Serum level of adiponectin in subclinical hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid subjects

Adiponectin can influence glucose and lipid metabolism and body weight. As thyroid hormones play an important role in general metabolism and body weight regulation, changes in serum levels of adiponectin in thyroid dysfunctions are likely. The current study aimed at evaluating the association between serum adiponectin level and thyroid dysfunction in subclinical hypothyroid and hyperthyroid individuals. This study was performed on 68 subclinical hypothyroid and hyperthyroid subjects [in equal groups] and 34 euthyroid who referred to the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. In all participants, serum levels of adiponectin, TSH, FT3, FT4, insulin, glucose, lipid profiles and BMI were assessed. Serum adiponectin, FT3, FT4 and TSH were measured by ELISA, Electrochemiiuminescence and Immunoradiometric assay [IRMA], respectively. Data were analyzed by T-test, One-Way ANOVA and Pearson correlation using SPSS 16. Serum concentrations of adiponectin in both the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid groups [11.91 +/- 5.02 and 11.87 +/- 5.84 ng/ml, respectively] were remarkably lower than the control group [15.13 +/- 5.88 ng/ml], [P<0.05]. There was no significant correlation between serum levels of adiponectin and TSH, FreeT3, FreeT4, or BMI. Decrease in serum levels of adiponectin in hypo and hyperthyroid individuals may indicate a significant association between adiponectin concentrations and thyroid dysfunction

[ case report on tubular duplication of cervical esophagus]

Foregut duplication is commonly found in the posterior mediastinum. About 10-20% of these anomalies are associated with esophageal duplication. It can occur in all parts of esophagus. Although the duplication of cervical esophagus has been previously reported, a majority of it was found in the thoracic oesophagus. Infant esophageal duplication is usually associated to respiratory distress or asymptomatic thoracic mass, casually detected in x-ray. Case Report: In this report the case was a 7 months old infant [7.5 kg] with the chief compliant of respiratory distress, fever and nutritional intolerance. Physical examination of the case showed dehydration, stridor, tachypnea, intercostal retraction and neck stiffness. Plain chest radiogram showed a dual cystic mass in the distal neck region. Neck and chest CT-scan showed cervical cystic lesion disseminated to the posterior mediastinum, probably propagated to the respiratory system. For treatment, cystic lesion attached to the esophagus was partially resected, esophagus was repaired and the remaining mucosa of the cyst was removed, then gastrostomy tube was inserted. Although the cervical esophageal duplication of cysts are rare in infant respiratory distress, they must be considered as one of differential diagnoses of the cervical masses

[Injection of Beliomycin as a primary treatment of cystic hygroma]

Cystic hyfroma is a disorder in lymphatic vessel formation that involves the adjacent organs and can affect them due to its fast growing nature. The main treatment for cystic hygroma is surgical intervention that an have many complications after surgery. Treatment other than surgical interventions is the use of sclerosing agents. The goal of this study is to analyze the effect of Beliomycin in treating cystic hygroma. This quasi experimental study was carried out clinically at st-al Zahra and Kashaine hospitals of Isfahan from 1372 to 1383. A checklist including age, sex, cyst location, cystic hygroma volume before and after Beliomycin injection and/or surgery, was completed for each patient. Data was analyzed by T and paired T-Tests. p< 0.05 was considered meaningful. The study was carried out on 72 patients. 24 patients were treated with Beliomycin and 48 patient by surgery. Patients age was below 1 months up to 18 years old. Cystic hygroma was mainly located at neck region [46.8%]. The average size of cystic hygroma was 103.9 +/- 29.66cm[3] before Beliomycin injection and 34.91 +/- 16.19cm[3] after that [p=0.004]. and 43.511 +/- 7.81cm[3] before surgery and 1.39 +/- 1.39cm[3] after that [p=0.006]. The rate of recurrence of lymphingoma in the surgery treated group was 25.1% and in the group treated with Beliomycin was 29.2% with no significant diffference. Regarding the considerable decrease in cyst volume after Beliomycin injection and it's low complication compared to surgery, this method can be used as a primary treatment or supplementary to surgery

Timely versus delayed operation in infants with correctable congential anomalies: a surgery in Isfahan, 2000-2001

Unless performing a timely and appropriate correction, congenital anomalies can conduce to irrecoverable complications. There are different reasons for delay in referring such patients to physician for surgery. By understanding these considerations, we can make an effective approach to reduce the severity of this problem in our community and this is the aim of our study. In a cross sectional study, all 359 eligible cases [neonates and infants suffered from a correctable anomaly which were referred to our centers] and 110 physicians were included for a period of 15 months [2000-2001]. Two main hospitals in our city were set as the data collection centers [Al-Zahra]. Parents' views were extracted by interview. Physicians' knowledge about study subject was assessed by self administered MCQs. In this study 65 percent of all cases who were operated on had been taken to hospital with delay [male to female ratio was 4:1]. Among the cases who received delayed surgical treatment, inguinal hernia was the most prevalent one [39 percent]. Surgery in 32 percent of cases who had delay in their operation caused some degrees of complications. Physicians' misadvise [42 percent], economic problems [25 percent], and hospital terror [17 percent] were accounted as the most prevalent reasons for delayed referrals. Physicians' knowledge about the correctable congenital anomalies in infants was estimated very poor [3 score from 10]. Delay to refer for operation in correctable congenital anomalies is an important dilemma in our community. Public education and also health professional education about this matter can play an admissible role improving the situation. Also, it is needed to make decisions for improving assurance supports in such cases

