nerves 3) involvement of pterygoid fossa with or without infratemporal fossa extension. Three patients have survived. Causes of death in other five patients were pneumonia, hypokalemia, and arrythmis during anesthesia. Mucormycosis was under control in most of these patients.
Conclusion: Pterygopalatine fossa is the main source for replication and extension of mucor. After entrance to the nose, mucor reaches this site and after involvement of IOF and SOF rapidly extends to retrobulbar portion of the orbit. Paranasal sinuses, buccal space, cheek, palate and infratemporal fossa may be secondarily involved. Exploration and debridment of this area has beneficial effect on surviving of these patients.

 

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Background: Graft-versus-host disease is one of the major complications after allogenic bone marrow transplantation, but it is not easy to anticipate the onset. Cytokines released by type 1 T-helper cells are thought to play a pivotal role in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). The ability to predict the likely occurrence of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) after BMT would be extremely valuable. By serially measuring serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-18 and following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), we tried to define their relationship to aGVHD as complication of the transplantation and determine useful markers for aGVHD predictors.

Materials and Methods: Serum sIL-2R, IL-18, and levels were measured by sandwich ELISA in 219 sera samples from 39 patients (with hematological disorders before and after allogeneic BMT) and 28 controls. All patients received BMT from HLA-identical siblings.

Results: 25 patients developed aGVHD and serum levels of sIL-2 R and IL-18 , in sera drawn before transplantation , in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD +) , were increased in comparison of patients without acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD ¯) and control group and there wasn’t any significant differences in serum levels of sIL-2 R and IL-18 in aGVHD ¯ patients and controls. Serum level of IL-18, in aGVHD+ patients, was increased during day 3 - 24 after BMT, and there was a significant difference in patients with GVHD 0 – GVHD III. In majority of patients with acute GVHD (60 %) , the peak levels of IL-18 and IL-2R was achieved on day 10 after BMT and the rise in sIL-2R and IL-18 preceded of clinical signs of GVHD (mean day 15 after BMT). Level of IL-18 in patients with aGVHD had strongly correlated with the severity of aGVHD on Day 10 after BMT. IL-18 level mean (before BMT), in patients who received Busulfan and Fludarabin to treat aGVHD, was lower than in patients who received Busulfan - Endoxan, or Cyclophosphamide.

Conclusion: Our data concluded that IL-18 plays an important role in the development of aGVHD and IL-18 level might be an indicator for aGVHD, reflecting the severity of the disease. These findings suggest that IL-18 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of aGVHD and that measurement of serum IL-18 levels can be useful predictor of aGVHD.

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Background and Aim: Prevalence of malnutrition is high in under-5 years old children and mother’s nutritional knowledge, attitude, practice(KAP) is associated to nutritional status of children and lack of nutritional knowledge and their poor practices can be considered of prominent causes of children malnutrition. This study carried out to assess the nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers.

Materials and Methods: In this study a group of 632 mothers who had at least one child aged 6-36 month old referred to Kerman health centers were selected to evaluate their nutritional KAP. The data were collected using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with the mothers and from children health care records. The KAP questionnaires were completed and scores were rated as: optimum, relatively optimum and poor for subjects that achieved 80% – 100%, 60% – 80% and < 60% of high scores respectively.

Results: The findings of this study indicated that 40/2%, 73/6% and 26/9% of mothers had respectively optimum knowledge, attitude and practice. A statistically significant association was found between mother education and maternal nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice. And family income had a statistically significant association with knowledge and not with practice and attitude. There was no association between mother age and knowledge, attitude, practice. And was found a significant positive association between knowledge, attitude, practice.

Conclusion: Education of mothers concerning nutritional requirements of children make them possible to benefit a proper nutritional program.

