Analysis of relationship between tumor necrosis factor alpha gene [G308A polymorphism] with preterm labor

Increased concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF alpha] in blood and amniotic fluid are observed in women with preterm delivery [PTD] and TNF alpha mutations at -308 position are associated with higher expression of this gene. Therefore, we compared the frequency of G308A transition in the promoter region of TNF alpha gene of women and neonates delivered preterm with the normal subjects. This cross sectional study was performed on 135 mothers who were referred for delivery. According to the gestational age, mothers and their neonates were allocated to the case [preterm, 64 subjects] and control [term, 71 subjects] groups. Using the polymerase chain reaction, restrictive fragment length polymorphism [RFLP], genotyping was performed on both maternal peripheral blood and cord blood samples to determine single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of TNF alpha gene at -308. Two mothers in the case group, one mother in the control group and one neonate in the case group had genotyping assays [GA] mutation. All other subjects had normal GG genotype. Frequency of GA mutation was not significantly different between two groups [P = 0.47]. There is no significant association between PTD and either maternal or fetal TNF alpha -308 polymorphism and frequency of GA mutation is not significantly increased in mothers and neonates delivered preterm. It means that the presence of this mutation by itself does not modify the overall risk of PTD. Investigations on the combination of various polymorphisms indifferent genes are recommended to achieve more accurate results

Aggressive angiomyxoma of the vulva: dramatic response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy

Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare soft tissue neoplasm that usually arises within the perineum. It often occurs as a vulvar mass and clinically simulates a Bartholin's gland cyst. Most patients are in the second or third decade of life, but some cases have also been reported in children. This is the report of a 21 year old woman with 4.5 x 3 x 1.5 cm mass in right labia major. The patient underwent wide local excision surgical treatment. Histological examination showed high vascular myxoid tumor containing spindle cells. Immunohistochemical study of cells showed positive reaction to estrogen and progesterone and negative reaction to S100, SMA and desmin. Treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was administered to deal with residual tumor and prevent local recurrence for 6 months

[Effect of fasting on prenatal care in Shahrekord]

There is controversy about the effects of fasting on prenatal care. Therefore this study was performed to assess prenatal care changes during Ramadan. Six hundred and twenty-three women were selected by simple sampling method. Three urine samples were collected for each case: One week before Ramadan in the morning One hour before Eftar on the 14th and 28th of Ramadan. Blood pressure, weight, height of pelvis, fetal heart rate and fetal activity were examined at the same intervals. Four hundred and sixty-six cases that did not fast in the first half of Ramadan, were chosen as the control group. 152 cases had 7 days of fasting, 130 cases had 15 days of fasting and 488 cases did not fast. Fifty-five percent, 26% and 19% of the cases were in the third, in the second and in the first trimester, respectively. Body mass index was not significantly different between case [fasting] and control [non fasting] group. The heart activity and fetal heart rate hearing was 45.5% before and 75.6% at the end of Ramadan. At the middle and at the end of Ramadan, the positive ketone was higher in fasting women compared to that of the control group. Systolic and diastolic pressures were not significantly different between two groups. This study showed that fasting may not be a serious problem for pregnant women if they receive proper medical care

[Antibiotic susceptibility among antibiotic resistant salmonellae isolated from children [0-2 years] affected by diarrhea in Shahrekord and resistance factor transmissibility to E.Coli k12]

Background and Aim: the aim of this study was to detect the dominant serotypes of salmonellae in children and to find the antibiotic susceptibility and R-factor transmissibility among isolated salmonellae

Method: this study was conducted on 400 diarrheic stool samples collected from children in Ayatollah Kashany hospital of Shahrekord, during spring of 1999 to autumn of 2000

Results: after isolation and identification of salmonellae, seven serotypes were detected. One of them was S. typhi and other the six serotypes were S. paratyphi B. Then biogram test was performed by disk diffusion method. Best Results were taken from ceftizoxim, cephtriaxon, cephazolin and chloramphenicol. The R-factor had been transferred from isolated salmonellae to penicillin and ampicillin

