Diagnostic efficacy of sonography for diagnosis of ovarian torsion

Objectives: Misdiagnosing ovarian torsion is now suggested as an important issue in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sonography for ovarian torsion. Methods: In this study 323 women with acute pelvic pain with highly suspected ovarian torsion signs and symptoms attending Imam Reza Medical Center in Kermanshah between 2011 through 2012 were included and underwent a transabdominal sonography (2-5 MHz probes). Then findings of sonography were compared with laparatomy. Results: The ultrasound correctly diagnosed 72.1% of ovarian torsion and missed 27.9% of them (false negatives). However, one free subject (0.4%) was misclassified as ovarian torsion (false positive). There was a strong correlation between sonography and laparatomy with a kappa value of 84.0%. The sensitivity and specificity of sonography were 72.1% and 99.6%, respectively. Sonography had a positive predictive value of 96.9%, a negative predictive value of 95.9%, and a total accuracy of 96.0% for detection of ovarian torsion. Conclusion: Sonography appears to be an excellent method to evaluate patients with suspected ovarian torsion. Abnormal blood flow detected by sonography is highly predictive of ovarian torsion and is therefore useful in the diagnosis of this phenomenon

A Comparison of the Effect of Ondansetron and Propofol on Intrathecal Opioid-Induced itch in Elective Cesarean Section

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Itch is one of the most common and uncomfortable side effects of neuraxial anesthesia. Its incidence is higher especially in cesarean section. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ondansetron and propofol at doses lower than the hypnotic dose on the treatment of itch induced by intrathecal fentanyl in cesarean section. METHODS: In this prospective study, 90 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I and class II with an average age of 30 years and first time cesarean section underwent intra-spinal anesthesia with 25 μg fentanyl and 10 mg bupivacaine 0.5%. Women were randomly divided into two groups of 45. One group received 4 mg ondansetron and another group received 10 mg propofol at first and then 10 μg / kg / min through infusion. The incidence and severity of itch were recorded on the basis of the visual scoring system during operation and during recovery. FINDINGS:The highest incidence of itch was 30 to 60 minutes after injection. The incidence of itch during surgery was 2.22% and 7.26%, and during recovery was 7.6% and 8.8%, in the ondansetron and propofol groups, respectively (p=0.5, p=0.4). The mean itch severity scores during surgery were 1.85±0.69 and 1.66±0.81, and during the recovery were 1.33±0.57 and 1.25±0.5, in the ondansetron and propofol groups, respectively (p=0.65) (p=0.84). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, ondansetron and propofol at doses lower than the hypnotic dose were well tolerated. Considering the effect of both drugs on the treatment of itch caused by intrathecal fentanyl, both of them can be used clinicall

A microfluidics-based method for measuring neuronal activity in Drosophila chemosensory neurons

Monitoring neuronal responses to defined sensory stimuli is a powerful and widely used approach for understanding sensory coding in the nervous system. However, providing precise, stereotypic and reproducible cues while concomitantly recording neuronal activity remains technically challenging. Here we describe the fabrication and use of a microfluidics system that allows precise temporally restricted stimulation of Drosophila chemosensory neurons with an array of different chemical cues. The system can easily be combined with genetically encoded calcium sensors, and it can measure neuronal activity at single-cell resolution in larval sense organs and in the proboscis or leg of the adult fly. We describe the design of the master mold, the production of the microfluidic chip and live imaging using the calcium sensor GCaMP, expressed in distinct types of Drosophila chemosensory neurons. Fabrication of the master mold and microfluidic chips requires basic skills in photolithography and takes ~2 weeks; the same devices can be used repeatedly over several months. Flies can be prepared for measurements in minutes and imaged for up to 1 h

Neuronal Chemokines: Versatile Messengers In Central Nervous System Cell Interaction

Whereas chemokines are well known for their ability to induce cell migration, only recently it became evident that chemokines also control a variety of other cell functions and are versatile messengers in the interaction between a diversity of cell types. In the central nervous system (CNS), chemokines are generally found under both physiological and pathological conditions. Whereas many reports describe chemokine expression in astrocytes and microglia and their role in the migration of leukocytes into the CNS, only few studies describe chemokine expression in neurons. Nevertheless, the expression of neuronal chemokines and the corresponding chemokine receptors in CNS cells under physiological and pathological conditions indicates that neuronal chemokines contribute to CNS cell interaction. In this study, we review recent studies describing neuronal chemokine expression and discuss potential roles of neuronal chemokines in neuron–astrocyte, neuron–microglia, and neuron–neuron interaction

Comparison of General Health, Job Stress, and Burnout among Ordinary and Mental-retarded-student Schools’ Teachers

