Tehran University Medical Journal

Comparison of the frequency of dumping syndrome following gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in patients with morbid obesity

Background: Dumping syndrome is a common complication after bariatric surgery and can adversely affect patients’ quality of life, particularly in those with diabetes. Although gastric bypass has traditionally been associated with a higher risk of dumping syndrome, evidence comparing its frequency with sleeve gastrectomy remains inconclusive. This study aimed to compare the frequency of dumping syndrome following these two procedures in patients with morbid obesity.
Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2021 to July 2022 at Sina Hospital in Tehran. A total of 90 patients with morbid obesity who met the indications for bariatric surgery were not randomly assigned to two treatment groups: gastric bypass (n = 45) and sleeve gastrectomy (n = 45). Baseline assessments included medical history, physical examination, review of medical records, and necessary specialist consultations (including endocrinology and cardiology). All patients’ data were recorded in the Sina Bariatric Surgery Registry Database. Following surgery, patients received standard postoperative care and were evaluated for symptoms of dumping syndrome at one and three months postoperatively using the validated Sigstad questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.
Results: The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age group, gender, excess weight, preoperative BMI, final BMI, and history of diabetes prior to surgery (P-value > 0.05). The final weight was significantly higher in the sleeve gastrectomy group (P-value = 0.033). There were no significant differences in the frequency of early and late dumping syndrome related to the consumption of sweets and other foods between the two groups at the first and third postoperative months (P-value > 0.05). Early dumping syndrome following the consumption of sweets and bread was significantly more frequent among diabetic patients (P-value = 0.037 and P-value = 0.045, respectively).
Conclusion: The prevalence of dumping syndrome was similar in both sleeve and bypass groups. Weight loss over time was significant (P < 0.001) and did not differ between groups (P = 0.211). The syndrome was significantly more common in diabetic patients, highlighting the importance of careful postoperative care and dietary guidance.

Effects of using autologous fibrin sealant in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trialbackground

Imaneh Roshanzamir

Background: To improve hemostasis and optimize the healing process, autologous fibrin sealant (FS) has been introduced in selected cases. However, the clinical benefits of FS in sinonasal surgery remain controversial and require further evaluation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of autologous FS on hemostasis, mucosal healing, postoperative clinical outcomes, and recurrence in patients undergoing bilateral FESS, compared with normal saline as the control.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial included 32 patients who underwent bilateral FESS at Ghaem and Imam Reza University Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, between 2019 and 2021. For each patient, autologous FS was applied to one nasal cavity, while the contralateral cavity received normal saline. Postoperative outcomes including bleeding, crusting, adhesion formation, and infection were assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. In addition, sinonasal symptom burden and endoscopic findings were evaluated using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and the Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score, respectively, both recorded preoperatively and three months postoperatively.
Results: Application of autologous FS significantly reduced immediate postoperative bleeding, and no further bleeding events were noted during follow-up. Pain severity was comparable between the two sides. No statistically significant differences were observed in crust formation, adhesion, infection, recurrence, or changes in Lund-Kennedy scores between the FS and control sides (p=0.08, p=0.8, p=0.17, and p=0.14, respectively).
Conclusion: Autologous fibrin sealant reduced early postoperative bleeding without adversely affecting pain control, mucosal healing, or recurrence after FESS. Larger randomized trials with extended follow-up are recommended to determine its definitive clinical value and potential for routine use in surgical practice.

Study of the rate of antibacterial drug prescription in patients with asthma attacks hospitalized in teaching

Mehdi Shokri

Background: Asthma attacks are one of the most common reasons for patient referral in adult and paediatric age groups, leading to hospitalization of these patients. In addition to the fact that only a small percentage of asthma attacks are due to bacterial infections, asthma treatment guidelines recommend against the routine use of antibiotics in patients hospitalized for asthma attacks. However, many patients treated for asthma attacks receive antibacterial drugs. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the prescription of antibacterial drugs in patients with asthma attacks.
Methods: In this study, data related to Imam Khomeini (RA) and Shahid Mustafa Khomeini Teaching Hospitals in Ilam city were examined between April 2017 to March 2022. Cases hospitalized due to asthma attacks in the mentioned hospitals during that time period were included in the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: A total of 331 patients, including 273 adults (84.4%) and 58 children (17.6%), hospitalized for asthma attacks were included in the study. 84.42% of adults and 70.69% of children received antibacterial drugs. The use of antibacterial drugs in adults (p < 0.001) and children (p = 0.008) was significantly associated with an increase in the average length of hospitalization. Among adults, 12 patients required intubation, which was not significantly associated with the use of antibacterial drugs (p = 0.51). Among children, 1 patient required intubation, which was not statistically significant in terms of association with antibiotic use.
Conclusion: The prescription of antibacterial drugs in the treatment of patients hospitalized due to asthma attacks in teaching hospitals in Ilam city is more than similar domestic and international studies. Also, the prescription of antibacterial drugs in these patients not only has no therapeutic benefit, but is also associated with an increase in the duration of hospitalization. It is necessary to consider the necessary measures to modify the views of specialists on the prescription of antibacterial drugs based on the latest evidence-based guidelines.