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Background: The currently accepted treatment of scoliosis are bracing and surgery. Two-stage anterior and posterior spinal fusion is used to correct scoliosis. It seems that the application of a longitudinal force to the axis of the spinal column as a means of stabilizing by halo traction, may increase the correction of the curve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of halo traction used between the two stages of corrective surgery, anterior and posterior spinal fusion, on the correction of scoliosis curvature.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial twelve scoliotic patients, aged from 12-19 years old, were treated by two-stage anterior spinal release and fusion (ASF) and posterior spinal fusion (PSF). The patients were divided in two groups: 6 scoliotic patients without any traction between ASF and PSF surgeries (group A), and 6 scoliotic patients were undergone halo traction for one week between ASF and PSF surgeries (group B). Major curve angle was measured before surgery, one week after ASF and one year after PSF surgeries. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS v.13.5.
Results: The mean baseline curve angles were 90° (SD=18.70) and 94.17°(SD=28.18) in groups A and B, respectively. Whereas, the mean final curve angles (one year after PSF) were 51.17°(SD=29.59) and 39.17°(23.11) in groups A and B, respectively. Final angle improvement was 46.58% (SD=20.31) in patients without traction and 61.32% (SD=14.02) in patients with halo traction. The major curve angles showed significantly better correction in patients with traction one week after ASF [38.67°(SD=7.86) vs. 25°(SD=6.28), P=0.012]. This difference persisted at the end of the first year after operation. [55°(SD=8.94) vs. 38.83°(SD=11.65), P=0.022].
Conclusion: Application of halo traction between ASF and PSF surgeries may lead to better improvement of the scoliotic curvature and short time application of halo traction decreases possible complications.

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Background: Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are among the most common complications after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Previous studies demonstrated that cardiopulmonary bypass itself results in reduced serum magnesium levels. In this study, we evaluated the effect of total blood magnesium level (TMG) on the prevention of perioperative arrhythmias with routine regimens of 2-4 grams supplemental magnesium (SMG). Methods: TMG was measured in patients who were scheduled for CABG on three occasions: just before anesthesia, just after entering the intensive care unit (ICU) after completion of the sugery, and on the first morning after the operation. Patients were evaluated for primary cardiac rhythm and other variables that could have an influence on the magnesium level, including serum creatinine, urine output in the operating room and diuretic therapy. The SMG dosage was also recorded in the operating room and ICU. Patients were then evaluated for the rate and type of arrhythmia for the next three days. Results: The mean TMG levels in 174 cases were 2.2 (0.5), 2.6 (0.6) and 2.4 (0.6) mg/dl for the three occasions, respectively. The mean SMG was 2.5 (1.2) grams. Of 164 patients, 51 (31%) developed the following post-operative arrhythmias: AF (7.3%), non-AF SVA (15.2%) and ventricular (16.5%). The mean serum creatinine level and urine output were 1.2 mg/dl and 1800 ml, respectively. Although there was a significant difference between the TMG levels on the three different occasions (P<0.001), all values were within normal range. When we stratified the TMG levels of the patients based on administered SMG, the Mentel-Haenszel test revealed no significant difference between the first and third TMG (P=0.6). Although the TMG levels were higher in arrhythmic patients compared to those without arrhythmia (2.25 vs. 2.14 mg/dl), both values were within the normal range and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Serum creatinine levels and urine volume were not related to TMG levels. Conclusion: This study indicates that routine magnesium administration has no significant effect on SMG levels. Also, serum creatinine and urine output are not determinant factors for SMG administration. There was no correlation between TMG levels and perioperative arrhythmia. We conclude that the routine regimen of magnesium administration has no effect on the incidence of perioperative arrhythmia, though it is necessary for maintaining normal magnesium levels.

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Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections with high morbidity and mortality rate. Traditionally, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus has been considered a major nosocomial pathogen in healthcare facilities, but in the past decade, it has been observed emerging in the community as well. Informations regarding hospital microbial colonization could be an important step for prevention of nosocomial infections. Our objective was clarifying the prevalence of methicillin resistant and vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus colonization in nasopharynx.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried on 106 patients and nursing staff of surgery and hemodialysis wards in Amir-Alam hospital from April 2005 to July 2005. The samples were collected from nasal region of cases using cotton swab by two experienced technician and were sent to laboratory for culture and antibiogram.
Results: Twenty six (29.5%) out of 106 cases were nasopharyngeal carriers of staphylococcus aureus. Eight cases (7.5%) had methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. The most frequent colonization rate was seen in hemodialysis nursing staff and in all of them methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus was reported. Carrier rates in hemodialysis patients were twice compared to surgery ward patients. The interesting point was that no sample of vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus was isolated.
Conclusion: Prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus colonization seems to be increased therefore proper management for controlling this problem is mandatory. The results of the present study suggest that the prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infections is higher than was expected in Iran and vigorous preventive strategies should therefore be taken to stop the growth of this major health problem.

