TEHRAN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL (TUMJ)
Year:2020 | Volume:78 | Issue:5|Papers Count:11

The highly contagious new coronavirus virus, SARS-CoV-2, was first appeared in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The virus has spread to 216 countries, including Iran, until 7 September 2020. So far, the number of people infected by the new corona virus and died from the disease is 27032617 and 881464 worldwide, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the available treatments for this virus, as a global dilemma. Articles for this review study were selected from Embase, Medline and Google Scholar. Published full articles in English, English full articles published from 1st December 2019 to 23rd July 2020, were included. The search terms included combinations of COVID-19, SARS-COV-2, chloroquine, convalescent plasma, antiviral, antibacterial, Remidesivir, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine phosphate, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. There were no restrictions on the types of study eligible for inclusion. Different available therapies generally can be divided into small molecules and biological products. Among the small molecule drugs used for COVID-19 patients Remdesivir, Favilavir, and hydroxychloroquine have been associated with considerable success in disease control. Separation and transfusion of plasma from blood of improved COVID-19 patients to new patients and the use of recombinant Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) have been two very successful biological therapies in the treatment of COVID-19 disease. However, many efforts are being made by researchers around the world to make other effective and promising biological products. The development of a safe and effective vaccine can lead to great success in eradicating the disease. Also, the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies and using of stem cell-based therapeutics can be a great success in treating the disease. In addition, according to the miRNA properties, many efforts have been made to inhibit the production of viral proteins using natural miRNAs or artificial siRNAs. It has been proposed that aptamers derived from SELEX can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Subsequently, since the size of miRNAs is at the nanometer level, they can easily incorporate to the targeted exosomes and be delivered via circulation in human blood to the infected cells such as lung cells. Interestingly, miRNAs can be delivered into the lung by inhalation.

Asthma is an inflammatory and chronic disease that affects about 300 million people globally. The disease is more common in developed countries. The increase in the prevalence of asthma is not only due to genetic factors, but also to many environmental factors related to urbanization and type of nutrition. It has been reported that obesity is an independent risk factor for asthma and obese children are at higher risk of asthma. The researchers found that many of the common phenotypes of obesity and asthma are due to genetic effects and some genetic component is common to asthma and obesity. Genetic data suggest that there are areas of genetic overlap between the obesity and asthma genes. These children experience more severe asthma and have a poor treatment outcome. On the other hand, there is an association between vitamin D deficiency in the earlier stages of life and incidence of asthma in the following years. Interestingly, obesity is a common risk factor for both asthma and vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, study on the interaction of asthma, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency may play an important role in unraveling the intricate nature of asthma. Prevalence of Pediatric asthma in 6-7 and 13-14 years-old children has been reported more than 10% in Iran. In this review we aimed to assess the latest findings about pediatric asthma and its association with obesity and vitamin D in Iran and the other countries. In addition, the results of a pilot study that has examined the frequency of overweight and obesity, as well as vitamin D deficiency in children with asthma in Tehran, are briefly presented. Enrolling a national study on obesity and vitamin D levels in children with asthma, can provide excellent information on the effects of obesity and vitamin D deficiency on asthma in Iranian children. Also the results could provide a basis for ecological studies to measure correlation between pediatric asthma and Sunlight and food and cultural habits in different parts of the country. Also, it is recommended that for a better understanding of the subject, experimental studies examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D-rich diets on the prevention and treatment of pediatric asthma in different age groups as well as different ethnicities of Iran.

