Tehran University Medical Journal

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Despite the role of oral corticosteroids in management of sever asthma, use of these drugs needs careful awareness of its many side effects. There are controversies about the role of methotrexate in lowering the need for corticosteroides in these patients. In this study an attempt has been made to determine methotrexate effects in corticosteroid dependent asthma. Six patients were entered in a double-blind placebo controlled crossover trial and randomly allocated to two groups. Each group got a 12 weeks course of treatment with 15 milligrams of methotrexate or placebo which thereafter was changed to the other regimen. In comparison with placebo, methotrexate caused a 62.5% less need for oral corticosteroid (P<0.01) and a 20% increase in FEV1 (P<0.05). We concluded that the use of low doses of oral methotrexate results in less need for oral corticosteroid in treatment of corticosteroid dependent asthma.

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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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Background: The aim of this study was to provide data, on the distribution or intraocular pressure (IOP) in Tehran population.

Materials and Methods: Through a population-based, cross-sectional study, a total of 4565 Tehran citizens were studied in the Tehran Eye Study. The findings of the participants (n=3834) 10 years and older free of glaucoma diagnosis or suspicion who had undergone applanation tonometry examination are presented. All participants received a standardized protocol included applanation tonometry, and some other ocular measurements, fundus examination, demographic data and an interview. IOP measurement was used to evaluate its distribution by age, sex, and some eye parameters.   ‎

Results: Mean ± SO IOP was 14.5±2.6 in the total population, 14.4±2.7 in men, and 14.5±2.5 in women. Normal range (mean±2SD) of IOP was determined to be 9.3 - 19.7 mmHg. IOP increased significantly with age and cup-disc ratio except for a fall in old ages. This relationship was also observed when we analyzed individuals without diabetes or hypertension history. IOP increased with darker eye pigmentation except for blue/gray eyes. There was a non-linear ‎increase of IOP from emmetropic to high myopic eyes. ‎

Conclusion: Mean and/or normal range of IOP and their associations have been reported with wide differences in various studies. It is wise that studies evaluate IOP distribution or associations in healthy people and glaucoma people separately and also report the prevalence of IOP risk factors in their population to allow for a logical comparison of studies.

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Background and Aim: Measuring the outcome of chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis is an important factor in assessment of disease impact on different dimensions of quality of life and in evaluation of therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study was to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the MSIS-29 which is a MS-specific outcome measure for Iranian patients.

Materials and Methods: The Iranian adaptation process of the MSIS-29 included 5 steps. To evaluate psychometric properties of the translated version, the questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of 96 patients with clinically definite MS referred to our out-patient clinic. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a sub-sample consisted of 30 patients. These patients completed the questionnaire on two occasions separated by a 7-day interval. The Iranian version of the SF-36 was also administered to this sub-sample in order to evaluate the validity of translated MSIS-29.

 Results: Statistical analysis indicated that the Persian version of the MSIS-29 had high internal consistency (cronbach’s alpha coefficients > 0.70) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.70) and a good validity.

Conclusion: The Persian version of the MSIS-29 is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring MS outcome in Iranian patients. It can be used in clinical trials and cross-sectional studies.

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Background: Fasciolosis is a worldwide disease with major economic and public health consequences. Early detection of the infection is important for the prevention and control of the disease. ELISA allows for early detection of fasciolosis in man and animals. Fasciolosis is caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica in man and domestic animals respectively. These two species have many similar morphological characteristics. In this study, the crude antigens of these two species are investigated by ELISA test.

Methods: The excretory-secretory and somatic antigens of two species were prepared from adult flukes collected from the bile ducts of sheep and stored at -20^oC. For the preparation of the antisera, the antigens were injected to laboratory-bred rabbits. Each rabbit received five injections at intervals of seven days, starting with 0.5 ml and ending with 2.5 ml. Ten days after the last injection, the rabbits were bled, and serum samples separated and stored at -20^oC. The reaction between homologous and heterologous antigens and antisera was tested by ELISA and optical densities were recorded.

