Objective: To report a case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), secondary to low dose quetiapine in an elderly Iranian man. Methods: We report a 66-year-old male presented with a temperature of 39.30c, dysphagia, aphasia and decreased level of consciousness and mutism following the use of 25 mg quetiapine. Results: Some evidence suggests an atypical NMS presentation with the atypical antipsychotics. Atypical NMS has been defined as less severe than that seen with conventional antipsychotics. Symptoms include fewer EPS, smaller increases in CK, less muscle rigidity, and lower fever. Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware that NMS with a single dose of quetiapine is possible.

Parasitic gastrointestinal infections are one of the most important health problems in the developing countries, which lead to the onset of intestinal disease particularly diarrhoea. Due to the particular geographic situation in the Mazandaran province, individuals are infected with various intestinal parasites. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of enteropathogenic parasites in the patients with gastroenteritis living at the east of Mazandaran province (Sari, Nekah and Joybar cities), northern Iran. This descriptive study was carried out from September 2009 to March 2010. Faecal samples were collected by randomized cluster method from 962 patients with gastroenteritis who were refered to the Health Service Centers of Sari, Neka and Joybar cities. All data about the patients were recorded in questionnaire. Stool specimens were examined by direct wet mounting, formolether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast stain and Auramin Phenol fluorescence (APF) method for the investigation of Cryptosporidium and Isospora. Prevalence of intestinal parasites and their relationship with gender, age, and season were investigated, and the obtained data were analyzed with χ2 test using the SPSS software (16.0). Out of 962 patients with gastroenteritis, overall infection was 9.1%; Giardia lamblia (4.1%) with the highest and Enterobius vermicularis (0.2%) with the lowest prevalence rate. Prevalence rate of other parasites were as follow: Cryptosporidium, 0.1%; Entamoeba histolytica, 0.1%; Chilomastix mesnili, 0.1%; Entamoeba coli, 1.2%; Blastocytis hominis, 1.8%; Trichostrongylus spp., 0.4% and Hymenolepis nana, 0.9%. Findings showed that Giardia is the most common cause of intestinal infection at the east of Mazandaran province, and could be defined as the most important parasitic agent of gastroenteritis. On the other hand, infection with enteropathogenic parasites as compared with the previous reports showed significant decline, which reveals the coverage of health education, increase of public knowledge on the parasitic diseases and sanitation of living environment.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between assertion and aggression with addiction potential among students in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences.

In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2019, 500 students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, were selected by multistage random sampling, for a study using the Addiction Potential Scale, and Assertion and Aggression Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square, t test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and the linear regression model.

The mean scores of addiction potential, aggression, and assertion were 32.7 ± 17.2, 41.5 ± 12.9 and 139.4 ± 22.3, respectively. In this study, 38.8% (N = 194) of students had high aggression and 76.8% (N = 384) had high assertion. In the regression model, aggression, history of drug and addictive substances abuse, history of tobacco use, and history of alcohol abuse were significantly related to addiction potential (p ≤ 0.05). There was a negative relationship between assertion and addiction potential so that with one-unit increase in the assertion score, the addiction potential score decreased by −0.11.

Given the direct relationship between aggression and addiction potential, and since more than three-quarters of the students had moderate to high aggression, it is necessary to pay more attention to this issue. Interventions may play an important role in improving the current situation.

Central venous catheter placement is indicated in patients requiring long-term therapy. With repeated venous catheterisations, conventional venous access sites can be exhausted. This case illustrates the expanding role of radiology in managing difficult venous access. We present a case of translumbar, transhepatic, and transcollateral placement of central catheter in a woman with a difficult venous access problem who required lifelong parenteral nutrition secondary to short bowel syndrome. This case highlights the technical aspects of interventional radiology in vascular access management.

Water quality in the dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) is important to the patients and dental health care personnel as they are at risk of being infected with opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas or Legionella species. In this study, a total of 86 samples were collected from DUWLs of 19 dental units in 11 Malaysian Armed Forces dental centres (MAFDC). 350 ml water sample was collected in sterile thiosulphite bags from the outlets of 3–way syringe, high speed handpiece, scaler, cup filler, independent water reservoir or the tap of the same surgery respectively. Samples were transported to the laboratory within 24 hours and kept in the refrigerator at 40C. 100ml of each sample was filtered through a 0.45 μm polycarbonate membrane filter. The filter was then inoculated onto plate count agar and incubated at 370 C for 24 hours, after which the formed colonies were enumerated. Another separate 100ml of water sample was poured onto buffered charcoal yeast extract agar and cetrimide agar to culture Legionnella and Pseudomonas respectively. Identification of these bacteria were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 9.5% of the samples but Legionnella was not detected in any of the samples. 77% of the samples met American Dental Association (ADA) recommendation of less than 200 cfu/ml. The result of this study showed that it is difficult if not impossible to eliminate biofilm from the DUWLs. Regular monitor of water quality from DUWL is required to maximise the health of the dental patients and dental health care personnel.

We present and discuss elaborately a case of malaria misdiagnosis in a 27-year-old woman in Chalus, Mazandaran Province, North Iran in 2013. The patient has been complaining of fever, shivering and myalgia for three months. Although she visited two physicians during this time, the problem still remained owing to misdiagnose. Eventually in hospital after a precise examination on her thick and thin blood film, the causative agent of disease was diagnosed as plasmodiumvivax. The patient received treatment accordingly and all clinical manifestations were vanished.

A case of malaria infection in a 42-year-old woman in rural area of Mahmodabad, Mazandaran Province, North Iran was reported and discussed elaborately. She was complaining about recurrent fevers, sweating, headache and myalgia in back. After her first admission to hospital due to misdiagnose she did not receive proper treatment and the patient suffered from clinical manifestations again. Eventually in the second admission to another hospital, after a precise examination on her thick and thin blood smear the agent of disease was recognized appropriately as Plasmodium vivax and treated accordingly.

OBJECTIVETo test possible antioxidant activity of n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

METHODSThe in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ability of the extract to interact with the stable free radical DPPH, Superoxide (O2-), Hydroxyl (OH-), Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals, and reducing power ability of the extract was also evaluated. Under in vivo conditions the extract was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity by measuring different biochemical parameters, such as serum alanine aminotransaminase, serum aspartate aminotransaminase and serum lactate dehydrogenase and antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidant status was estimated by determining the activities of antioxidative enzymes, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and by determining the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

RESULTSHexane extract of P. hexandrum exhibited good radical scavenging capacity in neutralization of DPPH, O2-, OH-, and H2O2 radicals in a dose dependent manner. n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum at the doses of 20, 30, and 50 mg/kg-day produced hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum marker enzymes, while it significantly increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in a dose dependant manner. The effect of n-hexane extract was comparable to that of standard antioxidant vitamin E.

CONCLUSIONThe extract of Podophyllum hexandrum possess free radical scavenging activity under in vitro conditions and could protect the liver tissue against CCl(4) induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidant defense activities.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Picrates ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Podophyllum ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Superoxides ; metabolism ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; metabolism