Showing papers by "Tabriz University of Medical Sciences published in 2005"
TL;DR: The results showed that liquisolid compacts demonstrated significantly higher drug release rates than those of conventionally made (capsules and directly compressed tablets containing micronized piroxicam) due to an increase in wetting properties and surface of drug available for dissolution.
Abstract: Piroxicam is a poorly soluble, highly permeable drug and the rate of its oral absorption is often controlled by the dissolution rate in the gastrointestinal. The poor dissolution rate of water-insoluble drugs is still a major problem confronting the pharmaceutical industry. There are several techniques to enhance the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs. Among them, the technique of liquisolid compacts is a promising technique towards such a novel aim. In this study, the dissolution behaviour of piroxicam from liquisolid compacts was investigated in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.2). To this end, several liquisolid tablets formulations containing various ratios of drug:Tween 80 (ranging from 10% to 50% w/w) were prepared. The ratio of microcrystalline cellulose (carrier) to silica (coating powder material) was kept constant in all formulations. The results showed that liquisolid compacts demonstrated significantly higher drug release rates than those of conventionally made (capsules and directly compressed tablets containing micronized piroxicam). This was due to an increase in wetting properties and surface of drug available for dissolution.
165 citations
TL;DR: Data show for the first time that PPI-dendrimers, separate from their capability as transfection reagents, can intrinsically alter the expression of many endogenous genes that could potentially lead to them exerting multiple biological effects in cells.
Abstract: Polypropylenimine (PPI) dendrimers appear attractive non-viral vectors for the delivery of genes, antisense oligonucleotides, and small interfering RNA (siRNA). However, the effects of these synthe...
139 citations
TL;DR: Applicability of the Jouyban-Acree model for calculating absolute viscosity of binary liquid mixtures with respect to temperature and mixture composition is proposed and results show that the model is able to correlate the data with an overall percentage deviation.
Abstract: Applicability of the Jouyban-Acree model for calculating absolute viscosity of binary liquid mixtures with respect to temperature and mixture composition is proposed. The correlation ability of the model is evaluated by employing viscosity data of 143 various aqueous and non-aqueous liquid mixtures at various temperatures collected from the literature. The results show that the model is able to correlate the data with an overall percentage deviation (PD) of 1.9+/-2.5%. In order to test the prediction capability of the model, three experimental viscosities from the highest and lowest temperatures along with the viscosities of neat liquids at all temperatures have been employed to train the model, then the viscosity values at other mixture compositions and temperatures were predicted and the overall PD obtained is 2.6+/-4.0%.
131 citations
TL;DR: This work advocates the use of assessment criteria to dictate the treatment modality indicated in each individual case such as cyst size and site, patient age, the dentition involved, and the involvement of vital structures.
Abstract: Dentigerous cysts are usually easy to treat when small. However, extensive cysts are more difficult to manage requiring cyst enucleation and extraction of associated teeth. We advocate the use of assessment criteria to dictate the treatment modality indicated in each individual case such as cyst size and site, patient age, the dentition involved, and the involvement of vital structures. Cyst enucleation without extraction of the impaction, and decompression are two treatment modalities indicated in growing children and adolescents to salvage the involved dentition.
117 citations
TL;DR: A simple reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection at 270 nm was developed for simultaneous quantitation of ketoprofen and naproxen sodium along with phenol red as a non-absorbable marker for in situ permeability studies.
100 citations
TL;DR: This review will focus on toxicogenomics impact of the cationic lipid-based formulations for gene therapy, including cationo-compatibility of delivery systems itself, includingcationic cholesterol-based nanosystems.
Abstract: Implementation of the high-throughput microarray gene expression profiling technology towards "toxicogenomics" has advanced identification process for safer drugs in the century of 'omics' technology. Applying such technology, in fact, to identify mechanisms for cellular toxicity can provide a means to clarify safety liabilities early in the drug discovery and developments process. The underlying principle in gene therapy is primarily targeting a specific gene (e.g., for silencing). Hence, massive efforts have been devoted to validate the gene-based therapeutics, regardless of toxicogenomics potential of delivery systems. Of the gene delivery systems, viral and non-viral vectors, as two main paradigms, have so far been widely used for delivering of the genome-based therapeutics such as oligonucleotide, small interfering RNA and DNA. However, the use of viral vectors was narrowed due to the safety concerns. Non-viral vectors were utilized as safer alternatives for gene delivery in vitro and ex-vivo; though their success for in vivo gene therapy has been limited due to low efficiency and safety issues. Fundamental principle for gene therapy is to deliver gene-based therapeutics into target cells for specific gene targeting ideally with minimal cellular toxicity. Until now, few works have been conducted about geno-compatibility of delivery systems itself, including cationic lipid-based nanosystems. Inadvertent toxicogenomic impact of gene delivery systems (e.g., cationic lipids) may intrinsically affect the outcome of gene therapy, where often only a single desired genetic change is sought. Further, there exists a possibility that gene changes induced by the lipid delivery system itself could exacerbate, attenuate or even mask the desired effects of the gene-based therapeutics. This review will focus on toxicogenomics impact of the cationic lipid-based formulations for gene therapy.
