Correlation of MT levels in livers and gills with heavy metals in wild tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from the Klang River, Malaysia

Metallothionein (MT) concentrations in gill and liver tissues of Oreochromis mossambicus were determined to assess biological response of fish to levels of some metals. Metal concentrations in gill and liver tissues of O. mossambicus ranged from 0.6 to 2.6 for Cd, 16 to 52 for Zn, 0.5 to 17 for Cu and 2 to 67 for T–Hg (all in μg/g wet weight, except for T–Hg in ng/g wet weight). Accumulation of Cd, Zn, Cu and Hg (μg/g wet weight) in the liver and gills of O. mossambicus were in the order of liver > gills. The concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu and Hg in fish tissues were correlated with MT content. The increases in MT levels from the reference area Puchong Tengah compared to the polluted area Kampung Seri Kenangan were 3.4- and 3.8-fold for gills and livers, respectively. The results indicate that MT concentrations were tissue-specific, with the highest levels in the liver. Therefore, the liver can act as a tissue indicator in O. mossambicus in the study area

Mechanical Characteristics of the Fine Roots of Two Broadleaved Tree Species from the Temperate Caspian Hyrcanian Ecoregion

In view of the important role played by roots against shallow landslides, root tensile force was evaluated for two widespread temperate tree species within the Caspian Hyrcanian Ecoregion, i.e., Fagus orientalis L. and Carpinus betulus L. Fine roots (0.02 to 7.99 mm) were collected from five trees of each species at three different elevations (400, 950, and 1350 m a.s.l.), across three diameter at breast height (DBH) classes (small = 7.5–32.5 cm, medium = 32.6–57.5 cm, and large =57.6–82.5 cm), and at two slope positions relative to the tree stem (up- and down-slope). In the laboratory, maximum tensile force (N) required to break the root was determined for 2016 roots (56 roots per each of two species x three sites x three DBH classes x two slope positions). ANCOVA was used to test the effects of slope position, DBH, and study site on root tensile force. To obtain the power-law regression coefficients, a nonlinear least square method was used. We found that: 1) root tensile force strongly depends on root size, 2) F. orientalis roots are stronger than C. betulus ones in the large DBH class, although they are weaker in the medium and small DBH classes, 3) root mechanical resistance is higher upslope than downslope, 4) roots of the trees with larger DBH were the most resistant roots in tension in compare with roots of the medium or small DBH classes, and 5) the root tensile force for both species is notably different from one site to another site. Overall, our findings provide a fundamental contribution to the quantification of the protective effects of forests in the temperate region

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Comparison of Canal Transportation after Preparation with BioRaCe and Mtwo Rotary Instruments and Hand K-Flexofiles

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the transportation of mesiobuccal canals of mandibular first molars prepared with either BioRaCe or Mtwo rotary instruments or hand K-Flexofile, by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods and Materials: Forty-five mandibular molars were selected and randomly divided into three groups (n=15). Mesiobuccal roots of these teeth were prepared by BioRaCe, Mtwo, or hand K-Flexofile. Transportation was measured by pre- and post-operative CBCT images. Two-way ANOVA analysis was applied to detect any differences between the groups followed by the post hoc Tukey’s tests. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The non-parametric Friedman test was used to compare the behavior of each file at 3-, 6- and 9-mm levels. There were no significant differences between different levels in Mtwo group (P=0.15); however, the differences in K-Flexofile and BioRaCe groups were significant (P>0.05). Post hoc Tukey’s test revealed significant differences between BioRaCe and K-Flexofile and also between Mtwo and K-Flexofile, both in the 3-mm depths (P<0.05). Conclusion: Under the limitations of the present study, BioRaCe and Mtwo rotary instruments are considered suitable for canal preparation to greater apical sizes provided that the recommended sequences are observed

KAWASAKI Disease: a Rare Case Report with Severe Abdominal Pain

Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile systemic disease with unknown etiology that often affects children younger than 5 years. Common symptoms are fever; noninfectious conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membranes and macular skin complications. Severe abdominal pain is a non-common symptom of the disease. Abdominal pain can be reduced with medical and conservative treatment. The patient is a 4-year-old female who referred with fever and severe abdominal pain. She was underwent an unnecessary appendectomy due to lack of timely diagnosis. With careful attention to the uncommon symptoms of the disease and early administration of intravenous immunoglobulin and control of coronary aneurysm, the child was discharged with good condition

Comparison of the Behavioral Changes in Pain Patterns in Brucellosis Patients under Oral Gabapentin and Naproxen Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Brucellosis is a common disease between humans and animals which can cause various types of organ involvement. Of the most common and important disorders, it is a skeletal disorder that causes severe pain. The aim of this study was done to compare the behavioral changes in pain patterns in brucellosis patients under oral gabapentin and naproxen treatment. Methods: This study was a paralleled randomized controlled clinical trial on 86 patients with brucellosis disease. All 15-65-year-old patients with diagnosed brucellosis and no history of other systemic diseases were included. Patients with a history of using corticosteroids were excluded. After receiving their informed consent, the eligible patients were randomly divided into two equal groups of intervention (gabapentin) and control group (naproxen) using a block randomization method. Then, the pain severity was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) before, as well as 4, 7, and 10 days postintervention. In this study, the patients, data collector (pain intensity assessment), and analyzer were blinded. The data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Among the participants, 56 patients (65.1%) were male and the mean age of the patients was 46.85 ± 19.15 years, which was not significantly different between the two groups. In the case of painful and involved joints, sacroiliac joint with 34 cases (39.5%) was the most commonly involved joint in both groups. There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the mean pain intensity on the fourth day (Pvalue = 0.021) and seventh day (Pvalue = 0.001), while there was no difference at other times.Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that gabapentin significantly and rapidly decreased skeletal pain in brucellosis patients. Therefore, it can be used as an appropriate drug for the control of bone and joint pain in brucellosis patients, though at least it should be used for a few day period.Keywords: Brucellosis, Gabapentin, Naproxen, Skeletal pain

