Comparison of four ways in treatment of acute conversion disorder

Abstract: (10784 Views) Background and aim: In spite of high prevalence of conversion disorder, there is no widely acceptable effective treatment for it. In this study, we compared four ways of treatment in acute conversion disorder and it’s recurrent after one month. Methods: In a clinical trial study, we selected 80 patients with acute conversion disorder using simple sampling method. They were divided randomly into four treatment groups. (Suggestion, simple muscle relaxation, hypnosis, and diazepam injection) The speed of syndrome elimination, recovery frequency, and one month’s recurrence were compared. The results were analyzed with chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA. Results: Mean recovery time was significantly less in muscle relaxation group compared to the hypnosis and diazepam injection groups (P<0.05). In patients with co-morbidity, the mean recovery time was shorter than the mean recovery time in none co-morbidity (P<0.05). There was no significant relation between one month recurrent and way of treatment or other variables. Conclusion: All four ways of treatments bring significant recovery, but in muscle relaxation, recovery is faster than hypnosis and diazepam infusio

Factors affecting the outcome of community-acquired pneumonia among the patients hospitalized in Beheshti hospital (Kashan-Iran)

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting the outcome of pneumonia among the Beheshti hospital patients. Materials and Methods: This cohort study was done on pneumonia patients (n=140) in Kashan Beheshti hospital during 2014-2015. A questionnaire consisting the demographic, clinical and paraclinical findings and outcomes was filled-out. Results: Eighty three (59.3) out of 140 patients were male and 57(40.7) women. The majority of cases were &ge;50 years old (mean age 60.02&plusmn;1.70) .There was a history of diabetes in 54(38.6) .The most common signs and symptoms were coughing and the lung rales. The ninty-one and 9 of the cases were improved and complicated condition, respectively. The complication were: pleural effusion (77), empiyema (15) and abscess (8).There was positive CRP (100); increased ESR (82) and leukocytosis (80). While, there was no statistical association between the sex, age and clinical symptoms with the disease complication and outcome, there was a significant correlation between the first BS, HbA1C, CRP, duration of hospitalization, radiographic pattern and diabetes with disease outcome. Conclusion: Considering the association between the diabetes in one side and some factors (outcome of pneumonia, duration of hospitalization, history of pneumonia, times of admission, BS at admission, HbA1c, bilateral involvement, leukocytosis, increased ESR, CRP and CURB 65, the diabetes should be considered as an important factor affecting the pneumonia outcome. The managed control of diabetes can improve the pneumonia outcome

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin and soft tissue in Tehran Razi skin hospital (2014-15)

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of S. aureus isolated from skin and soft tissue and antibiotic susceptibility pattern among the patient hospitalized in Razi skin hospital (Tehran-Iran). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients (n=400) with skin and soft tissue infections in Razi skin hospital. Sterilized swabs were used to collect the skin infection samples. S. aureus isolates were confirmed using biochemical tests (gram staining, catalase, coagulase, DNase test and manitol fermentation tests). Result: 51.3 ( 205 out of 400) of isolates were S. aureus. Ninety six (46.8) of isolates were methicillin and penicillin-resistant S. aureus. All of the isolates showed sensitivity to vancomycin, linezolid. 98 of the isolates were susceptible to daptomycin. One-hundred sixteen (56.6) isolates were multi- drug resistant. Conclusion: More than half of the skin and soft tissue infections were caused by S.aureus. More than 46 percent of the isolates were methicillin resistant. The highest resistance to penicillin was observed

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immunodeficiency patients in Kashan and Qom during 2014-2015

