Bowel obstruction caused by broad ligament hernia sucessfully repaired by laparoscopy.

Internal hernais are rare bowel obstructions. We present a case of small bowel obstruction in a 37-year-old woman caused by internal herniation through a defect in broad ligament, which was managed by laparoscopic surgery.

Enhancement of magnetofection efficiency using chitosan coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and calf thymus DNA.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared and coated with chitosan (CS). The chitosan-magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (CS-MNPs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and the morphology of the particles was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our findings show that the magnetic particles were monodisperse (10nm mean diameter) and exhibited superparamagnetic behavior. The interaction between the particles and calf-thymus DNA (DNA) in physiological buffer was studied with UV-vis, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy and zeta potential. Spectroscopic studies were indicated DNA conformational changes in the presence of CS-MNPs. Binding and thermodynamic parameters at different temperatures were calculated using the Stern-Volmer, Hill, Scatchard and Van't Hoff equations. The binding process was spontaneous and interactions were electrostatic with the appropriate binding constant (Kb=4.52×103M-1, 3.69×103M-1 and 3.02×103M-1 at 300K, 310K and 320K, respectively). Zeta potential measurements of DNA continually increased with the addition of CS-MNPs, supporting our thermodynamic findings. Moreover, CS-MNPs were able to quench the fluorescence of DNA-intercalated ethidium bromide (DNA-EB) by a static quenching mechanism. Cytotoxicity studies show that the DNA-CS-MNP system is biocompatible with a human foreskin fibroblast cell line, HFFF2. Collectively, these results suggest that surface cationic magnetic chitosan-iron oxide nanoparticles can potentially enhance magnetofection efficiency.

Comparing acute and chronic human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica focusing on arginase activity.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Iran is mainly caused by Leishmania major (L. major) and L. tropica. Arginase mediated L-arginine metabolism is an important issue in Leishmania parasite propagation. Arginase activity in human CL due to L. major and L. tropica have not been studied up to now. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory aspects of acute and chronic CL, focussing on arginase activity. METHODS: In this case-control study, 30 patients with acute CL (duration ≤ 1 year), 13 patients with chronic CL (duration ≥ 2 year) and 11 healthy controls were recruited. Arginase activity was measured in skin biopsies of lesions, peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma by standard methods. RESULTS: The median of arginase activity in the acute lesions was higher than in chronic samples and significantly higher than in healthy controls (P = 0.008). PMNs of both acute and chronic patients showed higher levels of arginase activity as compared to the levels in PBMCs and plasma. The median of arginase activity in the PMNs of patients with chronic CL was higher than that of patients with acute CL and significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: The level of arginase activity in lesions of patients with acute and chronic CL was higher than the skin of healthy controls. The highest level of arginase activity was observed in PMNs from patients with chronic CL. This suggests that the high level of arginase activity in PMNs of patients with chronic CL may contribute to the chronicity.

The effect of processing parameters and solid concentration on the mechanical and microstructural properties of freeze-casted macroporous hydroxyapatite scaffolds.

The design and fabrication of macroporous hydroxyapatite scaffolds, which could overcome current bone tissue engineering limitations, have been considered in recent years. In the current study, controlled unidirectional freeze-casting at different cooling rates was investigated. In the first step, different slurries with initial hydroxyapatite concentrations of 7-37.5 vol.% were prepared. In the next step, different cooling rates from 2 to 14 °C/min were applied to synthesize the porous scaffold. Additionally, a sintering temperature of 1350 °C was chosen as an optimum temperature. Finally, the phase composition (by XRD), microstructure (by SEM), mechanical characteristics, and the porosity of sintered samples were assessed. The porosity of the sintered samples was in a range of 45-87% and the compressive strengths varied from 0.4 MPa to 60 MPa. The mechanical strength of the scaffolds increased as a function of initial concentration, cooling rate, and sintering temperature. With regards to mechanical strength and pore size, the samples with the initial concentration and the cooling rate of 15 vol.% and 5 °C/min, respectively, showed better results.

Genetic Analysis of Oculocutaneous Albinism Type1A (OCA1A) in an Iranian Family.

