Tehran University Medical Journal

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We report our experience with 124 patients were referred 70 our urology clinic in Sina hospital for urinary retention. Serum PSA analyzed by using a monoclonal assay. All patients underwent digital rectal examination. The patients devided in 3 groups: Group 1 (87 men) with a serum PSA level less than 4 ng/ml, group 2 (26 men) with a serum PSA level 4-10 ng/ml and group 3 (11 men) with a serum PSA level greater than 10 ng/ml. After prostate biopsy and trans urethral resection or open prostatectomy, of the 87 men in group 1, one man had cancer of the prostate, of the 26 men in group 2, 2 men had cancer of the prostate and of the 11 men in group 3, 9 men had prostate cancer.

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The incidence of failed intubation is higher in obstetric than other surgical patients. Failed intubation was the 2nd commonest cause of mortality during anesthesia. Bearing in mind that failre to intubate may be unavoidable in certain circumstances, it is worth reviewing. The factors, which may contribute to a disastrous out come. Priorities of subsequent management must include maintaining oxygenation and preventing aspiration of gastric contents. Fiber optic intubation is now the technique of choice with a high success rate and with least trauma to the patient.

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100 patients (93 females and 7 males) in ages ranging between 23 and 65 years were subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary colic (92 pts), acute cholecystitis (7 pts) or asymptomatic gallstones (1 pt). None had a history of icterus and in every case choledocholithiasis was excluded by means of serum alkaline phosphatase assessment and sonography (In addition to ERCP in 3 pts). 3 operations were converted to open cholecystectomy (Because of uncertainty about anatomy in 1 pt, extensive adhesions in 1 pt, and persistent bleeding in 1 pt). Mean operation time was 80 min. 90 patients were discharged on the 2nd post-operative day. Apart from 2 pts who were readmitted (For omental evisceration in 1 pt and sub hepatic hematoma in 1), complications were limited to minor complaints. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure in the hands of a skilled surgeon who is aware of anatomic variations and is always prepared to liberally convert the operation to an open cholecystectomy

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This study was performed in order to improve the knowledge about Craniopharyngioma tumors, and tried to present extensive datas about the signs and symptoms, the clinical process and the treatments and their complications of the patients with Craniopharyngioma, admitted in the hospitals of Tehran university during 15 years (1355-70). Ultimately, these datas have been compared with those in the reputable books and new medical papers And the results are present at the end of the discussion. Undoubtedly, this study is not free of the limitations of retrospective studies. Our patients-contrary to the textbooks are predominantly males And also their most common chief complaints are neurological manifestations, and headache (82%) is the most common one. There is only a little difference in the prevalence of some of the endocrinologic and ophthalmic manifestations between our datas and what in the texts, while, in some others, we can see a great diversity between the 2. For instance, decreased libido in men and amenorrhea in women, among our patients are prominently less than what we study in the books And blood pressure disturbances, sensory and motor symptoms and urinary incontinence have not been seen in our patients. In most cases, CT scan leads to diagnosis and its diagnostic accuracy in 2 times higher than that of the simple radiography and it can show the sella enlargement obviously. In a majority of cases (More than 95%), excision a part of the tumor (From just limited to the biopsy area to 90% of tumor mass) was the only therapeutic measure. In only a few patients, tumor excision was followed by radiotherapy, that showed the better results. The most common delayed complication was the recurrence of the disease.

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Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and proliferative skin disease that has a wide distribution throughout the world. The immune system plays a critical role in developing this disease. In this survey, we have studied 50 patients suffering from Psoriasis and 50 control subjects for various immunological factors, simultaneously. Anti-stratum corneum (SC) antibody was evaluated by immunofluorescent technique that showed a high significant level of it in patients (P<0.005). The titer of immunoglobulins (IgG, M, and A) measured by radial-immunodiffusion (RID) method was also higher in normal population. CIC estimated by PEG precipitating technique demonstrated high concentration in patients. TNF, a cytokine with strong performance to induce inflammation, had no significant rising amount in patient sera, but in synovial fluid in Psoriasis arthritis may have higher levels. We discuss that due to immunological findings we consider that Psoriasis is probably as an autoimmune disorder. The prevention, treatment and prognosis of the disease may follow the same procedures as other autoimmune diseases and further investigation will be helpful to achieve the above goal

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The purpose of this study was the utilization of different methods of tissue culture in proliferation of epithelial cells and autologous graft to cover surface areas without skin specifically, which is due to thermal burns more than 50%. In this experience we performed from rabbits and success to cover almost 24 times original donor site with autograft.

