[Evaluation of Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A Levels in Diabetic patients and association with Oral and Dental Manifestations]

Objectives: Oral and dental manifestations in diabetic patients can arise due to numerous factors, including elevated salivary secretory immunoglobulin A [s-IgA] levels. This study aimed to evaluate s-IgA concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] and to investigate the association between s-IgA levels and oral and dental manifestations of T2DM

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between October 2011 and September 2012 in Kerman, Iran, and included 260 subjects [128 patients with T2DM and 132 healthy controls]. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected from all subjects and s-IgA levels were determined using the immunoturbidimetric method. The oral cavities and teeth of T2DM patients were evaluated for oral and dental manifestations

Results: Both diabetic and control subjects with higher concentrations of s-IgA had significantly higher numbers of decayed, missing or filled teeth [DMFT] and periodontal index [PDI] scores [P <0.050]. s-IgA levels were significantly higher in subjects with oral candidiasis [P <0.050]. Among diabetic patients, significantly higher s-IgA levels were concomitant with xerostomia and denture stomatitis [P

Conclusion: Individuals with a greater number of DMFT, a higher PDI score and oral candidiasis had significantly higher s-IgA levels. s-IgA levels were not significantly higher among diabetic patients in comparison to the control group. However, significantly higher s-IgA levels occurred with xerostomia and denture stomatitis in diabetic patients. In addition, s-IgA was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled diabetes compared to those with controlled diabetes

[Comparison of the outcomes of three detoxification methods [clonidin, methadon, rapid] in opioid-dependents referred to Kerman Shaheed Beheshti Hospital in a 6-month follow-up]

In this study the efficacy of traditional method, methadone tapering method and rapid method as three opiate detoxification treatments was compared based on demographic features and naltrexone consumption in a 6-month follow up. This Cohort prospective study was performed on 140 opioid addict men referred to opiate detoxification center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman/ Iran from 2005-2007. They were divided into three groups of traditional method [n=61], methadone tapering [n=34] and rapid treatment [n=45] and followed up for 6 months in order to evaluate the results of detoxification treatments. At the end of the first month, the rate of abstinence in whole was 80.7%, and this rate was 83.6% in traditional treatment group, 82.4% in methadone group and 75.6% in rapid treatment group that shows no significant difference. After the 6th month the rate of abstinence was 12.8% in whole, 16.7% in traditional treatment group, 16.7% in methadone group and 6.3% in rapid treatment group. These rates, too, show no significant difference among three groups. The rate of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 1st month was 75.7% in whole, 52.5% in traditional group, 47.1% in methadone group and 97.8% in rapid treatment group that shows significant difference among three groups [P<0.05]. There was no case of naltrexone consumption at the end of the 6th month

[ effects of silymarin in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice]

Silymarin, the active principle of Silybum marianum, has antifibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis by several mechanisms. Since the pathogenesis of fibroproliferative diseases is similar, the effect of silymarin in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was evaluated in this study. Silymarin [50 mg/kg, i.p.] was administered two days before the bleomycin instillation [3 U/kg] and throughout the test interval in mice. After two weeks, lung tissues of mice were evaluated for fibrosis by biochemical measurement of collagen deposition and histological analysis of pathological lung changes. Data were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett analysis. P<0.05 was considered as significant. Pretreatment with Silymarin significantly [P<0.05] prevented the increase in lung collagen content and also partially inhibited the histologic changes induced by bleomycin. The wet lung weight in silymarin group was similar to that of control group and significantly lower than bleomycin group [P<0.001]. The results of this study indicate that silymarin may prevent the collagen deposition and inflammation and may be protective in fibrogenic effects of bleomycin on lung

Evaluation of neuroendocrine and proliferative markers in prostatic adenocarcinomas

Certain marker studies have practical importance in the biology of prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quantification of certain neuroendocrine and proliferative markers obtained during transurethral resection or prostatectomy, would help in the prognostic evaluation of prostatic adenocarcinomas. The present study was performed on samples obtained from two groups of patients with acinar type prostatic adenocarcinoma. Each group comprised 21 patients with Gleason scores =/> 7 [high-grade] and Gleason scores

[PCR in the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis; a report of 13 cases]

Purpose: to evaluate the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis [TB] with polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and to report 13 cases of presumed intraocular TB

Methods: of 168 patients with uveitis, 13 patients [7.74%] had criteria for intraocular TB [TB group]. Thirteen patients with non-TB uveitis were randomly selected as the control group. Samples for PCR were obtained from the aqueous humor. Systemic evaluations, tuberculin skin test, and aqueous PCR were performed in all patients. The clinical and paraclinical findings and the treatment of patients with presumed intraocular TB were evaluated

Results: mean age of the TB group was 42.6 +/- 14y, 9 patients were female and 4 were male. Mean age of the control group was 37.15 +/- 15.32,7 patients were male and 6 were female. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 11 patients of the TB group vs 2 patients in the control group [P=0.001]. Three patients in the TB group [23%] and none of the control group had positive PCR test. Posterior segment findings in the TB group included multifocal choroiditis in 4 patients [30.77%], single choroidal nodule [tuberculoma] in 1, retinal perivasculitis in 1, macular edema in 1, and intermediate uveitis in 1. In 5 other patients, no findings were observed in the posterior segment. Coexistant lung or other organ disease was found only in one patient and positive family history for TB was found in another

Conclusion: use of the Tuberculin skin test is advisable and if results are above 19 rnrn of induration, the possibility of intraocular TB is reinforced, but negative tests are not sufficient for exclusion. PCR-positive patients must be treated with complete anti-TB treatment for eradication of bacilli