Evaluation of bone density and its relation with radiographic stage in knee osteoarthritis, 2016-2017

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthritis and its incidence is directly related to age. According to the related research in the last 30 years, a relationship is reported between severity of osteoarthritis and bone density. The aim of this study was to investigate the bone density and its relation with radiographic stage in knee OA.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 123 patients with knee OA diagnosis who referred to rheumatology clinic at Imam Khomeini hospital in Ardabil, were selected to participate in our study. Age, sex, weight, height and other variables were collected and analyzed with SPSS version 21.Results: A significant correlation was found between T-score and age of the patients (r=-0.38, p=0.001). A significant correlation was found between T-score and BMI. The correlation of T-score and radiographic stage of patients with osteoarthritis was indirect and non-significant (r=-0.22, p=0.06). Multivariate regression models showed that among variables, only two variables BMI and age had significant relation with T-score.Conclusions: Results showed that the relation between radiographic stage and T-score was significant and BMI and age had a significant effect on T- score

Evaluation the results of colon transit time in patients with chronic constipation resistant to treatment

Background: Determining colon transit time (CTT) is one of the simplest, reproducible, safe, inexpensive, reliable, patient-acceptable and fully applicable methods in the evaluation of patients with constipation. Objective was to determine the results of colon transit time (CTT) in patients with chronic drug resistant constipation. Methods: In this study, 30 people with constipation for at least three months and had defecation at most twice a week and did not respond to basic treatments were studied from October 2019 to June 2021 at Ardabil city hospital. 20 metal markers were given orally. Abdominal x-ray was performed on the 6th day and the number and speed of markers were considered. Patients also discontinued their anti-constipation medications. According to the CTT pattern, the causes of refractory chronic constipation were identified. Results: Of all 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 45.4 years with a standard deviation of 15.92. The greatest number of underlying diseases was related to blood pressure with 10 cases (33.3%). Of all patients, 19 patients (63.3%) had normal transit time colon despite chronic constipation. In terms of disorders; 5 patients (16.7%) had colon inertia, 3 patients (10%) had outlet obstruction and 3 patients (10%) had hindgut dysfunction. There was no significant relationship between colon transit time outcomes and patients’ gender and age. Conclusions: Examination of transit time colon in patients showed that the finding was normal in most of cases.

Relation between transcranial doppler findings, neuroimaging and functional state in the first days of acute cerebrovascular accidents- hemorrhagic and ischemic in patients admitted to the Ardabil city hospital during 2015-2016

Background: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Considering the diagnostic and clinical value of sonography of extra cranial vessels of the brain, identifying findings obtained from patients suspected of having CVA and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and their prevalence is of great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between TCD finding, neuroimaging and functional state of ischemic and hemorrhagic CVA patients.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that has been done on 100 stroke patients admitted to Ardabil city hospital from March 2015 to March 2016. Patients underwent to CT-scan, doppler sonography, and TCD. The obtained data were analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS version 21.Results: The mean age of the patients was 66.3±11 years and 53% were women. High blood pressure, history of heart disease, smoking, and diabetes were the major risk factors in the present study. Fifty eight percent of the patients had moderate to severe disability in their functional status. Atheroma plaques, intima-media thickening, and the change of speed in the external carotid artery were most frequent in doppler sonography investigations. There was no significant correlation between the obtained results from TCD and the functional status of the patients.Conclusions: Considering the non-significant correlation between TCD results and the functional state of the patients in this study, for exactly study of this topic, study the TCD of patients on several different days and after starting treatment is essential

Impact of Opium Addiction on Levels of Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines after ‎Surgery

Background: Opium addiction alters immune responses to stresses such as an injury due to changing the secretion of cytokines. The present study assessed the effect of opium addiction on the cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10] before and after laparotomy. Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into control and opium addicted (n = 20). Then, cytokines were measured before surgery, immediately after surgery (within 30-60 minutes) and 24 hours after surgery. Findings: IFN-γ was raised in an addicted group in three phases of the study as compared to that of the control group. IL-4 in opium addicted group decreased in two phases after surgery compared to the control group. IL-4 was lower after surgery in comparison to before surgery in the opium addicted group. The difference in IL-10 and TNFα levels was not statistically significant in the all groups measured in three phases of the investigation. Conclusion: The results revealed that opium addiction can increase plasma level of IFN-γ in rats and decrease plasma level of IL-4 after surgical stress. It seems that opium addicted rats are a more susceptible to increased inflammation

Evaluation of Ultrasonographic findings in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis and correlation with WOMAC