88 citations
TL;DR: High anti-HEV antibody prevalence was observed in chronic hemodialysis patients in Tabriz, northwestern part of Iran; there was no association between HEV and blood borne infections (HBV, HCV, and HIV) in the authors' HD patients.
Abstract: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) has a global distribution and is known to have caused large waterborne epidemics of icteric hepatitis. Transmission is generally via the fecal-oral route. Some reports have suggested parenteral transmission of HEV. Anti-HEV prevalence data among chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are few and give conflicting results. This cross-sectional study was conducted in August of 2004. We tested 324 chronic HD patients attending three different units in the city of Tabriz, northwestern part of Iran, for anti-HEV antibody. A specific solid- phase enzyme-linked immunoassay (Diapro, Italy) was used. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis E was 7.4 %(95% CI: 4.6%–10.6%). The prevalence rate of HBV and HCV infection were 4.6% (95% CI: 2.3%–6.9%) and 20.4% (95% CI: 16%–24.8%), respectively. No significant association was found between anti-HEV positivity and age, sex, duration of hemodialysis, positivity for hepatitis B or C virus infection markers and history of transfusion. We observed high anti-HEV antibody prevalence; there was no association between HEV and blood borne infections (HBV, HCV, and HIV) in our HD patients. This is the first report concerning seroepidemiology of HEV infection in a large group of chronic HD individuals in Iran.
80 citations
TL;DR: Most of the burn injuries were caused by domestic accidents and were, therefore, preventable; educational programs might reduce the incidence of burn injuries.
Abstract: Background and aims:Burn injuries still produce a significant morbidity and mortality in Iran. A 3-year retrospective review of burn victims hospitalized at a major burn center was conducted to det...
71 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this research was to identify a Aspergillus species with over production of endo-β-1,4-glucanase, a group of hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading cellulose to smaller sugar components like glucose units.
Abstract: Cellulases are a group of hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading cellulose to smaller sugar components like glucose units. These enzymes are produced by fungi and bacteria. The aim of this research was to identify a Aspergillus species with over production of endo-β-1,4-glucanase. Properties of endo-β-1,4-glucanase/carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) from a culture filtrate of the Aspergillus sp. was also studied. Aspergillus sp. (R4) was selected as over producer of endo-β-1,4-glucanase among 13 different species. SDS-PAGE activity staining with 1% Congo Red solution revealed three protein bands showing cellulolytic activity. The molecular weights of these proteins were estimated to be approximately 18.5, 23 and 28 kD. Also, conservative region of endo-β-1,4-glucanase coding gene was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified fragments with 1204 bp and 399 bp were confirmed by restriction pattern with HindII and PstI enzymes. Key Words: Aspergillus sp., Endo-β-1, 4-glucanase, CMCase, SDS-PAGE, PCR. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.4(1) 2005: 26-30
61 citations
TL;DR: Among the extracts, the methanol (MeOH) extract of F. excelsior displayed the highest level of antioxidant activity, and the dichloromethane extract of P. rhoeas was the most toxic extract towards brine shrimps.
Abstract: Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus excelsior and Papaver rhoeas have long been used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of various ailments. As part of our continuing screening of plant extracts for biological activities, the extracts of A. glutinosa, F. excelsior and P. rhoeas have been screened for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as well as their general toxicity towards brine shrimps. Among the extracts, the methanol (MeOH) extract of F. excelsior displayed the highest level of antioxidant activity (RC 50 =1.35x10 -2 mg/mL) and the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of P. rhoeas was the most toxic extract towards brine shrimps (LD 50 =2.4x10 -2 mg/mL). The n-hexane and DCM extracts of F. excelsior and the MeOH extract of A. glutinosa were active (MIC values were within 1.25x10 -1 and 1.00 mg/mL) against all 8 bacterial species tested, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
58 citations
TL;DR: It has been demonstrated that all cosolvency models could be made equivalent by using algebraic manipulations and both linear and nonlinear models produced comparable accuracies when an equal number of constant terms was employed in numerical analyses.
