Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease event : a cohort study

There are no consistent results between previous studies for an independent association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. To determine if there is an independent association between NAFLD and CVD events. In the present study, valid outcome data of 4808 subjects were available for phase 2 of our cohort study. These subjects had been followed up for seven years from phase 1, beginning in 2009-2010 to phase 2 during 2016-2017. Simple and multiple Cox proportional models were used to determine the association between NAFLD in the primary phase of the cohort and subsequent fatal and non-fatal CVD events during follow-up. The incidence of non-fatal CVD events in males with NAFLD was significantly higher ( = 0.004) than in males without NAFLD. A positive association was demonstrated between NAFLD and non-fatal CVD events in males (Hazard ratio = 1.606; 95%CI: 1.166-2.212; = 0.004) by the simple Cox proportional hazard model, but no independent association was detected between these in the multiple Cox models. No independent association was detected between NAFLD and CVD. It is likely that diabetes mellitus and age may be the principle mediators in this regard. [Abstract copyright: ©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

A population based study on hepatitis B virus in Northern Iran, Amol.

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a major health problem worldwide. Change in transmission patterns of hepatitis B makes it necessary to re-evaluate its prevalence and risk factors. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and its related risk factors in Amol city, Northern Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: As a population based study, a cluster sampling approach was used and 6146 individuals from the general population of urban and rural areas of Amol, Iran, from both genders and different ages were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were willingness to participate in the study, being a lifelong resident in Amol city or its surrounding areas with Iranian nationality. Ten milliliters (10 mL) of blood was taken from each study subject and checked regarding hepatitis B markers including HbsAg, HBsAb and HBcAb using a third generation ELISA. The prevalence of HBV infections and its potential risk factors were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg, HBsAb and HBcAb were estimated as 0.9%, 30.7% and 10.5%, respectively. The mean age of all participants was 43.9 (95% CI: 43.4, 44.3) in females and 55.6 in (n = 3472) males. In our study, there was a significant association between family history of hepatitis, rural residency and presence of HBsAg. There was also a positive correlation between HBcAb and family history of hepatitis, history of other types of hepatic diseases, history of tattooing, traditional phlebotomy, male gender and age. In backward logistic regression, a significant association was found between history of hepatitis in first-degree family members (OR = 13.35; 95% CI: 6.26, 28.47) and place of residence (OR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.27, 4.22) with presence of HBsAg. There was also a positive correlation between history of hepatitis among first-degree family members (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.52, 4.08), history of tattooing (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.33, 3.42), history of previous hepatitis (OR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.06, 3.28), male sex (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.66) and age (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.04) with presence of HBcAb. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hepatitis B in Amol City and its surrounding areas was about one percent, a lower rate than other reports from Iran

A cross-sectional study to test equivalence of low- versus intermediate-flip angle dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI measures of relative cerebral blood volume in patients with high-grade gliomas at 1.5 Tesla field strength

Introduction1.5 Tesla (1.5T) remain a significant field strength for brain imaging worldwide. Recent computer simulations and clinical studies at 3T MRI have suggested that dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI using a 30° flip angle (“low-FA”) with model-based leakage correction and no gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) preload provides equivalent relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measurements to the reference-standard acquisition using a single-dose GBCA preload with a 60° flip angle (“intermediate-FA”) and model-based leakage correction. However, it remains unclear whether this holds true at 1.5T. The purpose of this study was to test this at 1.5T in human high-grade glioma (HGG) patients.MethodsThis was a single-institution cross-sectional study of patients who had undergone 1.5T MRI for HGG. DSC-MRI consisted of gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (GRE-EPI) with a low-FA without preload (30°/P-); this then subsequently served as a preload for the standard intermediate-FA acquisition (60°/P+). Both normalized (nrCBV) and standardized relative cerebral blood volumes (srCBV) were calculated using model-based leakage correction (C+) with IBNeuro™ software. Whole-enhancing lesion mean and median nrCBV and srCBV from the low- and intermediate-FA methods were compared using the Pearson’s, Spearman’s and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).ResultsTwenty-three HGG patients composing a total of 31 scans were analyzed. The Pearson and Spearman correlations and ICCs between the 30°/P-/C+ and 60°/P+/C+ acquisitions demonstrated high correlations for both mean and median nrCBV and srCBV.ConclusionOur study provides preliminary evidence that for HGG patients at 1.5T MRI, a low FA, no preload DSC-MRI acquisition can be an appealing alternative to the reference standard higher FA acquisition that utilizes a preload

Lafora Disease: A Case Report of Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy

Lafora disease is a rare genetic disease caused by the accumulation of malformed glycogen products in the tissues. The disease usually manifests with idiopathic generalized tonic colonic seizures with poor response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). We report the case of a 19-year-old girl with the chief complaint of generalized refractory seizures, jerky movement, and cognitive deterioration with a positive history of epilepsy in her younger brother. The disease onset was at the age of 16 with jerky movement and blurred vision. She was admitted to our ward to have a long-term video EEG monitoring for further evaluation. Clinical presentation accompanied with abnormal EEG characteristics for Lafora disease, and the positive familial history were highly suggestive of Lafora disease. The disease was confirmed with genetic testing by which the mutation of EPM2A was detected.</jats:p

Seroepidemiological Study of Hepatitis A in Medical Students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019

Introduction: Hepatitis A (HA) is a common infectious disease caused by the HA virus that primarily affects the liver. We need to determine the safety status and infection rate in the community. Therefore, we decided to study the Seroepidemiological of HA in medical students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019.Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study prospectively examining anti-HAV antibodies in medical students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Patient demographic data, laboratory results of anti-HAV IgG and vaccination history were recorded. Four cc of blood were drawn from each student for the anti-HAV IgG test and after the test was performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software.Results: One hundred and fifty-five students were interviewed. The mean age (standard deviation) of the students in this study was 23.81 (1.47) years. Ninety-nine (63.9%) of the students were male. Therefore, it was caused by previous infection with HAV and 120 (77.4%) cases were considered susceptible individuals whose serum anti-HAV IgG was negative. This was not seen to be statistically significant (P=0.754). According to the test, 77.4% of the predictions were correct. None of the variables of sex, age, history of underlying disease, place of residence, and history of travel had a significant effect on the incidence and positivity of anti-HAV IgG.Conclusion: This study showed that the incidence of anti-HAV IgG was positive in 22.6% of the students, which is much lower than previous studies. This may be due to the higher level of health in this segment of the population.</jats:p

Nphs2 Gene Mutation In An Iranian Family With Familial Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome

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