Fahr’s syndrome with seizure presentation

Fahr's disease (FD) or Fahr’s syndrome is characterized by basal ganglia calcification with clinical manifestations in the form of neuropsychiatric disorders, neurological symptoms, and cognitive symptoms. FD commonly affects young to middle aged adults. The etiology of this syndrome does not identify a specific agent. Clinical manifestations of this disease incorporate a wide variety of symptoms. The diagnostic criteria of Fahr’s Syndrome consist of bilateral calcification of basal ganglia, progressive neurologic dysfunction, absence of biochemical abnormalities, infectious, traumatic, and a significant family history. Medical imaging techniques for the diagnosis consist of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and plain radiography of the skull. This paper presents a case of Fahr’s syndrome in a 60-year-old married prisoner with antisocial personality and seizures. Furthermore, CT and MRI scans showed bilateral symmetric calcifications in the basal ganglia calcification (BGC) and dentate nuclei, cerebellum, and centrum semiovale

Evaluating dose-response of cataract induction in radiotherapy of head and neck cancers patients

Background: Head and neck cancers are currently the most common types of cancers. 3D-conformal radiation therapy is the most common dose delivery technique for head and neck cancers. Eye Lens is a radio sensitive structure and cataract formation as a visual disorder associated with exposure to ionizing radiation which is documented. Objective: Determining the radiation dose to eye lens during head and neck radiography and estimating the probability of cataract induction are essential. Material and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 14 patients with head and neck cancers through experimental study analysis. The maximum opacity of the eyes lens were measured by pentacam� before radiation therapy. CT data of patients were transmitted to Isogray treatment planning Software, and dose calculations for each patient was performed. At the end of radiation treatment, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy, the eye lens opacity of the patients was assessed. Results: Overall, 28 lenses were studied. Statistical one sample K-S test proved normality of obtained data. Using repeated measures test, the relation before and 3 months after radiotherapy, as well as the relationship before and 6 months after radiotherapy proved a significant relationship. Conclusion: The opacity caused by radiation in eyes is a non-statistical and linear-quadratic response curve with no threshold. This opacity can also appear within 3 months after completion of radiation therapy. © 2021, Shriaz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan to diagnose the vertebral metastases

Background and Objective: The vertebra is the most common site of bone metastases. Diagnosis of metastases particularly in the early stages can improve patients’ prognosis and therapy. This study was done to compare the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan for the diagnosis of vertebral metastases. Methods: This descriptive study was done on 43 patients with any types of primary cancer. Patients underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scan. Bone scan results were considered as the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scan. Results: The magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 19 cases of thoracic vertebral metastases which previously diagnosed as negative by bone scan. Sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging compared to bone scan was 90.7% and 95.6%, respectively. The magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 4 cases of lumbar vertebral metastases which were reported negative in bone scan. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in compare to bone scan were 97.6%, 97% and 97.2%, respectively. Conclusion: In diagnosis of vertebral metastases, the magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than bone scan

A Comparison of Color Doppler Sonography Findings in Polycystic Ovarian ‎Syndrome Patients and Healthy Women

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. The assessment of uterine and ovarian artery resistance indices (RI) can provide additional information on pathophysiology of the syndrome, and can be applied as a diagnosis criterion in suspected cases of PCOS. This study aims to compare the parameters of uterine artery blood flow and ovarian stromal artery in PCOS patients and healthy women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 20 women with PCOS (PCOS group) and 20 healthy women (control group). In the initial evaluations, age, body mass index, levels of follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones, as well as severity of hirsutism and acne were recorded. Then, ovarian volume, uterine and ovarian artery RI and the rate of vascularization of ovarian stromal arteries were measured and compared with each other using Gray-scale and color Doppler sonography (CDS). FINDINGS: Uterine artery RI on both sides in the PCOS patients (94%) was significantly higher than the healthy women (86%) (p<0.001). Ovarian artery RI on both sides in the PCOS group (65%) was lower than the control group (71%) (p<0.001). The rate of vascularization of ovarian stromal arteries was higher in the PCOS patients (45%), as compared to the healthy women (0%) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the CDS findings, ovarian stromal and uterine blood flow parameters were significantly different in the PCOS and control groups

Signal intensity of basal ganglions in T2 magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis

Background and Objective: Although multiple sclerosis is a disease affecting white matter of brain and spinal cord, but involvement of basal ganglions in some studies demonstrated a decrease in T2 sequence signals. This study was done to assess signal intensity of basal ganglions in T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple sclerosis Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 30 multiple sclerosis patients and 30 controls in Imam Reza hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, during 2010. MRI images of multiple sclerosis of patients and control group were matched according to age and sex. The basal ganglia signals were identified based on involvement areas, number of plaques, and brain atrophy in T2 and flair sequences. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Chi-Square, Fisher exact test and independent t-tests. Results: Among the case group, 10 patients (33.3%) demonstrated low signals in right thalamus and 14 patients (46.7%) in left thalamus, which was statistically significant compared with control group (P<0.001). The presence of plaques in right and left globus pallidus was observed in 4 (13.3%) and 7 patients (23.3%) respectively. The presence of plaques in right and left thalamus was observed in 10 patients (33.3%) and 14 patients (46.7%) respectively, which was significant compared with control group (P<0.001). The presence of brain atrophy was observed in 18 patients (60%) in case groups and in one patient (3.3%) in control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study indicated that reduction of T2 signals in thalamus is a valuable finding in multiple sclerosis patients and it may facilitate the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

The Evaluation of p53 Polymorphism at Codon 72 and Association With Breast Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Iran and the world. Multiple environmental factors and genetic variations such as genetic polymorphisms are of its main causes. p53 gene plays an important role in conserving and sustaining the genome as a tumor suppressing gene. Change and polymorphism at codon 72 of p53 gene are correlated with increased risk of lung, mouth, endometrial, prostate, and colorectal cancers, and could be considered an indicator of susceptibility to breast cancer. METHODS: Twelve studies (1,190 cases and 1,145 control studies with evaluation of three types of Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro genotypes) have been conducted using keywords, such as polymorphism at codon 72, gene p53 polymorphisms, and the relation between polymorphisms and breast cancer, from databases in Iran, including Magiran, Medlibe, Sid, and Iranmedex, as well as Latin databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus. RESULTS: The OR for Arg/Arg is 1.58 (95 CI: 2.45 to 1.01), the OR for Arg/Pro is 0.75 (95 CI: 1.10 to 0.51), and the OR for Pro/Pro is 0.62 (95 CI: 0.93 to 0.42). p53 gene polymorphism at codon 72 is statistically significant in Arg/Arg and Pro/Pro genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Arg/Arg genotype can be considered as a risk factor for breast cancer, and Pro/Pro genotype can be accounted for as a protective factor against breast cancer