Stapes Management in Tympanosclerosis

Background: Stapes management in tympanosclerosis has always been controversial. There are evidences supporting stapes mobilization, but there are concerns regarding refixation and recurrence of conductive hearing loss; therefore, supporting stapedectomy.Methods: In this retrospective study, clinical records, operative notes, and audiologic data of patients with stapes fixation (1994–2011) were analyzed. Audiometric findings are reported according to the recommendations of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium 1995 Guidelines for the Evaluation of Results of Treatment of Conductive Hearing Loss.Results: In the present study, 66 patients were enrolled (23 male, 43 female). Stapedectomy and stapes mobilization both had good hearing results (12.1 dB vs. 10.6 dB reduction in ABG) and there was no significant difference. Overall, 63.6% of patients had achieved good results (mobilization: 57.9%, stapedectomy: 71.4%). The difference in success rate between the two groups was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Stapedectomy and mobilization of stapes both seem to be efficacious and safe in the treatment of stapes involvement in tympanosclerosis. The hearing improvement is long lasting in both procedures

Antimicrobial Effects of SeptiTurbo, Deconex (Solarsept) and 0.525% Sodium Hypochlorite Spray on Alginate Impression Materials

Objectives: Dental impressions are among the potentially infectious items in dentistry. Dental impressions are invariably contaminated with saliva or blood. Such fluids may contain viral or bacterial pathogens including Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three different types of disinfectants on alginate impression materials after one, three and five minutes.Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 126 circular samples of alginate impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were then disinfected with 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, Deconex (Solarsept) and SeptiTurbo spray. Afterwards, the samples were wrapped in moist paper towels and kept in plastic bags for one, three and five minutes. Number of bacterial colonies was counted 24 hours after incubation. Negative and positive controls were included.Results: After five minutes, 0.525% sodium hypochlorite showed the highest disinfection activity against S. aurous as it eradicated over 99.98% of the bacteria. Although the disinfecting agents showed non-significant results in eradicating S. aureus, SeptiTurbo was more effective in elimination of S. aurous . The disinfection activity of different agents increased with time.Conclusion: This study revealed that alginate can be effectively disinfected with SeptiTurbo and sodium hypochlorite by the spraying technique. This study highlighted the efficacy of SeptiTurbo for eradication of S. aurous

Validation of Urinary Glycosaminoglycans in Iranian patients with Mucopolysaccharidase type I: The effect of urine sedimentation characteristics

