[Investigation of the effect of the aqueous extract of the root of Prosopis farcta plant on the function of the isolated hearts of rats under ischemia - reperfusion condition]

Prosopis farcta plant is used traditionally in several parts of the country. Due to lack of scientific information on the cardiovascular effects of this plant, especially during ischemia - reperfusion and the importance of the issue, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of Prosopis farcta root extract on the isolated hearts of rats under ischemia-reperfusion condition. This experimental study included 58 rats which were divided into perfusion and ischemia-reperfusion groups. The hearts of the animals were isolated and then subjected to ischemia and reperfusion in Iangendorff setup, after baseline step. Parameters of cardiac function, including heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure [LVDP], rate pressure product [RPP] and coronary flow [CF] were assessed. The results showed that administration of aqueous extract of Prosopis farcta plant significantly reduced cardiac parameters including RPP [p=0.0242] and CF [p=0.01113] in perfusion group, and also exacerbated cardiac damage [RPP] induced by ischemia in the ischemic group compared to the control group [p= 0.0126]. Considering the inhibitory effect of Prosopis farcta root extract on cardiac function, this plant may have useful effect on lowering blood pressure, but owing to its undesirable effects following myocardial ischernia, its administration is not recommended in these cases. The present results were not consistent with previous reports on nitric oxide dependent vasodilatory effect of this plant, and investigation of the compounds of this plant in different regions of the country is recommended in the future studies

[Relative frequency and type identification of non-polio enteroviruses isolated from acute flaccid paralysis cases in Iran, 1995-2000]

Iran National Polio Laboratory [NPL] is a member of the World Health Organization [WHO] Polio Laboratories Network. NPL receives stool specimens from acute flaccid paralysis [AFP] cases from all the provinces throughout Iran for poliovirus detection and identification. Furthermore, the NPL also detects non-polio enteroviruses [NPEVs] in these specimens. Recently, NPEVs have come to be believed to be one of the most important causes of AFP following wild poliovirus. This paper reports the prevalence of different types of NPEVs isolated from the specimens of AFP cases between 1995 and 2000. Stool collection, virus detection and serotype identification were performed according to the WHO standard procedures. A total of 2180 stool specimens from AFP cases were received at the National Polio Laboratory. Coxsackie B viruse and echoviruses 6, 11, 7 and 13 had the highest frequency, identified in 23.7%, 14.4%, 12.7%, 11% and 10.2% of the NPEVs isolated from AFP cases, respectively. Four cases of echovirus 20 were identified, in 2 cases the patiets having died and in one the patient having been afflicted with residual paralysis. There have been no reports of death or residual paralysis [paralysis continuing after 60 days] due to echoviruse 20. Considering the upward trend of AFP cases in Iran, even after wild poliovirus eradication, studies are needed to determine the frequency and type identification of NPEVs and the relationship between NPEVs and residual paralysis in the post-eradication era [2000 onwards].

Urological oncology: a comparison between clinical and pathologic staging in patients with bladder cancer

To determine the accuracy of clinical staging methods of bladder cancer and TURBT results in estimating the pathologic stage of tumor. Thirty two patients who had undergone radical cystectomy were studied in this retrospective survey. The results of bimanual examination, cystoscopy, TURBT pathology report and the tumor contour in CT scan, [size, infiltrative deepness, pelvic lymph nodes involvement and hydronephrosis] were recorded. The type of surgery and pathologic report of cystectomy sample were analyzed as well. Then the results of bimanual examination, tumor size, hydronephrosis and CT scan findings including tumor infiltrative deepness, pelvic lymph adenopathy and TURBT findings were compared to pathologic results of cystectomy sample. Seven patients were females and 25 were males. Their mean age was 62 [range 36 to 80] years. Gross hematuria and irritative urinary symptoms were the most common complaints. The duration between symptom manifestation and patient's referral was 5 days to 72 months [mean 12 months]. Bimanual examination in estimating the extravesical involvement of tumor had a specificity of 82%, sensitivity of 46%, positive predictive value of 70% and negative predictive value of 63%. The size of tumor in determining extravesical involvement had a specificity of 41%, sensitivity of 93%, and positive predictive value of 58% and negative predictive value of 87%. Hydronephrosis was present in 15 patients of whom, 14 [93%] had bladder muscle involvement. CT scan specificity was 70%, and sensitivity was 46% regarding pelvic lymph adenopathy and perivesical fat involvement. In TURBT report no muscle sample was observed in 11 cases, so that the interpretations of results were impossible. The reported grade of tumor was lower than pathologic sample of cystectomy in 4 patients. Clinical staging in invasive bladder cancers has not high accuracy regarding the involvement of bladder surrounding fats and pelvic adenopathies. A tumor sized more than 5 cm could be sensitive in estimating extravesical involvement. Positive predictive value of hydronephrosis is considerable regarding bladder muscle involvement. Tumor understaging by TURBT is happened in high percentage of patients with invasive bladder cancer