Seizure susceptibility alteration following reversible cholestasis in mice: Modulation by opioids and nitric oxide.

There is an increasing body of evidence that the central nervous system is affected by cholestatic liver disorders. Cholestasis has been shown to result in a decreased seizure propensity which is believed to be mediated by an increased opioidergic tone and nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. In this study, we used a reversible chemically-induced cholestasis model in mice to investigate the changes in seizure susceptibility.

The risk factors of prostate cancer: a multicentric case-control study in Iran.

Prostate cancer (PC), in Iran, is the third most frequently diagnosed visceral cancer among men and the seventh most common underlying cause of cancer mortality. We evaluated the relation between speculated factors and PC risk using data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Iran from 2005 to 2007 on 130 cases of incident, clinicopathologically confirmed PC, and 75 controls admitted to the same network of hospitals without any malignant disease. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models.

Needle-knife fistulotomy versus standard method for cannulation of common bile duct: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy has become widely available for the treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases; however, it has mortality and complications. The aim of this study was to compare the success rates and complications of two different methods of common bile duct cannulation.

Methods: From June 2003 though February 2004, patients who were candidates for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and/or endoscopic sphincterotomy were randomly divided into two groups: standard cannulation (group A) and suprapapillary needle-knife fistulotomy (group B).

Severe combined immunodeficiency: a cohort of 40 patients.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) consists of a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterized by an arrest in T lymphocyte development which is variably associated with an abnormal differentiation of B and NK cells. In order to depict the clinical state of Iranian patients with SCID, records of forty patients were reviewed. Patients were classified based on the flow cytometry data in two groups of B- and B+.

Translation and validation study of the Iranian versions of the Neck Disability Index and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale.

Study Design: Cultural translation and psychometric testing.

Objective: To translate and validate the Iranian versions of the Neck Disability Index (NDI-IR) and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS-IR).

Summary Of Background Data: The widely used the NDI and the NPDS scales have not been translated and validated for Persian-speaking patients with neck pain.

Ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome: relationships with quality of life.

Objectives: Quality of life is reduced in inflammatory bowel disease. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms seem to be common in inflammatory bowel disease patients during the remission phase. We aimed to (i) assess the prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients during the remission phase and (ii) evaluate the impact of IBS symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of UC patients in remission compared with the HRQOL of those in the active phase.

Inflammation and pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

Pruritus is a common problem in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the cause(s) of pruritus and its relationship with inflammatory proteins. In a cross sectional study, all patients on hemodialysis at the Emam Khomaine and Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran who did not have any pruritus-producing skin lesions were studied.

Analysis of the expression of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor in five colon cancer cell lines.

Aim: To investigate the expression of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and adenovirus-mediated reporter gene transfer in five human colon cancer cell lines.

Methods: Expression of CAR-specific mRNA and protein was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Adenovirus-based gene delivery was evaluated by infection of cells with adenoviral vector carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene.

Molecular analysis of the SMN1 and NAIP genes in Iranian patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Introduction: Childhood-onset proximal spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are an autosomal recessive, clinically heterogeneous group of neuropathies characterised by the selective degeneration of anterior horn cells. SMA has an estimated incidence of 1 in 10,000 live births. The causative genes are survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene.

Noradrenaline reduces ischemia-induced arrhythmia in anesthetized rats: involvement of alpha1-adrenoceptors and mitochondrial K ATP channels.

Introduction: We have evaluated the part played by the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mK(ATP)) channels on effect of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor activation by noradrenaline in ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmia.

Methods And Results: Anesthetized rats were subjected to 25 minutes of regional ischemia, and infarct size (IS) and ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmia were measured. Group I served as saline control with ischemia (n = 9).

Endoscopic lesions in low-to average-risk patients with minimal bright red bleeding from midline anal fissures. How much should we go in?

Background: Anal fissure is a common condition in young patients, and the main symptoms include anal pain and bleeding. Our aim was to determine the need to perform lower gastrointestinal endoscopy on patients with midline anal fissure who present with minimal bright red rectal bleeding and who are at low risk for colorectal neoplasia.

Methods: Patients with midline anal fissure who reported small amounts of red blood on toilet paper, toilet bowl or stool after defecation were evaluated.

Lanthanide Recognition: an Asymetric Erbium Microsensor Based on a Hydrazone Derivative.

N'-(2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethylidene)benzohydrazide (HDB) was found tohave a very selective and sensitive behavior towards erbium(III) ions, in comparison tothirteen lanthanide ions, inner transition and representative metal ions and was hence usedas a neutral ion carrier in construction of an Er(III) microelectrode. Theoretical calculationsand conductance studies of HDB to erbium and some other metal ions were carried out andconfirmed selectivity toward Er(III) ions.The best performance was obtained with a membrane contain 3% potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) as an anionic additive, 72% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) assolvent mediator, 5% HDB, and 20% poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC).

