Study of operated primary and secondary [recurrence] hydatidosis in hospitals of Kermanshah, west of Islamic Republic of Iran

Cystic echinococcosis, caused by the larval stage of Echinoccocus granulosus, is a global public health threat. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases of primary and secondary hydatid cyst in the west of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A retrospective record review was made in 7 public and private hospitals in Kermanshah from 2004 to 2009. Of 526 files of suspected cases analysed, 291 cases of hydatid cyst had been operated upon and confirmed. Of the patients, 51.5% were females, 57.7% lived in urban and suburban areas and the largest age group [17.5%] was 31-40 years. The major organs involved were liver [64.9%] and lung [26.8%] and 18 cases [6.2%] were confirmed as secondary hydatidosis. Most patients [79.4%] had been treated with albendazole.Kermanshah province should be considered an endemic region for human hydatid cyst disease; greater efforts in prevention are needed

Lipoid proteinosis in two Iranian sisters: a case report and review of literature

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which may be seen within a family very occasionally. Herein, we report lipoid proteinosis in two sisters characterized by verrucous lesions and hoarseness of voice, dysphagia and multiple beaded papules along the margins of their eyelids, fissured lips and thick ferenulum

Investigation of land use changes on soil erosion process using geographical information system

Land use change quantified for the last 50 years within and near a fast growing agricultural land in Neka River Basin, using geographic information systems. Land cover and land use change was projected for the next decade using topography, geology, land use maps and remote sensing data of the study area. The study explored the relationships between agricultural land growth and landscape changes. The land use changes assessed among the different land cover classes. It is important to mention that conducting of the present study a very severe land cover changes taken place as the result of agricultural land development. These changes in land cover led to the forest degradation of the study area. Relationship between land-use changes and agricultural growth offered a more robust prediction of soil erosion in Neka watershed. This study aims to find the relationships between land use pattern, erosion and the sediment yield in the study area. The land use coefficient has applied in the model of erosion potential method to forecast the effect of the land type to reduce the erosion. The results of this study indicated that the total sediment yield of the study area has notably decreased to 89.24% after an appropriate land use/cover alteration. The estimated special erosion for the southern Neka Basin is about 144465.1 m[3]/km[2] where after management policy is predicted 15542.9 m[3]/km[2]/y. Therefore, the total difference for the study area has estimated about 128922.2 m[3]/km[2]/y

Transient and spatial modeling and simulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers reaction and transport in air, water and soil

The release of the wastes containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers into the environment is a worldwide major concern. Investigation of spatial and temporal variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers concentrations due to different factors, especially the transport of these species between air and water as well as between air and soil is the purpose of present research. A model was developed and solved using the methods of finite difference and lines. Simulations were implemented for three dimensions of width, length, and height and also time for the air compartment, whereas for the soil and water compartments, variations were considered only with respect to height and time. Transport between water and soil was disregarded for simplicity at this stage. Vancouver's landfill was considered as a case study. Lower concentrations in air and higher concentrations in water at the interface show that these pollutants tend to diffuse from air to water. Concentrations of all four pollutants decrease near the interface in soil as time passes, but they are predicted to be almost constant at other levels

Determination of alpha1-antitrypsin phenotypes and genotypes in Iranian patients

Alpha 1-antitrypsin [AAT] or alpha 1-protease inhibitor [PI] is the principal inhibitor of proteolytic enzyme in serum. Its phenotypic variability has been reported to be associated with liver, lung diseases and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. There is much documentation about high risk phenotypes of PI in some regions of the world, however, there are no reliable reports on these phenotypes and genotypes and their related diseases in Iranian population. The aim of this study was to determine PI phenotypes and genotypes in Iranian patients suffering from PI deficiency. For this purpose, whole blood samples from 307 patients suspected of diseases related to PI deficiency, and 156 healthy persons were examined. PI phenotypes and genotypes were determined by isoelectric focusing [IEF] and polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP], respectively. Allele frequencies from patients and normal subjects were compared. For reliability, a family study of the patients was also carried out. The PI phenotype frequencies of all six possible combinations of M, S and Z haplotypes in patients were: MM, 77.20%; MS, 6.18%; MZ, 7.17%; SS, 3.91%; ZZ, 4.56%; SZ, 0.98% and in normal subjects were: MM, 78.20%; MS, 5.76%; MZ, 15.38%; SS, 0.64%; 0% for ZZ and SZ. Analysis of data showed that there was a significant difference between patients [with liver, lung diseases and rheumatoid arthritis] and control subjects [p< 0.05]. In Conclusion, the allelic frequencies of S and Z in the patient group were 7.49% and 8.63%, while in the normal subjects were 5.13% and 4.17%, respectively. This is the first report of the prevalence of high risk alleles [Z and S] in patients suspected of PI deficiency and related diseases in Iran

