[Evaluation of auditory brainstem responses [ABR] in healthy term infants with elevated bilirubin levels requiring exchange transfusion]

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common neonatal abnormality. Severe hyperbilirubinemia is a risk factor for auditory system injury. Auditory brainstem responses [ABR] are important in early diagnosis of hearing impairments in healthy term infants with elevated bilirubin levels requiring exchange transfusion. During a two-year-period [2007-2009], in a prospective descriptive analytical study, in Tehran Milad Hospital, 64 [32 female, 32 male], healthy term [>37 weeks] infants, who required treatment or were treated with phototherapy or received exchange transfusion for elevated bilirubin levels or jaundice, were studied. After obtaining a written consent from their parents, the infants were tested with auditory brain responses and results were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. No significant correlation was found between ABR and age, weight, bilirubin level or ABO blood group. Nineteen out of 64 infants received exchange transfusion. Three out of 19 infants [16%] exhibited abnormal ABR and 16 infants [84%] had normal ABR. There was no significant correlation between exchange transfusions and ABR [P>0.05]. The results pointed out that 14% of the infants with elevated bilirubin who required exchange transfusion had abnormal ABR. This indicates that elevated bilirubin levels even without inducing kernicterus should be considered as risk factors for hearing impairments. Further studies are needed on how long these tests may remain abnormal

Evaluation of auditory brainstem responses [ABR] in healthy term infants with elevated bilirubin levels requiring exchange transfusion

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common neonatal abnormality. Severe hyperbilirubinemia is a risk factor for auditory system injury. Auditory brainstem responses [ABR] are important in early diagnosis of hearing impairments in healthy term infants with elevated bilirubin levels requiring exchange transfusion. During a two- year- period [2007 - 2009], in a prospective descriptive analytical study, in Tehran Milad Hospital, 64 [32 female, 32 male], healthy term [> 37 weeks] infants, who required treatment or were treated with phototherapy or received exchange transfusion for elevated bilirubin levels or jaundice, were studied. After obtaining a written consent from their parents, the infants were tested with auditory brain responses and results were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. No significant correlation was found between ABR and age, weight, bilirubin level or ABO blood group. Nineteen out of 64 infants received exchange transfusion. Three out of 19 infants [16%] exhibited abnormal ABR and 16 infants [84%] had normal ABR. There was no significant correlation between exchange transfusions and ABR [P>0.05]. The results pointed out that 14% of the infants with elevated bilirubin who required exchange transfusion had abnormal ABR. This indicates that elevated bilirubin levels even without inducing kernicterus should be considered as risk factors for hearing impairments. Further studies are needed on how long these tests may remain abnormal

[ prevalence of frontal sinus aplasia in Mashhad, northeast of Iran]

There are various reports of the prevalence of frontal sinus aplasia in different geographical areas and ethnic origins. The size and shape of frontal sinus is different among various populations. This study used CT scan images to investigate the frequency of absence of frontal sinuses in adults of northeastern Iran. The present study was performed retrospectively on the axial and coronal CT scans of the paranasal sinuses from a series of 588 patients who had referred to CT scan ward of Mashhad Imam Reza hospital without any other sinus pathology. The mean age of patients was 44.39 +/- 19.44 years. Unilateral and bilateral aplasia of frontal sinuses was seen in 36 and 51 patients, respectively. The dominant sinus was in the left side in 68.24% of cases. The lower incidence of frontal sinus aplasia in this particular ethnic and geographical area relative to other populations emphasizes the effect of environmental and genetic factors on the development of frontal sinuses

Erosive potential of 2 Iranian and 2 imported drinks on enamel; a scanning electron microscopic and stereomicroscopy survey

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the erosive potential of 4 fizzy drinks in Iran's Market by stereomicroscopy and SEM. Two I ranian made drinks [Cola zamzam and orange zamzam] and 2 imported ones [pepsi and Mirinda] were studied in this descriptive study as for their effects on tooth enamel [in vitro]. 120 intact premolar teeth, extracted for orthodontic reasons were divided in to 3 groups [A, B and C].Each group exposed to one of the drinks for one out of 3 exposure times as follows: A: 15 minutes, B: 45 minutes and C: 12 hours. Each one of the 3 groups was subsequently divided in to 4 subgroups [each containing 10 teeth], each of which were exposed to 20 ml of one out of the 4 drinks .The surface exposed to drinks were the same in all tooth samples [a 5 mm in diameter semi circular window]. Out of each of the 12 groups 2 teeth were selected randomly to be observed by SEM. Morphological changes of enamel exposed to drinks were as follows: enamel discoloration, loss of glossy appearance and etching appearance of enamel in stereomicroscopic views. Variable degrees of loss of enamel prisms were observed in SEM views, affecting prism heads and sheaths primarily and then tails in longer incubation time. Depth and extent of erosion increased parallel with the rise in incubation time. All the drinks demonstrated a relatively high erosive potential on human permanent enamel