Background: Non-viral Nano carriers such as liposomes and cationic polymers based on engineered properties are regarded in gene delivery field. Although these carriers do not have weaknesses of viral vectors, but they are less efficient than viruses and they still need to be improved as favorable gene delivery carriers. Amongst non-viral carriers, cationic liposomes have been proposed for clinical applications, but limitations such as low nucleic acid transfer and endosome escape and conduction of plasmid to the nucleus have challenged their use in clinical trials. Therefore, the combination of liposomes and cationic polymers for nucleic acid transfer has been considered because this approach makes it possible to use the desirable properties of liposomes and polymers so that it is even suggested for the gene treatment of some diseases such as Parkinson's. In this study, a combination of liposomes and cationic polymers were used for the preparation of lipopolyplexes. This approach allows simultaneous utilizing of the desirable properties of liposomes and polymers. Methods: This interventional-experimental study was conducted in the medical faculty of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from April 2017 to February 2018. In this study, PEI-based lipopolyplex with a molecular weight of 25 and 10 kDa and a liposome-to-polymer ratio of 1: 1 were combined with plasmid containing the GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) marker. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized carriers such as size, cytotoxicity and gene transferability in human prostate cancer (PC3) cells were evaluated. Results: The prepared lipopolyplex were 104 nm in size and all the lipopolyplexes were able to enhance transfection in the C/P=0. 4 compared with its basic carriers (PEI and liposomes) alone, while showing less cytotoxicity than not manipulated liposomes. The results of this study suggest synthesized nanoparticles as nanocomposites for gene delivery purposes to different cells and in in-body studies. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the lipopolyplex constructed from combination of PEI and liposomes can efficiently transfer the gene to the cell, while showing low cytotoxicity and appropriate size at the nano-scale. Therefore, this lipopolymer can be suggested for gene delivery purposes to different cells and in vivo targets.

Background: Alzheimer dementia as the most common cause of dementia is a chronic, progressive, irreversible and incurable disease. The second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer is vascular dementia. One of the systems involved in dementia is the visuospatial system and visual evoked potential (VEP) can be one of the diagnostic methods for this disease. Therefore, the present study aims to compare visual evoked potential changes in Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia and patients with minimally conscious impairment (MCI) with healthy people. Methods: A case-control study was performed on referred clients to Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from April 2015 to September 2016. Patients with cognitive impairment went through Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA) test and divided into three groups of Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia and patients with minimally conscious impairment. Subjects with normal cognition were included in the control group. The visual evoked potential test was performed on all participants in two Methods: pattern shift visual evoked potential (Ps-VEP) and flash visual evoked potential (f-VEP) and results were compared between groups. Results: Forty patients were studied in four groups (three patient groups and one control group). 70 percent in Alzheimer group and 60 percent in vascular dementia group had abnormal pattern shift visual evoked potential. Only in Alzheimer group visual evoked potential P100 latency was significantly higher than control group and in other groups, there was no significant difference. Also there was no significant difference between groups in the study of flash visual evoked potential variables including P1, N2, P2 and N3. Conclusion: This study showed that only Alzheimer was associated with a significant increase in visual evoked potential P100 latency. On the other hand the other hand, there was no significant difference in flash visual evoked potential variables including P1, N2, P2 and N3 between different groups which shows that flash visual evoked potential cannot differentiate between Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia, patients with minimally conscious impairment and normal people.

Background: The effects of magnesium physiology are contradictory to the neurotoxic effect of bilirubin, but the relationship between magnesium level and hyperbilirubinemia in neonates has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum magnesium level and hyperbilirubinemia and hyperbilirubinemia complications at the Children’ s Medical Center. Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective study, 100 neonates who were admitted to the Children's Medical Center from October 2018 to 2019 due to neonatal jaundice were enrolled. Neonates were divided into two groups: serum bilirubin levels 16-20 mg/dl were included in the moderate hyperbilirubinemia group and bilirubin >20 mg/dl into severe hyperbilirubinemia group. Serum magnesium levels and clinical complications of hyperbilirubinemia including fever, seizure, apnea, bradycardia, and abnormal neurological examinations were recorded in these infants. Results: In this study, 100 neonates were evaluated. The mean serum magnesium level in these patients was 2. 32 mg/dl. This rate was significantly higher in neonates with seizure (P=0. 038), hyperbilirubinemia fever (P=0. 048), and neonates with chronic encephalopathy (P=0. 003). The mean serum magnesium level was significantly higher in severe hyperbilirubinemia (P<0. 001). Serum Magnesium in complications of chronic encephalopathy (P=0. 007), Fisting (P=0. 001), retrocoli (P=0. 001), hypertonia (P=0. 004), hypotonia (P=0. 001) and seizures (P=0. 030) were significantly different. The serum magnesium levels were positively correlated with total bilirubin (r=0. 443, P<0. 001). The magnesium levels correlated with the chronic encephalopathy (OR: 4. 15, P=0. 040) and it was observed that magnesium levels above 2. 15 could predict chronic encephalopathy with a sensitivity of 100%, the specificity of 47. 82%, a negative predictive value of 100% and a positive predictive value of 14. 28%. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that serum magnesium levels significantly correlated with serum total bilirubin and magnesium cutting points above 2. 15 mg/dl in patients with jaundice could predict chronic encephalopathy.

