La pérdida súbita de la audición, ¿está asociada con un mayor riesgo de aterosclerosis? / 1 IS SUDDEN HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS?

Objective: sudden sensorineural hearing-loss (SSNHL) patients constitute approximately 2­3% of referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics. Several predisposing factors have been proposed for this condition; one of which is vascular disorders and perfusion compromise. In this research the atherosclerotic changes and their known risk factors are studied in SSNHL patients. Study Design: This was a case-control study. Methods: Thirty SSNHL patients and 30 controls were evaluated with regard to cardiovascular risks including history, heart examination, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, electrocardiogram, blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP); also, carotid artery color Doppler study was undertaken to measure intima media thickness (IMT). Results: IMT and HSCRP showed an increased risk in the case group compared with the controls (P=0.005 and P=0.001). However, waist circumference, history of smoking, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and electrocardiogram revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Interestingly, blood pressure and body mass index were higher in the controls in this study. Conclusion: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, suggesting cardiovascular check-up in selected cases if associated with other risk factors.

Effect of diet contains sesame seed on adult Wistar rat testis / Efecto de la dieta con semillas de sésamo sobre el testículo de la rata Wistar adulta

Studies show that some antioxidants are effective in improving male infertility. According to several antioxidant compounds that exist in sesame seed, this study was designed and carried out to the effects of sesame seed diet consumption on adult male rats testis structure and sex hormones. This experimental study was carried out on 30 adults Wistar rat, 200 g that obtained from laboratory animal center at Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Rats were divided into experimental and control groups randomly. The control group received standard diet and experimental group received diet containing 70% standard diet and 30% sesame seed after weaning for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, testis weight and volume were measured and seminiferous tubules; lumen epithelium diameter, LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations were evaluated. Data was analyzed by SPSS software and t-test. P< 0.05 was considered to significant level. Bodyweight rats, weight and volume testis and percentage volume seminiferous tubules vessels in two groups were not significant. The mean cells number and motility of sperm in left epididym, number of cells epithelium and percentage volume of epithelial, lumen and interstitial of this tubules were extremely significant (P<0.0001) in the experimental group compared to control. LH concentration increased significantly in the experimental group compared to control (P<0.03). Sesame seed intake improved testicular parameters, fertility and sperm production in males.

Estudios demuestran que algunos antioxidantes son eficaces en la mejora de la infertilidad masculina. Debido a la presencia de varios compuestos antioxidantes que existen en la semilla de sésamo, este estudio fue diseñado y realizado para evaluar los efectos de su consumo sobre la estructura testicular y las hormonas sexuales de ratas macho adultas. Se utilizaron 30 ratas Wistar adultas de 200 g obtenidas desde el centro laboratorio animal de Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Las ratas se dividieron en grupos experimental y de control. El grupo control recibió una dieta estándar y el grupo experimental una dieta que contenía 70% de dieta estándar y 30% de semillas de sésamo, después del destete durante 12 semanas. Al final del estudio, se midieron el peso y volumen de los testículos y túbulos seminíferos, diámetro luminal epitelial, y las concentraciones de LH, FSH y testosterona. Los datos fueron analizados mediante t-test con el programa SPSS. Fue considerado significativo un valor P<0,05. El peso corporal de las ratas, peso y volumen testicular, y el porcentaje volumétrico de los túbulos seminíferos en los dos grupos no fue significativo. La media del número de células y la motilidad de los espermatozoides en epidídimo izquierdo, número de células del epitelio y porcentaje volumétrico del epitelio, y lumen intersticial de los túbulos fueron significativos (P<0,0001) en el grupo experimental en comparación con el control. La concentración de LH aumentó significativamente en el grupo experimental en comparación con el control (P<0,03). La ingesta de semillas de sésamo mejora de los parámetros testiculares, la fertilidad y la producción de espermatozoides en machos.

