Search

"nBackground: The Biophysical Profile (BPP) is a noninvasive test that predicts the presence or absence of fetal asphyxia and, ultimately, the risk of fetal death in the antenatal period. Intervention on the basis of an abnormal biophysical profile result has been reported to yield a significant reduction in prenatal mortality, and an association exists between biophysical profile scoring and a decreased cerebral palsy rate in a given population. The BPP evaluates five characteristics: fetal movement, tone, breathing, heart reactivity, and amniotic fluid (AF) volume estimation. The purpose of study was to determine whether there are different degree of acidosis at which the biophysical activity (acute marker) are affected. "nMethods: In a prospective study of 140 patients undergoing cesarean section before onset of labor, the fetal biophysical profile was performed 24h before the time of cesarean and was matched with cord arterial PH that was obtained from a cord segment (10-20cm) that was double clamped after delivery of newborn. (using cord arterial PH less than 7.20 for the diagnosis of acidosis). "nResults: The fetal biophysical profile was found to have a significant relationship with umbilical blood PH. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of fetal biophysical profile score were: 88.9%, 88.6%, 50%, 98.1%. "nConclusion: The first manifestations of fetal acidosis are nonreactive nonstress testing and fetal breathing loss; in advanced acidemia fetal movements and fetal tone are compromised. A protocol of antepartum fetal evaluation is suggested based upon the individual biophysical components rather than the score alone.

"nBackground: As an important diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for patients with intrauterine diseases, hysteroscopy permits a good view of the uterine cavity, thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy. Complications often encountered during hysteroscopy primarily concern problems with cervical dilatation and include uterine perforation, cervical tears, and the creation of false tracts. In this study, we investigate the utility of vaginal misoprostol for cervical dilatation in women undergoing hysteroscopy. "nMethods: This triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was carried out at Mirza Khoochak Khan Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We excluded women who were pregnant, had genital tract infection, or history of cervical trauma. We randomly assigned 80 women with abnormal uterine bleeding or intrauterine lesions to receive either 200 μg vaginal misoprostol or placebo. Ten to twelve hours prior to hysteroscopy, the placebo or misoprostol was administered to the posterior vaginal fornix. Data regarding cervical response and outcome of operative hysteroscopy, as well as complications, were analyzed. "nResults: The mean cervical width, as estimated by Hegar dilator, was significantly greater in the treated group (7.8±1.6mm) than that in the control group (5.6±2.2mm, p

Background: Preterm labor is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Recurrence of preterm labor in future pregnancies is 6-8%. History of preterm labor is a strong risk factor for future preterm labor. Preterm labor is the leading cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries, but permanent morbidity in these premature neonates has many side effects for the newborn as well as their family members and society. For this reason we conducted a survey to identify risk factors for recurrent preterm delivery among primiparous women with previous preterm delivery. Methods: This prospective case–control study included patients from three university hospitals, namely Imam Khomeini, Shariati and Mirza Koochakkhan Hospitals, all in Tehran, Iran. Subjects, including 539 primiparous women who delivered preterm (22–36 weeks), were divided into two groups: 47 had a second preterm delivery (study group) and 492 had first preterm delivery (control group). Exclusion criteria were induced preterm delivery due to medical indications in mother and primigravid. Data collection and analysis was performed using SPSS 10 and t-test and χ2 test were used to analyze the significance of the results. Results: From a total of 6,537 deliveries, we found 539 cases of preterm delivery, among which 47 cases were identified as recurrent preterm delivery. The control group was composed of 492 deliveries. The recurrence of preterm delivery was 8.7%. Uterine anomaly, cardiovascular, renal and thyroid disease in mother and blood group A had a significant correlation with recurrent preterm delivery. Conclusion: Expectant mothers with uterine anomalies, cardiovascular, renal or thyroid diseases or group A blood type should receive extra care, observation and instructions in order to limit the risk of preterm delivery and its subsequent effects.

A novel technique was demonstrated that overcomes important drawbacks to crosslink cells by irradiation with ultrashort ultraviolet laser pulses (L-crosslinking). To use this technique coupled to Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) in a high throughput context, a prescreening fast method needs to be implemented to set up suitable irradiation conditions of the cell sample for efficient L-crosslinking with no final and long ChIP analysis. Here a fast method is reported where living human cells have been first transfected with a vector coding for Estrogen Receptor α (ERα), linked to Green Florescent protein (ERα-GFP), so that the well-known interaction between the Estrogen Receptor Elements (ERE) region of the cell DNA and the ERα protein can be detected by studying the fluorometric response of the irradiated cells. The damage induced to cells by ultraviolet irradiation is characterized by looking at the DNA integrity, protein stability, and cellular viability. A second novel approach is presented to analyze or re-visit DNA and RNA sequences and their molecular configurations. This approach is based on methods derived from Chern-Simons super-gravity adapted to describe mutations in DNA/RNA strings, as well as interactions between nucleic acids. As a preliminary case, we analyze the KRAS human gene sequence and some of its mutations. Interestingly, our model shows how the Chern-Simons currents are able to characterize the mutations within a sequence, in particular giving a quantitative indication of the mutation likelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to determine whether Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs could affect lesions caused by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin and celecoxib. Thirty asymptomatic mixed-breed dogs were used for this study. Gastric biopsies were taken via gastroscopy and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid urease tests (RUT). Helicobacter spp. was detected in all specimens. The infection was completely eradicated in 15 dogs by a three-drug regimen for 21 days (amoxicillin, clarithromycin and omeprazole). Each Helicobacter-positive and -negative group was then divided into three subgroups treated with aspirin, celecoxib and placebo for 14 days. Dogs in the different subgroups were compared by sequential gastroscopy on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 (a week after drug cessation). The results show that selective COX-2 inhibitors are better tolerated than conventional non-selective NSAIDs in dogs in terms of their side effects; however, these drugs should be administered with caution. Unlike what is advised in medical practices in humans, it seems that the eradication of non-pylori Helicobacter spp. from the stomach is not necessary prior to administrating NSAIDs in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the association between vaginal Chlamydia infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Data were collected in a case-control study for 60 patients with CIN in biopsy and 85 control subjects with normal colposcopy and biopsy. Serum antibodies to C. trachomatis were associated with an increased risk for CIN [odds ratio (OR) = 7.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-35.2)]. There was also a significant association between presence of inclusion bodies for C. trachomatis and CIN (OR = 5.5; 95% CI 2.4-12.4). These results indicate a strong association between CIN and chlamydial cervicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has been carried out with the objective of isolation and identification of agent(s) of pasteurella pneumonia in sheep and goat in Iran using bacteriological and biochemical assays to be identified in the pursuant researches to be used in pasteurellosis vaccine production. To accomplish this objective, samples were gathered from areas suspicious to pasteurellosis infection and industrial abbatoirs according to clinical and autopsy symptoms from eight provinces of Bushehr, Esfahan, Kerman, Kohgilooyeh & Boyr Ahmad, Fars, Qom, Tehran and Qazvin in a period from spring 2008 to spring 2011. Samples were different in sort due to the existent condition but generally were comprised of palatine tonsil swabs or blood samples taken from jugular vein in live animals and lungs or upper respiratory tract lymph glands in dead or slaughtered animals. Totally, 1454 samples (1120 samples of sheep, 334 samples of goat composed if 1084 samples of live animals and 370 samples of dead or slaughterd animals) were tested. Considering results obtained from assays, only 54 samples (3.71%) were assessed as being pasteurella, genus of which was totally identified as multocida.