Abstract: Organic solvents are amongst the most powerful solubilization agents for a large number of water-insoluble drugs. A number of equations has been reported for mathematical representation of solute solubility in mixed solvents. The question is then posed--is there a mathematical difference between these models? To address this point, it has been demonstrated that all cosolvency models could be made equivalent by using algebraic manipulations. In order to familiarize the readers with the available cosolvency models, they are briefly reviewed. The models can be divided into two mathematical categories, i.e. linear and non-linear models. The linear models include: the log-linear, extended Hildebrand solubility approach, excess free energy equations, combined nearly ideal binary solvent/Redlich-Kister equation and Margule equations which can be converted to a general single model which expresses the logarithm of mole fraction solubility of a solute as a power series of volume fraction of the cosolvent. The non-linear models include the mixture response surface methods, two step solvation model and modified Wilson model which can be converted to a non-linear general form. Also, it has been shown that both the general single model and a non-linear general model are mathematically identical. To show the applicability of the models on real experimental data, 35 data sets have been collected from the literature. Both linear and nonlinear models produced comparable accuracies when an equal number of constant terms was employed in numerical analyses.
TL;DR: A new, simple, rapid and accurate spectrophotometric method is proposed for determination of sodium diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations based on its reaction with concentrated nitric acid.
Abstract: A new, simple, rapid and accurate spectrophotometric method is proposed for determination of sodium diclofenac (SD) in pharmaceutical preparations based on its reaction with concentrated nitric acid (63% w/v). The reaction product is a yellowish compound with maximum absorbance at 380 nm. The corresponding calibration curve is linear over the range of 1–30 mg l−1, while the limit of detection is 0.46 mg l−1.
TL;DR: It is concluded that undamaged garlic (swallowed) had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum, but Crushed garlic (chewed) reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA and blood pressure.
Abstract: Hyperlipidemia and increased degree of oxidative stress are among the important risk factors for Atherosclerosis in renal transplant recipients (RTR). The Medical treatment of hyperlipidemia in RTR because of drugs side effects has been problematic, therefore alternative methods such as using of Garlic as an effective material in cholesterol lowering and inhibition of LDL Oxidation has been noted. For evaluation of garlic effect on RTR, 50 renal transplant patients with stable renal function were selected and divided into 2 groups. They took one clove of garlic (1 gr) by chewing or swallowing for two months, after one month wash-out period, they took garlic by the other route. Results indicated that although lipid profile, BUN, Cr, serum levels of cyclosporine and diastolic blood pressure did not change, Systolic blood pressure decreased from138.2 to 132.8 mmHg (p=0.001) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased from 2.4 to1.7 nmol/ml (p=0.009) by swallowing route, Cholesterol decreased from 205.1 to 195.3 mg/dl (p=0.03), triglyceride decreased from 195.7 to 174.8 mg/dl (p=0.008), MDA decreased from 2.5 to 1.6 nmol/ml (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure decreased from 137.5 to 129.8 mmHg (p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure decreased from 84.6 to 77.6 mmHg (p=0.001) and Cr decreased from 1.51 to 1.44 mg/dl (p=0.03) by chewing route too. However HDL, LDL and cyclosporine serum levels had no significant differences by both of swallowing and chewing routes. We conclude that undamaged garlic (swallowed) had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum. But Crushed garlic (chewed) reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA and blood pressure. Additionally creatinine reduced without notable decrease in cyclosporine serum levels may be due to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity ameliorating effect of garlic.
TL;DR: Kinetic analysis of drug release from matrices exhibiting sustained release indicated that release was predominantly attributable to the contribution made by Fickian diffusion, while the erosion/relaxation mechanisms had a minor role in the release.