[ effect of pH on the erosive potential of Iranian and imported soft drinks using atomic absorption spectrophotometry]

An increase in pH can affect the erosive potential of soft drinks, but the possible role of calcium salts and phosphate has not been fully recognized. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of pH on the erosive potential of soft drinks on permanent tooth enamel. This experimental in vitro study was performed on 8 beverages and 240 intact premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes. Two Iranian soft drinks [Cola and Orange Zamzam] and 2 imported ones [Pepsi and Mirinda] constituted the case group and 4 solutions with the same pH served as the control group. The teeth were divided into 3 groups [A, B and C] and further subdivided into 8 subgroups and immersed in 20 ml of one of the 8 beverages for 15 minutes [A], 45 minutes [B] and 12 hours [C]. The amount of Ca[++] released in each soft drink or solution was estimated by AA-spectrophotometry at the end of each exposure time. A statistically significant difference was found in the extent of erosion between the case and control groups which increased with exposure time [P<0.001]. The pattern of Ca[++] concentration changes were similar in both study groups [p=0.3915], but the case group revealed a higher erosive potential than the control group [P<0.001]. The percentage of titratable acids seems to have a greater effect on the erosive potential of beverages when compared to pH. Measuring pH alone could not accurately estimate the erosive potential of different soft drinks

[Study of effect of acupressure methods on pain in primary dysmenorrhea]

Primary dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent and causes much work loss and discomfort. Regard to critical role of women in family and society it necessitate that to betaken proper investment for improving their mental and physical health. In this study 100 student suffer from primary dysmenorrhea were selected by targeted sampling and take their in two equal groups, case [acupressure group] and control [sham group] randomly. Initially in addition to personal identity, we recorded their history of menstruation, physical activity, vital signs, menstrual pain intensity. Treatment was given during two consecutive menstrual cycles coincident with pain and bleeding by acupressure in case group, and pressure in control group in two time of 15 minutes and 30 minutes interval during 6 hours after onset of dysmenorrhea in each cycle. In case group the treatment was given on lumbar, abdomen, foreleg and ear points, and in control group on placebo points by single blind method. Pain rating was done with use of V.A.S [Visual Analgesic Scale] in 30 min, 1 hr, 2hr and 3hr interval after treatment. The results showed that mean pain scores before [8.2 +/- 1.6] and after [2.6 +/- 1.3] in case group have significant difference. Also there is significant difference between mean pain score before and after treatment in case and control groups [p<0.001]. This study showed that acupressure at specific points in lumbar, abdominal, ear reduce the pan intensity and psychic and mental due to primary dymenorrhea. Therefore acupressure could be used as a non-medicament, inexpensive and safe method in decrease of pain of dysmenorrhea in girl and women

Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E region and severity of multiple sclerosis

Background: the apolipoprotein E [APOE] polymorphism is known to affect various neurologic disorders with different effects on the immune system and CNS repair. However, previous studies on possible modulation of the clinical course of multiple sclerosis [MS] by APOE polymorphism have been inconsistent

Objective: to clarify the issue for MS patients' management and future research

Methods: the present cross-sectional study investigated 81 patients with clinically proven MS and related their clinical and demographic findings to the allelic polymorphism of the APOE gene. The genotype distribution of patients with MS was compared with a comparison group of 93 asymptomatic elderly volunteers

Results: significant differences were found in the distribution of Epsilon 4 allele between patients with MS and the comparison group [9.3% vs. 0.5%; p>0.001]. An analysis of disease progression in 81 patients with MS indicated that APOE Epsilon 4 carriers are more likely to be affected with severe disease

Conclusion: the results obtained suggested that APOE genotype affected susceptibility to MS and indicated an association of the APOE Epsilon 4 allele with a more severe course of the disease