Predictors of appropriate ICD therapy in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

BACKGROUND: Understanding the predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy could help to better identify candidates for ICD implantation. METHODS: One hundred and sixty two patients with ICD (111 with coronary artery disease [CAD] and 51 with dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM]) were included in the study. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and ICD stored data and electrograms were collected. RESULTS: During mean follow up of 15±11 months 54 patients (33%) received ≥ 1 appropriate ICD therapy (AICDT). We used binary logistic regression analysis with forward selection method to find the potential predictors of appropriate ICD therapy after device implantation. Male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 – 7.1, P=0.021), DCM as underlying heart disease (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.9 – 9.5, P=0.001), and QRS width > 100 ms (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.2 – 5.4, P=0.010) were correlated with increased likelihood of AICDT during the follow up period. In subgroup analysis of the patients with CAD and DCM, QRS duration > 100 ms was correlated with the probability of ≥ 1 AICDT. In our patients indication of ICD implantation (primary versus secondary prevention) did not influence probability of ≥ 1 AICDT (adjusted OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.7 – 4.0, Mantel-Haenszel P value P=0.355.) CONCLUSION: QRS width could be used as an additional simple risk stratifier beyond EF to identify potential candidates who would benefit more from ICD implantation. This may have practical implications for patient selection especially in developing countries. Indication of ICD implantation (primary versus secondary prevention) did not affect the probability of ≥ 1 AICDT during the follow up period

Ocular refractive and biometric characteristics in patients with tilted disc syndrome

BACKGROUND\ud \ud Tilted disc syndrome (TDS) is associated with characteristic ocular findings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular, refractive, and biometric characteristics in patients with TDS.\ud \ud METHODS\ud \ud This case-control study included 41 eyes of 25 patients who had established TDS and 40 eyes of 20 healthy control subjects. All participants underwent a complete ocular examination, including refraction and analysis using Fourier transformation, slit lamp biomicroscopy, pachymetry, keratometry, and ocular biometry. Corneal topography examinations were performed in the syndrome group only.\ud \ud RESULTS\ud \ud There were no significant differences in spherical equivalent (P = 0.13) and total astigmatism (P = 0.37) between groups. However, mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (Log Mar) was significantly worse in TDS patients (P = 0.003). The lenticular astigmatism was greater in the syndrome group, whereas the corneal component was greater in controls (P = 0.059 and P = 0.028, respectively). The measured biometric features were the same in both groups, except for the lens thickness and lens-axial length factor, which were greater in the TDS group (P = 0.007 and P = 0.055, respectively).\ud \ud CONCLUSIONS\ud \ud Clinically significant lenticular astigmatism, more oblique corneal astigmatism, and thicker lenses were characteristic findings in patients with TDS

Optimal Feature Extraction for Discriminating Raman Spectra of Different Skin Samples using Statistical Methods and Genetic Algorithm

Introduction: Raman spectroscopy, that is a spectroscopic technique based on inelastic scattering of monochromatic light, can provide valuable information about molecular vibrations, so using this technique we can study molecular changes in a sample. Material and Methods: In this research, 153 Raman spectra obtained from normal and dried skin samples. Baseline and electrical noise were eliminated in the preprocessing stage with subsequent normalization of Raman spectra. Then, using statistical analysis and Genetic algorithm, optimal features for discrimination between these two classes have been searched.  In statistical analysis for choosing optimal features, T test, Bhattacharyya distance and entropy between two classes have been calculated. Seeing that T test can better discriminate these two classes so this method used for selecting the best features. Another time Genetic algorithm used for selecting optimal features, finally using these selected features and classifiers such as LDA, KNN, SVM and neural network, these two classes have been discriminated. Results: In comparison of classifiers results, under various strategies for selecting features and classifier, the best results obtained in combination of genetic algorithm in feature selection and SVM in classification. Finally using combination of genetic algorithm and SVM, we could discriminate normal and dried skin samples with accuracy of 90%, sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 91%. Discussion and Conclusion: According to obtained results, we can conclude that genetic algorithm demonstrates better performance than statistical analysis in selection of discriminating features of Raman spectra. In addition, results of this research illustrate the potential of Raman spectroscopy in study of different material effects on skin and skin diseases related to skin dehydration

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis following coronary artery angiography: A case report

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis has different etiologies from biliary stone to metabolic disturbances. Coronary angiography is one of the newly understood etiologies. CASE REPORT: This paper is about a women suffering from acute pancreatitis after coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Embolization of cholesterol crystals due to vessel wall trauma during coronary angiography as well as contrast medium are responsible for such side effect.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p

Ionic Liquid Modified SPION@Chitosan as a Novel and Reusable Superparamagnetic Catalyst for Green One-Pot Synthesis of Pyrido[2,3-<i>d</i>]pyrimidine-dione Derivatives in Water

In this paper, the chitosan-functionalized ionic liquid is modified with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to form a novel and reusable catalyst (SPION@CS-IL), which was carried out using an ultrasonic promoted approach. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are some of the techniques that are used to fully characterize SPION@CS-IL. The created nanoparticles were discovered to be a reusable heterogeneous superparamagnetic catalyst for the environmentally friendly one-pot synthesis of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives using a simple three-component reaction approach involving thiobarbituric acid, 4-hydroxy coumarin, and various aromatic aldehydes. The method is studied by performing the reaction under ultrasonic irradiation, while the approach is a “green” method, it uses water as the solvent. The isolated yields of the synthesized products are very advantageous. The catalyst has outstanding reusability and is easily removed from the products via filtration (5 runs). Short reaction times, low catalyst loadings, the nanocatalyst’s capacity to be recycled five times, and the absence of harmful chemical reagents are all significant benefits of this environmentally benign process