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In this study, counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and latex agglutination (LA) were employed to evaluate rapid detection of streptococcus group B (GBS) specific antigens in sera, urines, CSF and patient's blood cultures of infants suspected of septicemia and meningitidis. Out of 530 specimens which were investigated 73 blood cultures were found to be positive, including 4 (5.5%) specimens from these infants were positive for strep group B. GBS was also detected in the CSF of 1 specimen from these 4 infants. CIE was conducted on sera, urines and CSF of these patients and the number of positive specimens were found to be 3, 3 and 1 respectively. LA was also conducted on the same specimens and the number of positive specimens were found to be 3, 4 and 1 respectively. Detection of GBS specific antigens by LA and CIE on the supernatants of blood cultures after 24 hours incubation showed that all the 4 specimens were positive an indication that the sensitivity of these two imunological methods in 100%.

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AVNRT, (Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia), atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter are 3 kinds of supraventricular tachycardia, which their mechanism are explained based on reentry. A 60-years-old man is presented with all of the above-mentioned arrhythmias, responsive to intravenous injection of adenosine. Radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway territories cured all of them. Therefore, we suggest that there was a common pathway among all kinds of these arrhythmias, which were ablated with single RF lesion.

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Pseudomembrane colitis (PMC) and antibiotic associated colitis (AAC) are acute disease of the colon. In the case of in adequate treatment, the disease will often become chronic and my lead to the dysplasia of the epithelial cells of the infected areas. Previously because of poor knowledge. Treatment in this case, one of the method for treatment was surgical ablation of the large intestine while the patients could have been treated with oral vancomycin. In this study the following results were obtained: Out of 2517 enterocolitis patients under study, 1384 were men and 1133 women. By anaerobic culture method, 132 cases C.Difficile were isolated from the total samples and Hela cell culture method, toxin was determined in 36 samples (1.43%).

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The basis of acupuncture is still being studied from many different aspects. Some preliminary views include: 1) The analgesic function of acupuncture derives from the clashing of the biochemical lines of acupuncture and those of the pain stimulus in the transmitting processes of the central nervous system, the former overriding the latter. 2) Acupuncture strengthens the cerebral cortex's inhibiting processes and raises the pain threshold. 3) Acupuncture has an effect on the reticular structures of the brain stem and the limbic system of the cerebrum. 4) Acupuncture stimulates the sympathetic nerve centers of the hypothalamus, and it's functions are mediated by the sympathetic nerves. 5) Acupuncture's effect is transmitted through the chemicals in the body's fluids.

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This is a study of depressive features in 51 Iranian combatants suffering from PTSD. DSM III-R considers depressive symptoms as associated clinical features of this condition. DSM III and DSM III-R both accepted the strong evidence that PTSD is a form of anxiety and included it in the anxiety disorders category. It is true that many PTSD sufferers present with anxiety features similar to these present in generalized anxiety disorder (The same authors reported anxiety features in 94% of Iranian combatants 1991), but this similarity is true: For depressive features, 92% was found in present study. The findings are discussed in relation to previous studies of combat-related PTSD, both done in Iran or elsewhere.

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Different opinions exit in histological typing of bone cysts. Epidermoid cysts are very rare as the small numbers of published cases indicate. They arises following preceding trauma exclusively in distal phalanges and skull. The roentgenogram shows a round osteolytic resion with no trabecular pattern. We observed 2 cases of epidermoid cyst of finger in Imam Khomeini hospital central path department the patients were young workers complaining from local pain several months after trauma. Bone curettage was performed.

