Comparison of IIF, ELISA and IgG avidity tests for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in single serum sample from pregnant women.

A valid estimate of test efficiency is needed to choose adequate screening and detecting strategies in diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the efficiency of diagnostic laboratory methods to detect anti-toxoplasma antibodies in single serum samples of pregnant women by indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgG avidity tests in north-western Iran. In an analytical-descriptive study, during March 2010 to April 2013, 391 pregnant women aged 21 to 35 years who were referred by gynaecologists or infectious disease specialists for anti-toxoplasma antibody evaluation were studied.

Comparative Study of Dermatoscopic and Histopathologic Results in Facial Basal Cell Carcinoma and Melanocytic Nevi.

Background: Dermatoscopy can be applied to diagnose pigmented skin lesions. The aim of the present study was to compare dermatoscopic and histopathologic results in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanocytic nevus of theface.

Materials And Methods: In an analytical-descriptive study, 61 patients suspected of BCC or melanocytic nevi of face were randomly selected.

Comparative study of intralesional steroid injection and cryotherapy in alopecia areata.

Background And Objectives: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, non-scarring type of hair loss, affecting approximately 2.1% of the population, many modality of treatment recommended like steroid injection, topical Immunotherapy and several systemic therapies. The aim of this study was to compare intralesional steroid injection and cryotherapyoutcomes in AA.

Correlation of Serum Levels of Vitronectin, Malondialdehyde and Hs- CRP With Disease Severity in Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: Vitronectin (VN), malondialdehyde (MDA) and high-sensitivity C-reactive rotein (hs-CRP) are cooperative agents involved in the atherosclerosis process. The study was conducted to assess the correlation of VN, MDA and hs-CRP with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Parameters such as serum VN, MDA and hs-CRP were measured in 250 subjects including 200 patients with angiographically diagnosed CAD (50 subjects with non-significant CAD, 50 with single vessel disease, 50 with double vessel disease, and 50 with triple vessel disease) and 50 CAD-free subjects as a control group.

Effects of intravenous indomethacin on reduction of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus cases and decreasing the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Introduction: We decided to investigate the effects of injecting Indomethacin on reducing complications of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Methods: During this randomized clinical trial, 70 premature infants with matched gestational age and birth weight were divided into case and control groups. In the study group, intravenous indomethacin started from the first 2-12 hours of birth.

Effects of high versus low-dose atorvastatin on high sensitive C-reactive protein in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality. The previous findings which suggest the reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels by statin encouraged us to conduct the present study in which we tested the effects of atorvastatin, on levels of hs-CRP in a prospective randomised clinical trial study on patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Present prospective randomised clinical trial study conducted on 180 patients who had developed coronary artery disease and presented in emergency departments of Educational-Medical centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Medical treatment of allergy in children with recurrent or chronic sinusitis.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis in children is of potential importance and many factors can havean influence on it. This study assessed the chronic and recurrent sinusitis and affecting factors, as well as the role of allergy in its course and treatment in children.

Materials And Methods: A total of 106 children with the diagnosis of chronic or recurrent sinusitis, referred to specialty clinics of otolaryngology and allergy of Tabriz Children Educational-Medical centres since 2010 to 2012, were enrolled.

The effect of different local anesthesia methods on pain relief in outpatient endometrial biopsy: randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Endometrial biopsy is necessary for diagnosing the reason of abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women. Currently outpatient endometrial biopsy is used for evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding which is associated with moderate to severe pain. Using lidocaine is one of the procedures which is used for pain relief while biopsy.

Atypical medulloblastoma: A case series.

Medulloblastoma is common in children as a tumor of midline posterior fossa, which arises from vermis and appears as a homogenously enhancing hyperdense mass on computed tomography scan and is associated with the clinical picture of posterior fossa syndrome. This unique clinic-radiological pattern in considered "typical" medulloblastoma, but medulloblastomas does not follow the typical clinic-radiological pattern in a significant number of children and adult cases. We review here the previous reports of atypical or uncommon features of medulloblastoma and add our very rare atypical cases of medulloblastomas to this list.