Comparison of the Behavioral Changes in Pain Patterns in Brucellosis Patients under Oral Gabapentin and Naproxen Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Brucellosis is a common disease between humans and animals which can cause various types of organ involvement. Of the most common and important disorders, it is a skeletal disorder that causes severe pain. The aim of this study was done to compare the behavioral changes in pain patterns in brucellosis patients under oral gabapentin and naproxen treatment. Methods: This study was a paralleled randomized controlled clinical trial on 86 patients with brucellosis disease. All 15-65-year-old patients with diagnosed brucellosis and no history of other systemic diseases were included. Patients with a history of using corticosteroids were excluded. After receiving their informed consent, the eligible patients were randomly divided into two equal groups of intervention (gabapentin) and control group (naproxen) using a block randomization method. Then, the pain severity was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) before, as well as 4, 7, and 10 days postintervention. In this study, the patients, data collector (pain intensity assessment), and analyzer were blinded. The data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Among the participants, 56 patients (65.1%) were male and the mean age of the patients was 46.85 ± 19.15 years, which was not significantly different between the two groups. In the case of painful and involved joints, sacroiliac joint with 34 cases (39.5%) was the most commonly involved joint in both groups. There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the mean pain intensity on the fourth day (Pvalue = 0.021) and seventh day (Pvalue = 0.001), while there was no difference at other times.Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that gabapentin significantly and rapidly decreased skeletal pain in brucellosis patients. Therefore, it can be used as an appropriate drug for the control of bone and joint pain in brucellosis patients, though at least it should be used for a few day period.Keywords: Brucellosis, Gabapentin, Naproxen, Skeletal pain

KAWASAKI Disease: a Rare Case Report with Severe Abdominal Pain

Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile systemic disease with unknown etiology that often affects children younger than 5 years. Common symptoms are fever; noninfectious conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membranes and macular skin complications. Severe abdominal pain is a non-common symptom of the disease. Abdominal pain can be reduced with medical and conservative treatment. The patient is a 4-year-old female who referred with fever and severe abdominal pain. She was underwent an unnecessary appendectomy due to lack of timely diagnosis. With careful attention to the uncommon symptoms of the disease and early administration of intravenous immunoglobulin and control of coronary aneurysm, the child was discharged with good condition

Comparison of the Effect of Ciprofloxacin and Nalidixic Acid in the Infection of Different Parts of the Urinary Tract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. The most common cause is Escherichia coli. This research is done with the aim at compare effect of ciprofloxacin with nalidixic acid in the infection of different parts of the urinary tract.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 patients with symptoms of the urinary tract infection referred to Imam Hossain Hospital of Shahrood were studied. For the all patients, urine samples were collected by standard method and urine analysis and culture was performed. Then, positive culture samples were tested by antibiogram and the resistance rate for the two antibiotics ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid and MBC and MIC was investigated.Results: Of the 130 patients with symptoms of UTI (fever, flank pain or tenderness and dysuria, urgency or frequency (84 patients had positive urine culture. Of all patients with positive urine, 31 cases had symptoms of pyelonephritis, 25 patients had symptoms of cystitis and 28 patients had symptoms of UTI. In antibiogram for positive urine samples, 21 pieces were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 46 pieces were resistant to nalidixic acid which significantly reduced resistance to ciprofloxacin (P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two antibiotics in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance. So there was no significant difference between the two MIC and MBC in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance.Conclusions: This study showed that ciprofloxacin is more effective in controlling infection of different parts of the urinary tract due to less drug resistance

Comparison of the Effect of Ciprofloxacin and Nalidixic Acid in the Infection of Different Parts of the Urinary Tract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. The most common cause is Escherichia coli. This research is done with the aim at compare effect of ciprofloxacin with nalidixic acid in the infection of different parts of the urinary tract.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 patients with symptoms of the urinary tract infection referred to Imam Hossain Hospital of Shahrood were studied. For the all patients, urine samples were collected by standard method and urine analysis and culture was performed. Then, positive culture samples were tested by antibiogram and the resistance rate for the two antibiotics ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid and MBC and MIC was investigated.Results: Of the 130 patients with symptoms of UTI (fever, flank pain or tenderness and dysuria, urgency or frequency (84 patients had positive urine culture. Of all patients with positive urine, 31 cases had symptoms of pyelonephritis, 25 patients had symptoms of cystitis and 28 patients had symptoms of UTI. In antibiogram for positive urine samples, 21 pieces were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 46 pieces were resistant to nalidixic acid which significantly reduced resistance to ciprofloxacin (P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two antibiotics in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance. So there was no significant difference between the two MIC and MBC in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance.Conclusions: This study showed that ciprofloxacin is more effective in controlling infection of different parts of the urinary tract due to less drug resistance