Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] a cholesterol rich particle in human plasma, is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of present study was to determine and compare serum Lp(a) in the CAD patients with normal healthy volunteers in Iranian population.
This investigation included 117 patients (25 females, 92 males) with different degrees of coronary stenosis and 103 normal subjects (51 females, 52 males). Blood samples were collected in the morning after an overnight fasting and sera were stored at -20°C until the Lp(a) assay. The lipids and lipoproteins were measured by enzymatic methods and Lp(a) assay was done by electroimmunodiffusion.
The results showed that the serum Lp(a) did not correlate significantly with age, sex and other lipid risk factors. The Lp(a) levels in CAD group with a mean of 41±40 mg/dl were significantly higher than controls with a mean of 25.5±28 mg/dl (p<0.001).
We conclude that Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in the Iranian population.

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The incidence of Atheroesclerosis in kidney transplanted patients and its relationship to elevation of lipids and lipoproteins of plasma has been investigated. In this study the serum level of lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipid), lipoproteins [Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C) and ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C)] and fasting blood sugar in 74 kidney transplanted patients (53 males and 21 females) in the range of 15-69 years and 74 control persons (53 males and 21 females) in the range of 13-70 years were measured, statistically analyzed and compared with each other. Comparison of serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in males and females and in the control group reveals remarkable difference in all parameters except for HDL-C and HDL-C/LDL-C in males. Average of serum fasting blood sugar in studied patients compared to that of the control group did not reveal a statistically important difference (p>0.1). Through the correlation co-effective test between age, weight and duration of kidney transplanted with lipids, lipoproteins and fasting blood sugar levels only revealed direct and remarkable relationship between weight and triglycerides (p<0.05, r=0.29).

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Studies were carried out to explore the effect of acute and chronic administration of morphine sulphate and drug withdrawal on the concentrations of synaptosomal phospholipid species [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS)] in brain areas of adult male albino rats.
It was found that acute administration of morphine (35 mg/kg body weight) decreased concentrations of synaptosomal PC and PE in cerebellum and increased their levels in striatum. Conversely, PS and PI showed significant increases in cerebellum and significant decreases in striatum.
However, chronic administration of increasing doses (15-75 mg/kg body weight) of the drug decreased the concentrations of synaptosomal PE, PS and PI of striatum and PC in cortex.
Two days after morphine withdrawal the synaptosomal PC, PE, PS and PI showed significant increases in striatum and thalamus-hypothalamus. Conversely, PC and PE concentrations were decreased significantly in synaptosomes of cerebellum after two days of drug withdrawal. Also, after four days of morphine withdrawal, the synaptosomal PC and PE were diminished in cerebellum and increased in cortex.
Overall, the present results suggest that the mechanisms of opioid action are closely associated with changes in the turnover of the brain phospholipid species.

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The effect of a single preoperative intravenous (iv) administration of metoclopramide, dexamethasone, metoclopramide plus dexamethasone or placebo on the reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after strabismus surgery was evaluated in 132 patients, 2-14 years of age, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status 1, undergoing strabismus surgery using a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled protocol.
The patients received either metoclopramide 150 g/kg, dexamethasone 150 g/kg, combination of them or the same volume of isotonic sodium chloride solution IV, 30 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. General anesthesia was performed with thiopental of Na, fentanyl, succinylcholine and maintained with halothane and N2O in all groups.
PONV were evaluated postoperatively. Patients in group III who received metoclopramide plus dexamethasone experienced significantly less PONV during the first 24 h after surgery.
In conclusion, a single dose of metoclopramide plus dexamethasone (150 g/kg of each drug) seemed to produce better antiemetic effects after strabismus surgery than metoclopramide or dexamethasone alone.

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Fasting (abstaining from all food and drink between sunrise and sunset) in the holy month of Ramadan is one of the religious duties in Islam and most people fulfill this religious duty in our country, Iran. Fasting is a custom in some other religions also, but its length and conditions are different. It seems that the level of some blood components change during this month.
In this study lipid peroxidation was compared before and after one month of fasting by determining malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CDs), both of which are products of LDL-oxidation. The relationship between fasting and change in serum lipoproteins and fasting blood sugar (FBS) was investigated.
Fifty healthy 30-60 year-old men intending to fast during the holy month of Ramadan were included in the present study. The plasma levels of MDA, CDs; serum levels of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (Chol), FBS were determined one day before, and final day of the fasting month. MDA and CDs were measured by spectrophotometer, and TG, Chol and FBS enzymatically with ELAN autoanalyzer. The Student's t-test was used to compare pre- and post-Ramadan values.
Results showed that the MDA, TG and Chol levels decreased significantly during Ramadan (p<0.05). The levels of FBS decreased too, but this reduction was not significant (p>0.05). The level of CDs was increased significantly (p<0.05).
Since MDA is significantly decreased during Ramadan, it seems that fasting for a month may have preventive effects on atherosclerosis, considering that LDL-oxidation plays an important role in the production of atherosclerotic plaques.

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The elderly in Jordan form about 4.6% of the Jordanian population. There are no specialized health services for the elderly in Jordan, also very few studies have been carried out in relation to the health of the elderly. The purpose of this survey was to describe the health status of the elderly in Jordan. Countries such as Jordan need to better understand the health of the elderly in order to provide health services that meet those needs. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire that was completed by the research assistants in the homes of the elderly. The results indicate that the majority of the elderly population live within a family unit and usually have someone to help them. Most of the participants suffered from chronic health problems and many did not have adequate health insurance or could afford health services. The income they lived on was mainly from their families and retirement funds. The elderly in Jordan need to receive more attention by both government and civil society organizations, so that they are no longer the forgotten few.

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