Antispasmodic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of thymus vulgaris on the guinea-pig ileum

The widespread use of medicinal herbs among the general population gives rise to the possibility of therapeutic or toxic effects in patients that use these plants. The effects of Thymus vulgaris [TV] hydroalcoholic extract on the contractile responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum were investigated. Male guinea pigs that were starved for 24 hours were decapitated after cervical dislocation, and terminal ileum were removed. Segments were fixed at a resting tension of 0.5 g in an organ bath containing in Tyrode solution at 37°C, which was bubbled with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. The effects of the Thymus vulgaris extracts at six concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 6 mg/ml. Each segment served as its own control. Paired Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Thymus vulgaris inhibited the contractile response in a dose-dependent manner in 0.6mg/mI concentration decreased the amplitude of the muscles up to 60% [t = -5.67, P<0.02]. This inhibitory activity was blocked by Granisetron and inhibited the contractions induced by acetylcholine, the activities of this plant may be due to the anticolinergic effect and block of serotoninergic pathways. Regression analysis had shown that with increasing in extract concentration the effect of extract was increased [r = 0.96, p<0.001]. The coefficient of extract dose was 0.089 mg. Our results demonstrate that extract prepared from the plant of Thymus vulgaris inhibited electrical induced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum when tested in vitro. This effect is dose dependent and reversible

Survey of cancer incidence during a 5-year [1998-2002] period in Semnan province

Suitable information of different cancers in special geographic area can define medical programs for treatment and screening of high-risk groups. The provincial health authority reported a high mortality rate from upper GI cancer in the center of Iran. A comprehensive search was undertaken to survey and register all cases of cancer during a 5-year [1998-2002] period among the indigenous population of Semnan province. Diagnosis of cancer was based on histopathology, clinical or radiological findings of patients, and death certificate. A total of 1732 patients with cancers [mean age 59.41 +/- 19.08 years] were found during the study. Of these, 936 [54.86%] were in males. Crude rate were 124.8/100'000 and 112.1/100,000 in males and females, respectively. Age-standardized rate [ASRs] for all cancers in males and females G were 156/100'000 and 136/100,000 person-year, respectively. Gastric cancer was the most common tumor with incidence rate of 19.7 per 100,000 people, ASRs=27.5. In UGIC, gastric cancer was the most common [47.17%], colon malignancies [8.1%, 9.5 per 100,000 populations], esophagus [6.8%, 7.9 per 100,000 populations], liver [2.4%, and 2.8 per 100,000 populations]. In women breast, uterine and ovary, stomach and skin were the most common cancers respectively. In young ages population the most common tumors were brain, ALL and bone, respectively. Gastric cancer alone constitutes one-fifth of all cancers in Semnan, with the highest incidence rate. The ASR of which is the highest reported from Iran up to now and one of the highest in the world

Study of some prognostic factors of progress to end-stage renal failure in patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in Hasheminejad hospital

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis [RPGN] is a rare but important renal disease that can rapidly cause irreparable renal failure. The disease has various causes and hence our attempt to study on prognostic factors of renal failure in these patients. The aim of this study is to find some prognostic factors of progress to end-stage renal failure in patients. In this study, the patients with proved RPGN, on the basis of renal biopsy results, who had come to the hospital from July 2002 to July 2004, were identified and studied. Some factors including creatinine were measured and kept in records of each patient referred for this study. They were followed-up for 9 months looking for occurrence of end stage renal disease [ESRD]. Patients who reached ESRD in less than 9 months were not followed-up further. Those who were followed-up for less than 9 months or died before that were also excluded. Thus, only 22 patients were included. Incidence of ESRD during the nine months period of followed-up in patients with creatinine level of more than 5.7 mg% was higher that in patients with levels equal to or lower than 5.7 mg%. [91.7% VS 40%, P=0.015]. Also, average of creatinine levels upon referral in patients who developed ESRD in the following 9 months were significantly higher that those who did not [6.59 mg% VS 2.75 mg%, P=0.008], which confirms the value of creatinine as a prognostic factor in RPGN patients, as mentioned in previous similar studies. Other prognostic factors did not show any meaningful difference in this study. The above results show that creatinine levels higher that 5.7 mg% upon referral in patients with RPGN can be used as a helpful prognostic factor in prediction of development of ESRD, even despite treatment, in these patients