Liver histology changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis after one year of treatment with probucol.

Background: Probucol, a lipid-lowering agent with antioxidant effects, is effective in normalizing liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We studied changes in the liver histology of patients with NASH after use of probucol for one year.

Methods: Ten patients with biopsy-proven NASH were included.

Determination of aluminum and zinc in Iranian consumed tea.

To determine aluminum and zinc in Iranian consumed tea, 31 tea samples were analysed for Al and Zn concentration of tea leaves and tea infusion. The results show that average concentration of Al and Zn in tea leaves was 326 and 50.7 mg.

Low dose revaccination induces robust protective anti-HBs antibody response in the majority of healthy non-responder neonates.

A sizeable proportion (1-10%) of healthy adults and to lesser extent neonates vaccinated with triple 10 microg hepatitis B (HB) vaccine fail to mount a protective antibody response. Revaccination with the same vaccine dose has proved to be effective in a significant number of primary non-responders. The influence of revaccination with lower vaccine doses however has not been studied adequately in non-responder neonates.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of Gram-negative bacilli of nosocomial origin at 2 university hospitals in Iran.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance pattern among common Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with nosocomial infection. A total of 200 samples of common Gram-negative bacilli (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Escherichia coli) were collected from 2 university hospitals in Iran during a 1.5-year period from June 2004 to December 2005.

Immobilization effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human sperm: a new hope for male contraception.

Aim Of The Study: Contraceptive plants which were introduced by folk in traditional remedies are investigated worldwide. In this study, the contraceptive effects of Ruta graveolens L., which has been mentioned for male contraceptive in Iranian traditional folk medicine, was experimented on human sperm.

Prospective Acid Reflux Study of Iran (PARSI): methodology and study design.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common and chronic disorder but long term, prospective studies of the fate of patients seeking medical advice are scarce. This is especially prominent when looking at non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) patients.

Methods: We designed a prospective cohort to assess the long term outcome of GERD patients referring to gastroenterologists.

Hepatoprotective role of captopril on paraquat induced hepatotoxicity.

Paraquat (PQ) is a highly toxic herbicide that is used in most of the countries without restriction. The cytotoxic effect of PQ is mediated by radicals, which are the products of PQ reduction in cells. The anti-oxidative action of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, appears to be through its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species.

Efficacy and safety of cryotherapy vs. trichloroacetic acid in the treatment of solar lentigo.

Background: Solar lentigines are common sun-induced benign melanocytic proliferation that presents a significant cosmetic worrying for many middle-aged and elderly patients. Although the newer photoselective lasers have become the mainstay of treatment, cryotherapy and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solution are inexpensive alternatives in the treatment of solar lentigines. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of cryotherapy compared with TCA 33% on solar lentigines of the back of the hands (SLBH) in patients presenting to dermatologic clinic of our hospital.

Computer-aided mass detection on digitized mammograms using adaptive thresholding and fuzzy entropy.

In this paper, a segmentation method for detection of masses in digitized mammograms has been developed using two parallel approaches: adaptive thresholding method and fuzzy entropy feature as a CAD scheme. The algorithm consists of the following steps: a) Preprocessing of the digitized mammograms including identification of region of interest (ROI) as candidate for massive lesion through breast region extraction, b) Image enhancement using linear transformation and subtracting enhanced from the original image, c) Characterization of the ROI by extracting the fuzzy entropy feature, d) Local adaptive thresholding for segmentation of mass areas, e) Combine expert of the last two parallel approaches for mass detection. The proposed method was tested on 78 mammograms (30 normal & 48 cancerous) from the BIRADS and local databases.

An efficient piecewise modeling of ECG signals based on Hermitian basis functions.

In this paper, a new piecewise modeling for approximation of ECG signal is presented. Most of the modeling methods are focused to obtain the best approximation of the entire ECG signal. The proposed method exploits the importance of different intervals of ECG signals, in particular QRS complex, by performing a segmented based modeling using Hermitian basis functions.

Morphological heart arrhythmia classification using Hermitian model of higher-order statistics.

This paper presents the results of morphological heart arrhythmia detection based on parameters which are obtained from modeling of the cumulants of the electrocardiography, ECG, signals. Cumulants possess many properties that make them effective tools to describe morphological variations of non-stationary signals. Among these properties, the two most attractive founded for analysis of ECG arrhythmia detections are the ability of suppressing morphological variations of different beats of ECG signals belonging to a specific class of heart arrhythmia and reducing the effect of Gaussian noise on the classification significantly.

Prognostic value of brain tissue pathological changes in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis using magnetization transfer ratio (MTR).

The aim of this study is to investigate abnormalities in the brain tissue of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this method, magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) parameter accompanied with segmentation regional measurements and histogram analysis were used to improve the evaluation of disease progression in CIS patients. Conventional MR imaging protocols such as T1-weighted, T2-weighted, T2-FLAIR as well as MT-2DSPGR were performed on four CIS patients and four normal subjects.