[ effect of a combined herbal ointment [pepper, rosemary, peppermint] on low back pain after coronary angiography]

Background: Angiography is one of the most important diagnostic procedures of heart patients is that despite many advantages in the detection of coronary artery disease , has caused many problems for patients. To prevent these complications, the patient is recommended bed rest. Followed this situation, back pain occurred and low back pain is common among these patients

Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of topical herbal ointment on back pain in angiography patients

Methods: This study was a two groups randomized clinical trial, in which patients underwent coronary angiography were selected with available sampling and randomly divided into two groups [taking herbal ointment] and control [placebo] and on angiography day and one day later treated with herbal ointment [4 times a day] and before taking the ointment, and at the end of the second day, pain was measured by VAS scale

Results: In this study assessed 80 patients that received angiography. The mean pain score in the test group prior to the intervention was 4/05 with a standard deviation 2/24 and after intervention was 2/47 with standard deviation 1/66. pain score in the control group prior to the intervention was 3/52 with a standard deviation 1/93 and after intervention was 3/45 with standard deviation 1/82

Conclusion: With regard the results of this study we can conclude that this herbal ointment [pepper, rosemary, peppermint] can reduce low back pain in patients after angiography and we can use this ointment to increase patient comfort although more research with more samples is needed in this area to achieve a certain result

[Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation exposed to hypoxia]

Background and Objective: Some problems such as low viability and apoptosis after injection to the body because of exposure to toxic factors such as hypoxia, thermal stress, oxidative stress and food deprivation are encountered with stem cell application. It is suggested that preconditioning of the cells with cytotoxic factors before injection could enhance their efficiency. This study was done to determine the mesenchymal stem cell proliferation exposed to hypoxia by cobalt chloride

Methods: In this experimental study, Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rat bone marrow and cultured at least for four times. The cells were cultured in 96 well plates and treated with different concentration [0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120, 150 and 200 microM] of cobalt chloride for 6, 12, 24 and 46 hours. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay [3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl]-2,5- Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide]

Results: The cells isolated from bone marrow were propagated easily in culture condition. The cells morphology was not altered after exposure to cobalt chloride. Preconditioning of mesenchymal stem cells with 120 microM for 6 hours, 20 microM for 12 and 24 hours and 5 microM for 48 hours significantly improved cell proliferation after hypoxia in cell culture [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Hypoxia preconditioning increases proliferation of mesenchymal stem cell

Isolation and structure elucidation of secondary metabolites from Echinophora platyloba DC from Iran

Echinophora platyloba DC [Apiaceae] is one of the two endemic species of Echinophora genus in Iran. It has many folkloric uses and several biological activities but there is no information about its phytoconstituents. In this work some of the secondary metabolites were isolated, purified and identified from n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from the aerial parts and root of this plant for the first time. Resulting extracts were subjected to column chromatography using EtOAc/n-hexane as eluent. Further purifications were carried out using preparative TLC and recrystallization techniques. Characterization of compounds were established using spectroscopic data [[1]H-NMR, [13]C-NMR, MS and FT-IR], and by comparing with the literature. Stigmasterol, Sitosterol, Stigmasterol-beta-D-glycoside and Saccharose were purified from these extracts and their chemical structures were characterized. Several phytosterols were isolated from various extracts of aerial parts and great amount of saccharose was purified from the sweet root of the plant

case report of concurrent variation of biceps brachii and musculocutaneous nerve in a cadaver

Different neuromuscular variations have been reported in the arm. In this case, a rare concurrent neuromuscular variation in right arm and a muscular variation in left arm are reported in a cadaver. During dissection of a cadaver, we found that the biceps brachii muscle had an additional head [third head] in both sides associated with a neural variation in the right side. In this case, the musculocutaneous nerve did not exist and was replaced by the branches of lateral root of the median nerve. The finding of this report, might be a major of significance for both anatomists and surgeons to reduce the prospective complications of surgery

Cardiac MRI in a patient with myocarditis

A 19-year-old man presented with atypical chest pain, history of flu-like symptoms for the previous 14 days, and a rise in cardiac enzymes. His electrocardiogram revealed inferolateral ST elevation with mild PR depression. Cardiac MRI demonstrated focal myocarditis following his viral illness

Cardiac MRI in a patient with amyloidosis

A 42-year-old man presented with orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and ascites, which had progressed for the previous two months. Electrocardiogram was low voltage. Transthoracic echocardiography showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and increased brightness and speckling pattern in the ventricular septum, consistent with amyloidosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the echocardiographic findings, and gingival biopsy was positive for amyloidosis

