Prevalence of Suicide Thoughts,Plans and Attempts in a Community Sample from Karaj,Iran

Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of suicide ideation and behavior in a community sample of an Iranian city, Karaj. Study sample consisted of 2,300 subjects, chosen randomly from the community. The WHO/SUPRE-MISS survey questionnaire, used in this study. Lifetime prevalence for suicide thoughts, plans and attempts were 12.7, 6.2 and 3.3%, respectively and for the previous year they were 5.7, 2.9 and 1%, respectively. Although it is not possible to generalize the results to the country, but in some area of Iran, the prevalence of suicide ideation, plan and attempt appeared to be similar to that of many developed countries.     

Role of capsid sequence and immature nucleocapsid proteins p9 and p15 in Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 genomic RNA dimerization

HIV-1 genomic RNA (gRNA) dimerization is important for viral infectivity and is regulated by proteolytic processing of the Gag precursor protein (Pr55gag) under the direction of the viral protease. The processing occurs in successive steps and, to date, the step associated with formation of a wild-type (WT) level of gRNA dimers has not been identified. The primary cleavage divides Pr55gag into two proteins. The C-terminal polypeptide is termed NCp15 (NCp7-p1-p6) because it contains the nucleocapsid protein (NC), a key determinant of gRNA dimerization and packaging. To examine the importance of precursor polypeptides NCp15 and NCp9 (NCp7-p1), we introduced mutations that prevented the proteolytic cleavages responsible for the appearance of NCp9 or NCp7. Using native Northern blot analysis, we show that gRNA dimerization was impaired when both the secondary (p1-p6) and tertiary (p7-p1) cleavage sites of NCp15 were abolished, but unaffected when only one or the other site was abolished. Though processing to NCp9 therefore suffices for a WT level of gRNA dimerization, we also show that preventing cleavage at the p7-p1 site abolished HIV-1 replication. To identify the minimum level of protease activity compatible with a WT level of gRNA dimers, we introduced mutations Thr26Ser and Ala28Ser in the viral protease to partially inactivate it, and we prepared composite HIV-1 resulting from the cotransfection of various ratios of WT and protease-inactive proviral DNAs. The results reveal that a 30% processing of Pr55gag into mature capsid proteins (CA/CA-p2) yielded a WT level of gRNA dimers, while a 10% Pr55gag processing hardly increased gRNA dimerization above the level seen in protease-inactive virions. We found that full gRNA dimerization required less than 50% WT NC in complementation asssays. Finally, we show that if we destroy alpha helix 1 of the capsid protein (CA), gRNA dimerization is impaired to the same extent as when the viral protease is inactivated. Cotransfection studies show that this CA mutation, in contrast to the NC-disabling mutations, has a dominant negative effect on HIV-1 RNA dimerization, viral core formation, and viral replication. This represents the first evidence that a capsid mutation can affect HIV-1 RNA dimerization.     

Follow-up standard agglutination and 2-mercaptoethanol tests in 175 clinically cured cases of human brucellosis

BackgroundThe standard agglutination (SAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) tests are usually used in the follow-up of treated cases of human brucellosis. The purpose of this study was to monitor the levels of these tests, two years after clinical cure in cases of brucellosis.MethodsFrom April 2003 to September 2008, 175 clinically cured cases of brucellosis (103 males, 72 females) were evaluated. Diagnosis of brucellosis was established with a SAT of ≥1:320 and a 2-ME of ≥1:80, with clinical symptoms and signs compatible with brucellosis. SAT and 2-ME were retested at the end of therapy and at 3-monthly intervals for two years. Serologic cure was considered in the event of a SAT titer decrease to ≤1:160 or a 2-ME decrease to < 1:80.ResultsThe mean age of study patients was 31 ± 13.5 years. At 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment, SAT titers ≥1:320 were seen in 41 (23.4%), 22 (12.6%), 7 (4%), and 6 (3.4%) cases, respectively, whereas 2-ME titers ≥1:80 were seen in 51 (29.1%), 24 (13.7%), 12 (6.9%), and 8 (4.6%) cases, respectively. The probability of serologic cure for patients with SAT titers ≤1:640 was higher than for those >1:640 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5–3.47, p = 0.023). The probability of serologic cure for patients with 2-ME titers ≤1:320 was higher than for those >1:320 (95% CI 2.48–3.5, p = 0.04).ConclusionsSAT and 2-ME may be found in significant titers in less than 5% of clinically treated cases after two years. Serologic cure for both tests with lower titers were higher than with higher titers.     

活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失(英文)

目的:评价利用活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失的临床效果。方法:从2005-07/2007-12,本研究包括了9名男性化学性眼外伤患者(10眼)。所有患者接受了亲属活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植,2例眼接受了睑缝术。用环孢菌素和泼尼松龙进行全身性免疫抑制。结果:在3例眼中观察到完全角膜上皮化(30%),其中1例在术后1.5mo出现免疫排斥,角膜溶解引起穿孔,加大全身性免疫抑制剂量来控制病情。3例眼中植片无法在角膜表面重新形成上皮,被定为原发性失败。其余4眼有部分上皮形成,但上皮细胞无法完全覆盖角膜表面。术前最佳矫正视力从手动到1m处数指,术后最佳矫正视力从光感到20/80。有5眼视力得到改进,不需其他治疗。手术失败的主要原因为干眼症和持续性炎症。结论:对于能控制泪量和眼部炎症的病例,亲属活体异体角膜缘和羊膜移植是治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失最佳方法之一。     

