The effect of Cornus mas in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in women: A randomized controlled trial

Background and aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common and the second leading infections, after respiratory tract infections, in women. Currently, various chemical drugs are used to prevent the UTIs. Chemical drugs may cause antibiotic resistance and cause resistant strains likely grow in the long-term treatment with antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Cornus mas in preventing recurrent UTIs in women aged 15-45 years referring to Ayatollah Kashani Hospital Clinic in Shahrekord. Methods: This experimental study (Parallel Design and Triple-blind) was conducted on 42 women aged 15-45 years referring to Ayatollah Kashani Hospital Clinic of Shahrekord and diagnosed with chronic cystitis. The exclusion criteria were neurogenic bladder, genitourinary system anatomical abnormalities (hydronephrosis, ureterocele stone, etc), and bacterial resistance. The women were randomly assigned to 2 groups. At baseline, the women were examined for any functional and anatomical disorders and if it was necessary, they underwent ultrasound. After the current UTIs were treated and the women clinically recovered, one group was administered with Cornus mas tablet 500 mg and another group administered with placebo for 6 months. All the women were followed up for 6 months. Every 2 months, the patients were clinically examined and their urine cultures were investigated for the clinical signs of cystitis. As the symptoms of the UTIs occur, the patients were recommended to refer for repeated urine culture. All patients (42 women) completed the study. Results: In our study, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of recurrent UTI recurrence, although there were differences (P>0.005). Positive urine culture in Cornus mas group was 19 and in placebo was 33.4. In terms of dysuria in 6 months and the second time, there was a significant difference between placebo and Cornus mas (P=0.004) Dysuria in Cornus mas group was 14.2 and in placebo was 56.2. Conclusion: Cornus mas can decrease dysuria and frequent urination in patients with recurrent UTIs, so it can be used in the treatment of these patients

Epidemiological Aspects of Canine Dirofilariasis in the North of Iran

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite in dog and other carnivores. Our objec­tive was study on incidence and periodicity of heartworm in north of Iran and using other meth­ods for its diagnosis in addition to Parasitology exam.Methods: This survey spanned two years, between 2006 and 2008. Blood samples were collected from 431 stray dogs distributed along north of Iran, the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. The Knott's modified test was used for diagnosis of D. immitis and other filariae. Meanwhile, the periodic­ity of microfilaria in peripheral blood circulation was calculated and the imaging diagno­sis techniques of four dogs that had positive results were done.Result: Diagnostic parasitology results indicated that 16.01% of stray dogs were microfilaremic. Two different microfilariae were diagnosed: D. immitis in 13.69%, Dipetalonema reconditum in 1.86% and in 0.46% both of them. There was no statistically significant between infection to fiariae with sex and age of dogs. Also study on the periodicity of the presence of microfilaria in peripheral circulation showed that the highest rate of those was at 1 am and the lowest rate at 12 pm. Radiographic study showed distinctive signs with varied degrees of severity included: Tortu­ous and enlargement of main and lobar pulmonary artery, pulmonary parenchymal lesions and Right side heart enlargement that confirmed in electrocardiography. Also in echocardiographic images observed short parallel-sided images with the appearance of equal signs that indicated the pres­ence of the heartworm.Conclusion: These results showed that to obtain a reliable diagnosis of heartworm infection, imag­ing tests could support parasitological exams

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories.Methods: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age.Findings: The number of people aged 30-79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306-359) million women and 317 (292-344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584-668) million women and 652 (604-698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55-62) of women and 49% (46-52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43-51) of women and 38% (35-41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20-27) for women and 18% (16-21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran.Interpretation: Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings.Copyright (C) 2021 World Health Organization; licensee Elsevier.</p

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings. Funding WHO

CAUSES OF UNCONTROLLED BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE OVER-65 POPULATION

Abstract&nbsp; INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of hypertension shows a linear increase with aging so that it increases by 10 percent every 10 years. This study was conducted to investigate the causes of uncontrolled blood pressure in people aged over 65 years. methods: This descriptive case-control study was conducted at Isfahan Amin Hospital in 2003 on two-hundred over-65 subjects diagnosed with hypertension through a routine travel check-up for Mecca pilgrimage. After medical examinations and blood pressure measurement according to WHO standards, the subjects were divided into a case group (controlled blood pressure) and a control group (uncontrolled blood pressure), respectively. A questionnaire was filled in for each subject and the data were analyzed with &chi;2 and t-student test. results: The case and control groups had mean ages of 70.7&plusmn;5.2 and 69.5&plusmn;4.9 years, respectively. In the case group, less than half of the subjects were taking their antihypertensive medications regularly and 12.5% engaged in self-therapy. Fifty-five percent of subjects in the case group expressed a lack of motivation as the reason for discontinuing therapy. Their knowledge and practice were also found to be significantly lower than the control group (P&lt;0.05). Discussion: In comparison with other studies, it was observed that the most common causes of uncontrolled blood pressure are poor knowledge, inappropriate practice in avoiding risk factors, and the discontinuation of pharmaceutical antihypertensive therapy.Keywords . Hypertension . Cardiovascular diseases . Antihypertensive agents . Diet therapy</p

