Biomedical subjects

M Sharifzadeh

Publications and source records attributed to M Sharifzadeh.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Rural domestic water consumption behavior: A case study in Ramjerd area, Fars province, I.R. Iran.

Identifying the factors that affect domestic water demand and consumption is very important in management of available regional water resources. In this study, relationships between water consumption and rural household activities are determined by comparing a snapshot of water consumption with rural household behavior of low, medium and high water consumers. In addition, the factors affecting water consumption in rural households are also determined. The data for this study were collected from a survey of 653 rural households in 33 villages of Ramjerd area, Fars Province, in southern Iran, using a simple random sampling technique. The daily water consumption data for a 5-year period (1999-2004) were used. Results of the study revealed that the daily average water consumption for the area was found to be 121.7 l per person per capita per day (Lpcd) (SD = 59.2). Water consumption was also found to be significantly correlated with explanatory variables such as "household size" and "age of household's head". Finally, the results of discriminant function analysis showed that in rural households, garden size, greenhouse size, and garden watering times per month with tap treated water are associated with water consumption.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2006

Restoration of morphine-induced alterations in rat submandibular gland function by N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist.

The effects of morphine, 1-aminocyclobutane-cis-1,3-dicarboxylic (ACBD; NMDA agonist) and 3-((R)2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-l-phosphoric acid (CPP; NMDA antagonist) and their concurrent therapy on rat submandibular secretory function were studied. Pure submandibular saliva was collected intraorally by micro polyethylene cannula from anaesthetized rats using pilocarpine as secretagogue. Intraperitoneal injection of morphine (6 mg/kg) induced significant inhibition of salivary flow rate, total protein, calcium, and TGF-beta1 concentrations. Administration of ACBD (10 mg/kg) and CPP (10 mg/kg) alone did not influence secretion of submandibular glands. In combination therapy, coadministration of CPP with morphine did not influence morphine-induced changes in salivary function while ABCD could restore all morphine-induced changes. In combination treatment, ACBD prevented morphine-induced reduction of flow rate, total protein, calcium, and TGF-beta1 and reached control levels. It is concluded that morphine-induced alterations in submandibular gland function are mediated through NMDA receptors.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMed2005

Anti-infectives-induced adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate and seriousness of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) attributable to anti-infective agents in hospitalized patients; to estimate the likelihood of experiencing anti-infectives-induced ADRs at different length of drug usage in the hospital; to compare different classes of anti-infectives in inducing ADRs; to determine the impact of age and sex on anti-infectives-induced ADRs. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted to the infectious diseases department at a university teaching hospital, on Sunday to Wednesday, over a 9 months period, who received at least one anti-infective agent were eligible to enter the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Any suspected noxious and untoward medical events, including laboratory tests abnormalities following anti-infective therapy. METHODS: All patients admitted have received at least one anti-infective drug. Anti-infective agents induced ADRs were detected by interviewing patients and daily chart review. The seriousness, causality, and type of reactions were classified based on World Health Organization (WHO) definitions. Chi-square analysis was performed to assess the influence of sex and age on occurring ADRs. Both Kaplan-Meier and life table method were used to estimate the time to occur the ADR in anti-infective users. To compare the estimated risk of ADRs induced by different classes of anti-infectives, odds ratios were estimated. In all classes of anti-infectives, the odds ratio of each class was estimated with regard to anti-tuberculosis agents, which had the highest prevalence of ADRs. RESULTS: During the study period, 460 patients were entered the study. During the same period, 38 ADRs were recognized of which 20 (42%) were serious. The most recognized ADRs were suspected to be induced by anti-tuberculosis agents (29.8%). However in comparing with anti-tuberculosis agents, anti-fungal agents were associated with the highest ADR rate (odds ratio [OR], 4.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-1.256) whereas cephalosporines were associated with the lowest rate, (OR, 0.1; 95%CI, 0.04-0.26). The survival analysis shows that the likelihood of experiencing an ADR was increased at first 14 days of drug therapy. Also Chi-square analysis shows that greater risk of anti-infectives-induced ADRs was observed in women. CONCLUSION: The rate of ADRs induced by anti-infective agents in this study was 8.2%. This is higher than a standard (5%) which has been reported in other studies. This study also shows that some of the classes of anti-infective agents like anti-fungals need more attention.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed2005

Evaluation of patient-related factors associated with causality, preventability, predictability and severity of hepatotoxicity during antituberculosis [correction of antituberclosis] treatment.

