Mitral Annular Calcification Detected by Transthoracic Echocardiography is a Marker for High Prevalence and Severity of Angiographically Proven Coronary Artery Disease

Background: MAC was defined as a dense, localized, highly reflective area at the base of the posterior mitral leaflet detected by TTE. Obstructive CAD was defined as either 50% reduction of the internal diameter of the left main coronary artery or 70% reduction of the internal diameter of the left anterior descending, right coronary, or left circumflex artery distribution. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of echocardiographically detected MAC as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD).Material & Methods:In this prospective, observational, case-control study, coronary angiography was done in 50 patients with MAC and equal number of patients without MAC, detected with transthoracic echocardiography. Analysis was done to observe the association and correlation of MAC with angiographic findings.Results:Mean age of the case control was 55.16 � 10.73 years and control was 49.80 � 8.84 years. In this study 34% of patients with MAC and 32% patients without MAC had single vessel disease, 16% of patients with MAC and 24% patients without MAC had double vessel disease, 42% of patients with MAC and 22% patients without MAC had triple vessel disease (TVD), 16% of patients with MAC and 4% patients without MAC had Left main coronary artery disease and 8% of patients with MAC and 22% patients without MAC had no significant CAD.Multivariate analysis shows MAC (p=0.049) as an independent predictor for coronary artery disease (CAD).Conclusions:Transthoracic echocardiographically detected MAC is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease. The low cost, portable and radiation free nature of the ultrasound approach make MAC an attractive parameter in the ongoing search for the ideal marker of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Survey on the awareness of using painkillers among the University students of Bangladesh.

The aim of the study was to determine the Awareness of using Painkillers among the University Students of Bangla-desh. The main objective of this survey was to determine the percentage of young adults using painkillers without prescription. The survey carried out among 300 students of different public and private universities. Data were collected using structured questionnaires containing 5 questions related to the students’ demographics and 15 questions related to the awareness of using painkillers. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and Chi square test were used for data analysis. A total of 300 questionnaires were completed and collected. Both male and female students studying in different public and private universities completed questionnaires distributed. The most important finding was 69% students are unaware about taking painkillers. The study concluded that the university students are not conscious about using painkiller. A big percentage of students use painkiller without physician’s prescription.

Ophthalmia neonatorum in duhok, north of iraq: bacterial causative agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the most common bacteriologic causes of ophthalmia neonatorum and their sensitivity to antibiotics in Duhok

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study

PLACE AND DURATION: The study was done in Duhok. North of Iraq from April 2010 to June 2011

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Samples were taken from 200 neonates with sticky eyes admitted in Azadi Hospital and cultured on chocolate, nutrient and blood agar to detect the bacteria causing these infections

Disk-diffusion test was performed to determine their antibiotic sensitivity pattern

RESULTS: Out of the total 200 swabs taken, 138[31%] yielded growth of bacteria. The most common organisms isolated were Klebsiella species 35[25.36%] and Escherichia coli 34[24.63%] followed by Streptococcus viridans, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus aureus, Betahemolytic Streptococci, Staphylococcus albus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species and non-specific Streptococci with a decreasing frequency. Klebsiella species and E. coli were sensitive to Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin ,91.42% and 94.11% respectively. Streptococcus viridans, Enterobacter species and Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin [100%] , Chloramphenicol [76%] and Amikacin [76%]. Enterobacter species sensitivity to each of Chloramphenicol, Amikacin and Gentamicin was 68.75% while its sensitivity to Tetracyclin was 43.75%. Streptococcus viridans sensitivity to each of Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline and Amikacin was 76% while to Ceftazidime was 42.8%. Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity to Chloramphenicol was 88.88% and each of Tetracyclin and Ceftazidime was 77.77% while to Amikacin sensitivity was 55.55%

CONCLUSION: In this study the most common causative bacterial agents were Klebsiella species, E. coli and Streptococcus viridans having highest sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin followed by Amikacin, Chloramphenicol and Tetracyclin. There was no significant variation between the causative agents of the first and second day onset and those of the later onset disease

Survey on the awareness of using painkillers among the University students of Bangladesh.

The aim of the study was to determine the Awareness of using Painkillers among the University Students of Bangla-desh. The main objective of this survey was to determine the percentage of young adults using painkillers without prescription. The survey carried out among 300 students of different public and private universities. Data were collected using structured questionnaires containing 5 questions related to the students’ demographics and 15 questions related to the awareness of using painkillers. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and Chi square test were used for data analysis. A total of 300 questionnaires were completed and collected. Both male and female students studying in different public and private universities completed questionnaires distributed. The most important finding was 69% students are unaware about taking painkillers. The study concluded that the university students are not conscious about using painkiller. A big percentage of students use painkiller without physician’s prescription.