Evaluation of regional myocardial systolic function in the early stage of acute myocardial infarction by strain rate imaging

We sought to evaluate the impact of different therapeutic strategies on longitudinal regional myocardial systolic function in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction using strain rate imaging. A total of 38 patients [34 males], with first acute myocardial infarction [AMI] were evaluated. Our patients were divided into 3 groups according to the kind of therapy. The mean age of the patients was 55 +/- 9.4 years [range: 39- 75 years]. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] in the patients was 41 +/- 10.7%. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] was performed in 10 patients. Sixteen patients were treated by thrombolytic therapy using streptokinase [SK] and 12 were followed-up conservatively. All patients underwent a comprehensive echocardiography study including SR imaging within 3- 5 days after AMI. The parameters measured included peak systolic strain [peak epsilon] and strain rate [SRs], end-systolic strain [epsilon es], post systolic shortening [PSS], time to peak systolic strain rate [tSRs], time to end of shortening [teSRs], post systolic strain [PS epsilon], post-systolic strain index [PSI], PSS ratio [PSS/ epsilon [Max]] and peak postsystolic strain rate [SRPSS]. There was not any association either between WMSI and ta [P=0.4], or MI location and PSS ratio [P=0.13]. But there was an inverse relationship between WMSI and mean SRS, especially when WMSI was more pronounced. A significant relationship was found between t epsilon epsilon and teSRs with the kind of therapy [shorter in PCI group [P= 0.04]. Using a simple linear regression model, no association was found between PSS ratio and SRs [a=0.056, P =0.70], PSI and teSRs [beta= -0.772, P=0.12]. Simple linear regression model showed a weak but significant relationship between PSI and Median t epsilon [beta = -0.851, P =0.04; r =0.33]. Our study showed that PCI resulted in early recovery of regional systolic function of infarcted myocardium during the early stage of acute myocardial infarction

Prevalence of fatty liver disease among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and its relation to insulin resistance

A substantial proportion of the mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and its complications. Insulin resistance is a major etiologic factor for the development of fatty liver. We aimed to study the prevalence of NAFLD among T2DM patients and its relation to insulin resistance. Patients with T2DM that were referred to a tertiary referral center in Tehran from February 2003 to August 2005 were evaluated. Patients with characteristic findings on ultrasonography were considered as having fatty Livers. The Homeostasis Model Assistant - Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index [QUICKI] were calculated as measures of insulin resistance. Of the 172 patients included in the study, 96 [55.8%] had evidence of fatty livers, 6 of which [3.5% of total] presented with elevated liver enzymes. BMI and triglyceride levels in the fatty liver group were significantly higher than patients with normal livers [p=0.002 and 0.036, respectively]. The HOMA-IR and QUICKI indexes were not significantly different between the two groups. Fatty liver is a common finding among T2DM patients. The degree of insulin resistance does not appear to be predictive of fatty liver among this population

[Prevalence of anti-HBc and anti-HBs in HBsAg negative blood donors in Tehran]

Current serological screening tests for blood-borne hepatitis viruses has reduced the risk of post-transfusion hepatitis dramatically. Occult hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection might allow the release of viremic units into the blood supply if blood is tested only for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]. Screening for anti-HBc has been shown as an alternative for detection of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV infection markers in HBsAg negative blood donors. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 2000 HBsAg negative samples were collected from blood centers in Tehran. All HBsAg negative samples were tested for anti-HBc using ELISA method. Then, all HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples were tested for anti-HBs by the same method. All data were analyzed statistically using Chi-square test. Results One hundred ninety nine [9.95%] out of the 2000 HBsAg negative blood donors were anti-HBc positive [confidence interval of 7.66%-12.24%]. Out of the 199 anti-HBc-positive samples tested for anti-HBs, 149 [75%] were anti-HBs-positive [confidence interval of 65.5%-85.5%], and 102 [50.3%] had an antibody titer greater than 100 IU/ml. Conclusions In our study, the prevalence rate of anti-HBc in HBsAg negative blood donors was high. While anti-HBc-positive blood may be a potential source of HBV transmission, routine application of anti-HBc screening is not feasible in our country as it would seriously affect the blood supply adequacy. Therefore, more sensitive techniques such as minipool PCR testing after virus enrichment are essential for detecting HBV DNA in HBsAg-negative chronic HBV carriers