Background: Hypertension induces cardiac hypertrophy. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension induced cardiac hypertrophy. Exercise and Quercetin (as activators of Sirtuins) reduce oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with Quercetin supplement on oxidative stress and level of concentric pathologic hypertrophy in patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty. Methods: The present study was conducted experimentally randomized, placebocontrolled and double‑ blind on 24 men with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty aged 40-60 since years May to August 2019 at the Exercise Physiology department of Sport Sciences Faculty, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of HIIT+quercetin (n=12) and HIIT+placebo (n=12) and were followed during 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (30 seconds of activity and 30 seconds of rest) and quercetin consumption (250 mgr of quercetin supplement or placebo pills daily). Echocardiography was used to investigate morphological factors such as posterior wall dimension (PWd) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd). Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by colorimetric method. Results: The results showed that MDA and The relative wall thickness (RWT) decreased after 8 weeks in HIIT+ supplement and HIIT+placebo groups and TAC level and LVEDd increased significantly (P<0. 05). PWd decreased significantly only in the exercise+supplement group (P<0. 05). No significant difference between groups in any other variables was detected (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Eight weeks of high-intensity interval training alone or with quercetin by reducing oxidative stress(increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) reduces level of concentric pathologic hypertrophy in men with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty. So that high-intensity interval training with quercetin supplementation has relatively more effects.

Background: Medical errors are those mistakes committed by healthcare professionals due to wrong execution of a planned healthcare action or execution of a wrong healthcare action plan whether or not it is harmful to the patient. Medical errors may cause patients to suffer and have huge financial costs for the healthcare system. Identifying and measuring medical errors and adverse events are essential for improving patient safety. The objectives of this research were to measure medical errors and adverse events rates, to identify their severity and also analyze their underlying causes in a general educational hospital in Tehran, Iran by using The Global Trigger Tool. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective approach was used in this study. The medical records of 377 hospitalized patients between April 2015 and March 2016 were examined using simple random sampling method. Patient’ s records were reviewed by a nurse using The Global Trigger Tool. Then, a physician authenticated the findings of the adverse events and rated their severity. The causes of adverse events were identified using brain storming and Ishikawa Cause And Effect Diagram. Results: A total of 205 triggers were detected, and 60 adverse events were identified. About 15. 9 percent of patients experienced an adverse event. The rate of adverse events was 19. 1 per 100 admissions and 5. 7 per 100 Admission days or hospitalization days. Almost half of the adverse events were in the E and F categories (temporary harm). Bleeding, nosocomial infections, and patient fall were the leading adverse events. Employees and working processes were the underlying causes of the medical errors and adverse events. The Global Trigger Tool found 100 times more adverse events than the voluntary reporting method. Conclusion: The adverse event rate of this study was high. Hospital managers should take appropriate actions to reduce medical errors and adverse events and enhance patient safety. The Global Trigger is a Powerful, reliable, strong tool for identifying adverse events and measuring their severity.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is dilatation of an arterial segment to a diameter at least 1. 5 times that of the adjacent normal coronary artery. The incidence of coronary artery ectasia is distinct in different countries that can be found in 1. 2% to 5% of angiographic examinations. Methods: This is a retrospective study that was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020 in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and the results were reported briefly. To obtain the desired articles, electronic searches were conducted in databases including the Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct databases without time limited until October 2019. The keywords used were Coronary Artery Ectasia AND (Diabetes OR "Diabetes Mellitus"). This was done by two individuals separately and the final results were confirmed by a third person. Mixed method appraisal tool (MMAT) was used to evaluate the quality of studies. The structure of writing and the process of performing and reporting the study are based on the PRISMA checklist. Results: Based on the search strategy carried out at PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct databases, 106 studies were found, which resulted in 24 articles being analyzed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria of which three were conducted in China, 18 in Turkey and one in Sweden, Egypt, and France. Finally, 24 articles were analyzed and the results showed a direct and effective relationship between diabetes mellitus and CAE (OR=1. 19, CI: 0. 94, 1. 51). Conclusion: Based on these results, the risk of CAE in subjects with diabetes mellitus was 19% higher than in subjects without diabetes mellitus.