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Dorsal traumatic dislocation of metatarsophalangeal joint of great toe is a rare injury. Ability to reduce the dislocation by nonoperative measures depends largely on the type of dislocation and involvement of the sesamoid complex. There are three basic types of dislocations. Type I cases are usually irreducible on closed reduction, the metatarsal head being incarcerated by the conjoined tendons with their intact sesamoids. In type II, the sesamoid complex disruption usually pemits closed reduction. We present an irreducible dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint with fibular sesamoid fracture in an 80-year-old man. In addition, he had a concomitant dorsal dislocation of the second MTP of the same foot, to our knowledge only one case with this injury was reported in the literature.

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One method of drug smuggling is body packing or body stuffing, placement of narcotics (opium, heroin, hashish, …) inside intestinal tract for transfer from city to city or country to country. Estimating of the methods for transferring, content of packets, packaging, cause of death and results of diagnostic and therapeutic methods can effectively decrease the number of body packer and law execution. This study is case series by randomized sampling. Several parameters such as sex, age, marital status, addiction, job, level of education, type of opioids and their weight and number of packets, result of abdominal X-ray, surgery needs, were collected from April 1999 to December 2000. Through this period of time, 32 male smuggler who had swallowed drug packets were detained. The average age was 41 years (max=62, min=20). The minimum weight of the opium carried by this smugglers was below 20 gram and maximum weight was 1000 grams (median=360 grams). The minimum number of packets were one packet and maximum number of packets were 54 (median=10 packets). In 84 percent of body smugglers the content of packets was opium, 13 percent was heroin and 3 percent was hashish. From the cases, 81 percent of smugglers were addicts themselves. Death occurred in 7 cases from which 3 were after surgery.

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Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the common and major problems during neonatal period. Our propose was to determine the etiologic and predisposing factor in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. We analyzed the patients record of 312 neonate including 184 male and 128 female with median age of 16.5 days (range 6-28 days) in children medical center hospital at 1998. The main cause of hyperbilirubinemia in our study was breast feeding (76.6 percent), followed by sepsis (11.5 percent) and hypothyroidism (10.6 percent). Also other uncommon etiology of hyperbilirubinemia that were seen in our patients were TORCH, G6PD deficiency and cephalhematoma. The age of 60 out of our patients (19.2 percent) was 6 days and others were 7 days (15.7 percent), 8 days (14.4 percent) and only 2 out of 312 patients were at age of 28 days. According to our study we suggest that role of breast-feeding should be considered in any neonate with hyperbilirubinemia.

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This was a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with spinal disease in year 2000, who underwent posterior fusion and instrumentation with Harrington distraction and Cotrel-Dobousset system to evaluate causes of hardware failure. Many cases of clinical failure has been observed in spinal instrumentation used in spinal disorder like spondylolisthesis, fractures, deformities, … . Thirty six cases that were operated because of spinal disorders like spondylolisthesis, fractures, deformities, …, were included in this study. Seventeen of this cases had breakage of device. Factors like age at surgery, type of instrumentation, angles before and after surgery and …, were compared in two groups of patients. The most common instrument breakage was pedicle screw breakage. Pseudoarthrosis was the main factor that was presented in failure group (P value<0.001). Other important causes were, age of patient at surgery (P value=0.04), pedicle screw placement off center in the sagittal or coronal plane of the pedicle (P value=0.04). Instrumentation loads increased significantly as a direct result of variations in surgical technique that produce pseudoarthrosis, pedicle screw placement off center in the sagittal plane of the pedicle, or using less than 6 mm diameter screw. This factor can be prevented with meticulous surgical technique and using proper devices.

