The association between hematological parameters and metabolic syndrome in Iranian men: A single center large-scale study

Aims

Some studies have demonstrated that metabolic syndrome is associated with hematological parameters. The present study explores the relationship between hematological parameters and numbers of metabolic syndrome conditions in Iranian men.

Cross-linked starch microspheres: Effect of cross-linking condition on the microsphere characteristics

Cross-linked starch microspheres were prepared using different kinds of cross-linking agents. The influence of several parameters on morphology, size, swelling ratio and drug release rate from these microspheres were evaluated. These parameters included cross-linker type, concentration and the duration of cross-linking reaction. Microspheres cross-linked with glutaraldehyde had smooth surface compared with those prepared with epichlorhydrine or formaldehyde. The particle size increased with increasing the cross-linking time and increasing the drug loading. Swelling ratio of the particles was a function of cross-linker type but not the concentration or time of cross-linking. Drug release from starch microspheres was measured in phosphate buffer and also in phosphate buffer containing alpha-amylase. Results showed that microspheres cross-linked with epichlorhydrine released all their drug content in the first 30 minutes. However, cross-linking of the starch microspheres with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde decreased drug release rate. SEM and drug release studies showed that cross-linked starch microspheres were susceptible to the enzymatic degradation under the influence of alpha-amylase. Changing the enzyme concentration from 5000 to 10,000 IU/L, increased drug release rate but higher concentration of enzyme (20,000 IU/L) caused no more acceleration.     

Circumflex artery ventricular fistula and pseudoaneurysm after mitral reoperation

Prosthetic mitral valve reoperation complicated by atrioventricular groove pseudoaneurysm and circumflex ventricular fistula is presented. Ligation of the circumflex artery during mitral valve replacement is implicated after review of a previous cardiac angiogram.     

Childhood Sex-Typed Behavior and Gender Change in Individuals with 46,XY and 46,XX Disorders of Sex Development: An Iranian Multicenter Study

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions in which the typical genetic and hormonal profiles are affected and thereby the usual process of sexual differentiation. Most of these studies, however, have been conducted in Western countries. In the present study, preschool sex-typed activities of Iranian individuals with DSD and their age-matched non-affected male and female relatives were assessed using the Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI) modified for retrospective self-report. A total of 192 individuals participated in our study, including 33 46,XX individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH; M age?=?10.36, SD?=?5.52), 15 46,XY individuals with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS; M age?=?19.8, SD?=?7.14), and 16 46,XY individuals with 5-alpha reductase deficiency type-2 (5α-RD-2; M age?=?17.31, SD?=?7.28), as well as one age-matched non-affected male and female relative for each patient. With regard to PSAI scores, male-identifying participants with 5α-RD-2 and male controls reported similar levels of male-typical childhood play. Female-identifying participants with 5α-RD-2 and CAH showed comparable scores: significantly less masculine and more feminine than male controls, but significantly more masculine and less feminine than females with CAIS and female controls. These findings support the role of androgens in the development of sex-typical childhood play behavior, with those being exposed to higher levels of fetal functional androgens expressing more masculine behavior at preschool ages.     

Comparing cystatin C changes as a measure of renal function before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach cancer

The objective of this study was to determine and compare cystatin C changes before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach cancer who were candidate for radiotherapy. This study was conducted as a prospective cohort one. Eighteen patients with definite diagnosis of stomach cancer under treatment by radiotherapy who presented to Radiotherapy-Oncology Center of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran-Iran, and the treatment in all cases was simultaneous chemoradiation with Xeloda were included. In all patients before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy serum creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C were measured simultaneously. Mean cystatin level before treatment (1.2 ± 0.4) was significantly lower than that of post-treatment (1.6 ± 0.36), (P=0.001). Serum Cr level before treatment was 1.15 ± 0.33 and after radiotherapy was 1.08 ± 0.24 and did not show significant difference. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the patients before radiotherapy was -46.8 ± 21.0 and after radiotherapy was 43.8 ± 15.8 that did not have significant difference (P=0.146) and also blood urea nitrogen (BUN) before radiotherapy was 20.72 ± 3.7 and 20 ± 6.38 after radiotherapy that did not have significant difference (P=0.6). Comparison of the cystatin C difference with total radiation dose of the kidneys that are put in three dose groups in radiotherapy field had association that in dose of less that 18 gray (Gy) the cystatin C change showed significant and positive association (P=0.027; r=0.52) and about 18-24 Gy the cystatin C difference showed significant and negative association (P=0.023, r=-0.53). It seems that for evaluating the renal function, serum cystatin C measurement is preferable than serum Cr. level.     

Social support, family separation, and well-being among military wives

The effects on general well-being of perceived social support, stress, and the Stress X Support interaction were examined in a sample of military wives. Support was defined as the perception of being able to count on another military wife for help with a personal or family problem. Stress was defined as the amount of time spent in the field by the soldiers in the husbands' units. Stress was found to have an adverse effect on well-being only among those who did not perceive themselves as having social support, which is consistent with the buffering hypothesis of social support. Major predictors of social support included husband's rank, type of unit, and stress. This suggests that to some extent stress itself stimulates adaptation by motivating individuals to enlist support from others. This may be a partial explanation of the buffering effect found in this study.     

Long-term results of hemigastrectomy with vagotomy in the treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers

Summary and conclusion A total of 102 patients who underwent hemigastrectomy and truncal vagotomy for bleeding peptic ulcers were followed for 6–12 years. Eighty per cent of these patients had a follow-up of 8 years or more. The recurrence of hemorrhage after this operation has been 6.8%. None of these patients bled massively or required a second operation. These results are notably more favorable than those previously reported. The relatively low mortality and the high rate of effectiveness of hemigastrectomy with vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy in the present series demonstrate the superiority of this procedure as the surgical treatment of choice for the control of bleeding from peptic ulcers.