Lung disease is a common and important contributor to morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Studies have shown that diagnostic methods can reveal hidden pulmonary diseases even in RA patients with no respiratory symptoms. In this study, we assessed pulmonary function Tests (PFTs) and chest radiographs (CXRs) in RA patients with more than three years of illness to find a suitable instrument for prospecting RA-induced lung diseases. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study on 57 RA patients. Demographic, clinical, and CXR data were recorded. Residual volume (RV), total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratio was assessed. According to the FEV1/FVC ratio, patients were divided into three groups: FEV1/FVC below 70% (obstructive pattern) in 5% and between 70% and 85% (normal) in 50%, and above 85% (restrictive lung disease) in 45% of RA patients. Normal X-ray was the most common finding in CXR, and only cystic changes and reticular changes were found in 5% of patients. Analysis showed a significant relationship between abnormal chest images and the duration of disease (P=0. 025), but PFT data did not result in any significance. Respiratory symptoms or clinical examinations are positive findings in the evaluation of asymptomatic patients, and using PFT is more rational than CXR. Our data show that there is no correlation between the disease duration and PFT data,hence, asymptomatic patients with a variety of risk factors should undergo further investigation.

Introduction. Liver function Tests (LFT) abnormalities are common findings in hyperthyroidism less paid attention in clinical practice. The reported prevalence of abnormal LFT varies from 15% to 76% in different studies. The most common is elevation of ALP. These abnormalities may induce disturbance in diagnosis. In this reason, we have examined the records of the hyperthyroid patients were examined in our clinics to determine the prevalence and possible significance of abnormal LFT in hyperthyroid patients.Materials and Methods. A retrospective survey of 61 patients (25 males, 36 females) having mean age of 43.4 years (range 11-74 years) and coded diagnosis of graves disease, thyrotoxicosis, toxic multinodular goiter or hyperthyroidism referred to Semnan Fatemiyeh general hospital from 1996 to 1999, was performed. All of the patients had alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBI) and direct bilirubin (DBI) determination prior to initiation of therapy. In suspected cases, workup for exclusion of other systemic disease was done. 61 volunteers (25 males, 36 females) having mean age of 43.8 years (range 12-75 years) were choosen as matched control group, and none of them having history of any diseases.Results. Thirty two of 61 patients (25%) had at least one biochemical LFT abnormality while ALT was  most common  which elevated in 17  patients (28%) (P<0.01). 15 patients (25%) had only one, 15 (25%) had two and 2 patients (3.5%) had three biochemical LFT abnormalities. AST and ALP increased in 16 (26%) and 13 (21%) cases; (P<0.01), respectively. TBL and DBL increased in 3 (5%) cases(5%),these increases were not statistically significant. The prevalence of abnormal LFT was nearly the same in both sex, except for AST which increased more commonly in males than in females (33% versus 20%).Conclusion. The results suggest that abnormal LFT is common in hyperthyroidism, especially, ALT elevation, that can cause diagnostic confusion. Therefore, hyperthyroidism should be kept in mind in any patient with unexplained abnormal LFT.

Background: Some histopathologic patterns of bronchiolar disease may be relatively unique to a specific clinical entity, such as respiratory bronchiolitis caused by cigarette smoking and toxic fumes i.e. sulfur mustard (SM).The aim of this study was to determine the trend of pulmonary function indices in SM-exposed patients with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 407 cases were evaluated. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the time period from performing PFT: 1-3, 4-6, 7-10 and more than 10 years. The amounts of these changes amongst four PFT interval groups were compared by analysis of variance Test. In addition, we used linear regression analysis to create a linear model of changes for each PFT index.Results: The following equations imply a correlation between decrease in PFT indices and interval between the two Tests plus index value of baseline PFT. 1: (FVC %)= -2.23 - (0.76 T)-(0.23 FVC1 %), 2: (FEV1%)= -1.43 - (0.95 T)-(0.10 FEV11 %), 3: (PEF %)= -0.91 - (1.07 T)-(0.14 PEF1 %).Conclusion: Better understanding of the nature of bronchiolitis obliterans, helps improve the treatment of this disease. Our study suggests a pattern of decline in pulmonary function indices directly proportional to the percentage of each index in the baseline PFT which was apparent during a 10-year observation period.

