[Comparison of the effect of honey and diphenhydramine on cough alleviation in 2-5-year-old children with viral upper respiratory tract infection]

Viral upper respiratory tract infection and cold drugs consumption is prevalent among children. These drugs have no effect on disease improvement, but it may also have accompanied with many side effects. This study was conducted to compare the effect of honey and diphehydramine on the alleviation of cough in 2-5-year-old children with viral upper respiratory tract infection. This double-blind clinical trial study was carried out on 170 children [60 boys and 66 girls] aged 2-5 years old with viral upper respiratory tract infection who were taken to the pediatric clinic of Shariatee hospital in Bandar Abbas, Iran during 2010. Children demographic charactrastics were including age, gender, period of illness, vaccination history, weight, growth, overall health, and cardiopulmonary examinations. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 63 children receiving honey [three times a day and the last dose an hour before bed] and diphehydramine syrup [5mg/kg/BW]. Two days later, subjects were examined again for the severity and frequency of coughs during day and night. Data were analyzed using SPSS-19, independent t-test and chi-square test. Mean +/- SD of the age of children was 45.21 +/- 11.39 and 43.98 +/- 11.95 months in honey and diphenhydramine groups, respectively. The frequency and severity of night coughs was lower in the honey group [97.4%] as compared to the diphenhydramine group [58.7%] [P<0.02]. The frequency and severity of daily coughs was lower in the honey group [84.1%] while it was lower in 58.7% of the diphenhydramine group [P<0.01]. This study showed that honey is more effective than diphenhydramine in the alleviation of cough caused by viral URTI in 2-5-year-old children

[Behavioral disorders in children with major depressive mothers]

The prevalence of behavioral disorders in children with mentally ill parents are higher compared with children of healthy parents. This study was carried out to assess the behavioral disorders in children with major depressive mothers. This case - control study was done on 50 children [6-11 years] of mothers with major depressive as case group and 50 children of healthy mothers as controls in Bandar Abbas, Iran drung 2009. With psycological interview, DSM-4-R and Beck tests, deprsion in mother were confirmed. The psycological health of control mothers were confirmed using Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory [MMPI] and questionnaire health general [QHG]. The behavior disorders of children in two groups were compared using Achenbach child behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS-17, Chi-Square and student's t tests. Somatic complains, anxiety and depression, social problems, thought problems, externalization, internalization and antisocial behavior scores, were significantly higher in cases compared to controls [P<0.05]. No significant differences in isolation and attention behavior were noticed between cases and controls. Behavior disorders in children with depressive mothers are common

[Comparison of antibody level in post hepatitis B vaccination in children with 12-15 and 21-24 months age]

Infection with HBV is the most common chronic viral infection and mortality in children. Prevention of this infection with vaccination is vital. This study was done to compare the antibody level in post hepatitis B vaccination in children with 12-15 and 21-24 months age. This descriptive study was carreid out on 186 children with 12-15 [group I] and 21-24 [group II] months age who had not infected with hepatitis B infection in, Bandarabbas Iran during 2009. The parents were HbsAg negative, without immunodeficiency diseases and did not receive hepatitis vaccination, blood or blood products transfusion. Age, gender, birth weight, breast feeding duration and gestational age were recorded for each child. Hepatitis B antibody level was measured with ELISA method. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and student t-test. Antibody level in group I [231 mIU/ml] was significantly higher than group II [142.9 mIU/ml] [P<0.05]. There was not significant differences between males and females. Antibody level was not significantly corrolated with body weight, gestational age and breast feeding duration. Antibody level lower than 10 mIU/ml were observed in 4.34% of group I and 20.8% of group II. This differnce was significant [P<0.05]. This study showed that the protective effect of vaccination reduced after six months of final dosage

effect of platelet activating factor on the motility and acrosome reaction of ram spermatozoa