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasitic protozoon, which is a causative agent of serious complications such as encephalitis in immunodeficiency patients. Considering insufficient data on toxoplasmosis in these patients, the present study was conducted to determine the seroepidemiology of T. gondii among immunodeficiency patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on cancer, ADIS, hemodialysis and renal transplant patients (case group) and healthy persons (control group) in Kashan and Qom cities. Totally, 317 serum samples were collected from the case group and 120 samples from the control group. The ELISA method was used to determine the anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Results: Totally, 60.3 of the samples from the case and 33.3 from the control groups were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG (P&lt;0.001). In the case group, only 2 persons (0.6) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. The anti-T. gondii IgG detected in immunodeficiency patients was 55.2 in Kashan and 68 in Qom, which were higher than in the control group (P&lt;0.001, P&lt;0.006, respectively). The highest prevalence of T. gondii were seen in 40-59 years old (49.8) and illiterate (60) patients. There was a meaningful correlation between toxoplasmosis and blurry vision and dermal rash (P=0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of T. gondii was higher in different immunodeficiency patients compared to healthy persons. Screening examinations were recommended for the diagnosis and treatment of patients to prevent serious side-effects and health education

Sensitivity to hydrogen induced cracking, and corrosion performance of an API X65 pipeline steel in H2S containing environment: influence of heat treatment and its subsequent microstructural changes

In this investigation, the effect of microstructural changes and phase equilibria on corrosion behavior and hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) sensitivity of an API X65 pipeline steel was studied. For this purpose, heat treatment was performed at 850 °C, 950 °C, 1050 °C and 1150 °C to engineer the desired microstructure of this pipeline steel. Then, the microstructural evolution was performed by optical microscopy, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Corrosion properties were evaluated in H2S environment by open circuit potential (OCP), Potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). As well, HIC sensitivity of the API X65 pipeline steel was assessed by hydrogen charging of the cathode and immediately conducting the tensile test. Microscopy analyses showed that the microstructure of the steel is ferritic-pearlitic together with the islands of martensite/austenite constituents. Increasing the heat treatment temperature reduced the amount of pearlite and increased ferrite grain size. It also stabilized the ferrite content. Corrosion results indicated that no active layer was formed on the surface of this pipeline steel. Also, increasing the heat treatment temperature increased the corrosion resistance and reduced sensitivity to micro-galvanic localized corrosion. As well, results suggested that the sensitivity to HIC in the API X65 pipeline was substantially increased with increasing the amount of pearlite and reducing the amount of ferrite; i.e. at lower heat treatment temperature.publishedVersio

Frequency of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 in Patients with Rare Bleeding Disorders

Background and Objective: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a virus that is endemic in some parts of the world, and as a pathogen, it can lead to severe infections in humans. Since no antiviral treatment is currently available and the only way of confrontation is prevention and identification of infected blood, this study was performed to determine the frequency of antibodies against HTLV-1 in patients with rare bleeding disorders receiving blood in Zahedan. Methods: The study population included 180 patients with rare bleeding disorders referred to Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan selected by census method and 90 healthy individuals who referred to hospital lab selected by convenience sampling method in 2020. Age range was 1 to 39 years. Blood samples were collected from all participants and antibody test against HTLV-1 was confirmed using ELISA kit and positive ELISA test was confirmed using Real-time PCR. Findings: In the case group, there were 86 men (47.8%) and 94 women (52.2%) and in the control group there were 43 men (47.8%) and 47 women (52.2%). Antibodies against HTLV-1 were found in 2 patients (1.1%) with rare bleeding disorders and none in healthy individuals. The first was a 29-year-old man with Glanzmann's disease who had severe Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. The second case was a 23-year-old woman with severe forms of factor V and factor VIII deficiency whose family history of Rare Bleeding Disorders (RBD) was positive. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the risk of HTLV-1 transmission through plasma-induced blood products and new types of coagulation factors seems negligible

Spatiotemporal and estimation of washed out seaweeds biomass in Sistan and Baluchistan coasts