Results: Excretory- secretory and somatic antigens of each species showed a strong positive reaction with the antisera of the other species. In a homologous combination of antigens and antisera, a stronger reaction was observed compared to the heterologous combination, therefore many antigenic materials of both species are the same.

Conclusion: The differences of these crude antigenic materials of F. hepatica and F. gigantica are insufficient to prevent cross reaction of two species by ELISA. Further investigations are recommended for the identification, detection and purification of antigenic material of each species to improve the specificity of this assay.

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Background: The Ross procedure has been known as a good method for aortic valve replacement. Pulmonary allograft postoperative stenosis subsequent to the Ross procedure has been noted as an important disadvantage of this technique, although risk factors related to this complication are not clearly recognized. In this study we evaluate the risk factors of pulmonary allograft stenosis after Ross procedure.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out on 42 patients who underwent the Ross procedure. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was repaired using pulmonary allografts 22.7±2.5 mm in diameter. Echocardiographic and clinical examinations were performed for all patients at six and 12 months after surgery. Echocardiographic data as well as data related to the allografts were recorded.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 28.5±10 years. Postoperative pulmonary valve stenosis was detected in 13 patients (31%). Nine patients (21.4%) had mild stenosis and four patients (9.5%) had moderate stenosis. No relationship was detected between the degree of stenosis and the size of allograft (p=0.08). There was a significant correlation between postoperative pulmonary stenosis and donor age (p=0.04). Predictive variables of pulmonary allograft stenosis after the Ross procedure were low donor and recipient age (p=0.03 and 0.05, respectively).
Conclusions: This study shows that the Ross procedure has a rather low incidence of postoperative stenosis and is a suitable substitute for aortic valve replacement. Low donor age is associated with pulmonary allograft stenosis formation, perhaps due to greater viability of tissue cells from younger donors.

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Background: The usage of pericardium of patient himself, for support of anastomosis lines may carry benefits in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with pulmonary autograft (Ross). The aim of the present study was to compare the short term results of aortic valve replacement with pulmonary autograft with routine and offered methods.

Methods: In a non-randomized clinical trial, 64 patients who referred to cardiac surgery ward of Imam Khomeini hospital Tehran Iran from December 2002 to December 2006 for aortic valve replacement with pulmonary autograft with two different methods. In the first two years of this study all of the patients were operated with routine procedure (group A, n=28) and during the next two years, all of them were operated with authors' offered method in which the patient`s pericardium was used for support of anastomosis lines (group B, n=36). Some of clinical parameters and outcome were compared between two groups.

Results: There were no significant differences between mean of age, sex, pathology, preoperative and postoperative EF in two groups. In group B, the mean pump time was significantly lower than group A (144.09±26 vs. 179.64±25 min). The mean Cross-clamp time was significantly lower in group B (118.5±22 vs. 136.93±19 min) Need for blood transfusion in ICU was significantly lower in group B (35.71% vs. 68.57%). Mean ICU Stay and Postoperative Hospital Stay were significantly lower in group B (1.3±0.3 vs. 1.9±0.7 and 5.2±0.9 vs. 5.9±1.5 days respectively). Overall mortality was four death (6.25%) which was not significant between two groups.

Conclusions: The usage of patient's pericardium for support of anastomosis lines in patients undergoing aortic root replacement with pulmonary autograft carry advantages to routine procedure and its utilization is advocated in other centers.