MODIFIED PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINANT SEPTAL MYOCARDIA ABLATION: A NEW METHOD FOR HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY MANAGEMENT

Introduction. Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) occurs as an autosomal dominant mendelian inherited disease in about 50 percent cases. abstractive and nonobstractive were two forms of HCM. The most common treatment modalities include drug therapy, mitral valve replacement, installation of dual chamber DD pacemaker and surgical excision of a portion of the hypertrophied septum. Methods. One of the newest methods used in recent years for the treatment of HCM unresponsive to common medical procedures is to inject alcohol into septal artery (septal ablation). We used a modified version of this procedure which consisted of using transesophageal echocardiography evaluation of mitral regurgitation and the diagnosis of septal artery during alcohol injection in a HCM patient. Results. The short term (immediately after procedure) and the long term (after 3 months) evaluation indicates complete improvement of clinical symptoms in the patient. Discussion. Considering the clinical improvement of symptoms, increased tolerance for activity and reduced gradient in LV outflow tract, this procedure is an effective method for the treatment of HCM resistant to common medical therapy

OBESITY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN WOMEN IN CENTRAL IRAN - WOMEN'S HEALTHY HEART PROJECT

Abstract&nbsp; INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are considered the most important cause of death worldwide. Obesity is a major CVD risk factor. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and its association with other CVD risk factors in Iranian women. methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2001 as part of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) in three Central Iranian cities of Isfahan, Najaf-Abad and Arak. Being over 19 years of age, absence of pregnancy, absence of mental retardation and Iranian nationality were the criteria for inclusion in the study. A questionnaire on demographics characteristics, drug consumption, smoking status, and physical activity were filled out for every subject. Height, weight and blood pressure of all subjects were measured and fasting blood samples were taken to measure blood glucose and lipids. The data were analyzed with T-test, &chi;2 and multiple linear regression, using SPSS11. results: Of 6391 women aged 38.8&plusmn;14.5 years participating in the study, 79% lived in the urban areas and 21% in the rural areas. The prevalence of a higher BMI was greater in urban areas in all ages. Hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol-triglyceride and LDL-C disorders and inadequate physical activity were more prevalent in obese women than normal ones, but no significant difference was seen in HDL-C disorder and smoking between the two groups (P&lt;0.05). There was a significant positive relationship between BMI and age, blood glucose and urban residence, and a negative relationship was observed between BMI and inadequate physical activity (P&lt;0.05). Discussion: The high prevalence of obesity and the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in urban areas is testament to unhealthy lifestyle and insufficient physical activity of women in areas studied.Keywords . Women . Obesity . Residence . Risk factor</p

Entropy analysis and mixed convection of nanofluid flow in a pillow plate heat exchanger in the presence of porous medium

A pillow plate heat exchanger (PPHE) is one of the types of heat exchangers that haven't received the attention they deserve despite their high efficiency and operational capability. A unique feature of PPHEs is their pillow-shaped structure, which is achieved through hydroforming. In light of this, scholars have been interested in analyzing and optimizing the thermo-hydraulic properties of PPHEs. In this study, the interior of the PPHE was occupied with a permeable substance with a high porosity percentage (0.9034 ≤ ɛ ≤ 0.9586 and 0.00015 ≤ dp ≤ 0.00065) and saturated with Ag-water (0 ≤ϕ ≤ 0.06) nanofluid, which has a profound influence on the heat transfer rate of PPHEs. In order to analyze the determinants affecting the heat transfer rate of PPHEs under these conditions, the governing equations were solved using the finite volume method and also the Brinkman-Forchheimer-extended Darcy equation. According to the results, heat transfer is enhanced in PPHE when using a permeable medium with high porosity and a small pore size. That is, PPHEs transfer heat more efficiently when they are placed in a denser porous medium because heat conduction is boosted. Moreover, due to the increased thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles, the application of nanoparticles to the base fluid also enhanced heat transfer and Nusselt number. However, decreases in friction factor and entropy generation were observed with increasing porosity, pore size, and Darcy number, due to reduced flow resistance. A decrease in Richardson number also results in a decrease in friction factor and entropy generation. At the wake region of welding spots, the velocity has reached its lowest values; consequently, this led to a reduction in the heat transfer rate. Nevertheless, within dense porous media, at the lower hydraulic diameter points, the conduction contributes to heat transfer improvement. The porous medium acts as a heat sink and absorbs the heat from the welding spot. This allows the heat to be dissipated away from the welding spot, which reduces the velocity and heat transfer rate. The nanofluid, on the other hand, helps to increase the thermal conductivity of the medium, resulting in more heat being transferred to the surrounding material. Consequently, the results demonstrated that PPHEs' thermal and thermodynamic performance could be significantly improved by using a porous medium saturated with nanofluid