For evaluation the extent of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity and also to determine the patient-related factors associated with causality, preventability, predictability and severity of hepatotoxicity induced by antituberculosis medications, a prospective study was conducted on 112 patients in a tertiary care university teaching hospital for three years. Causality, preventability, predictability and severity of hepatotoxicity were determined based on the available standard algorithms. Of 112 patients, 31 (27.7%) demonstrated hepatotoxicity. Two patients died from complications of liver-related illness. The mean duration of treatment before the onset of hepatotoxicity was 16.7+/-3.2 days. Malnutrition was present in 17 of 112 patients. Most of hepatotoxicity (25/31 or 80.6%) occurred within the first month of treatment. Reintroduction of antituberculosis drugs was possible in 29 of 31 patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis did not show significant relationships between the rate of hepatotoxicity with age, sex, nutrition and nationality. Our results showed that hepatotoxicity induced by antituberculosis drugs is a nonpreventable and unpredictable reaction. The causality of this reaction is classified as category A based on European grading of causality. This study noted that the frequency of hepatotoxicity induced by antituberculosis drugs in Iranian patients is higher than other studied populations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Gamma irradiator dose mapping simulation using the MCNP code and benchmarking with dosimetry.

The Monte Carlo transport code, MCNP, has been applied in simulating dose rate distribution in the IR-136 gamma irradiator system. Isodose curves, cumulative dose values, and system design data such as throughputs, over-dose-ratios, and efficiencies have been simulated as functions of product density. Simulated isodose curves, and cumulative dose values were compared with dosimetry values obtained using polymethyle-methacrylate, Fricke, ethanol-chlorobenzene, and potassium dichromate dosimeters. The produced system design data were also found to agree quite favorably with those of the system manufacturer's data. MCNP has thus been found to be an effective transport code for handling of various dose mapping excercises for gamma irradiators.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Effects of different periods of lithium pretreatment and aminoglycoside antibiotics on apomorphine-induced yawning in rats.

Interactive effects of intracerebroventricular administration of the aminoglycoside antibiotics, amikacin and gentamicin, and different duration of lithium pretreatment on apomorphine-induced yawning were investigated in male rats. The study was designed to investigate whether the hypothesis that the aminoglycoside antibiotics, amikacin and gentamicin, via their effects on phosphoinositide pathways and calcium channel might influence dopaminergic mechanisms as manifested in the yawning effect. Lithium is known to interact with phosphoinositide metabolism and was also tested after chronic studies on the apomorphine yawning model. Subcutaneous administration of apomorphine (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg) to rats induced yawning in a biphasic manner. However the maximum response was obtained by 0.2 mg/kg of the drug. Intracerebroventricular administration of aminoglycoside antibiotics amikacin (25 microg/rat) increased and gentamicin (10 and 20 microg/rat) decreased apomorphine-induced yawning. Pretreatment of animals with lithium (600 mg/l) in drinking water for 7, 14 and 21 days reduced yawning induced by apomorphine. Administration of lithium for 28 days did not induce any significant effect on yawning response. Amikacin and gentamicin function via the same mechanism on phosphoinositide cascade. Since amikacin and gentamicin did not affect the yawning response similarly, they apparently do not involve inositol trisphosphate level in the alterations of dopaminergic-induced yawning. Probably, the effect of lithium pretreatment on the number of yawns is also time-dependent and some tolerance to the inhibitory effect of lithium might occur after 28 days' treatment.