Abstract: The present study was performed to design oral controlled delivery systems for the water-soluble drug, verapamil hydrochloride, using natural and semisynthetic polymers as carriers in the forms of 1- and 3-layer matrix tablets. Verapamil hydrochloride 1-layer matrix tablets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, tragacanth, and acacia either alone or mixed were prepared by direct compression technique. 3-layer matrix tablets were prepared by compressing the polymers as release retardant layers on both sides of the core containing the drug. The prepared tablets were subjected to in vitro drug release studies. Tragacanth when used as the carrier in the formulation of 1- and 3-layer matrices produced satisfactory release prolongation either alone or in combination with the other 2 polymers. On the other hand, acacia did not show enough prolonging efficiency in 1- and 3-layer matrix tablets. The results also showed that the location of the polymers in the 3-layer tablets has a pronounced effect on the drug release. Kinetic analysis of drug release from matrices exhibiting sustained release indicated that release was predominantly attributable to the contribution made by Fickian diffusion, while the erosion/relaxation mechanisms had a minor role in the release.
TL;DR: In this article, a mathematical equation for calculating apparent acid dissociation constants (pKa) in hydro-organic mixtures with respect to the concentration of organic solvent and temperature is proposed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a three-stage bench-scale biofilter was used for the treatment of waste gas styrene vapor in a yard waste compost mixed with shredded hard plastics in a 25:75 v/v ratio of plastics:compost.
TL;DR: Large burn size was the strongest predictor of mortality followed by the presence of inhalation injury and the length of time to intravenous access and the effect of age, sex, and cause of burn.
TL;DR: Sensitivity analysis of results from a composite tissue model suggests that the increase in lymphocyte density in the lamina propria associated with an inflammatory response to the infiltration of urine into the tissue may explain these unusual electrical properties of the tissue.
Abstract: Electrical impedance spectroscopy has been developed as a potential method for the diagnosis of carcinoma in epithelial tissues. An understanding of the influence of structural changes in the tissue on the properties measured using this technique is essential for interpreting measured data and optimization of probe design. In contrast to other tissue types, carcinoma in situ of the bladder gives rise to an increase in electrical impedance over the kHz–MHz frequency range in comparison to normal tissue. Finite element models of the urothelium and the underlying superficial lamina propria have been constructed and solved in order to ascertain the influence of structural changes associated with malignancy, oedema and inflammation on the measured electrical properties of the tissue. Sensitivity analysis of results from a composite tissue model suggests that the increase in lymphocyte density in the lamina propria associated with an inflammatory response to the infiltration of urine into the tissue may explain these unusual electrical properties.
TL;DR: Using German Chamomile mouthwash appears to offer benefit in plaque and gingival reduction without any significant adverse effects on tooth staining.
Abstract: Dental plaque is a well known etiologic factor for gingivitis. Recently, herbal extracts are a matter of scientific interest to inhibit plaque accumulation on teeth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of German Chamomile (GC) mouth wash on plaque and gingival indices. Twenty five gingivitis patients (15 female and 10 male, mean age 27±7.76 years) participated in this controlled, double blind cross-over study. The subjects used either GC or a control rinse for 2 min twice a day during a 4 weeks period. The other mouth rinse was used after a wash-out period of 4 weeks in the same way. The plaque and gingival indices were recorded at baseline and after each experimental or wash-out period. Furthermore, stain indices for intensity and extend were recorded to evaluate the tooth staining effects of the mouthrinses. The mean reduction in plaque and gingival scores were determined by using the test or control mouthwash and statistically analyzed by paired sample t- test. The stain intensity and extend in each period of the study were also analyzed by the two-way ANOVA. The GC mouthwash lowered both plaque and gingival scores significantly in comparison to the control rinse (p≤0.001), whilst there was no significant difference in stain intensity or extend between the baseline and after each period of the study. There was also no report of any adverse reactions during the use of mouth rinses in this the study. Using GC mouthwash appears to offer benefit in plaque and gingival reduction without any significant adverse effects on tooth staining.
TL;DR: The results indicated a maximum flux of 42 microgcm(-2)h(-1) after 48 h from the patches made from C-934P when the propylene glycol concentration was 15% and the nicotine-beta-CD mole ratio in the inclusion complex was 3:1.
TL;DR: The results showed that polymer chain movement and redistribution of the polymer in the tablet matrix structure after thermal-treating is the possible mechanism of drug release prolongation.
Abstract: Thermal treatment of acrylic matrices was recently introduced as a tool for prolonging the release of drug. Thermal treatment at temperatures above the T g of the polymer can decrease drug release rate. In this research we studied the mechanism of the effect of thermal treatment on Eudragit RS matrices. Indomethacin was used as model drug. The results showed that polymer chain movement and redistribution of the polymer in the tablet matrix structure after thermal-treating is the possible mechanism of drug release prolongation. The melting and resolidification of the polymer, due to the thermal treatment has apparently resulted in a redistribution of the polymer throughout the matrix and a change in the porosity of the tablet. FTIR results did not show any drug–polymer interaction due to heat-treatment. DSC and PXD studies ruled out the occurrence of solid solution and polymorphic change of the drug.
