[ effect of Licophar on prevention of oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients]

Background and Aim: Oral mucositis is a common and debilitating complication that can occur after administration of certain chemotherapy drugs. Yet, no preventive therapy has been recommended for this complication. This study aimed to determine the effect of licophar on prevention of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis

Methods and method: This was a double blind RCT which was performed in Sanandaj City and included 40 patients with colon and gastric cancer who had received chemotherapy for the first time between 1390 and 1391. 5-FU [FOLFOX4] was prescribed for the patients. Licophar was given to the intervention group, and control group received placebo. The patients were examined for the presence or absence of oral mucositis. Using SPSS. 18 software, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney tests, independent T test and chi square

Results: In our study, 25 patients [62.5%] were male and 15 [37.5%] were female. The mean age of the participants was 53.20 +/-8.77 years and the mean duration of treatment was 5.05+/-3.15 months. Oral mucositis was not observed in the intervention group, but 35% of the patients in the control group developed this disorder [p <0.01]

There were no statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to age and gender [p> 0.05]

Conclusion: Licophar is effective for prevention of oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy

[Relationship between platelet indices and severity of rheumatoid arthritis according to DAS28 criteria]

There are few studies about the relationship between platelet indices and the activity of rheumatoid disease and it is still a controversial issue. Therefore we decided to study the relationship between platelet indices and severity of rheumatoid arthritis according to DAS28 criteria. In this Historical cohort study, 250 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 250 people who accompanied the patients were selected via convenient sampling method. After written consent; 2cc of blood was taken from each patient and was sent to our laboratory. All patients were examined by a rheumatologist for diagnosis of disease activity. DAS28 formula was used to evaluate the severity of disease activity. Data were entered into SPSS 16 software and analyzed by independent t-test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The mean values of hemoglobin [p<0.001], hematocrit [p<0.001], MCH [p<0.001], and PLcr [p=0.002] were lower in the patient group compared to the control group. The mean values of platelet [p<0.001], RDW [p=0.001], and PDW [p= 0.03] were higher in the patient group in comparison to the control group. There was no statistically significant differences between the two groups in relation to the mean values of MCV [p= 0.22] and MPV [p= 0.21]. A significant negative correlation was observed between DAS28 scores of hemoglobin [p=0.005] and hematocrit [p=0.02]. Increased severity of the rheumatoid arthritis led to decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit and increased platelet count. Therefore, these blood parameters can be used as a primary prognostic factor. Also ESR can be regarded as a good prognostic factor. However, MCV and MPV are not suitable prognostic factors for the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Effects of oral administration of monensin on serum glucose, AST, and arginase of holstein cows during transition period

In the present study, under typical management conditions of dairy farms in Iran, the effect of oral administration of on serum glucose, AST and arginase[indices of liver injuries] of oral monensin was assessed. Thirteen multiparous Holstein cows were blocked into a control and an experiment group from 3 weeks prepartum to 45 days postpartum according the number of their calvings. The groups received similar diets. The experiment group received monensin added to grain mix at 340 mg/head/day during prepartum weeks, 160-480 mg/head/day during first two weeks postpartum, and 350 mg/head/day during days 15-45 postpartum. Blood samples were obtained at days -20 and -10 prepartum, and days 4, 15, 25, 35 and 45 postpartum to determine serum glucose, AST, and arginase. Serum glucose decreased significantly [p = 0.025] in the control group from day 10 prepartum to day 15 postpartum. In the experiment group it increased significantly [p = 0.049] from the beginning of the experiment to day 35 postpartum. On day 15 postpartum, serum glucose showed a tendency [p = 0.07] for significant difference between groups. The level of ASTwas higher in the experiment group from day 10 prepartum to day 25 postpartum with a significant difference [p = 0.011] on day 10 prepartum. There was no significant difference in serum arginase activity between control and experiment groups [p > 0.05]. Administration of monensin mixed with diet can result in better functions of the liver, increase [or prevention of decrease] in serum glucose during peripartum weeks. It appears that changes in the dose of the drug during the early postpartum days [due to changes in dry matter intake] cannot affect the positive effect of monensin. The positive effect of monensin can be started prepartum; thus, its administration from prepartum transition period continued to postpartum weeks is recommended

Effects of oral administration of monensin on milk yield, milk economic components and iodine value of milk fat in holstein-friesian cows in early lactation

Assessing the effects of monensin on economic factors of milk [percents of protein and fat], and quality of milk fat during early lactation. Thirteen multiparous Holstein cows were blocked into a control and a treatment group from 3 weeks prepartum to 45 days postpartum according the number of their calving. The groups received similar diets. The treatment group received monensin added to grain mix at 340 mg/head/day during prepartum weeks, 160-480 mg/head/day during first two weeks postpartum and 350 mg/head/day during days 15-35 postpartum. Milk samples were obtained on days 15, 25, 35 and 45 postpartum. Milk volume during a standard period of 305 days and during the first 3 months of lactation, percentages milk protein and milk fat and iodine value of milk fat were determined. Data were studied with the SPSS statistical software using analysis of variance for repeated measures and independent t test. No significant differences were observed between control and experiment groups in volumes of milk during the first 3 months of lactation and the standard production of the entire lactation period. The natural decrease in the percentage of milk protein and fat postpartum was observed in both groups. However, the pattern of decrease in milk protein was slower in the treatment group. There was no difference between the groups in milk protein at various stages of sampling. Milk fat increased in the treatment group from day 25 of lactation and on day 45, it was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control cows. The iodine index of milk fat was nonsignificantly higher in the treatment group throughout of the experiment. The present study showed that administration of monensin during periparturient weeks has no adverse effect on milk volume, percentage of milk protein and fat and the quality of milk fat. It may lessen the decreasing pattern of milk protein and fat, or accelerate the time for their increasing. Increased level of unsaturated fatty acids in milk is a positive point in feeding monensin

Evaluation of impaired glucose tolerance test in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Disorders of carbohydrate metablolism are among metabolic disorders which can be encountered in patients with PCO syndrome. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between PCOS and glucose intolerance in patients referring to obstetric clinic in Sanansaj in 2004. This study was a descriptive case-control study. The case group included 126 women at reproductive age with PCOS, confirmed with clinical, sonographic and laboratory data. Control group consisted of 126 women without any evidence of PCOS that were matched with the case group for age, weight, height, pregnancy number, method of contraception, history of abortion and still birth. Oral glucose tolerance test [GTT] using a st and ard 75 g glucose was performed and LH and FSH were checked for all subjects. Using SPSS win soft ware, data were analyzed by means of chi-square [lamda[2]] and T-tests. According to the results of this study the mean level of blood glucose, fasting and after 1 hour, did not show any significant differences; but after 2 and 3 hours we found remarkable differences in the glucose values between the two groups. Impaired glucose tolerance test was significantly higher in the case group. [17 vs. 2 and p=0.001 OR=9.67 Cl 2.08