Effect of c-peptide on cognitive dysfunction in type 1 diabetic rat

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that associates with structural and functional changes in central and peripheral nervous system and progressive decline in cognitive abilities. Recent experimental and clinical data suggested that C-peptide replacement during type 1 diabetes exerts beneficial effects on diabetic rats. Determine the effect of intraperitoneal [IP] injection of c-peptide on cognitive dysfunction in type 1 diabetic rats. 24 male Sprague dawly rats [230-300 gr] used for this project divided into 3 groups: 1. control group, 2. type 1 diabetic group and 3. Diabetic group that receive C-peptide [25 nmol/kg/daily for 28 day/IP]. Diabetes induced with IV injection of Streptozotocin [60mg/kg]. Twenty one days after onset of diabet, behavioral tests conducted for seven days. In reference memory assessment, the latency of finding platform during four days decline significantly in all groups [P<0.05]. Mean escape time in diabetic group was significantly longer in comparison to other groups [P<0.05] but in comparison to diabetic group with C-peptide group, memory impairement decline significantly [P< 0.05]. During three days of working memory test, the latency required for finding platform decreased significantly [P<0.05] but this time was longer in diabetic group [P<0.05]. C-peptide could improve memory in diabetic group. C-peptide had significant role in control and inhibition of memory disorder progression

role of estrogen and progesterone receptors in grading of the malignancy of meningioma

Meningioma is the most common brain benign tumor with a higher prevalence in women. Regarding the conflicting reports on the probable effect of estrogen and progesterone in tumor growth and the putative role of growth during pregnancy, menstruation cycle, luteal phase and contraception, this study was undertaken to evaluate the role of estrogen receptor in relation to meningioma. Fifty patients with meningioma were divided into three groups of benign, atypical and anaplastic ones and the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors for malignancy grading of the tumor was determined using avidine biotine immunohistochemistry method. Estrogen receptor was not seen in any of these patients. Progesterone receptors were present and significantly more in women and in benign tumor types. The receptor showed no correlation with age, but the malignant type was significantly more frequent in men. Women with this tumor are suggested to avoid pregnancy or to be treated before, and not to receive any contraceptive pills containing progesterone. Patients in whom progesterone receptors are present and the tumor removal is incomplete, are anticipated to have medical problems or recurrence, particularly in old age, if the tumor removal is not possible by surgery, anti-progesterone therapy would be beneficial

[Effect of systemic dexamethasone premedication on short-term experimentally induced oral mucositis in hamsters]

Oral Mucositis [OM] is a frequent and well-known side effect of cancer chemotherapy as well as head and neck radiation therapy. Considering the proposed critical role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an important cellular transcription factor [Nuclear Factor-kappaB] in pathogenesis of OM, an animal study was planned to evaluate the possible effects from powerful inhibition of the above-mentioned factors on OM. Evaluation of the effects of systemic dexamethasone [DEX] premedication on the course and severity of a short-term chemotherapy-induced OM in an animal model. In this trial, 75 male adult golden hamsters were recruited by random division to three groups as following: Group A: Received neither chemotherapy nor DEX premedication. Group B: Received chemotherapy and also normal saline as premedication. Group C: Received chemotherapy and also DEX as premedication in specified dosages for three sub-groups, each with 15 animals. Chemotherapy was administered by once daily injections of 5-Fluorouracil on the days 1 and 2 of the experiment. Premedications implied either as normal saline or DEX, were administered as once daily injections at the same time of days 1 to 9; those of the days 1 and 2 were followed one hour later by 5-FU injections. On the fourth day of the experiment, the cheek pouch mucosa of all animals were irritated by scratches of sterile needle tip to potentiate OM. On the days 6, 9 and 16, the cheek pouches were examined clinically and histopathologically for determination of definite macroscopic and microscopic scores in a blind fashion. Moreover, on the day 9, blood sampling for culture as well as histopathologic analysis for oral candidiasis were carried out respectively on randomized subsets of 2 and 5 animals per each group. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of macroscopic as well as microscopic scores among different groups, showed prominent protective role from DEX premedication at high and moderate dosages, seen clinically as less severe forms of OM. The most important negative outcome from DEX premedication was mortality in a number of animals, with the most occurring in the high-dosage subgroup. It seems that among the three dosages of DEX premedication in this trial, the moderate dose [0.1 mg/kg] showed good results, both in terms of less mortality and also remarkable effect on reducing the severity of OM

[Risk factors of rectal colonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Shiraz Namazi Hospital]

Risk factors for Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci [VRE] colonization are patient-related factors such as underlying disease or amount of prescribed antibiotics, and hospital-related factors such as duration of hospitalization, type of performed therapeutic procedures, and antibiotic prescription. This nested case control study was performed to determine risk factors of rectal VRE colonization at Shiraz Namazi Hospital. During December 2003 to July 2004 serial rectal swabs were yielded from all hospitalized patients every 5 days. Susceptibility of detected Enterococci was tested by Minimum Inhibitory concentration dilution method. More than 1000 rectal swabs were taken. A total of 99 of 700 patients [14%] were colonized with VRE [cases] and 59 patients were colonized with Vancomycin-sensible strains [VSE], serving as controls. In the univariate analysis, history of antibiotic use [P=0.04], underlying disease [P=0.01], renal failure due to dialysis [P=0.03], use of vancomycin [P=0.04], use of third generation Cephalosporins [P=0.04], and duration of vancomycin therapy [>7 days] [p=0.02] showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis [logistic regression], presence of underlying disease [OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.2 - 4.9; P=0.013] and duration of Vancomycin use [>7 days] were independently associated with VRE colonization. This study, which was the first study on the prevalence of VRE in Iran, demonstrated that VRE prevalence is high in Shiraz, and confirmed earlier observations regarding risk factors for VRE in other countries and determined risk factors that may be considered in interventional strategies for the control of VRE