Socioeconomic disparities and smoking habits in metabolic syndrome: evidence from Isfahan healthy heart program

The metabolic syndrome [Mets] consists of major clustering of cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors. This study determines the association of socioeconomic determinants and smoking behavior in a population-based sample of Iranians with Mets. This cross-sectional survey comprised 12600 randomly selected men and women aged >/= 19 years living in three counties in central part of Iran. They participated in the baseline survey of a community-based program for CVD prevention entitled" Isfahan Healthy Heart Program" in 2000-2001. Subjects with Mets were selected based on NCEP- ATPIII criteria. Demographic data, medical history, lifestyle, smoking habits, physical examination, blood pressure, obesity indices and serum lipids were determined. The mean age of subjects with Mets was significantly higher. The mean age of smokers in both groups was higher than non-smokers but with lower WC and WHR. Marital status, age and residency were not significantly different in smokers with Mets and non-smokers with Mets. Smoking was more common in the middle educational group in the income category of Quartile 1-3. Mets was significantly related to age, sex and education. Middle-aged and elderly smokers were at approximately 4-5 times higher risk among Mets subjects. Low education decreased the risk of Mets by 0.48; similarly in non-smokers, 6-12 years of education decreased the risk of Mets by 0.72. More educated persons had a better awareness and behavior related to their health and role of smoking. In the lower social strata of the Iranian population, more efforts are needed against smoking habits

[ experimental study on histopathological lesions of Iranian isolates of influenza A[H9N2] virus in Balc/C mouse]

Avian influenza H9N2 viruses are circulating in domestic poultry worldwide. Although this avian subtype is generally not highly pathogenic for avian species, these viruses have recently been transmitted to mammalian species, including humans. So this study has been done to prescribe the pathologic lesions of this virus in BALB/C mouse as a mammalian mode. We infected 25 female BALB/C mice with 50 micro l of 106EID50 of virus per 50 micro l chorioalantoic fluid. 25 mice as a control group received only 50 micro l of uninfected chorioalantoic fluid. Sampling was done on days 3, 6, 9 and 12 post infection. The following tissues were examined by light microscopy for the presence of lesions and for the detection of Influenza viral antigen [Immunohistochemistry]: lungs, trachea, brain, liver, intestine, spleen, kidneys and heart. Histopathologic studies revealed that this virus only can induce local lesions in lung and trachea in the form of interstitial bronchopneumonia and tracheitis. However these findings showed that Influenza A H9N2 viruses are potential to infect mammals but severity of the lesions differ from sub type to sub type. As the human health have now gained importance, both for illness and fatalities that have occurred following natural infection with avian viruses, and for the potential of generating a reassortant virus that could give rise to the next human influenza pandemic, more consideration and prevention should be applied

[Effects of bupivacain infiltration on insulin, glucose, prolactin and cortisol responses to operative stress after unilateral inguinal hernoiraphy among 3-7 year-old children]

Operative stress and post-operative pain are important issues in medicine. After any types of surgery, the stress hormones release responding to pain. In this study we applied Bupivacain infiltration in surgical wounds of inguinal hernia amongst children aged 3-7 years and evaluated its effects on some stress hormones and plasma levels of glucose. In this prospective study, 116 children aged 3-7 years [24 females, 92 males] undergone unilateral repair of inguinal hernia under general anesthesia at Mofid children hospital during 2005-2007, were devided into 2 groups. Perincisional wound infiltration of 1-2 mg/kg of Bupivacain was performed in experimental group. In both groups, 10-15 mg/kg of Acetaminophen suppository were recommended at the recovery room. 4 ml of blood samples were obtained at three distinct stages [preincisional stage, at the end of operation and 4 hours after operation] to measure the insulin, prolactin cortisol and glucose plasma levels of subjects. Post operative pain was measured objectively by Hannalla scale. In both groups plasma prolactin levels increased at the end of operation along with insulin, cortisol and glucose. However, these differences became statistically significant just for insulin. There were no significant differences between other variables. In addition, although the plasma concentration of above mentioned variables became lesser in the 4[th] hour of postoperative period in experimental group, there were no statistically significant difference compared to those of control group. Wound infiltration of Bupivacain decreases the stress hormones and pain during the post-operative period. We recommend this type of infiltration applying long-acting anesthetic agents with fewer numbers of side-effects

[Predictive value of ST-T change of avR lead in detection of coronary artery involvement inferior MI patients]

