Developmental status of 5-year-old moderate low birth weight children

Background: Low birth weight (LBW or birth weight < 2500 g) is one of the most serious children problems in today’s world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare developmental status of moderately LBW (birth weight: 1500-2499 g) children at the age of five to that of normal birth weight (NBW: birth weight: 2500-4000 g) ones. Methods: In a case-control study, developmental status of five year old children referred for vaccination between December 2008 and June 2009 in Yazd-Iran, evaluated via Persian version of 60-month Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). NBW and MLBW children were selected as control and case groups, respectively. Results: Frequency of developmental delay in gross motor, fine motor and problem solving domains were significantly higher in MLBW group and mean score in all developmental domains was statistically significant lower in case group. Conclusion: LBW is one of risk factors for developmental delay. So, evaluation and monitoring of development status of LBW should be emphasized for early and timely diagnosis, investigation, management and also rehabilitation.     

Chemosensitization of human leukemia K562 cells to taxol by a Vanadium-salen complex

Vanadium complexes are a heterogeneous class of compounds exhibiting interesting biological properties. Herein, we report the effect of a vanadium-salen complex (VO-salen) on proliferative behavior of K562 cell line. The results revealed that VO-salen at 6–32 μM inhibited K562 proliferation with no distinct alteration in cell morphology, extent of apoptosis and/or differentiation. Our results indicated that VO-salen complex has just a cytostatic effect and capable of arresting the affected cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle. In addition, we evaluated the combined effects of VO-salen complex and taxol. The cell cycle analyses showed that VO-salen complex enhanced taxol-induced G2/M arrest and also increased taxol-induced apoptosis through a decrease in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax which might account for the decrease in the apoptosis threshold among the affected cells. These findings support that combination of VO-salen, as a chemosensitizer, and taxol might constitute an affective new strategy for leukemia therapy.     

The association between second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in 14-22 weeks and adverse pregnancy outcome

Aim of this study is to determine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) level. We followed 295 pregnant women from MSAFP screening in the 14th to 22th week of gestation until the end of pregnancy and information on pregnancy outcome have been recorded in questionnaires. Of 295 pregnant women, 270 had term labor and 25 had preterm labor. The frequencies of pregnancy outcomes were as following: 3 (1.01%) stillbirths, 25 (8.47%) preterm labor, and 10 (3.4%) preterm rupture of membranous (PROM), 15 (5.1%) pre-eclampsia, 23 (7.8%) oligohydramnious, and 1 (0.33%) miscarriage. The mean of preterm labor was significantly associated with the higher level of MSAFP (P = 0.021). The mean was 55.1 ng/cc in preterm labor and 41.1 ng/cc in term labor. Also, second trimester MSAFP levels were higher in women with pre-eclampsia (P < 0.001). The significant association was found between higher level of MSAFP with oligohydramnious (P < 0.001) and low birth weight (P < 0.001). Pregnancies with an elevated MSAFP level are associated with adverse obstetric outcomes and need more prenatal care.     

Quercetin protects liver injury induced by bile duct ligation via attenuation of Rac1 and NADPH oxidase1 expression in rats

BACKGROUND:Bile duct ligation (BDL) and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress,hepatocellular injury and fibrosis.Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic,and hepatoprotective properties.However,the molecular mechanism underlying quercetin-mediated hepatoprotection is not fully understood.The current study was to evaluate mechanisms of hepatoprotective effect of quercetin in BDL rat model.METHODS:We divided male Wistar rats into 4 groups (n=8 for each):sham,sham+quercetin (30 mg/kg per day),BDL,and BDL+quercetin (30 mg/kg per day).Four weeks later,the rats were sacrificed,the blood was collected for liver enzyme measurements and liver for the measurement of Racl,Racl-GTP and NOX1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative PCR and Western blotting,respectively.RESULTS:Quercetin significantly alleviated liver injury in BDL rats as evidenced by histology and reduced liver enzymes.Furthermore,the mRNA and protein expression of Racl,Racl-GTP and NOX1 were significantly increased in BDL rats compared with those in the sham group (P＜0.05);quercetin treatment reversed these variables back toward normal (P＜0.05).Another interesting finding was that the antioxidant markers e.g.superoxide dismutase and catalase were elevated in quercetin-treated BDL rats compared to BDL rats (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Quercetin demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against BDL-induced liver injury through increasing antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue,while preventing the production of Racl,Racl-GTP and NOX1 proteins.     

Yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for solid pancreatic neoplasms

Objective: Both endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) cytology may provide tissue diagnoses in solid pancreatic neoplasms. However, there are scant data comparing these two methods. This study aims at retrospectively comparing EUS-FNA and ERCP tissue sampling and ability of cytopathological diagnosis in solid pancreatic neoplasms and to determine usefulness and adverse events of combining both procedures. Material and methods: Two hundred and thirty four patients suspected to have solid pancreatic mass on abdominal ultrasound and/or computed tomography (CT) were enrolled. EUS-FNA (group A), ERCP cytology (group B) and combined procedures (Group C) performed in 105, 91 and 38 cases, respectively. Results: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 98.9%, 93.3% and 98.1% for group A, and 72.1%, 60% and 71.4% for group B. Those for group C were all 100%. Sensitivity for malignancy in the pancreas head was 100% for group A and 82.4% for group B, and in the pancreas body and tail, 97.6% for group A and 57.1% for group B. EUS-FNA was more sensitive than ERCP cytology in diagnosing malignant pancreatic neoplasms 21–30?mm in size (p?=?0.0068), 31–40?mm (p?=?0.028) and?≥41?mm (p?Conclusions: EUS-FNA is superior to ERCP cytology for diagnosis of solid pancreatic neoplasms. Although combination of both procedures provide efficient tissue diagnosis and with a minimal adverse events rate, a prospective study including larger number of patients is required.     

Sunflower oil versus no oil moderate pressure massage leads to greater increases in weight in preterm neonates who are low birth weight

Background

Growth velocity is one of the most important problems in low birth weight (LBW) neonates.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of body massage with and without sunflower oil on the growth of LBW preterm neonates in Iran.

Study design

A single-blinded randomized clinical trial

Subjects

This study examined neonates admitted to NICU with gestational age of 33–37 weeks and birth weight of 1500–1999 g, without birth asphyxia and medically stable

Outcome measures

Neonates were randomly assigned to two groups to receive moderate pressure massage alone or the same massage with sunflower oil by their mothers, three times a day for 14 consecutive days. The primary variables were increases in mean of growth parameters (weight, height and head circumference) that were evaluated 14 days after intervention, at ages 1 and 2 months. Secondary variables were clinical side effects.

Results

Fifty-four neonates including 25 girls and 29 boys with mean gestational age of 35.3 ± 1.26 weeks were evaluated. Means of gestational age, birth weight and length of NICU stay were not different in both groups. In the oil massage group, mean weight at ages 1 month (mean ± SD: 2339 ± 135 vs. 2201 ± 93 g, P = 0.04) and 2 months (mean ± SD: 3301 ± 237 vs. 3005 ± 305 g, P = 0.005) was significantly greater than that of the body massage group. No adverse events were seen in the two groups.

Conclusion

Sunflower oil massage might be used as an effective and safe intervention for weight gain in LBW preterm neonates.     

How Do Women at Risk of HIV/AIDS in Iran Perceive Gender Norms and Gendered Power Relations in the Context of Safe Sex Negotiations?

Sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women is growing in the Middle East region. Despite the fact that there are numerous gender-related sociocultural factors influencing HIV/AIDS protective behaviors, little gender-specificity is carried out in HIV prevention in Iran. In order to close this gap, we aimed to provide preliminary work that explored the perceptions that women at risk of HIV had about gender norms and gendered power and their ability to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Twenty-five semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with women at risk of HIV/AIDS, aged 21–49 years, at Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers or Drop in Centers in Tehran, Iran. Results showed that perceived gender norms were essential barriers of protective behavior through sexual socialization, male control over condom use and sexual decision-making, male pleasure predominating in sexual encounters and sexual double standards, and economic dependencies. In the conclusions, we consider how HIV/AIDS preventive programs can be structured to be gender-sensitive and empowering in Iran.     

Comparing GnRH agonist long protocol and gnrh antagonist protocol in outcome the first cycle of ART

Purpose  

This prospective study evaluated the efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol in comparison with the GnRH agonist protocol in the first cycle of assisted reproductive technique (ART).