Repository of Research and Investigative Information
Not a member yet
797 research outputs found
Sort by
Kisspeptin: Key Regulator of Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal Axis
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons of hypothalamus are final output of brain for regulation of puberty onset and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis functions in mammals. However, the mechanisms responsible for release of GnRH neurons are unknown. A number of various factors including neurotransmitters, neuropeptides or different signals have been identified to be involved in the regulation of the secretion of GnRH neurons. Neuronal set of kisspeptin have been recognized recently as critical upstream regulators of GnRH neurons. Given the importance of this issue, in this study a review of various studies and sources about biosynthesis, neuroanatomy, signaling, function and dysfunction of kisspeptin was performed.
METHODS: In this review study, new evidence in relation to role of kisspeptin neuropeptide in the reproductive system were investigated by using various databases including pubmed, sciencedirect, nature, springer, wiley, scopus and key words such as kisspeptin, gonads, hypothalamus, GnRH and reproduction were used.
FINDINGS: From 145 gained articles, 63 articles were reviewed. Kisspeptin neuropeptide signaling in hypothalamus is required for initiation of puberty and mammalian reproductive function. Kisspeptin neurons stimulate GnRH release and act as central integrator of external and internal signals. Neurones kisspeptin are sensitive to sex steroids, metabolic cues estrogen like compounds.
CONCLUSION: Kisspeptin neurons play a vital role in the maturation and function of the HPG axis, including the sexual differentiation of the brain, the timing of puberty, the regulation of gonadotropin secretion and the control of fertility by hormonal and environmental cues
Histological Evaluation of Different Types of Mastocytes in the Skin Flap Using Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through Biological Growth Factor
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Skin flap is one of the most commonly used methods in plastic surgery. Postoperative skin flap necrosis is one of the complications of flap skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and chick embryo extract (CEE) on mast cells in a randomized skin flap in rats.
METHODS: In this experimental study, 40 male albino Wistar rats weighing 250 – 300 g were divided into four groups of 10 (control, CEE/BM-MSCs, CEE and BM-MSCs). Skin flap (30 × 80 mm) was created behind the animals. Surgery was performed on day zero and therapeutic intervention was done on the same day. Mesenchymal stem cells were extracted from rat bone marrow and were injected. CEE was prepared from a 9-day-old embryo of Marandi chicken. On the seventh day after the surgery, samples were assessed in term of type, and the total number of mast cells (type 1 to 3) in the transfer line.
FINDINGS: The difference between the mean number of mast cells type 1 (3.67±1.91) (p=0.99), and type 3 (1.9±1.47) (p=0.384) was not significant in the study groups, but was statistically significant in type 2 (2.27±1.42) in different study groups (p=0.005). There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean total number of mast cells (2.32±0.84) in the BM-MSCs group and other experimental groups (p=0.001).
CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, increase in mast cell type 2, the improvement of small vessels and decrease in mast cell type 3 lead to the reduction of scarring and fibrosis
Relationship between Severity of Nasal Septum Deviation and Pneumatization of Mastoid Cells and Chronic Otitis Media
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is one of the leading causes of chronic otitis media and pneumatization of mastoid air cells. In this study, the effect of NSD on pneumatization of mastoid cells and the relationship between NSD and chronic otitis media were investigated using CT scan.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 75 paranasal sinus CT scans with NSD and mastoid view were investigated. Patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of NSD: mild (deviation less than 9 degrees, 25 patients), moderate (deviation from 9 to 15 degrees, 25 patients) and severe (deviation equal to or greater than 15 degrees, 25 patients). Chronic otitis media is defined as the presence of bone destruction or sclerosis accompanied by mass fluid or structural changes in temporal bone air cells. The pneumatization of mastoid cells was determined visually and as formation of mastoid air cells.
