Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:9 Issue: 1, 2002

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) is a worldwide health problem. Many parts of the Islamic republic of Iran had been known as areas of endemic goiter. IDD was accepted as a priority health problem in the country, and a National IDD council was formed in 1989. Under the supervision of the ministry of health and medical education. One of the main strategies of national council for IDD control was to provide at least 150 µg of iodine per day to the entire population through making available iodized salt. This study was performed to evaluate the success rate national IDD council program in 1996, in rural and urban areas of Kerman province. 1350 schoolchildren, aged 8 to 10 year, including 50% girls and 50% boy, were selected through random sampling. Grading of goiter was performed according to WHO’s classification. Serum T3 and T4 were measured by RIA and urinary iodine by digestion method. The mean of serum T3 and T4 were: 9.0±1.6 µg/dl, 153±26 ng/dl respectively. There were no differences between males and females and schoolchildren of rural or urban areas. Five person had serum T4 more than 12.5 µg/dl. The mean urinary iodine was 27 µg/dl in entire population, 75% had urinary iodine more than 10? g/dl only 11% had urinary iodine less than 5? g/dl. Total prevalence of goiter was 58% in girls and 59% in boys. Based on the available data, seven years after generalized use of iodized salt and 2 years after that more than 50% of population used iodized salt, urinary iodine of the age group studied is in acceptable range of WHO. However this province was regarded a hyperendemic area in 1996.

In regard to the high prevalence and multiple sequelae of hypertension, it is necessary to investigate its etiologic causes. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the relationship between impaired GTT and essential hypertension to plan further studies for prevention and treatment of essential hypertension. Samples have been randomly selected from people older than 40 years without history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension without using drugs affecting these two diseases. In this study, after excluding the samples with secondary hypertension, 135 samples have been evaluated and divided into three groups depending on the value of the blood pressure. Data have been analyzed by SPSSv6/win software using one way ANOVA, chi-square and the student t-test. Significant relationship was not found between hypertension and fasting blood sugar (P>0.05) however there was a significant relationship between hypertension and OGTT1/2, OGTT1 and OGTT2 (P<0.05). The prevalence of FBS>126 mg/dl was not significantly different between three groups (P>0.05). The prevalence of impaired GTT in those with moderate hypertension was 14.6 fold greater than normal population an this was 2.65 fold greater than those with mild hypertension (P<0.05). In mild hypertensives the value 2.65 fold greater than normotensives (P<0.05). No relationship was found with age and sex. Body mass index in hypertensives was significantly higher than normotensives (P<0.05). A significant relationship was shown between essential hypertension and impaired GTT. Also in hypertensives the prevalence of impaired GTT and diabetes mellitus was higher than normotensives. Therefore a direct relationship was shown between the stage of hypertension and the degree and the prevalence of impaired GTT.

Thyroid hormones affect gastric acid and pepsin secretion. However exact mechanism(s) are not clear. This study was performed to compare the effect of vagal stimulation on acid and pepsin secretion in hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and control rats. Each group consisted of 8 male and female rats (N-mari) weighing 246±9 gr. Hypo and hyperthyroid states were induced by administration of methimazol (50 mg/l in drinking water) and thyroxine (500 µg/l in water) for 20 and 35 days respectively. Animales housed in standard conditions (12hr: 12hr light/dark) and were deprived of food for 24 hours before study. Under general anesthesia, animals underwent tracheostomy, laparatomy and vagotomy. A cannula was inserted into stomach via duodenum for collection of gastric juice. After 30 minutes of recovery, peripheral end of vagus nerve was stimulated for 15 minutes, and acid and pepsin outputs were measured in collected gastric samples. Acid output during 15 minutes vagus nerve stimulation were 19.6±1.4, 56.7±0.8 and 45.1±0.9 µmol, in hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and control groups respectively. Similarly, pepsin secretion during this period was 1.3±0.09 and 12.4±0.3 µg, in hypo and hyperthyroid groups respectively, which shows significant differences with the control group (5.9±0.4 µg). From the results of this study it appears that, thyroid hormones can alter gastric acid and pepsin secretion in response to vagal stimulation

Intraperitoneal adhesion formation is a major cause of intestinal obstruction and infertility. Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery are the most common causes of intraperitoneal adhesion formation. Addiction to opium and morphine is not only an important social and individual problem in the world but also affects human physiology and immune system. This randomized double-blind study was designed to investigate the effect of addiction to morphine and opium on postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation in rats. 63 female rats were divided into three groups and maintained under routine laboratory conditions. There was no addiction in control group. Morphine addiction was induced by adding morphine sulfate powder in drinking water (0.4 mg/kg for a duration of 28 days) and in opium group by adding opium tablets in drinking water as powder. After confirmation of addiction by subcutaneous injection of naloxan all rats underwent laparotomy and the serosa of the cecum was scratched over a 5mm×5mm area. The second laparotomy was performed on 30th postoperative day. The extent of intraperitoneal adhesions were quantified based on a scoring system modified by Swolin and the informations were analysed by chi-square test. The results showed a significant reduction of intraperitoneal adhesion in addicted group compared with nonaddicated group (P<0.05). It is concluded that addiction to morphine and opium decreases postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation in rats.