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Background: Recent studies have raised the issue of an increased incidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) and menstrual disturbances in women with epilepsy treated with valproate (VPA). It seems that antiepileptic drugs, especially valproate, may have a functional role in altering the endocrine system of child-bearing women with epilepsy. We conducted this study to investigate the association of VPA and ovarian structural/menstrual disorders in epileptic women.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared a total of 64 epileptic patients, aged 16-45 years, 32 of whom had been taking VPA alone and 32 were on other antiepileptic drugs for a minimum duration of six months. Ovarian sonography was performed and body mass index (BMI) calculated for all subjects. We also recorded the presence of menstrual disturbances in both groups.

Results: Fifteen (46%) of the VPA subjects had PCO compared to 7 (21.9%) of the other group. In the VPA group, four (12.5%) had oligomenorrhea, one (3.1%) amenorrhea and 13 (40.6%) had irregular menstrual cycles. However, from the other group, two (6.3%) subjects had oligomenorrhea and seven (21.9%) had irregular menstrual cycles amenorrhea was not present in the non-VPA treated patients. Mean BMI was 22.5 kg/m² among the VPA subjects and 20.1 kg/m² in the non-VPA subjects.

Conclusions: This study supports the association of PCO and high BMI with VPA treatment. The frequency of menstrual disturbances did not differ significantly between the two groups.

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 Background: Approximately 5-10% of epileptic patients do not respond to antiepileptic drugs. Adenosine has an inhibitory effect on the nervous system and its metabolism is prevented as a side effect of allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The current study evaluates the efficacy of allopurinol in intractable epilepsy.

Methods: In this double-blind case-control clinical trial, of the 38 epileptics with intractable seizures, 18 received 300 mg allopurinol daily and 20 received a placebo as adjuvant treatment to their previous antiepileptic drugs. The patients were first examined two weeks after initiation of the treatment and then monthly for a total of six months, during which they were evaluated for seizure control and possible side effects.

Result: Of the 38 participants, 32 patients completed the study. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of reduction in the total number of seizures over the entire six-month trial. A seizure reduction of 30% observed in 66% of the patients, 50% in 55%, and 60% in 44% of the cases in the allopurinol group was achieved after two months and persisted throughout the study. Furthermore, a significant difference in seizure duration was found between the two groups in month four of the trial. In the allopurinol group, two patients had transient rashes, two patients had mild nausea, and two experienced dizziness however, only one patient discontinued the drug due to dizziness. In the placebo group, one patient had rash and one had nausea. In addition, no significant hematological or hepatic changes were found during the trial in either group.

Conclusions: The results suggest that allopurinol is a safe and effective adjuvant agent in refractory epilepsy. Based on this study, we suggest that purine metabolic pathways and the specific use of allopurinol should be further investigated for the treatment of refractory epilepsy.

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Background: Much has changed in neonatal care for extremely low birth weight (ELBW birth weight <1000g) infants over the recent years in Iran, resulting in an increase in their survival rate. We determined neonatal survival and short-term morbidity rates among ELBW infants, and the correlation of these factors with mortality risk.
Methods: All single live-born ELBW babies delivered at Vali-e-Asr Hospital over a four-year period were identified. Data that were prospectively collected included: maternal age, prenatal and perinatal complications, antenatal steroid use, birth weight, gestational age, route of delivery, sex, need for resuscitation, APGAR score, need for mechanical ventilation, and complications including respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), sepsis, jaundice, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing entrocolitis (NEC) metabolic and hematologic and cardiac disorders. Information was statistically analyzed and a probability value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of 93 neonates were included in the study. The survival rate in the delivery room was 36.6%. The lowest birth weight was 400g, with a mean birth weight of 850.43(±136.48)g, and the lowest gestational age was 22 weeks. The mean gestational period was 28.31(±2.77) weeks. The most frequent complication after birth was RDS(69.89%) and the least frequent was NEC (6.4%). Short and normal gestation was observed in 44.08% and 48.4% of the neonates, respectively. There was a significant relationship between neonatal mortality and the need for resuscitation after birth, RDS and need for a respirator (p<0.05). Furthermore, there was significant increase in mortality among neonates with gestational age <30 weeks, birth weight under 750g and lack of steroids before birth (p<0.05).
Conclusions: To enhance perinatal and neonatal care and decrease the rate of preterm labor, improved standard resuscitation and increased administration of antenatal steroids and respirators are required.