Common Raman Spectral Markers among Different Tissues for Cancer Detection

Introduction Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique, based on inelastic scattering of monochromatic light. This technique can provide valuable information about biomolecular changes, associated with neoplastic transformation. The purpose of this study was to find Raman spectral markers for distinguishing normal samples from cancerous ones in different tissues. Materials and Methods Ten tissue samples from the breast, colon, pancreas, and thyroid were collected. A Raman system was used for Raman spectroscopic measurement of tissues at 532 nm laser excitation. Five to six Raman spectra were acquired from each sample (a total of 52 spectra). Raman spectra were investigated in important bands associated with Amid1, CH2 (scissoring), Amid3, d(NH), n(C-C), and das (CH3) in both normal and cancerous groups. In addition, common spectral markers, which discriminated between normal and cancerous samples in the above tissues, were investigated. Results Common spectral markers among different tissues included intensities of Amid3 and CH2 (scissoring) and intensity ratios of I(Amid1)/I(CH2), I(n(C-C))/I(CH2), and I(d(NH))/I(CH2). This study showed that Amid1-, n(C-C)-, and d(NH)-to-CH2 intensity ratios can discriminate between normal and cancerous samples, with an accuracy of 84.6%, 82.7%, and 82.7% in all studied tissues, respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrates the presence of common spectral markers, associated with neoplastic changes, among different tissues

شمایی از مطالعات متمرکز بر موضوع تریاژ در بخش اورژانس طی سالهای 2013 و 2014؛ یک مرور کوتاه

Introduction: Triage is a part of the organizational process in emergency departments that affects their functional outcome. Each emergency department has its own special strategic state that may require adjustments to its triage system for localizing the process. Therefore, sufficient documentation is required in this field and studying triage is necessary. The purpose of this study was drawing a scheme of the studies carried out regarding triage in emergency departments during 2013 and 2014. For this purpose, articles published in this field were searched in Pubmed internet gateway using triage, fast track, hospitals, health care, emergency, medical services and emergency service as keywords. Based on this search strategy, 119 articles were found and classified into 7 triage- related fields. Finally, distribution of the articles regarding place, subject, type and methodology of the study was evaluated using descriptive analysis. تریاژ جزیی از روند اجرایی بخش اورژانس بوده که بر روی پیامدهای عملکردی آن تأثیرگذار می باشد. هر بخش اورژانس موقعیت استراتژیک خاص خود را دارد که ممکن است لازم باشد سیستم تریاژ خود را با توجه به وضعیت خود بومی سازی نمایند. بنابراین لازم است مستندات کافی در این زمینه وجود داشته باشد و این دلیل محکمی برای تحقیق در زمینه تریاژ است. هدف این مطالعه مروری، ترسیم شمایی از مطالعات انجام شده در زمینه تریاژ در بخش اورژانس طی سال های 2013 تا 2014 می باشد. بدین منظور مقالات منتشر شده در این زمینه با کلید واژه های Triage ، Fast track، Hospitals،Health care ،Emergency،  Medical Services وEmergency Service  در درگاه اینترنتی Pubmed مورد جستجو قرار گرفتند. بر اساس استراتژی جستجو 119 مقاله در 7 حیطه مرتبط با تریاژ طبقه بندی شدند. در نهایت با استفاده از آنالیز توصیفی به ارزیابی نحوه توزیع این مطالعات از نظر محل انجام، موضوع مطالعه، نوع مطالعه و متدولوژی قرار گرفتند

A Scheme of Researches Done on Triage in Emergency Department during 2013 and 2014; a Brief Review

Introduction: Triage is a part of the organizational process in emergency departments that affects their functional outcome. Each emergency department has its own special strategic state that may require adjustments to its triage system for localizing the process. Therefore, sufficient documentation is required in this field and studying triage is necessary. The purpose of this study was drawing a scheme of the studies carried out regarding triage in emergency departments during 2013 and 2014. For this purpose, articles published in this field were searched in Pubmed internet gateway using triage, fast track, hospitals, health care, emergency, medical services and emergency service as keywords. Based on this search strategy, 119 articles were found and classified into 7 triage- related fields. Finally, distribution of the articles regarding place, subject, type and methodology of the study was evaluated using descriptive analysis

De Qeurvian Tenosynovitis: Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Treatment with Longitudinal and Transverse Incision

AbstractObjectives: De Quervain disease is a mechanical tenosynovitis due to inadequacy volume between abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis and their tunnel. Treatment methods include immobilization, steroid injections, and operation. For the first time Fritz De Quervain described surgical treatment of this disease. Since then, various ways of treatment have been reported. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of a longitudinal incision with a transverse incision in De Quervain disease.Methods: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in three hospitals in Iran, Yazd from March 2003 to September 2008. One hundred-twenty patients with De Quervain disease who did not respond to conservative treatment were operated with two different incisions. The patients were followed for three months to compare the surgical outcomes.Results: During a three month follow-up, a significant difference was shown between the two methods (p=0.03). Results of surgical treatment with longitudinal incision were excellent (only 5 hypertrophic scars), but there were 13 postoperative complaints with transverse incision.Conclusion: According to our findings, longitudinal incision in surgical treatment of De Quervain disease is better than transverse incision