How to Cite This Article:Abdi M, Khatami Sh, Hakhamaneshi MS, Alaei MR, Azadi NA, Zamanfar D, Taghikhani M.Validation of Urinary Glycosaminiglycans in Iranian Patients with Mucopolysaccharidose Type I: The Effect of Urine Sedimentation Characteristics. Iran J Child Neurol. 2014; 8(4):39-45. AbstractObjectiveThe first line-screening test for mucopolysaccharidosis is based on measurement of urinary glycosaminoglycans. The most reliable test for measurement of urine glycosaminoglycans is the 1,9-dimethyleneblue colorimetric assay. Biological markers are affected by ethnical factors, for this reason, the World Health Organization recommends that the diagnostic test characteristics should be used to determine results for different populations. This study determines the diagnostic value of 1,9-dimethyleneblue tests for diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type I patients in Iran.Materials & Methods In addition to routine urine analysis, the qualitative and quantitative measurements of urine glucosaminoglycans were performed with the Berry spot test and 1,9-dimethyleneblue assay. Diagnostic values of the tests were determined using the ROC curve.ResultsUrine total glycosaminoglycans were significantly higher in male subjects than in female subjects. Glycosaminoglycan concentration was markedly decreased in specimens with elevated white blood cell and epithelial cells count. Using a cut-off level of 10.37 mg/g creatinine, sensitivity, and specificity were 100% and 97.22%, respectively, for a 1,9-dimethyleneblue colorimetric assay.ConclusionUrine glycosaminoglycans concentration significantly differs in our studied population. In addition to determine diagnostic validity of the 1,9-dimethyleneblue test, our results demonstrate the usefulness of measuring glycosaminoglycans for early screening of mucopolysaccharidosis type I Iran. ReferencesJackson RL, Busch SJ, Cardin AD. Glycosaminoglycans: molecular properties, protein interactions, and role in physiological processes. Physiological reviews. 1991 Apr;71(2):481-539.Ghaderi S. The biochemistry base of mucopolysaccharidoses and approach to. Genetics in the 3rd millennium. [Educational]. 2006;4(1):711-22.Mizumoto S, Ikegawa S, Sugahara K. Human genetic disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes for sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2013 Apr 19;288(16):10953-61.Salbach J, Rachner TD, Rauner M, Hempel U, Anderegg U, Franz S, et al. Regenerative potential of glycosaminoglycans for skin and bone. Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany). 2012 Jun;90(6):625-35.Coppa GV, Catassi C, Gabrielli O, Giorgi PL, Dall’Amico R, Naia S, et al. Clinical application of a new simple method for the identification of mucopolysaccharidoses. Helvetica paediatrica acta. 1987 Jun;42(5-6):419-23.Fuller M, Meikle PJ, Hopwood JJ. Glycosaminoglycan degradation fragments in mucopolysaccharidosis I. Glycobiology. 2004 May;14(5):443-50.Fuller M, Rozaklis T, Ramsay SL, Hopwood JJ, Meikle PJ. Disease-specific markers for the mucopolysaccharidoses. Pediatric research. 2004 Nov;56(5):733-8.Blau N, Duran M, Gibson K. Laboratory Guide to the Methods in Biochemical Genetics. First edition ed: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg; 2008. pp287-324.Dorfman A, Matalon R. The Hurler and Hunter syndromes. The American journal of medicine. 1969 Nov;47(5):691-707.Fratantoni JC, Hall CW, Neufeld EF. Hurler and Hunter syndromes: mutual correction of the defect in cultured fibroblasts. Science (New York, NY. 1968 Nov 1;162(3853):570-2.Fratantoni JC, Hall CW, Neufeld EF. The defect in Hurler and Hunter syndromes. II. Deficiency of specific factors involved in mucopolysaccharide degradation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1969 Sep;64(1):360-6.Fratantoni JC, Neufeld EF, Uhlendorf BW, Jacobson CB. Intrauterine diagnosis of the hurler and hunter syndromes. The New England journal of medicine. 1969 Mar 27;280(13):686-8.Chamoles NA, Blanco MB, Gaggioli D, Casentini C. Hurler-like phenotype: enzymatic diagnosis in dried blood spots on filter paper. Clinical chemistry. 