Faunestic study of ants with emphasis on the health risk of stinging ants in Qeshm Island, Iran

Qeshm [26.75N, 55.82E], Iran, is 1500 km[2] island in the Strait of Hormuz. Qeshm is a free trade zone, acting as an important channel for international commerce, and has been the site of much recent development. There is potential risk of stinging ant attacks for residents and visitors that may occur in the island. The aims of this study were to find out the fauna, dispersion, and some of the biological features of ant species with special attention to those, which can play role on the public health of the island. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed ants around the island using non-attractive pitfall traps and active collection to evaluate potential threats to humans and other species during 2006-2007. All collected specimens were identified using the morphological ant keys. Only six ant species were found: Pachycondyla sennaarensis [41%], Polyrhachis lacteipennis [23%], Camponotus fellah [16%], Cataglyphis niger [9%], Tapinoma simrothi [7%], and Messor galla [4%]. We were surprised not to find any cosmopolitan tramp ants so often associated with commerce and development. Instead, all six species may be native to the Middle Eastern region. The most common species, P. sennaarensis, has a powerful sting and appears to do well around human habitations. This species may prove to be a serious pest on the island

Rubella serology in pregnant women attending health centres of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

This study was performed in 2003-05 to determine the serological status of a sample of pregnant women as a preliminary study for the rubella vaccination programme. Out of 965 pregnant women attending health centres affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences for prenatal care, the estimated rubella immunity rate was 91.1% [95% CI: 89.3%-92.9%] and the nonimmunity rate was 8.9% [95% CI: 7.1%-10.7%]. The rubella immunity rate differed in different areas of Tehran but not significantly so. However, there was a significant difference in the level of rubella immunity by the number of persons per household and by age, but no significant relationship with economic status, occupation or level of education

Comparative study of ceramometal tensile bonding strength in two base metal alloys

One of the greatest problems in metal -ceramic restorations is debonding of porcelain from dental alloys. Production of dental alloys by Iranian companies necessitates the evaluation of physical and handling properties of these products. In this study the bond strength between porcelain and two types of base metal alloys, Supercast [with beryllium] and Minalux [without beryllium] was investigated. In this experimental study 10 cylindric bars from each base metal alloy were prepared. The bars were degassed and porcelain was applied around them in a disc form [8 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness]. The bond strength of porcelain to metal bars was tested with the shear strength test by Instron. Data were analyzed with student t-test and P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance. The mean failure load was 71.58 +/- 6.4 KgF for Supercast and 67.34 +/- 5.48 for Minalux alloy. The bond strength of Supercast and Minalux were 55.85 +/- 4.99 MPa and 52.54 +/- 4.27 MPa respectively. The difference was statistically significant [P<0.001]. This study showed that nickel-chromium-beryllium alloy [Supercast] produced significantly better ceramometal bonding than nickel chromium alloy without beryllium [Minalux]

[ investigation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy deletions in Iranian families and prenatal diagnosis]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy [DMD] is one of the most common X-linked genetic disorders, commonly seen in children. It is caused by mutations in Dystrophin gene and clinically manifests with severe muscle weakness and eventually leads to death in the second or third decades of life. In the absence of an appropriate cure, prenatal diagnosis [PND] appears to be the best approach to reduce the burden of the disease on the individual family and ultimately on the society. During the last five years, prenatal diagnosis was offered on request to 85 families, having one or more affected male children. Initially, the deletions in the DMD gene were identified by Multiplex PCR, screening for 20 exons. Then, three intragenic RFLPs [PERT 87-15lBamH1, PERT87-8ITaq1, PERT 87- 151XmnI] and two main CA repeats [5'- DYS and 3' DYS microsatellite analysis] that have-been shown to be highly heterozygous in the previous studies, were used to perform carrier detection and linkage analysis. Deletions were found in 43 affected boys [50.6%]. Most of the deletions were found in exons 49 and 50. However, there were not any mutations identified in the promoter region. In 42 families these three intragenic RFLPs were utilized and in 26 of them one or more RFLPs were informative [61.9%]. In 30 families two microsatellite repeat analysis were done to identify the mutant alleles and in 12 families, 5'-Dys was informative. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 25 families [16 CVS cases and 9 amnion cases]. The cases were 14 male fetuses [5 cases affected, 9 cases not affected] and 11 female fetuses [4 cases were carriers and the remaining cases were normal]. Therefore, it is concluded that multiplex PCR technology and linkage analysis, can be used effectively for PND and carrier detection in Iran