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Background: Chronic Subdural Hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common challenges of neurosurgeons. Most predominant among the elderly, the incidence increases incrementally with age and might lead to permanent severe complications. The aim of this study is to outline the symptoms and signs and to compare the outcomes and complications among two groups of patients who underwent two different surgical procedures.
Methods: In a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study performed on 125 patients with CSDH from 2000 to 2005. Computed tomography scan was used for diagnostic imaging in all cases and magnetic resonance imaging was also obtained for six patients. In one center, group 1, which included 82 patients, underwent surgery with a single burr hole and closed drainage, and, at another center, group 2, which included 43 patients, was treated with a method using two burr holes and close drainage.
Results: Of the 125 patients, 102 were male and 23 were female. The mean age of patients was 65.79±16.41 years. The most common symptoms were weakness in extremities (78.4%), headache (72.8%) and decreased level of consciousness (24%), respectively. At presentation, 88 (70.4%) of the patients had several symptoms and 37 (29.6%) had only one symptom. A history of mild head trauma, such as falling, was observed in 83 (68%) of the patients. The interval between head trauma and the onset of symptoms ranged from 10 to 120 days (mean: 46 days). Hematoma recurred in five cases from group 1, whereas two cases from group 2 had recurrence of hematoma. Postoperative epidural hematoma developed in one case from group 2 and tension pneumocephalus also occurred in one group 2 patients.

Conclusion: As a treatment for CSDH, the single burr hole method was significantly better than the two burr hole method.

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Background: Several therapeutic modalities have been cited for patients with microtia. Recently there are several reports about using cadaveric homograft cartilage for some other purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the results of auricular reconstruct-tion in 10 patients (12 ears) with congenital atresia using homograft rib cartilage from the Iranian Tissue Bank.

Methods: We enrolled 10 patients with microtia who were referred to the Imam Khomeini Hospital from September 2006 to July 2007 for auricular reconstruction. The reconstruction was performed using a pre-shaped homograft(s) of each patient's ear(s) made by the Iranian Tissue Bank from the 6th, 7th and 8th costal cartilage according to the method of Marquette. In six patients, the second stage of reconstructive surgery was performed three months after the first stage. The patients were followed regarding the ear appearance, the dimensions of cartilage and tissue reaction.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 11.08 (SD=5.57) years and the average duration of follow-up was 6.29 (SD=3.12) months. Eight cases had unilateral involvement (six right and two left), in addition to two cases of bilateral involvement. During the follow-up period, the appearance of the helix was satisfactory in 11 ears and the lobule in 10 ears. The height and width of the reconstructed auricles was an average of 1-2 millimeters different from the opposite ear. Erythema was the most common early complication. Late complications, including cartilage exposure and infection, were observed in one patient.

Conclusion: Auricular reconstruction using homograft costal cartilage in patients with microtia has promising results. The short term resorption can be ignored and significant early or late complications are infrequent.

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Background: Data mining as a multidisciplinary field is rooted in the fields such as statistics, mathematics, computer science and artificial intelligence and has been gaining momentum in scientific, managerial, and executive applications in health care. Data mining can be defined as the automated extraction of valuable, practical and hidden knowledge and information from large data. Applying data mining in medical records and data is of utmost importance for health care givers and providers and brings vital and valuable outcomes. Data mining can help doctors come up with better recommendations and plans for treatment which actually in many respects have significant impact on patients’ life and satisfaction In this paper we have proposed and utilized data mining methods to extract hidden information in medical records of pelvis stone patients with ureteral stone. We have tried to design a decision support system model to be applicable for selecting type of treatment for these groups of patients.
Methods: We gathered needed information from Shahid Hashemi Nejad hospital. In this research we have used decision tree as a data mining tool, for selecting suitable treatment for patients with ureteral stone. This model can predict probability of success of each treatment. 
Results: In this research we extracted effective attributes in selecting type of treatment for patients with ureteral stone.
Conclusions: By using this model we can have eight percent improvement in number of patients who have stone free output after treating. In fact, this model has a better functionality than expert system of hospitals.