Early and late complications following surgical repair of Hirschsprung's disease in pediatric patients: single-staged versus multiple-staged pull through

Background: early diagnosis and repair make a better prognosis in Hirschsprung's disease [HD] patients. Two basic approaches, namely single staged and multiple staged pull through are commonly applied to treat such patients. In this study we tried to compare short-term and long-term complications of the two procedures to provide a guide for choosing the safer and more effective approach

Methods: the study involved all the HD cases treated via either of the two common approaches during a seven-year period from 1995 to 2002 in Isfahan, Iran. Fourteen patients underwent single-staged repair [SS] but the remaining 48 were treated via a multiple-staged approach [MS]. Short-term and long-term complications together with patients' defecation patterns were compared between the two groups

Results: early wound infection was significantly more prevalent among MS group [9 [19%] in MS groups vs. 1 [7%] in SS group; P < 0.05]. Intestinal obstruction, severe enterocolitis, and anastomotic stricture were considerably lower in SS repair than in MS procedure. Defecation patterns in both groups were comparable. Compared with the MS approach, the number of hospital admissions and total length of stay were significantly lower in the SS group

Conclusions: although restoration of normal function is achieved with both procedures, early and late complications, number of admissions and the total length of hospital stay are considerably lower with the SS pull through. Therefore, with an earlier diagnosis, SS repair can be an improved strategy, which will bring a better prognosis for HD patients

normal position of umbilicus in the newborn: an aid to improve cosmetic result in exomphalos major

Background: position of umbilicus is an important esthetic landmark and its absence or deformity may be associated with poor self-image. In abdominoplasty, the creation of a normal-looking, well shaped and sufficiently deep umbilicus on a normal position seems essential. The aim of this study was to determine the normal position of umbilicus and hence to improve the cosmetic result of exomphalos major repair

Methods: in a cross-sectional study the position of umbilicus was determined in a random sample of 200 healthy and normal neonates [107 boys and 93 girls] who were born in Isfahan University hospitals from Oct. 2002 till Mar. 2003, with respect to the xiphisternum and pubis

Results: the normal umbilical position was 59.3 +/- 5.2 percent of the way from the inferior border of xiphisternum to the superior border of the pubis in the midline and it was independent of gender and neonatal growth indices

Conclusions: recent years have witnessed major improvements in the survival of newborns with exomphalocele. The primary repair of the abdominal wall with umbilicoplasty is generally considered the treatment of choice, and the cosmetic appearance of the navel becomes increasingly important as children grow older. In repair of exomphalos major, the most esthetically pleasing result is obtained if the umbilicus is placed 59.3% of the way from the xiphisternum to the pubis

Microbial monitoring of locally manufactured cream cheese-like product

A total of 25 samples of cream cheese-like product were collected from different localities in Kafr El-Sheikh area and examined for evaluation of their hygienic status. The obtained results indicated that the mean value of salt content was 2.90 +/- 0.24 and pH was 4.92 +/- 0.17. The mean value of Psychrotrophic count, Enterobacteriaceae count, Staphylococcus count, Yeast and mould count and proteolytic count were 4.04 x 10[4] +/- 1.20 x 10[4], 2.40 x 10[3] +/- 0.50 x 10[3], 2.00 x 10[4] +/- 0.61 X 10[4], 1.80 x 10[3] +/- 0.42 x 10[3], 3.50 X 10[3] +/- 0.76 x 10[3] and 1.20 x 10[3] +/- 0.26 x 10[3], respectively. Escherichia coli could be isolated in a percentage of [54%] and Staphylococcus aureus [68%], while mould species could be isolated with a percentage ranged from 4-16%, and yeast species ranged from 8-32%. Recommendations for improving the quality of such product as well as public health significance of isolated organisms were discussed

Simple techniques for detection of formalin in milk

The detection of formalin in milk was accomplished by different techniques. Hehner's test with modification and spot tests using porcelain slab, thin layer silica-gel and filter paper were tried as simple techniques for detection of formalin in milk. The results obtained from this experimental work revealed that the optimum concentration of sulphuric acid containing ferric chloride needed for the detection of formalin was 70% V/V. From these techniques, spot test, using porcelain slab was suggested to be the most economic, simple, rapid, sensitive, safe and applicable routine rejection test for incoming milk in dairy plants or at home without any complications

Gross chemical composition and microbiological quality of saanen goat's milk

Thirty individual milk samples of Saanen goats were chemically and microbiologically analyzed. The attained data revealed that the average percentage values of acidity, total solids, fat, solids not fat and protein contents were 0.14, 11.73, 2.77, 8.94, and 3.02, respectively. A value of 6.83 was recorded for pH. The average values of total calcium and magnesium contents were 151.9 and 5.67 mg/100 ml in order. The average total plate count was 3.5 x 10 4, whereas that coliform [MPN/ml] was 5. However, 80% of the examined samples were coliform free