Common injuries in athletic horses at riding clubs in Tehran, Iran

Various forms of intensive sport place stress on the musculoskeletal system of the horse, during both racing and training. The musculoskeletal system of the horse has an inherent ability to adapt to the demands of high speed exercise, but exceeding the threshold of adaptive capacity may result in some form of damage. Continuing racing or training may delay the repair process and put the horse at risk of more serious musculoskeletal injury. This study investigated injury in different breeds of horses involved in various types of activity in riding clubs in Tehran. Of the 400 horses that took part in various events during the race season from March 2008 to September 2009, 26 were injured. The most common injury was to the musculoskeletal system of the fore limbs [64%]. The hind limbs suffered 16% of the injuries and the head and neck 4%. From a gender aspect, incident rates were higher in mares [54%] than in stallions [46%]. From a breed point of view, Thoroughbred and Arab horses had higher incident rates [100% and 85% respectively] than a hybrid horse [50%]. Findings of this study also showed the relationship between gender, breed and age of the horses to the injury site, type and outcome, and type of the events

Comparison of local anesthetic effects of tramadol and lidocaine used subcutaneously in minor surgeries with local anesthesia

In this study, the local anesthetic and post-operative analgesic effects of tramadol were compared to those of lidocaine in minor surgeries under local anesthesia. This double-blind clinical trial study included 70 patients in ASA physical status I and II, aging between 20 and 50 years, undergoing minor surgery [lipoma excision and revision of scars less than 4 cm within 30 minutes or less] under local anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2 mg/kg tramadol [group T, n=35] or 1 mg/kg lidocaine 2% [group L, n=35] subcutaneously. Scores of the pain sensation were recorded as VAS [visual analogue scale 0-10] during injection, incision and 15, 30 and 45 minutes after incision, and then 2, 4 and 6 hours post-operatively at the ward. There was no significant difference between pain scores of the two groups during injection, incision and surgery or in the post-operative period at the ward [p=0. 181]. Incidence of nausea was 0% and 22. 8% in group L and group T, respectively. The difference was statistically significant [p=0.002]. Furthermore, 82. 9% of subjects in group L and 60% of subjects in group T needed acetaminophen to control their pain and the difference was significant [p=0.004]. Tramadol 2 mg/kg has local anesthetic and post-operative analgesic effect equal to lidocaine 1 mg/kg in minor surgeries performed subcutaneously. Therefore, we concluded that tramadol can be used as an alternative drug to lidocaine in local anesthesia and has the ability to decrease the demand for post operative analgesics

[Ileosigmoid knotting;a case report]

Ileosigmoid knotting [ISK], also known as compound volvulus or double volvulus, is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The incidence of ISK is not well known, but it generally occurs in areas with a high incidence of sigmoid volvulus [SV]. Ileosigmoid knotting is predominately seen in males [80.2%] with a mean age of 40 years. In an ileosigmoid knot, closed proximal loops of the ileum become congested and gangrenous within a few hours; therefore, early recognition and surgical treatment of ileosigmoid knots are essential. Despite the critical condition, in less than 20% of patients the diagnosis can be made preoperatively. The mean mortality rate is 6.8-8% in nongangrenous and 20100%-in gangrenous cases. The mortality figures are generally related to the duration of symptoms, the presence or absence of gangrene, and the general status of the patient, including the presence of septicemic shock. A 38-year-old man with a history of IV drug abuse presented with generalized abdominal pain which was severe in the epigaster and hypogaster regions. He had a history of obstipation since four days prior. Upon physical examination, the patient had abdominal tenderness and generalized guarding. Rectal examination was bloody. After adequate hydration, laparatomy was done and ileosigmoid knotting with gangrene of the terminal ileum were seen. A colostomy was performed in proximal end to end anastomosis, in the distal Hartman Poutch. The patient has been followed since three months ago, with no additional complaints at this time

[Evaluation of elevated FVIII in patients with thrombophilia]

