Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated factors in patients with COVID-19

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) attaches to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors for penetrating cells. Because these receptors are extensively distributed in the intestine, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is known to increase the expression of ACE-2 receptors in the GI tract. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its associated factors in patients with COVID-19.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to December 2021. A total of 215 patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 infections using a real-time PCR test or a CT scan were included in the study. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test on serum samples was used to evaluate the presence of H. pylori.Results: All 215 positive patients for COVID-19 with a mean age of 59.72±17.23 were evaluated. Among them, 153 patients (71.2%) were H. pylori-positive. Moreover, H. pylori+/ COVID-19+ group showed higher mean age than H. pylori-/ COVID-19+ patients. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups of patients regarding their medical background, drug history, BMI, and disease severity. The prognosis of the patients was severely worse in the H. pylori+/ COVID-19+ than in H. pylori-/ COVID-19+ patients.Conclusion: Our study adds to the previous findings and provides evidence regarding the high prevalence of H. pylori in COVID-19 patients. These investigations could help us elucidate the relationship between H. pylori and respiratory system findings and better understand COVID-19

Renal artery stenosis in a single kidney patient: A case report

Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) is a pathologic state that may lead to resistant hypertension, progressive decline in renal function, cardiac destabilization syndromes, recurrent heart failure, or acute coronary syndromes. Nowadays, RAS has two therapeutic methods, including drug therapy and balloon angioplasty (with or without stents). This report introduces a 35-year-old man who was referred to a Tehran hospital in Tehran due to rice pill poisoning. In studies performed on the patient, renal artery stenosis was the reason for the sharp increase in creatinine and its resistance to treatment. Renal artery angioplasty was performed and a stent was placed. After that, the patient's creatinine returned to normal and the patient was discharged in good general condition. Resumen: La estenosis de la arteria renal (RAS, por sus siglas en inglés) es un estado patológico que puede conducir a hipertensión resistente, disminución progresiva de la función renal y síndromes de desestabilización cardíaca, insuficiencia cardíaca recurrente o síndromes coronarios agudos. Hoy en día, RAS tiene dos métodos terapéuticos, que incluyen la terapia con medicamentos y la angioplastia con balón (con o sin stents). Este informe presenta a un paciente de 35 años que fue remitido a un hospital de Teherán en Teherán debido a una intoxicación con pastillas de arroz. En los estudios realizados al paciente, la estenosis de la arteria renal fue la causa del fuerte aumento de la creatinina y su resistencia al tratamiento. Se realizó angioplastia de la arteria renal y se colocó un stent. Posteriormente, la creatinina del paciente se normalizó y el paciente fue dado de alta en buenas condiciones generales

Unusual presentation of Takayasu's arteritis with cardiac involvement and renal artery stenosis

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic large-vessel arteritis in which the aorta, its major branches, and the pulmonary arteries are affected. The clinical signs of TA are insidiously varied, depending on the arterial sites involved. In this paper, we report an unusual presentation of TA with signs and symptoms of heart failure and the involvement of the renal artery in a 34-year-old male who was managed with medical treatments and an interventional procedure. Given the unusual presentation of TA, we recommend a high clinical index of suspicion of renal artery involvement and sufficient heed to its significance especially in view of the fact that its early diagnosis and timely appropriate treatment can confer a much better prognosis

The Evaluation of short-term and long-term effects of fibrinolytic drug Alteplase on catheters dysfunction in dialysis patients: Effects of Alteplase on catheters dysfunction

Introduction: Despite the tendency to important infectious and mechanical complications, central venous catheters have become a common means of vascular access worldwide for patients requiring hemodialysis. In some studies, the use of fibrinolytic drugs is effective in the treatment of catheter function problems. In this study, the effects of Alteplase (a fibrinolytic drug) on catheter function was investigated. Methods: This study was performed on 100 dialysis patients in the dialysis ward of Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah (Iran) who had a catheter dysfunction. After confirmation by the nephrologist, in case of catheter dysfunction and failure to resolve it with the usual methods, one milligram of Alteplase with normal saline was added to each lumen of the catheter and left in place for one hour. After aspirating the lacquered solution, the rate of blood outflow was assessed by aspiration, and catheter function was evaluated. Results: The mean age was 60.31 +- 11.67 years. 52 patients were male and 48 patients were female. In terms of catheter implantation time, 20 patients were less than 3 months, 12 patients were between 3 to 6 months and 68 patients were more than 6 months. The duration of proper catheter function after injection was less than 3 months in 11 patients, between 3 to 6 months in 31 patients, and more than 6 months in 58 patients. Only 6 out of 100 cases received 2 mg and others received 1 mg of the drug. 25 patients had the insufficient effect of the drug on catheter function in terms of blood flow velocity, and in 75 patients this effect was good. Only 8 patients had inoperable lock catheters. Out of 100 patients studied, 7 had temporary catheters and 93 had permanent catheters. Conclusion: Alteplase is safe and effective on catheter function in hemodialysis patients

Efficacy of ozone therapy on visual evoked potentials in diabetic patients

Abstract Background The involvement of the central nervous system is a frequent yet underestimated complication of diabetes mellitus. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) are a simple, sensitive, and noninvasive method for detecting early alterations in central optic pathways. The objective of this paralleled randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of ozone therapy on visual pathways in diabetic patients. Methods Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes visiting clinics of Baqiyatallah university in Tehran (Iran) hospital were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: Group 1 (N = 30) undergoing a cycle of 20 sessions of systemic oxygen-ozone therapy in addition to standard therapy for metabolic control; Group 2 (N = 30)—serving as control—receiving only standard therapy against diabetes. The primary study endpoints were two VEP parameters; P100 wave latency and P100 amplitude at 3 months. Moreover, HbA1c levels were measured before the start of treatment and three months later as secondary study endpoint. Results All 60 patients completed the clinical trial. P100 latency significantly reduced at 3 months since baseline. No correlation was found between repeated measures of P100 wave latency and HbA1c (Pearson’s r = 0.169, p = 0.291). There was no significant difference between baseline values and repeated measures of P100 wave amplitude over time in either group. No adverse effects were recorded. Conclusions Ozone therapy improved the conduction of impulses in optic pathways of diabetic patients. The improved glycemic control following ozone therpay may not fully explain the reduction of P100 wave latency though; other mechanistic effects of ozone may be involved