To compare the serum level of MDA (malondialdehyde), antioxidant vitamins, lipoproteins and anthropometry parameters, of 40 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and at least one vessel stenosis more than 70% and 40 healthy persons (control group) with mean age of 53.7±9.45 years were selected for this study. All patients and the healthy controls were evaluated in aspects of anthropometry parameters including weight, height, Basal Metabolic Index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio, angiographic status of coronary arteries (only in patient group), serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL2, HDL3, MDA and vitamins E and C.
Results showed that BMI and waist to hip ratio in patients were significantly elevated in control group (p<0.01) whereas serum levels of antioxidant vitamins were lower (p<0.001). Serum levels of MDA in the patients were increased significantly in comparison with the control group (p<0.001). LDL/HDL ratios were higher and Vitamin E/Cholesterol ratios were lower of patients compared to the control group.
These results suggest that decrease of antioxidant vitamins and increase of MDA serum levels play important roles in the pathogenesis of CAD.

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Pulse oximetry is dependent upon the presence of a pulsating vascular bed. Low pulsatile blood flow in the digits is caused by various factors. Regardless of the cause, if there is sufficient arterial pulse pressure, blocking the sympathetic nerve should cause a local increase in capillary flow and pulse volume. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of digital nerve block on pulse oximetric signal detection (SpO2, Lag time and amplitude of plethismographic wave) during general anesthesia.
After induction of general anesthesia in 105 patients, SpO2, Lag time and amplitude of plethismographic wave in index fingers of two hands were determined by pulse oximeter. Then 2 ml of 2% lidocaine was injected to index fingers of one hand and these parameters were determined at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes after digital nerve block, in blocked and unblocked fingers. The data were compared between two groups.
Mean lag time of plethismographic wave in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes after digital block was shorter in blocked fingers than unblocked fingers (p<0.05). Mean amplitude of plethismographic wave in these times after digital block was greater in blocked fingers than unblocked fingers (p<0.05). No statistical difference in SpO2 was determined between blocked and unblocked fingers.
In conclusion, the digital block is an effective and safe technique for better pulse oximetric signal detection during general anesthesia. Short lag time and high amplitude of plethismographic wave probably can facilitate the accuracy of SpO2 calculation and therefore rapid detection of hypoxemia.

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Kombucha tea is a health beverage made by incubating the Kombucha mushroom in black tea and sugar. Although various therapeutic benefits have been attributed to the drink, and it is consumed however widely in many populations throughout the world. Neither its beneficial effects nor adverse side effects however have been studied sufficiently. As this beverage contains some alcohol and it may have some effect on central nervous system (CNS), we proposed to study the effect of its chronic consumption on learning and memory which are among the most complex functions in the CNS.
In this study we used a Shuttle Box device to assess active avoidance learning and memory as recently described. Ten Wistar male rats were equally divided into two groups. The animals in control group continued to drink tap water while the animals in the experimental groups had availability of Kombucha tea ad libitum instead, for 2 months until the onset of behavioral studies and continued up to the end of the studies.
Our data showed that although chronic consumption of Kombucha tea during 2 months led to a slight decline in number of shocks receiving by animals in all three stages of the study (learning, short term memory and long term memory). There was no significant difference between animals of the control and the experimental groups (p=0.539, p=0.476, p=0.323 respectively).
Our results indicate that chronic consumption of Kombucha tea had neither significant beneficial nor adverse side effect on learning and memory.

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Delayed presentation of right-sided diaphragmatic hernia occurred after the improvement of hyaline membrane disease in a male newborn. He presented with respiratory distress during the first few hours of life and had hyaline membrane disease confirmed by chest roentgenogram. After initial improvement with antibiotic therapy and ventilatory support for 2 weeks, sudden deterioration of respiration occurred and subsequent chest roentgenogram revealed herniated viscera in the right hemi-thorax. Two days ago his chest roentgenogram was normal. He did not have any other causes for diaphragmatic hernia such as group B streptococcal infection or necrotizing enterocolitis. To our knowledge, this association has not been previously reported in newborns.

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This study was conducted to uncover the differences in the serum Cu, Fe, Zn and proteins in children of different degrees of malnutrition. For this purpose 85 malnourished and 15 normal children of school age (4-12 years) were chosen. Results revealed that serum Fe and Cu were significantly or relatively higher in malnourished than apparently healthy children irrespective of age, sex, socio-economic status or area of living. The levels of serum Zn, however, showed statistically non-significant differences between malnourished and apparently healthy children. Serum levels of total proteins and globulins were significantly or relatively lower in malnourished compared to the children of control group irrespective of age, sex, socio-economic status and area of living. The results of albumin were variable in these groups. While serum total proteins and globulins in male malnourished children were significantly lower compared to the male children of the control group, it was non-significantly different among females. The means of serum Cu, Zn and Fe in severely malnourished males and females were 48.61, 80.40; 50.00, 48.20; 227.15, 229.40 g/dL, respectively. These parameters in children of low and middle socio-economic status were 58.30, 90.00; 47.80, 58.67; 240.15, 148.00 g/dL, respectively while in severely malnourished children of three age groups (4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 years) were 38.25, 81.00, 71.55; 50.50, 46.66, 49.77; 224.88, 155.00, 279.78 g/dL, respectively. It can be concluded from the present study that serum Cu and Fe levels are
increased, while serum total proteins and globulins are decreased in children of 4-12 years of age suffering from disease malnutrition.

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Senile cataract is one of the most important preventable causes of blindness. Oxidative agents like ultraviolet (UV) are one of the most important causes of cataract. Vitamin C is an important water soluble antioxidant agent in the aqueous humor.
In a cross-sectional study, 85 patients admitted to Rah-Ahan Eye Hospital for cataract surgery were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 64.3±1.2 yr of the 85 patients, 41 were men and 44 were women.
Under general anesthesia 0.2 cc of aqueous humor from anterior chamber and 5 cc of peripheral blood were taken just before operation. Concentration of vitamin C was measured in these samples and the data was analyzed by SPSS statistical program.
Mean concentration of vitamin C was 4.29±0.12 mg/dl (mean±SE) in the aqueous and 0.77±0.036 mg/dL in the plasma. The differences were statistically significant when compared with normal values. P 0.000 in both conditions. Vitamin C concentrations of aqueous humor were equal in both sexes, but vitamin C concentrations of plasma in women were higher than men (p=0.043). The concentration of vitamin C was not related to the type of cataract or job of patients.
Since vitamin C concentration of aqueous humor and plasma in senile cataract are lower than normal, it is better to advise fresh vegetables and fruits or other supplements to patients who are at risk of senile cataract.

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