THE EFFECT OF CASSIA FISTULA EXTRACTS ON LEISHMANIA MAJOR ULCERS IN LABORATORY MICE
Considering the large profile of adverse side effects of pentavalent antimony compounds currently used in treatment of Leishmaniasis, access to drugs with high efficacy and fewer side effects is highly desirable. In this study we evaluated the therapeutic effects of the fruits of Cassia fistula, a herbal medicine commonly used in southern regions of Iran for treatment of leishmaniosis.
Cassia fistula (cassia pulp-pudding pipe tree) belongs to the leguminosae family and grows in scattered areas of India, southeastern Iran, Egypt, Sudan and Brazil. We evaluated the effects of 2.5%, 5%, 25%, 40% and 70% concentrations of C.fistula fruit hydroalcoholic extracts on small white laboratory mice previously infected by live and active leishmania major amastigotes. Syrian mice were divided into cases and controls; the cases received the extracts in various concentrations twice daily for a maximum of 30 days. Changes in ulcer diameter were assessed and compared by paired t-test. The results showed that 2.5% and 5% concentrations of the lotion were not able to reduce ulcer diameter or significantly reduce leishman bodies after the course of treatment, but 25% and 40% extracts caused significant reduction in ulcer diameter. A 75% concentration of the fruit extract combined with dimethyl sulfoxide (for enhancing the permeability of the extract ) caused the most significant reduction of ulcer diameter and even complete recovery in some instances.
It is concludes that a high concentration of C. Fistula fruit extract in combination with a permeating substance, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, may be effective in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Authors: M.A. Chenari, A. Nazer, MR
Source: Pajouhandeh 1999;4(1):9-14
STUDY OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND ANTIBIOTIC-SENSITIVITY OF ISOLATED BACTERIA IN TABRIZ, NORTHWEST IRAN
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease, which may occur asymptomatically in both sexes at any age. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women particularly, can cause problems for both mother and fetus. In this study, 950 symptom-free pregnant women who had been referred to the Tabriz University Hospital and private gynecology clinics for routine pregnancy care were randomly selected. Their clean-catch midstream urine samples were tested for bacteriuria (³ 105 CFU/ml). One hundred patients had asymptomatic bacteriuria.
The results showed that E. Coli proved to be the most prevalent organism (85%) causing asymptomatic bacteriuria in our patients. Other bacteria isolated were as follows: Staphylococcus saprophyticus (5%), Proteus mirabilis (4%) Streptococcus spp (2%), Klebsiella spp (2%), Staphylococcus aureus (1%) and Enterobacter areogenes (1%). When antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed according to Kirby-Bauer method on E.coli strains, the following sensitivity patterns were observed: Amikacin (100%), Nalidixic Acid (94.6%), Nitrofurantion (90%). Sensitivity of other isolated organisms are also discussed in detail.
Results of this study indicate the presence of asymptomatic UTI (10.5%) in pregnant women studied in Tabriz, and underlines the need for recognition and timely treatment to prevent potential problems.
Authors: MH Vedjdani, MR Nahale, H Gourabchi, SM Razavi-Motlagh
Source: J Kerman Univ Med Sci 1998;5:165-170
SERUM AND HAIR MANGANESE LEVELS IN IRANIAN MANGANESE MINE WORKERS
Manganese (MN) is an essential mineral with various roles in osteogenesis and the metabolism of neurotransmitters. Its accumulation in the body results in Parkinson- like symptoms. Recent concern about reports on manganese toxicity in Iran lead to the design of this study. In a study conducted in 1998 to measure the levels of serum and hair manganese in the Ghom’s Narch manganese mine (central Iran), workers (n=298) underwent a thorough neurologic examination. Five milliliters of blood and 3 threads of hair were obtained for analysis. Manganese concentrations were measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Various labor factors including exposure length and intensity were also assessed. The subjects were divided into 3 groups of high, moderate and low exposure. The results showed that workers had an average of 82.1 months of employment in the mines. Most of them were rated as highly exposed (n-126, 42.2%). The moderate and low exposure workers accounted for 33.6 (n-100) and 24.1 (n-72) respectively. One- hundred and ninety (63%) had no abnormal neurologic signs or symptoms while 99 (33.2%) suffered mild and non-specific symptoms. Nine (3%) were rated as having manganesism, of whom 6 belonged to the high exposure group.