Fibrinogen is one of the plasma proteins synthetized by the liver. Elevated plasma fibrinogen is an independent coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor and increases the risk of thrombus formation. This study was performed to compare the plasma fibrinogen level in opium addict men with non-opium users. Each group consisted of 60 males, who didn’t smoke cigarettes and were not suffered from diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Mean age was 46.6±3 and 45.7±3.6 years in opium addict and control group rerespectively. The mean level of plasma fibrinogen for the opium addict group was significantly higher than that of control group (319.1±58.3 mg/dl vs 295.7±48.3 mg/dl, P=0.018). There was no significant difference between two groups regarding other parameters (CBC, Hb, Hct, TC, TG, Cr), but plasma urea in control group was significantly higher than addict group (P=0.008). Our study revealed that plasma fibrinogen level in opium addicted men was significantly higher than non-opium users.

Quinolones are broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. They have many clinical uses which are increasing. Quinolones exert antibacterial activity primarily by inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase. The inhibition of DNA gyrase by the quinolones are greatly influenced by the nature of the C-7 substituent on the quinolones molecule. Substitution of bulky functional groups is also possible in C-7 position. Furthermore, benzylthio and benzylsulfonyl-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole derivatives have antibacterial activity. Accordingly, a series of N-piperazinyl at C-7 position of standard quinolones structure were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria using serial dilution test in solid media. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each derivative was recorded as microgram per milliliter and comparied with ciprofloxacin as standard drug. The results showed that antibacterial activity of these compounds were higher than ciprofloxacin against tested gram positive bacteria (S.aureus, S.epidermidis, B.subtillis), though the potency against tested gram-negative bacteria (E.coli, E.aeruginosa, K.pneumoniae) was significantly less than that of quinolones as control drugs. In some cases there are selective activities against gram-positive bacteria. Meanwhile compounds that have benzylthio-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole attached to the piperazine group at C-7 position of the quinolone molecule had a stronger antibacterial activity as compaired with that of benzylsulfonyl 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole. Furthermore, changing the substitution on the phenyl ring had no significant difference in the spectrum of antibacterial activity.

Parkinson disease is one of the neurodegenerative diseases, with a prevalence of about 1% in people older than 65. From a pathological point of view, degeneration of neuromelanin cells in pars compacta of substantia nigra has been established. The reason of degeneration is unknouwn. Increase in iron concentration in substantia nigra of parkinson’s patients has been established. The increase of iron in this part of brain is due to the altered systemic iron metabolism in these patients. In this study the serum levels of iron and TIBC in 34 patients and 102 matched healthy persons were measured. Normality of Hb, Hct, MCV and MCH were considered as inclusion criterion in both groups. Two sample t-test indicated that iron serum level and TIBC in Parkinson patients were significantly lower than the controls (P<0.0001). Hct and Hb levels were lower whereas MCV and MCH levels were higher in patients group. A significant difference was observed between the two groups for iron serum level and TIBC. There was no relationship between age, sex, the disease duration and its severity with iron serum level and TIBC. Due to iron sedimentation in substantia nigra in patients, this study may prove the role of iron in the pathogenesis or the defect in systematic iron metabolism, in this disease.

Extensive fascial and neek necrosis following diabete is a rare finding, but if it occurs and left untreated, it can be life threatening due to extension of infection via regional fascia. In this report a 58 years old woman is presented who had abscess in chin region due to odontogenic infection. Clinical examination showed that, she had an extensive necrotic ulcer in chin and neck region. After laboratory examination and biopsy of lesion with diagnosis of cervical necrotizing fasciitis due to diabetes mellitus and odontogenic infection, she was treated by medical and surgical managements. She was discharged with complete recovery and healing of the ulcerated neck and chin. This patient has an obscure history of diabetes mellitus and was not under treatment for diabetes at the time of referral.

Following the first report of laryngeal small cell carcinoma in Canada in 1972, only 82 cases of this cancer has been reported in the literature until 2001. This cancer originates from laryngeal neuroendocrine cells. It’s clinical presentation consists of hoarseness, breathing difficulty; and cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor. This type of cancer is mostly presented after 50 years of age and in subglottic region. The diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the larynx is essentially based on the light microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy provide better results. This is a case report of laryngeal small cell carcinoma in a 27-year-old non-smoker, but opium addict man.

This is a rare case report of bilateral schwannoma in lower poles of both kidneys in a 36 year old diabetic man. Preoperative radiographic evaluations suggested the presence of two solid retroperitoneal tumors attached to the lower poles of both kidneys without any regional or distant extension. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histological and immonohistological studies.