[Opinions of clinicians towards use of computer applications for detecting drug-food interactions]

Adverse events in hospitals are found to be a major problem of all health systems in the world. In fact, drug interaction side effects are now the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. The aim of the current study was to identify the opinions of clinicians working in Shariati and Emam hospitals towards the use of computer applications for detecting drug-food interactions. Ninety clinicians including physicians, pharmacists and nurses were selected randomly in the current descriptive- analytical study. The opinions of clinicians toward using computer application systems for detecting drug-food interactions were assessed by a questionnaire. The questionnaire's validity and repeatability was examined in a pilot study. Cronbach's alpha was 0.85 which indicated an acceptable level of repeatability of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed among the academic staffs in order to determine its validity. 95.4% of clinicians had positive attitudes towards the requirement of computer application to detect drug-food interactions. Around 94% of them showed their willingness towards using the computer application systems. Therefore, use of computer application seems to be necessary in health system. The collection and analysis of data encourages further investments in computerized system to prevent drug-food interaction. Such built-in warning systems in hospitals alert doctors to drug-food interaction and improvement in patient care. Screening each patient's medication plan for drug-food interactions can reduce medical error and improve the quality of health care

[ evaluation of correlation between plasma level of CRP and WBC with ischemic stroke severity and infarct volume]

Stroke is one of the important causes of death. However the prognostic factors are not clearly defined. There are many evidences which show the role of inflammatory factors during the progression of stroke but the relation of CRP and stroke is still vague. This study was designed to determine the relation between CPR Level and WBS with severity of stroke [according to CNSS score] and volume of infarct in stroke patients. This is a cross sectional study performed during the winter and spring of 2007 on 49 patients with stroke hospitalized in Vali-e-Asr hospital of Arak. Clinical examination was done by using CNSS scoring. The CRP and WBC were measured in the first 72 hour of onset of the disease. The CT scanning together with infarct volume estimation was performed at the same time. There was no correlation between the volume of infarct with CRP serum level [r=-0.14, p=0.39] and WBC [r=-0.17, p=0.92. Also there was no correlation between CNSS score with CRP level [r=-0.04, p=0.81] and WBC [r=-0.124, p=0.40] too, but there was a significant correlation between CNSS score and stroke volume in brain CT scan [r=-0.43, p=0.006]. According to data in this study there was no correlation between serum acute phase reactant, the volume and severity of infarction

[Inhibitory effect of GABA on glucose- stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets of langerhans in rat]

Gamma-amino butyric acid [GABA], an amino acid, present in some inhibitory neurons of the central nervous system, is also found in relatively high levels in the islets of Langerhans. Results of different studies concerning the effect of GABA on insulin secretion are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the role of GABA and GABAB receptors on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated islets of rats. The collagenase digestion technique was used to isolate the islets from pancreata of 45 male Wistar rats [200-250g]. Insulin secretion was assessed in eight islets in each cup exposed to different concentrations of glucose [8.3 and 16.7 mM] in the presence or absence of GABA [25, 50, 100 micro M], baclofen [10, 20, 50 micro M] [GABAB agonist] and saclofen [50,100 micro M] [GABAB antagonist]. Insulin concentration was measured by the ELISA method. Insulin release was reported as mean +/- SEM micro U/isIet/50 min and p values of <0.05 were considered significant. GABA inhibited glucose [8.3 and 16.7 mM]-induced insulin secretion in isolated islets [P<0.05]. Different concentrations of baclofen had no significant effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion; however glucose [16.7 mM] stimulated insulin secretion in the presence of 100 micro M saclofen [91 +/- 8.8 micro U/islet/60 min] was significantly [p<0.05] higher compared to insulin secretion stimulated by 16.7 mM glucose alone [67.7 +/- 2.58 micro U/islet/60 min]. These findings indicate that GABA has an inhibitory effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion; and therefore it may play a regulatory role in insulin secretion. This effect needs to be taken in to account in the pathophysiology of diabetes

[Reversibility of physical and psychological stress effects on contractility of isolated aorta and serum corticosterone levels one month after stress in rat]

