Methylene blue prevents post-surgical adhesion formation in the rabbit

Peritoneal adhesions are challenging in abdominal surgery. In spite of different kinds of treatments still no definitive and effective treatment is suggested. To determine the prevention effects of intraperitoneal [ip] methylene blue in post surgical adhesion formation 44 rabbits were randomly divided in two groups of equal number. Group I received an intra peritoneal injection of a 1% suspension of methylene blue diluted with Talc powder, and group II received ip injection of diluted Talc powder. Five months later both rabbits of groups were evaluated for severity of adhesion. The mean scores for adhesions for groups I was 0.9 +/- 0.88 which was significantly lower than 3.72 +/- 1.32 for group II [p<0.05]. It is therefore, concluded that intraperitoneal administration of methylene blue decreases the rate of post surgical adhesion formation in the rabbit

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

Does the appendix location change during pregnancy?

Early diagnosis of appendicitis is important during pregnancy. Unlike omentom, cecum and appendix are not likely to be displaced by the growing uterus, so the concept of position change of the appendix during pregnancy is questionable. To determine the anatomical location of appendix during pregnancy. In a prospective study from October 1995 to March 1999, 291 women of reproductive age were evaluated for the location of appendix. They were divided into 3 groups, A: 165 pregnant women [37-40 weeks of gestation] who underwent elective cesarean section, B: 26 pregnant women [19-39 weeks of gestation] with acute appendicitis, who underwent appendectomy, and C: 100 non-pregnant women with acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy serving as the comparison group. The location of appendix was considered as normal if it fell within ' 2 cm variation from McBurney's point, otherwise, it was considered as a position change. In group A, 26 out of 165 [15%] and in group B, 6 out of 26 [23%] women had change in the position of appendix. In the control group, 17% had change in position. There were no significant differences between group A and B as compared with the control group [group C]. In group B, there was no relation between the height of the fundus and the point of tenderness. The location of appendix does not change significantly during the pregnancy in most women

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity among patients with hyperemesis gravidarum

There are also reports from other parts of the world indicating the presence of significant association of H. pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum, a bothersome condition that affects pregnant women. To test the hypothesis that whether H. pylori infection is associated with hyperemesis gravidarum among Iranian H.P carriers. From November 1999 to February 2001, we enrolled 54 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum and 53 asymptomatic pregnant women [control group] in a prospective study. Using a specific serum IgG against H. pylori, the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was determined in both study and control groups. Serologically positive H. pylori infection was detected in 44 [82%] out of 54 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 29 [55%] out of 53 asymptomatic pregnant women. The prevalence was significantly [p<0.01] higher in those with hyperemesis gravidarum than those in the control group. The mean SD of the IgG titer in the study group [69.7 77.5] was significantly [p<0.01] more than that of the control group [34.5 47.8]. H. pylori infection may cause hyperemesis gravidarum

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