Background: Generally, the electrolyte abnormalities are seen in many hospitalized patients, and this problem increases in ones with heart diseases. The purpose of this study is determination of the prevalence of electrolyte abnormalities during the coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and detecting the relationship between these abnormalities with the complications after the surgeries. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which is done in Chamran hospital, the medical and educational center of Isfahan, Iran, in 2011. The target population included the patients who have undergone CABG in this hospital. In this study, 100 patients who had been candidates for CABG were selected, and we extracted their recorded intra-operative electrolyte information. The collected data was entered into the computer and analyzed by SPSS software. The Chi-square and t student tests were used for data analysis. Results: The mean ± SD of sodium during CABG was 137.95 ± 4.6 (range 127-152) mg\dl. Also, the mean ± SD of potassium was 4.65 ± 0.9 (range: 2.9-7.4). According to these results, 48 patients (48% of all) had electrolyte imbalance and 52 patients (52% of all) were normal. Sodium level in 71% of patients was normal, and in 29% of them was abnormal. Potassium level in 73% of individuals was normal, and in 27% of them was abnormal. Conclusion: Giving an attention to electrolyte abnormalities in patients who have undergone CABG surgery is a considerable necessity for them, and sufficient arrangements are needed to prevent such abnormalities.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction after surgery is common in elderly patients. Many factors such as anesthetic drugs can cause complication in this surgery. Lidocaine is one of the drugs commonly used during anesthesia. So, we designed this study to find out cognitive effect of lidocaine in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgeries. Materials and Methods: In this double-blinded clinical trial, we enrolled 70 patients older than 65 years age undergoing urologic or orthopedic surgeries, were divided in two groups. Patients randomly received intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) or normal saline in the same volume immediately before extubation. Mini mental state examination (MMSE) test was used to evaluate cognitive state at discharge time, 6 and 24 h after surgery. Results: Mean MMSE scores at the time of discharge from recovery room in lidocaine and saline groups were 22.4 ± 4.5 vs. 22.1 ± 4.4, P = 0.755, respectively. It was significantly lower than MMSE before surgery, 6 and 24 h after the operation. The mean MMSE scores and frequency distribution of intensity of cognitive impairments were not significantly different between two groups at different times. Conclusion: Bolus intravenous lidocaine before extubation, did not affect cognitive states in elders undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Effect of lidocaine on cardiac surgeries is clear, but in non-cardiac surgeries, lidocaine has no clinical effects. So, more studies with different doses of lidocaine and different assessment methods are recommended.

Background: One of the serious problems that opioid addicted people are facing is repeated withdrawal syndrome that is accompanying with a significant stress load for addicts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of repeated withdrawal on spatial learning, memory and serum cortisol levels in morphine-dependent mice. Materials and Methods: Male NMRI mice received morphine as daily increasing doses for 3 days. After that, the mice underwent one time or repeated spontaneous or pharmacologic (naloxone-precipitated) withdrawal. Then spatial learning and memory were investigated by morris water maze test, and at the end trunk blood samples were collected for measurement of serum cortisol levels. Results: The results showed that only repeated spontaneous withdrawal significantly increases escape latency ( P < 0.05), and in other models of withdrawal, spatial learning and memory were intact. The results of probe trial were intact in all groups. Radioimmunoassay showed that serum cortisol levels were increased significantly in all models of withdrawal ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) except the repeated spontaneous withdrawal. Conclusion: The results showed that short periods of withdrawal syndrome can increase serum cortisol levels; however they do not affect spatial learning and memory. Nevertheless, repeated spontaneous withdrawal can make learning slow.

Background: Hyaline cartilage tissue of joints is susceptible to injuries due to avascularity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used for cartilage tissue engineering. Among MSCs, adipose stem cells (ASCs) are attractive because of accessibility, their large number, and rapid growth. Common in vitro protocols successfully induce chondrogenic differentiation by expression of multiple cartilage-specific molecules. However, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) promotes chondrogenesis to terminal stages. Despite much attention being given to the influences of biochemical factors on chondrogenesis of MSCs, few studies have examined the chondrogenic effect of mechanical factors such as ultrasound as a feasible tool. Materials and Methods: In this study, we focused on inducing chondrogenesis in the early stages of differentiation by using low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS). Four groups of ASC pellets (control, ultrasound, TGFβ, and ultrasound/TGF) were cultured under chondrogenic (10 ng/ml of TGFβ3) and ultrasound conditions (200 mW/cm ² , 10 min/day). After 2 weeks, differentiation was evaluated by histology, quantitative gene expression analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Our data demonstrated that ultrasound differentiated pellets showed increased expression of early chondrogenesis marker, Col2A, than those in TGFβ groups (P < 0.001), and Col2B and Col10 expression were more prominent in TGFβ groups. Immunostaining of sections showed Col2 fibrils around lacuna in LIUS and TGFβ treated groups. Conclusion: Using LIUS resulted in early chondrogenesis in comparison with terminally differentiated chondrocytes by TGFβ. Therefore, LIUS might provide an applicable, safe, efficient, and cheap tool for chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs in cartilage tissue engineering.

Background: Renal maldevelopment, interstitial fibrosis, ischemic atrophy, decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and renal blood flow (RBF) are inevitable consequences of chronic kidney obstruction that only partially improve after early intervention. There are only few studies that evaluated urine osmolality in affected kidney and its correlation with short-term outcome. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (age<1 year) with unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UUPJO) were enrolled in this study. UUPJO was confirmed using Technetium 99 isotope scans and the patients were indicated to be operated afterward. Urine and blood samples were obtained before, 24, 48, and 72 h after the surgery. The serum level of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose were measured. GFR, urine osmolality (measured and calculated), and urine specific gravity were determined too. Results: Cortical thickness of hydronephrotic kidney was significantly increased 6 months after the surgery. GFR was significantly increased 72-h postsurgery compared to before operation. Neither means of calculated nor of measured urine osmolalities were significantly different in various stages. The last calculated urine osmolality (72 h) had significant correlation with the last measured osmolality (72 h); r0=0.962, P=0.0001. The last GFR (72 h) had positive significant correlation with GFR before the surgery and GFRs at 24 and 48 h postsurgery. Using regression tests, only the before surgery GFR was the predictor of the last GFR(72 h). Conclusion: In UUPJO the measured and calculated urine osmolality of the affected kidney did not differ. In addition, GFR before surgery should be considered as the predictor of the GFR shortly after repair.