[Morphology of red blood cells for differentiating between the upper and the lower urinary tract infection]

Accurate differentiation between upper and lower urinary tract infection [UTI] requires invasive produces. The objective of this study was to determine the morphology of RBC that originates from kidney or bladder for differentiating between upper and lower urinary tract infection. UTI was induced by the injection of 0.5ml of normal saline containing human E coli [10[4]/cc] into the bladder of rats [n=50]. After 48 hours, the rat urine was drained from the bladder and analyzed for the morphology of RBC, culture and cell counter. For diagnosing pyelonephritis, both bilateral kidneys and bladder were biopsied for histopathology and culture. Dysmorphic RBC was detected in 33% [10/30] of the subjects with upper UTI and 13% [4/30] with lower UTI, which showed no significant difference [x[2] =0.04, P=0.63 Fisher Exact Test]. The mean and SD of percentage of dysmorphic RBC in the subjects with upper and lower UTI were 35 +/- 34% and 44 +/- 43%, respectively, which revealed no significant difference [t=0.55, P=0.25]. In this study, dysmorphic RBC showed rates of 45% sensitivity and 50% specificity for upper UTI diagnosis. Urine osmolality may influence the results of RBC morphology for differentiating between upper and lower UTI

[Frequency of antigliadin and anti-transglutaminase in patients with irritable bowel syndrome]

On one hand the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] ranges from 4 to 12 percent in the community; on the other hand, Celiac disease is prevalent in 4% of the IBS patients. Regarding the fact that cereals containing gluten are routinely used in Iran, diagnosing celiac disease in IBSpatients is important for conducting the treatments. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of Celiac in IBS patients. This study was designed as a case control prospective study. Eighty six subjects were enrolled in this study according to Rome II Criteria. The control group included healthy subjects that were checked up on a routine base. The evaluation of Celiac was done through serology exams such as Anti Gliadin and Anti Transglutaminase [IgG and IgA]. Thirty eight male and 48 female patients suffering from IBS with a mean age of 34 +/- 11.7 years were enrolled in this study. The case and control groups were not significantly different in terms of sex and age. Flatulence, excessive gas passing and mucus passage were the most frequent symptoms in IBS patients. Night symptoms and weight loss [alarm signs] were observed in 37% and 32%, respectively. Elevated Antigliadin Titer was evident in 22 subjects [25%] which suggests a significantly higher rate for the case group as compared to the control group [t=4.67,P=0.0001]. Elevated IgG Anti Transglutaminase Titer was observed in 2 cases [2.3%] while IgA Anti Transglutaminase was not elevated in any of the IBS subjects, neither in the control group nor in the case group. Biopsy of small intestine can be suggested to rule out the elevated Antigliadin Titer Celiac Disease in IBS patients

[ serum and sputum levels of Interleukin - 17 in patients with asthma]

Association of asthma with Type 2 T- helper system is well realized. Recent clinical evidence show that acute, severe exacerbations of asthma are associated with recruitment and activation of neutrophils in the airways. The lymphocytes T helper 17 [Th17] cells can probably recruit neutrophils to an inflammatory site through producing IL-17. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of interlukin-17 [IL-17] in serum and sputum of asthmatic subjects. Also, the study aimed at evaluating the correlation between concentrations of IL-17 and the frequency of inflammatory cells in the sputum of asthma at different stages. Fifty newly diagnosed asthmatics and 12 non-asthmatics healthy subjects, as the control group, entered this prospective study. None of them reported any recent history of infection and steroid usage. Then, samples from venous blood and sputum [Induced by Hypertonic saline%5] were obtained. The severity of asthma was classified according to GINA 2004 guidelines. The Concentrations of IL-17 in serum and supernatant of induced sputum were determined by ELISA method. Total serum IgE level was also determined in order to classify asthmatic subjects into allergic and non-allergic groups. As the findings of the study suggest, serum IL-17 level was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in the normal control subjects [78.8 +/- 58.7 vs 17.7 +/- 2.4 pg/dl, P=0.025]. IL-17 was found to be significantly increased in sputum of the subjects with asthma, as compared to the control subjects [31.6=/-20.9 vs 21.5 +/- 16.6 pg/dl, P=0.012]. In addition, allergic and non-allergic asthmatic patients showed a significantly higher concentration level of serum IL-17 than the normal controls [80.8 +/- 50.3, P+0.023 and 102.7 +/- 43.6, P=0.002vs 17.7 +/- 2.4 ng/ml]. But, it was found that the levels of both serum and sputum IL-17 in the allergic asthma group were not significantly higher than those in the non-allergic asthmatics. Moreover, serum IgE level was significantly higher in allergic asthmatic patients than non-allergic asthmatic and normal control subjects [295.8=/-168 vs. 99.1 +/- 90.0 P=0.001 and 49.7 +/- 41.8, P=0.001]. The results further revealed that macrophage was decreased in sputum but neutrophil and eosinophil were significantly increased. However, the increase of IL-17 was not correlated with asthma severity. Besides, there was no significant difference between allergic and non-allergic asthmatic subjects, in terms of IL-17. We propose that IL-17 may play a role in the airway inflammation of asthmatics by recruiting neutrophils into the lung, no matter if they are suffering from allergic or non-allergic asthma

comparison of the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among female students of medicine and female students of other majors

A decrease in serum iron is considered the first phenomenon emerging in the process of Iron deficiency anemia [IDA]. In advanced phases of IDA various degrees of anemia occur. Regarding the importance of IDA and its consequences especially on individual's health, we performed a survey on the female students of medicine to compare the prevalence of IDA between them and female students majoring in other fields. The present study hypothesizes that education level; particularly college education has some effects on the prevention of this disease. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in Mashhad Islamic Azad University during the years of 2005 to 2007.189 female students [91 students of medicine and 98 students of other majors] volunteerly participated in the study. Cell blood count, serum ferritin concentration, serum iron test, hemoglobin, Hct, TIBC, were administered for all the students. Then, the subjects' individual data and the results of their blood tests completed a questionnaire and were analyzed for descriptive statistic, One-way and two-way ANOVA and tooky test, using SPSS software. Among 189 students, 166[88.44%] were found to be normal and 23[11.5%] were detected for iron deficient anemia. In the infected individuals, 9 [39.13%] were students of medicine while the other 14 [60.9%] persons were students of other majors. Also, it was found out that 60 [31.74%] were affected by iron deficiency and 78 [41.26%] had disorders of blood indexes. Statistical findings of this study revealed that the prevalence rate of IDA was lower in the students of higher education in medical sciences in comparison with those of lower levels of medical knowledge. IDA was even higher in extern and intern of medicine in comparison with students of basic science