Journal Article•
02 Aug 2005-Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences
TL;DR: Solvent deposition technique was proved an effective tool of increasing dissolution probably due to enhanced wettability and reduced drug particle size, which in turn led to enhance drug serum concentrations and its hypoglycemic effects.
Abstract: PURPOSE: Glibenclamide is practically insoluble in water and its GI absorption is limited by its dissolution rate. Therefore, to enhance the drug dis- solution, serum concentrations and its hypoglycemic effects, it was formulated as solid dispersions and evalu- ated the relevant in vitro and in vivo parameters. METHODS: The drug solid dispersions were prepared by solvent deposition technique using microcrystalline cellulose as the carrier in different ratios and their dis- solution rates were compared to those of pure drug and its physical mixture with carrier. Drug serum con- centrations and hypoglycemic effects in rabbits of pure drug, a physical mixture and the corresponding solid dispersion were investigated. In order to elucidate the observed in vitro and in vivo differences, IR spectros- copy and x-ray diffraction patterns of the formulations were studied. RESULTS: The solid dispersion with the drug to carrier ratio of 1:19 showed the highest dis- solution rate with the dissolution efficiency (DE) of 44.42 in comparison to pure drug (DE = 3.82), physical mixture (DE = 4.91) and other solid dispersions (DE between 13.85-39.94) and also produced higher drug serum concentrations (more than 4 times at 6th hour post dose) as well as enhanced hypoglycemic effects rel- ative to pure drug and its corresponding physical mix- ture. CONCLUSIONS: Solvent deposition technique was proved an effective tool of increasing dissolution probably due to enhanced wettability and reduced drug particle size, which in turn led to enhance drug serum concentrations and its hypoglycemic effects. Strong quantitative correlations were established between dissolution parameter and parameters related to serum concentrations as well as hypoglycemic effects.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A three-dimensional model of human aldehyde oxidase (AO) was generated in order to assist us to identify the mode of interaction between enzyme and a set of phethalazine/quinazoline derivatives to develop QSAR model capable of describing the extent of the oxidation.
Abstract: Aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1), a cytosolic enzyme containing FAD, molybdenum and iron-sulphur cluster, is a member of non-cytochrome P-450 enzymes called molybdenum hydroxylases which is involved in the metabolism of a wide range of endogenous compounds and many drug substances. Drug metabolism is one of the important characteristics which influences many aspects of a therapeutic agent such as routes of administration, drug interaction and toxicity and therefore, characterisation of the key interactions between enzymes and substrates is very important from drug development point of view. The aim of this study was to generate a three-dimensional model of human aldehyde oxidase (AO) in order to assist us to identify the mode of interaction between enzyme and a set of phethalazine/quinazoline derivatives. Both sequence-based (BLAST) and inverse protein fold recognition methods (THREADER) were used to identify the crystal structure of bovine xanthine dehydrogenase (pdb code of 1FO4) as the suitable template for comparative modelling of human AO. Model structure was generated by aligning and then threading the sequence of human AO onto the template structure, incorporating the associated cofactors, and molecular dynamics simulations and energy minimization using GROMACS program. Different criteria which were measured by the PROCHECK, QPACK, VERIFY-3D were indicative of a proper fold for the predicted structural model of human AO. For example, 97.9 percentages of phi and psi angles were in the favoured and most favoured regions in the ramachandran plot, and all residues in the model are assigned environmentally positive compatibility scores. Further evaluation on the model quality was performed by investigation of AO-mediated oxidation of a set of phthalazine/quinazoline derivatives to develop QSAR model capable of describing the extent of the oxidation. Substrates were aligned by docking onto the active site of the enzyme using GOLD technology and then HASL method were used to generate a 3D-QSAR model. Correlation coefficient (r 2 ) between the test set actual and
TL;DR: In this article, the voltammetric behavior of isoniazid and hydrazine at an overoxidized polypyrrole modified glassy carbon electrode has been investigated.
