[Effects of hydroalcoholic extract matricaria chamomilla L. on paraquat-induced blood oxidative toxicity in rat]

Paraquat [PQ] is a herbicide and exerts its cytotoxicity via the generation of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. There is no specific treatment for PQ poisoning. The purpose of this study was to investigate of hydroalcoholic extract Matricaria chamomilla L. [M. chamomilla] against PQ-induced injury in association with its antioxidant activity. The male rats were treated by gastric gavage daily with PQ [5 mg/kg/day] and M. chamomilla [50 mg/kg/day] were administered alone or in combination for 7 days. After treatments, in blood sample, lipid peroxidation [LPO], total antioxidant capacity [TAC], the activity of glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] were measured. In this sample, the TAC was lower in the PQ group as compared with control group. PQ increased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared control group M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared PQ group. Co-administration of PQ with M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased GPx and SOD activities as compared with PQ group. In conclusion, M. chamomilla ?as natural antioxidant may be considered beneficial for the protection oxidative damage in PQ poisoning

Peri-operative high-dose V post-operative low dose steroid therapy in the management of biliary atresia: a preliminary report

The use of high-dose steroid therapy peri portoenterostomy may have a positive impact on the frequency of cholangitis and survival rate. A prospective study was conducted on two groups of patients [less than three months of age] suffering from biliary atresia from 1999 to 2005. The patients in group I [G I] were managed peri-operatively by high-dose methylprednisolone while the other group [G II] received low dose methylprednisolone only post-operatively [2mg/k/day for 1 month]. Infants in GI [n = 30] received methylprednisolone for 3 successive days before operation [10-8-6mg/kg/day], and 10 mg/k at the day of operation respectively. Thereafter the dose was tapered in the next successive 6 days by 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 mg/kg/day and continued for one month. Seventy two infants with biliary atresia were operated [39 girls and 33 boys]. Twenty-six of the 30 patients [86%] in G I became jaundice-free within 90 days after portoenterostomy while only seven [15%] of the 42 patients in G II had normal bilirubin [P < 0.0001]. Episodes of postoperative cholangitis in G I were 20% [6 of 30], and 53% [24 of 42] in G II [P < 0.005]. The difference in 3-year survival rate between the two groups is also remarkable: Eighty seven percent [26 of 30] in GI versus 29% [13 of 45] in G II [P < 0.005]. Death related to biliary atresia occurred in 1 [3.3%] patient in GI compared with 12 [29%] patients in G II [p < 0.005]. These results provide strong evidence that peri-operative high dose steroid therapy is not only safe in this patients population, but because of its anti-inflammatory and cholerrhetic effects has a positive impact on preventing recurrent cholangitis, and ultimately survival

Journal club and its effective presentation

Journal club is a classic medical teaching method with over 100 years of history. As a flexible method, it can be used in different areas such as teaching critical appraisal, evidence based medicine, research design, statistics and educational concepts. Several .factors are important in success of journal clubs such as: schedualing time, defining goals, continuous attendance of participants and selection of an appropriate presentation format

Attitude of students of Qazvin Medical University towards priorities in teachers assessment

Using students' views for teacher assessment is a common method. However, research results indicate that students' ideas about their teachers is influenced by some factors which have no close relationship to the evaluation subject and is merely related to the instructors specification. To determine the attitude of students of different fields in Qazvin medical university toward priorities in teacher's assessment. Through a descriptive study, a questionnaire consisting of 7 parts and 43' questions was used to gather data. Results indicated that the majority of students [85.2%] selected "mastery of contents" as the most important priority in teacher's assessment. Most of them [78.5%] selected "self- confidence" for personal characteristics, 69.8% selected "establishing an intimate relationship with students' for communication skills, 36.9% selected" on time starting and finishing the class" in respect to educational principles and 34.2% selected "performing an exact and comprehensive exam at the end of the term" for evaluation skills. Also 33.3% of the samples believed that there is a high conformity between the present evaluations and reality and 10.3% believed there is no conformity between them. Although students distinguish some very important factors for teachers assessment, the necessary factors for a good teacher based on the scientific criteria aren't selected as the most important by the students and this may decrease the validity and reliability of students ratings