2001 Dec;47(12):2098-102.Nor A, Zabedah MY, Norsiah MD, Ngu LH, Suhaila AR. Separation of sulfated urinary glycosaminoglycans by high-resolution electrophoresis for isotyping of mucopolysaccharidoses in Malaysia. The Malaysian journal of pathology. 2010 Jun;32(1):35-42.De Muro P, Faedda R, Formato M, Re F, Satta A, Cherchi GM, et al. Urinary glycosaminoglycans in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical and experimental rheumatology. 2001 Mar-Apr;19(2):125-30.Berry HK, Spinanger J. A paper spot test useful in study of Hurler’s syndrome. The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine. 1960 Jan;55:136-8.Pennock CA, White F, Murphy D, Charles RG, Kerr H. Excess glycosaminoglycan excretion in infancy and childhood. Acta paediatrica Scandinavica. 1973 Sep;62(5):481-91.Berman ER, Vered J, Bach G. A reliable spot test for mucopolysaccharidoses. Clinical chemistry. 1971 Sep;17(9):886-90.Pennock CA. A review and selection of simple laboratory methods used for the study of glycosaminoglycan excretion and the diagnosis of the mucopolysaccharidoses. Journal of clinical pathology. 1976 Feb;29(2):111-23.Chan RW, Szeto CC. Advances in the clinical laboratory assessment of urinary sediment. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry. 2004 Feb;340(1-2):67-78.Fogazzi GB, Garigali G. The clinical art and science of urine microscopy. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2003 Nov;12(6):625-32.Berry HK. Screening for mucopolysaccharide disorders with the Berry spot test. Clinical biochemistry. 1987 Oct;20(5):365-71.de Jong JG, Hasselman JJ, van Landeghem AA, Vader HL, Wevers RA. The spot test is not a reliable screening procedure for mucopolysaccharidoses. Clinical chemistry. 1991 Apr;37(4):572-5.Mabe P, Valiente A, Soto V, Cornejo V, Raimann E. Evaluation of reliability for urine mucopolysaccharidosis screening by dimethylmethylene blue and Berry spot tests. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry. 2004 Jul;345(1-2):135-40.Mahalingam K, Janani S, Priya S, Elango EM, Sundari RM. Diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidoses: how to avoid false positives and false negatives. Indian J Pediatr. 2004 Jan;71(1):29-32.de Jong JG, Wevers RA, Laarakkers C, Poorthuis BJ. Dimethyl methylene blue-based spectrophotometry of glycosaminoglycans in untreated urine: a rapid screening procedure for mucopolysaccharidoses. Clinical chemistry. 1989 Jul;35(7):1472-7.Panin G, Naia S, Dall’Amico R, Chiandetti L, Zachello F, Catassi C, et al. Simple spectrophotometric quantification of urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycan sulfates. Clinical chemistry. 1986 Nov;32(11):2073-6.Byers S, Rozaklis T, Brumfield LK, Ranieri E, Hopwood JJ. Glycosaminoglycan accumulation and excretion in the mucopolysaccharidoses: characterization and basis of a diagnostic test for MPS. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 1998 Dec;65(4):282-90.Carson NA, Neill DW. Metabolic abnormalities detected in a survey of mentally backward individuals in Northern Ireland. Archives of disease in childhood. 1962 Oct;37:505-13.Huang KC, Sukegawa K, Orii T. Screening test for urinary glycosaminoglycans and differentiation of various mucopolysaccharidoses. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry. 1985 Sep 30;151(2):147-56.Chih-Kuang C, Shuan-Pei L, Shyue-Jye L, Tuen-Jen W. MPS screening methods, the Berry spot and acid turbidity tests, cause a high incidence of false-negative results in sanfilippo and morquio syndromes. Journal of clinical laboratory analysis. 2002;16(5):253-8.Gallegos-Arreola MP, Machorro-Lazo MV, Flores-Martinez SE, Zuniga-Gonzalez GM, Figuera LE, Gonzalez-Noriega A, et al. Urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion in healthy subjects and in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses. Archives of medical research. 2000 Sep-Oct;31(5):505-10.Piraud M, Maire I, Mathieu M. Pitfalls of screening for mucopolysaccharidoses by the dimethylmethylene blue test. Clinical chemistry. 1993 Jan;39(1):163-4.Whitley CB, Spielmann RC, Herro G, Teragawa SS. Urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion quantified by an automated semimicro method in specimens conveniently transported from around the globe. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 2002 Jan;75(1):56-64

