In this study we investigated the histological role of estrogen on Fatty Streak (FS) formation in some branches of coronary arteries (CA) in cholesterol-fed diabetic male rabbits. Seventeen rabbits were obtained from Pasteur Institute of Iran and diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of Alloxan (200 mg/kg). After induction of diabetes, they were randomly divided into three groups: (i) control, (ii) low-dose estrogen treatment (1mg/animal) and (iii) high-dose estrogen treatment (5mg/animal). Estrogen was injected i.m, weekly. Control group received normal saline injection. All groups were fed with cholesterol rich diet (1%) during the experiment. After six weeks, the animals were sacrificed. Hearts were isolated and four branches of CA (Right and Left CA; RCA and LCA, Anterior and Posterior interventricular arteries; AIVA and PIVA) were dissected and evaluated for the relative size of FS and the percentage of arterial lumen narrowing by FS using scale micrometer. The average grades of pathological evaluation for branches of coronary arteries showed that in animals receiving high dose estrogen, the FS formations in RCA, LCA, AIVA and PIVA (0.33 ± 0.21, 0.17 ± 0.17, 0.0 ± 0.0, 0.0 ± 0.0, respectively) were significantly lesser than control group (1.40 ± 0.24, 2.2 ± 0.37, 0.80 ± 0.2, 1.20 ± 0.37, respectively). We conclude that estrogen has a beneficial role in histological changes of coronary arteries, it can attenuate progression of FS formation administration diabetic rabbits.

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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new approach for treating Grades I and II hemorrhoids. In this procedure, the hemorrhoidal tissue is exposed to high frequency radio wave to produce coagulative necrosis and fixation of the vascular components of the hemorrhoids. This study reports the author's experience with this technique. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of RFA in the treatment of Grades I and II hemorrhoidal disease. The present retrospective study reviews the early and long-term effects of radiofrequency ablation. A separate prospective and randomized study compared the results of radiofrequency ablation and rubber band ligation (RBL) in 60 patients with Grade II hemorrhoids in terms of their effectiveness and patient comfort. Two hundred and forty patients with Grades I and II bleeding hemorrhoids were studied. Ellman radiofrequency generator was used for this procedure. Fisher's test was carried out for the statistical analysis of the outcome of the prospective study.
Twenty three patients reported recurrence of bleeding, and 29 complained of pain or discomfort. The comparative study showed that though rubber band ligation was a more effective procedure (p<0.001), the rate and severity of pain was higher (p<0.001) than the radiofrequency coagulation. It is therefore concluded that radiofrequency ablation of hemorrhoids is easy to perform, is less painful, and has low rate of complications. It is better tolerated than RBL and can safely be repeated in case of recurrence of symptoms. It is however less efficacious.

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Candida-positive genital specimens (n=585) examined by direct mount wet preparation, consisting of high vaginal swabs (83%), endocervical swabs (14%) and urine (2.9%) collected from symptomatic female genitourinary candidiasis patients attending hospitals and medical laboratories in seven Nigerian cities. Age and marital status of each patient were documented at time of specimen collection. Each specimen was then cultured on Sabouraud Glucose Agar at 37°C for 48 hours and examined under X40 power of a light microscope. Candida species were further identified by the CHROM Agar method. Results showed that the married accounted for 55.1% of cases while 44.9% were unmarried. Among the married the age group 26-30 years had the highest occurrence of 25.8% (significant at p=0.05). Fifteen-twenty years age group had 1.1% while 41 years plus were represented by 0.8%. The unmarried were represented by 10.3% in the age group 15-20 years. The married also had higher occurrences in all the seven cities though the differences were insignificant. Marital factor seems to play a role in the distribution of genitourinary candidiasis in the most vulnerable age group.

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Effects of dietary zinc supplement during lactation on maternal plasma zinc and milk zinc concentrations through 5 months of lactation were examined. One hundred and thirty eight healthy lactating mothers received a weekly 100 mg elemental zinc supplement (ZG, n = 67) or placebo (PG, n = 71) starting one week postpartum in a double blind, randomized design. Milk and plasma zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
During the course of study, there was not a significant difference between ZG and PG groups in dietary zinc and energy intake. The mean plasma zinc concentration during the 1st week and 5th month were 134±49.1 and 115.6±23g/dl (p=0.005) for PG group, respectively: that of the ZG group these figures were 124.9±52.8 and 121±27.1g/dl (p=0.38), respectively. The mean serum alkaline phosphatase concentration of the 1st week and 5th month were 94.8±37 and 92.6±29.9 iu/l for PG group, respectively: that of the ZG group these figures were 90.5±36 and 90±29 iu/l (p=0.21), respectively. Milk zinc concentration declined significantly over the course of study for two groups, with the sharpest decline occurring during the first 2 months. The mean monthly zinc concentration of ZG group declined from 310±138 during the 1st week to 118±64g/dl at 5th month (declined by 52%). Corresponding means for PG group were 322±161 and 109±70g/dl (declined by 60%), respectively. Milk zinc concentration was significantly different between two groups for 3 and 4 months. A similar study, however, with different zinc dose and administration manner, in zinc marginal deficient lactating mothers is needed to assess the impact of zinc supplementation on milk zinc concentrations.

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The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of ethanol and the action of carnosine treatment on certain liver parameters; enzymes, total proteins and glycogen in rats. These enzymes including Krebs cycle enzyme: succinate dehydrogenase (SDH); glycolytic enzymes: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes; glycogenolytic metabolic machineries: glycogen phosphorylase, G-6-Pase and glycogen; hydrolytic enzymes: acid phosphatase (AP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP); amino acid metabolic enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and nucleic acid catabolic enzyme: 5`-nucleotidase. The chronic ethanol-intoxicated rats showed a marked disturbance in all the parameters measured, indicating the toxic effect of ethanol by inducing oxidative stress on liver tissue. Administration of carnosine ameliorated the toxic effects of ethanol.

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Viscoelastic agents are used widely in ophthalmic surgery. This study was designed to assess the effect of Healon (sodium hyaluronate 1%) and Coatel (Hydroxymethylpropylcellulose 2%) on intraocular pressure (IOP) after small incision of cataract surgery.
In a prospective randomized clinical trial, 87 eyes of 87 patients with senile cataract from Nikookari Ophthalmology Center of Tabriz, underwent small incision cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and randomly assigned to receive Healon or Coatel. IOP was measured preoperatively, 24 hours, 3 days and 1 month after surgery and postoperative values were compared with preoperative ones.
In each group mean of 3 postoperative IOPs were compared with preoperative values and a significant difference was found in two groups (p = 0.013 for Healon and p = 0.004 for Coatel). After 20-24 hours, mean IOP in Healon group increased significantly (p = 0.047) but in Coatel group there was no significant change (p = 0.56).
Three days and also one month after surgery, mean IOP in two groups reduced significantly to lower values of baseline (p<0.001 in either group).
According to our results, there was no significant difference between the mean postoperative IOPs using two different viscoelastic agents and they were similar in effectiveness. It seems that complete removal of viscoelastic substances from anterior chamber, behind the intraocular lens (IOL), posterior chamber and enough washout time reduced the incidence of ocular hypertension in postoperative period.

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We report a case of typhoid fever with an unusual presentation: prolonged fever with painful purpuric skin lesions of the legs, splenic abscess and pancreatitis. The diagnosis was made upon isolation of S. typhi in blood cultures, and ruling out other causes of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The outcome was favorable with antibiotics alone without surgery.

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