[Evaluation of antibacterial properties of human amniotic membrane in vitro]

Amniotic membrane is the inner-most layer of the three fetal membranes. The membrane is consisted of three layers; epithelial layer, basal membrane, and connective tissue. Owing to expression of mRNA of elafin, HBD 1-3, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitors, amniotic membrane has antimicrobial properties. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of human amniotic membrane on standard bacterial species of Salmonella enterica BAA-708, E.coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 7881, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Fresh amniotic membranes were obtained from Organ Transplant Bank of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. The membranes were obtained from pregnant women who had negative tests for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis after elective Cesarian section. The membranes were cut into 1.5× 1.5 cm pieces under sterile conditions. The membrane pieces were placed on Müller-Hinton agar medium containing the bacterial suspensions and then incubated at 37 [degree sign]C for 24 hours. The antibacterial properties of amniotic membrane against Salmonella enterica and E. coli were demonstrated by development of the no growth halo, but for Pseudomonas aeruginosa only a very narrow halo was observed. The halo was not developed for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. Amniotic membrane showed antibacterial effects against a wide spectrum of bacteria. With regard to the increasing antibiotic resistance, use of amniotic membrane against pathogenic bacteria can be considered valuable

[Assessment of the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of patients with urologic trauma referred to Hazrat Rasoul-e-Akram hospital between 2007 and 2008]

The mortality rate of car crashes in Iran is very high worldwide. Most of these injured persons have urologic injuries. In our country, the prevalence of urologic injuries accompanied by multiple traumas is about 10-12%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of patients with urologic trauma and the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. We used a check list that consisted of the etiology of trauma, urologic trauma, co-morbid trauma, vital signs, diagnostic procedures, type of treatment and final outcome. The files of 76 patients with multiple injuries accompanied by urologic trauma that had referred to emergency department of Rasool Akram hospital between 2007 and 2008, were evaluated. We used t, Chi-square, One way ANOVA and their equivalent non parametric tests in our statistical analysis. SPSS V. 16.0 was also used. Mean age of patients was 33 +/- 2 years. The mean hospitalization period was 11.6 +/- 6 days. There were 35 kidney injuries [44.5%] with grades I-V. Twenty-five patients [26.3%] had bladder injuries, 14[18.4%] urethral injuries, 37[48.7%] co-morbid injuries, 13[17.1%] external genitalia injuries [scrotal/testis] and 4[5.2%] had ureteral injuries. Pelvic fracture [19 patients- 24.7%] was the most common co-morbid injury. Overall there were three deaths that were accompanied by non-urologic co-morbidities. There were 43 patient [55.6%] with complete improvement and 30 patients [39.5%] who needed delayed surgery. Complications of urologic surgery were low and nobody died of these complications. There was no significant relationship between trauma etiology and the severity of injury. This difference might have been due to less number of patients, incomplete hospital files or death of patient with severe injury at the time of accident. Complications during treatment were fully controlled. Our facilities for diagnosis and treatment meet our needs

[Effect of anabolic steroids consumption on C-reactive protein [CRP] in bodybuilders]

Prevalence of anabolic steroids [ASs] consumption among bodybuilders has increased progressively. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ASs consumption on C-reactive protein [CRP] in bodybuilders. Sixty healthy men [age: 24/1 +/- 9/1yr; weight: 77 +/- 10 kg and height: 172 +/- 12 cm] participated in the study voluntarily. These subjects were selected from three groups. First group [FG] was bodybuilders who consumed ASs [n=20], second group [SG] was bodybuilders who did not consume ASs [n=20] and third group [TG] were untrained subjects as control [n=20]. Blood samples were collected in fasting state [12 hours] at 09:00 for CRP assessment. Strength and volume of the forearm, pectoral major and femur muscles were measured via 1RM test and muscle circumstances, respectively. Speed was assessed by 30m speed test. Analysis of variance test and LSD post-hoc test was used. FG had significantly greater blood CRP [P<0/05] compared to other groups. However, differences between SG and TG were not significant. Muscle strength, and forearm and femur circumstances were greater in FG than other groups. Furthermore, this was greater in SG than TG. But chest circumstance was greater in FG and SG than TG only. There were no significant differences in speed between groups. ASs consumption for muscle strength and volume improvement in bodybuilders is accompanied by higher level of CRP [as a cardiovascular risk factor]

Outcome and characteristics of patients on the liver transplant waiting list: Shiraz experience

The only curative therapy for end-stage liver disease is transplantation but due to a shortage of available donor livers the waiting list mortality is high. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome and characteristics of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation in Shiraz, southern Iran during the period from April 2004 to March 2007. Medical records of all chronic liver disease patients >/= 14 years that were on the waiting list for liver transplantation at the Nemazee Hospital Organ Transplant Center during April 2004 to March 2007 were reviewed. Hospital records were used to retrieve demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Records of the referring gastroenterologists provided information about the etiology and complications of liver disease. The patients were followed at the end of the study period by clinic visits or telephone contact. There were 646 patients on the waiting list for liver transplant during April 2004 to March 2007. Hepatitis B was the most common etiology of liver disease [31.2%]. Of those on the waiting list, 144 patients 22.3%] underwent liver transplant and 166 [25.7%] died while waiting for a transplant. The mean waiting period for transplant was 6.6 months. Receiving a transplant was correlated with the etiology of liver disease and Rh blood group [p<0.05] but had no significant association with gender or ABO blood type. Among non-transplanted patients, survival was lower in those who had a history of encephalopathy, SBP or uncontrolled ascites and in patients with a Child-Turcotte-Puph [CTP] class C and/or a Model of End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] score >/= 15. Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of end-stage chronic liver disease amongst patients on the waiting list for liver transplant in Shiraz, southern Iran. Patients with a MELD score >/= 15 particularly those with a history of SBP, hepatic encephalopathy or uncontrolled ascites are recommended for waiting list enrollment

