Catecholamine contents of different region of adult rat brain are altered following short and long-term exposures to Pb[+2]

Catecholamine is a group of neurotransmitters that is believed to be responsible for the normal function of animal brain. Physiological and behavioral changes of human body have been reported due to the damage of the brain function following lead exposure. Due to the assumption of lead disposal in brain tissue with two year for its half-life, which results in alteration of brain function, we investigated the ability of lead to change the brain catecholamines during short and long-term studies. Rats were exposed daily with varying amounts of lead and catecholamine contents of cerebellum, mid-brain and brain cortex were determined. Acute peritoneal administration of single dose of lead as lead acetate [260 micro mol/Kg] after 2 h reduced [p < 0.05] the catecholamine levels of cerebellum, mid-brain and cortex part by 34.9%, 35.44% and 23.8%, respectively. The extension of experiment time to 5 h, significant [p < 0.05] reductions in catecholamine levels of mentioned regions of brain by 32.35%, 12.35% and 19.3% were seen respectively. Daily intraperitoneal administration of 10 micro mol/Kg lead for 30 and 60 days reduced catecholamines levels of cerebellum [22.22% and 30.44%], midbrain [12.48% and 26.27%] and brain cortex [11.58% and 26.7%] respectively. It might be concluded that brain dysfunction in lead intoxicated rat occurred through the reduction in the catecholamine levels of different parts of brain. Lead might be therefore considered as a probable factor in causing neurological disease in lead exposed man

Efficacy of rectal misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality after delivery. Active management of postpartum hemorrhage by an uterotonic drug decreases the rate of postpartum hemorrhage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of rectal misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. This double blind randomized clinical trial was performed on full term pregnant women candidate for vaginal delivery, referred to Zahedan Imam Ali Hospital during 2008-2009. They were randomly divided into two groups of rectal misoprostol and oxytocin. The women in misoprostol group received 400 micro g rectal misoprostol after delivery and the women in oxytocin group received 3 IU oxytocin in 1 L ringer serum, intravenously. Rate of bleeding, need to any surgery interventions, rate of transfusion and changes in hemoglobin and hematocrite were compared between two groups. A total of 400 patients [200 cases in misoprostol group and 200 in oxytocin group] entered to the study. Rate of bleeding > 500 cc was significantly higher in oxytocin group than misoprostol group [33% vs. 19%] [p = 0.005]. Also, need to excessive oxytocin for management of postpartum hemorrhage was significantly lower in misoprostol group than oxytocin group [18% vs. 30%] [p = 0.003]. Decrease in hematocrite was significantly more observed in oxytocin group than misoprostol group [mean decrease of hematocrite was 1.3 +/- 1.6 in misoprostol group and 1.6 +/- 2.2 in oxytocin group]. Two groups were similar in terms of side-effects. Rectal misoprostol as an uterotonic drug can decrease postpartum hemorrhage and also can prevent from decrease of hemoglobin as compared to oxytocin