Tehran University Medical Journal

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To evaluate the effectiveness of conjugated estrogen (Premarin) and progesterone in twenty-one postmenopausal women who had been menopause one year, we tested during a 6-month period the serum lipoprotein levels in subjects who offered by premarin in dosage of 0.625 milligram for days 1 to 25 and oral medroxy progestrone acetste for days 15 to 25 of a 30-day cycle. Twenty-one subjects completed at least 6-month follow-up serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerid (TG) measurements by calorimetric method. The results, six months after treatment, is compared to before treatment. The median change in biochemical studies showed significant decrease in serum total cholesterol (248.85 compared with 229.4, P<0.001) serum LDL-cholesterol (155.7 compared with 130.6, P<0.05), but significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol (53.46 compared with 61.46, P<0.05) TG and VLDL levels did not occur. We concluded that conjugated estrogen is effective on serum total cholesterol, LDL and HLDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women

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102 patients with ascites were enrolled in a sonographic study of abdomen and pelvis without awaring of history, clinical and paraclinical findings. So with only sonographic finding we suggested the diagnosis and etiology of ascites. All patients were hospitalized. Finally all the patients were diagnosed definitely and were compared with sonographic diagnoses done before. Results: In this survey 42% of patients had cirrhosis, 20.5% had malignancy, 14.7% had renal disease. Overall sensivity of sonography in diagnosing etiology was 91.1%, overall specifity was 97.8%, overall accuracy was 94.4%. Sensivity, specifity and accuracy of each group have also been determined separately.

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Indacrinone is a loop diuretic which also has uricosuric, kaliuretic, saliuretic and natriuretic effects. Since it has been reported that this drug has several actions in different organs, we decided to evaluate its mechanism of action on the rat jejunum smooth muscle. After preparation of the tissues, different concentrations of indacrinone were applied. Doses of 8.2×10^-6 M, 2.7×10^-5 M, 8.2×10^-5 M and 2.7×10^-4 M were all effective in a dose dependent manner to relax the muscle. Increase in the drug concentration resulted in much faster reduction in twitch amplitude. The jejunum is innervated by adernergic, cholinergic, serotonergic and histaminergic systems. To find the mechanism of action of indacrinone in rat jejunum, experiments were conducted by appropriate receptor agonists and antagonists of the above systems. There was a marked increase in muscle contraction tone and ampliture by the use of histamine, while indacrinone prevented the increase induced by histamine. It was concluded that indacrinone may be a competitive antagonist for histamin receptors in rat jejunum muscle.

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Between 1990-97 two hundered children referred to our department with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for renal replacement therapy. The ages of these children were 1-14 years (mean 8.14). There was no significant difference in incidence of ESRD between two sexes. We evaluated these children for the causes of ESRD. The most common causes were: Pylonephritis and congenital anomalies of urinary tract (35.5%), glomerular diseases (22.5%) and hereditary kidney diseases (13.5%).

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Systemic sclerosis is a generalized disorder of connective tissue, in which the pattern of disease extent, progression and outcome is heterogenous. To determine clinical features, disease extent and progression, we studied our patients in two phases of disease early (the first 3 years) and late phases (after 6 years of disease). 19 patients had diffuse cutaneous and 34 patients had limited cutaneous scleroderma. In patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma, disease progression has occurred mostly in the early phase of disease, but in patients with limited cutaneous scleroderma, disease progression was slow and incidious, so disease progression has occurred mostly in the late phase of the disease, thus raynaud's phenomenon, telangiectasia, hyperpigmentation and esophagitis were observed more in the late phase of the disease (statistically significant). In comparison of two groups, early and extensive organ involvement was observed in patients with diffuse cutaneous sclerodema.

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Squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer of keratinocytes origin, mostly involves sun-exposed areas of the skin. To study the pathologic and demographic features of this disease, records of 395 patients of squamous cell carcinoma of skin and lip were reviewed. Most of the patients (83%) aged 40 years or more at the time of diagnosis. Respectively, 74.4% and 75.8% of cases with skin and lower lip carcinoma were men, but in upper lip cases frequencies of both sexes were equal. The number of patients referred from western and north-western provinces were much more than those of other provinces of the country. The most frequent histologic stage was grade I (53% and 58.8% in skin and lip carcinoma, respectively), showing that most patients visit physicians early enough, and are diagnosed in early stages of the disease.