Workers with mild non-specific symptoms had been employed for approximately 3 months longer therefore exposure duration was greater. This amount rose to 31 months in the group suffering form manganesism. The blood manganese levels in the symptoms-free group and the group suffering from non-specific symptoms were 3.11±0.62 mg/dl respectively, while the levels found in the blood of the manganesism group was 3.64±0.79 however the difference was not significant.
Manganese in the hair (mean: 2.69±0.47 µg/gr) was not significantly different across the groups either. Manganese blood and hair levels only showed a weak correlation with employment and exposure duration. The results indicate that hair and blood manganese levels are not accurate indicators in the screening and diagnosis of manganese toxicity.
Authors: K. Gharagozil, A. Negahi, N. Valaii
Source: Pejouhandeh 1999;4:69-75.
INFECTION WITH HTLVI/II IN THALASSEMIA PATIENTS
HTLV-1 and HTLV-II are type C retroviruses which belong to the Oncoviridiae subfamily. A wide spectrum of disorders including hematopoietic, renal uveitis, polymyositis, neurologic degenerative disorder, and immunosupression are known to be HTLV associated disorders.
Regarding the major routes of viral transmission which comprise sexual contact, blood transfusion, and breast feeding, the multiply transfused patients such as thalassemics, who frequently receive blood components are at high risk of becoming infected.
Since more than 90% of infected individuals do not show any obvious clinical symptoms, it is necessary to apply a diagnostic laboratory test in order to find out carriers.
ELISA is the most common screening method in use worldwide, the sensitivity and specificity of which are at least 99.9% and 99.8%, respectively. In this survey, 300 thalassemic patients were screened by ELISA.
It was found that 8 cases (2.7%; 95% Cl=0.9-4.5) were seropositive and the mean antibody titer in this group was 1/297.It was shown that the probability of aquiring infection was significantly related to age (P=0.01), amount of blood received (p<0.001), and the number of admissions per month (p=0.01). The individuals in the seropositive group had received at least 90 ml more blood monthly, compared to the seronegative individuals.
Because the seropositive rate of 2.7% obtained in this study was remarkable, routine screening tests must be performed by Blood Transfusion Services to prevent viral transmission via components of donated blood.
Authors: B. Moaiedi, AR Nafisi, K Torabizadeh
Source: Res Med Sci J 1999; 4;29-32.
DETERMINATION OF THE FREQUENCY OF IVSII-1 MUTATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH ß-THALASSEMIA IN KASHAN
Beta-thalassemia constitutes one of the most common genetic disorders and has a high prevalence rate in malarious regions. Iran is considered to be located within this region of the world, and therefore has a relatively high rate of disease. Thus far, about one hundred different types of mutations capable of and responsible for causing ß-thalassemia have been identified in the ß-globulin gene. One of these mutations, which occurs in the first nucleotide of second intron of this gene, is named IVSII-1. In this mutation, a cytosine is replaced by a thymine. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of this mutation among patients with ß-thalassemia major in Kashan, central Iran. To this end, 30 chromosomal specimens were examined for the presence of this mutation using the ARMSP/PCR method. The results revealed that 23.3% possessed this mutation. Our observations suggest that investigations to determine the presence of this mutation, as one of the frequent types of mutation, would be useful in the investigation of patients in the region for prenatal diagnosis.
Authors: P. Pasalar, Izad P, SH. Homayoon
Source: J Med Council I.R.Irn 1998;16:38-40
A MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE PLANT HYOSCYAMUS MUTICUS OF IRANIAN FLORA
Hyoscyamus muticus L. (Solanaceae) an annual or biennial plant contains a considerable amount of tropane alkaloids namely atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Atropine is the major constituent of these alkaloids (75%). Due to the economical significance and ubiquity of this plant in Iran, we conducted a study to determine the quantities of hyoscyamine and scopolamine contained in this plant.
Specimens were collected from Central Iran and examined using botanical and phytochemical methods. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine were isolated and studied by ultraviolet (UV), infrared and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques.
The quantities of hyoscyamine and scopolamine were measured using titermetry and UV spectroscopy methods, and the percent constituent of total alkaloids, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, were estimated to be 0.22%, 0.15%, and 0.04%, respectively.
Authors: S. E. Sajjadi, N. Ghassemi, A. Kabir
Source: Sci Med J Ahwaz, Sep. 1999;26:18-23