Analysis of parameters of patients undergoing pulmonary angiography with the possibility of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department

Abbas Ghaisouri

Background: Shortness of breath is a common disorder and means difficulty in breathing and shortness and shallow breathing that the patient feels unpleasant, difficulty and shallow breathing. The main purpose of this study was to analyze patients undergoing pulmonary angiography with a prognosis of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in the adult emergency department of Shahid Mostafa Hospital in Ilam in March2018-March2020 after receiving permission from the ethics committee. This study evaluated patients over 18 years of age who underwent CTPA with a pre-diagnosis of PE.
Results: The highest frequency was reported in CT findings of 31.9% normal, 27.6% PE. In our study based on CT results, 30.2% of patients suffered from PE. The highest frequency was reported in CT findings of 31.9% normal, 27.6% PE. In the present study, 65.5% of patients presented with shortness of breath, of which CT results showed 28.9% (PE), 38.2% (Non PE) and 98% (Normal). Other complaints of patients with shortness of breath were reported with CP (7.8%), lower edema (6%), respiratory distress (8.6%), CP and fever (5.2%) and hemotypy (1.7%).
Conclusion: Based on the above study, we conclude that the criterion for selecting patients for CT angiography to rule out PTE is the most important criterion for clinical examination and the Welsh Criteria score. As we can see, the results showed that patients with a Wales score above 8-12 had 80% PTE and patients with a Wales score of 3-6 had 23.5% PTE and the rest had a negative answer, so the Wells criteria were good criteria which unfortunately Due to some conditions, the diagnosis of a general practitioner or carelessness in examinations are not taken into account and causes a large percentage of patients with complaints of shortness of breath to undergo CT angiography while not having the necessary criteria based on Wells scores and clinical examination. CT angiography is either normal or another condition that does not require CT angiography and radiation.

The absolute risk of genital warts in cervical lesions

Maryam Yousefi

Background: One of the most common cancers in women is cervical cancer, which is the most preventable cancer leading to death among women worldwide. Among the causes related to cervical cancer, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main factor responsible for causing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of high-risk HPVs (HPV16 and HPV18) and to determine the immediate absolute risk of CIN2+ in individuals with a positive HPV test.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included women who tested positive for HPV and visited the Gynecologic Oncology Clinic at Tehran University of Medical Sciences from October 2022 to March 2025. Individuals with a positive high-risk HPV result were referred for colposcopy and biopsy. The immediate absolute risk of CIN2+ in HPV-positive patients with HPV16, HPV18, or concurrent HPV16/18 genotypes (Multi. HPV+) was evaluated across different cytologic grades, ranging from NILM (Negative for Intraepithelial Lesion or Malignancy) to SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma).
Results: A total of 727 patients participated in the study. The mean age and standard deviation of the participants were 35.99 and 8.48 years, respectively. Among all referrals, the number of women who were positive only for HPV 16 was 170 (23%), and 24 (3.3%) were positive only for HPV 18. The highest number of positive cases for HPV16 and HPV18 were in the age range of 30 to 39 years (45%). In the Multi. HPV+ group, the highest number was observed in individuals under 29 years old (50%). The calculated immediate absolute risk of CIN2+ in HPV16+ individuals was 14% for NILM and 8.6% for ASCUS, while in HPV18+ individuals, it was 8.3% for NILM.
Conclusion: Cytologic triage combined with HPV genotyping testing can be utilized firstly as an approach to identify cellular abnormalities in HPV-infected individuals and subsequently as an appropriate method to reduce referrals for colposcopy.