Abstract: The voltammetric behavior of isoniazid and hydrazine at an overoxidized polypyrrole modified glassy carbon electrode has been investigated. The obtained cyclic voltammograms showed that their oxidation peaks were overlapped and it is difficult to determine them individually from a mixture without separation. To overcome this limitation, a procedure was proposed for resolution of overlapped voltammetric signals from mixtures of isoniazid and hydrazine. In this procedure, genetic algorithm was used for the selection of potentials for partial least squares. A feed forward artificial neural network with back propagation error algorithm was used to process the nonlinear relationship between currents and concentrations of hydrazine and isoniazid. The proposed method was suitable for determination of isoniazid in pharmaceutical tablets and detection of hydrazine impurities in the same samples.
TL;DR: Applicability of a previously published equation for calculating the solubility of solutes in supercritical carbon dioxide was extended to calculate thesolubility in entrained super critical carbon dioxide employing 42 experimental data sets collected from the literature.
Abstract: Applicability of a previously published equation for calculating the solubility of solutes in supercritical carbon dioxide was extended to calculate the solubility in entrained supercritical carbon dioxide employing 42 experimental data sets collected from the literature. The accuracy of the proposed model was evaluated by calculating both the average absolute relative deviation and the individual absolute relative deviation. The proposed model showed superiority to a previously published similar model, from both correlation and prediction points of view.
TL;DR: Tubal sterilization does not cause menstrual irregularities, and the abnormal uterine bleeding frequency differences in two different age groups were statistically significant.
Abstract: Background
Tubal sterilization is the method of family planning most commonly used. The existence of the post-tubal-ligation syndrome of menstrual abnormalities has been the subject of debate for decades.
TL;DR: The results suggest that serotonin, as a neurotransmitter in central nervous system, may be involved in modulating peripheral inflammation in rats, and that serotonin at the time of induction of inflammation had no inflammatory/anti-inflammatory effect.
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was carried out to investigate the incidence, time trend, influencing factors and survival of self-immolation in the North-West of Iran, where medical records of ninety eight cases who attempted suicide by selfimmolation between 1998 and 2003 were studied.
Abstract: Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the incidence, time trend, influencing factors and survival of self-immolation in the North-West of Iran. Methods: In this research, medical records of ninety eight cases who attempted suicide by selfimmolation between 1998 and 2003 were studied. Data collected included age, weight, sex, marital status, date of burn, length of stay in the hospital, body surface burned (in percent), external cause of death, psychiatric diagnosis of patients, and outcome. Incidence rates and descriptive statistics were calculated to document the epidemiological features of the selfimmolation in the region. Survival rates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method to assess the survival pattern of the suicide by self-immolation. Results: The mean age of subjects was 27 years (range: 11-68 years). The female / male ratio was 3.3. Most of the cases were married (55 percent). There was an increasing trend in the incidence rate of self-immolation from 1998 (1.48 per 1000,000 population, CI95%: 0.2-2.8) to 2003 (7.7 per 1000,000 population, CI95%: 4.8-10.5). Two and five weeks survival rates for suicide by self-immolation were 25 percent (CI 95%: 16-34) and 15 (CI 95%: 6-24), respectively. Conclusion: Availability of family mental health centers, easy access to emergency services, and psycho-educational programmes to high-risk groups (i.e. young women) may reduce the increasing rate of self-immolation in the region.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this Iranian population, the incidence of adenomas and their histology appear comparable to data for western patients, but with a significantly lower rate for synchronous neoplastic lesions.
Abstract: Objective: Asian countries generally have low incidences of colorectal cancers (CRCs) One approach to prevention is based on recognition and removal of polyps The aim of this study was to determine basic demographic features, anatomic distribution and characteristics of colorectal polyps in a local Asian population for comparison with western data Methods: We here performed a retrospective chart review of 194 patients with colorectal polyps detected by endoscopy [total colonoscopy in 136 cases (731%), and flexible sigmoidoscopy in the remainder] during 1992 -2005, focusing on descriptive statistics for categorical variables, including distribution pattern and histology Cold biopsy in 14 cases, piecemeal endoscopic resection in 5 patients, and usual snare polypectomy in the remainder were performed Patients with polyposis syndromes were excluded from the analysis Results: The average age of patients was 432 yr (range 2-80) with 71% being males Most of the polyps were presented in 5 th decade (p=0029) A total of 32 (172%) had synchronous proximal polyps (15% adenomas), and 154 cases had solitary polyps The vast majority of the polyps were left sided and the most frequent type was adenoma (63%), with a villous component in 371% Coexistent cancer was seen in 109% of cases Conclusion: In this Iranian population, the majority of polyps are left sided The incidence of adenomas and their histology appear comparable to data for western patients, but with a significantly lower rate for synchronous neoplastic lesions