In order to studing and determination of Seaweed biomass in the Oman Sea coast (Sistan & Baluchestan Province), according to obtained reasults and experiments and observations on seaweed studies in 15 years ego, Beris, Chabahar, Pozm and Tang were high density zones and Jood and Lipar were low density zones in west and east of chabahar respectively that were selected for study stations. Total length of sistan and balochistan coasts from Gwatr area with geografical position 25˚ 10′ N & 61˚ 30′ E to Mydani with geografical position 25˚ 24′ N & 59˚ 5′ E were 354.3 Km. Among this length, 54.6 Km were rocky coast and 299.7 Km were sandy coast. Among this, 18.2 Km were high density zone and 281.5 Km were low density zone. Washout Seaweeds area in intertidial zones determind by measuring and recording of geographic positions by meter and GPS, then were obtained 2 transects determind with equal distance in high density area and 1 transects in low density for monthly sampling. The length of these transects were 100 meter and cross of Each transects were seaweed washed out average. The transects divided to 10 bluck and sampling were done randomly monthly from 5 bluck or 50 persent. The samples were transfered to the lab and the weight of each species was obtained after being cleaned, and separating. The biomass of each species per area unit and in the total area was obtained after determing the average weight of species and also determind geografical position by GPS. In relation to this project were done water sampling for recording of fisical chemistry factors. Total data for analysis recorded in this computer. During this research 9 species were collected. Among these seaweeds, 2 species green algea (composed of 2 families and 2 orders), 6 species brown algae (composed of 3 families and 3 orders) and 1 species red algae were identified. Wet biomass of Sargassum in the total area of Sistan & Baluchestan coasts were 445.9 ton in 2012. Among this biomas, 269.1 ton (%60.35) high density area (Beris 112 ton or %25.11, Pozm 83.7 ton or %18.76, Chabahar 59 ton or %13.22 and Tang 14.5 ton or %3.26) and low density zone 176.8 ton (%39.65). Monthly average were estimated about 74.3 ton (high density zone 44.9 and low density zone 29.5 ton). The maximum biomass was obtained 270.4 ton (high density zone 155.5 and low density zone 114.9 ton) in Azar and minimum biomass was obtained 3.5 ton in Esfand. At last, were suggested, This project were done in persian gulf coasts nessesery

Troponin release following endurance exercise: is inflammation the cause? a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study

Background: The aetiology and clinical significance of troponin release following endurance exercise is unclear but may be due to transient myocardial inflammation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) affords us the opportunity to evaluate the presence of myocardial inflammation and focal fibrosis and is the ideal imaging modality to study this hypothesis. We sought to correlate the relationship between acute bouts of ultra endurance exercise leading to cardiac biomarkers elevation and the presence of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis using CMR.Methods: 17 recreation athletes (33.5 +/- 6.5 years) were studied before and after a marathon run with troponin, NTproBNP, and CMR. Specific imaging parameters to look for inflammation included T2 weighted images, and T1 weighted spin-echo images before and after an intravenous gadolinium-DTPA to detect myocardial hyperemia secondary to inflammation. Late gadolinium imaging was performed (LGE) to detect any focal regions of replacement fibrosis.Results: Eleven of the 17 participant had elevations of TnI above levels of cut off for myocardial infarction 6 hrs after the marathon (0.075 +/- 0.02, p = 0.007). Left ventricular volumes were reduced post marathon and a small increase in ejection fraction was noted (64 +/- 1% pre, 67 +/- 1.2% post, P = 0.014). Right ventricular volumes, stroke volume, and ejection fraction were unchanged post marathon. No athlete fulfilled criteria for myocardial inflammation based on current criteria. No regions of focal fibrosis were seen in any of the participants.Conclusion: Exercise induced cardiac biomarker release is not associated with any functional changes by CMR or any detectable myocardial inflammation or fibrosis

Biomass estimation of demersal resources in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea by swept area method