FINDINGS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of pneumatization of mastoid cells between mild (25 patients, 100%), moderate (25 patients, 100%) and severe (23 patients, 92%) nasal septum deviation (p = 0.128). However, the prevalence of chronic otitis media was significantly higher in severe NSD (13 patients, 52%) compared to mild (4 patients, 16%) and moderate (9 patients, 36%) NSD (p = 0.028)
CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that the severity of NSD does not have an effect on pneumatization of mastoid cells, but severe NSD increases the frequency of otitis media
Benefits of omalizumab on anxiety and depression in patients with severe asthma
Get PDFBackground: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and may cause psychiatric disorders affecting the patients’ quality of life. In our study, we evaluated the effect of omalizumab treatment on anxiety disorder and depression using Beck Depression Scale (BDS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
Methods: Anxiety level was determined with STAI, whereas depression level was evaluated by BDS. Patients were asked to mark the questionnaires to reflect their emotional state before treatment, and to reflect their emotions they are feeding in the current moment. All patients receiving omalizumab treatment were included in the study. Patients with known neuropsychiatric disorder were excluded from the study.
Results: A total of 20 patients with mean age of 50.25 years were enrolled in the study. Gender distribution was: 5(25%) male patients and 15(75%) female patients. All patients with severe asthma received omalizumab treatment. The omalizumab treatment period was shown for mean 17.6 months (2-40 months). In anxiety scales, there was statistically significant difference compared with pretreatment and posttreatment periods. Depression (moderate to severe) was present in 12 patients before omalizumab treatment and 3 patients after omalizumab treatment.
Conclusions: Uncontrolled asthma as a chronic disorder can cause depressive symptoms and worsen quality of life. We believe by controlling asthma, quality of life will improvein such patients. In appropriate indication, omalizumab can improve depression and anxiety in asthma patients
Q-T interval prolongation in cirrhosis: Relationship and severity
Get PDFBackground: Cirrhosis as the final stage of progressive fibrosis of liver can affect other organs such as lungs, kidneys and heart. "Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy" involves the electrophysiological abnormalities such as QT interval prolongation. We assessed correlation between corrected QT interval prolongation and severity of cirrhosis based on Child Classification in each ECG lead.
Methods: In this case-control study, the patients attending the outpatient clinic and inpatient department of internal medicine of Velayat Hospital in Qazvin were enrolled from September 2014 to July 2015. Total samples were 74 patients, half of which were used as controls. Cirrhosis severity was determined as per Child Classification. Both groups had Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ tested and 12- lead ECG was obtained. The QT interval was corrected by two different formulas: (1) QTc=QT/√RR (QTc1); (2) QTc=QT+1.75 (heart rate-60) (QTc2). To analyze the data, the software SPSS Version 16 and Mann-Whitney, Pearson’s chisquare test-Kruskal-Wallis, and t-tests were used.
Results: The mean of QTc1 and QTc2 was longer in cirrhotics than the control group. There was a significant correlation between Child score and length of QTc1 in leads: III (p=0.032), AVL (p=0.041), V2 (p=0.049), V6 (p=0.015). There were significant differences in length of QTc1 in leads: V3 (p=0.031) and V6 (p=0.021); and QTc2 in lead V3 (p=0.039) between Child Classification.
Conclusions: Cirrhosis can induce QTc interval prolongation. Lead V3 has statistically significant correlation with the severity of cirrhosis based on child classification. We propose that QT interval prolongation be added as a criterion for prioritizing liver transplantation
Pacemaker lead endocarditis with hiccups (Kalayci)
Get PDFBackground: Lead-related infections that might develop after pacemaker implantation associated with high mortality and morbidity rates are challenging to manage and pose high-cost. Patients with lead-related infections usually present with fever, chills and fatigue and the treatment can be challenging unless the implant system is extracted.
Case presentation: A 66-year old male patient who underwent dual chamber pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator was admitted to the emergency service with a six-week history of complaints of hiccups and fever. After a detailed investigation, lead-related infective endocarditis was the diagnosis. The patient was initiated on antibiotic therapy and lead extraction was performed.
Conclusions: Patients with signs of infection who underwent pacemaker implantation may present with atypical symptoms such as hiccup. In these cases, imaging, particularly echocardiography, should be performed as soon as possible and the localization of the pacemaker leads and signs of infective endocarditis should be investigated
Reparative radiological changes of hip joint after TNF inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis
Get PDFBackground: Hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common extraspinal arthritic manifestation, which is associated to a worse functional outcome. Little data are available on the effectiveness of conservative treatment strategies. The TNF inhibitors have been proven effective on AS activity parameters. Their structural effect on hip disease however, little is studied.
