effect of hoemodialysis on pulmonary function tests and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic renal failure

In the present study the effect of hemodialysis on pulmonary function tests [PFT] and respiratory symptoms of CRF [Chronic Renal Failure] patients was studied. Respiratory symptoms of 18 CRF patients were recorded using a questionnaire, before, in the middle and the end of dialysis. PFT values of patients were also measured in three phases. In addition, baseline PFT values and respiratory symptoms of CRF patients [PFT values and respiratory symptoms before dialysis] were compared with the data of a matched control group of normal subjects [n=18]. Most respiratory symptoms in CRF patients [cough, sputum and breathless] were significantly more prevalent, than control group [p<0.005 to p<0.001]. The values of forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV[1]], peak expiratory flow [PEF], maximal mid expiratory flow [MMEF] and maximal expiratory flow at 75%, 50%, and 25% of the FVC [MEF[75], MEF[50], and MEF[25] respectively] in CRF patients were also significantly lower than control group [p<0.001 for all cases]. Most respiratory symptoms of CRF patients at the middle and the end of dialysis were significantly lower than the beginning of dialysis. [p<0.05 to P<0.001]. In addition, some respiratory symptoms were also significantly improved at the end compared to the middle of dialysis [p<0.05 for all cases]. However, the dialysis did no effect PFT values in CRF patients. The results of this study showed that dialysis in CRF patients can improve the respiratory symptoms but has no effect on PFT values

Effects of hydro-ethanolic extract of berberis vulgaris fruit on rabbit isolated heart

Several therapeutic effects including antimicrobial, antidiarrhea, hepatoprotection and cardiotonic for Berberis vulgaris have been described. In the present study, the effects of hydro-ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris on the rate and contractility of isolated heart were examined. The heart mounted on a modified Langendorff apparatus and circulation was perfused through aorta. Heart rate and contractility were determined in the presence of four concentrations of hydro-ethanolic extract [0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/100ml] and diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker [0.1, 1,10 and 100 micro M] in comparison with baseline values in two different groups of experiments as follows: 1] Perfused heart with normal Krebs solution [group1 experiments, n=10]. 2] Perfused heart with calcium free Krebs solution [group 2 experiments, n=9]. In group 1 only 3 highest concentrations of diltiazem showed significant reduction in heart rate [p<0.05 to P<0.001]. However, 3 highest concentrations of diltiazem showed significant decrease and the last 2 concentrations of hydro-ethanolic extract increased heart contractility significantly [p<0.01 to P<0.001]. In group 2 only the last concentration of diltiazem showed significant reduction in heart rate and contractility [p<0.05]. The relationship between concentrations of hydro-ethanolic extract and heart rate in both group were negative [p<0.01 to p<0.001]. However, there was positive correlation between concentrations of hydro-ethanolic extract and heart contractility. These results showed that of hydro-ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris has strong effect on heart contractility. The results of the present study may also indicate an activatoion of the calcium channel of isolated heart by the extract

Distribution of blood groups among population in the city of Machhad [North East of Iran]

To determine the percentage of ABO and Rhesus blood groups among population of the city of Mashhad. The blood groups of studied population was performed using routine method of blood grouping. Eight hundred sixty-seven subjects aged 8 Year and above including 436 male and 431 female. The subjects were randomly selected from 20 different areas of the city of Mashhad. The results showed that the percentage of blood groups A, B, AB and O among studied population was 23.1%, 23.3%, 8.9% and 34.7% respectively. 88.71% of studied population was rhesus positive and 11.3% rhesus negative. This study revealed the percentage of different blood groups for the population of the city of Mashhad that was significantly different with those of several other studies

Antitussive effect of nigellla sativa in guinea pigs

Several therapeutic effects including anti-asthma and dyspnea have been described for the seeds of Nigella sativa. In previous studies the relaxant and anticholinergic [functional antagonism] effects, histamine H, inhibitory effect, and calcium channel blocking effect of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. In the present study the antitussive effect of this plant was evaluated. The antitussive effects of aerosols of two different concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts, one concentration of boiled extract, codeine, and saline were tested by counting the number of coughs produced due to aerosol of citric acid 10 min after exposing animal to aerosols of different solutions [n=7 for each solution]. The results showed significant reduction of cough number observed in the presence of both concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts, boiled extract and codeine [p<0.05 to p<0.001]. The cough number observed over a period of five minutes in the presence of higher concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts were also significantly less than those of lower concentrations [p<0.05 for aqueous and p<0.01 for macerated extracts]. In addition there was not any significant difference between cough numbers observed in the presence of all extracts with that of codeine. These results indicated an antitussive effect of Nigella sativa, which was comparable to that of codeine