Although data shows the effects of stress on the cardiovascular system, there is no information on their reversibility. The aim of this study is to determine the reversibility of stress effects on resposiveness of isolated rat aorta. Thirty-six male rats were divided into three groups, the control, physical stress, and psychological stress groups. During study animals were kept in 12h/12h light/dark cycles at 23 +/- 2 °C and had free access to food and water. Stress was induced by the Communication Box for three weeks. Physical stress applied with electrical current [1mA, 1hz, 10 sec/min] applied one hour twice daily. After one month recovery post stress responsiveness of isolated aorta to potassium chloride and phenylephrine were determined. The results of this study showed that one month recovery, following stress reverse, serum corticosterone and isolated aortic contractility in rats, so that no significant differences were observed between the control and stress groups; the decreased adrenal weight coused by physical stress also reversed to normal one month after stopping the stress. It can be concluded that effects of physical and psychological stress on isolated aortic tensions is not permanent, and can be reversed

Comparing the oxidative stress indexes of CVA patients with control group

In the recent years, oxidative stress was attended as one of the causal factors of ischemic stroke. In terms of the role of genetic, geographic and ethnic factors in the prevalence of stroke, This study was designed to compare the oxidative stress indexes of stroke patients with normal healthy subjects in this geographic area. In this case-control study, 36 patients older than 50 years with ischemic stroke and 45 healthy subjects with same age and sex, were enrolled. Five milliliter blood were drawn from all subjects. Samples were centrifuged and plasma was separated. Total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation and thiol levels were measured respettively by FRAP, TEA and HU methods. Then the result was analyzed using t-test. Results showed total antioxidant capacity and thiol plasma levels were lower in stroke patients in compare to healthy subjects, but only the thiol group had significant difference [P = 0/001]. Although lipid peroxidation showed a slight but non-significant difference in stroke patients in compare to control group. These findings suggest oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be conseaqence of an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Therefore it may be useful to recommend antioxidant medications or diet for these patients

Comparing the effects of physical and psychological stress on responsiveness of isolated rat aorta

Stress, particularly when chronic, has many adverse effects on human health. The role of stress has been elucidated in cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, myocardial infraction, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and cardiac arrhythmia. The aim of this study is to determine and compare the effect of chronic physical and psychological stress on the contractility of isolated rat aorta. Male albino Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used. Three groups of rats, the physical stress, psychological stress and the control qroups [n = 12 each] were used in this study. Physical and psychological stress were induced using the communication box for three weeks. At the end of the stress period animals were anesthetized, following which the abdomen was opened and the thoracic aorta dissected and endothelium denuded. The aorta ring were connected to isometric transducer and contractions in response to 5- 60 mM potassium chloride and 10-10-10-6 phenylephrine were measured. Serum corticosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay before and after intervention in all groups. In the physical stress group serum corticosterone levels rose from 402 +/- 40 to 721 +/- 94 ng/ml after stress [p < 0.05]. This value in the psychological stress group reached 946 +/- 84 ng/mL from the initial value of 400 +/- 114 ng/mL [p < 0.05]. Aorta responses to potassium chloride and phenylephrine were significantly lower compared to the control group [p < 0.05] in both the stress groups. The results of this study indicate that chronic physical and psychological stress cause an increase in serum corticosterone and decrease aorta responsiveness in isolated rat aorta, implying that psychological stress has detrimental effects on the vascular system similar to those of physical stress

Osmotic fragility of red blood cells of hypothyroid, hyperthyroid patients and control subjects

Many hypo and hyperthyroid patients are anemic. Changes in concentration of thyroid hormones can affect Na+- K+ ATPase number and activity and also phospholipid composition of the cell membranes leading to changes in the surface to volume ratio and strength of membrane. In this study, the osmotic fragility of the red blood cells from non-treated hypo and hyperthyroid patients diagnosed on the basis of clinical examinations and paraclinical data were compared to that of control subjects. Written consent was obtained from all subjects. After washing three times with normal saline, red blood cells were placed in varying sodium chloride [NaCl] concentrations [0-0.9 gr%], following which, fragility was assessed with routine colorimetry methods. To do this, after the incubation period, tubes were centrifuged and the optical densities of the tubes was measured. Hemolysis percent in tubes was calculated on the basis of 100% hemolysis in the tubes containing 0 gr% of NaCl. The results indicate that the osmotic fragility of the cells from hyperthyroid patients in 0. 45gr% NaCl [74.6% +/- 30.2] was significantly [p < 0.01] lower than control subjects [93.8% +/- 9.1]. Osmotic fragility of red blood cells in 0. 5 g percent concentration of sodium chloride in hyperthyroid patients [27.8% +/- 26.0] was significantly less [p < 0.001] compared to the controls [63.5% +/- 27.5]. It appears that this change cannot be explained by changes observed in red blood cell indices [micrococytosis hypochromia]. According to the results of this study one can conclude that anemia reported in hypo- or hyperthyroid patients is not due to high osmotic fragility of the red blood cells and other causes need to be investigated