Introduction: In previous studies decrease in T3, '14, increase in T4, no change in T3, T4, TSH, FT4, FT3 was reported. Due to these controversies this study were done to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on T3, T4, T3RU, TSH, FT3, FT4.Material & Methods: This study is a quasiexperimental (before- after) study &. was done on 90 male & 57 female volunteer religious students who were healthy & were fast for at least 25 days during Ramadan. Duration of fasting was 11.5 ± 0.5 hours. Blood samples were taken one week before and at one hour before sunset at 14th and 28th day of Ramadan. All lab assays was done by RIA method. And data analysis was done by SPSS (paired t Test and ANOVA).Results: Total T3 decreased significantly (157:: 27 to 127 ± 23, p<0.001). Total T4 decreased significantly too (8.66 ± 16 to 7.2 ± L1, p<0.001). FT3 increased in 14th day and then return to previous amounts (p<0.001). FT4 decreased significantly during Ramadan (1.36 ± 0.42 to 1.13 ± 0.34, p<0.001). TSH decreased mildly in normal range (1.28 ± 0.84 to 1.15±0.75, p<0.07). T3RU hasn't significant change (28.16 to 27.58, p<0.61).Conclusion: Regarding the above data it seems that thyroid function Tests (T4, T3, FT3, FT4) changes during Ramadan but this changes are within normal limit and are not only due to TEG or conversion effect because free forms of hormones are changed as well.

Background: Pulmonary complication of IBD includes airway inflammation involving small and large airways, pulmonary paranchymal disease and serositis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Pulmonary function Test (PFT) abnormality in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.Methods: During spring and summer of 2006, PFT (spirometry and body box plethysmography) of 50 UC patients were compared with 50 healthy persons matched for age and sex (control). Data collection form including demographic specification and UC condition were filled.Results: Mean age of patients was 37.2 years (SD=14.5). Active UC was seen in 24% of patients while 18% of patients suffered from severe UC. PFT results included 42% air trapping (only increase in residual volume/total lung capacity), 20% small airway obstructive pattern (only decrease in maximal expiratory flow at 25-75% of vital capacity), 12% restrictive ventilation defect, 2% obstructive airway, 2% hyperinflation and 6% upper airway obstructive pattern. There was a significant relationship between small airway obstructive pattern and duration of UC and no relationship was noticed between other pulmonary disorders and severity, activity, duration of UC.Conclusion: According to high prevalence of air trapping, small airway disease may be the prominent feature of lung involvement in UC patients. Therefore a meticulous work up for respiratory diseases is necessary in UC patients.

Introduction: Pulmonary complication of IBD include airway inflammation involving small and large airways, pulmonary paranchymal disease, and serositis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Pulmonary function Test (PFT) possible abnormality in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.Materials & Methods: In this cross sectional study, during spring and summer of 2006, PFT (spirometry & body box plethysmography) of 50 UC patients were compared to 50 healthy people of the same age and sex (control). Data collection forms including demographic specification and UC condition were filled. Out, and then analyzed by SPSS 10.Findings: Mean age was 37.2 (SD=14.57). Active UC was seen in 24.3% of patients. 24.9% of the patients had severe UC. PFT result demonstrated; 100% air trapping (only increase in Residual Volume/Total Lung Capacity); 20% small airway obstructive pattern (only decrease in maximal expiratory flow at 25-75% of vital capacity); 12% restrictive ventilation defect; 2% obstructive airway; 2% hyperinflation and 6% upper airway obstructive pattern. There was a significant relationship between small airway obstructive pattern and duration of UC, (PV<0.05), and no relationship between other pulmonary disorders and severity, activity, duration of UC was observed.Discussion & Conclusion: According to high prevalence of air trapping, small airway disease may be the prominent feature of lung involvement in UC patients. Therefore, a meticulous work-up for respiratory diseases seems necessary in UC patients.

Producion of efficient antimicrobial drugs against to common human pathogens is one of the most important challenges in the field of medical microbiology. Continuous screening of clinical isolates and survey of antimicrobial resistance pattern is critical.Today, disk diffusion and dilution methods are known as the common antimicrobial susceptibility Testing methods. Disk diffusion method does not render dependable results in determination of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern because this method is semi quantitative. MIC determination by microdilution and macrodilution techniques and recent method “E-Test”, have given interpretable results to researchers. Microdilution and macrodilution methods are also time consuming, expensive and error- prone methods. Whereas E-Test method is one of the means by which we will be able to determine susceptibility pattern of known species in low cost and short time. In this survey, constructing and printing of E-Test, coating of antibiotic on O.H.P film and quality control of constructed E-Tests were performed according to M7 A7 CLSI Standard. In this study quality of required materials for E-Test Production were suitable. Evaluation of constructed strips was performed using standard strain of staphylococcus aureus and reproducibly of results was appreciated.

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease due to contact with different substances and caused by two mechanisms: allergy and irritation. Contact dermatitis is a common skin disease and the most common occupational dermatosis. Differentiating between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis is essential in the identification of etiologic factor(s) and hence, its control and prognosis. This differentiation can be done only by patch Test. Unfortunately, this simple, safe and useful Test is always neglected. We review the basics of patch Test, the method of performance, reading and interpretation of its results, possible side effects and results of studies done with patch Test in different countries.