The purpose of this study is comparison of general health, job stress, and burnout among ordinary and mental-retarded-students primary schools’ teachers in Khuzestan province. 125 mental-retarded-student teachers were selected by multistage random method. Also, 125 ordinary-student teachers were selected from the same area which mental-retarded-student teachers were chosen. Data gathering tools were general health questionnaire (GHQ), job stress generators questionnaire for teachers (JSQT), Maslach burnout inventory (BMI) questionnaire. For data anal-ysis, descriptive statistics methods (mean, standard deviation), and de-ductive methods (multi-variable variance analysis) were applied. Analysis results showed that mental-retarded-student teachers have worse general health in comparison with ordinary-student teachers. Also, findings indicated that there was no meaningful difference in job stress between the two groups of teacher. But burnout in all dimensions (emotional analysis, depersonalization, and lack of individual success) was more observed in mental-retarded-student teachers in comparison with ordi-nary-student teachers

The Protective and Therapeutic Roles of Hexamethylenetetramine and N-Acetyl-Cysteine on Sulfur Mustard-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Serum

Introduction: Sulfur mustard(SM) is a strong alkylating agent that increases the formation of free radicals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the protective and therapeutic roles of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC) in reduction of SM-induced oxidative stress in rat serum. Methods: In the present experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups including: control group, SM group (an endotracheal injection of SM 0.5%/kg only once), HMT group (7.5mg/kg), NAC group (0.5mg/kg), HMT-SM group, NAC-SM group, SM-HMT group and SM-NAC group. HMT and NAC were received daily an hour before and after receiving SM by intraperitoneal injection for 14 days. After 14 days, the rats were anesthetized by ether, their blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the serum was obtained. Then, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and glutathione S-transferase(GST) activities, as well as glutathione(GSH) and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels were determined by biochemical methods. Results: SM decreased serum SOD (p<0.001) and CAT (p<0.05) activities as well as GSH level (p<0.01), whereas it increased GST activity (p<0.01) and MDA level (p<0.01). HMT and NAC pre- and post-treated animals showed a difference in these biochemical parameters as compared to SM-treated rats. Conclusion: The study findings revealed that SM induces oxidative stress in rat serum. HMT and NAC can ameliorate SM-induced oxidative stress by altering antioxidant defense system in serum. The protective effect of HMT against the toxicity of SM is higher than NAC

Molecular Characterization and Sequencing of a Gene Encoding Mannose Binding Protein in an Iranian Isolate of Acanthamoeba castellanii as a Major Agent of Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Background: Acanthamoeba castellanii is the important cause of amoebic keratitis in Iran. The key molecule in pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis is Mannose Binding Protein (MBP) led to adhesion of amoeba to corneal epithelium. Subsequent to adhesion other cytopathic effects occur. The goal of this study was to identify the molecular characterization of a gene encoding MBP in an Iranian isolate of A.castellanii in order to pave the way for further investigations such as new therapeutic advances or immunization. Methods: A.castellanii was cultured on non nutrient agar. Extraction of DNA was performed by phenol-chloroform method. After designing a pair of primer for the gene encoding MBP, PCR analysis was performed. Finally, the PCR product has been sequenced and the result submitted to the gene data banks. Results: An MBP gene of 1081 nucleotides was sequenced. This fragment contained three introns and encodes a protein with 194 amino acids. Homology search by Blast program showed a significant homology with the MBP gene in gene data banks (96%). Besides, the identity of amino acids with the other MBPs in gene data banks was about 86%. Conclusion: We isolated and sequenced a gene fragment encoding MBP in an Iranian isolate of A.castellanii. Molecular characterization of this important gene is the first step in pursuing researches such as developing better therapeutic agents, immunization of population at risk or even developing a diagnostic tool by PCR techniques

Identification of Pathogenic Candida Species: PCR-Fragment Size Polymorphism (PCR-FSP) Method

&quot;nBackground: The clinical importance of yeast infections has increased in recent decades. There are 10-15 pathogenic Candida species. The current morphological and physiological methods for identification of Candida species are generally not easy to interpret and may be expensive or time-consuming. In the present study, we introduce and use a new approach for the identification and differentiation of medically important yeast species of Candida. In this method, size polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer regions, ITS1 and ITS2, of the ribosomal DNA in various Candida species is used as the basis of species recognition. &quot;nMethods: The genomic DNA of 31 standard strains and 60 clinical isolates was extracted and PCR-amplified using two primer pairs (ITS1-ITS2 and ITS3-ITS4) separately. Both PCR products were mixed and analyzed after standard agarose gel electrophoresis. The species of the tested yeasts were identified by the electrophoretic patterns of the mixed PCR products of each sample, comparing the data obtained from the sequence analyses of ITS1 and ITS2 molecules. &quot;nResults: By this method, with the exception of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, we were able to clearly differentiate nearly all common pathogenic Candida species, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. gulliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis,&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;C. krusei, C. kefyr, C. lusinaniae and C. rugosa. All standard and clinical strains were identified correctly, without expensive methods such as sequencing and capillary electrophoresis. &quot;nConclusion: It seems that the PCR-FSP method introduced in this study is the easiest molecular approach for the identification of a wide range of pathogenic Candida species and is applicable for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes in reference laboratories