Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2012 | Volume:29 | Issue:164|Papers Count:6

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an inflammatory disease with unknown etiology which affects different organs in the body. Since lupus has different features in various ethnic groups, we decided to evaluate lupus patients in Isfahan, Iran.Methods: In this study, 200 patients (183 women and 17 men) with definitive diagnosis of the disease were evaluated in the rheumatology clinic, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2004-2005.Findings: The mean age of patients was 31.6±10 years. Clinical signs and symptoms due to which the patients referred to the clinic for first time referred included musculoskeletal symptoms (65%), hematological symptoms (57%), mucocutaneous signs (52%), general symptoms (fever, fatigue, weakness and lethargy) (41%), renal symptoms (28%), cardiovascular symptoms (14%), neurological signs (12%), cardiac and pulmonary defects (11%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (3%(.According to the results, anti-nuclear antibodies appeared in 92% of the patients, anti-dsDNA antibodies in 81%, CRP in 25%, lupus anticoagulant in 72.5%, and IgM and IgG anti-cardiolipin in respectively 24.2% and 31.2%. Anemia with hemoglobin levels less than 10 mg/dl was seen in 49 patients (24.5%), leukopenia with white blood cell counts less than 4000/mm3 in 38 patients (19%) and thrombocytopenia with platelets less than 150, 000 mm3 in 18 patients (9%). Erythrocyte sedimentation r ate s above 30 mm3 were also detected in 55% of the patients.Conclusion: Considering the diversity of symptoms in patients with lupus and the impacts these symptoms have on the disease prognosis, accurate examinations need to be performed routinely and as soon as lupus is diagnosed.

Background: Nowadays dressing sterilization and management of wound infection costs a lot. Nanosilver is a nanotechnology product with antimicrobial property. It can improve efficiency, reduce cost and increase antibacterializing durability and performance of textiles. This study was performed to determine the efficacy of nanosilver dressing in wound recovery in rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 10 rats were divided into 2 groups of 5. After anesthesia, superficial wounded of equal size were made on the shaved backs of all animals. The first group was dressed by nanosilver dressing while the second group was dressed by none nanosilver dressing. Then, wound areas were measured every 2 days for 12 days. Data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA(.Findings: The recovery period among the rats bandaged with nanosilver dressing was significantly shorter than the other group (P<0.05). In addition, less side effects were observed in the group treated with nanosilver dressing.Conclusion: According to our findings, nanosilver dressing can be effective in controlling superficial wound infection. Nanosilver dressing can also improve deep infections caused by thermal, chemical and electrical burns.

Background: Many factors may have an important role in coronary artery disease (CAD). These factors may lead to coronary artery stenosis. Some patients do not have any plaque or stenosis in angiography but have chest pain and angina. This problem is called X syndrome. Although the causes of X syndrome are unknown, some believe that coronary tortuosity might be responsible for angina. The aim of this study was to understand the relation between coronary tortuosity and chest pain.Methods: This was a case-control study performed in Isfahan hospitals, Iran during 2010-2011. The patients candidate for coronary angiography were selected and divided into two groups based on coronary tortuosity. Demographic information, risk factors, angiographic findings and Gensini scores were collected and compared. All analyses were conducted in SPSS18.Findings: Overall, 15% of all patients had coronary tortuosity. Among clinical signs, CCS class and functional class significantly differed between the two groups. The prevalence of the mentioned symptoms was also different between the groups. The mean Gensini index was lower in the case group.Stenosis in left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), right ventricular apex (RVA), obtuse marginal (OM), and left main coronary artery (LM) were different between the two groups.Conclusion: There were many differences between tortuous and non-tortuous groups in demographic characteristics, risk factors and angiographic findings. Thus, tortuosity may lead to signs and symptoms due to epicardial coronary stenosis.

Background: Elevated postprandial inflammation accelerates the process of systemic inflammation involved in chronic diseases. It seems that inflammation promotes the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MetS) independent from the effect of blood lipids. Dietary macronutrient composition has been suggested as one of the most important determinants of inflammation in the MetS. This study aimed to review the current evidence on the effect of dietary macronutrients on postprandial inflammation in the MetS.Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline from 1970 until 2011 with macronutrient, high/lowcarbohydrate, -fat, -protein meal, postprandial/acute inflammation, endothelial function, metabolic syndrome and individual inflammatory biomarkers as keywords. The cross-sectional and prospective studies as well as clinical trials were included in this investigation.Findings: Consumption of all dietary macronutrients, particularly dietary carbohydrates, was associated with elevated levels of postprandial inflammation in both healthy and unhealthy subjects. Carbohydrates have been consistently shown to induce postprandial inflammatory response as well as oxidative stress. Consumption of dietary fats has also been reported to result in increased levels of postprandial inflammation. However, the effects of dietary fats have been less than carbohydrates and more than dietary proteins. Of individual fatty acids, dietary intakes of MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) and high doses of ω3 fatty acids have been associated with reduced postprandial inflammation.Conclusion: Dietary intakes of carbohydrates, followed by dietary fats, are associated with elevated levels of postprandial inflammation. Further investigations are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Background: Geographical information system (GIS) is very easy-to-use software which makes simple use of descriptive and spatial data to create maps, charts and graphs possible. GIS provides necessary tools for search, data analysis and appropriate quality results. It features a database of and a great graphical user interface.Methods: This was a descriptive, analytical, empirical study. It aimed to introduce medical applications of GIS by using it in disease zoning.Findings: GIS is application software through which spatial distribution pattern of some diseases can be presented. Thus, causes of each disease can be investigated and the qualitative and quantitative maps of spatial distribution pattern for each disease can be provided. Since not all diseases have infectious or genetic causes, GIS would be able to evaluate the associations between certain diseases and environmental factors.Conclusion: GIS is useful software for zone classification of diseases. Spatial distribution of the diseases, provided by GIS, reveals remarkable results. For instance, finding the relations between particular diseases and environmental factors would pave the way for preventing and treating such diseases and reducing their health care costs.