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic joint disease that affects the elderly and middle-aged people. This disease is the most common cause of limitation of elderly and middle-aged people in daily activities, which significantly affects the quality of life of these people.The aim of this study was to evaluation of ultrasonographic findings in patients with knee osteoarthritis and its correlation with WOMAC. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with knee osteoarthritis who referred to the rheumatology clinic of Imam Hospital from April 2020 to June 2021 before undergoing the study for other diseases involving the joints, were evaluated by radiographic and laboratory assessment. Laboratory tests were included RF, Anti-CCP, ANA, ESR and CRP and patients with positive inflammatory and serological tests were excluded from the study. Then, patients with osteoarthritis were visited by a radiologist for ultrasound findings and underwent ultrasound. Also, at the same time, the WOMAC questionnaire was completed for them. Results: 138 patients were studied who were over 40 years old and 85.5% of them were female. The joint dryness score was significantly higher in patients with left synovial effusion (4.04 vs. 2.51; p = 0.001). In patients with right synovial hypertrophy, the mean overall score of WOMAC and its sub-branches was significantly higher (61.26 vs. 47.80; p = 0.001) and also in patients with left synovial hypertrophy mean joint dryness score is higher (4.15 vs.3.17; p= 0.017). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that in terms of synovial inflammation, which includes hypertrophy and synovial effusion, there is a direct relationship with patients' WOMAC score, since ultrasound modality is non-invasive and available everywhere, and also due to the cheapness of this modality makes it possible to follow-up patients with osteoarthritis. This modality is also reliable in assessing synovial changes, but more accuracy is needed in assessing cases such as osteophyte

Plasma Changes of Chemerin and Pentraxin-3 Following Eight Weeks of Endurance Exercise in Men with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background & objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world which is associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma changes of chemerin and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) following 8 weeks of endurance training in men with NAFLD. Methods: In this quasi-experimental Study, thirty four patients with NAFLD were selected purposefully. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, endurance training group (n=17) and control group (n=17). The endurance training program included eight weeks running on a treadmill with maximum heart rate (HRmax) intensity of 55-75% for 45 minutes three times a week. Seventy two hours before the beginning of the study and at the end of the eighth week, blood samples were taken from all the participants. The data were analyzed by paired sample t-test and independent t-test at the significant level p<0.05. Results: Plasma levels of chemerin in the endurance training group significantly decreased (p=0.013). Also, there was a significant difference between the two groups after the end of the intervention (p=0.002). Plasma levels of PTX3 increased significantly in the endurance training group (p=0.001). There was also a significant difference between two groups after the end of the intervention (p=0.01). Conclusion: The present study showed that the 8-week endurance training increased the plasma levels of PTX3 and decreased the plasma levels of chemerin in men with NAFLD. Endurance training, possibly through various mechanisms, reduces the inflammatory factors and increases the anti-inflammatory factors in men with NAFLD. Endurance training, probably by activation of lipolysis, over-regulation of unpaired protein-1 and activator receptors&nbsp;of peroxisomes proliferation-, changes in adipocytokines, etc. decreases charmicin and increases PTX3 levels of plasma in men with NAFLD. &nbsp

Comparison of Bone Mineral Densitometry at 2 Sites Versus 3 Sites in Patients Suspicious for Osteoporosis

Objectives: In this study, we aim to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) results of 2 standard sites with 3 sites including wrist in diagnosing osteoporosis. Methods: We evaluated the BMD results of 1272 individuals referred for suspected osteoporosis between 2012 and 2015. Those individuals were included with BMD at lumbar spine, femur neck, and wrist. Bone mineral density was measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) device. Bone mineral density and T score were measured for all 3 sites. Results: There was significant correlation between wrist T score with hip T score ( r = 0.606, P < .001) and lumbar T score ( r = 0.527, P < .001). With BMD of 2 sites, patients had osteopenia in 46.3% and osteoporosis in 23.7%, while by adding wrist T-BMD, subjects had osteopenia in 46.6% and osteoporosis in 33%. Between BMD at 2 sites and 3 sites, there was concordance in 81.9%, minor discordance in 17.6%, and major discordance in 0.5%. Conclusions: We observed discordance between BMD measurements of 2 sites and 3 sites, with latter detecting more cases with osteoporosis. In fact, measurement of T scores of wrist along with lumbar and femur neck improves the diagnosis

A Study of Carotid Arterial Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) Changes based on Clinical and Para-Clinical Indexes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

&nbsp;Background & objectives: Ultrasonography as a non-invasive, inexpensive and generally available method has been used to measure&nbsp;of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries changes and finding its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors and vascular&nbsp;diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the carotid arterial wall thickness (IMT) changes based on clinical and para-clinical indexes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 100 patients with type 2 DM were randomly selected from all patients admitted to diabetes clinics and were considered in terms of clinical and paraclinical indexes of systemic atherosclerosis. Both types of IMT (TA and TB) were measured&nbsp;by ultrasonography in six locations of the carotid system. The intensity of these two values was calculated compared with the normal IMT and also, its relationship with clinical and para clinical indexes were determined. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 19.&nbsp; Results: In this study, more than 80% of patients had IMT upper than normal. There was a significant difference between the severe increase&nbsp;of IMT and effective variables such as sex, smoking, physical inactivity, dyslipidemia and poor blood glucose control. Conclusions: This study showed that the DM and factors such as sex, smoking, physical inactivity had a significant effect on the increasing IMT compared to the normal range