Leisure time activities of Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study

Background: Leisure time is one of the most important aspects of life, especially for people with chronic diseases. The concept and types of leisure have frequently been evaluated in different socio-cultural populations. The aim of this study was to identify the nature of leisure activities among a sample of Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and classify the identified types of activities in the context of Iranian culture. Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interview was applied to gather data from 34 MS patients that were selected through purposive sampling. The interviews were continued up to the point of saturation. Content analysis was used to explore experiences of the interviewees regarding their leisure activities. Results: Six categories of leisure activities were extracted for the studied patients with MS i.e.physical, social, individual, art/cultural, educational and spiritual/religious. Conclusion: The results represented the range and heterogeneity of leisure activities amongst the MS patients. Considering participation in spiritual/religious and social activities as leisure time undertaking might reflect cultural diversity in the perception and use of time for recreation. For mental health promotion purposes, paying special attention to the types of activities that people of different socio-cultural background choose for their refreshment could help health care providers in giving tailored advice for patients with MS and other chronic debilitating disease

Posttransplant malignancies and their relationship with human leukocyte antigens in kidney allograft recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of cancers, most frequently skin cancers, and in some regions, Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We sought to investigate the associate of the most frequent malignancies among our patients with human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 44 kidney allograft recipients who had posttransplant malignancy and 44 kidney allograft recipients without malignant lesions (control group). All of the patients had been treated by immunosuppressive regimens including cyclosporine plus prednisolone or cyclosporine, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Data on HLA typing were achieved from their transplant records. RESULTS: There were 15 patients (34.1) with Kaposi sarcoma; 13 (29.6) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 6 (13.6) with skin cancer, 2 (4.5) with ovary cyst adenocarcinoma, and 8 (18.2) with other tumors. The mean interval from transplantation to diagnosis of malignancy was 15.3 month. Twelve patients died of cancer during the follow-up (mean, 12.3 years). No significant difference was noted in the age, sex, and time of transplantation between these patients and those in the control group. Kaposi sarcoma was associated with HLA-CW4 (P = .03) with an odds ratio of 4.96 (95 confidence interval, 2.90 to 8.12). CONCLUSIONS: We found HLA-CW4 as a risk factor of Kaposi sarcoma in kidney allograft recipients. Screening for malignancies after kidney transplantation sounds very important with special attention to the specific environmental and genetic factors in each population

Posttransplant malignancies and their relationship with human leukocyte antigens in kidney allograft recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of cancers, most frequently skin cancers, and in some regions, Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We sought to investigate the associate of the most frequent malignancies among our patients with human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 44 kidney allograft recipients who had posttransplant malignancy and 44 kidney allograft recipients without malignant lesions (control group). All of the patients had been treated by immunosuppressive regimens including cyclosporine plus prednisolone or cyclosporine, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Data on HLA typing were achieved from their transplant records. RESULTS: There were 15 patients (34.1) with Kaposi sarcoma; 13 (29.6) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 6 (13.6) with skin cancer, 2 (4.5) with ovary cyst adenocarcinoma, and 8 (18.2) with other tumors. The mean interval from transplantation to diagnosis of malignancy was 15.3 month. Twelve patients died of cancer during the follow-up (mean, 12.3 years). No significant difference was noted in the age, sex, and time of transplantation between these patients and those in the control group. Kaposi sarcoma was associated with HLA-CW4 (P = .03) with an odds ratio of 4.96 (95 confidence interval, 2.90 to 8.12). CONCLUSIONS: We found HLA-CW4 as a risk factor of Kaposi sarcoma in kidney allograft recipients. Screening for malignancies after kidney transplantation sounds very important with special attention to the specific environmental and genetic factors in each population

Renal Function and Risk Factors of Moderate to Severe Chronic Kidney Disease in Golestan Province, Northeast of Iran

Introduction: The incidence of end-stage renal disease is increasing worldwide. Earlier studies reported high prevalence rates of obesity and hypertension, two major risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD), in Golestan Province, Iran. We aimed to investigate prevalence of moderate to severe CKD and its risk factors in the region. Methods: Questionnaire data and blood samples were collected from 3591 participants (≥18 years old) from the general population. Based on serum creatinine levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated. Results: High body mass index (BMI) was common: 35.0 of participants were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and 24.5 were obese (BMI ≥30). Prevalence of CKD stages 3 to 5 (CKD-S3-5), i.e., GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, was 4.6. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 confidence interval (95 CI) for the risk of CKD-S3-5 associated with every year increase in age was 1.13 (1.11- 1.15). Men were at lower risk of CKD-S3-5 than women (OR = 0.28; 95 CI 0.18-0.45). Obesity (OR = 1.78; 95 CI 1.04-3.05) and self-reported diabetes (OR = 1.70; 95 CI 1.00-2.86), hypertension (OR = 3.16; 95 CI 2.02-4.95), ischemic heart disease (OR = 2.73; 95 CI 1.55-4.81), and myocardial infarction (OR = 2.69; 95 CI 1.14-6.32) were associated with increased risk of CKD-S3-5 in the models adjusted for age and sex. The association persisted for self-reported hypertension even after adjustments for BMI and history of diabetes (OR = 2.85; 95 CI 1.77-4.59). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of inhabitants in Golestan have CKD-S3-5. Screening of individuals with major risk factors of CKD, in order to early detection and treatment of impaired renal function, may be plausible. Further studies on optimal risk prediction of future end-stage renal disease and effectiveness of any screening program are warranted. © 2010 Najafi et al

