Journal of

Background and Aim: Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. There are various mechanisms that can cause prioperative strokes in patients undergoing CABG other than Carotid Artery disease. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether the presence of stenosis internal carotid artery (ICA) influences prioperative stroke and mortality rates in patients subjected to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. 

Materials and Methods: After institutional ethical committee review and approval, a retrospective review was undertaken of 1978 bypass procedures with saphenous vein graft performed over a period of four years is conducted. All those who had valve replacement or non-CABG procedure were excluded from this study. Carotid duplex ultrasonography scans were performed as part of preoperative evaluation of these patients. Ultrasound imaging measurement and velocity criteria were taken in to consideration in the estimation of degree of the carotid arteries. The stenosis of ICA was classified as non significant stenosis when there was<60% narrowing of the arterial lumen, and significant stenosis when there was 60%-99% narrowing of the arterial lumen.

Results: prioperative stroke rates were 0.8 %, 46.8% and 90%for groups A, B, and C, respectively. Group A results varied significantly from group's B (P=0.0001) and C (P=0.0001). Statistically significant difference was noted between groups B and C (p=0.0001    ). Prioperative mortality rates for groups A, B, and C, were 1.0 %, 16.7 % and 70 % respectively. The mortality rate for group A was lower than for groups B (P=0.0001) and C (P=0.0001).

Conclusion: The presence of an ICA occlusion increases the morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing CABG.

Background and Aim: Discontinuing aspirin use in patients before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has focused on bleeding risks. The aim of this study was to determind the effect of aspirin use on overall mortality with this procedure.

Materials and Methods: In a retrospective review was under taken of 2,252 consecutive isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures performed between July 1995 and May 3003 in Tehran, Shriati hospital. Patients who had isolated CABG operations and received aspirin were analyzed and compared to nonusers undergoing similar bypass procedures during the same period. Aspirin use was defined by identification of ingestion within 7 days before the operation.

Results: CABG patients using preoperative aspirin were less likely to experience in hospital hemorrhage compared to nonusers (P=0.0001). Significant difference was seen for transfusion of blood products, and need for reexploration for hemorrhage between patients who did and did not receive aspirin (P=0.0001).
Mortality in multivariate (odds ratio [OR] =0.12, 95%confidence interval [0.05, 0.28] analysis was less to patients using aspirin compared to nonusers (p=0.0001).

Conclusions : Preoperative aspirin use appears to be associated with a decreased risk of mortality in CABG patients with significant increase in hemorrhage, blood product requirements, or related morbidities.

Background and Aim: The present study aimed to assess the impact of trade openness and vaccination on child mortality under five because the mortality of under-five-year-old children is one of the most important indexes of health and development. 
Materials and Methods: Using an Eviews6 software, this study is doing a causal-analytic approach by exhausting a Johansen-Juselius method over the period of first quarter of 1984 to forth quarter of 2013, in Iran.
Results: Coefficients for each of the variables in the model were consistent with the theoretical bases. Based on the findings of the study, the increase of one unit in each of the variables of DTP vaccine and trade openness leads to the decrease of child mortality as much as 0.23 and 4.36 units, respectively. Also, the results based on error correction model indicate that in each period, about 0.04 of short-run imbalances is adjusted to achieve a long-term balance.
Conclusion: Since the increase of vaccination and trade openness reduce the mortality of under-five-year-old children, it is suggested that the immunization of children be trained in all parts of the country so that we can achieve high rates of growth and development by the delivery of healthy factors of production to the society. Moreover, by increasing trade relations and dealings with other countries, we can prepare the grounds for the entry of new knowledge and medical equipment as well as health promotion and human development.