Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Apr 2006

This study sought to clarify the possible associations between serum lead level and serum cholestrol and lipoprotein levels in high dose lead exposed rabbits. Levels of serum lead, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride in 11 male rabbits who were exposed to high dose lead (547ppm lead acetate in drinking water) were compared with those in 9 unex­posed subjects by SPSS package and student t test. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.Mean serum lead levels were significantly elevated from 36.24±10.1 μg/L in nonexposed group to 60.55 ±8.09 μg/L in the exposed group(P<0.001). The exposed subjects had significantly higher mean levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (P<0.001). In contrast, VLDL cholesterol and Triglyceride level was decreased(P=0.012). Serum lead level is positively associated with total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol

Transmission routs of both hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are similar and infection with both viruses is common. Occult hepatitis B is a new entity in which serum HBsAg is negative but HBVDNA is detectable in serum or liver tissues. In this study the frequency of occult hepatitis B among patients with chronic hepatitis C and also their biochemical and histological changes were investigated. In this study, 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C with negative serum HBsAg were enrolled. These patients had been referred to Taleghani hospital and RCGLD (Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases) or THC (Tehran Hepatitis Center) during years 2001 and 2002 and had been undertaken liver biopsy. Liver biopsies were reviewed and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBsAg and HBcAg were assayed in liver tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) respectively. From 27 chronic hepatitis C patients studied, HBVDNA was detectable by PCR in 5(19%). Immunohistochemistry for both HBcAg and HBsAg were reported to be negative in all patients. Histological changes of cirrhosis and symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis were seen just in HBVDNA positive patients. This study concludes that Occult HBV infection is common among chronic hepatitis C patients. Occult hepatitis B probably accelerates the evolution to cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The effects of measles virus (MV) antibodies (abs) in the sera and breast milk of nursing and lactating mothers on sericonversion to measles vaccination was studied. Three hundred and ninty six samples were collected each from sera and breast milk of nursing mothers and corresponding number of finger prick prevaccination sera samples on filter paper from their children were tested for MV abs. Eighty (20.2%) mothers had measles haemagglutination inhibition (HI) abs in their sera and 88(27.2%) had MV HI abs in their breast milk. Eight (2.0%) of the children who had prevaccination MV abs in their sera were all from MV ab negative mothers. Forty-four (37.0%) who came back for post vaccination sera seroconverted while 76 (63.3%) gave a low seroconversion rate of 37.0%. Results showed that MV abs in either sera or breast milk of mothers did not interfer with MV vaccination in their children. The low seroconversion rate obtained was due to low vaccine potency with titers ranging between (log10-1.0 – log10-2.5) TCID/per dose. This was beside other non-specific antiviral substances exhibited virus neutralizing activity.

An antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the reaction between anti human IgM and serum IgM and HSV-1 conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was developed. The specificity and sensitivity of the developed HSV-1 IgM ELISA were evaluated and compared with a commercially available test kit by using sets of well defined sera of known HSV-1 primary infection. For validation, 526 serum samples have been tested. The HSV-1 IgM ELISA had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, which were comparable with that of the commercial test kit. Both assays showed some cross-reactivity with sera containing anti-HSV-2 antibodies.

It has been shown that educational programs are effective to improve antihypertensive compliance, but there are a few studies about this subject in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of education on drug compliance in hypertensive patients in Iran.For this Purpose, 150 noncompliant hypertensive patients were taught through two stages: first direct educational interview in clinic that showed the patients how to handle their problem in taking drugs. Then all cases divided randomly to four groups which received education through telephone consult, telephone consult and educational booklet, educational booklet and on education respectively. Compliance was measured by a standard questionnaire before and after education. Non parametric test, analysis of covariance and chi-square test were used to analyze data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.From 150 patients who received first stage of education 58 were remained in the study. In the final study group the mean score of compliance after education program was greater than before education significantly. (4.16 vs. 2.66, p<0.05)It was concluded that direct education based on patient''s problem is effective in improvement patients'' medication compliance. Further large studies are needed to differentiate various educational methods.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) or recurrent polyserositis is an inherited multisystem disease manifested by recurrent painful attacks affecting the abdomen, chest or joints, often accompanied by fever and sometimes a skin rash. FMF is a genetic condition, inherited in an autosomal recessive fashions. FMF could be described as a disorder of inappropriate inflammation of one or more of serusal membrane (serositis). The diagnosis of FMF is generally based on the clinical criteria although the direct analysis of MEFV gene is the only method to be certain of the disease. The goals of therapy are to reduce the morbidity and prevent complications of the disease, which is consists of taking colchicine, a neutrophil suppresisive agent. Since FMF is a genetic disease, it can be prevented only if the carriers of the defective gene are identified.

Ibuprofen, is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Here, we reported a rare adverse effect of ibuprofen as ibuprofen related skin rash with swelling lips. The case was diagnosed on the present illness and follow up. This is a rare adverse effect of ibuprofen with the incidence less than 0.1 %. The awareness of the physician to this widely used drug on its rare adverse effect is necessary.