Effectiveness of presence of physician and midwife in quantity and quality of family planning services in health care centers.

Background And Aim: Iran's health sector has been engaging the services of physicians and midwives in healthcare centers since 2005, with the hope of improving the quantity and quality of family planning services. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of serving physicians and midwives on the quantity and quality of family planning services in the healthcare centers of Iran.

Materials And Methods: The present cross-sectional study (Jan 2010 until Sep 2011) was carried out on 600 eligible families who were clients of healthcare centers of Tabriz, Azarshahr and Osku, cities of Northwest Iran from 2006 until 2011, in two groups (before and after).

A case of concurrent several forms of thyroid cancer.

Simultaneous occurrence of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, known as differentiated thyroid cancer, has been reported with various presentations, but presence of an anaplastic cancer, as an undifferentiated cancer, in addition to differentiated thyroid cancer is rarely reported. We here report a 40-year-old man with papillary thyroid cancer on his right thyroid lobe and metastasized to the right posterior triangle of the neck. Survey on the mass in the right posterior triangle revealed presence of simultaneous papillary, follicular, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Role of stereotactic biopsy in histological diagnosis of multiple brain lesions.

Background And Aim: The current advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and increasing in survival of patients with systemic diseases and immunosuppressive cases have caused to increasing frequency and variety of Central Nervous System neuropathologic processes indicating the necessary need for accurate localization of space-occupying lesions by cytology and histology. This study was aimed to evaluate the usefulness and safety of stereotactic biopsy in histological diagnosis of such lesions.

Materials And Methods: Of 2081 patients underwent stereotactic biopsy of brain lesions using Riechert-Mundinger system, 158 had multifocal brain lesions, and were enrolled.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 and Ki67 expression in skin epithelial tumors.

Background And Aims: The cellular mechanisms responsible for initiating or limiting the tumors including skin types are of great importance. The p53 is a tumor-inhibiting gene which is believed to be defective in many malignant situations. Ki67 is a non-histonic protein which is mainly interfere with the proliferation and has many controlling effects during the cell cycle.

Randomized controlled trial of two methods of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: underwater bubbly CPAP vs. Medijet system device.

There has been an increasing interest in the application of non-invasive respiratory support in preterm infants, and different types of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) devices are being used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The objective of the present study was to compare the duration of CPAP need and possible complications of two methods of (N-CPAP) delivery: Bubble CPAP (B-CPAP) and Medijet (MJ) system device in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This prospective randomized clinical trial was performed on 161 preterm infants (28-37 weeks of gestational age) with RDS and eligible for CPAP therapy.

Immunohistochemical study of cyclooxygenase-2 in skin tumors.

Introduction: Anti-cancerous effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors have been reported in different cancers. High expression of COX-2 has been demonstrated in various neoplasms such as colorectal, gastric, esophageal, breast, non-small cell lung cancers, and pre-neoplastic lesions such as colorectal adenomas and Barrett's esophagus.

Goal: The purpose of this study was to investigate percentage of positive COX-2 expression in skin tumors, including pre-malignant and malignant tumors.

Effect of body mass index on severity and prevalence of varicocele.

Varicocele is classified as grade I-III regarding its severity. This study was aimed to determine the correlation between height and weight with varicocele grade in 18-30 years age group. We enrolled 400 persons aged 18-30 years referred to the specialist's clinics of Tabriz Medical Sciences University or Medical Commission Since Sep.

Coronary risk factors in patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk increases with increasing number of risk factors. This study was aimed to assess different coronary risk factors among Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery patients. A total of 700 patients younger than 45 or older than 65 years and underwent CABG in Tabriz Shahid Madani Heart Center since 2003 to 2007 were enrolled.

Radiofrequency ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which represents a major public health problem. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the Radiofrequency (RF) ablation effects in the patients with chronic AF scheduled for cardiac surgery because of different heart diseases.

Methods: The descriptive and prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with AF scheduled for surgery along with RF ablation.