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Infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. It has been reported that poorly controlled patients are more susceptible to infection, hence we examined the chemiluminescence of leukocytes from Insulin dependent diabetic patients in response to a soluble (Phorbol meristate acetate) and particular stimulus (Opsonized zymosan). The patients were divided into 2 separate groups, only controlled and well controlled, in regard to their blood glucose. Using PMA as a stimulus leukocytes from both groups, patients showed no significant difference comparing with healthy controls, but that of the 2 groups of patients were significantly different (P<0.05). When opsonized zymosan was used as the stimulus, no statistically significant difference was observed between all of the coupled groups. However, the chemiluminescence of leukocytes from poorly controlled patients was lower than the other groups.

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This is retrospective double-blind research, which was carried out in Imam Khomeini hospital in order to study the accuracy of color Doppler ultrasonography for detecting the site and grade of stenosis in cervical carotid artery. 40 patients with mean age of 62 years studied with color Doppler before DSA angiography. The most common sites of stenosis were left internal carotid (39.5%) and right internal carotid arteries (38.4%). We measured peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities (PSA and EDV) and ratios of PSA and EDV at stenosis sites to CCA (PSV ratio and EDV ratio). Results showed that PSA has the highest sensitivity and accuracy in all grades of stenosis: Mild to moderate stenosis: Sensitivity (90.5%), accuracy (89.5%) Severe stenosis: Sensitivity (82.1%), accuracy (92.8%) Total occlusion: Sensitivity (93.8%), accuracy (96.5%). There is no difference between accuracy of Doppler parameters for detection of total occlusion (96.5%) but in other grades after PSV, EDV (Mild-moderate 86%, severe 87.2%). EDV ratio and PSV ratio (Mild-moderate both 84.8%, severe both 86%) have the highest accuracies. We concluded that color Doppler sonography can reliability detect stenosis in carotid arteries & PSV has the highest accuracy.

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This study was conducted on 48 specimens of Rectus abdominis muscles for recognition and definition of passage and ramification of lower intercostal nerves. The main results of this study are as follows: 1- The seventh and eight intercostal nerves penetrated to posterior layer of the Rectus sheath while other intercostal nerves perforated to dorsal layer of internal oblique abdominis aponeurosis. 2- Distance between lateral border of the Rectus abdominis muscle till penetrate point for all nerves were 18±1 mm, but the subcostal nerve was 16±1 mm. 3- Each intercostal nerve was ramified in thickness of muscle and formed many branches that maximum of this was middle longitudinal region and minimum of that was lateral longitudinal region. In addition we did not observe the nerve anastomosis between intercostal nerves. 4- The lower primary branch of the intercostal nerve after piercing of anterior layer of the Rectus sheath was named anterior cutaneous branch and terminated to abdominal skin. 5- All of intercostal nerves at first was placed right angle to muscle fibers but immediately decrease its and was placed parallel to muscle fibers. 6- The entrance, passage and ramification of intercostal nerves in both male and female cadavers were similar.

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Between 1371 to 1379, of 10 patients with radial tunnel syndrome, 9 patients were treated by decompression of the posterior interosseous nerve. 8 patients were followed up more than 10 months. One patient improved without surgery. Half of the patients suffered from pain and all of them had variable degrees of paralysis in muscles innervated by deep branch of the radial nerve. The syndrome was diagnosed after an average of 26 months after onset of symptoms. 3 patients had associated endocrine disease and 2 patients suffered from another accompanied compression neuropathy. 8 patients performed strenuous, repetitive upper extremity tasks. EMG confirmed the diagnosis in all patients. The source of nerve entrapment was identified as the arcade of Frohse in 4 patients. Malignant soft tissue tumor was responsible for nerve compression in one patient. More than one pathologic site was responsible for nerve entrapment in another 4 patients. Of 8 patients with enough follow-up after operation, pain was improved in all, but paralysis was improved in only half of them. According to ritts criteria, results were good in 50% of patients and in 50% of patients results were bad. All bad results were due to persistence of paralysis in affected muscles. One of four patients who had no improvement in paralysis, was satisfied with surgical result because tendon transfer was performed at the time of nerve decompression. It is recommended that all possible sites of nerve compression in the radial tunnel be explored and released.

