Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Qashqai migrating nomads, southern Iran

AIM： To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） symptoms in Qashqai migrating nomads with a different life style in Fars province, southern Iran. METHODS： In summer 2006, 748 Qashqai migrating nomads aged 25 years or more were enrolled using a multiple-stage stratified cluster random sampling method. A questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, lifestyle and GERD symptoms （heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, dysphagia, hoarseness and cough） as completed for each subject. RESULTS： The questionnaire was completed in 717 subjects. The prevalence rate of GERD, defined as reflux occurring at least one time per week in the preceding year, was 33% （237 subjects）. The prevalence was higher in older individuals （36.0% vs 28.9%, P 〈 0.05） and in those with other gastrointestinal complaints （51.0% vs 27.8%, P 〈 0.001）, but not different in obese and non-obese subjects. It was also higher in those consuming fruits and vegetables more than once a week （36.2% vs 17.3%, P 〈 0.001）. GERD had a positive correlation with smoking （42.1% vs 27.8%, P 〈 0.001）, but a negative relation with non-alcoholic beverages. The association between GERD and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） consumption was also significant （40.2% vs 25.4%, P 〈 0.001）. CONCLUSION： The prevalence of GERD （33%） is very high in Qashqai migrating nomads which may be due to a lower socioeconomic and educational level of these people and difference in the life style. Older age, frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoking and NSAIDs are risk factors for GERD in this population.     

Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty in pseudophakic and aphakic corneal edema

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty for replacing diseased endothelium in pseudophakic and aphakic corneal edema. METHODS: Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed on 10 eyes with pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema. A nasal hinged 130- to 250-microm-thick flap was created with an automated microkeratome. The underlying 7.0-mm trephined button of deep stroma and endothelium was substituted with the same size donor button prepared by removing a same-sized flap and trephination of the remaining donor bed. The donor lenticule was fixated without sutures in position; the retracted flap was repositioned and sutured to the peripheral recipient tissue. The viscoelastic content of the anterior chamber was replaced by air to hold the graft in position. RESULTS: All surgeries were uneventful except for one case of donor button posterior dislocation forming a secondary anterior chamber, which was corrected through donor button exchange 1 month postoperatively. All uncomplicated cases had stable refraction and corneal topography as early as 1 month after surgery, which was maintained in follow-up examinations. In two eyes, corneal astigmatism > 5.00 diopters was recorded. One case of prolonged re-epithelialization and two cases of epithelial interface ingrowth occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty is an alternative to conventional penetrating keratoplasty for patients with diseased corneal endothelium, significantly reducing the time of visual rehabilitation. Determination of the relative advantages of this technique over penetrating keratoplasty and other recent alternative endothelial graft procedures relies on controlled prospective studies.     

The effects of wheat germ supplementation on metabolic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled trial

The aim of the present trial was to examine the effects of wheat germ (WG) consumption on metabolic control and oxidative stress status of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Eighty participants with T2DM were randomly allocated to receive 20‐g WG (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) in a randomized double‐blind clinical trial for 12 weeks. Serum lipid profiles, glycaemic indices, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdhyde (MDA) were assessed. A total of 75 subjects completed the trial. Compared with the placebo, WG consumption led to significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC) concentrations (p = .04). There was a trend regarding TC to high density lipoprotein ratio (p = .08) following 12 weeks WG consumption, although they were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple testing. In addition, within‐group comparison revealed a significant rise in total antioxidant capacity concentration (p = .001) in WG group. We observed no significant effects of WG intake on glycaemic status, blood pressure, MDA, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels. WG consumption for 12 weeks could decrease serum TC levels and had no significant effects on other metabolic variables and MDA in patients with T2DM. Though observed health benefit effects were small, it might lead to a major impact on wider public health.     

SNAP-25 gene variations and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Iranian population

Objectives: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric condition of childhood characterized by persistent symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) gene variants with ADHD.

Methods: A case-control study with a total of 150 children with ADHD (mean age 9.61; range 6–16; gender ratio 105m/45f) and 150 normal children (mean age 10.02; range 6–16; gender ratio 98m/52f) was conducted. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all samples and SNPs rs78428954 and rs3746544 located in SNAP-25 gene were genotyped.

Results: Our analysis indicated that there is no significant association between none of studied variants in SNAP-25 and ADHD.

Discussion: To our knowledge, it is the first report of SNAP-25 genotyping in Iranian patients with ADHD. Further investigations with larger populations are needed in order to clarify the exact role of SNAP-25 variations in susceptibility to ADHD.     

Effect of intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection on third stage of labor

ObjectiveManual removal of placenta is performed in 1–3% of cases, and although it is a well-established and relatively safe procedure, it is not without complications. We carried out this study to determine whether intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection reduces the need for manual removal of placenta and shortens the third stage of labor, in comparison with placebo.Materials and MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial, 178 women with singleton pregnancy and normal delivery were studied in 1 year. Immediately after fetus delivery, oxytocin infusion (20 IU/L) was started in both groups. Moreover, 10 IU oxytocin and 1 mL normal saline were injected into the umbilical vein of women in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The duration of third-stage labor, need for manual delivery of placenta, and drug side effects were evaluated in both groups. With regard to the mean level of hemoglobin before and after delivery, the two groups were compared using the Levene test and independent t test, and other qualitative variables of the two groups were compared using the χ² test.ResultsThe women who received intraumbilical vein oxytocin had a shorter third stage of labor as compared with the placebo group (4.24 ± 3.27 min vs. 10.66 ± 7.41) (p < 0.001) and there was less need for manual delivery of placenta in the experiment group (1.1% vs. 5.1%) (p = 0.024).ConclusionIt was concluded that intraumbilical vein administration of 10 IU (1 mL) oxytocin immediately after fetus delivery was clinically effective in shortening the third stage of labor.     

Photothermal cancer therapy by gold-ferrite nanocomposite and near-infrared laser in animal model

Surface plasmon resonance effect of gold nanostructures makes them good candidates for photothermal therapy (PTT) application. Herein, gold-ferrite nanocomposite (GFNC) was synthesized and characterized as a photothermal agent in PTT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GFNC upon laser irradiation on treatment of cancer in mice bearing melanoma cancer. Thirty mice received 1.5?×?10⁶ B16/F10 cells subcutaneously. After 1 week, the mice bearing solid tumor were divided into four groups: control group (without any treatment), laser group (received laser irradiation without GFNC injection), GFNC group (only received intratumorally GFNC), and GFNC?+?laser group (received intratumorally GFNC upon laser irradiation). In GFNC?+?laser group, 200 μL of fluid, 1.3?×?10^?7 mol L^?1 gold nanoparticles, was injected intratumorally and immediately the site of tumor was exposed to continuous wave diode laser beam (808 nm, 1.6 W cm^?2) for 15 min. All mice but four were euthanized 24 h after treatment to compare the necrotic surface area histologically by using measuring graticule. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in necrosis extent for GFNC?+?laser group, compared to other groups. Four subjects (control group and GFNC?+?laser group, two mice each) were kept for longitudinal study. Histological analyses and tumor volume measurements of the four subjects indicated that tumor in GFNC?+?laser group was controlled appropriately. It was concluded that combining an 808-nm laser at a power density of 1.6 W cm^?2 with GFNC has a destruction effect in melanoma cancer cells in an animal model.