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Background: Different studies have shown that despite the expanding number of antifungal agents, death rate caused by Aspergillus species has been increased during the recent decades due to drug-resistance occurrence, increased minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cross-resistance among the isolated species. Regarding the lack of effective response to conventional treatments and antifungal susceptibility patterns of the most common isolated Aspergillus species, this study was undertaken to draw a clearer picture in the Iranian setting. Methods: During 13 months from September 2009 to October 2010, 50 clinically isolated Aspergillus cases were identified based on the method described by Klich (2002) and their morphological features. Subsequently, their susceptibility test was carried out according to NCCLS- M38A broth microdilution method. Results: We found that 7.5% of the isolated A. flavus with an MIC>2 µg/ml to amphotericin B were probably clinically resistant types, and 25% of them with an MIC<8 µg/ml to itraconazole were less sensitive isolated species. The isolates were less sensitive to voriconazole too. The MIC range of 9 strains of A. niger and the MIC of one strain of A. fumigatus had increased to all the three medications in comparison with similar foreign studies. Conclusion: In this study we found that the MICs of most isolates were in the range of the reference strains and the MICs of some isolates were in the range of similar foreign studies. In some significant cases, the MICs were beyond the known ranges showing the lower sensitivity of Iranian isolates and their increased MIC patterns.

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Background: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), developing in mechanically ventilated patients after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, is the second most common nosocomial infection. Therefore, there is a vital need to study the etiology and risk factors associated with VAP in neonates.
Methods: Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), over a period of one year and who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were enrolled consecutively into the study. Semi-quantitative assay of endotracheal aspirate was used for microbiological diagnoses of VAP. 105CFU/ml was taken as the cut off between evidence of pathological infection and colonization. The primary outcome measure was the development of VAP. Secondary outcome measures were length of mechanical ventilation, NICU length of stay, hospital cost, and death.
Results: Thirty eight patients were enrolled (58% were boys and 42% were girls). 42% of neonates developed VAP. The most common VAP organisms identified were Acinetobacter baumanni (43%). On multiple regression analysis, duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with VAP (P=0.00). Patients with VAP had greater need for mechanical ventilation (18.7 vs 6 median days), longer NICU length of stay (39 vs 21.5 median days) and higher total median hospital costs (79.5 vs 52 million rials) than those without VAP. The mortality rate was not different between two groups.
Conclusion: In mechanically ventilated neonates, those with VAP had a prolonged need for mechanical ventilation, a longer NICU stay, and a higher hospital costs. Longer mechanical ventilation was associated with an increased risk of developing VAP in these patients. Developing of VAP didn’t increase mortality in patients.

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Background: Functional constipation and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are two common childhood digestive disorders which can cause a lot of complications among them if untreated. Since an overlap and relationship between functional gastrointestinal disorders have been shown in some studies, so present study was performed to investigate the frequency of functional constipation among children with reflux in compare with children without reflux. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all children who referred to digestive diseases clinic of Ali-Asghar Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from April 2008 to January 2010. Patients that referred for follow up were excluded from study and a total of 474 children were included in this study. A questionnaire including symptoms of reflux and functional constipation was completed for all subjects by design’s executer after parental consent. Other data related to history, physical examination and results of paraclinic investigations for functional constipation diagnosis were also collected. Results: In general 247 children (52%) were male and 227 children (48%) were female. Nineteen children (4%) had gastroesophageal reflux disease in this study which 6 of them (31.5%) were less than 1 year old and 13 of them (68.5%) were greater than 1 year old. Opisthotonic posturing, abdominal pain, heartburn and recurrent vomiting were the most common symptoms in children with reflux. There was also functional constipation in 60 children. Twelve patients (63.2%) had functional constipation among 19 children with reflux, whereas 48 patients (10.5%) had functional constipation among 455 children without reflux. This different frequency ranges of functional constipation among children with and without gastroesophageal reflux was statistically significant (P= 0.001). Conclusion: The frequency of functional constipation in children with gastroesophageal reflux was significantly more than normal children. Further studies are recommended to investigate the relationship between functional constipation and gastroesophageal reflux in children.