Amikacin↗

PubMed1999

Muscle relaxant activity of methocarbamol enantiomers in mice.

Documented studies support the emerging idea that drug enantiomers could have different pharmacological activity. Our bibliographical data have shown that so far no report has been published on the pharmacological activity of individual enantiomers of methocarbamol. This study was conducted to characterize the muscle relaxant activity of methocarbamol enantiomers. The rotarod test was used to compare the muscle relaxant activity of racemic methocarbamol and pure enantiomers after intraperitoneal administration of the enantiomers to mice. The results show that (+)-R-methocarbamol has higher muscle relaxant activity compared with racemic methocarbamol or (-)-S-methocarbamol.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Interaction between lead acetate and morphine on antinociception in mice by formalin test.

1. In this study, the effects of lead acetate on two types of pain (nociception and inflammation) induced by formalin and its interactions with opioid system and morphine-induced analgesia were examined. Male albino mice weighing 22-27 g were used in the experiments. 2. To study nociception, the formalin test was selected. Morphine was administered subcutaneously 30 min before formalin injection. Lead acetate treatment was administered 90 min before any injection. Comparisons between groups were made by analysis of variance and then by Newman-Keuls test. Differences with P < or = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 3. Different doses of morphine induced antinociception in both phases of the formalin test. Lead acetate induced non-dose-dependent nociception in the early phase and dose-dependent analgesia in the late phase. 4. Pretreatment with lead acetate antagonized the effect of morphine in the early phase. In the other hand, the effect of lead acetate in the early phase was reduced by morphine and its effect eliminated in the late phase. 5. It is concluded that lead can modulate pain response and interact with morphine-induced antinociception. Additional research to find the mechanisms of these effects are suggested.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMed1998

Effects of chronic lithium on ototoxicity induced by gentamicin and amikacin in guinea-pigs.

The effects of chronic lithium co-therapy on the expression of gentamicin and amikacin ototoxicity were tested in guinea-pigs. Intramuscular injection of different doses of gentamicin (5, 10 mg/kg/day) and amikacin (150, 300 mg/kg/day) for three weeks, induced hearing loss consistent with the established pattern of aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Lithium salts remains one of the most widely used treatment for depressive illness. Administration of lithium chloride (600 mg/l, 35 days) in drinking water changed auditory brainstem response in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of animals with lithium chloride after seven days induced significant alterations in wave latency and interval. The present study assesses the protective effects of chronic lithium on gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in guinea pig. The results suggest that duration of lithium administration may be involved in auditory brainstem response changes and the observations could be accounted for, at least partially, by lithium- and aminoglycosides-induced perturbations of the phosphoinositide cascade within the inner ear.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1997

Effects of sweetening agents on morphine-induced analgesia in mice by formalin test.

1. There is evidence that sweet-tasting substances such as sucrose and saccharin can interact with endogenous opioid systems. Further evidence showed that feeding mice different concentrations of sucrose and saccharin alter the latency in the tail-flick test. 2. In the current study, the effects of a 12-day regimen of different sweetening agents [sucrose (32%), saccharin (0.08%) and aspartame (0.16%)] on morphine-induced analgesia with the formalin test were investigated. 3. Male albino mice (20-27 g) were used for the experiments. Animals were given 12 days to adapt to dietary conditions. Animals were first given saline or morphine subcutaneously (1.5, 3.0, 6.0, or 9.0 mg/kg) 30 min before the observation period. The recording of the early phase started immediately and lasted for 10 min. The recording of the late response started 20 min after formalin injection and lasted for 10 min. Statistical analysis was performed by using analysis of variance followed by Newman-Keuls test, and P < or = 0.05 was considered significant. 4. Sucrose and aspartame increased morphine analgesia in the early phase, but saccharin had no effect on the early phase. On the other hand, saccharin and sucrose decreased the effect of morphine in the late phase, but aspartame increased the effect of morphine-induced analgesia. 5. In conclusion, the present data provide further evidence for an important role for dietary variables in determining the effects of exogenous opioids on pain sensitivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Alterations of physostigmine-induced yawning by chronic lithium administration in rats.