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In the past, coronary artery bypass grafting was the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic multi vessel coronary artery disease, but in recent years per cutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) accepted as an alternative approach to revascularization. To assess the initial success and in hospital results of coronary angioplasty of more than one lesion per procedure in patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease, a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent selective coronary angioplasty at Imam Khomeini medical center from 1994-1997 were peformed. From 1994 to 1997 per cutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were done in 257 patients, that 201 (78.2 percent) were male and their age range 23-73 years. The numbers of patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease were 98 (38.13 percent), that complete revascularization (PTCA of more than one lesion per procedure) underwent in 34 (13.58 percent) of them (27 men, 7 women, age: mean±SD 48±9.8 range 30-70). A total of 71 lesions were tried, that 22 (31 percent) were type A, 45 (63.4 percent) were type B, and 4 (5.6 percent) were type C. Among patients 21 (61.8 percent) had unstable angina and 13 (38.2 percent) had stable angina. Procedures were successful in 68 (95.8 percent) of lesions and 31 (91.2 percent) patients were discharged fro procedural complications included 3 (8.8 percent) non-Q wave myocardial infarction and no mortality. Without any complication, (success defined as residual stenosis <50 percent). As a conclusion, in selected patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease PTCA of more than one lesion per-procedure is effective and safe.

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Chronic Liver diseases in children is the result of many different diseases including: metabolic, genetic, infectious, toxic and idiopathic causes. This was a case series study on 133 infants and children with age range 6 month to 12 years old, who presented clinically with manifestation of chronic liver disease and were admitted to Children Hospital Medical Center from year 1999 to 2000. In this study, 32 (24.5 percent) patients had autoimmune chronic hepatitis, 15 (11.3 percent) Glycogen storage diseases, 12 (9 percent) extrahepatic biliary atresia, 11 (8.2 percent) willson disease, 10 (7.5 percent) cryptogenic cirrhosis, 6 (4.5 percent) chronic hepatitis C, 5 (3.8 percen) chronic hepatitic B, 5 (3.8 percent) galactosemia 3 (2.25 percent) congenital hepatic fibrosis, 3 (3.8 percent) histiocytosis X, 3 (2.25 percent) sclerosing cholangitis, 2 (1.5 percent) byler’s disease 2 (1.5 percent) primary tuberculosis, 1 (0.75 percent) choledocalcyst, 1 (0.75 percent) Alagyle syndrome. According to our data, chronic liver disease should be considered in infants and children. In our study, the most common causes are found to be: metabolic and genetic diseases (37.5 percent), chronic autoimmune hepatitis (24 percent) and biliary disorders (14 percent), that encompass 86 percent of the patients.

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Frozen section is a useful method in the diagnosis of different malignancies including those of thyroid origin. However, there are still controversies about its application, sensitivity and specificity for thyroid neoplasm. In this study, diagnostic value of frozen section (FS) was compared with permanent histopathologic and Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA). In this study, which was conducted in process research method, permanent sample, FNA, and frozen section results in 214 patients was compared. All of these 214 patients had been seeking medical evaluation for thyroid nodules between years 1997 and 1999 in Shariati hospital. All pathologic evaluations were performed by pathology staff of this hospital. Permanent pathology was considered as the gold standard so the specificity, sensitivity and diagnostic precision of FNA and FS were evaluated on the basis of its results. We use Macnemar test for this purpose. The number of patients during this period were 214 (160 women and 54 men). Mean age of our patients was 42.3±5.4 and their age ranged between 12 to 84 years. Pathologic results revealed that 163 of the patients (76 percent) had benign lesions, and 51 of them (24 percent) had malignant lesions. Thyroid malignancies comparised papillary carcinoma (70 percent), follicular carcinoma (13.5 percent), papilofollicular carcinoma (6 percent), medulary carcinoma (6 percent), Hurtle cell carcinoma (4 percent) and anaplastic carcinoma (5 percent). FNA was done in all of the patients before surgery and was able to determine the status of nodules in 150 patients. Sensitivity, specificity and precision of FNA in these 150 patients were 72, 96 and 90 percents respectively. When FNA was unable to determine the status of a nodule (64 remaining patients), FS was applied to do the job. A sensitivity of 36 percent, specificity of 85 percent and precision of 73 percent was found in this group of patients. Macnemar test showed that there is no significant difference between FNA and FS methods. This study showed: when FNA is not conclusive, FS will not bring any further benefit. It seems that only in suspicious cases of papillary, undifferentiated and medulary carcinomas, FS can be useful in certifying the results of FNA and choosing the appropriate surgical plan. We should wait for permanent sample reports in the case of follicular or Hurtle cell carcinoma.