Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2019 | Volume:27 | Issue:124|Papers Count:8

Background & Objective: Different studies have investigated the link between helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and extra digestive diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, the relationship between ITP and H. pylori is less clear. Most of the studies in ITP have focused on H. pylori eradication in chronic ITP, therefore, in this study we e focused on the effect of H. pylori eradication on chronicity of ITP in the adult patients with acute ITP. Materials & Methods: Eighty five patients with acute ITP whose platelet counts were less than 30 × 109/L entered into the study. Urea breath test (UBT) was carried out for all the patients and based on the results they were divided into 3 groups: Group I: H. pylori-positive patients who underwent standard triple therapy. Evaluation of H. pylori eradication for this group was carried out in one and six months after the treatment. Group II: ITP patients negative for H. pylori and Group III: ITP patients positive for H. pylori but without eradication therapy. Results: 52 (61. 2%) patients were female and 33 (38. 8%) were male with the mean age of 34. 8± 12. 2 years old. There were no significant differences between either the mean age and gender or the mean platelet count at the baseline among the groups, but there was a statistical significant difference in the mean platelet between the groups at the end of the first month. However, significant difference was not seen in the mean platelet count in months 2 to 6. The chronicity in group I was significantly less than group III. Also, the chronicity rate in non-infected ITP patients was lower than the H. pylori-positive patients (P=0. 03). Likewise, the chronicity rate was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0. 035). Conclusion: Our results showed that eradication of H. pylori can reduce the chronicity rate in adult patients with ITP. Further studies on larger number of patients with longer follow-up are recommended.

Background & Objective: The potent antioxidant property of fullerene C60 nanoparticles and their derivatives has been demonstrated in a wide range of in vitro and in vivo studies. Hence, we examined the effects of fullerene C60 on the oxidative stress parameters in brain and liver of the rats in normal situation. Materials & Methods: The study was performed in two groups of Wistar rats (each group, n = 6); normal and fullerene-treated normal animals. Treated rats received fullerene via oral gavage at dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 60 days. At termination of the study, the oxidative stress parameters were determined in brain and liver tissues, including the contents of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The t-test was used to analyze the data between two groups. Results: Fullerene C60 treatment did not change blood glucose level in treated rats compared to untreated rats. Fullerene C60 significantly increased the value of CAT activity by 66% and MDA levels by 68%, while decreased SOD activity by 33% at liver of treated rats compared to untreated animals (P<0. 05). Fullerene administration increased significantly only CAT activity of brain in the treated rats (0. 34± 0. 10 U/mg protein) compared to untreated animals (0. 12± 0. 03 U/mg protein), (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that oral administration of fullerene C60 nanoparticles differently changed the oxidative stress parameters in liver and brain in normal condition. It is suggested that these effects be considered for the application of these nanoparticles in various therapeutic purposes.

Background & Objective: Dexamethasone has been emerged as an adjuvant to local anesthetics to provide optimal analgesia. We have evaluated the postoperative analgesic efficacy of adding a low dose dexamethasone to bupivacaine in ilioinguinal (II) and iliohypogastric (IH) blocks in patients undergoing inguinal herniorraphy under spinal anesthesia. Materials & Methods: 50 patients in the range of 20-80 years of age who had underwent elective surgery for the purpose of inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia were recruited in a prospective, double-blinded, and randomized manner. At the end of the surgery, the patients received an II and IH block through the direct injection of drugs around nerves. Meanwhile, the control group received bupivacaine 0. 5% (2 cc) plus normal saline 1 cc (group C), and the dexamethasone group received bupivacaine 0. 5% (2 cc) plus 4 mg (1 cc) dexamethasone (group D). The pain intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) scale at 1, 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Results: The mean time of analgesic duration in group C (3. 6± 3. 8 hr) was greater than group D (1. 6± 1. 14 hr). This difference was statistically significant (P=0. 043). The pain intensity 2 hours after surgery in group D was higher than in group C (median with IQR: 3± 4 vs. 2± 2; P=0. 007). The difference in the total analgesic consumption in group D (51. 1± 32. 4 mg) versus group C (26. 4± 33. 8 mg) was significant (P=0. 018). Conclusion: The addition of 4 mg dexamethasone to bupivacaine in an II and IH block at the end of surgery in patients undergoing inguinal herniorraphy under spinal anesthesia failed to prolong the time to the first analgesic request. It provides only a minor analgesic effect 12 hours following the surgery.