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Background: Respiratory distress syndrome is developmental immaturity of lungs, that is caused by lack of surfactant. Lack of surfactant lead to wide atelectasis and arterial hypoxemia which is a life-threatening lung disorder. The aim of this study was to compare the function of cochlear in infant who suffer respiratory distress syndrome with normal infants by transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) test. Methods: This descriptive- analytic cross sectional study was carried out on 21 respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) infants (42 ear) that consists of 11 male and 10 female, 21 normal infants (42 ear) that consists of 10 male and 11 female in Mirza Koochakkhan Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, which all of them were 3 to 6 month year old, to collect informations about the health of infants we used the files in hospital and to assess the cochlear function we used computerized recording by TEOAE instrument. Statistical analysis carried out by SPSS software version 17 and Chi-square test. Results: The results of TEOAE test demonstrated that in normal group there is no statistical differences between ears and gender, also there was no statistical differences between ears in respiratory distress syndrome group but there was statistical differences between gender in this group. The frequency of pass result (show normal function of outer hair cell in cochlea) was greater in male than female in male the frequency of pass result was 17 ear (77.3%) but in female was 8 ear (40%). In TEOAE test results there was statistical differences between two groups of study. The frequency of pass result in normal group was 34 ear (81%) and in respiratory distress syndrome group was 25 ear (59%) which was significantly more in normal group than in respiratory distress syndrome infants (P= 0.032). Conclusion: According to results, it seems that the respiratory distress syndrome could affects the cochlear and the function of outer hair cell in it so in infants who suffer respiratory distress syndrome we should use the test battery of hearing.

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Background: Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) is considered as one of most effective determinant of delivery rout, by increase in this index, risk factor of cesarean section enhanced. Based on high prevalence of obesity in women, this study designed to assess the relationship between admission BMI and type of delivery. Methods: Five hundred and forty pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy (≥37weeks) were studied within 1 year (from June 2012 to June 2013), at Sayad Shirazi Referral Hospital, Gorgan, Iran, through a analytic cross-sectional study. BMI was calculated for each mother at the time of labor admission. Height and weight were measured, and were categorized into 3 groups according to their BMI which included of underweight and normal (BMI<25), overweight (BMI=25-29.9) and obese (BMI≥30). And in each group route of delivery (cesarean or natural delivery) were assessed. Pregnant women with the previous cesarean delivery, history of diabetes type 1, 2 or gestational diabetes, hypertension, twin pregnancy and unwilling to participate in study were excluded from study. Results: Mean of age and mean of gestational age were 25.8±5.4 years and 38.2±2.6 week, respectively. 50.6% of mothers were undergone cesarean delivery and there was a significant relationship between BMI and type of delivery (P<0.0001). For each unit increase in BMI, risk of cesarean section rose 1.08 times (CI95%=1.04-1.13, P<0.0001) and the risk of cesarean delivery in obese pregnant women was 2.8 (CI95%=1.7-4.4, P<0.0001) times higher than those with underweight and normal weight. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between maternal BMI at the time of labor admission and type of delivery and increasing of BMI is associated with increasing of cesarean section rate. Thus, keeping the BMI in normal range during pregnancy is suggested to pregnant women to reduce the pregnancy complications.