The effect of chronic lithium pretreatment on physostigmine-induced yawning was investigated in male rats. Intraperitoneal administration of physostigmine to rats induced yawning in a biphasic manner. However the maximum response was obtained by 0.2 mg/kg of the drug. Intracerebroventricular administrations of a putative M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor antagonists, pirenzepine and methoctramine decreased physostigmine-induced yawning. Intraperitoneal administration of a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, also decreased the physostigmine-induced yawning significantly. Chronic lithium pretreatment (30 days) reduced yawning induced by physostigmine. The inhibitory effect of pirenzepine, methoctramine and atropine on physostigmine-induced yawning increased in rats pretreated with chronic lithium. These findings indicate that yawning is induced by a central cholinergic mechanism and that chronic pretreatment of lithium may interact with the cholinergic-induced behaviour.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Theophylline-induced grooming: possible indirect dopaminergic mechanism.

The ability of theophylline, an adenosine antagonist and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, to induce grooming was studied in rats. Grooming was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of different doses (6-25 mg/kg) of theophylline to rats. The effect was dose-dependent. However, the response was decreased with increasing doses of the drug from 25-75 mg/kg. Administration of the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 (1-phenyl-7,8-dihydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1 H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride; 16 mg/kg i.p.) also caused grooming in a dose-dependent manner. The response induced by SKF 38393 (1-4 mg/kg i.p.) was decreased by the high doses of theophylline (50 and 75 mg/kg i.p.). The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (R-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1 H-benzazepine-7-ol maleate) decreased the theophylline and SKF 38393 response. Pretreatment of animals with reserpine (2.5 mg/kg i.p., 24 h) reduced the effect of theophylline (12.5 and 25 mg/kg i.p.) but not that of SKF 38393 (1 and 4 mg/kg i.p.). It is concluded that theophylline elicits grooming through an indirect D1 dopaminergic mechanism.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

PubMed1995

Effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists on physostigmine-induced yawning.

The effect of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists on physostigmine-induced yawning was investigated in intact or cannulated rats. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of physostigmine to rats induced yawning dose dependently. I.p. or i.c.v. treatment of the animals with atropine, theophylline, 5-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) or N6-cyclohexyladenosine reduced the yawning induced by i.p. injection of physostigmine. I.p. administration of theophylline decreased the yawning induced by i.c.v. injection of physostigmine. The inhibitory action of N6-cyclohexyladenosine (i.p.) also was decreased by 8-phenyltheophylline (i.p.) pretreatment. It is concluded that yawning induced by a central cholinergic mechanism and a central adenosine mechanism interacts with the cholinergic-induced behaviour.

Adenosine↗

PubMed1995

Effects of adenosine drugs on apomorphine-induced licking in rats.

1. In the present work, the effect of adenosine agonists and antagonists on apomorphine-induced licking has been studied. 2. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of apomorphine (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent licking in rats. 3. Adenosine agonists 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide-adenosine (NECA) and N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) decreased or increased the apomorphine response respectively. 4. Adenosine antagonists theophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) decreased the response induced by apomorphine. Potentiation of licking induced by CHA was decreased by 8-PT pretreatment. 5. It is concluded that adenosine receptors may be involved in the licking behaviour.

Adenosine↗

PubMed1995

Effects of chronic lithium pretreatment on apomorphine-induced penile erection.