Case presentation: We describe four new cases of reparative changes of a damaged hip joint after treatment with TNF inhibitors. The average of age was 32.5 (27- 36) years. There were 3 men and 1 woman. Hip involvement was bilateral in all cases. Etanercept was prescribed in 3 cases and infliximab in 1 case. At baseline, all patients had a painful and limited hip with high disease activity and an important functional impairment. After an average of 5.5 years of treatment with TNF inhibitors, the BASRI hip evaluated in antero-posterior x-rays of the pelvis remained unchanged at 2.4. The average of mean hip joint space was 2.9mm (2.3-3.6). A widening in hip joint space was observed in all cases with less subchondral cysts.
Conclusion: TNF inhibitors seem to be effective on hip joint disease in patients with AS
5-year survival rates based on the type of leukemia in Iran, a Meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground: According to epidemiological studies, leukemia is among the five most common cancers in Iran. Keeping efforts to estimate survival is critical to monitoring and improving patients’ quality of life with leukemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 5-year survival rate of leukemia patients in Iran using meta-analysis method.
Methods: This meta-analysis was carried out according to studies that adhere to inclusion and exclusion criteria during enrolment. The valid Iranian databases included: Medex, Magiran, SID, and Medlib, along with international data bases, namely, Scopus, Pubmed, and ISI were searched to find relevant articles. After determining the heterogeneity between studies, the random effects models were used to estimate pooled survival in leukemia patients.
Results: In total, 18 studies involving 2517 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled 5-year survival rate was 0.56 % (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.58). According to types AML and ALL, the 5-year survival rates in Iran were 35.0 % (95% CI: 32.0-38.0) and 57.0 % (95% CI: 54.0-60.0), respectively.
Conclusion: Based on our findings, slightly less than 50% of leukemia deaths happened in the first 5 years after diagnosis, which is lower than the global average
The effect of fixed orthodontic treatment with first premolar extraction on mandibular third molars angulation and retromolar space
Get PDFIntroduction: In most orthodontic patients, mandibular 3rd molars are in early stages of calcification, and prediction of eruption status would be difficult during the course of orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of first premolar extraction with moderate anchorage on angular changes of third mandibular molar after orthodontic treatment.
Materials & Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 50 skeletal class I patients with normal facial height were selected. The patients were divided into two groups of extraction and non-extraction treatments. The angle between 2nd and 3rd molars and 3rd molar angle to mandibular plane were evaluated. Space for eruption of 3rd molar and 3rd molar position relative to ramus were evaluated with regard to Pell and Gregory classification. Paired T-test was used to compare the changes after treatments.
Results: In both groups, 3rd molar angle relative to mandibular plane was increased after the treatment but the difference was not significant. M2-M3 angle changed during the treatments but it was not significant (P>0.05). The retromolar space had significantly higher amounts in extraction groups after the treatment (P<0.001). In non-extraction group, there was significant increase in stage I of Pell and Gregory classification (P<0.001). In extraction group, counts of patients with no space for eruption of M3M were decreased and the difference was significant (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Extraction of premolars did not have any significant positive effect on mandibular 3rd molar angulation but it can increase the posterior space for eruption of wisdom teeth
A comparative evaluation of cone-beam computed tomography and multi-slice computed tomography in the diagnosis of sheep mandibular bone defect: an in vitro study
Get PDFIntroduction: Diagnosis of lesions and bone defects is very important and there is a lack of substantial studies on the most appropriate method for bone defect measurement. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of mandibular bone defects present in sheep. Material & Methods: This in vitro study was performed on 15 sheep's mandibular bones. Some defects were created in cortical and spongy bone using high-speed hand piece at the buccal and lingual cortical bone of the lower jaw. Totally, 75 mandibular bone defects with a depth of 1-3 mm were created. The mandibular bone samples were scanned using MSCT and CBCT scanners, and these scans were evaluated by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. The positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for both methods. Results: The sensitivity of MSCT and CBCT were 78 and 96.5 and &nbsp;Specificitiey of MSCT and CBCT were 90 and 92 respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 97.5 and 89.5 for CBCT, and 90 and 92 for MSC respectively. The negative and positive likelihood ratios (LR-) and (LR+) were 0.035 and 13.04 for CBCT as well as 0.245 and 7.82 for MSC respectively. Conclusion: The study results demonstrated a higher accuracy of CBCT, compared to MSCT, in the diagnosis of bone defects