β-Thalassemia Mutations in the Iranian Kurdish Population of Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations in the population of Sunni Muslim Kurds in western Iran and to set up a prenatal diagnostic laboratory. Sixty unrelated Kurdish β-thal patients identified in hematology clinics from different cities were studied. The mutations in 120 chromosomes were studied by polymerase chain reaction–amplification refractory mutation system and direct sequencing methods. We found fifteen β-thal mutations, and IVS-II-1 (G>A) was the most frequent, comprising 35%?of all mutations. Other common mutations were frameshift codons 8/9 (+G) 15.7%, IVS-I-1 (G>A) 8%, FSC 5 (–CT) 6.7%, FSC 8 (–AA) 6.7%, and IVS-I-110 (G>A) 6%. This is the first comprehensive study in this region and could provide a reference for prenatal testing and genetic counseling in this population.     

Prognostic risk factors for early diagnosing of Preeclampsia in Nulliparas

Background:

Preeclampsia is of major complications of pregnancy that is associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prediction and early diagnosis of preeclampsia would be helpful for better controlling of related complications. Our study aimed to investigate risk factors helping to predict and early diagnose of preeclampsia.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 739 nulliparous women at their 24-28^th weeks of the first pregnancy were enrolled in this multi-center cohort study. Incidence or absence of preeclampsia in this population was evaluated up to the end of pregnancy period. For each case, a record sheet was assigned that contained information about haematocrit level in weeks 24-28^th of pregnancy, blood pressure, result of roll-over test in weeks 24-28^th of pregnancy and the presence of disease up to end of the study. Diagnosis of preeclampsia was made based on gold standard.

Results:

Overall, 3.9 % of all cases developed preeclampsia. The mean maternal age, body mass index (BMI), years of education and positive roll-over test were significantly higher in preeclampsia group (P < 0.001). However, the mean gestational age and changes in the levels of haematocrit were significantly higher in normotensive cases (P < 0.001). Our combined model could predict preeclampsia with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 80%.

Conclusion:

Simple combined model of demographic characteristics including maternal age, BMI, years of education and positive roll-over tests can predict preeclampsia without any cost for the patients.     

Positive association of Apolipoprotein E4 polymorphism with recurrent pregnancy loss in Iranian patients

Problem

Numerous lines of evidence implicate Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) in lipid metabolism during pregnancy. Hence, a role for its polymorphism has been envisaged in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) considering major structural and functional differences between different Apo E genotypes.

Method of study

A case control study of 81 women with two or more pregnancy losses that did not have any other known risk factors including anatomic anomalies of the reproductive system, infections, immunologic factors, hormonal imbalances, chromosomal abnormalities and environmental factors was carried out. The control group consisted of 81 women with at least two healthy children and no RPL in their reproductive history. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood following written consent and Apo E genotyping was carried out by amplifying exon 4 of the gene and subjecting it to digestion by HhaI restriction enzyme.

Results

Genotyping was concluded by analyzing different fragment sizes produced, which resulted in finding significantly higher frequency of combined E3/E4 and E4/E4 genotypes in the patients (about 20 %) compared to the normal controls (2.4 %). The genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

Conclusion

Allelic frequency for E4 was 13.5 % in the patients and only 1 % in the non-RPL group. Our findings confirm and are in line with a number of similar studies carried out on other populations. Therefore, Apo E4 polymorphism seems to be contributing to the thrombophilic risk factors as a background to RPL.     

Effectiveness of ultrasound and median nerve gliding with and without shock-wave therapy in patients with moderate carpal tunnel syndrome

[Purpose] The aim of this research was to see how ultrasound and nerve gliding with and without shock wave therapy effects on clinical and sonographic data of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). [Participants and Methods] Forty four patients with moderate carpal tunnel syndrome participated in this research. One group got shock-wave therapy in addition to median nerve glide exercises and ultrasound, whereas the other group received median nerve glide exercises and ultrasound alone. Hand grip strength (HGS), pinch grip strength (PGS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-pain, Boston Questionnaire (BQ), and Cross-sectional area (CSA) of median nerve were examined before and after 10 sessions of treatment. [Results] HGS, PGS, VAS, BQ and CSA of median nerve improved considerably after therapy. [Conclusion] Patients with moderate CTS who received ultrasound and median nerve glide exercises with and without shock-wave therapy improved considerably without preference of adding shock-wave therapy to other treatment.     

Working memory in Farsi-speaking children with normal development and cochlear implant

Aim and background

Working memory has an important role in language acquisition and development of cognition skills. The ability of encoding, storage and retrieval of phonological codes, as activities of working memory, acquired by audition sense. Children with cochlear implant experience a period that they are not able to perceive sounds. In order to assess the effect of hearing on working memory, we investigated working memory as a cognition skill in children with normal development and cochlear implant.