Comparison of antitussive effect of nigella sativa with codeine in guinea pig

The relaxant and anticholinergic [functional antagonism] effects, histamine H1 inhibitory effect, and calcium channel blocking effect of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. Several therapeutic effects including antiasthma and dyspnea have also been ascribed to the seeds of Nigella sativa. To evaluate the antitussive effect of this plant. The antitussive effects of aerosols of two different concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts as well as an extract of concentrated boiled seeds, codeine, and saline were tested by counting the number of coughs produced 10 min after exposing animal to aerosols of different solutions of citric acid [n=7 for each solution]. The results showed significant reduction in the number of coughs obtained in the presence of both concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts, boiled seeds extract and codeine [p<0.05 to p<0.001]. The cough number induced in the presence of higher concentrations of aqueous and macerated extracts were also significantly less than those with lower concentrations [p<0.05 for aqueous and p<0.01 for macerated extracts]. There was no significant difference between the number of coughs obtained in the presence of all extracts with that of codeine. These results indicate an antitussive effect of Nigella sativa comparable to that of codeine

Prevalence of asthma symptoms among high school students in the city of Mashhad, north-east of Iran

There are few data about the prevalence of asthma symptoms in young adults and the prevalence of this common disease among this particular age group in Iran is not known. Using a standard questionnaire, we studied the prevalence of asthma among high school children [aged 14-20 years]. Setting: Selected high schools in the city of Mashhad, North-East of Iran. Four thousand, seven hundred, eighty-one pupils [in 24 schools] composed of 2389 males and 2392 females were interviewed by trained medical students. The following symptoms were recognized as asthma symptoms: recurrent wheeze, recurrent cough or a sense of tightness at rest, wheeze, cough or a sense of tightness during night or early morning, wheeze or cough during exercise. Students with one or two symptoms were considered as suspected asthmatics; and those with three or more symptoms, or who had been previously diagnosed as asthmatic as probable asthmatics. We found that 195 students [4.08%] composed of 105 males [4.39%] and 90 females [3.76%] had probable asthma. Family history of asthma [32.3%], history of allergy [45.6%] and the cigarette smoking habits of parents of asthmatic students [34.4%] were significantly higher than in normal students [in all cases, p<0.0001]. Only 45.6% of the students had been previously diagnosed and were undergoing treatment. However, most students with previous treatment used only bronchodilatory drugs [65.17% of treated students]; and 13.48% used anti-inflammatory drugs in their treatment regimen. In addition, 564 students [11.8%] fell namely 225 males [9.42%] and 339 females [14.2%] in the category of suspected asthma. It is concluded that the prevalence of asthma among high school students in the city of Mashhad is high, and many were either undiagnosed or did not receive any treatment

Short term variation of atropine blockade in the tracheobronchial tree of asthmatic subjects

In asthmatic subjects there is a pronounced diurnal variation in bronchial responsiveness. If this phenomenon is due to variation in factors that control drug delivery, then it should be paralleled by a similar variation in competitive antagonist blockade. In order to study this possibility, we performed the methacholine challenge test and after 45 minutes, administered atropine by inhalation. Methacholine rechallenge was performed 25 minutes after premedication with atropine. Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine[PB [35]] and atropine blockade was then measured. Eight normal subjects and 9 asthmatic patients were tested on two separate occasions, one in the morning at 08:00 hours and the other in the evening at 18:00 hours with at least 48 hours gap between them. In normal subjects there was no significant difference between morning and evening concerning airway caliber, bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and atropine blockade. In asthmatic patients there was a significant difference between morning and evening in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine [P<0.001] and atropine blockade [P<0.001], although there was no significant difference in airway caliber. The possible explanation for enhanced atropine blockade as well as methacholine responsiveness in asthmatic subjects in the morning is increased bronchial and tissue permeability due to worsening bronchial inflammation in the early morning leading to increased drug delivery to active sites in the airways