Drug resistance pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients at Isfahan AL Zahra hospital, Iran [2009-2010]

Cystic fibrosis [CF] is an autosomal recessive genetic disease. Infections in these patients are mostly caused by three bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza and particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Carbapenems including antibiotics are used to combat infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In recent years, carbapenems resistant strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens are being reported. Decrease in drug penetration and production of metalobeta lactamase [MBLS] have been proposed as mechanisms of resistance. In this descriptive study, the population under investigation was 27 patients suffering from CF in Alzahra hospital of Isfahan. Clinical specimens were taken by deep swabbing from throat and data from every patient was recorded in a questionnaire. The specimens were cultured and isolated organisms were identified as P. aeruginosa using standard tests. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to determine the bacterial drug resistance pattern. Strains of P. aeruginosa were checked for production of MBLS using disk impregnated with IPM-EDTA and PCR targeting of bla VIM. Among the 27 patients, 7 [26%] had P. aeruginosa infection. In total, 11 P. aeruginosa isolates were taken. All isolates were susceptible to imipenem, ticarcillin, ciprofloxacin and piperacillin. The lowest scale of susceptibility belonged to ceftazidime [72.2%] followed by tobramycin [45.4%]. None of the strains were positive for the blaVIM gene. Isolates of P. aeruginosa from CF patients in Isfahan were susceptible to antibiotics during the study period.

[Test-retest reliability of lower extremity spasticity assessment with modified Tardieu scale in hemiparetic patients after chronic stroke]

Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity dependent increase in tonic stretch reflex and tendon jerks, due to the hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex. Modified Tardieu Scale [MTS] is a clinical tool for assessment of spasticity. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-rater reliability of the MTS for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors muscles in adult subjects with chronic stroke. In an analytical cross sectional study, 17 participants [10 men, 7 women] with age range of 40-76 years and mean time post stroke of 20/79 [SD=20/55] in a convenient sampling took part in this test-retest study. Intra-rater reliability of spasticity with MTS was investigated by one un-experienced physiotherapist for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors in two sessions over one week. Interclass correlation coefficient [ICC] values for R2-R1 as an indicator of spasticity in knee extensor and plantar flexors was good [ICC=0/66] and very good [ICC=0/87] and for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors quality of muscle reaction was 0.80 and 0.92 respectively. The MTS has a good reliability in spasticity assessment of knee extensors and ankle plantar muscles after stroke. Probably MTS can be used as a reliable clinical tool to measure spasticity of lower extremity muscles in adult subjects with chronic stroke.

TP53 PIN3 polymorphism associated with breast cancer risk in Iranian women.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Iranian women. The p53 gene plays a principal role in genomic stability, and its function varies according to polymorphisms. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between the intron3 16bp duplication polymorphism of the p53 gene and breast cancer in Iranian women. Materials and Methods: We performed a case-control study among 145 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast and 145 controls in Isfahan, Iran. The distribution of the intron3 16bp duplication polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The relationship between clinicopathological data and the PIN3 polymorphism was examined using chi-squared analysis. Results: A significant difference was observed in the polymorphism variants in breast cancer specimens compared with controls (P < .001). Among the cancer patients, 59.9% were below the age of 50 years; and 67.5% of the patients in this group had the intron3 16bp duplication polymorphism. Conclusions: PIN3 Ins 16bp duplication polymorphism is a genetically predisposing factor for breast cancer development in Iranian women and may be causal in patients under the age of 50 years.

Subjective lactose intolerance in apparently healthy adults in southern Iran: Is it related to irritable bowel syndrome?

BACKGROUND: The main symptoms of lactose intolerance are bloating, abdominal cramps, increased flatus and loose watery stools. These symptoms are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a prevalent entity in the community. OBJECTIVE: As there was no data available on the prevalence of LI and the correlated factors, this study aimed to determine these correlations and their relation to IBS symptoms in an apparently healthy population in Shiraz, southern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey among 1,978 individuals older than 35 years was conducted in Shiraz, southern Iran, using a questionnaire that consisted of items regarding demographic data, life style, subjective gastrointestinal symptoms of LI and IBS symptoms according to ROME II criteria. RESULTS: A total of 562 subjects reported LI (28.41%). The prevalence was significantly higher in females, in subjects taking NSAIDs or acetaminophen and in cases reporting IBS symptoms. Subjects with LI avoided certain foods and drinks; and in order to relieve their symptoms, they used OTC drugs, herbal medicine or visited a physician. On the other hand, no relation was found between LI and age, smoking or the number of meals per day. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found that individuals with IBS had significantly more subjective LI than those without IBS, in the absence of documented lactose malabsorption, it is hard to tell whether the reported symptoms indeed are those of LI or simply those of IBS. So, a period of dairy product avoidance and/ or requesting a test for lactose malabsorption may be beneficial in this area.