[Hematology and osmotic fragility of red blood cells in hyperthyroid rats]

Hyperthyroidism is associated with anemia. Since thyroid hormones, by acting on Na+/K+-ATPase activity and numbers, and also on the lipid composition of the membrane can alter the fragility of red cells, in this study, use compared the osmotic fragility of red cells in hyperthyroid rats to that of controls. Forty eight male Wistar rats [body weight, 221 +/- 4g] were divided in 4 groups. Group I consumed L-thyroxine [12mg/L in drinking water] for 30 days, group II was the control for group I, group III consumed L-thyroxine for 60 days and group IV was the control group for the group III. At the end of the intervention period, hormonal and biochemical measurements were done in blood samples. To assess the osmotic fragility, red blood cells [RBC] were incubated at 37°C for 30 min in different concentrations of NaCl and the extent of hemolysis was measured by colorimetry of the supernatant. Hemolysis percent was expressed in terms of percent hemolusis in presence of distilled water [100% hemolysis]. In this study although hemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume in group III were significantly [P<0.05] higher compared to group IV, osmotic fragility did not show any significant difference. The results indicate that hyperthyroidism in rat can not anemia and osmotic fragility of RBCs in hyperthyroid animals do not differ from control groups

[ effects of orally administrated magnesium on denuded aorta contractility in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats]

Some studies suggest that magnesium deficiency contributes to the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes mellitus; hence the present study investigated the effects of long term orally administrated magnesium on isolated denuded aorta contractility in response to KCl and Phenylephrine [Phe]. Sixty male Wister rats [180-250 g] were divided into two diabetic and two control groups. One group of each received magnesium sulfate in their drinking water, while the two other groups, had only tap water. After 8 weeks, thoracic aorta was isolated, cut into 2-3 mm rings, endothelium removed and transferred to an organ bath. The tissue was then exposed to cumulative doses of KCl [10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mM] and Phe [10-9, 10-8, 10-7, 10-6 and 10-5 M] and contractions were measured by an isometric transducer. During the study period, fasting blood samples were obtained every 2 weeks to measure Plasma Glucose level. Vasoconstrictive responses to KCl and Phe were significantly [p<0.05] higher in the control group as compared to the diabetic groups [p<0.05] and there were no significant differences between Mg-treated and non Mg-treated rats. Maximal contractions to KCl were 2.32 +/- 0.23, 2.76 +/- 0.19, 1.96 +/- 0.11 and 1.84 +/- 0.21 and the maximal responses to Phe were 2.94 +/- 0.24, 3.38 +/- 0.20, 2.24 +/- 0.27and 2.61 +/- .27 in the control, Mg-treated control, diabetics and Mg-treated diabetic groups, respectively. No significant differences were found in plasma glucose concentrations between the Mg-treated and non Mg-treated groups. Oral administration of magnesium for 8 weeks has no effect on isolated denuded aorta contractility in diabetic rats

Association between major depressive disorder and serum cholesterol level

Nowadays, depression is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders and is a prevalent mood disorder. Recently researches about depression etiology, show that in addition to different neurotransmitters and life events, internal stressors such as serum cholesterol, triglyceride and some coagulation factors can have an effect. This study was focused on the relationship between major depressive disorder and serum cholesterol level. This research is a case control study that was performed in the year 2006. Case group were 62 patients referred to Hashemi Senejani psychiatric medical center and control group were chosen from ENT ward patients of Amir-Kabir hospital. Both groups were paired match for age, gender and education. In order to determine serum cholesterol level, 5[cc] blood sample was taken of each person from both groups. Data was analyzed using K-S and Mann-Witheny U tests. The mean age of samples was 35.5 +/- 9.9 years. 77% were female, 67.2% married, 25.8% single and 6.5% divorced. Average serum cholesterol level in case group [215.6 +/- 47.6 mg/dl] in comparison to control group [183.1 +/- 31.2 mg/dl] was significantly higher [p<0.05]. Regarding the results, it seems that serum cholesterol is an internal stressor for depressive disorder so everyone with high serum cholesterol level must be evaluated for depressive disorder