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There are many studies about epidural fibrosis after surgical manipulation of the spine. We have studied formation of the post laminectomy epidural fibrosis after application of two materials (Silicone and Teflon) in this report. This expriment is on two groups of rats. Two separated laminectomies were done in each rat, one serving as control while in the other laminectomy spaces Silicone was used in group A and Teflon in group B. Laminectomy spaces were evaluated with gross dissection and histologic studies after 6 weeks. Silicone decreased intermuscular scar, deep scar, dural adhesion and collagen fiber density in epidural space. Teflon decreased dural adhesion and collagen fiber density but did not decrease intermuscular and deep scar formation in epidural space.

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Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is the most prominent causative agent of gastroduodenal diseases all over the world. Other manifestations such as urticaria and coronary heart diseases, also are suspected to be induced by H.pylori. Non invasive methods are preferred for diagnosis and ELISA, because of its reliability, speed, sensitivity and specificity is widely preferred as diagnostic tool. Previously we have used IFA, and here, we report an indirect ELISA technique for H.pylori diagnosis. First, 9 strains, of H.pylori isolated from biopsies, were cultured, and the soluble crude antigen was used to coat ELISA plates. Antigen concentration and conjugated antiserum dilution were optimised using checker board method. In this study the gold standard was: rapid urease test, culture and direct smear. Patient serum dillution and the cut-off value was determind, using 22 negative and 30 positive confirmed samples according to ROC curve and the results were compared with a commercial kit. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were 93.2 percent and 95.4 percent respectively. A commercial ELISA Kit, was used and compared simultaneously. The sensitivity and specificity were 87.8 percent and 73 percent respectively. Therefore, regarding the acceptable sensitivity and specificity, ease of work of ELISA, being economical and non-invasive, it can be employed in diagnosis of H.pylori infection and also in epidemiological studies.

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The medical septal area (MSA) provides the major cholinergic projection to the hippocampus which is critical for function of the memory. Different brain areas through the MSA modulates septohippocampal functions. This study was designed to determin origins of inputs to this area. For this purpose, stereotaxic injections of one microliter HRP (25 percent, Sigma) by Hamilton syringe to the medical septal area were performed in 8 rats. Following brain tissue fixation, sectioning and enzyme histochemical reaction, the labeled neurons were detected microscopically. Retrogradely labeled perikarya observed ipsilaterally in diagonal band of Broca, lateral septum, hippocampus, subfornical area and ventral pallidum in the telencephalon, lateral preoptic area, lateral hipothalamicarea/tuber cinereum, posterior hypothalamus, submammillothalamic, supramammillary and lateral mammillary nuclei in the diencephalons, ventral tegmental area, interpeduncular nucleus, central grey area and locus coerruleus and also bilaterally in raphe nuclei of the brain stem regions. Based on this results, in addition to learning processes, MSA through its connections with subfornical and lateral hypothalamic area can also support the physiological mechanisms for dipsogenic, electrolytic, and pressor responses in living animals.

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Background: Cyclosporin A (CsA) is now commonly used in the management of children with steroid-dependent and steroid resistant nephoitic syndrome. It has been reported to be effective in maintaining remission in 70-100 percent of patients with SDNS but somewhat SRNS 0-100 percent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of long-term (CsA) in children with refractory nephrotic syndrome (RNS) and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS).

Materials and Methods: The long-term effect of (CsA) in 91 Iranian children aged 3 months to 11 years (54 with RNS and 37 with SDNS) was assessed between 1984 and 1999. Eighty of 91 children received renal biopsy prior to introduction of (CsA), and the other 11 patients had not consent for kidney biopsy. If the patients did not show remission aftre receiving 3-6 months of (CsA), the medication was discontinued.

