[en] Objective: to assess the prevalence of Iodine deficiency disorder, in high school girls in Shiraz, Iran. Results: Prevalence of goiter was 25%. Grade 1B goiter was more prevalent (13.9%) than grade 1A (7.4%). Iodine deficiency according to two indices, Urinary Iodine level and Urinary Iodine/Creatinine ratio in sub sample of study sample were 4.7% and 12.1% respectively. Conclusion: Salt iodination program should be continued and further studies to investigate other factors in genesis of thyroid enlargement are recommended. (author)

[en] Objective: The aim of this study was to see the morbidity and mortality in peptic ulcer perforation cases by non-operative management in selected cases. Results: In the selected 54 patients, male: female were 49:05. Nine had history of NSAID intake. There was no mortality. Morbidity analysis showed that three had hepatic abscess, four had pelvic abscess, six took prolonged time for improvement, in two cases conservative treatment had to be abandoned and laparotomy was done in the same hospital admission. Conclusion: Non-operative procedure is a safe and effective measure for the management of perforated peptic ulcer in selected cases. (author)

[en] Objective: To find the incidence of malignancy in females presenting with breast lumps in surgical out patient and to find out the age related incidence of benign and malignant diseases in these patients. Patients and Methods: All cases reporting to surgical outdoor with breast lumps were included and underwent investigation for the breast lumps to determine the histopathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 277 cases were studied. 24.2% breast lumps were malignant and 75.8% were benign. The incidence of malignancy increases from 0% in 2nd decade to 38.9% in 5th and 100% in 9th decade of life. The probability of diagnosing a breast lump as a malignant is one in three in 4th decade, two in five in 5th decade and more than one in two there after. Fibrocystic disease (33.8%) and Fibro adenoma (27.1%) was the commonest finding among the benign lumps. Among malignant lumps infiltrating duct carcinoma (68.7%) is the commonest finding. Conclusion: There is a significantly high incidence of malignant breast lumps after the 3rd decade of life and it increases subsequently. It is recommended that the surgeon managing a case of breast lump in a patient above 30 years should be highly suspicious and cautious so that early detection and management of malignant lumps be carried out. (author)

[en] Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the frequency, types and complications of Barrett's esophagus in symptomatic gastro-esophageal reflux patients. Subjects: A total of 100 patients of gastro-esophageal reflux were studied to evaluate the frequency, types and complications of Barrett's esophagus. Endoscopic biopsies were taken and examined with H and E and various special stains like PAS, Alcian blue/PAS, high iron diamine/ Alcian blue and Giemsa stains. Results: Of 100 cases studied, 32 were found to have Barrett's esophagus on microscopy. The remaining 68 cases showed low and high grade changes of gastro-esophageal reflux. Conclusion: In comparison with studies from western countries, Barrett's esophagus was found to be relatively more common in our population. However, the frequency of complications like ulcer, stricture, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma was lesser. (author)

[en] Objective: To assess the functional status and quality of life (QOL) of 12 patients with disseminated peritoneal cancer before and after intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCT). Design: Patients with confirmed diagnosis of malignant ascites originating from gastrointestinal tract, gynecologic or other malignancies with peritoneal implants were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer therapy scale to assess quality of life and the Visual Analogue scale to assess common symptoms before and after palliative abdominal paracentesis with intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCT). Results: Twelve patients enrolled, 8 gastrointestinal, 3 gynecologic malignancies and 1 with pseudomyxoma peritonie. All with terminal advanced stage malignancy. Mean number of days required for palliative abdominal paracentesis before (IPCT) was 6.7 days (3-20 days) while mean number of days after IPCT was 18.9 days (10-35 days). Eleven out of 12 patients had relief of their symptoms and improvement in QOL. Side effects were minimal and tolerable. Conclusion: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy improves QOL and increase the duration required for palliative abdominal paracentesis for terminal cancer patients with malignant ascites with minimal toxicity. (author)

