A relationship between thickness of articular cartilage of femoral head and osteoarthritis

History and Objectives: Considering the incidence of osteoarthritis and its known complications and significance of its etiology and the relationship between articular cartilage and its occurrence and lack of a histopathologic study based on radiologic scoring, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the thickness of articular cartilage and intensity of osteoarthritis in referrals of Maabari hospital and Forensic medicine center in Tehran in 2000. Materials and Methods: The case-control strategy of this study was carried out on 30 patients with fracture of femur neck and having total hip arthroplasty. For control group, 5 samples of femur head were collected from normal individuals. Samples were fixed in 10% formalin and then sliced into 6 segments. Therefore, radiological examination was performed and according to Jeffery and Meachim methods were scored into normal and grades 1-4. After decalcification, two mid-coronal sections were done on each segment and through dehydrating and blocking in paraffin, they were stained by hematoxylin and eosin. For measurement of thickness of articular cartilage, an ocular graticule (#18) was used. For statistical analysis, t-test was applied. Results: This study was performed on 5 samples of femur head of normal cadavers with an average age of 26.4±2.7 and 30 patients including 20 cases with fracture of femur neck and 10 cases with osteoarthritis and have undergone a surgical operation. Thickness of femur head was less in patients with osteoarthritis compared to control group. There was no significant difference between case and control groups regarding anterior portion of femur head. Thickness of cartilage in middle and posterior portions in control group was 2.12±0.55 (0.52±0.83 according to scoring, P<0.05) and 1.47±0.42 (0.66±0.81 according to scoring, P<0.01) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: Thickness of articular cartilage, especially in upper and posterior portions of femur head is less in patients with osteoarthritis than is in normal individuals. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct research study to determine the value of radiological findings in diagnosis of changes in the thickness of articular cartilage on a histological basis and use of devices to reduce pressure in upper and posterior portions of femur head

Persian translation and validation of the Back Pain Functional Scale

Background: Patient-reported questionnaires provide important tools that can be utilized for the assessment of treatment efficacy in clinic and research. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Back Pain Functional Scale into Persian (BPFSp). Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective cohort of adult patients with low back pain (LBP), the translation and adaptation was performed according to standardized guidelines and pretested (n = 30). Psychometric testing was conducted with 100 patients with LBP and 50 healthy subjects. Fifty patients with LBP recompleted the BPFSp at least 7 days later for test�retest reliability. Results: The Persian adapted version of the BPFS was produced and validated. No floor and ceiling effects were revealed. The Cronbach�α coefficient for internal consistency was 0.895. The test�retest reliability was excellent (ICCagreement = 0.88, CI 95: 0.80�0.93). The standard error of measurement and smallest detectable change were 9.9 and 27.5, respectively. Construct convergent validity was demonstrated with the Persian Functional Rating Index (r = �0.77). Criterion validity was established with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (r = �0.67). Total BPFSp scores discriminated between patients with LBP and healthy subjects. Factor structure showed two latent factors explaining a total variance of 60.1. Conclusion: The BPFSp presented excellent reliability and validity for assessing the functional status in Persian speaking patients with LBP. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Persian translation and validation of the Back Pain Functional Scale

Background: Patient-reported questionnaires provide important tools that can be utilized for the assessment of treatment efficacy in clinic and research. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Back Pain Functional Scale into Persian (BPFSp). Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective cohort of adult patients with low back pain (LBP), the translation and adaptation was performed according to standardized guidelines and pretested (n = 30). Psychometric testing was conducted with 100 patients with LBP and 50 healthy subjects. Fifty patients with LBP recompleted the BPFSp at least 7 days later for test�retest reliability. Results: The Persian adapted version of the BPFS was produced and validated. No floor and ceiling effects were revealed. The Cronbach�α coefficient for internal consistency was 0.895. The test�retest reliability was excellent (ICCagreement = 0.88, CI 95: 0.80�0.93). The standard error of measurement and smallest detectable change were 9.9 and 27.5, respectively. Construct convergent validity was demonstrated with the Persian Functional Rating Index (r = �0.77). Criterion validity was established with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (r = �0.67). Total BPFSp scores discriminated between patients with LBP and healthy subjects. Factor structure showed two latent factors explaining a total variance of 60.1. Conclusion: The BPFSp presented excellent reliability and validity for assessing the functional status in Persian speaking patients with LBP. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Development of mouse ova following the slow freezing with Ethylene Glycol and Propandiol

Background: Extra embryos developed during IVF have led to different freezing methods with variety of antifreezes. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of ethylene glycol on mouse ova development and existence following the freezing procedure. Materials and Methods: It was an experimental study. Oocyte was obtained and fertilized by sperm. 16-17 hours later zygotic cells were distributed randomly in three groups of control, toxicity and freezing. In freezing group, embryos were frozen slowly by two antifreezes, ethylene glycol and propandiol, according to the standard procedure. Lived embryos were cultured for 120 hours. Then their development was compared with that of control group. Results: Toxicity test results have shown no significant difference considering zygotes’ viability and development between the control and freezing groups. Following the procedure, viability of cells in propandiol group was significantly higher than that of ethylene glycol (94.1% vs. 58.2%), meanwhile, the rate of cell development till blastocyte was significantly higher in the propandiol group (68.2% vs. 39.1%, P<0.0001). Conclusion: Ethylene glycol is not a suitable alternative for propandiol in slow freezing. Results of cell viability and development revealed that propandiol could be an appropriate substance for freezing human zygotes

EFFECTS OF HUMAN FOLLICULAR FLUID AND SYNTHETIC SERUM SUBSTITUTE ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT AND CELL CLEAVAGE

The development of culture media able to mimic the preovulatory stage of follicular environment and support nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of oocyte is important for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. It seems that the best culture media for embryonic development and cell cleavage is the natural composition which surrounds the oocyte which has been used occasionally in human IVF programs. For further investigation of effects of natural media composition of human follicular fluid (HFF) on embryo development, we compared the biochemical constituents of HFF with synthetic serum substitute (3S) and their effects on embryo development and cell cleavage. From a total of 40 women with unexplained infertility, who attended for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in IVF center of Mirzakoochak Khan Hospital, we collected the HFF during oocyte pick-up in operation room. The chemical composition of HFF was compared to 3S medium culture to identify which natural components of follicular fluid might enhance embryo maturation in vitro. The results of comparison between HFF and 3S culture media indicated significant differences in biochemical component except for Na and bilirubin concentration and pH level (P&lt;0.05) and significant differences between the rates of cell cleavage in 3S compared to HFF media (P&lt;0.05). Furthermore the rate of embryo cell cleavage related to HFF is faster than 3S medium. There was no significant difference between the development of embryos in 3S and HFF media culture. Our data confirm the benefit of the use of HFF as a culture medium