Clinical effects of topical antifungal therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intranasal fluconazole

Several studies have been in favor of fungi as a possible pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); however, to date, there is no scientific consensus about the use of antifungal agents in disease management. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of intranasal fluconazole in improving disease symptoms and objective outcomes of patients with CRS. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 54 patients who were diagnosed with CRS and had not been responsive to routine medical treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either fluconazole nasal drop 0.2 % or placebo in addition to the standard regimen for a duration of 8 weeks. Patients’ outcomes were evaluated according to Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20), endoscopic scores, and Computed Tomography (CT) scores. No statistically significant difference was found in SNOT-20 (p = 0.201), endoscopic (p = 0.283), and CT scores (p = 0.212) of the patients at baseline and after 8-week course of treatment between drug and placebo group. Similar to many studies, the use of topical antifungal treatment for patients with CRS was not shown to be significantly effective. However, further studies are needed to obtain high levels of consistent evidence in order to arrive at a decision whether antifungal therapy is effective in management of CRS or not

Experiments on cold-formed steel moment-resisting connections with bolting friction-slip mechanism

Acknowledgement The tests reported herein were conducted at the Structures Laboratory of Building and Housing Research Centre of Iran with technical support from Iran Tohid Co. which are much appreciated. The first author is grateful to the Elphinstone PhD Scholarship provided by the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPostprin

CLINICAL EFFECTS OF TOPICAL ANTIFUNGAL THERAPY IN CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRANASAL FLUCONAZOLE

ABSTRACT Several studies have been in favor of fungi as a possible pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); however, to date, there is no scientific consensus about the use of antifungal agents in disease management. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of intranasal fluconazole in improving disease symptoms and objective outcomes of patients with CRS. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 54 patients who were diagnosed with CRS and had not been responsive to routine medical treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either fluconazole nasal drop 0.2 % or placebo in addition to the standard regimen for a duration of 8 weeks. Patients' outcomes were evaluated according to Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20), endoscopic scores, and Computed Tomography (CT) scores. No statistically significant difference was found in , endoscopic (p = 0.283), and CT scores (p = 0.212) of the patients at baseline and after 8-week course of treatment between drug and placebo group. Similar to many studies, the use of topical antifungal treatment for patients with CRS was not shown to be significantly effective. However, further studies are needed to obtain high levels of consistent evidence in order to arrive at a decision whether antifungal therapy is effective in management of CRS or not

Data on insulin therapy refusal among type II diabetes mellitus patients in Mashhad, Iran

Insulin has been considered as a therapy option of last resort in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) management. Delay in insulin therapy is common in these patients. This study collected the data on the factors associated with insulin refusal in poorly controlled T2DM patients prior to insulin therapy. The data collected from two endocrinology outpatient clinics affiliated by Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Iran (IAUM) from January 2016 to September 2017. Study population was adults with non-insulin-using type 2 diabetes mellitus who refused insulin therapy. A 17-items researcher made questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and information toward causes of insulin refusal. Data were analyzed using SPPS V.16 with descriptive and analytical tests such as multiple logistic regressions. The data of 110 patients with T2DM was recorded in this study. The most prevalent cause of insulin therapy refusal was reported to be painful insulin injection (78.2%) followed by this item “I’m afraid of injecting myself with a needle” (74.5%). Regression analysis revealed that education level had a significant association with the item of “Injecting insulin is painful” (P=0.033, OR=0.357). Also age (P=0.025, OR=1.076) and disease duration (P=0.024, OR=0.231) were significantly associated with the question “taking insulin makes life less flexible”. Several causes have been found regarding misconceptions about insulin therapy in T2DM patients. Specialized educational interventions are recommended for initiating successful insulin therapy in these patients. Keywords: Insulin therapy, Refusal, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Ira

Stem Cell Therapy in Pediatric Neurological Disorders

Pediatric neurological disorders including muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury are defined as a heterogenous group of diseases, of which some are known to be genetic. The two significant features represented for stem cells, leading to distinguish them from other cell types are addressed as below: they can renew themselves besides the ability to differentiate into cells with special function as their potency. Researches about the role of stem cells in repair of damaged tissues in different organs like myocardium, lung, wound healing, and others are developing. In addition, the use of stem cells in the treatment and improving symptoms of neurological diseases such as autism are known. Many epigenetic and immunological studies on effects of stem cells have been performed. The action of stem cells in tissue repair is a need for further studies. The role of these cells in the secretion of hormones and growth factors in the niche, induction of cell division and differentiation in local cells and differentiation of stem cells in damaged tissue is the samples of effects of tissue repair by stem cells.Cognitive disorders, epilepsy, speech and language disorders, primary sensory dysfunction, and behavioral challenges are symptoms of non-neuromotor dysfunction in half of pediatrics with CP. Occupational therapy, oral medications, and orthopedic surgery for supportive and rehabilitative approaches are part of Conventional remedy for cerebral palsy. This paper summarizes the clinical world wide experience about stem cell based therapeutic procedures for pediatric neurological disorders