Estimation of stature from upper limb anthropometry in Iranian population

ObjectivePersonal identification is an essential issue when mutilated and amputated limbs or parts of the body are found in mass disasters. Estimation of the stature from the size of different parts of the body is one of the most important items in personal identification. The aim of this study was to estimate the stature from upper limb anthropometry.Materials and methodsHeight, left upper limb, left arm, left forearm, length and breadth of the left hand, and length of the left second to fifth fingers were measured on 100 right-handed Iranian medical students aged between 21 and 26 years from February to may 2010.ResultsAfter analyzing the datas, it was shown that there is a meaningful relation between the stature and upper limb dimensions (p < 0.05), [correlation coefficients ranged from 0.310 to 0.696 in males and 0.299 to 0.735 in females].ConclusionThe regression formula derived in this study can be used for forensic pathologists and Anthropologists.     

Symphysiotomy: a viable approach for delayed management of posterior urethral injuries in children

PURPOSE: The outcome of symphysiotomy for accessing pelvic fracture related, obliterative urethral strictures is described. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In 7 boys and 3 girls 4 to 13 years old (mean age 6) surgical correction of a pelvic fracture related, obliterative urethral stricture was achieved through symphysiotomy. The stricture involved a prostatomembranous location in boys and complete vesicourethral distraction in girls. Patients were followed an average of 2.5 years (range 6 months to 4 years) by physical examination, urethrography and endoscopy. RESULTS: The stricture was successfully corrected in all patients and all void with a normal flow. All boys are continent but 2 of the 3 girls had early incontinence, which resolved with time in 1. In 2 of the 10 cases a previous attempt at perineal repair had already failed. No patient required urethrotomy or dilation and none had significant hemorrhage, fistulization, bladder hernia, chronic pain or secondary gait disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Symphysiotomy is hereby revisited as a simple and effective approach for repairing traumatic posterior urethral injuries in the pediatric population. It can be performed instead of transpubic urethroplasty to manage long or otherwise complicated strictures.     

Glomerular filtration rate-based cystatin C compared to microalbuminuria to detect early stage of diabetic nephropathy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Microalbuminuria is a sensitive marker to detect early nephropathy in diabetes mellitus. Cystatin C correlates better than serum creatinine with microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). We evaluated the correlation between microalbuminuria, serum cystatin C (Cyc-C), and serum creatinine (SCr) in diabetic children. A hundred patients with stable T1D and 66 sex-matched healthy children were entered in the study between September 2008 and February 2011. Fasting blood sample was drawn for HbA₁C, creatinine, and cystatin C. A. 24-h urine aliquot was collected to measure microalbumin, creatinine, and volume. Glomerular filtration rate estimated based on creatinine (eGFR_cr), cystatin C (eGFR_{Cyst C}), and creatinine + cystatin C (eGFR_{Cyst C + Cr}). Binary logistic regression analysis, chi-square, ANOVA, Student’s t test, and nonparametric median tests were used to analyze data. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Medians serum creatinine and cystatin C of T1D group were significantly different from controls (P < 0.05). Overall, medians eGFR_{Cyst C} were higher than eGFR_cr, or eGFR_{Cyst C + Cr}. Thirty-six children with T1D had microalbuminuria. There was a correlation between microalbuminuria and eGFR_{Cyst C} (<60 and >130 ml/min/1.73 m²) (P < 0.05). Medians eGFR_cr were significantly lower than medians eGFR_{Cyst C} in T1D, regardless of microalbuminuria (P < 0.05). Chronic kidney disease classification according to eGFR_cr and eGFR_{Cyst C} were not matched (P < 0.05). GFR in healthy children was overestimated by eGFR_{Cyst C} and underestimated by eGFR_cr. There was higher correlation between abnormal eGFR_{Cyst C} and microalbuminuria in diabetic children. eGFR_Cr detected higher rate of GFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m².

     

Alginate Nanoparticles as a Promising Adjuvant and Vaccine Delivery System

During last decades, diphtheria has remained as a serious disease that still outbreaks and can occur worldwide. Recently, new vaccine delivery systems have been developed by using the biodegradable and biocompatible polymers such as alginate. Alginate nanoparticles as a carrier with adjuvant and prolong release properties that enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines. In this study diphtheria toxoid loaded nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation technique and characterized with respect to size, zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, and immunogenicity. Appropriate parameters (calcium chloride and sodium alginate concentration, homogenization rate and homogenization time) redounded to the formation of suitable nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 70±0.5 nm. The loading studies of the nanoparticles resulted in high loading capacities (>90%) and subsequent release studies showed prolong profile. The stability and antigenicity of toxoid were evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ouchterlony test and proved that the encapsulation process did not affect the antigenic integrity and activity. Guinea pigs immunized with the diphtheria toxoid-loaded alginate nanoparticles showed highest humoral immune response than conventional vaccine. It is concluded that, with regard to the desirable properties of nanoparticles and high immunogenicity, alginate nanoparticles could be considered as a new promising vaccine delivery and adjuvant system.     

Quantitative evaluation of the amount of apically extruded debris using 3 different rotary instrumentation systems.

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively evaluate the amount of apically extruded debris when ProTaper, ProFile, and HERO Shaper were used for the instrumentation of root canals. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty human mandibular central incisor teeth were randomly assigned to 3 groups, 20 teeth in each. The teeth in the 3 groups were instrumented according to the manufacturers' instructions until the working length, with ProTaper, ProFile, and HERO Shaper rotary instruments respectively. The debris produced was collected in polyethylene tubes. The liquid inside the tubes was removed by lyophilization and the remaining debris was calculated for each group and compared. RESULTS: All instruments tested produced a measurable amount of debris. No statistically significant difference was observed between ProTaper and HERO Shaper in terms of debris extrusion (P > .05). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed between ProFile and HERO Shaper even though HERO Shaper extruded a relatively higher amount of debris (P > .05). On the other hand, ProTaper extruded significantly more amount of debris compared to ProFile (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: ProTaper caused a significantly higher amount of debris extrusion compared to ProFile. No statistically significant difference was observed among the other groups tested. As the quantity of debris extrusion is not the only factor responsible for acute exacerbations, future studies can be planned that focus on the types of bacteria causing flare-ups and methods for their elimination.     

Optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis and human leukocyte antigen: results of a 4-year follow-up study

In the present study the relation between human leukocyte antigen (HLA), optic neuritis (ON) and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been investigated in 56 Iranian patients (46 females and 10 males). HLA-A and -B typing by microlymphocytotoxicity method and HLA-DRB, DQA and DQB by polymerase chain reaction based on sequence specific primers method was performed for the selected patients with ON. The diagnosis of clinically defined MS (CDMS) was confirmed in 15 of them (26.7%) during their follow-up. HLA-A24 was significantly higher in ON patients, whilst A23, A26, and A30 showed a significant decrease in these patients. HLA-A10 and A26 were absent in CDMS patients and A2 and A11 were significantly decreased in ON and CDMS patients. HLA-B5, B51, B38, B27, and B35 were significantly increased in ON patients compared with control subjects. HLA-B44, B16 and B38 alleles were not present in CDMS patients. Regarding DR locus, the frequency of HLA-DRB1*15 and DRB1*04 has been increased in CDMS patients, whilst the frequency of HLA-DRB1*07 and *11 was much higher in ON patients. In DQA region, the most frequent allele in the MS patients was DQA1*0102, which was significantly higher than ON patients, and control group. The frequency of DQA1*0103 was significantly increased in both patients group. In DQB1, the frequency of DQB1*0602 increased significantly in the MS patients. In conclusion existence of common genetic basis for early manifestations of MS could be suggested.