A case report of dysphagia and cervical muscle weakness along with predominant bulbar palsy as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Background: Neuropsychiatric disorders are among the known complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The involvement of both peripheral and central nervous systems has also been reported in SLE.Case Report: A 32 year-old woman presented with 15 days history of progressive dysphagia, the nasal intonation of voice with no significant previous medical illness. The neurologic examination showed a marked bulbar (involvement of 9, 10, 11 cranial nerves) and cervical palsy. Other systemic examinations were normal. Hematologic tests, ESR, CRP, renal and hepatic tests and a chest x-ray PA were normal. Moreover, the CSF analysis and electrophysiological studies (EMG, NCV) were normal. The ANA and Anti-ds DNA tests were positive for two consecutive times. Brain MRI revealed infarct lesions in RT cerebellar hemisphere and dorsal brainstem. A diagnosis of vasculitis secondary to liked-lupus was made based on laboratory tests and imaging. Then intravenous immunoglobulins (0.4 g/kg/day) and 0.5 g methyl prednisolone for 5 days were administered. She was discharged for the rheumatologic follow-up. Conclusion: It can be concluded that SLE should be considered in any patient with obscure neurological problems

The Study of Quality of Life in Aphasic Stroke Patients in University- Medical Centers of Hamedan

Background and ObjectivesAs clinical improvement of patients surviving stroke is frequently incomplete and is followed by residual neurologic deficit, evaluation of the consequent function of these patients in three respects i.e; physical, social and emotional, which are considered as quality of life is useful in decision making for health care providers. Since few studies have been carried out in this regard, the aim of the present study was to obtain the average life quality score in four levels in aphasic stroke patients and comparing it with the quality of life score of the healthy population which is 5.Methods This study was a descriptive-cross sectional research carried out on 105 aphasic stroke patients referring to medical centers in Hamadan, Iran. Their diagnoses were confirmed by clinical and radiological findings. These patients were eligible for the study and had survived the stroke for at least six months. Sampling was non randomized and goal-oriented. Dependent variables included psychological, communicational, energy and physical status of the patients measured quantitatively. Data were gathered using the SAQOL-39 questionnaire.Results In this study the female population (58.1%) was greater than the male. The greater number of the aphasic patients (42%) was between 71 to 85 years old and the smallest number (6.7%) was between 39 to 50 years old. The greatest average score of life quality in the studied patients was related to the psychological state (2.17), while the smallest was related to the energy state (1.49). Average score of the life quality in the total population of the studied patients was calculated to be (1.88).ConclusionThe findings of the present study can lead to special supportive measures with the aim of improving life quality in aphasic stroke patients. We suggest that life quality of the patient after stroke should be compared to his/her own quality of life before stroke. Because there is no special service for care providers of stroke patients, an international program should be planned so that by reducing stress, they could have a better relation with the patients.Keywords: Life Quality; Stroke; Aphasia

The case report of ADEM multiple sclerosis variant with clinical manifestation of coma and status epilepticus

Background: ADEM (acute disseminating encephalomyelitis) is an autoimmune disease in which immunologic reaction to myelin is activated by an unknown factor. The incidence is not known and in the developed countries it is now seen most frequently after non-specific upper respiratory tract infections with the etiological agent remaining unknown. Young adults and children are most commonly affected. Systemic symptoms like fever, malaise, headache, nausea & vomiting often precede the neurological symptoms of ADEM but the hallmark is the development of initial clinical features including coma, hemiparesis, seizure, cranial nerve palsy and fever. ADEM is one of the causes of sudden coma in adolescents which has similar pattern of abnormalities on conventional MRI images with multiple sclerosis, but probably in primary approach with patients it is misdiagnosed. This paper presents a case of ADEM referring to Hamadan Sina Hospital in 2005. Case Report: The patient was a 22-year old female, complaining of sudden and acute coma and then status epilepticus.The patient�s past medical and drug history was negative. Positive finding in physical examination was low grade fever and in neurological exam, involvement of bilateral cortico spinal tract was remarkable. After intubation and control of status epilepticus and routine tests brain CT scan lumbar puncture was done which was normal. Patchy areas of increased signal intensity on conventional T2-weighted images in cortical and subcortical hemispheres was apparent on MRI. Corpus callosum was not involved. After diagnosis of ADEM high dose of cortico therapy within 10 days showed to improve the outcome So that, the patient was discharged for physiotherapy. Discussion: White matter disorder is responsible for determining the occurrence of neurological coma in patient because metabolic, infectious, toxic, trauma, vascular lesion (absence of focal neurological deficit) sol, developmental and congenital factors could be ruled out. The criteria emphasizing ADEM disorder (against MS) are: 1-Fever, loss of consciousness & epilepsy 2- Absence of oligoclonal band in CSF 3- Intacted corpus callosum 4- Absence of new lesion after first attack in MRI and 5- shorter duration of symptoms & more severe initial symptoms. Conclusion: According to the report, in every young adult patient with acute onset neurological coma without previous, metabolic, infectious, toxic, and traumatic etiology, and negative developing space occupying lesion, demyelinating disease should be suspected