In inferior MI, both circumflex [CX] and Right coronary artery [RCA] can be involved. Application of noninvasive paramedical evaluations in predicting of such events is considered to be worthwhile. Detection of coronary artery [RCA or CX] involvement in inferior myocardial infarction based on avR change. In 100 patients with inferior MI, 12-lead standard ECG was recorded in first 6 hours and ST-T change of avR evaluated. T-P segment was considered as isoelectric line. Data were analyzed using SPSS-12 and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values evaluated. RCA disease was seen in 72 patients and CX in 28. Isoelectric ST, ST depression and ST elevation in avR were seen in 61, 22 and 17 patients, respectively. Positive predictive value [PPV] of isoelectric ST for RCA disease was 78.7% compared with 21.3% for CX. PPV of ST elevation for RCA and CX diseases were 70.6% and 29.4%, respectively. PPP of ST depression for RCA disease was 54.5% compared to 45.5% for CX. Regarding the higher PPV of isoelectric ST, clinicians are suggested to employ this criterion in addition to other findings for RCA involvement prior to invasive procedure

Pollution of south of Tehran ground waters with heavy metals

The reuse of nutrients and organic matter in wastewater sludge via on agricultural lands application is a desirable goal. However, trace or heavy metals present in sludge pose the risk of human or phytotoxicity from land application. The aim of this research is possibility of ground water pollution of south of Tehran because of ten years irrigation with Ni, Cd and Pb borne waste water. For this purpose, 6 soil samples from southern parts of Tehran city and 2 ones from Zanjan city without lime and organic matter were selected. The soils differed in their texture from sandy to clayey. Each soil sample in duplicate and uniformly packed into PVC columns. Soil samples were irrigated with Cd, Pb and Ni-added wastewater. After irrigating, the columns were cut and the soils separated from sectioned pieces and their heavy metal concentrations [Pb, Cd and Ni] were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer by use of HNO[3] 4N solution. Because of high sorption capacity of these elements by soils, these metals were accumulated in surface layer of the soils. Movement in the soils without lime and organic matter were as low as other samples. Ni has had the most accumulation or the least vertical movement, and Pb the opposite ones

Using different amendments to reduce heavy metals movement in soils

With long-term use of sewage waste, heavy metals can accumulate to phytotoxic levels and resulted in reduced plant growth and/or enhanced metal concentrations in plants, as a result food chain. If these metals penetrate too rapidly in a particular soil, especially with high water table, they can pollute ground water supplies. The aim of this research is prevention of movement of waste water-borne heavy metals in soils of southern parts of Tehran. These waste waters are used for irrigation of agricultural lands at southern regions since many years ago. For this purpose, 6 soil samples from southern parts of Tehran city and 2 ones from Zanjan city without lime and organic matter were selected. In laboratory, sorption capacities of the soils for Ni, Cd and Pb were compared with those of calcite, Na-bentonite, zeolite, illite and hematite amendments. The method was carried out by equilibration of known quantities of these adsorbents and soils with solutions containing these elements. The results showed that among the 5 amendments, calcite and Na-bentonite had the greatest sorption percentages of the 3 elements and illite had the least one. The retention capacity of calcite and Na-bentonite for Cd was highest in all 8 soils. However, retention capacities of these 2 minerals for Pb and Ni were higher than those of loamy soils without lime and organic matter and also sandy soils. Because of abundance and low price of calcite, this amendment is preferred to Na-bentonite. Therefore, calcite is recommended for adding to soils with low sorption capacity of Ni, Cd and Pb

Evaluation of effect of topical phenytoin on wound healing [increasing wound tensile strength and collagen deposition] in rats

Background: Delyed healing and dehiscence of operative wounds represent a significant clinical problem. Sporadic reports indicate that phenytoin may significantly promote wound healing following topical application

Material and Methods: Ten male rats each received 4 dorsal skin incisions and were sutured immediately on proliferative and early maturation phase. The incisions were infiltrated with phenytoin or normal saline for controls randomly. The wounds were harvested 18 days after wounding and were assessed by tensiometric measurement and microscopic examination. Data was expressed as mean [sd] and were analysed using student's paired T test

Results: Application of phenytoin, in both proliferative and maturation phases, resulted in a significant increase in wound tensile strength [34.16[8.15] N and 32.18 [7.43] N in treated wound versus 28.58 N and 26.7[4.93] N controls respectively, n = 20; P<0.01]. Application of phenytoin in these two phases had no difference. The rise in wound tensile strength was associated with increase in wound collagen deposition