Thrombus formation may form enhanced coagulation or impaired fibrinolysis. An increased tendency for the blood to clot is referred to as the hypercoagulable state or thrombophilia which includes various inherited and acquired clinical disorders or mixed conditions. There are many studies suggesting that elevated factor VIII may be a common and independent risk factor for thrombotic events. We tried to assess the level of factor VIII in patients with idiopathic thrombosis. Our cases were the patients with idiopathic venous thrombosis having referred for hypercoagulable studies to Coagulation Lab in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. The inclusion criterion was the occurrence of thrombotic event confirmed by objective diagnostic methods coupled with three months of follow-up without any other disorder. Our controls were from healthy blood donors and matched with the cases on sex, ethnicity, and age. Plasma of a healthy person was used to establish the normal reference range according to which our patients are compared. Factor VIII levels were measured using a one-staged assay, the PTT based Diagonistica Stago on the STA compact automated coagulation factor analyzer. SPSS and Chi-square were finally used for data analysis. One hundred fifty two cases and 130 controls enrolled. The mean factor VIII level for cases was 157.26 IU/dl [SD +/- 53.8] with the minimum level of 66 and maximum of 364 IU/dl. For controls, the mean factor VIII level was 111.78 IU/dl [SD +/- 29.68] with the minimum level of 42 and the maximum of 195 IU/dl. These levels were statistically significant and higher in the case group. The elevated FVIII level was higher in females than males [35.3% vs 23.8%] and increased with age. The normal range in the control group varied within 52-171 IU/dl, which is higher than the normal level of 50-150 IU/dl. There are many studies showing that increased FVIII level may be an independent risk factor for thrombosis. Our results suggested elevated FVIII level in 28.9% of the patients with thrombosis compared to 3.1% in the control group. So, factor VIII measurement is recommended to be practiced in routine thrombophilia screening programs

Report of a rare case of anterior mediastinum goiter

The primary ectopic goiters of mediastinum, specially of posterior mediastinum is rare and estimated on 1% of the goiters of retro sternal and mediastinum and their blood supplies is from intra thoracic vessels. We introduce a patient who referred with the complain of a huge mass in the anterior medistinum. His complain presented by dyspnea breathlessness and chronic cough at first. This mass was removed easily through collar incision and partial strernotomy. Through surgery we found that blood supply of mass arised from thoracic vessels and inominate artery, with drainage to inominate vein. Following mass removal, all the symptoms of the patient were resolved. We presented an uncommon true primary ectopic mediastinal goiter resected through a median strnotomy with complete excision and relief of all symptoms

Color discrimination in Caspian pony

Although an early and influential review led to the often-cited conclusion that color vision is rare among mammals, more recent findings suggest that it is actually widespread. According to Jacobs, all non-nocturnal mammalian species that have been adequately examined show some color vision capacity, although the degree varies enormously. Data on the presence and characteristics of color vision in the horse, however, remain sparse and none in the case of ponies. Eight Caspian ponies were presented with a series of two-choice color vs. grey discrimination problems. One mare pony was eliminated due to traumatic injury to the eye. Experiments were performed in a box of 3 _ 3 meter containing a wall with two translucent panels that were illuminated from behind by light projected through color or grey filters to provide the discriminative stimuli. Ponies were first adopted to the stall [box] with two panels in it and then learned to push one of the panels in order to receive the food rewards behind the positive stimuli in an achromatic light-dark discrimination task. The ponies were then tested on their ability to discriminate between grey and four individual colors: red; 617 nm., yellow; 581 nm., green; 538 nm. and blue; 470 nm. The criterion for learning was set at 85% correct response, and final testing for all color vs. grey discrimination involved grey of varying intensities, making brightness an irrelevant cue. The ponies were tested with all four colors vs. grey discriminations. Except two ponies, the rest were successfully reached the criterion for learning blue color vs. grey discrimination. Only two ponies reached the criterion for learning green color vs. grey discrimination. Only tow ponies reached the criterion for discriminating red and yellow vs. grey. So the answer to the question "do the ponies see color" is yes, they can discriminate between the four selected color vs. grey

Evaluation of bladder cancer in opium addicted patients in the Kerman province, Iran, from 1999 to 2003

It seems that there may be a relation between opium addiction and bladder cancer. This study has been performed to find this relationship in Kerman province. We evaluated opium addiction in 150 patients with bladder cancer [study group] and150 tumor-free patients [control group] and compared them by two-tailed t-test and X2 test. The rate, duration, amounts and methods of opium abusing in the study group were significantly higher than control group. The results suggest that the carcinogenic effects of opium addiction may be related to the amount, duration and the method of opium abuse