1. The effects of chronic lithium pretreatment (600 mg/l in drinking rats, 30 days) on penile erection (PE) induced by apomorphine were investigated in rats. This treatment resulted in a serum Li concentration after 30 days of 0.31 +/- 0.01 mmol/l. 2. Subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of mixed D1/D2 dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine (0.05-0.5 mg/kg) induced PE in a biphasic manner. The maximum effect was obtained with 0.1 mg/kg of the drug while the response decreased with increasing doses of apomorphine from 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg. 3. Pretreatment of animals with 0.0125-0.1 mg/kg of D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 or D2 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride (12.5-100 mg/kg) decreased apomorphine-induced PE. Combination of SCH 23390 (0.025 mg/ kg) with sulpiride (12.5 mg/kg) caused a stronger inhibitory effect on apomorphine response. This indicates that both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors may be involved in PE induced by apomorphine. 4. The response induced by apomorphine (0.05-0.05 mg/kg) was decreased in animals pretreated with chronic lithium. The inhibitory effect of sulpiride on apomorphine response, increased in animals pretreated with lithium, in contrast the inhibitory effect of SCH 23390 did not change in this condition. However, a combination of SCH 23390 with sulpiride increased inhibitory effect on apomorphine response in lithium pretreated rats. 5. It is concluded that chronic lithium inhibits PE induced by dopaminergic mechanism(s).

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Effects of adenosine analogues on apomorphine-induced penile erection in rats.

1. In the present work, the effect of adenosine agonists and antagonists on apomorphine-induced penile erection (PE) has been studied. 2. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of the nonselective D1/D2 dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine (0.05-0.5 mg/kg) induced PE in a biphasic manner. The maximum effect was obtained with 0.1 mg/kg of the drug. The response decreased with increasing doses of apomorphine, from 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg. 3. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of adenosine agonists 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) decreased the response of apomorphine. Apomorphine-induced PE was increased by low doses (25, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and decreased by high doses (75, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) of the adenosine antagonist theophylline, respectively. Inhibition of PE induced by NECA and CHA was antagonized by 8-PT pretreatment. 4. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of CHA, NECA, and theophylline produced the same effects as i.p. injections of these agents on PE responses. It is concluded that A-1 and A-2 adenosine receptor activation may inhibit PE induced by dopaminergic mechanism(s), which can be prevented by 8-PT pretreatment.

Adenosine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Resonance Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human tissue.

Increasing evidence points to the beneficial effects of carotenoid antioxidants in the human body. Several studies, for example, support the protective role of lutein and zeaxanthin in the prevention of age-related eye diseases. If present in high concentrations in the macular region of the retina, lutein and zeaxanthin provide pigmentation in this most light sensitive retinal spot, and as a result of light filtering and/or antioxidant action, delay the onset of macular degeneration with increasing age. Other carotenoids, such as lycopene and beta-carotene, play an important role as well in the protection of skin from UV and short-wavelength visible radiation. Lutein and lycopene may also have protective function for cardiovascular health, and lycopene may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer. Motivated by the growing importance of carotenoids in health and disease, and recognizing the lack of any accepted noninvasive technology for the detection of carotenoids in living human tissue, we explore resonance Raman spectroscopy as a novel approach for noninvasive, laser optical carotenoid detection. We review the main results achieved recently with the Raman detection approach. Initially we applied the method to the detection of macular carotenoid pigments, and more recently to the detection of carotenoids in human skin and mucosal tissues. Using skin carotenoid Raman instruments, we measure the carotenoid response from the stratum corneum layer of the palm of the hand for a population of 1375 subjects and develop a portable skin Raman scanner for field studies. These experiments reveal that carotenoids are a good indicator of antioxidant status. They show that people with high oxidative stress, like smokers, and subjects with high sunlight exposure, in general, have reduced skin carotenoid levels, independent of their dietary carotenoid consumption. We find the Raman technique to be precise, specific, sensitive, and well suitable for clinical as well as field studies. The noninvasive laser technique may become a useful method for the correlation between tissue carotenoid levels and risk for malignancies or other degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Antioxidants↗