Issuing Donor Cards in a Single Center in Iran: Results of the First 3 Years

Introduction

Issuing an organ donation card has become a goal for procurement units to solve the organ shortage. The number of issued cards is an index of the attitudes or even actions of communities toward brain-dead donations. In the present study, we have reported the characteristics of issuing organ donation cards in a single organ procurement unit in Iran.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study used an organ donation willingness database for 3 years after launching the unit. We used the registration data of the first 3 years of its activity from August 1, 2005, to July 31, 2008. For each organ donation volunteer, we extracted demographic data, organs to be donated, and source of their knowledge about the organ donation card system.

Results

During the study period, donor cards were issued to 172,290 volunteers; a monthly mean of 4785 registries. Among the total volunteers, 54.2% were females: with 50.7% between 21 to 30 years, 35.2% with an educational level less than a high school diploma, and 35.7% introduced by their friends. The volunteers were more willing to donate heart, kidney, liver, lung, and tissue donations, respectively. Out of the total number of volunteers, 94.1% were willing to donate all organs. An increasing trend was seen in the donation cards issued during the study period.

Conclusion

Following 3 years of activity, a single center has issued nearly 200,000 cards. The rate at which organ donor cards are issued is increasing, which puts emphasis on establishment of funding for other organ procurement units. This information may be useful to program the field of brain-dead donations in this country.     

Sequential stenotic strictures of the small bowel leading to obstruction

Small bowel obstructions （SBOs） are primarily caused by adhesions, hernias, neoplasms, or inflammatory strictures. Intraluminal strictures are an uncommon cause of SBO. This report describes our findings in a unique case of sequential, stenotic intraluminal strictures of the small intestine, discusses the differential diagnosis of intraluminal intestinal strictures, and reviews the literature regarding intraluminal pathology.     

The citrus flavonoid hesperidin induces p53 and inhibits NF-κB activation in order to trigger apoptosis in NALM-6 cells: involvement of PPARγ-dependent mechanism

Background  

Hesperidin, a flavanone present in citrus fruits, has been identified as a potent anticancer agent because of its proapoptotic and antiproliferative characteristics in some tumor cells. However, the precise mechanisms of action are not entirely understood.     

Effects of short-term nonperiodized,linear periodized and daily undulating periodized resistance training on plasma adiponectin,leptin and insulin resistance

Objectives

Resistance training (RT) had a positive effect on musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and type 2 diabetes disease. Knowing about the influence of different types of RT on the adipokines involved in the insulin regulation could be useful for the treatment of insulin resistance or diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of nonperiodized vs. periodized RT on plasma adiponectin, leptin and insulin resistance index in overweight men.

Design and methods

Thirty two sedentary overweight men (mean ± SD; age, 23.4 ± 0.6 years) were allocated to one of the following (n = 8) groups: control group (CON), nonperiodized (NP), linear periodized (LP) and daily undulating periodized (DUP) training groups. Subjects in training groups performed RT protocols 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and 72 h after the training period and were analyzed for plasma adiponectin, leptin, glucose, and insulin.

Results

Insulin resistance decreased in all training groups but significant differences were only found between DUP and CON groups (P < 0.05). However, after 8 weeks of RT no significant changes were observed in plasma adiponectin and leptin concentrations. Body fat percent and waist to hip ratio (WHR) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) following training, whereas, no significant changes were detected in body mass and BMI (P > 0.05). The maximum strength (1RM) for bench press and leg press increased after RT in all training groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Short-term periodized RT protocols can be an efficient training strategy for improving insulin resistance and muscular strength in overweight men, while, they have no significant influence on adiponectin and leptin.     

