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Background&Objective: Prolongation of QRS duration particularly in Left bundle Branch Block (LBBB) is commonly associated with many cardiac diseases. Electrocardiographic study of QRS duration and electrical axis may be predictors of sever LV systolic dysfunction. Materials&Methods: In this prospective Study conducted in cardiac ward CCU and out- patient clinic of Sh. Beheshti hospital in Babol (1999-2001), 150 patients with diagnosis of LBBB divided to two groups (one QRS≥0.16 second and the other with QRS<0.16) second . Then relationship between QRS- duration, Left axis deviation and echocardiographic LV ejection fraction analysed. Results: There wasn’t significant correlation between ages, gender, and type of cardiac disease with ejection fraction among patients with LBBB. The mean ejection Fraction in the patients with a QRS duration0.16 second (n=19) was significantly lower than the mean ejection fraction in the patients with a QRS duration<0.16 second (n=131) (P<0.05) Presence of Left axis deviation associated with LBBB did not have added predictive value and was not significantly correlated with Ejection Fraction. Conclusion: As conclusion, the QRS duration 0.16 second in the presence of LBBB has a significant inverse relation with Ejection Fraction and is a simple and appropriate marker of significant left ventricular dysfunction.

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Background & Objective: More than 50% of patients with hypertension will have end organ damage (such as: CHF, retinopathy ,CVA or renal failure).Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for death and cardiovascular disease .Both renal dysfunction and LVH are signs of end organ damage so we carried out this study to evaluate the correlation between LVH in echocardiography and kidney function in patients with essential hypertension. Materials & Methods: This descriptive analytic study was carried out on 102 patients whome reffered to 5 Azar hospital in Gorgan- Iran, suffering from essential hypertension and had proved LVH in echocardiography with no other disease during 2005-6. Kidney and urinary tract assessment such as serum BUN, Creatinine level and kidney sonography was done on subjects. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as a left ventricular mass index (LVMI)>=135g/m2 in men and>=110g/m2 in women. Renal function was estimated by means of the serum Creatinine level and proteinuria and sonographic findings of kidney and urinary tract. Data was analysed by Spss-11.5 and Chi-Squre test. Results: The average age of patients were 60±8.8. 58%, 36% and 7% of patients had mild, moderate and sever LVH respectivly. The means of Creatinine and BUN level were 1.09±1.12 mg/dl and 20.6±10.76 mg/dl had direct correlation with kidney dysfunction (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between LVH severity and presentse of Kidney scar in sonography (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that a very large fraction of the subjects with essential hypertension have kidney problems. Therefore, serum BUN and Creatinine level and sonographic scar of kidney can be reliable markers for assessing and controlling target organ damages that are induced by Essential hypertension.

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Background and Objective: Bunium percicum is often used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders particularly gastric ulcer.This study was done to evaluate the antiulcerogenic effect of Bunium percicum Boiss.essential oil against indomethacin and ethanol – induced ulcer models in Wistar rats. Methods: This experimental study was carried out on rats weighing 200-220 g in veterinary college of Urmia University, Iran. LD₅₀ was calculated based on Lorke’s method. To evaluate the short term oral toxicity, animals were allocated into four group of six each. In groups 1-3 animals were received orally 250, 125, 80 mg/kg/bw of Bunium percicum Boiss.essential oil, respectively. Controls were received Tween 80 (2%) orally for 14 consecutive days and monitored daily. Bunium percicum Boiss. essential oil was administered orally at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/bw and cimetedin (10 mg/kg/bw) and omopirazol (30 mg/kg/bw) in indomethacin and ethanol–induced ulcer models. Results: The LD₅₀ was 375 mg/kg/bw. Daily single oral doses of Bunium percicum Boiss.essential oil tolerated behaviorally after 14 days without any alterations in body and organs weight, food, water consumption and serum total protein, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activity. The preventive index in doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg/BW of Bunium percicum Boiss.essential oil was 37.98% and 59.21%, respectively in the indomethacin -induced ulcer model (P<0.05). In the model of ethanol -induced ulcer, the preventive index in doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg of Bunium percicum Boiss. essential oil was 12.40% and 22.05%, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: The essential oil of Bunium percicum Boiss is completely ‘‘safe’’ and at the doses of 40 and 80mg/kg/bw significantly prevent gastric ulcers in animal model.