Conclusion: results substanciate that unnessessary usage of antibiotics, which is the main cause of drug resistance, should be prevented

[Investigation of cancers incidence relevant to radiation in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province during five years [1998-2002]]

Background and Aim: the induction of cancer appears to be the most important effect of low-dose ionizing radiation occurring in an exposed population. The major cancers induced by whole-body radiation exposure are the breasts in women, thyroid, lung, skin cancers and leukemia. In developing countries 94% of the human radiation is from the natural sources. In Iran some high altitude regions such as Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari has a high level of the natural background radiation [higher than the world's average]. For this reason, investigation of the incidence of cancer, relevant to the radiation is very important in this province which is the aim of this study

Method: in this study 751 cases suffering from malignant cancer [based on ICD10] were investigated during a 5-year period [from 1998 to 2002]. Three hundred sixty-two cases suffering from skin, breast, lung, thyroid cancers or leukemia were selected. All data was obtained from health centers and pathological sections of relevant hospitals. Chi-square test was used for data analysis

Results: the prevalence of skin, breast, thyroid and lung cancers and leukemia as compared with total recorded cancers were about 20.5%, 7.5%, 2.6%, 1.1% and 16.2%, respectively. From all studied cases, 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. There was significance relationship between sex and the cancer type [p<0.05]. The mean age of patients with skin, breast, thyroid and lung cancers and leukemia were found to be 62.98, 51.14, 44.6, 60.89 and 33.8 years, respectively. The total radiation induced cancer risk was greater for women than for men

Conclusion: the prevalence of skin, thyroid cancers and leukemia in this province was more than the other areas of Iran due to the high levels of the natural background radiation in this province

[Assessment of high risk pregnancy in Bam Mahdieh maternity hospital, 2001]

Background and aim: attention to health of mother during pregnancy is essential for the health of both mother and infant. Early detection of high-risk pregnancies is fundamental for prenatal care. This survey was performed to find the prevalence of the high-risk pregnancies and causing factors in the maternity hospital of Bam in 2001

Method: this descriptive and cross sectional study was performed on 850 randomly selected pregnant women

Results: we found that 11.8% of the cases were younger than 18 years, 6.6% were older than 35 years, 8.8% had five or more pregnancies, 5.4% had pre-term, 6.3% had post-term labor, 2% had hemorrhaged pregnancy and 4.2% indicated signs of preeclampsia. The prevalence of various diseases were as follows: 12.3% afflicted with urinary infection, 0.8% had addiction. 0.4% had sexual transmitted disease, 0.4% had anemia, 0.6% had thyroid disease, 0.6% had cardiac diseases, 0.1% had liver disease, 9.1% had diabetes mellitus and 4.3% afflicted with more than one disease. Also 22.9% had low birth weight

Conclusion: inappropriate age, urinary tract infection, hemorrhage and hypertension were the most important health problems of the pregnant women. For prevention of the high-risk pregnancies, education and prenatal care are necessary

[Analysis of the etiology and mortality in the ICU of Kashani General Hospital of Shahrekord between 1998 until 2001]

Background and aim: the rate of mortality in an intensive care unit [ICU] is one of the most important criteria for evaluation of a hospital. In this article the moralities of the ICU of Kashani General Hospital of Shahrekord from 23 Sept 1998, until 23 Sep 2001 have been analyzed

Method: a cross-sectional survey was performed on all the patients admitted to the ICU during this period

Results: in this period 296 patients were admitted and 79 patients [27.9%] died. 35.8% of the patients were females, 60.5% were males and 3.7% were neonates. The main reasons of mortality were respiratory failure [37.9%] and brain trauma [27.8%].There was no difference between the times of death during 24 hours. Most of the patients were expired or discharged from the ICU during the first four days. Mortality was more prevalent in the patients older than 55 years and in neonates

Conclusion: more attention during the first four days of the admission to the ICU is necessary