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Background: Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) culture for distinction between aseptic and bacterial meningitis can be difficult and long-term, and other diagnostic methods are under studying. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value for the levels of Interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and IL-8 of CSF in the children and adolescent with meningitis. Methods: Fifty-one patient with meningitis between one month and 18 year included in a Cross-Sectional Studies in the Rasul Hospital, Tehran, from 2012 to 2014. All of samples underwent aspiration of CSF. The routine tests performed that include culture coloring and biochemical of CSF. The concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) method and all of data were analyzed. Results: Frequency of bacterial and aseptic meningitis was equal (49%). 64.7% of samples were boys and gender had not different between two bacterial and aseptic group (P=0.7). Mean (±SD) of the age in total was 358.46±858.40, and bacterial group had a higher mean of age than aseptic group (P=0.047). The level of IL-1 was 10.87±37.04 pg/ml in bacterial and 0.55±1.64 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had not different (P=0.168). The level of IL-6 was 90.51±139.3 pg/ml in bacterial and 21.36±67.84 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had significant different (P=0.030). The level of IL-8 was 365.40±765.52 pg/ml in bacterial and 50.66±59.34 pg/ml in aseptic group, that had significant different (P=0.047). Diagnostic value of IL-1 was noted in the 80.77% of bacterial and 68.00% of aseptic group that had not different (P=0.349). Diagnostic value of IL-6 was noted in the 53.85% of bacterial and 64.00% of aseptic group that had not different (P=0.572). Diagnostic value of IL-8 was noted in the 80.77% of bacterial and 28.00% of aseptic group that had significant different (P=0.000). There was not different between two group of CSF variables include coloring degree, WBC and RBC index, glucose and protein. Conclusion: Although the concentration of IL-6 and IL-8 was higher in bacterial meningitis than in aseptic patients, only IL-8 had suitable diagnostic value for distinction between different types of meningitis.

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Enuresis is the inability to control urination during sleep. It is one of the most common childhood urologic disorders. Nocturnal enuresis refers to the occurrence of involuntary voiding at night after 5 years. Persistent nocturia can decrease self-esteem, increase anxiety and other emotional problems in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting nocturia amongst school-aged children. Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted on 200 children over a period of 3 months from 21 April to 22 July 2014 (. Subjects of this study included 200 children (100 boy and 100 girl) aged 6 to 12 years that referred to the urology clinic. Following the written consent, patients under study were divided into two groups according to gender. A questionnaire concerning the personal data was completed for each patient. Questionnaires were completed by interviewing parents. Results: Our investigation revealed that 32% of children had nocturnal enuresis. The Chi-square test demonstrated significant differences between the case and control groups in terms of gender (P= 0.002), positive family history (P= 0.004), deep sleep (P= 0.005) and high fluid intake (P= 0.00). Significant differences were not observed among enuretic children with parents' education level, income, number of family members, birth order, history of injury and hospitalization, birth of a new baby, moving house, problems at school and home, snoring, mouth breathing, urinary tract infections, constipation (P> 0.05). Conclusion: In order to control enuresis it seems essential to provide information about nocturia and its etiologic factors to the children and their parents by the physician.

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Background: Diabetic foot infections a common complication of diabetes. Staphylococcus aureus is most common pathogen associated with diabetic foot infection. Frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with diabetic foot infection at other country is 15-30% and important cause at hospital acquired infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pathogenic organisms and the prevalence and contributing factors of MRSA in patients with diabetic foot infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study from 70 diabetic foot infection at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran from March 2013 to September 2014. A retrospective analysis of wound swabs taken from infected foot ulcers in diabetic patient, selected from an outpatient diabetic foot. Swabs were used to obtain tissue fluid from the base after debriding the ulcer with a sterile scalpel. Sixty patients with positive wound swabs were included. Size of ulcer and ulcer grade were measured in all patients. Results: A total of 61 microorganisms were isolated. The mean number of isolate was 0/87. Corynebacterium spp were the sole pathogen in three cases than taked into normal flora. There wasn’t significant P-value between demographic subjects and MRSA frequency. In this study, P= 0/05, CI:95% were considered statistically significant. Gram-positive aerobic bacteria were the most common micro-organism isolated (52.54%) followed by gram-negative aerobic bacteria (44.26%). among the gram-positive aerobic organisms, Staphylococcus aureus was found most frequently and 10% were MRSA that confirmed by E-test. There wasn’t significantly different in measurement of the MRSA positive patients compared to MRSA negative patients (P> 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, MRSA prevalence was similar to other Asian studies and different from west countries study. There wasn't significant difference between gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms that look out to change of microbiological profile in diabetic foot infections and creation multi-drug resistant bacteria. MRSA infections and other multi drug resistant organisms is a serious problem and increasing problem in diabetic foot infections. Further studies are required to assess the need for antibiotics in treating foot ulcers in diabetes and to assess the optimal therapeutic management.