Results: All patient were treated with (CsA) in combination with low dose alternate day prednisolone. In children with RNS and SDNS, therapy with (CsA) induced, remission in 25 of 54 (46.2 percent) and 27 of 37 (73 percent) respectively (P<0.02). Of the 32 patients with minimal change disease (MCD), 23 (72 percent) responded to therapy, compared with 4 of 18 (22 percent) with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (P<0.005). Twenty-four (48 percent) of 50 who entered complete remission, had relapse 1-12 months after cessation of (CsA). The duration between the onset of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and administration of (CsA) and sexuality of patients had no effect in result of treatment. Side effects occurred in 25 patients (27.4 percent). No patients exhibited raised transaminases, 8 (8.7 percent) of the children developed hirsutism, 7 (7.6 percent) hypertension, 7 (7.6 percent) gingival hyperplasia, (2.2 percent) neurological toxicity and 1 (1 percent) increase in serum creatinine.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that (CsA) can be used to induce a complete remission in a significant proportion of patients with RNS and SDNS, and patients with SDNS have areasonable potential for remission than children with RNS. Resistant to steroid and cyclophosphamid.

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Introduction: The bone mass density (BMD) may vary in different countries due to different genetic and environmental factors. This study was performed to determine the BMD of the normal population in Iran.

Methods and Materials: Subjects were selected randomly from different works and social classes in Tehran (from the lowest to the highest). For each decade and sexes, 20 normal subjects were selected (140 men and 140 women). BMD was measured with a Hologic 1000 plus machine by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method for the lumber spine (L1, L2, L3, L4, L1-L4) and the femoral neck (neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, ward, total). Data were treated by polynomial approximation (3 rd degree). The obtained curves were compared with the standard Hologic curves for Caucasians.

Results: In female the peak bone mass (PBM) was 1.019 g/cm² for the lumbar spine and 0.832 for the femoral neck. In male the peak bone mass (PBM) was 0.987 g/cm² for the lumbar spine and 0.907 for the femoral neck. The BMD of both lumbar spine and femoral neck were lower than the Hologic standards. For the lumbar spine the mean difference was 6.5 percent (2 to 21 percent, CI=1) for women and 13.8 percent (2 to 36 percent, CI=1.45) for men. In femoral neck the mean difference was 5.4 percent (2 to 16 percent, CI=0.96) for women and 4.6 percent (1 to 14 percent, CI=0.96) for men.

Conclusion: The BMD of the lumbar spine and the femoral neck was lower in Iranian compared to the Hologic standards for Caucasians. This was seen in all age groups and in both sexes. It was less pronounced for the PBM in spine was lower in men than woman. The lower BMD of the spine in men was also seen in a cohort of patients with different diseases (inflammatory and non-inflammatory).

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Introduction: Thyroid diseases are one of the most common endocrine diseases. Incidence of thyroid diseases in women is ten times more than men. Menstrual irregularities and fertility is occasionally the first sign of thyroid diseases.

Materials and methods: In a prospective study, 325 thyroid patients were evaluated in Emam hospital. Incidence and type of menstrual irregularities were evaluated in these patients.

Results: 55.8 percent of hypothyroid patients had normal pattern ob bleeding. 44.2 hyper thyroid patients had menstrual irregularities which were in the form of oligomenorrhea and 41.7 percents of hypo-thyroid patients were irregular in the form of polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and menorrhagia.

Conclusion: In these patients, menstrual irregularities cured by treatment of thyroid diseases and reduced surgical interventions.

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Introduction: Clinical manifestations of primary hyper-para-thyroidism (pHPT) had been dramatically changed during last 25 years. Evaluation of changes in clinical findings was the aim of this study.

Materials and methods: In a retrospective, descriptive case series, patients' records of all 47 pHPT (44 females, 3 males) from 1988 till 1998 were studied. Patients’ clinical presentations, signs and symptoms, laboratory and radiologic findings were reviewed and the results were compared with 34 patients' studied during 1978-1987. Serum Ca>10.5 mg/dl with increased or high normal PTH were the diagnostic criteria of pHPT.

Results: Patients’ age range was 11-70 and mean ±SD was 38±16 years, with a female to male ratio of 14:1. 57 percent of the patients had bone pain and muscle weakness, 12 percent were asymptomatic, 10 percent had pathologic fractures, 8 percent had renal stones, 8 percent had symptoms of hypercalcemia, and 2 percent had giant cell lesion. The mean±SD of serum calcium was 11.48±1.16 mg/dl, phosphorus was 2.4±0.6 mg/dl and 24-h urinary Ca was 294±197 mg. Serum PTH was increased from 1.5 to 500 folds. The frequency of single adenoma in right inferior, left inferior, and left superior gland were 43 percent, 30 percent, and 13 percent respectively.

