Vol 37, No 2 (1999)

Original Article(s)

  • XML | PDF | downloads: 136 | views: 176 | pages: 68-72
    In this study the effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on stress-induced gastric damage was evaluated in bile duel ligated, sham operated and unoperated rats. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME), 40 mglkg, L-argininc, 200 mg/kg or saline, 30 min before water-immersion stress. One hour after water immersion, the animals were killed and their stomachs were removed for measurement of gastric mucosal damage. Tfie results showed that L-NAME significantly enhances the development of gastric mucosal lesion in sham operated and unoperated rats, while in bile duct ligated animals, L-NAME decreases and L-arginine enhances the potentiation of stress-induced gastric mucosal damage. The results suggest that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-NAME has different effects on stress-induced gastric damage in cholestatic rats compared with normal animals.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 126 | views: 195 | pages: 73-77

    Peripheral blood T lymphocytes and their subsets were studied in 31 patients with beta thalassemia major (age 2-12years) and compared with 14 age-arid sex-matched healthy controls. Three monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD3, anti CD-f, unti-CDS) were simultaneously applied for detection of Th (CD3-, CD4^), Tsk (CD3+, CD8+) and Th/Ts ratio by flow-cytometry respectively. The results of this study showed a slight increase in the number of Tlymphocytes, T 004^, TCDS+, and CD4'*/CDS* ratio; but this increase was not statistically significant (P>0.05). No primary defect in Tcell subsets was detected and it was suggested that continuous regulation of iron balance is an important factor in decreasing immunological disturbance.