Photodynamic therapy as a new treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

We assessed the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 5 patients. Delta-aminolevulinic acid in a water- in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesions and irradiation was performed. The treatment was repeated once a week for a month. Each time, direct smears of the lesions were prepared and cultured in NNN media. In direct staining, smears showed no amastigotes after 1 or 2 sessions. Healing and cosmetic outcome after photodynamic therapy was excellent. Only mild local inflammatory reaction was noted with no scarring and 4 months after the last treatment session, there were no clinical signs of recurrence

[Serologic variation of HBV infection in gypsies of South West of Iran]

Gypsy way of life is a nomadic life adopted by a group of people because of their liking for migration and contact with other societies to earn their livelihood. The prevalence of Hepatitis B in a small population of gypsies residing in the South West of Iran is the main purpose of this study. This study has performed as screening for hepatitis B in a community of gypsies [226 persons]. The obtained serums in the first step were tested for serologic markers of HBsAg, Anti -HBc for Hepatitis B virus [HBV].All positive cases were tested again for HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg, Anti-HBe, and Anti-HBc in the second step. Serologic results indicated that 54 individuals [20.5%] were positive for one or more HBV markers so that, 22 of them [Yh9.6 of overall] had infectious hepatitis B, 13 of them [%5.8 of overall] were only HBsAg positive, 11 individuals [%4.9 of overall] were improved and in immune state and 8 persons had isolated Anti-HBc antibody. The prevalence and relative risk of HBV in these persons has been found to be much higher than the normal population.[RR=l 0, P4.001] In societies like gypsies, who have various contacts with different groups and harboring habits like tattooing, causes an increased prevalence of diseases like HBV. Circulation of HBV infection among such societies in such surveys reveals serologic variations. In fact various serologic pattern of infection from the beginning of infection to end of infection [like cured, immune, chronic, carrier cases] could be achieved at one time

Effects of ocimum basilicum on functional dyspepsia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Traditionally some people employ Ocimum basilicum [Shaspram] to relieve the symptoms of dyspepsia. We therefore studied the effects of oral extract of this medicinal plant on functional dyspepsia. In a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of a four-week treatment of Shaspram was evaluated on functional dyspepsia. Two hundred cases from all patients referred for dyspepsia without having any obvious pathologic signs were randomly divided into case and control groups [100 each]. The hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Shaspram was prepared and used. Patients were asked to have 30 drops of prescribed medications [placebo or the extract, equal to 1.5 gram leaves powder] daily at 30 min before lunch and dinner for four-weeks. Severity was scored for each symptom on a numbered scale and the results compared with the results of placebo group or pretreatment period. Patients in drug group responded to treatment better than patients in placebo group [P<0.001]. Shaspram was more effective in female and young patients. Patients with functional dyspepsia that had dysmotility problems also responded to Shaspram better than others. Ocimum basilicum seems to relieve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia especially in female and young patients with dysmotility

Development of bronchiectasis; a late sequela of mustard gas exposure

Bronchiectasis following inhalation of chemical gases, mainly ammonia, has been occasionally reported in literature. The widespread use of sulfur mustard gas, as a warfare agent by Iraqi forces, during the Iran-Iraq war, has resulted in chronic lung diseases including bronchiectasis, among Iranian veterans exposed to this agent. In this cross-sectional clinical study, we present 16 proven cases of bronchiectasis following a single episode of inhalation of sulfur mustard gas. Both diffuse and focal forms of bronchiectasis were encountered in this group of patients. In the majority of patients, pulmonary function tests showed either obstructive or mixed obstructive and restrictive patterns. The lesions were more frequently in the lower lung lobes. Bronchiectasis is a relatively common chronic pulmonary sequela of sulfur mustard gas injury. The observation that only a subset of victims exposed to mustard gas have developed bronchiectasis underlines the hypothesis that individual susceptibility is important for development of bronchiectasis

Pulmonary manifestations of mustard gas injury: a review of 61 cases

Pulmonary manifestations of 61 Iranian victims exposed to mustard gas are presented. Clinical presentations, chest radio-graphic findings and results of pulmonary function studies are discussed. Pulmonary injury is the principal cause of mortality in the first few days to weeks after exposure, and is the most serious chronic sequel of mustard gas injury leading to chronic tracheobronchitis and also chronic obstructive and/or restrictive lung disease and bronchiectasis which seem to be irreversible in the majority of cases. Treatment is mainly symptomatic and supportive, and preventive and protective measures are of far greater importance