Conclusion: In the study 12 percent of patients were asymptomatic whereas there was no asymptomatic case in the previous study. Prevalence of severe bone disease and the interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was also reduced. According to this study detection of pHPT in asymptomatic phase remarkably increased.

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Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease in childhood and adolescence. It has significant effects on growth and development of the involved patients.
Many studies have proved that in long term, diabetes causes an obviously decreased bone mass and linear growth in affected patients. Various studies have been done to determine the cause of these problems. In diabetic patients various degrees of calcium loss in urine have been detected.
Normally, the amount of calcium loss in urine of general population is less than 4 mg/kg/day, and the Ca/Cr ratio in a random urine sample is less tan 0.25.
Hypercalciuria may be the underlying cause of osteopenia and linear growth defect in diabetic children.
In our study, the urinary calcium loss of 50 diabetic children was determined. We tried to find a correlation between the amount of calcium loss in urine and plasma glucose.
These patients have been referred to Children's Medical Center during a 6 month period in year 2000. They had very higher incidence of hypercalciuria than the non-diabetic population, but we found no significant correlation between the severity of hypercalciuria and seventy of hyperglycemia in them.

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Introduction: In the patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) bacteriologic assessment of sputum for detection of acid bacilli (AFB) Has essential role. This evaluation is accomplished by direct sputum smear & sputum culture. These examinations must be done in regular and preferably monthly after beginning of treatment. These tests have two important aims, including, determining of treatment efficacy & duration of isolation.
Methods and Materials: Most of the studies have that classic six month regimen led to sputum smear conversion & negative sputum culture in 85% of patient. This treatment regimen has two phases, including, attack phase and maintenance phase. In the attack phase we use four drugs, including, Isoniazid (INH), Rifampin (RMP), Pyrazinamide (PZA) and Ethambutol (EMB) for the first 2 months and if necessary until the end of third month. In the maintenance phase we use INH and Rif for the remaining of treatment course. The main objectives of this study were to determine the time needed for smear conversion and assessment of probable factors which may influence the smear conversion until 4 months after beginning of therapy. The factors that were assessed, were, Age, nationality, sex, clinical symptoms, underlying diseases, chest radiography (number of cavities), smoking, drug abuse and concentration of AF13 in the sputum Generally, we did this cross sectional study on the patient's records, who had been observed in Imam Khomeni Hospital, west health service center and masih daneshvary hospital between.
Results: This study showed that from totally 218 patients, 138(74.6%) patients had sputum conversion at the first 2 months of treatment and until the end of 3rd & 4th month this rate reached to 83.3% respectively. So in the end of fourth month only 32(14.7%) patients did not show sputum smear conversion. On the other hand this study showed that two factors including presence of cavities in chest radiography & concentration of AFB in the sputum are influencing this rate strongly.
Conclusion: Role of other factors such as age, nationality , Smoking, diabetes mellitus and weigh loss are controversial and another studies are necessary for confirming their roles. Other factors including sex, clinical symptoms has not been show to be important. Some factors such as drug abuse and immunosuppresive therapy has not been assessed in this study, because number of cases were not enough for statistical analysis.

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Intra-operative measurement of intact Parathyroid hormone (iPTH) using a rapid assay technique is useful as an aid in determining adequacy of resection and leads to reduce re-operative cases.
Materials and Methods: In a prospective case series study, PTH level determined before and after (intra-operative and one day after) Parathyroidectomy in 34 patients with primary hyperthyroidism that refer to Shariati hospital during 18 months between year 2000 and 2001.
Results: The average PTH levels before and after parathyroidectomy were 563 pgr/lit and 121 pgr/lit. All patients had significant decrease in PTH levels after Parathroidectomy (mean = 78%). One day after operation, this level decreased to 42 pgr/lit (mean = 87% decrease compared with before operation)
Conclusion: In this study, like the same other studies from other countries there was significant decrease in PTH levels in rapid intra-operative assay that can demonstrate the reliability of PTH monitoring for intra-operative management and overall operative success rates.