مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 540 (هفته چهارم مهر 1398)

Gabapentin, in addition to being an antiepileptic drug, also works against neuropathic pain. Despite the different therapeutic effects of gabapentin, no study has been performed on its effects on the process of oogenesis and female sex hormones. This study was performed to assess the effect of gabapentin on oogenesis and gonadotropic female sex hormones in adult female mice.

30 adult female mice (average age of 7 to 8 weeks, weighing 25 to 30 g) were randomly divided into 5 equal groups of control, sham, and three experimental groups. The control group did not receive any drug. The sham group received intraperitoneal normal saline and the experimental group received intraperitoneal injection of 1.8, 3.6, and 5.4 mg/kg gabapentin daily for 20 days. The level of estrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating, and luteinizing hormones was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The changes in ovarian tissue, number of ovarian follicles, and their corpus luteum were studied, too. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test.

The mean number of primary follicles and luteinizing hormone in the treatment groups were not significantly different from the control group (P > 0.050). The mean number of secondary follicles and graph, as well as estrogen hormone, decreased in the treatment groups compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Mean ovarian weight, as well as progesterone and follicular stimulation hormones, significantly decreased in the treatment groups compared to the control group (P < 0.050). The mean number of yellow bodies in the treated groups was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001).

 Gabapentin, in high doses, affects the reproductive system function of the female mice, and can impair follicogenesis and steroidization in the ovarian tissue, which can have a negative effect on female fertility.</div>

Activated carbon (charcoal) is a group of high-porosity carbonaceous materials that are highly regarded due to their high adsorption capacity, especially the absorption of toxins in the body. On the other hand, some studies have shown that the combination of activated charcoal with certain substances increases its adsorption cost. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding chitosan on the skin deposition of activated charcoal in rats.

In this experimental study, 15 adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of four and one group of three. In the first group, chitosan topical gel, in the second group, chitosan topical gel containing 5% activated charcoal, and in the third group, the gel containing activated charcoal was rubbed to the skin surface of the posterior part of the rats' trunk area measuring one cm2</sup>, for ten days. The fourth group did not receive any treatment during the study period. Finally, the treated area of skin was cut locally and was stained using hematoxylin-eosin, and the amount of activated charcoal uptake was determined and compared.

The mean accumulation and penetration of activated charcoal was 23.0 ± 7.3 and 18.0 ± 4.9 in the groups of activated charcoal plus chitosan and activated charcoal only, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The highest accumulation and penetration of activated charcoal was observed in the group of activated charcoal plus chitosan.

Activated charcoal in the presence of chitosan gel can pass through the horny and granulosa stratums of the rats’ skin. Therefore, in cases of need to more absorption, this combination can be useful.</div>

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the common diseases of the internal emergency; so, recognizing the risk factors of PE to prevent the disease and its complications can be helpful. In this study, we decided to evaluate the relative frequency of this disease and its common risk factors in patients referred to the emergency department of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during the year 2017.

In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study, the statistical population consisted of all patients referring to the internal emergency department of Alzahra hospital in 2017. The data were analyzed using chi-square and independent t statistical tests via SPSS software.

In 2017, 103 of 53,660 people referred to emergency department (0.2%) were diagnosed with definite PE. The most common risk factor in patients was a history of inactivity during the last 30 days.

In this study, among the risk factors of PE, the highest relative incidence was of inactivation during the last month before admission. It can be concluded that in cases with long-term inactivity, it is necessary to take some special cares to prevent lethal diseases.

Blastocystis is currently one of the most common protozoa in the human gastrointestinal tract and a wide range of animals. This protozoan has different shapes and sizes. Its small cystic form may not be detected by microscopic methods. The purpose of the present study was to compare the direct method with culture in detection of Blastocystis parasite among the health card applicants.

Stool samples were collected from 126 people who applied for a health card in Isfahan City, Iran, in year 2017. The samples were examined directly by microscope for the presence of Blastocystis. Then, all samples were cultured in Blastocystis specific medium. After 3-4 days, culture samples were smeared and examined under a microscope.

12 samples (9.5%) in direct method and 23 samples (18.3%) in culture medium were positive for Blastocystis. The sensitivity and specificity of the direct method compared to the culture was 25.00 and 87.32 percent, respectively. Other factors such as sex, age, education, travel, and gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with Blastocystis infection, but there was a significant relationship between bird retention and Blastocystis infection.

 The results of this study show that the incidence of Blastocystis infection among the health card recipients is similar to that of other people of society; but these individuals are more important in transmitting the infection. Moreover, comparison of direct method with culture for identification of Blastocystis parasites indicates that culture is superior.

Genital wart is a sexually transmitted disease, which can have specific psychological causes and consequences. We aimed to compare personality traits among the patients with genital warts and healthy people.

Seventy participants (35 patients with genital wart and 35 healthy people) were chosen among the clients of the dermatology clinic of Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran, in year 2018. The five-factor NEO personality questionnaire was filled for all the patients.

There were significant differences between the two groups in 4 personality traits including conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism between two groups. Openness to experience did not show any significant difference between the two groups.

 Genital wart influences personality traits in patients. It is essential that mental health professionals take the necessary measures in personality vulnerabilities to reduce the risk of this disease or its damages in patients.