Regarding to monitor of demersal resources in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, and also biomass and CPUA estimation of them, ten research cruises were carried out by using R/V Ferdows-1 equipped with bottom trawl, covering the area from 49º 00´ E in the west (north-west Persian Gulf) to 61º 25´ E in the east (borderline with Pakistan) from 2012 to 2014 The study area was stratified into 17 strata (A to Q) of which 10 strata (A to J) were in the Persian Gulf and 7 strata (K to Q) were in the Oman Sea, covering the depths of 10-50 m in the Persian Gulf and 10-100 m in the Oman Sea. A total of 316 stations were randomly selected and the biomass and CPUA were estimated by swept area method during this three years period, the strat A and B weren’t covered. The comparison between two regions indicated that the percentage of density of demersal fishes in the Persian Gulf during years 2012, 2013 and 2014 were 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 times more than the Oman Sea and totally 50-60% of total biomass was found for the Persian Gulf. Also a comparison among 17 strata the highest biomass was found for K region (Sirik to Jask) in the Oman Sea in 2012 & 2014; and C region (Genaveh to Bordkhoon) in 2013 in the Persian Gulf. The same comparison was done for CPUA of commercial, non-commercial and total in both water bodies and it was found that in years 2012 to 2014 the region K (Sirik to Jask) in the Oman Sea and Stratum Q (Bersi to Gwatr) had the highest value of CPUA. On the contrary, the stratum M (Biahi to Galak estuary) showed the lowest value of biomass for both commercial and non-commercial fishes. With review the mean CPUA in different depth layers for years 2012, 2013 and 2014, it was concluded that in the Oman Sea with increasing the depth, the mean CPUA is decreased and the lowest CPUA belongs to depths of 30-50 m The comparison between commercial and non-commercial groups in both ecosystems, it concluded that the density of commercial species were higher than non-commercial ones; and for years 2009, 2010 and 2011 the commercial species consist of 63.4, 65.0 and 59.7 % of total biomass. In all years the Persian Gulf indicated higher values than the Oman Sea. The most abundant fishes were Rays, Ribbon fishes, Carangids, Grunts, Japanese threadfin bream, Lizardfish and Barracuda for both Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

p16INK4a hypermethylation and p53, p16 and MDM2 protein expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor suppressor genes <it>p53 </it>and <it>p16</it>^INK4aand the proto-oncogene <it>MDM2 </it>are considered to be essential G1 cell cycle regulatory genes whose loss of function is associated with ESCC carcinogenesis. We assessed the aberrant methylation of the <it>p16 </it>gene and its impact on <it>p16</it>^{<it>INK4a </it>}protein expression and correlations with <it>p53 </it>and <it>MDM2 </it>protein expressions in patients with ESCC in the Golestan province of northeastern Iran in which ESCC has the highest incidence of cancer, well above the world average.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cancerous tissues and the adjacent normal tissue obtained from 50 ESCC patients were assessed with Methylation-Specific-PCR to examine the methylation status of <it>p16</it>. The expression of <it>p16</it>, <it>p53 </it>and <it>MDM2 </it>proteins was detected by immunohistochemical staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Abnormal expression of <it>p16 </it>and <it>p53</it>, but not <it>MDM2</it>, was significantly higher in the tumoral tissue. <it>p53 </it>was concomitantly accumulated in ESCC tumor along with <it>MDM2 </it>overexpression and <it>p16 </it>negative expression. Aberrant methylation of the <it>p16</it>^{<it>INK4a </it>}gene was detected in 31/50 (62%) of esophageal tumor samples, while two of the adjacent normal mucosa were methylated (P < 0.001). <it>p16</it>^{<it>INK4a </it>}aberrant methylation was significantly associated with decreased <it>p16 </it>protein expression (P = 0.033), as well as the overexpression of <it>p53 </it>(P = 0.020).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>p16 </it>hypermethylation is the principal mechanism of <it>p16 </it>protein underexpression and plays an important role in ESCC development. It is associated with p53 protein overexpression and may influence the accumulation of abnormally expressed proteins in <it>p53-MDM2 </it>and <it>p16-Rb </it>pathways, suggesting a possible cross-talk of the involved pathways in ESCC development.</p