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Background: The relationship of the base of appendix to the cecum remains constant, whereas the tip can be found in a retrocecal, pelvic, subcecal, preileal, or right pericolic position. These anatomic considerations have significant clinical importance in the context of acute appendicitis. The knowledge about the correct anatomical position of appendix may facilitate in generating an accurate diagnosis of appendicitis as well as assist in achieving a better prognosis and early treatment. The present study aimed to determine the anatomical location of the appendix in Iranian cadavers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 cadavers who were referred to the Forensic Center of Tehran from March to September 2013. The data including age, sex, weight, and appendix length and position were collected and analyzed using SPSS software, version 16 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: In the present study, 200 cadavers were evaluated accidentally, of which 173 (86.5%) were males and 26 (13%) were females, and the mean age was 39.96 years±16.31 (SD). The mean wall thickness of the appendix was 9.78 cm±16.31 (SD). The mean appendix length was 9.86 cm±1.79 (SD) in men and 9.30 cm±1.56 (SD) in women. The appendix height was long in 20 cadavers (10%), short in 3 cadavers (1.5%), and moderate in 177 cadavers (88.55%) cadavers. The appendix position was posterior in 120 (60%), ectopic in 32 (16%), and pelvic in 48 (24%) cadavers. Conclusion: Majority of appendices examined in the present study were positioned at the posterior (Retrocecal) of pelvis. According to different positions of appendices in different populations and different races, the knowledge of appendix position in various populations is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment and fewer complications for related disease.

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Background: Spices (flavorings) are contaminated to microbial agents such as filamentous and yeast fungi during production processing. Almost these are grown and harvested in warm and humid areas of the world where the growth of a wide variety of organisms is readily supported. The aim of this study was to assess the fungal contaminations of three current spices including turmeric, black pepper and cinnamon from some supermarkets in Tehran and evaluating of their hygienic quality. Methods: In this cross- sectional study that was performed in laboratory of Medical Mycology, School of Public Health in Tehran University of Medical Sciences from December 2012 to September 2014, 165 packed spices including 55 samples from each 11 valid brands of cinnamon, turmeric and black pepper were selected from different regions of Tehran. Culture was performed on many different fungal media from 10-1 to 10-4 dilutions of their samples. The fungal colonies obtained from cultures were studied by traditional laboratory methods. On the other hand, the number of unknown possible colonies was identified by molecular methods and then all identified colonies were counted. Results: Totally, from 165 packed spices, 4317 colonies include 29 different fungal species were isolated and identified from cinnamon (1520), turmeric (1373) and black pepper (1424). The etiologic agents were mainly including Aspergillus niger (7.3%), Penicillium spp. (4.1%), Paecilomyces spp. (2.8%) and Aspergillus flavus (2.3%), respectively. Non-parametric Kruskal-wallis test indicated that there was no significant difference statistically among brands at each level. Also the present study showed P = 0.0003 among under study spices. The most contaminated spices were cinnamon, while turmeric had the lowest contamination rate. Conclusion: The obtained results of this cross-sectional study and the available proofs in community indicate that, there are the high levels of fungal contaminations in current used spices. Therefore, it is necessary to control the production units.