Methods

Fifty students with normal hearing and 50 students with cochlear implant aged 5–7 years participated in this study. Children educated in the preschool, the first and second grades. Children with normal development were matched based on age, gender, and grade of education with cochlear implant.Two components of working memory including phonological loop and central executive were compared between two groups. Phonological loop assessed by nonword repetition task and forward digit span. To assess central executive component backward digit span was used. The developmental trend was studied in children with normal development and cochlear implant as well. The effect of age at implantation in children with cochlear implants on components of working memory was investigated.

Results

There are significant differences between children with normal development and cochlear implant in all tasks that assess working memory (p < 0.001). The children's age at implantation was negatively correlated with all tasks (p < 0.001). In contrast, duration of usage of cochlear implant set was positively correlated with all tasks (p < 0.001). The comparison of working memory between different grades showed significant differences both in children with normal development and in children with cochlear implant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results implied that children with cochlear implant may experience difficulties in working memory. Therefore, these children have problems in encoding, practicing, and repeating phonological units. The results also suggested working memory develops when the child grows up. In cochlear implant children, with decreasing age at implantation and increasing their experience in perceiving sound, working memory skills improved.     

Primary bilateral intrapelvic hydatid cyst presenting with adnexal cystic mass: a case report

Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a common parasitic infection of the liver. Disseminated intra-abdominal hydatid disease may occur with the rupture of the hydatid cyst into the peritoneal cavity, producing secondary echinococcosis. But primary hydatid cyst in the pelvis is rare. We report a case of bilateral hydatid cyst of the pelvis in a 53 years old woman presented with adnexal cystic mass.     

Blockades of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and L-type calcium channels improve analgesic effect of morphine in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

In the present study interactions between analgesic effect of morphine with blockade of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and L-type calcium channels were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. A hot plate test was used to assess analgesic effect of drugs in adult male NMRI mice. All drugs were injected through an intraperitoneal route. A diabetic mouse model was established by injections of alloxan for three consecutive days. Seventy-two hours after the final injection, mice with a blood glucose level higher than 11.1mmol/l were considered as diabetic. The results showed that morphine at doses of 10 and 15mg/kg induced analgesia in both non-diabetic and diabetic mice, but the analgesic effect of morphine at dose of 7.5mg/kg was decreased in diabetic mice. Injections of an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, glibenclamide (4, 8, 12, 20mg/kg) had no effect in non-diabetic mice, while at doses of 12 and 20mg/kg induced analgesia in diabetic mice. Blockade of L-type calcium channels with nimodipine at different doses (2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg) was ineffective in non-diabetic mice, but at dose of 20mg/kg induced analgesia in diabetic mice. Co-administrations of glibenclamide (20mg/kg) or nimodipine (20mg/kg) along with different doses of morphine (5, 7.5 and 10mg/kg) improved the analgesic effect of the later drug in diabetic mice. According to the present results, it is possible that diabetes via affecting the potassium and calcium channels in the pain pathways may alter processing of pain in the peripheral and central nervous system.     

Naphthalimide-based optical turn-on sensor for monosaccharide recognition using boronic acid receptor

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for the determination of fructose is developed. The fluorescent sensor was prepared by incorporating a new naphthalimide dye with a planar structure as a selectophore and graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets as a quencher for rapid optical detection of fructose. The designed probe, made with the high fusion loop-containing dye, along with the GO nanoplatelets, detected fructose over the other monosaccharides very well. The proposed sensor displays a linear response range of 7 × 10⁻⁵ to 3 × 10⁻² M with a low limit of detection of 23 × 10⁻⁶ M in solution at pH 7.4. This sensor shows a good selectivity towards fructose with respect to other saccharides. The proposed sensor was then applied to the determination of fructose in human plasma with satisfactory results.

A fluorogenic receptor/GO nano-platform. PET developed using a new designed functional gives amplified (OFF–ON) fructose sensing with a 35-fold response. Enhancement takes place during a fast selective GO desorption.     

Advantages of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone over human menopausal gonadotropin for ovarian stimulation in intrauterine insemination: a randomized clinical trial in unexplained infertility

Objective

To compare two different gonadotropin preparations, human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH), combined with clomiphene citrate (CC) in women with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Study design

In this prospective clinical trial, couples prepared for IUI cycles were randomly allocated to two groups either to receive CC and hMG (group A, n = 127) or CC and rFSH (group B, n = 132) for ovarian stimulation. Outcomes including rates of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, OHSS, multiple pregnancy, cancelation, and live birth were compared between groups.

Results

Duration of gonadotropin therapy was significantly shorter in group B (5.1 ± 0.84 vs. 4.7 ± 0.8 days, CI = 95%, P < 0.001). The total dose of administered gonadotropin was also significantly lower in group B (386.9 ± 68.2 vs. 348.2 ± 56.3 IU, CI = 95%, P < 0.001). Dominant follicle number (>17 mm), mean follicular diameter, and endometrial thickness on the day of hCG injection were similar. Clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, abortion, live birth, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and cancelation rates were not statistically different between the groups.

Conclusion

IUI cycles in which rFSH had been administered may require shorter duration and a lower total gonadotropin dose.