Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) for Identifying Patients with BDD Seeking Rhinoplasty: Using a Persian (Farsi) Version

Background  

Dissatisfaction with appearance is most pronounced in rhinoplasty patients compared to candidates for other aesthetic procedures. We aimed to test and introduce the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) as a self-report screening tool for identifying body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) among patients seeking rhinoplasty.     

Oral administration of hyperimmune IgY: an immunoecological approach to curbing acute infectious bursal disease virus infection

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry. Hygienic management and proper vaccination are currently the only economic approach for control of this disease. Attempts have been made to control the disease after the onset of an outbreak using parenteral administration of hyperimmune IgY preparations. Such attempts are usually cumbersome and time consuming with an overall reduced economic return. We investigated the use of oral administration of hyperimmune chicken IgY to control IBDV outbreaks early after their discovery in poultry farms. Our approach attempted to change the environmental viral load around susceptible birds and, to modify the host's initial immune-contact with the virulent virus and the subsequent balance of the immune response to that virus. An experimental exposure/protection model that simulates a natural infection in susceptible populations was developed. IBDV hyperimmune yolk was orally administered to a group of IBDV-exposed susceptible layer chicks via drinking water. Disease patterns and mortality rates were monitored up to 10 days post exposure and compared to that in the exposed-untreated group of the same breed and age. Mortality rates dropped by 66.6% in the exposed-treated group compared to the control exposed-untreated group. Similarly, the morbidity shifted towards a milder syndrome in the exposed-treated group as compared to the control exposed-untreated group. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a successful control of an experimental IBDV infection in susceptible poultry populations using oral administration of hyperimmune yolk preparations.     

Cor triatriatum: operative results in 20 patients

Cor triatriatum is an uncommon cardiac anomaly occurring in 0.1% of children with congenital heart disease. We reviewed our results from 20 patients presenting with cor triatriatum in the last 20 years (from March 1983 to August 2002). Mean age at repair was 20 months (1-132 months). During a mean follow-up period of 31 months (2-156 months) there were no deaths. All patients were in sinus rhythm except one patient who needed pacemaker insertion one week after repair. A total of 14 patients were asymptomatic and 6 were in New York Heart Association Class I. Cor triatriatum is amenable to surgical repair with excellent results when diagnosed early, and when not associated with other severe cardiac anomalies.     

Sleep bruxism is associated to micro-arousals and an increase in cardiac sympathetic activity

Sleep bruxism (SB) subjects show a higher incidence of rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA) than control subjects. RMMA is associated with sleep micro-arousals. This study aims to: (i) assess RMMA/SB episodes in relation to sleep cycles; (ii) establish if RMMA/SB and micro-arousals occur in relation to the slow wave activity (SWA) dynamics; (iii) analyze the association between RMMA/SB and autonomic cardiac activity across sleep cycles. Two nights of polygraphic recordings were made in three study groups (20 subjects each): moderate to high SB, low SB and control. RMMA episodes were considered to occur in clusters when several groups of RMMA or non-specific oromotor episodes were separated by less than 100 s. Correlations between sleep, RMMA/SB index and heart rate variability variables were assessed for the first four sleep cycles of each study group. Statistical analyses were done with SYSTAT and SPSS. It was observed that 75.8% of all RMMA/SB episodes occurred in clusters. Micro-arousal and SB indexes were highest during sleep cycles 2 and 3 (P < 0.001). Within each cycle, micro-arousal and RMMA/SB indexes showed an increase before each REM sleep (P 相似文献   

Genetic analysis of rDNA-ITS2 and RAPD loci in field populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae): implications for the control program in Iran

Anopheles stephensi is one of the most important malaria vectors in the Middle-East, the Indian subcontinent, the Far-East and is the main malaria vector in south of Iran. This vector is thought to be a single but polytypic species, despite its enormous geographical range. To examine this hypothesis, we analyzed the rDNA-ITS2 and RAPD loci in different populations of An. stephensi from Iran. rDNA-ITS2 region in all sequenced specimens of An. stephensi contained a (CA)7 microsatellite sequence. Construction of phylogenetic tree based on rDNA-ITS2 sequences revealed that there only is a minor polymorphism between the different populations, despite their vast geographical distances. RAPD-PCR could differentiate rural and urban populations of An. stephensi, but it is unclear whether these two samples represent mysorensis and the type form. Further characterization of interested RAPD fragments by cloning; have shown the nature of inverted repeats and the presence of microsatellite region (GT) in both ends near to inverted repeat sequences of primers. These results showed that An. stephensi in Iran could be considered a single species with different biological and ecological forms in different zoogeographical zones. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the relation between RAPD and microsatellite sequences and the differences seen in the field for this species. This data will serve as first report on the sequence of rDNA-ITS2 and a microsatellite-containing RAPD region, which could be used for species-specific diagnosis and differentiation of urban and rural populations in An. stephensi.     

