[Personality, intellectual and emotional state of patients with borderline personality disorder]

It is possible to explain the great discrepancy in the personality and psychopathology of patients with borderline personality disorder [BPD], partly, on the basis of differences in their profiles of personality, psychopathology, intellectual and emotional state. The aim of the current study was to assess these items in the patients with BPD. This was a descriptive-comparative study. Among the patients with diagnosis of BPD referring to Sanandaj health centers, 30 accepted to participate in this study. They were assessed by use of MCMI-III, emotional state questionnaire, and The WAIS-R. The results were compared with those of their matched, non-clinical group. SPSS software was used for data processing and data were analyzed by profile analysis and one way ANOVA. Profile analysis showed significant differences between the groups in all of the tests. Comparison of the single scales showed differences in a wide range of variables of personality, intellectual and emotional state. The results indicated an important role for the emotional elements in the development of personality disorders and also similarity of many of the clinical symptoms in these patients. Intellectual elements are also useful for explaining a fundamental part of the symptoms of BPD. These variables seem essential for understanding cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects of the patients with BPD

Efficacy and safety of Iranian made deferasirox [Osveral]in Iranian major thalassemic patients with transfusional iron overload: a one year prospective multicentric open-label non-comparative study

To determine the efficacy, adverse effects and safety of a new Iranian generic product of deferasirox [Osveral] in Iranian transfusion dependent major thalassemic [TD-MT] patients. In 9 main thalassemia treatment centers, all of TD-MT patients [aged >/= 2 yrs] with serum ferritin [SF] levels >/= 1000 ng/ml, or >100 ml/kg of RBC transfusion, who could not tolerate parental iron chelating were recruited regardless of their previous iron chelation therapy. Periodical clinical and laboratory evaluations were conducted for adverse effects [AEs]. Primary efficacy end point was Mean of Relative Change of Serum Ferritin [MRC-SF] from the baseline level during one year. Analysis of variance [ANOVA], t test, chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for statistic analysis appropriately [P values <0.05 were considered as statistical significant]. In 407 cases the male/female ratio was 0.98. Mean age was 11.5 +/- 7.4 [2-58] years. The mean of initiating dose of Osveral and mean usage dose during the study was 23.5 +/- 4.9 mg/kg and 24.9 +/- 4.9 mg/kg respectively. MRC-SF was -11.44% +/- 38.92 and it showed significant decline in SF [P value<0.001] one hundred and forty eight patients out of 407 patients experienced at least one. AE, the most common of them were transient increase in serum creatinin [97;24.1%] and > 5 time increase in transaminases [24;5.89%].The causes of discontinuation of treatment were non-satisfactory treatment [24; 5.8%], poor or non-compliance of patients [21;5.1%], and adverse effects [13; 3.1%]. A detailed comparison with similar studies on deferasirox [Exjade] shows a promising efficacy and safety for its Iranian generic product [Osveral]

[Prevalence of HCV infection in thalassemic and hemodialysis patients in Kerman Province-Iran]

People with thalessemia and chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis are prone to blood-born infections, especially hepatitis C due to the long-term transfusion. Recently, hepatitis C has been one of the main health concerns in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C and its risk factors in these groups of patients in Kerman province of Iran. HCV RNA in blood sample of 384 patients [203 hemodialysis cases and 181 thalassemia cases] was evaluated. One hundred thirty [130] out of 384 were infected by HCV. Infected male was predominant [83%].It seems that the frequency of hepatitis C infection in Kerman is higher than the other provinces of Iran. Therefore more attention should be paid to screen of blood before transfusing for these group of patients

[ analysis of status of added colors to dried sweets in South of Tehran using thin layer chromatography]

Foodstuffs additives are a general term for materials that are added to the foodstuffs in order to increase durability and to improve the appearance, composition, taste and food nutritional value. Colors are classified in this group and are added to foodstuffs in order to increase their attraction. Colors may cause illness such as allergy, rash and hyper activation in children and also they may debilitate the Immune system, Anaphylaxis reactions may also occur and they may have cancerous effect. The aim of this survey was to analyze status of added colors to the dried sweets which are produced in south of Tehran city. 191 samples of dried sweets were randomly collected and analyzed from south of Tehran areas. First, the samples were de-colored by Clorhidric Acid, and then were analyzed after refining by Thin Layer Chromatography [T.L.C] method. Samples were identified by taking Retention Factor [RF values] into consideration. 93.2 percent from the total samples contained colors. Among chromatic samples, 42 samples [22%] out the total samples, contained artificial, non-edible colors and 96 samples [50.3%] from the total samples contained artificial and edible colors [for Industrial Producers] and 40 samples [21%], contained natural colors. Sunset yellow color was detected more than other added colors in sweets. Low costs, stability, PH, purity, and environmental conditions, motivate the producers for high utilization of edible colors without considering their possible hazards and/or their edible quality aspects. It is suggested that, based on the findings of this study and high consumption of colors