  • XML | PDF | downloads: 139 | views: 210 | pages: 78-85
    Perrault's syndrome (P.S.) is rare. The combination of gonadal dysgenesis and hearing loss was accompanied by 46,XXkaryotype in three sisters with parental consanguineous marriage. Genetic investigation revealed normal female karyotype, positive liarr and negative fluorescence iPj-bodies, which was confirmed by molecular study on the basis of fluorescence in situ hybridization (PISH), with application of Keen probe, showing the presence of two signals in 95% of the cells of these 3 Iranian sisters. The pedigree showed parental consanguinity (first cousin) with an autosomal mode of inheritance for both Perrault's syndrome and hearing loss. These findings together with normal thyroid function, serum prolactin, high level of .serum gonadotropins is similar to the menopausal period in all 3 sisters. Estrogen and progesterone were recommended for all 3 sisters. This combined therapy led to mensturation and after a few montfis their breasts were normally developed. Tor further management cochlear implantation, speech therapy and training courses were suggested in order to improve hearing and intellectual abilities.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 117 | views: 208 | pages: 86-88
    7 'innitus is a frequent complaint in patients with sensorineural deafness. Different reports suggest that electrical stimulation caused by cochlear implant devices "upn"ises tinnitus to a considerable degree. In a longitudinal -.mdv we have evaluated the severity and duration of tinnitus in both ears of J 7 cochlear implant patients before and after operation. Severity of tinnitus was reduced in both implanted and not implanted ears after the implantation (P=0.003 and p - 0.00-1 respectively). Duration of tinnitus, however, was not affected significantly. No significant difference in tinnitus suppression was observed between the implanted and not implanted ears. This might be attributed to both the electrical stimulation caused by the device and the psychogenic stability provided by return to the world of sound.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 102 | views: 165 | pages: 89-91
    - Pericardectomy was first accomplished hi Germany in 1913. It is obligatory when a pathologic condition in the pericardium increases pressure on the heart. The most common disease thai causes this process is constrictive pericarditis. Tuberculosis was formerly the most common cause of the latter. A retrospective review of pericardectomy for constrictive pericarditis was undertaken in Shariati hospital, Forty patients (21 male, and 1° female) were operated on during a period of S years. Dyspnea, chest pain and fatigue were the most common symptoms. The etiology was not clear in 17 cases. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed in 10 patients. Chronic renal failure and diabetes mellnus were two important causes of comorbidity. After pericardectomy, 31 patients recovered without any complications, and 3 patients died. One patient developed heart failure, one patient pneumothorax and in / patients arrhythmias were encountered.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 105 | views: 195 | pages: 92-94
    In this article, the prcsigrnoid avenue to pertroclivai region is introduced and the advantage of such an approach is disusscd. Ten patients were operated on by this approach. Two illustrative cases are also presented.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 105 | views: 172 | pages: 95-97
    The neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus are frequent. One of the most serious presentations is convulsion. This study was carried out to evaluate the relation between convulsion and anti-DNA antibody levels. An analytic, retrospective case-controlled study was carried out, with reference to 1001 recorded cases of systemic SLE lupus erythematosus in Lupus Unit, Rheumatology Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Thefrequency of convulsion was 13.3%. There was no significant difference in the frequency of convulsoin inpatients with different levels of anti-DNA antibodies. Anti-DNA antibody is not an important diagnostic and activity criterion for neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 128 | views: 202 | pages: 98-101
    - Healing of surgical wounds and their complications such as infection or scar formation are of major concern in surgery. Tissue glues are advanced to reduce these problems. In a prospective study, we have evaluated surgical wound healing in 76 patients whose surgical wounds were repaired by tissue glues (Histoacryl). This study was performed in four leaching hospitals (Sina, Shariaty, Shohada, Razi). The major parameters co/isidered for this study were complete wound healing in the first postoperative week, early wound complications, late wound complications, and their relation with some other factors such as wound size and glue application techniques. In our study, complete wound healing in less than one week was seen in 81.9% of patients, whereas 18.1% had a longer course. Early complications consisted of (5.6%) infection and (2.8%) hematoma. Late complications included hypertrophy (O.48%) and widening (18.1%) of scars. Tliere was a significant correlation between wound size and healing time (P<0.05), but not between faulty techniques and scar formation. 
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 129 | views: 185 | pages: 102-105
    In this study, 285 cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia who were followed in the Tehran University Hospitals and Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism arc reported. Among these cases, 165 (57.9%) were female and 120 (42.1%), male. The most common type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in these patients was the salt-losing type of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (57.9%); 11-hydroxylase deficiency was present in 13.68% of patients. There were only 3 cases with 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency, 2 cases with 17-alphahydroxylase deficiency and one with 20, 22-desmolase deficiency. Presenting complaints were in decreasing order of frequency: ambiguous genitalia, vomiting and dehydration, precocious puberty, hypertension, failure to thrive, hirsutism and primary amenorrhea. The age of patients at the time of diagnosis was between 2 days to 17 years and the most common age was in the first two years of life especially in the neonatal period.
    A positive family history of the same disease was present in 17 siblings of our patients. (21-OHD = 14 H-OHD=3). There were 27 cases of death among these patients (23 male and 4 female that 24 cases had 21-OHD and 2 cases had 3 beta HSD deficiency and one case had 20,22-desmolase deficiency) .
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 104 | views: 180 | pages: 106-109
    Scleroderma is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disease, cliaracterized by hardening of the skin. HV had 25 patients in the Iranian Pediatric Unit of Rheumatology over 10 years. There was female predominance iF.M = 4/1, 80% female, 20% male). The age of onest was from 6 months to 16 years, the mean age being 10 years. The symptoms and signs were: nonpitting edema in 16%, liard skin in . sclerosis of distal limbs in 72%, facial in 20%, atrophy, ami hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation in 40%, telangiectasis (15%), subcutaneous calcification (10%), Raynaud's phenomenon in 60%, digital ulceration (16%), muscle pain and weakness, arthralgia (30%). Rarer rnantfestantion included, dysphagia (16%), dyspnea (8%), cardiovascular disease, pericarditis, cardiomegafy, CHF (16%). Laboratory abnormalities included: anemia (80%), positive FAN A. > 40 (88%) ESR > 60 (40%) CRP + + + (40%). Skin biopsy documented increase in the collagen content of dermis in 75%.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 126 | views: 217 | pages: 110-114
    Growth hormone stimulation tests have been used to assess the growth hormone reserve of the pituitary gland in both children and adults. We have assessed the effect of clonidine, insulin, L-Dopa and exercise on growth hormone secretion in 261 short children. The" results found in this study revealed that there are no significant differences in these stimulation tests (P=0.28) .
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 156 | views: 173 | pages: 115-118
    The clinical and phenotypic features of two siblings (a 12 years old girl and her 7 year old brother) with Cockayne syndrome are described. The main problems were mild to moderate mental retardation, dwarfism, clumsy gait, photosensitive skin lesions and progeroid (senile like) appearance. Brain CT - scans revealed symmetrical, well defined areas of calcification mainly located at lenticular nuclei, in both patients. Vie brainstem auditory responses also showed increased hearing thresholds and absolute wave latencies, that were more prominent in the older sister. The older patient had a healthy twin sister with normal mental function and phenotypic appearance.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 137 | views: 176 | pages: 119-122
    This is a report of (wo cases of monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis who were convinced of having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
    They bitterly criticised the incompetence of their medical advisers, on of always showed virus-like particles of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome organisms beneath their lip mucosa or penile skin. Vie first case was advised to continue psychofytic compounds. Favorable results were obtained following a 5 months period. In the second case, amitryptiline and trifluoperazine were prescribed with comparatively good results.
  • XML | PDF | downloads: 170 | views: 227 | pages: 123-127
    Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD) represents a rare, probably X-linked recessive genodermatosis, characterized by keratosis pilaris of face, trunk and extremities, followed by atrophy, cicatricial alopecia of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, photophobia and corneal abnormalities. We report a rare case of KFSD and review the literature.