[Comparison of the effects of progesterone, allopregnanolone and gender on suppressing edema formation after traumatic brain injury in rats]

Brain edema is one of the most important causes of death within the first few days following head trauma. In this study we investigated the role of gender as well as the effects of progesterone and allopregnanolone one hour after diffuse traumatic brain injury on edema formation in rats. This interventional-experimental study was performed on 12 groups of female and male rats. They were divided into 12 groups as follows: 1 and 2: intact female and male rats, 3 and 4: trauma male and female rats, 5: vehicle of progesterone [benzyl alcohol with sesame oil], 6: sham [ovariectomized female rats: ovx], 7: sham [no ovx], 8: sham[male], 9 and 10: low dose [4mg/kg] and high dose [8mg/kg] of progesterone, 11: allopregnanolone and 12: vehicle of allopregnanolone [water]. Hormones were injected i. p one hour after diffuse traumatic brain injury through Marmarou model. The results showed a significant increase of 5.32 times in Evans blue and 2.42% in water content in trauma male group comparing to control groups, while in female rats the difference was significant just for Evans blue [4.68 times]. Evans blue and water content were also significantly greater in traumatic males than female rats [1.57 times and 2.04% respectively]. After injection of low and high doses of progesterone, there was a significant decrease in water content [2.21% and 2.30%] and Evans blue content [2.55 and 2.98 times]. Allopregnanolone significantly decreased these parameters [2.36% and 1.82 times respectively]. Moreover, the injection of progesterone in both low and high doses increased the serum progesterone of female ovarectomized rats as compared to vehicle group. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the rate of edema formation in traumatic male rats is higher compared to traumatic female rats. Moreover, both progesterone and allopregnanolone decrease edema formation in ovariectomized female rats

[The effect of nitric oxide microinjection in nucleus accumbens shell on morphine withdrawal signs in male rats]

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of intra-nucleus accumbens shell microinjection of Larginine [NO precursor] and L-NAME [nitric oxide synthase [NOS] inhibitor] on morphine withdrawal signs in male rats. Rats were anaesthetized with a combination of ketamine and xylazine, and placed in stereotaxic apparatus, and a guide cannula was inserted into nucleus accumbens [Nacc] shell, [1.7 mm Anterior to bregma, 0.8 mm bilaterally to bregma and 7.1 mm depth from skull surface]. Morphine dependency was induced by subcutaneous administration of morphine [10-20 mg/kg for 5 days], and morphine withdrawal signs were precipitated by naloxone administration [4mg/kg/ip]. Rats received either single or repeated microinjections of saline, L-arginine or L-NAME into Nacc shell during the scheduled periods for 5 days. In Sham group, bilateral canulla was inserted into Nacc shell, but no drug was microinjected, and in saline group only normal saline was injected into Nacc shell in the same way as the experimental groups during the scheduled periods. Control group was intact. The results of this study showed no significant difference between control and saline treated groups in the expression of morphine withdrawal signs. Single dose microinjection of L-NAME / L-arginine, just prior to the last injection of morphine, had no effect on morphine withdrawal signs, but repeated microinjection of L-arginine / LNAME decreased jumping, rearing and weight loss [only in L-NAME group], as compared to control rats. The obtained results indicate that NO injection in Nacc shell may be involved in some of morphine withdrawal signs

[Prescribing patterns of general practitioners in Kerman province of Iran [2003]]

The aim of this study was to assess the prescribing pattern of general practitioners [GPs] in Kerman province of Iran during one year. The total 45384 prescriptions which were issued in one year [2003] by GPs in Kerman province were analyzed for the sex and age of the patients, drug name and number of drugs1 prescription, drug category, percent of generic and brand name, and route of administration. The results of this study showed that 41.7% of the patients were male [mean age 29.8 year] and 58.3% were female [mean age 31.5 year]. The mean number of drugs per each prescription was 3.43 overall. Most of the drugs [97.2%] were prescribed by generic name. The most frequently prescribed drugs were antibiotics [33.95%], sedativehypnotics [19.56%], non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs 19.2%] and corticosteroids [11.17%]. About 42.4% of the patients received an injection. Penicillins [25.43%], cephalosporins [7.66%], and aminoglycosides [0.86%] were the most frequently prescribed drugs among antibiotics? The results of this study showed inappropriate prescription of antibiotics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids and injection drugs by general practitioners in Kerman province. Therefore, intervention methods should be chosen to change the physician's prescribing pattern behavior