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Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection may be having no clinical symptoms and if not treated will be persisting. This infection was considered as gastric diseases even during pregnancy. During the last decade its relationship with pregnancy related- disorders has been strongly reported in literature. In this study we evaluated the effect of positive IgG and CagA strains helicobacter pylori on incidence of early spontaneous abortions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 women were referred to health centers and Motahari Hospital, Urmia, Iran, from October 2012 to March 2013. Fifty women with first miscarriage as cases and 50 women with previous normal delivery as controls were studied. A 2-cc blood sample was taken from each patient to evaluate the specific IgG titer by ELISA method. All results of samples with positive H. pylori IgG, were assayed for anti-CagA, IgG antibodies. A questionnaire was filled for each subject. The associations between CagA positive cases with odds of spontaneous abortion incidence were analyzed by using SPSS software, ver. 19 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Mean (±SD) of age were 21.0±5.78 and 30.78±5.10 years for cases and controls group respectively. There was no significant difference in mean of age (P=0.25), and parity (P=1) between two groups. H. pylori IgG antibodies were positive among 23 and 24 (46% vs. 48%) in women with aborted and normal pregnancy respectively. Relationship between IgG status and miscarriage was not significant (OR=0.92, CI95%: 0.39-2.17, P=0.84). In particular anti-CagA antibodies were positive among 18 and 13(78.3% vs. 54.2%) in women with aborted and normal pregnancy respectively. Among women with CagA positive strains had higher odds of miscarriage (OR=3.05, CI95%: 0.73-13.76, P=0.08), but it wasn’t significant. Conclusion: According to the result of this study there was not any association between HP infection and miscarriage. We recommend more studies with larger sample size for determining the effect of CagA positive strains on miscarriage.

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Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem in many bacterial pathogens and is of particular concern for hospital-acquired nosocomial infections. Klebsiella pneumonia is an important cause of nosocomial infections has rapidly become the most common extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing organism. ESBL are defined as the enzymes capable of hydrolyzing oxyimino-cephalosporins. The aim of this study was to compare phenotypic detection of ESBL using two phenotypically method among the clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods: In this cross-sectional study a total of 144 isolates from clinical samples Urine, sputum, wound, blood, throat and body fluids isolated and identified as K. pneumoniae in a teaching hospitals in Shiraz within a six months period from December 2012 to May 2013. Antibacterial susceptibility test performed to 14 antibiotics by the disk diffusion method according to CLSI guideline and then isolates that were resistant to at least one of the beta-lactam antibiotics evaluated for the production of beta-lactamase enzymes by using E-test ESBL and combined disk method. Results: Totally 38 (26.3%) isolates produced ESBLs. All ESBL producing isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem and resistant to aztreonam. The highest antibiotic resistance was observed for amoxicilin (100%) and the lowest antibiotic resistance was observed for meropenem (9.7%). The number of 38 (100%) isolates were identified as ESBL producer by using E-test ESBL ceftazidime. It was while using the combined disks ceftazidime/clavulanic acid, cefotaxime/clavulanic acid and cefpodoxime/clavulanic acid, respectively 35 (92.1%), 34 (89.4%) and 31 (81.5%) of isolates identified as beta-lactamase producing isolates. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of bacteria producing ESBL, screening for infections caused by ESBL-producing isolates may be lead to the most effective antibiotics therapies.

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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure are prevalent comorbidities affecting a vast proportion of the world population, responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, their coexistence is more frequent than previously recognized that poses important diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We intend to determine the prevalence of concomitant left ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients who had referred to Firuzgar University Hospital in Tehran from March 2011 to March 2013 in period of 2 years. All participants were compatible for including and excluding criteria’s. In all cases of COPD, pulmonary function test was done also Echocardiography was performed as the diagnostic assessment of heart failure. Results: Out of 74 participants there was 56(75.7%) male and 18(24.3%) female with the mean age of 67.712.9 (SD), the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was 25.70%, also the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was 74.60% among 71 patients. The prevalence of LVSD in patients with and without history of coronary artery disease (CAD) was 33.30% and 15.60% respectively. The prevalence of LVDD was 85.40% in patient with history of CAD and 60% in patients without it. The presence of ventricular dysfunction (neither systolic nor diastolic) in COPD patients was not statistically associated with presence of CAD or the intensity of underlying COPD disease. Conclusion: Knowledge about the prevalence of concomitant left side heart failure in COPD patients is limited, but it seems the presence is rather common, so more attention should be paid to coexistence of ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients disregarding presence of CAD or COPD intensity in clinical practice.