Living-related liver trasplantation in children: the Shiraz experience

The liver transplantation program was established at Shiraz Nemazee Hospital in 1993. Shortage of cadaver organ supply due to various social and legal issues urged us to develop a living-related liver transplantation [LRLT] program. So far 7 [6 males, 1 female] living-related liver transplantations have been performed at this center. The mean age of patients was 8.21 years [ +/- 4.16], with a range of 4.5 to 14 years. Live donors [3 mothers, 2 fathers, and 1 brother] with a mean age of 30.83 years [ +/- 4.11] underwent procurement of the left lateral segment without mortality or any serious morbidity. The native liver disease was idiopathic cirrhosis [1 case], biliary atresia [3 cases], Budd-Chiari syndrome [1 case], neonatal cirrhosis [1 case], and cryptogenic cirrhosis [1 case]. Allografts were implanted using piggy-back surgical technique. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of a triple drug regimen including cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids. Acute graft rejection was treated with intra-venous bolus of methyl-prednisolone. Early death occurred in 2 patients due to vascular thrombosis. Biliary complication was observed in 1 patient. Five patients are alive with a normal functioning liver. In conclusion, LRLT program is promising in Iran. It can help to overcome the shortage of organs and minimize the mortality of patients in the waiting list

Assessment of a breast cancer screening programme in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

A breast cancer screening programme was evaluated for approximately 10,000 women aged 35 years and older. There were 67 cases of breast cancer. Highest rates of attendance were seen among younger women [35-44 years] and middle socioeconomic groups. Lowest rates were among those aged over 65 years and low socioeconomic groups. The rate of detection by self-examination was similar to that by health personnel examination. At all stages of screening, positive findings were most common among the high socioeconomic class. Attendance decreased steadily from first to last stages of serial screening. Although mammography is the most sensitive method of detection, because of its high cost we suggest establishing breast self-examination education programmes and encouraging women to self-examine

Reproductive behaviour in women in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

Data on the reproductive behaviour of women in Shiraz are presented. A total of 9934 randomly selected women aged >/= 35 years of all socioeconomic levels were interviewed. The mean age at menarche +/- standard deviation was 13.96 +/- 1.23 years, mean age at first marriage was 17.10 +/- 4.24 years and mean age at first pregnancy was 19.50 +/- 3.90 years. The mean number of children was 4.56 +/- 1.70 children, although for illiterate women it was 6.76 +/- 1.76 children and for high-school or university-educated women it was 3.36 +/- 1.70 children. The mean age at menopause was 47.80 +/- 3.78 years

Shiraz Breast cancer study part II: screening mammography in a population-based breast cancer survey

The purpose of this study was to assess the detection rate of mammography in breast cancer and the attendance rate in response to the call for screening mammography in females before the development of symptoms. One-thousand four-hundred and thirty-eight women over 35 years of age who had no complaint and had normal breast examinations were called for mammography. Out of the 10,000 women under study for breast cancer, 1,438 women were randomly called for mammography and actually 985 subjects turned up for mammography. All the mammograms were reported by the same radiologist, and physical examination of the breast was carefully performed by both radiologist and surgeon on any patient suspected of having a lesion in mammography. A total of 4 malignant non-palpable lesions were detected in 985 screening mammograms. The prevalence of breast malignancy is lower in our female population compared with the west and our detection rate in subjects with no physical findings comprises 0.4%. Since only 985 women turned up for screening mammography, the attendance rate is calculated as 68.5%. Mammographic findings consisted of 96 cases of benign-appearing breast nodules, 194 cases of calcification, 25 intra-mammary lymph nodes, 189 enlarged axillary nodes and 83 dense breasts. In conclusion, although mammography is a very helpful procedure in screening for breast cancer, the response can be low for a call for mammography and the prevalence of malignancy of the breast has been underestimated in the past

value of ultrasound in the prediction of non-surgical reducibility of pediatric intussusception

Intussusception is the most common cause of mechanical bowel obstruction in infants and, if diagnosed early, it can be reduced by the hydrostatic pressure of barium or saline or by air enema. In this study, we show that ultrasound measurement of thickness of the edematous middle layer of the mass of intussusception can be a reliable index to predict whether the intussusception can be reduced non- surgically. The study was performed on 24 cases, the average of edema thickness in non-surgically reducible cases being 6.8 mm, while in those in which non-surgical reduction was not possible, this average was 10.4 mm. In 11 patients we used barium enema, and in 13 patients air was used to reduce intussusception. With barium, the success rate was 18%, while with air it was 46%. The diagnostic accuracy of intussusception by ultrasound was 100%. The average time interval between onset of symptoms and the patients' referral to our center was 3.3 days. Ultrasonography can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis and proper management of pediatric intussusception

Cervical spine involvement in functional class III rheumatoid arthritis

One hundred patients with Functional Class III Rheumatoid Arthritis were evaluated clinically and radiologically for cervical spine instability. Fifty patients had roentgenographic manifestation of such instability. Atlantoaxial subluxation was observed in 22, vertical settling in 9, and subaxial subluxation in 37 cases. In 18 patients, more than one type of instability was observed. Thirty-four patients were asymptomatic in the presence of radiologic instability. Neck pain was the most common complaint in the symptomatic group [16 patients]. Only one patient had long tract sign requiring cervical fusion

Atlantoaxial subluxation in Morquio-Brailsford syndrome: report of two cases

Atlantoaxial subluxation with myelopathy is the most severe complication of Morquio-Brailsford syndrome. It is life threatening and if undiagnosed can cause serious problems. In this report, two cases with this complication are described, both of whom benefitted from operation. However, one patient died of respiratory failure a month later

Traumatic retrolisthesis of lumbosacral junction with fracture of L1 vertebra: a case report

Traumatic retrolisthesis of L[5]-S[1] with Chance fracture of L[1] vertebra is an extremely rare type of spinal injury. Here is a report of an 18-year-old woman with this type of fracture dislocation and spinal cord injury who has been successfully managed and her 14 months follow-up is quite satisfactory