Inspection of the spirometric parameters and the frequency of respiratory symptoms in soldering workers of a factory producing electronic appliances

Regarding the numerous problems of solderers in electronic industries because of their exposure to Acids, bases and fumes of soldering,a study was carried out on 107 solderers and administrative personels of a factory producing electronic appliances in Tehran to inspect the long term effects of soldering on lung functions Inspection. At first, 47 solderers and 66 controls [totally 107 persons] were selected randomly. All the solderers were working in the manual soldering section and used the soldering wire made of an alloy [composed of plumbum, Stannum and special oil of soldering called flux]. The persons controls worked in the administrative sections of the same factory and for the same hours as the solderers, but they did not have any soldering experience. After they filled the standard respiratory questionnaire, spirometry was done at least 3 times on each of them under the same conditions and according to the ACT criteria [No smokers included in the study]. The spirometry parameters of the two groups were compared. There was a significant difference in the average FEF 25: 75% [P=0.03]. Also,there was a significant difference in the average FEV1/FVC P=0.026 and PEFR [P=0.04] between two groups.After controling the altering age factor. ameaningful relation between the years of work in soldering section and decrease in the spirometry parameters related to FED 25-75% and FEV1/FVC was seem. Also the frequency of the signs of nasal and eyes initation in the solderer group was more than the other group [p=0.007] Cough and Asthma related to ork had no meaningful difference in the two groups. It seem that in the above study, soldering is a factor decreasing the spirometry parameters with a blocking pattern, especilly in smal airways. This study was done in the direction of the former studies done in other countries and emphasizes on the need for necessary preventive action in this profession, such as effective local ventilation and use of alternative substances

demonstration of polyethylenimine mediated gene transfer into the rodent hypothalamus results in persistent over-expression and phenotypic change

Polyethylenimine [PEI] has been proposed as a non-viral vector, and has been successfully used to transfer reporter genes into the central nervous system [CNS], kidneys, and lungs of adult mice. Neuropeptide Y [NPY] is a peptide expressed in the hypothalamus and is important in the regulation of body weight. Using PEI combined with stereotactic microinjection, we have successfully transferred cDNA-encoding NPY driven by the cytomegalovirus [CMV] promoter into the arcuate nucleus of adult male Wistar rats. Animals treated with NPY expressing plasmids [pNPY] gained more weight than the controls [p<0.05], with associated increases in food intake [p<0.05] and decreased brown adipose tissue activity, measured by Guanosine Diphosphate [GDP] binding to mitochondria, [p<0.05]. In a separate study, hypothalamic slices from the rats treated with pNPY/PEI showed increased NPY release [pNPY 9.7 +/- 0.3 fmol/l vs. control 8.3 +/- 0.5 fmol/l, p<0.05, n = 3]. These results suggest that PEI is an effective vector for gene transfer into the rodent brain and can increase the protein production sufficient to result a persistent phenotypic change. This technique offers the potential of a simple and effective method to manipulate gene expression localised to specific regions of the adult rodent brain

Salmonellosis in chickens in Upper Egypt

Bacteriological examination of 1250 chickens showed that Salmonella could be isolated from 106 [8.48%]. The most frequent isolations were from the gall bladder followed by liver and intestinal contents. Twelve different serotypes could be identified. Salmonella pullorum-gallinarum was the predominant [50.00%] followed by S. typhimurium [16.98%]. S. enteritidis [10.37%] and S. derby [8.49%], were moderately recovered. S. newport, S. saint-paul [8.49% each], S. manhattan, S. London and S. muenster [1.88% each], were less prevalent, while S. east bourne, S. reading and S. infantis were sporadically isolated. Isolation of Salmonella muenster, S. reading and S. infantis is believed to be first record from chickens in Egypt