Platelet activating factor [PAF] is a novel signaling phospholipids that in addition to platelet activation has many biological properties. The acrosome reaction, as an essential step in mammalian fertilization, can occur in response to several agents such as PAF. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of PAF on the motility and acrosome reaction of ram spermatozoa. Semen was collected from 18 fertile rams and incubated with four levels of PAF [10[-7], 10[-8], 10[-9] and 10[-10] mol] at 37°C for 15, 30, 60 or 120 min. Sperm motility and acrosome reaction were analyzed at varying levels of PAF with different incubation periods. With increasing PAF concentration, acrosome reaction was enhanced, while sperm motility was reduced [P<0.001]. As the period of incubation increased, there was a gradual decrease in sperm motility and increase in acrosome reaction percentages. There were high correlation between PAF concentrations and incubation times on induction of acrosome reaction [R[2] = 0.86] and reduction in sperm motility [R[2] = 0.82]. In addition, it was found that a PAF level of 10[-9] and incubation time for 30 min is the best optimum for inducing acrosome reaction in ram spermatozoa without drastically decreases in sperm motility. The present study optimized for the first time the concentration and incubation time of PAF for induction of acrosome reaction in fresh ram spermatozoa

Determining anatomic thyroid indices of adult population in city of Isfahan

The aim of this study was to determine the normal anatomic indices of thyroid glands in adult population of Isfahan. In this descriptive study, 250 postmortem thyroid glands were examined. During autopsy, the thyroid glands were excised carefully and the weight and volume of glands and their lobes were measured. Then all portions were examined visually with a magnifying glass looking for gross pathologic lesions. The specimen was also examined by palpation and homogenous glands were selected for the study.The data were analyzed using SPSS software and independent T-Test and ANOVA, and divided into four distinct age groups [19-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-64 years old] in both sex groups. In this postmortem project, the thyroid glands of 152 men and 29 women were studied. Total mean thyroid weight and volume were 15.5 +/- 5 gr and 15.8 +/- 5 ml respectively [Table 1 and Fig. 1].Mean thyroid right lobe length, width and thickness were 4.4 +/- 0/8 cm, 2.5 +/- 0.5cm and 1.2±0.3cm respectively, the same parameters for left lobe were 4.3 +/- 0/8 cm, 2.3 +/- 0.5cm, and 1.2±0.3cm, respectively. Mean thyroid weight were higher in men comparing with women [p<0/05], except in 40-49 age group. Mean thyroid volume and weight tend to increase with age in men [p<0.05] but not in women [Table 2 and Fig. 2]. The results of our study seem to be similar with those countries in which iodine deficiency has been compensated. Because of presence of differences between the results of autopsy study and those of sonography study, these two different studies should be repeated synonymously in our country until we reach a standard basis for thyroid anatomic indexes which could be applied in next therapeutic iodine supplementary programs

Evaluation of side effects, morbidity and mortality rate in patients with acute inferior infarction following the intravenous use of nitroglycerin

Different methods are being used for treatment of acute inferior myocardial [MI] infarction. Intravenous nitroglycerin is one of these methods although with some side effects especially when reperfusion of the artery is impossible. This research was performed to determine the side effects, mortality and morbidity rate associated with the use of this drug in hospitals. This is an existing data study, which was carried out on 1080 patients with inferior MI who were hospitalized in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital. The patients were treated with or without intravenous nitroglycerin during 8 years from 1994-2001. One hundred eighty eight patients with isolated acute inferior MI with no electrocardiographic sign of right ventricular MI or MI of other parts without any history of MI were chosen. Out of 188 patients, 112 patients were treated with intravenous nitroglycerin [TNG[+]] and 76 patients treated without this drug [TNG[-]]. The age range of patients was between 25 to 85 years old [59.84 +/- 10.82] and with a sex distribution of 40 women and 148 men. The mean value of hospitalization period among the TNG[+] group was significantly more than the control group [P= 0.046]. The rate of hospital mortality and morbidity in patients treated with intravenous nitroglycerin was less than the TNG[-] group, although statistically insignificant. The reduction of blood pressure in TNG+ patients was significantly more than the TNG- group [P=0.027]. Sinus bradycardia in patients treated with TNG was significantly less than the TNGgroup [P= 0.037]. Sinus tachycardia in group treated with TNG was more than the TNG-group, however, no statistically significant difference seen [P= 0.434]. There was no statistical difference between two groups when the signs of other types of dysrhythmia were compared. Regarding the observation of more side effects among the patients with acute inferior MI treated with intravenous TNG, more caution is needed when this type of therapy is administered