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Background : Open fractures are associated with an increased risk of infection and healing complications. Management of open fractures is based on the following principles: assessment of the patient, classification of the injury, antibiotic therapy, debridement and wound management, Fracture stabilization, early bonegrafting, and supplemental procedures to achieve healing.
Methods : In a case- control retrospective study we evaluated 33 patients with open tibial fracture (type two gustillo) who were admitted in sina General hospital in Tehran, Iran during years 1999-2009 and were treated uniformly with external fixation as primary treatment in our center as case group and the other 33 patients with the same method and another 33 patients who had not been infected as control group. W e compared the folders of case and control groups retrospectively. 
Results : There was no statisticant difference between two groups in mean age, gender, the mechanism of trauma and body mass index (p >0.05 ), while statistically significant difference between them in smoking habitus, blood transfusion, first debridment time, diabet mellitus, femoral shaft fracture (p <0.05 ).
Conclusions: Accompanying femoral fracture is the sign of high energy trauma and it is logical that it is an important risk factor for infection. In our study the time of the first debridment stablished as a significant factor influencing the infection rate in tibial open fracture. In some studies smoking had been recognized as a significant factor influencing in tibial bone open fracture our study reveals the same.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Latent Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) genomes are found in the malignant cells of approximately one-third of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cases. Detection of EBV viral DNA could potentially be used as a biomarker of disease activity. Our goal was to compare of EBV DNA detection in samples obtained from lymphoma patients versus controls.
Methods: One milliliter uncoagulated and 1ml coagulated blood sample for DNA extraction and serum analysis using ELISA for IgG anti EBNA-1 were obtained from 44 lymphoma patients and from 44 normal controls, respectively. EBV genome, EBNA-2, was examined from DNA extracts of paraffin embedded and blood samples using Nested PCR with type specific inner primers.
Results: Positive results for ELISA, Blood and biopsy PCR in study group were, 84.1%, 27.3% and 13.6%, respectively. However, these results in control group were 47.7% and 16% for ELISA and Blood PCR assays, respectively. Positive results in ELISA, Blood PCR and Biopsy PCR in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients were found in 21(84%), 6(24%), 4(16%) and 16(84.2%), 6(31.6%), 2(10.5%) of specimens, respectively. No significant differences in EBV detection were found between these two patient groups (p values for ELISA, Blood PCR and Biopsy PCR were 0.26, 0.73 and 0.68, respectively).
Conclusion: Comparison of ELISA and Blood PCR results in children and adult patients with the same age of controls have showed difference in ELISA results of children, only. None of the test results have showed statistically significant difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients. However, the mean of ELISA results in Hodgkin patients was higher as compared with controls. Blood PCR assay cannot be recommended as a biomarker of disease activity in EBV positive Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: There are millions of children around the world living on the street. They are at higher risk of physical, sexual and drug abuse, and have no access to health care facilities. Therefore they are at risk of viral infections such as HCV and HIV. The aim of this study was determining the prevalence of HCV and HIV infection in Isfahan street children (2005-2007).
Methods: The cross-sectional study was taken place on 386 street children through a nonprobable-convenience sampling method. They were requested to answer a questionnaire (demographic and behavioral data), and then they were tested for anti HCV and anti HIV antibodies.
Results: Among 386 street children, 270 (70%) were boys and the mean age was 12.62±3.23 years. The majority of them, 267 cases (69%), were on the street for financial reasons. 353 (91.7%), 366 (94.8%) and 375 (97.2%) of them had no history of smoking, using alcohol or substance addiction, respectively. 40 (34.5%) of girls and 12 (4.4%) of boys (p<0.0001) were engaged in sex and 79 (68%) of girls and 46 (17%) of boys (p<0.0001) were involved in physical fighting. All of the children had negative serology for HIV infection. Nevertheless, four of them (1%) were positive for HCV Ab.
Conclusion: The knowledge of street children about high risk behaviors and the infectious diseases should be improved through educational programs. They need also legal, social and health support.