Background & Objective: Migraine is a neurological syndrome that involves one-way or two-way recurrent headaches with a moderate to severe severity and lasts from 2 to 72 hours. Chronic migraines occur for about 3 months and at least 15 days or more per month, with a global incidence of 1. 4 to 2. 2 percent. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of neurofeedback and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in reducing symptoms of women with migraine. Materials & Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up for 2 months. The sample consisted of 20 migraine patients aged 15-55 years. Initial evaluation (entrance examination and exit), implementation of the Ahvaz Migraine Questionnaire (AMQ), and Blanchard Headache Diary (BHD) were performed. Patients were randomly assigned to the neurofeedback treatment group (N=10) and tDCS (N=10). Subjects of each group were evaluated 4 times consisting before intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software. Results: The results of Mann-Whitney U test indicated that there was no significant difference between the two treatments during the stages of evaluation in the severity, duration, and number of pain attacks per month. The results of Friedman test showed that there was a significant difference between the severity of headaches and the number of pain attacks in one month in the treatment groups during the stages of evaluation, but the duration of pain relief in each group in the evaluation steps did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Neurofeedback and tDCS treatments reduce the symptoms of migraine disease, but there is no significant difference between the two treatments in terms of headache symptoms improvement.

Background & Objective: Recent studies have shown a relationship between energy regulation and the circadian rhythm at behavioral, molecular, and physiological levels. The present study investigated the effect of chronotype on meal timing and obesity in Iranian housewives. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out using a convenience-sampling method through the participation of housewives living in Ahvaz in 2018. Anthropometric information was collected. To assess food intake timing, energy intake and sleep patterns during seven days of normal living were recorded by the researchers. Dietary information was obtained by using a 24-hour recall questionnaire and analyzed by NUT IV software. The morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) was used to determine chronotypes. Results: There was a significant difference between the morning and evening groups in terms of the timing of lunch (P=0. 004) and mid-afternoon snacks (P=0. 04). There was no significant difference between mean energy intake in the morning and evening chronotypes in women who were overweight or obese (P=0. 31). There was also no significant difference between morning and evening chronotypes in terms of the percentage of energy intake of meals and snacks (P>0. 05). The only significant difference, detected between morning and evening chronotypes in normal-weight women, was for the percentage of energy intake after 3: 00 PM. (P=0. 008). Conclusion: The present study showed no effect of chronotype on obesity. However, energy intake calculations were based on self-reports, which could lead to information bias. Therefore, in future studies, researchers should carry out clinical trials while controlling food intake and considering meal timing.

Background & Objective: Pain is an unpleasant feeling that influences the quality of patients’ life. Arteriovenous fistula catheterization pain can be reduced in hemodialysis patients with nonmedicinal and noninvasive methods of pain relief. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cryotherapy at the Hoku point on the severity of the pain of catheterization in hemodialysis patients. Materials & Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted on 40 hemodialysis patients selected by census sampling method. In the first session, intensity of arterial and venous puncture pain, without applying any intervention, was recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In the second and third sessions before catheterization, ice cubes were placed on the Hoku point for 10 minutes and the intensity of pain of arterial and venous fistula was immediately measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 by independent t-test. Results: The mean score of pain in the first session (arterial: 5. 97± 2. 44, venous: 6. 00± 2. 62) was compared with the mean score of pain in the second (arterial: 2. 80± 1. 92, venous: 2. 72 ± 2. 09) and third sessions (arterial: 2. 42± 1. 72, venous: 2. 50± 1. 93). The results of repeated measure analysis of variance showed that the mean score of pain significantly reduced in the second and third sessions compared to the first session (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Cryotherapy at the Hoku point reduces the severity of pain of arteriovenous fistula catheterization and, thus, can be suggested as an effective noninvasive method for puncture pain relief in hemodialysis patients.

Acute pulmonary edema affects 0. 08% to 1. 5% of women during pregnancy and during the postpartum period, and preeclampsia/eclampsia is a major obstetric cause of acute pulmonary edema. We present a case of a 23-year-old nulliparous woman who was referred to tertiary medical center for preterm labor and dyspnea (Mousavi Hospital). The patient complained of having suddenly developed respiratory distress and a decrease in O2 saturation following the administration of magnesium sulfate. A chest radiograph taken at bedside showed widespread interstitial shadowing consistent with pulmonary edema. The patient was given prompt treatment, and she achieved full recovery. Pharmacological agents are one of the defendants used for lung edema during pregnancy. It is important to pay attention to lung edema due to tocolytic administration.

Type 2 autoimmune polyglandular (Schmidt) syndrome (APS-2) is defined by the occurrence of at least 2 out of 3 of the following manifestations, Addison's disease, Hypothyroidism and Type 1 diabetes mellitus. APS-2 is a rare condition with an incidence of 1– 2/100 000 per year. Prevalence of APS-2 is most happening in the range of 20-40 years of age. Here we present a patient who complained about loss of appetite with significant weight loss also having trouble with her skin saying she had experienced progressively darkening of the skin all over her body and manifestations of Addison's disease at the age of 70. The patient was treated with oral Prednisolone, Fludrocortisone and Levothyroxine and evaluated after one month which showed the hormonal panel within the normal range.