Effects of testosterone enanthate and resistance training on myocardium in Wistar rats; clinical and anatomical pathology.

This study was performed to determine the effects of 8 weeks testosterone enanthate (TE) injection and resistance training (RT) on cardiac muscle in male Wistar rats. A total of 28 male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; control + placebo, RT + placebo, TE and TE + RT. Testosterone enanthate (20 mg/kg BW, IM) and placebo (olive oil; 0.2 ml, IM) were injected twice a week for 2 months. The RT consisted of climbing (5 reps/3 sets) a ladder carrying a load suspended from the tail. The serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and serum level of creatinine, urea and cardiac troponin I (CTnI) were evaluated. After sacrifice, samples from myocardial muscle were collected for histopathology evaluation. The serum concentration of CTnI and CK-MB activity significantly increased in group RT compared with control (p < .05). In group RT + TE, all biomarkers of muscle damage (CTnI, CK-MB, AST, LDH) were significantly more than those in control (p < .05). Also, mild myocardial hypertrophy was observed in RT and RT + TE groups. The higher level of all heart damage biomarkers in the RT + TE group rather than control may indicate the synergistic effects of medication and exercise.

Fast and accurate Monte Carlo modeling of a kilovoltage X-ray therapy unit using a photon-source approximation for treatment planning in complex media.

To accurately recompute dose distributions in chest-wall radiotherapy with 120 kVp kilovoltage X-rays, an MCNP4C Monte Carlo model is presented using a fast method that obviates the need to fully model the tube components. To validate the model, half-value layer (HVL), percentage depth doses (PDDs) and beam profiles were measured. Dose measurements were performed for a more complex situation using thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) placed within a Rando phantom. The measured and computed first and second HVLs were 3.8, 10.3 mm Al and 3.8, 10.6 mm Al, respectively. The differences between measured and calculated PDDs and beam profiles in water were within 2 mm/2% for all data points. In the Rando phantom, differences for majority of data points were within 2%. The proposed model offered an approximately 9500-fold reduced run time compared to the conventional full simulation. The acceptable agreement, based on international criteria, between the simulations and the measurements validates the accuracy of the model for its use in treatment planning and radiobiological modeling studies of superficial therapies including chest-wall irradiation using kilovoltage beam.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in children with febrile seizure.

BACKGROUND: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common childhood seizures which occur in 2-5% of children. Studies about association between iron deficiency and febrile seizure have shown contradictory results. The purpose of this study was to compare the iron status of children with first febrile seizure and healthy control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an analytic case-control study , iron status of 6 to 60 months old admitted children with first FS to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital from December 2011 to August 2012 was evaluated and compared with healthy age and sex matched control children whom were referred for routine health care to primary health care center of Azadshar Yazd, Iran. RESULTS: Forty five (44%) girls and 55 boys with a mean age of 23.7 ± 14.3 months were evaluated. In children with FS , hemoglobin level (11.46 ± 1.18 g/dl vs. 11.9 ± 0.89 g/dl, p= 0.042) , serum iron levels (48.91 ± 22.96 µg/dl vs. 75.13 ± 35.57 µg/dl , p= 0.001) and serum ferritin level (38.52 ± 11.38 ng/ml vs. 54.32 ± 13.46 ng/ml, p= 0.001) were lower than in healthy children group . Iron deficiency (48% vs. 28% , odds ratio 4.3, p=0.03) and iron deficiency anemia (22% vs. 10% , odds ratio = 3.16, p= 0.04) were more frequent in children with FS. CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, iron deficiency could be an important risk factor for development of febrile convulsion. Evaluation of iron status is encouraged to be performed in children with febrile seizure.

