Does maternal Helicobacter pylori infection increase the risk of occurrence of neural tube defects in newborns in Northern Iran?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between maternal Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in newborns. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Dezyani Teaching Hospital, Gorgan, Northern Iran from April 2007 to March 2009. Thirty-five mothers with NTD-affected newborns, and 53 mothers with healthy newborns were considered the cases and controls. A peripheral blood sample was obtained from all subjects, and H. pylori infections were tested by H. pylori serum antibody. The serum folic acid, vitamin B12, ferritin, and homocysteine concentrations were measured by laboratory tests. Data were analyzed using odds ratio (OR) and logistic regression. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of cases, and 26% of controls were positive for H. pylori IgG antibody, and this difference was not significant. The H. pylori seropositivity non significantly increased the risk of NTD-affected pregnancies (OR: 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-5.17, p=0.11). Serum vitamin B12 deficiency was detected in 17% of cases and 13% of controls, and folic acid deficiency in 17% of cases and 13% of controls (p=0.61). The H. pylori seropositivity was non significantly associated with low serum folate (OR 1.93 CI: 0.58-6.4, p=0.34) and ferritin (OR 1.24; CI: 0.42-3.60, p=0.68). CONCLUSION: Maternal H. pylori infection can increase the risk of occurrence of NTDs in newborns.

Effect of intrauterine morphine sulfate exposure on cerebellar histomorphological changes in neonatal mice.

Neurotoxic effects of morphine sulfate in adult cerebellar cortex and neonatal cerebral cortex have been studied in animal models. This study was done to determine the neurotoxic effects of prenatal morphine exposure on the histo-morphological changes of cerebellar cortical layer and Purkinje cells in mice neonates. In this experimental study 30 female mice were randomly allocated into cases and controls. In the case group, animals received morphine sulfate 10 mg/kg/body weight intraperitoneally for 7 days. After mating, dams received morphine sulfate 10 mg/kg/body weight intraperitoneally for 20 days of gestation. Animals in the control group received normal saline. On the day of delivery (P0), the cerebella of six neonates for each group were removed and stained with cresyl violet. Quantitative computer-assisted morphometric study was done on the cortical layer of the cerebellum. Morphine exposure caused a non-significant increase in fetal weight in the case group. Purkinje cells in cases were decreased in comparison with controls (p < 0.05). Histomorphometric examination revealed that the thickness of Purkinje and internal granular layers of the cerebellar cortex decreased in the morphine-exposed group (p < 0.05). This study revealed that morphine administration before and during pregnancy can cause Purkinje cell loss and reduction of thickness of the Purkinje and internal granular layer of the cerebellar cortex and size of Purkinje cells in neonatal mice.

The effects of subacute exposure of peracetic Acid on lipid peroxidation and hepatic enzymes in wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of subacute exposure of peracetic acid on lipid peroxidation and hepatic enzymes in Wistar rats. METHODS: 48 male animals in Treatment Group I, II and III received 0.2%, 2% and 20% peracetic acid daily for 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: Serum malondialdehyde increased and Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase decreased significantly in groups 2 and 3, compared to the control group. The malondialdehyde, Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase with 0.2% and 2% doses of peracetic acid for 2 weeks do not lead to the alteration of malondialdehyde and enzyme activities. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the enhancement of malondialdehyde could provide an oxidative damage induced by disinfectant peroxidation at 20% and 2% doses at 2 and 4 weeks. The consumption of peroxidation with 20% for 2 weeks and 2% for 4 weeks can cause the increase of malondialdehyde and the decrease of enzyme activities, respectively.

Teratogenic effects of gabapentin on the skeletal system of Balb/C mice fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of gabapentin (GBP) administration on mice fetuses. METHODS: This study was carried out in Birjand University of Medical Sciences during 2008. Thirty Balb/c pregnant mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: 2 experimental groups that received 25 mg/kg (I) and 50 mg/kg (II) of GBP intraperitoneally for the first 15 days of pregnancy, and a control group that received normal saline. External observations of day 18 fetuses and skeleton double staining were performed. RESULTS: Both experimental groups showed similar disorders that can be categorized as the following: 1) decrease of fetal body weight and increase of fetal resorption, 2) macroscopic malformations, and 3) skeletal malformations. Fetal body weights were significantly lower, and fetus resorptions were significantly higher in both treated groups compared to the control group. Macroscopic malformations included exencephaly, limbs defects, brachygnathia, vertebral column deformity, and fetuses with severe retarded growth. Skeletal malformations included delayed ossification, scoliosis, calvaria deformity, and mandibular hypoplasia. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that GBP can induce previously unreported severe malformations if it is used continuously during the implantation, neurulation, and organogenesis stages of pregnancy. Therefore, it is suggested that great caution should be exercised in using GBP during the early stages of pregnancy until further studies are performed to better understand these effects.

