Soroush Ar, Modaghegh Mhs, Karbakhsh M, Zarei Mr,
Volume 64, Issue 8 (8-2006)
Abstract
Background: Drug abuse has been known as a growing contributing factor to all types of trauma in the world. The goal of this article is to provide insight into demographic and substance use factors associated with trauma and to determine the prevalence of drug abuse in trauma patients.
Methods: Evidence of substance abuse was assessed in trauma patients presenting to Sina trauma hospital over a 3-month period. They were interviewed and provided urine samples to detect the presence of drug/metabolites of opium, morphine, cannabis and heroin by “Morphine Check” kits. Demographic data, mechanisms of injury, history of smoking and drug abuse were recorded.
Results: A total of 358 patients with a mean age of 28.4 years were studied. The Patients were predominantly male (94.7%). There was a history of smoking in 136 cases (38%). 58 cases (16.2%) reported to abuse drugs (91.5% opium). The commonest route of administration was smoke inhalation (37.2%). Screening by Morphine Check test revealed 95 samples to be positive (26.5%). The preponderance of test-positive cases was among young people (of 20-30 years of age) with a history of smoking. Victims of violence and those with penetrating injuries also showed a higher percentage of positive screens (P=0.038 and P<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: These results suggest that drug abuse is a contributing factor to trauma especially in violent injuries and among the young. Regarding the considerable prevalence of drug abuse among trauma patients, it’s highly recommended that all trauma patients be screened for illicit drugs
Sadeghipour H, Ghasemi M, Dehghani M, Nobakht M, Dehpour Ar,
Volume 66, Issue 6 (9-2008)
Abstract
Background: Relaxation of the corpus cavernosum plays an important role in penile erection. Previous studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO) appears to be the most important relaxant involved in the erection process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cholestasis in nNOS and eNOS activity of corpus cavernosum.
Methods: forty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into seven groups: control, sham operated, 2-, 7-, and 14-day bile duct-ligated animals, 7-day bile duct-ligated chronically treated with L-NAME (3mg/kg/day, i.p.) and 7-day bile duct-ligated animals chronically treated with Naltrexone (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.). The animals in each group were killed and the cavernosal tissues analyzed histologically by light and transmission electron microscopy, with NOS activity detected on NANC nerves and endothelium using an NADPH-diaphorase staining technique.
Results: our results showed that NADPH diaphorase staining in corporal NANC nerves and endothelium of sham-operated and control group had equal intensity. The staining was more intense in 2-day cholestatic rats than in control group, the staining intensity increased in 7-, and 14-day groups too. There were no significant differences between control group and 7-day cholestatic rats that had been treated chronically with L-NAME or Naltrexone.
Conclusions: These results state that in corpus cavernosum of cholestatic rats there is a time-dependent increase in NOS activity of the corporal NANC nerves and endothelium. inhibition of nitric oxide and endogenous opioids by L-NAME or Naltrexone during cholestasis may play a key role in preventing the adverse effects of cholestasis.