[en] Objective: The primary aim of this study was the early detection and treatment of hypothyroidism in neonates. This paper describes the determination of cord blood serum T/sub 4/ and TSH levels, their mean levels reference ranges and interrelationship. Results: Mean (Plus minus SD) T/sub 4) leveling cord blood serum was 115 plus minus 36 nmol/L (range: 15-350 nmol/L) and mean TSH level was found to be 5.6 plus minus 5.1 mlU/L (range: 0.05 - 150). The reference range for T/sub 4/ and TSH was 49-189 nmol/L and 0.4-17.6 mlU/L respectively. A trend in T/sub 4/ and TSH levels distributions towards higher values was noted Serum T/sub 4/ and TSH levels were not correlated significantly. Except at lowest and highest levels no reciprocal relationship between T/sub 4/ and TSH levels was found as is observed in adults. T/sub 4/ and TSH levels no reciprocal relationship between T/sub 4/ and TSH levels was found as is observed in adults. T/sub 4/ and TSH levels in 90% neonates were between 60-173 nmol/L and 1.0-14.2 mlU/L respectively. Conclusion: In most neonates, level of cord serum T/sub 4/ was independent of TSH level. Mean T/sub 4/ and TSH levels and their normal ranges were lower as compared to an iodine-sufficient country like USA. In 11.4% of neonates TSH levels were above 10 mlU/L, corresponding to mild degree of iodine deficiency disorders in Lahore. (author)

[en] Increased aerobic exercise capacity appears to reduce both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. Physical exercise to improve maximal oxygen consumption (VO/sub 2max/) is thus strongly recommended, however evidence regarding the most efficient training intensity for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is still lacking. The purpose of this randomized study was to assess the effects of aerobic exercise for increasing VO/sub 2max/ in stable CAD-patients. Thirty stable CAD-patients were randomized to supervised walking 30 min three times a week for 10 weeks. Before and after training VO/sub 2max/ was predicted from Bruce treadmill test. Before training VO/sub 2max/ was 35.2+-4.32 ml/kg/min and after training the mean VO/sub 2max/ was 43.1+-3.4 ml/kg/min. This difference was significant (p<0.05). Aerobic exercise is effective for increasing VO/sub 2max/ in stable CAD-patients. As VO/sub 2max/ seems to reflect a continuum between health and cardiovascular disease and death, the present data may be useful in designing effective training programmes for improved health in the future. (author)

[en] To see the effects of magnesium sulphate in newborn with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) who did not respond to mechanical hyperventilation and are candidate for Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). Ten newborn who were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with profound hypoxia and respiratory failure due to PPHN were treated with conventional mechanical ventilation and then mechanical hyperventilation. The newborns who did not respond to mechanical Hyperventilation were treated with magnesium sulphate infusion. Nine out of ten babies survived and one of them died. The differences between the mean AaDo2, OI index, and PH after mechanical hyperventilation and magnesium sulphate administration was significant. Magnesium has a role in the treatment of PPHN patients who do not respond to hyperventilation or may be applied instead of hyperventilation. (author)

[en] To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking on semen quality of infertile men. Two hundred fourteen infertile men who had been smoking cigarette and one hundred thirty infertile non smokers men participated in this study. Seminal volume, sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphology were examined. The quality of spermatozoa obtained from smokers were much lower than non-smokers (P<0.01). The sperm concentration, viability and forward progression were negatively correlated with cigarette smoking (P<0.01). Smoking does affect the semen quality of infertile men. (author)

[en] The aim of this clinical case-control trial was to compare the total amount of blood needed in patients taking autologous or homologous blood transfusion in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Sixty patients scheduled for CABG were randomly allocated to ANH (Acute Normovulemic Hemodynamic) group (A group) or control group (B group). Hematocrit before operation and 24 hours after the operation were checked. The amount of the total blood needed in each group was measured at the end of the operation. There was no significant difference between the two groups as regards post operational hematocrit. The mean total blood infused to the control and ANH group was 2010 ml and 1815 ml respectively. However there was significant difference between the two groups as regards the total amount of the blood needed during operation. Our randomized, double blinded case control study demonstrated that autologous blood, beside carrying lower risks for hemolytic and nonhemolytic transfusion reactions decrease the total amount of blood needed for CABG. However larger studies with more patients are needed to confirm the results. (author)