Background: The Electronic Health Record contains personalized health care information. Several factors affect the quality of SEPAS (Iranian electronic health record) data, disregarding the types of hospital information system set-up in hospitals. The purpose of this study was to investigate users' views on the factors affecting the data quality of Iranian Electronic Health Record (SEPAS) in hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. In this study, the views of supervisors of the SEPAS system, HIS chief officers, and head of health information technology departments of hospitals were evaluated through a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. Content validity ratio and content validity index of the questionnaire were validated as 0. 82 and 0. 94, respectively. Furthermore, the internal questionnaire reliability was affirmed by Cronbach's alpha of 0. 96. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics in the SPSS v. 16 software. Results: The most important individual factor of affecting SEPAS data quality was staff training (4. 19± 0. 94 of 5). Moreover, the factor “ Personnel awareness of goal, mission, and vision of SEPAS system" had the lowest score (3. 86± 1. 16). Also, the most critical organizational factor was the integration and relation of the HIS with the Civil Status Registration System (4. 43± 0. 72). In examining technical factors, the quality of its support team responsiveness to user demands had the highest score (4. 56± 0. 58). Also, the utilization of new data collection instruments and technologies (barcode, RFID, etc. ) had the lowest score (4. 22± 0. 98). Conclusion: The most efficient solutions to improve quality of SEPAS data seems to be continuous training of staff, enhancing HIS connection with the Civil Status Registration System and improving the responsiveness of SEPAS support team.

Background: The bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor accounts for 1-2% of all adult malignancies of the lung and 20-30% of all carcinoid tumors. Cushing’ s syndrome is the result of chronic exposure to increased concentration of exogenous or endo-genus cortisol hormone, and it is generally associated with central obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension. Treatment is based on decreasing cortisol levels in the blood, through medical or surgical approaches. Surgery is considered the main treatment for ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors. Paraneoplastic Cushing’ s syndrome due to bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor is a rare clinical occurrence, which has been reported in only a few case reports and case series. An average of 71% of typical carcinoid tumors were found to be central. 79% of patients with a peripheral carcinoid tumor and evidence of mediastinal node enlargement are likely to have an atypical carcinoid. Case Presentation: A 45 Years old male with a history of ectopic Cushing’ s syndrome over the last two years was admitted to our department (Department of thoracic surgery, Teahran, Iran). He had a positive Octreotide scan of the hilar lymph nodes of the left lung at last evaluations. During the surgery, in the left lower lobe was resected (because a small nodule with tumoral appearance was seen in left lower lobe) with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Pathology indicated a typical carcinoid tumor with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Plasma cortisol and ACTH were normalized following the surgery. Conclusion: The present study reported a rare case of Cushing paraneoplastic syndrome with typical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor and N2 lymph node metastasis. The high prevalence of lymph node involvement confirms the aggressive nature of these tumors and warrants complete anatomic resection with radical lymphadenectomy.