Interactive use of cerebral angiography and magnetoencephalography in arteriovenous malformations: technical note

OBJECTIVE: To minimize the risks associated with treating cortical cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), we developed a technique combining functional imaging and cerebral angiography. The functional loci obtained by performing magnetoencephalography (MEG) are projected onto stereoscopic pairs of a stereotactically derived digital subtraction angiogram. The result is a simultaneous three-dimensional perspective of the angioarchitecture of an AVM and its relationship to the sensorimotor cortex. METHODS: Eight patients underwent multimodality brain imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging, functional mapping via MEG, and stereotactic angiography using a modified Compass fiducial system (Compass International, Rochester, MN). The coordinates derived by performing MEG were superimposed onto stereotactic, stereoscopic, angiographic pairs using custom-made distortion correction and coordinate transfer software. RESULTS: The magnetoencephalographic angiogram allowed simultaneous viewing of the angioarchitecture of the AVM nidus, the feeding vessels, and the draining veins and their relationship to the normal cerebral vasculature and functional cortex. This imaging technique was particularly valuable in identifying en passant vessels that supplied functional cortex and was used during the treatment of these lesions. CONCLUSION: The techniques of MEG and cerebral angiography were combined to provide simultaneous viewing of both modalities in a three-dimensional perspective. This technique can aid in risk stratification in the management of patients with cerebral AVMs. In addition, this technique can facilitate the selective targeting of vessels, thus potentially reducing the risks associated with embolization of these formidable lesions.     

Mercury exposure among residents of a building block in Shiraz, Iran

Exposure to mercury can cause serious multiorgan damage affecting the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, lungs, spleen, bone marrow, and skin. At the end of the summer of 1999, the accidental leakage of 4 liters of mercury from a container into the waterway canals resulted in mass exposure to elemental mercury among the residents of a building block of a residential area of the city of Shiraz, in the south of Iran. One hundred and eleven individuals who experienced exposure to elemental mercury were investigated. Twenty-four-hour measurement of the urine mercury level-revealed a toxic level of more than 20 microg/L in 6 children and 3 adults (including a pregnant woman). Despite normal physical and laboratory (CBC, renal and liver function tests, and urinalysis) findings, dimercaprol was prescribed. One month later during the course of the follow-up the urine mercury level in 6 patients, including the pregnant woman from the same family, was found to be again at a toxic level. The pregnant mother from the same family aborted her fetus; however, due to the lack of equipment for measuring the serum mercury level, it was not possible to confirm the relation between the mercury toxicity and the abortion. This family had kept mercury in their kitchen against health workers' instructions. The attractive physical and chemical properties of mercury could explain the continuity of exposure and poisoning in these 6 cases. It is concluded that prophylactic therapy in the presence of toxic levels of mercury, despite the presence of an asymptomatic state in exposed residents, is effective in preventing the development of signs and symptoms, though instruction of high-risk cases is the best way to combat it.     

Expression of members of the calcium-binding S-100 protein family in a rat model of cerebral basilar artery vasospasm

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of S-100 proteins in the onset of vasospasm induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which leads to severe neurological morbidity and death. It has recently been argued that modifications in the levels of expression of some intracellular signaling elements controlling the organization of the actin cytoskeleton (including the rho A small guanosine triphosphatase and its related kinases) play significant roles in the induction of smooth-muscle cell contraction, a calcium-dependent process that is pathognomonic of SAH-induced vasospasm at the molecular level. Several members of the calcium-binding S-100 protein family are known to exercise significant control over the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. METHODS: The levels of expression of S-100 proteins in SAH-induced vasospasm have never been investigated. The authors therefore used a double-hemorrhage rat model of SAH-induced vasospasm to determine whether the levels of expression of S-100B, S-100A1, S-100A2, S-100A4, and S-100A6 proteins on immunohistochemical studies were significantly modified in this pathological condition. Quantitative determination of immunohistochemically confirmed expression of S-100 proteins (accomplished with the aid of computer-assisted microscopy) revealed that SAH-induced vasospasm is accompanied by a very significant increase in S-100B, S-100A2, and, to a lesser extent, in S-100A4 and S-100A6 expression, whereas this condition is not accompanied by significant modifications to S-100A1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Such significant modifications in the levels of expression of different members of the S-100 protein family in SAH-induced vasospasm could relate to the various roles played by this specific class of calcium-binding proteins at the level of actin cytoskeleton organization. These modifications in S-100 protein expression seem relatively specific to SAH-induced vasospasm, because heparin-induced epilepsy-like symptoms were accompanied by dramatically distinct profiles of S-100 protein expression.     

Oxidative stress in radiology staff

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species has been observed following acute and chronic exposure to radiation in animal models which can lead to several detrimental and irreversible outcomes in vital organs. Aim of this study was to determine the oxidative stress status in radiology unit workers which are exposed to persistent low-dose radiation. METHODS:: A group of 32 radiology unit employees along with 32 sex- and age-matched hospital workers, not exposed to low-dose radiation were recruited from two separate hospitals for the study. Exposed subjects showed higher levels of lipid peroxidation (P=0.009), total antioxidant capacity (P=0.0006) and thiol groups (P=0.03). It is concluded that occupationally exposed individuals are oxidatively stressed and precautions such as antioxidant therapy seems reasonable.