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism type1 (OCA1) is characterized by the absence of melanin pigmentation. The mutation on TYR gene makes OCA1 as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. In this study, we delineated the genetic analysis of an Iranian family with four members affected with OCA1. METHODS: Clinical exams and paraclinical test were performed for all patients of the case family, also proband, her husband, and her parents. Pedigree chart was drawn too. We extracted the genomic DNA from the leukocytes of seven members of the family. Haplotype analysis at the TYR locus was done and informative microsatellite markers were employed. In order to amplify the entire coding region of the TYR gene, for bidirectional direct sequencing mutation analysis, eight sets of primers were used. RESULTS: Our patients were diagnosed as affected with Oculocutaneous albinism type1a. Analysis of pedigree pattern showed an autosomal recessive inheritance. Analysis with different markers in chromosomes 5, 6, 9, 11 and 15 showed that cause of albinism in our case family was on chromosome 11 (D11S1887 marker was informative). CONCLUSIONS: The results offered a more developed method of diagnosis for OCA1 carrier identification and genetic counseling for OCA1 affected families as well; also submit a sample of mutation involved with oculocutaneous albinism in Iran. Genetic analysis is necessary for determining the type of albinism in an individual patient.

MRI evidence of lateral pterygoïd muscle palpation.

The literature suggests that the lateral pterygoïd muscle is not palpable using an oral approach. The authors palpate the lateral pterygoïd muscle during clinical examination and for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. The authors present an MRI demonstration showing how palpation is achieved.

Effect of adding sodium hexametaphosphate liquefier on basic properties of calcium phosphate cements.

Sodium hexametaphosphate (Na-HMP) is a common liquefying agent widely used in the ceramics industry for modifying the rheological behavior of ceramic slurries. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Na-HMP on several properties of calcium phosphate cements (CPCs). Various types of CPCs were prepared by mixing the same powder, namely, a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate anhydrate, with various liquids, namely, distilled water, Na(2)HPO(4) solutions, and Na-HMP solutions. The setting time, mechanical strength, rheological properties, and injectability of the cement pastes were examined in this work. Also, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were employed for phase analysis and morphological evaluations, respectively. The results showed that, compared to CPCs made with water and Na(2)HPO(4) solutions, the CPC pastes made with Na-HMP solutions had improved stability and injectability but prolonged setting times. The XRD and SEM studies showed that Na-HMP inhibited the growth of apatite crystals during soaking of the cements in Ringer's solution. Thus, the CPC made with Na-HMP solution had lower compressive strength than those made with water or Na(2)HPO(4) solutions. Although Na-HMP could improve the injectability and stability of the CPC paste, it impaired other basic properties of the cement. Thus, it is not an appropriate liquefier additive.

Serum lipid level in Iranian patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory and proliferative skin disease associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with psoriasis may have an increased risk of occlusive vascular disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine lipid profile in Iranian patients with psoriasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 30 patients with approved psoriasis diagnosis attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department at Sina Hospital, Hamedan, Iran and 30 matched healthy individuals. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured using standard enzymatic method. The psoriasis activity was evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI Index). RESULTS: FBS levels were higher in patients with psoriasis diagnosis but the differences were not significant (P-value = 0.284). There were no significant differences between serum levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in two groups. There were no differences in lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL) compared with control subjects. (P-value > 0.05) PASI Index and lipid profile did not have any significant correlation. The correlation between duration of disease and LDL were significant (P-value = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Lipid profile in Iranian patients with psoriasis did not differ compared with control-matched subjects.

A study of dermatophytoses in Hamadan, the governmentship of West Iran.

In order to determine the extent and causative agents of dermatophytoses in the Hamadan region of West Iran; a study was made during a 9-month period from October 1991 to June 1992. A total of 7495 individuals were studied of whom 681 (9%) were suspect of having cutaneous mycoses. Among them dermatophytoses were the commonest infections (259/681 = 38%). Of 259 individuals infected with dermatophytes, tinea capitis were observed in 163 (62.9%); t. corporis in 27 (10.4%); t. manuum and t. cruris in 19 (7.3%) each; t. barbae and faciei in 14 (5.4%); t. pedis in 13 (5%) and t. unguium in 4 (1.5%). A total of 144 patients yielded dermatophyte cultures. The frequency of the isolated species in decreasing order was as follows: Trichophyton verrucosum, 78 (54.1%); T. schoenleinii, 48 (33.3%); Microsporum canis, 8 (5.5%); Epidermophyton floccosum, 5 (3.5%); T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum, 2 (1.4%) each; T. tonsurans, 1 (0.7%). In conclusion, the most prevalent dermatophytosis in this region was t. capitis with the infecting agent of T. schoenleinii.