Prognostic risk factors for early diagnosing of Preeclampsia in Nulliparas

Background:

Preeclampsia is of major complications of pregnancy that is associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prediction and early diagnosis of preeclampsia would be helpful for better controlling of related complications. Our study aimed to investigate risk factors helping to predict and early diagnose of preeclampsia.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 739 nulliparous women at their 24-28^th weeks of the first pregnancy were enrolled in this multi-center cohort study. Incidence or absence of preeclampsia in this population was evaluated up to the end of pregnancy period. For each case, a record sheet was assigned that contained information about haematocrit level in weeks 24-28^th of pregnancy, blood pressure, result of roll-over test in weeks 24-28^th of pregnancy and the presence of disease up to end of the study. Diagnosis of preeclampsia was made based on gold standard.

Results:

Overall, 3.9 % of all cases developed preeclampsia. The mean maternal age, body mass index (BMI), years of education and positive roll-over test were significantly higher in preeclampsia group (P < 0.001). However, the mean gestational age and changes in the levels of haematocrit were significantly higher in normotensive cases (P < 0.001). Our combined model could predict preeclampsia with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 80%.

Conclusion:

Simple combined model of demographic characteristics including maternal age, BMI, years of education and positive roll-over tests can predict preeclampsia without any cost for the patients.     

Evaluation of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor and axillary lymph nodes in locally advanced breast cancer:a study of 50 patients

The purpose of the study was to correlate between ef ect of pre neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and post NACT clinical, sonographic and pathologic features of the tumor and axil ary lymph nodes (ALNs) and to raise the possibility of applying the concept of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with initial y positive ALNs before NACT. Methods:A prospective study of 50 female patients with local y advanced breast cancer (LABC) with clinical y palpable and cytological y (under ultrasonographic guidance) positive ALNs. Al patients received NACT and then referred for ultrasono graphic assessment of the axil a regarding any detectable sonographic criteria of metastatic deposits in ALNs as wel as the tumor size in relation to its pre chemotherapy size. Al patients were then subjected either to modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery. The clinical, sonographic and pathological response of the tumor and the ALNs were documented, classified and correlated with each other. Results:Patients’ mean age was 47.7 ± 9.1 years. The mean clinical tumor size was 6.7 ± 1.4 cm;stage IIIA that was presented in 32 patients (64%) and IIIB was presented in 18 patients (36%). Chemotherapy was given for a median of 4 cycles. there was reduction of the mean clinical tumor size from 6.7 ± 1.4 cm to 4.3 ± 2.7 cm (P<0.001). Clinical response was complete in 5 (10%) tumors, complete pathological tumor response (post neoadjuvant) was detected in 8 (16%) of patients. Complete clinical nodal response (post neoadjuvant) in 23 (46%) axil ae, on sonographic assessment of the axil a, response was complete in 17 (34%) axil ae. Complete pathological nodal response occurred in 16 (32%) axil ae. Out of 17 axil ae that showed complete sonographic response 11 axil ae showed complete pathological nodal response (P<0.001). Conclusion:Formal axil ary lymph node dissection can be avoided and replaced by SLNB post NACT in patients with LABC with metastatic ALNs if there were complete clinical and sonographic criteria of nodal response as wel as complete pathological tumor response.     

The Results of Brown Syndrome Surgery with Superior Oblique Split Tendon Lengthening

Purpose: To report the surgical outcome of superior oblique tendon split lengthening for management of patients with severe type of congenital Brown syndrome. Brown syndrome is characterized by hypotropia in primary position and limitation of elevation in adduction more than ?4.

Materials and methods: Fourteen consecutive patients with severe congenital Brown syndrome underwent superior oblique split lengthening surgery (10?mm). The amount of hypotropia in primary gaze and the degree of elevation in adduction were compared before and after the surgery. Any surgical complications were also recorded.

Results: Surgery was performed on 15 eyes in 11 female and 3 male subjects. Mean postoperative follow-up time was 12.93?±?1.79 months (ranging from 10 to 16 months). Average hypotropia in primary gaze improved from 16.2?±?5.5 prism diopters (range: 10–25 prism diopters) preoperatively to 5.9?±?4.0 prism diopters (range: 0–18 prism diopters) postoperatively recorded at final follow-up examination (p?p?Conclusion: Superior oblique split lengthening has a significant effect on reducing primary gaze hypotropia and improving elevation in adduction. This technique should be considered for the treatment of patients with severe congenital Brown syndrome.     

Eosinophil contamination of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophage cultures skews the functional readouts of in vitro assays

Thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells are a common source of macrophages for various in vitro assays, including stimulation with TLR ligands, cell signaling assays, phagocytosis, toxicology studies, and cytokine/chemokine production. The most common method for enrichment of cultured thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells is adherence. However, the presence of other cell types in freshly isolated and cultured thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells has not been examined. Here, we demonstrate that thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cavity contains 55-60% nonmacrophage cells, and even after adherence, there are still 12-20% nonmacrophage cells remaining. Excluding macrophages, eosinophils are the major cell type in the freshly elicited cavity (30-40%). Eosinophils are also the major cell type contaminating in vitro cultures of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, the contamination of macrophage cultures by eosinophils significantly diminishes activation of p38 MAPK and the serine threonine kinase Akt and production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to LPS stimulation. Taken together, these data suggest that thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells are far more heterogeneous than reported previously. Further, a failure to remove contaminating eosinophils may greatly affect the interpretation of results obtained with cultured thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. Thus, our data indicate that future studies intent on accurately assessing cultured macrophage phenotype and activation require depletion of all cocontaminating cells, especially eosinophils.