[Quantitative assessment of hyoscyamine and scopolamine tropane alkaloids in root and shoot of hyoscymaus spp. from iran]

Background: Different species of Hyoscymaus are rich sources of tropane alkaloids, especially hyoscyamine and scopolamine. These compounds medicinally are important tropane alkaloids that exclusively are produced by plants

Objective: Evaluation of hyoscyamine and scopolamine tropane alkalolids content in shoots and roots of Hyoscyamus species including H. kotschyanus, H. squarrosus, H. pusillus, H. kurdicus, H. scoparia, H. othocarpus

Methods: This research was done as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. Seeds of Hyoscyamus species were grown in growth room under 25 C° temperature and 16/8 h light/dark period conditions. Samples of dried shoot and underground organs of 6 to 7 month plants were extracted and then content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine was evaluated by HPLC

Results: Hyoscyamine and scopolamine content in H. orthocarpus were more than the other species and total of these two compounds in H. orthocarpus [15.81 mg/gr dry weight] was approximately 2 times more than H. kotschyanus [7.45 mg/gr dry weight] and manifold of the other studied species. Hyoscyamine was the main compound in H. orthocarpus. The least amount of hyoscyamine and scopolamine was in H. pusillus

Conclusion: H. orthocarpus and H. kotschyanus because of higher content of hyoscymine and scopolamine with more studies can be used as rich sources of these tropane alkaloids in pharmacy industries

Trans-thoracic versus trans-hiatal esophagectomy complications and outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer in Shohada-E-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran; 2000-2008

Esophageal cancer is a poor-prognosis cancer which is common in Iran. The main treatment for this cancer is surgery which may be performed with either trans-thoracic [TTE] or trans-hiatal esophagectomy [THE]. Each of these methods has some specific complications, morbidity and mortality rate, leading to controversies in method selection. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the outcomes of these two approaches in Iranian patients. In this retrospective survey, we evaluated 100 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent either TTE or THE in Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, from 2000 to 2008 and categorized them into two groups. The patients in the two groups were compared according to age, sex, tumor location and histopathologic characteristics, surgery results and complications, morbidity, mortality and death results. Sixty nine percent [69%] of patients had squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] and 59% had undergone THE. The mean age of the patients was 61.18 years. There was no difference in age, sex distribution, tumor pathology and location in the two groups. Although neck leakage of anastomoses was more frequent in THE [7.31% vs 10.16%], there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in complications and mortality. Duration of the surgery was longer in TTE. Trans-hiatal and trans-thoracic esophagectomy are the same in outcomes. Both methods can be considered as therapeutic surgical approach regarding to physician's opinion and patient's situations

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology: comparison of results in Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital and Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

It is more than 60 years that Fine Needle Aspiration [FNA] has been used for diagnosing palpable breast masses and has been known as an effective method for several years in Europe. In this study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of FNA with open biopsy in Tabriz and Shiraz, Iran. We studied 100 patients with breast lesions in Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital from late September 2003 to late July 2004. FNA and open biopsy were done for all patients, FNA results were studied by pathologists in Tabriz imam Khomeini hospital and Shiraz University and pathological and cytological results were compared. According to cytology, 44% of samples were benign, 15% were suspicious, 33% were malignant and 8% were insufficient in Tabriz. These figures were 25%, 10%, 27% and 37%, respectively in Shiraz. Sensitivity of FNA was higher in Tabriz [89.79% vs. 69%] but specificity did not differ significantly in two groups [93.47% vs. 80.95%]. Positive and negative predictive values were 97.77% and 89.36% in Tabriz and 100% and 60.6% in Shiraz, respectively. FNA accuracy was higher in Tabriz than in Shiraz [93.47% vs. 80.95%]. If done by experts, FNA can be a reliable replacement for open biopsy in palpable breast masses. Evaluation of FNA samples during aspiration can decrease insufficient samples. FNA [at least in deprived areas] can be the first line of diagnosis in women with breast masses and is helpful to increase health standards and clinical supervision of patients

Adverse drug reactions in an Iranian department of adult infectious diseases

This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions [ADRs] [WHO definition] in hospitalized adult patients in an infectious diseases referral ward in Tehran. Of 281 patients evaluated over 6 months, a total of 170 suspected ADRs were reported among 101 patients [35.9%]. The most commonly affected organ system was gastrointestinal [47.5%], and the most common class of drugs responsible was anti-infectives [93.1%]. ADRs were high among HIV-positive patients [82.9%], mainly due to anti-tuberculosis drugs. Attention to appropriate prescription of drugs is required with more careful clinical and laboratory monitoring of patients

[Comparison of effect of chlroquine and placebo on blood sugar of patient with uncontrolled type ii diabetes mellitus]

Diabetes mellitus as a most common metabolic disorder of human has a progressive prevalence that in this disease hyperglycemia from different causes produces several chronic complications in multiple organs by different mechanism. Normoglycemia is the way of prevention of complication that can induce by treatment with oral hypoglycemic agent [O.H.A] or insulin. In type II diabetes the patient treated with O.H.A the failure of treatment is important problem that maybe primary or secondary. Resolving of this problem is changing the treatment to insulin therapy. Before this changing we can add some accessory drug to O.H.A regimen for better controlling of blood sugar. One of these drugs is Chlroquine. In this study we decided to evaluate the effect of Chlroquine on level of blood sugar of DM II. During one year 55 patient in 2 groups as case [25 patients] and control [29 patients] treated with Chlroquine and placebo for 3 months. At first point and end of first, second and third month of study we measured the fasting blood sugar [FBS] and two hours post prandial blood sugar [2hppBS] and evaluate the change of FBS and 2hppBS in each group and between of two groups. The mean age of the case and control group are 53/53 +/- 6/44 and 53/58 +/- 7/83 and mean BMI of two groups are 26/25 +/- 3/6 and 24/95 +/- 3/25. Mean duration of disease of two groups are 7 +/- 4/68 and 6/44 +/- 5/3. Those two groups of patients for these parameters and also for basic FBS and 2hppBS are statistically equal. At the end of three months of study FBS and 2hppBS in each group significantly decreased [P < 0/001]. But this different between two groups are not significant [P-0/661 for FBS and P=0/782 for 2hppBS]. But in the end of the first and second months FBS in case group is significantly lower from control group [P=0/006 for first month and P=0/05 for second one]. Although in other studies that done Chlroquine has reported effective in decreasing of blood sugar of patient with DM type II, but in this study has not approved Reasons of this difference maybe because of different of duration of study or use of hydroxychlroquine instead of Chlroquine or don't being of control group in pervious study