Subjective Social Status as an Important Mediator in the Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Mental Health

Background and aims: Socioeconomic status (SES) is frequently seen as a significant indicator of mental health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of subjective social status (SSS) in the association of SES and mental health among the employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Methods: This cross-sectional research involved the analysis of data collected from 4461 TUMS employees using a two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The study examined the impact of SES on mental health issues, specifically symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. SES was assessed as a composite index, and then each indicator was evaluated separately. SSS was considered as a potential mediator using the MacArthur scale, which was converted to a five-point Likert scale. The analysis utilized a two-step SEM approach in STATA version 14.0 with maximum likelihood estimation. Results: The majority of participants in the study were female (60.65%), and the mean (±SD) age of the participants was 42.21±8.72 years. The analysis revealed that the composite SES index had a standardized indirect effect of -0.05 on mental health through SSS. SSS accounted for 27.78% of the association between the composite SES index and mental health among TUMS employees (27.27% in males and 22.23% in females). Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that a lower SES may impact the development of mental health issues, indicating a relationship between SES and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress

Impact of Hypericum Perforatum Ointment on Perineal Pain Intensity Following Episiotomy: a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Introduction: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Hypericum Perforatum ointment on perineal pain intensity following episiotomy among primiparous women. Methods: This triple-blind clinical trial was performed on 98 eligible primiparous women referring to selected educational hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences for normal vaginal delivery. Block Randomization (in 1; 1 ratio) was used to categorize the participants continuously into two groups: intervention (using Hypericum Perforatum ointment) and control (using placebo ointment). Participants in each group used ointments (about 3 grams each time) on episiotomy site, twice a day and for a period of ten days. Our primary outcome was the pain intensity in different intervals following episiotomy. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 13) using student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results: We missed 14 participants during the study and analyzed the data from 42 participants in each group. The mean of pain scores revealed no significant differences before (mean difference=-0.33; P=0.46) and four hours (mean difference=0.57; P=0.13) after ointments use, between the intervention and control groups, while these differences were significant after eight hours (mean difference=2.17; P<0.001), five days (mean difference=2.20; P<0.001) and ten days (mean difference=2.21; P<0.001) following the intervention. Conclusion: Using Hypericum Perforatum ointment as a noninvasive, simple and effective topical formulation, can significantly reduce pain intensity of episiotomy site

Modulation of Hypoxia-Induced Chemoresistance to Polymeric Micellar Cisplatin: The Effect of Ligand Modification of Micellar Carrier Versus Inhibition of the Mediators of Drug Resistance

Hypoxia can induce chemoresistance, which is a significant clinical obstacle in cancer therapy. Here, we assessed development of hypoxia-induced chemoresistance (HICR) against free versus polymeric cisplatin micelles in a triple negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. We then explored two strategies for the modulation of HICR against cisplatin micelles: a) the development of actively targeted micelles; and b) combination therapy with modulators of HICR in MDA-MB-231 cells. Actively targeted cisplatin micelles were prepared through surface modification of acetal-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(-carboxyl- -caprolactone) (acetal-PEO-PCCL) micelles with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting peptide, GE11 (YHWYGYTPQNVI). Our results showed that hypoxia induced resistance against free and cisplatin micelles in MDA-MB-231 cells. A significant increase in micellar cisplatin uptake was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells that overexpress EGFR, following surface modification of micelles with GE11. This did not lead to increased cytotoxicity of micellar cisplatin, however. On the other hand, the addition of pharmacological inhibitors of key molecules involved in HICR in MDA-MB-231 cells, i.e., inhibitors of hypoxia inducing factor-1 (HIF-1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), substantially enhanced the cytotoxicity of free and cisplatin micelles. The results indicated the potential benefit of combination therapy with HIF-1 and STAT3 inhibitors in overcoming HICR to free or micellar cisplatin

Information Seeking Behavior of Health Professionals Encountering COVID-19 Crisis and Analyzing the Content of Messages Sent on Social Media

Objective: Social media today is one of the important media for informing epidemics. This study identifies the information-seeking behavior of health professionals and analyzes the content of messages sent on the WhatsApp social network. Materials and Methods: This is a case study and content analysis research done using the descriptive-analytical method. Its statistical population was all the messages exchanged in WhatsApp groups of health professionals of Golestan University of Medical Sciences during the coronavirus crisis. The content analysis method of the exchanged messages in the studied groups was used to collect the data. During the analysis, 1339 messages were entered into the study. The data were then clustered, coded, and classified based on the available messages. Results: More than 20% of the messages presented were in the COVID-19 prevention category. Also, among the presented sub-topics, the COVID vaccine, with 4.93% of the total messages, had attracted the most attention from subject experts. Only 14.71% of the messages were provided with reference to a specific source, and the other messages were personal comments or non-source topics. Conclusion: Methods of preventing COVID-19 infection continue to be at the forefront of the attention of health professionals, and the focus of these experts is on the topics presented in this area. Web-based platforms such as websites and social networks also play a very important role in meeting the information needs of researchers, especially in the field of COVID-19, and therefore, attention to the provision of scientific and approved content on the Web is very important