Trimming of sheep spinal cord by waterjet; an experimental study

The spinal cord is a structure of nervous tissue that primarily transmits nerve signals from the motor cortex to the body and from the afferent fibers of the sensory neurons to the sensory cortex. It is enveloped by three layers of meninges. Covering provides a supportive framework for the cerebral and cranial vasculature and protects the central nervous system (CNS) from mechanical damage. Surgical operation in the vicinity of the spinal cord is complicated and risky because it exposes it to probably irreversible damage. To reduce the risk of these operations, attempts have been made to remove the tumor using safer methods like waterjet operation. In these methods, the waterjet and spinal cord interaction are inevitable. To secure interaction of operation, a standard development of waterjet criteria is necessary. In this study, a system of waterjet is designed to perform sheep spinal cord as a tissue with a good resemblance to the human spinal cord. Effects of interaction between waterjet and sheep spinal cord are investigated to define a safe operation threshold. The impact of the liquid density of waterjet on failure criteria of spinal cord surgery is also investigated. Results show that meninges are stiff enough to protect the sheep spinal cord from rupture for pressures up to 8 bar; however internal spinal cord tissue cannot be guaranteed any damage. Three essential parameters represent the spinal cord meninges and spinal cord deformation during the tests. These parameters lead us to provide standard criteria for damage prevention of the spinal cord.

Lipid profile, thyroid function, and serum magnesium level in type I diabetic children

AIM

This study aim was to investigate the changes of lipid profile, thyroid function and Magnesium (Mg) level in type I diabetic children.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional stu-dy was done on fifty type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and fifty age-matched healthy children from Rafsanjan city, Iran. After completing questionnaire for demographic information, blood glucose, lipid profile, Mg, thyroid hormones, height, weight and waist circumference were measured.

RESULTS

No significant differences between the groups in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, and T4 level were found. The mean T3 and serum TSH levels in cases were significantly different from the control group (P=0.046 and P=0.039, respectively). The most of patients in both groups had serum Mg level more than 2 mg/dl with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, there was a significant association between type I diabetes and serum TSH and T3 levels. Considering this finding, assessment of thyroid hormones in diabetic children is recommended.

The metabolic syndrome in hypertensive and normotensive subjects: the Isfahan Healthy Heart Programme

INTRODUCTION

There are numerous correlations between hypertension and the metabolic syndrome, although this is not always the case. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its different phenotypes among hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on a representative sample of adults living in 3 cities in Iran. Among the 12,514 subjects selected by multi-stage random sampling, 1736 (13.9%) were hypertensive. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome [according to the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria] was significantly higher in hypertensive than normotensive subjects (51.6% versus 12.9%, respectively; OR, 7.15; 95% CI, 6.4 to 7.9). The metabolic syndrome was more prevalent in normotensive and hypertensive subjects living in urban areas than those living in rural areas (14.2% and 53.9% versus 9.5% and 45.6%, respectively, P < 0.05). The mean age of hypertensive subjects, with or without the metabolic syndrome, was not significantly different (55.7 +/- 12 years versus 55.4 +/- 15.5 years, P = 0.6). Hypertension with the metabolic syndrome was more prevalent in women than men (72% versus 28% respectively, P < 0.000), and in subjects living in urban areas than those in rural areas (75.1% versus 24.9%, respectively, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study indicate the need for metabolic screening in all hypertensive patients, and emphasise the importance of promoting primary and secondary prevention of high blood pressure and associated modifiable risk factors in order to counter the upcoming epidemic of non-communicable disease in developing countries.