Measurement of immunoreactive interleukin-1 beta from human mononuclear cells: optimization of recovery, intrasubject consistency, and comparison with interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor

Numerous studies have reported altered levels of in vitro production of the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from blood leukocytes in various human disease states. Most of these studies have used bioassays which are vulnerable to inhibitors produced by these cells. Furthermore in vitro cytokine production is often assessed on a single occasion. The present study was designed to standardize stimulation conditions for in vitro IL-1 beta production and to employ a competitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) to demonstrate reproducibility and long-term variation of in vitro cytokine production in a cohort of healthy human subjects. We also examined relative amounts of immunoreactive IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and TNF induced by the stimuli endotoxin, phytohemagglutinin, or Staphylococcus epidermidis. We show that the RIA can reliably detect IL-1 beta produced from mononuclear cells in concentrations as low as 115 pg/ml. Lysing cells by repeated freeze-thawing yields maximal recovery of total (i.e., secreted plus cell-associated) immunoreactive IL-1 beta, when compared to extraction with the detergent CHAPS or addition of protease inhibitors. Repeated measurement of in vitro cytokine production on different days within 1 week shows good reproducibility for a given individual and a given stimulus (variation coefficient 20 to 30%). Over a long time period (6 months) in vitro cytokine production is stable in some individuals but changes considerably in others. The soluble stimulus endotoxin induces twofold more IL-1 alpha than IL-1 beta or TNF; in contrast the phagocytic stimulus heat-killed S. epidermidis induces fourfold more IL-1 beta and TNF than IL-1 alpha. This distinct pattern of cytokine response indicates differential stimulation of the mononuclear cells by different stimuli. The results form the basis for studying in vitro cytokine production in different human disease states.     

Amelanotic Spitzoid Melanoma in the Burn Scar of a Child

Abstract: We report a 3-year-old girl with a rapidly growing, amelanotic, nodular melanoma developing within a burn scar over the dorsal aspect of the left foot. Histologically, the lesion was spindle cell and exhibited lack of maturation, cellular atypia, and scattered mitotic figures. Twenty five percent of the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen by immunohistochemical stain. A left inguinal lymph node was also positive for regional metastasis. The child died with disseminated metastases 13 months after the lesion was removed.     

Serological survey of toxoplasmosis in the northern part of Iran, using indirect fluorescent antibody technique.

A total of 1,779 persons from the Caspian Sea area, Iran, were serologically examined by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique for Toxoplasma antibodies. 55.7% were positive with titres of 1:20 or higher. No significant difference was demonstrated between the sexes. The highest antibody level as well as a high geometric mean of reciprocal titres were observed in the population between the ages of two and 19 years.     

Survival of Iranian patients on lung transplant waiting list: is there any difference?

Objective

Lung transplantation is the last treatment option for end-stage pulmonary diseases. Reviewing the characteristics of patients on the lung transplant waiting list is a helpful way to evaluate and prioritize the patients in need of special care. Because we have no information about mortality on the lung transplantation waiting list in Iran, the aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and survival rates of these patients.

Methods

The file of lung transplant candidates listed between 2005 and 2010 were evaluated for patient demographic data, type of disorder, waiting list time, and outcomes of death, transplantation, or alive.

Results

The 131 patients on our list in this period revealed a mean age of 37 ± 14 years with 86 (66%) males. The most common disorder among waiting list patients was pulmonary fibrosis (n = 52; 40%). Among the 17 (13%) patients who were transplanted, most (35%) suffered from pulmonary fibrosis. The mean waiting time to transplantation was 17.2 ± 11.8 months. Twenty-two patients (7%) died while on the waiting list. The mortality rate was unexpectedly highest among cystic fibrosis patients and then those with bronchiectasis. The mean survival time for all non-transplant patients based on the Kaplan-Meier method was 27.4 months and their 2-year survival rate was 74% based on life tables.

Conclusion

Although pulmonary fibrosis patients show the poorest survival on lung transplant waiting lists, in other countries, patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis displayed the worst survival on the Iranian list probably due to their poor rehabilitation and sputum evacuation. We concluded that it is necessary for every center to evaluate the characteristics of its patient cohort to match the activity according to the needs.