Validation of a Farsi version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (F-ECOHIS)

Background  

The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) has recently been developed to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of pre-school children in English speaking communities. This study aimed to translate the ECOHIS into Farsi and test its psychometric properties for use on 2- to 5-year-old children of Farsi speaking Iranian families.     

Spinal Epidural Abscess as a Result of Dissemination from Gluteal Abscess Secondary to Intramuscular Analgesic Injection

Spinal epidural abscess is a collection of suppurative material that forms between the dura mater and the ligamentum flavum. If not recognized early and treated correctly, it can lead to life-threatening sepsis. Here we report the case of a female patient, 51 years of age, with difficulty walking and bilateral leg pain after having had degenerative discogenic pain for many years. The patient had occasionally received intramuscular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug injections. The current report is that of an unusual case of epidural abscess that formed following multiple dose of intramuscular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug over a 1-year period. Hematogenous or direct dissemination is the suspected cause. To prevent serious morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis is essential. Patients with localized back pain who are at risk for developing such epidural spinal abscesses should receive a magnetic resonance imaging scan with contrast enhancement without delay. The existence of predisposing factors such as intramuscular injections should be considered in the assessment of suspected spinal epidural abscess.     

Satureja khuzestanica attenuates apoptosis in hyperglycemic PC12 cells and spinal cord of diabetic rats

Several studies have indicated the involvement of oxidative stress and high glucose-induced cell death in the development of diabetic neuropathy. Satureja khuzestanica has been recommended in the literature as a remedy for the treatment of diabetes, and also contains antioxidant agents. Here, we investigated the possible neuroprotective effects of Satureja khuzestanica extract (SKE) on in vitro and in vivo models of diabetic neuropathy pain. High-glucose-induced damage to pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied. Tail-flick and rotarod treadmill tests were used to access nociceptive threshold and motor coordination, respectively. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Activated caspase 3 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio??biochemical markers of apoptosis??were evaluated using immunoblotting. We found that elevating the glucose in the medium (to 4× normal) increased cell toxicity and caspase-3 activation in PC12 cells. Incubation with SKE (200 and 250???g/ml) decreased cell damage. Furthermore, the diabetic rats developed neuropathy, which was evident from thermal hyperalgesia and motor deficit. Administering SKE at a daily dose of between 50 and 200?mg/kg to the diabetic animals for 3?weeks ameliorated hyperglycemia, weight loss, hyperalgesia, and motor deficit, inhibited caspase 3 activation, and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The results suggest that SKE exerts neuroprotective effects against hyperglycemia-induced cellular damage. The mechanisms of these effects may be related to (at least in part) the prevention of neural apoptosis, and the results suggest that Satureja has the therapeutic potential to attenuate side effects of diabetes, such as neuropathy.     

The evaluation expression of non-coding RNAs in response to HSV-G47∆ oncolytic virus infection in glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells

Journal of NeuroVirology - Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive astrocytes brain tumor. Glioblastoma cancer stem cells and hypoxia conditions are well-known major obstacles in treatment....     

Konno aortoventriculoplasty: indications and results. 13 cases

BACKGROUND: Konno procedure is used to enlarge the aortic root and increase the size of the aortic valve implanted. AIM: The aim of this study is to present the indications of the Konno procedure in congenital and acquired aortic lesions, in young patients with normal or hypoplastic aortic annulus or adults with small aortic annulus. METHODS: We reported our experience of this technique with a retrospective study of 13 patients operated on between 1998 and 2004. RESULTS: The mean diameter of aortic annulus measured in echocardiography is 16.2 mm, and the mean prosthetic valve diameter in post operative control is 20.3 mm. The early Death rate was 16%. In the late follow up of 2 years, the only predictor of myocardial hypertrophy regression was the presence of aortic insufficiency before the operation. In the literature, Konno procedure is reported as a good surgical option for the enlargement of the left ventricular outflow tract, but the results with the Ross-Konno operation are more promising.     

Transgastric gastro-jejunal anastomosis with flexible endoscope on a biosynthetic model

INTRODUCTION: In the last few years the rapid development of flexible endoscopies has opened new possibilities in minimal invasive procedures. With the help of these techniques the exposure, the risk of complications and the healing period of the patient might be reduced. One of these procedures is the transgastric intervention. Through an incision on the wall of the stomach, the endoscope could be led into the abdominal cavity, where several interventions can be performed. The aim of the study was to examine the technical feasibility and the success of the formation of gastro-jejunal anastomosis. Meanwhile the difficulties of the method could be explored in order to introduce this method in human use. METHOD: A lifelike biosynthetic model was made from a slaughtered domestic pig's gastrointestinal tract (stomach and the first few jejunum loops) which was fixed onto a plastic frame. Two single-channel gastroscopes were inserted into the stomach. On the wall of the stomach an approximately 2 centimetres wide incision was made by the electrocoagulator with a needle-knife. Through it the first jejunum loop was grasped by a foreign-body forceps and then was retracted into the stomach. Subsequently the jejunum loop was held safely with the first endoscope. Parallel to it an incision was made on the jejunum by the electrocoagulator. The authors managed to securely unite the open edges of the gastric wall and the jejunum with endoclips. RESULT: The model was good for practising. The anastomosis is technically feasible and was successfully made on biosynthetic porcine model using the transgastric route. Although the incisions both on the gastric wall and on the jejunum loop were made easily, the fixing of the anastomosis might be questionable. CONCLUSION: It was revealed that more experiments and the development of new, special instruments are needed in order to conduct the anastomosis safely.     

An assessment of urinary and breast milk iodine concentrations in lactating mothers from Gorgan, Iran, 2003.

Dietary iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Breast-fed infants are reliant on maternal iodine intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate iodine sufficiency in lactating women in Iran. The sample consisted of 100 lactating mothers referred to the Taleghani Hospital of Gorgan, Iran. Goiter was graded according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Spot urine and breast-milk samples were collected for the measurement of iodine concentrations. Urine iodine concentrations (UIC) less than 100 and breast-milk iodine concentrations (MIC) less than 50 microg/L were considered consistent with iodine deficiency. Forty-three percent of women had grade 1 and 2 goiters, respectively. The median UIC was 259 microg/L. UIC was less than 100 in 16%. Grade 1 and 2 goiters were each present in 8% of mothers with UIC less than 100 microg/L. The median MIC was 93.5 microg /L. MIC was less than 50 microg /L in 19%. Grade 1 and 2 goiters were present in 11% and 8%, respectively, of women with MIC <50 mg/L. MIC and UIC levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.44, p < 0.0001). Iodine deficiency and goiter were associated (p < 0.0001). UIC and MIC concentrations are sufficient in Gorgan, Iran. However, individual infants remain at risk for low iodine intake via breast milk.