Effect of hyoscine butylbromide first stage of labour in multiparus women.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged labor is one of the most important risk factors for perinatal compromise and, if caused by obstructed labor, it carries the risk of uterine rupture, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), puerperal sepsis, and maternal death. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not hyoscine butylbromide shortens the stages of labor, without an increase in maternal or neonatal complications. METHOD: In single-blinded randomized clinical trial study, 188 multiparas women in active phase of labor who were admitted to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital from October 2006 to April 2007 in Yazd - Iran, were evaluated. They were divided hyoscine group (n = 94) received 20mg (1ml) of hyoscine and control group (n = 94) received 1 ml of normal saline was given as placebo, intravenously. The effects of hyoscine in shortening labor time; and neonatal Apgar score was compared. RESULTS: Duration of the first (mean± SD: 186.8 ± 125.6 minutes vs. 260.4 ± 120.9 minutes, p= 0.00 1) and second stage of labor (mean± SD: 20.0 ± 8.1minutes vs. 25.8 ± 9.4 minutes, p= 0.03) was shorter in hyoscine group. Frequency of cesarean section and mean of neonatal Apgar score at minutes of one and 5 were not different in both groups. No serious adverse events were seen in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Injection of hyoscine in active phase of labor can be effective in shortening of labor without any adverse effect on mother and fetus.

Prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight in Yazd, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major health problem and a significant contributor to neonatal death in both industrialised and developing countries. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for LBW in Yazd, a central city of Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated all births that were registered in all the maternity hospitals in Yazd, Iran in 2008. LBW neonates were compared with neonates whose birth weight exceeded 2,500 g. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of LBW was 8.8 percent. Univariate analysis using chi-square test showed that the risk factors associated with LBW were first and second pregnancies, teenage pregnancy, maternal diseases (pregnancy-induced hypertension, chronic hypertension and urinary tract infection), childbirth interval of less than three years, especially less than one year from the previous birth, preterm labour and working mothers. In multivariate analysis, preterm labour (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 4.8-6.11), working mothers (OR 2.7, 95 percent CI 1.25-3.1) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR 1.5, 95 percent CI 1.2-2.22) were found to be risk factors for LBW. CONCLUSION: Screening for high-risk pregnancies, such as teenage pregnancies and those with short birth intervals and maternal disease, as well as making provisions for attentive prenatal care and facilities are essential to reduce the incidence of LBW.

Direct cytotoxicity evaluation of 63S bioactive glass and bone-derived hydroxyapatite particles using yeast model and human chondrocyte cells by microcalorimetry.

In this study, the cytotoxicity evaluation of prepared 63S bioactive glass and bone-derived hydroxyapatite particles with yeast and human chondrocyte cells was carried out using isothermal micro-nano calorimetry (IMNC), which is a new method for studying cell/biomaterial interactions. Bioactive glass particles were made via sol-gel method and hydroxyapatite was obtained from bovine bone. Elemental analysis was carried out by XRF and EDXRF. Amorphous structure of the glass and completely crystalline structure of HA were detected by XRD analysis. Finally, the cytotoxicity of bioactive glass and bone-derived HA particles with yeast and cultured human chondrocyte cells was evaluated using IMNC. The results confirmed the viability, growth and proliferation of human chondrocyte cells in contact with 63S bioactive glass, and bone-derived HA particles. Also the results indicated that yeast model which is much easier to handle, can be considered as a good proxy and can provide a rapid primary estimate of the ranges to be used in assays involving human cells. All of these results confirmed that IMNC is a convenient method which caters to measuring the cell-biomaterial interactions alongside the current methods.

Utility of laboratory studies in seizures of children older than one month of age.

INTRODUCTION: Seizure is the most common paediatric neurological disease which occurs in ten percent of children. In approaching a convulsive patient, finding the causes of seizure is essential, and the patient's history as well as the physical examination are important. The role of routine laboratory tests for children's seizures (except neonates) is undetermined, but checking for serum sodium, glucose, calcium and urea routinely has been advised. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of these serum chemistry tests in the seizures of children older than one month of age. METHODS: In this descriptive, retrospective study, medical records of 302 hospitalised children with seizure were reviewed. Results of laboratory tests, like sodium, calcium, blood glucose and urea levels, pertinent history and physical examination, and the change in patient management based on serum chemistry test results, were analysed. All the children in the study were classified as having seizure with or without fever. RESULTS: In 302 hospitalised children with seizure, about ten percent of 938 tests were abnormal. 27.7 percent of these abnormal results were seen in 1-12-month-old infants. Only 11 percent of abnormal tests (1.3 percent of total tests) might have caused a seizure. Also, 0.2 percent of the results could not be predicted from the history or physical examination, which was conducted in patients younger than one year of age. CONCLUSION: Routine determination of serum chemistry values in seizures of children does not contribute to therapy, and are costly and time-consuming. It may not be helpful and informative unless the patient is less than one year of age.