Prolongation of AV nodal refractoriness by Ruta graveolens in isolated rat hearts. Potential role as an anti-arrhythmic agent.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate concentration-dependent effects of total extract of Ruta graveolens and its purified alkaloid fraction on the nodal basic and functional properties. METHODS: In the present experimental study, we used the Langendorff model for perfusion of isolated rat hearts to determine the effects of various concentrations of methanolic extract of Rue (1.25 x 10(-6) % weight per volume percent [W/V]; 2.5 x 10(-6) % W/V; 3.75 x 10(-6) % W/V) and total alkaloid of Rue (0.25 x 10(-6) % W/V; 0.5 x 10(-6) % W/V) on electrophysiological properties of cardiac tissue. Selective stimulation protocols were used to independently quantify atrioventricular AV nodal recovery, facilitation, and fatigue. We used 3 groups (N=24) of isolated perfused rat AV nodal preparations to assess the effect of Rue extracts. The study was carried out in October 2006 in the electrophysiology laboratory of the Cardiovascular Research Center of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Gorgan, Iran. RESULTS: Our results showed that both the total plant extract and the alkaloid fraction of Ruta graveolens had a similar trend of action on nodal conduction time and refractoriness. Furthermore, we observed increased atrioventricular conduction time (83+/-4 to 108+/-5) msec and functional refractory period (157.6+/-3 to 163.7+/-4 msec) at a maximum concentration of 3.75 x 10(-6) % W/V. CONCLUSION: The above results indicated a potential antiarrhythmic effect of Ruta graveolens in treating supra ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Morphometric measurements of the thalamus and interthalamic adhesion by MRI in the South-East of the Caspian Sea border.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the gender differences and the age-related morphometrical changes of the thalamus, interthalamic adhesion, and the right-left differences of the thalamus of the native Fars ethnic group in the South-East of the Caspian Sea border METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out on 97 patients (44 males and 53 females) without neuropathologic changes and symptoms admitted to the Kowsar MRI center in the South-East of the Caspian Sea border (Gorgan City, Northern Iran) in 2006. Thalamic dimensions were measured by MR images. The vertical lengths of the thalami and interthalamic adhesion were measured in the coronal sections, while the anteroposterior and transverse length measurements of the thalami and interthalamic adhesion were obtained in the axial plane. The data were assessed by SPSS 11.5 statistics program. RESULTS: Thalamic dimensions were longer in males. There was no significant correlation between size of thalamus and interthalamic adhesion regarding age; however, we found that thalamic dimensions increase a little with age until the 31-40 years group, and decreased after that. There was no correlation between age and gender groups and dimensions of the interthalamic adhesion. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there are no significant differences between right and left sides of the thalamus, however, the left-side thalamic dimensions were a little longer than the right.

Epidemiologic aspects of neural tube defects in South East Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of neural tube defects (NTDs) and their relation to gender, maternal age, consanguineous marriage, season, and drug consumption in Birjand, Iran. METHODS: This research was carried out on 16,785 live or stillborn newborns in Birjand, Iran from April 1997 to December 2001. RESULTS: The rate of NTDs was 2.97 per 1000. This rate was 1.97 per 1000 in males, and 3.55 per 1000 in females. The rate of anencephaly was 1.37 per 1000, and spina bifida was 0.88 per 1000. We found that 32% of mothers with affected newborns had taken drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy, 90% of mothers did not consume folate before and during the first trimester, and 54% of parents had consanguineous marriage. CONCLUSION: We concluded that folate deficiency, usage of drugs during pregnancy, and consanguineous marriage may play a role of predisposition to NTD.