Comparison of the success effect of three different treatment regimens on Helicobacter pylori eradication: randomized clinical trail

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a human gastrointestinal pathogen that infects more than half of the world's population and leads to chronic gastritis and its role in the development of gastric ulcers, gastric cancer and gastric lymphomas is considered. However, eradication of this bacterium with triple therapy fails in more than 30% of cases. Therefore, efforts to find new treatment methods are increasing. As a result, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of several drug regimens compared to the standard regimen.
Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial in which patients with Helicobacter pylori infection were randomly selected in the endoscopy department of Amiralmomenin Hospital and the Gastroenterology Clinic of Professor Ghavamzadeh Clinic, Arak from October 2024 to March 2025 and were divided into three groups, including a control group and two intervention groups, with three different drug regimens. Four weeks after treatment, the rate of bacterial eradication in all three evaluation groups was assessed using fecal antigen testing and the treatment results were compared using appropriate statistical analyses.
Results: The frequency of negative test results in intervention group 2 was higher than in control and intervention group 1. (P<0.001) and the rate of Helicobacter pylori eradication was in intervention group 2 (94%), in control group (54%), and in intervention group 1 (20%). The chance of H.P eradication in intervention group 1 decreased by 84% compared to the control group and increased by 10.77 times in intervention group 2 compared to the control group. Also, a significant proportion of H.P eradication success was observed in people without diabetes (p-value = 0.022, Phi = -0.188, n = 150) and the rate of drug side effects was higher in intervention group 2 compared to the other two groups.
Conclusion: This study showed that compared to the standard regimen, a 2-week regimen of amoxicillin, omeprazole, and clarithromycin plus bismuth is a good, potent, and more cost-effective regimen for eradicating Helicobacter pylori.

The transient role of miR-182 and miR-183 expression in inducing photoreceptor-like characteristics in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Samira Asgharzade

Background: Retinal photoreceptor degeneration is a major cause of blindness. Stem cell therapies offer promise, and the miR-183/96/182 cluster, particularly miR-182 and miR-183, plays a crucial role in photoreceptor development and survival. Targeting these miRNAs may enhance human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells) hBMSCs (differentiation into photoreceptor-like cells, improving their therapeutic potential.
Methods: This in vitro study was conducted from April 2019 to March 2021 at the Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. hBMSCs were cultured in DMEM with fetal bovine serum and transfected with miR-182 and miR-183 mimics using Lipofectamine, with a scramble miRNA control. Transfection efficiency and miRNA overexpression were evaluated at 24 and 48 hours using real-time PCR. miRNA expression was normalised to Snord, while mRNA levels were normalised to GAPDH using the 2−^ΔΔCt method. Photoreceptor-like differentiation was assessed by measuring the expression of retina-specific transcription factors and markers (OTX2, CRX, NRL, SLC1A1, PKCα, Recoverin, and RHO). Statistical analyses included the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality and the Mann-Whitney U test for group comparisons. Data were reported as Mean ± SEM, with 95% confidence intervals, and significance set at α = 0.05.
Results: Transfection of miR-182 and miR-183 significantly increased miRNA levels at 24–48 hours (P < 0.001) compared to the scramble control. This led to a marked upregulation of retinal-related genes, including CRX, OTX2, PKCα, Recoverin, NRL, and RHO, indicating activation of the photoreceptor gene network. Time-resolved analysis revealed stronger effects at 24–48 hours, supporting a transient window for pro-differentiation. RHO and CRX exhibited the most significant increases, while OTX2 and PKCα showed parallel rises, suggesting coordinated activation of early and intermediate photoreceptor programs. Scramble controls did not show comparable changes.
Conclusion: Transient overexpression of miR-182 and miR-183 in hBMSCs activates a photoreceptor-like gene expression program, promoting differentiation toward photoreceptor-like cells. This finding supports the potential use of miR-182/183 in stem cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration. Further studies should confirm protein expression, functional outcomes, and in vivo efficacy.

Investigation of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in children with chronic abdominal pain referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital

Hossein Seyedkhani

Background: Chronic abdominal pain, which is defined as long-term or intermittent abdominal pain, is a common problem in children. Helicobacter pylori infection is acquired in childhood and is one of the important causes of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and stomach cancer, so this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in children with chronic abdominal pain referred to Imam Hospital in 1402.
Methods: This study is descriptive-cross-sectional and the statistical population of children with chronic abdominal pain referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam city in 1402 was tested for Helicobacter bacteria. Helicobacter pylori was checked using stool antigen test.
Results: This study was conducted on 140 children with chronic abdominal pain with an average age of 7.06 years in the age range of 2-16 years, the majority of children living in Ilam city were boys. The type of feeding was reported in all children as regular, and the majority of them were the result of cesarean delivery (67.9%). The prevalence of 40.7% showed HP positivity in children with chronic abdominal pain. The majority of children in the age group of 4-8 years had Helicobacter pylori positive, 20 people (35.7%) and in children older than 12 years, Helicobacter pylori had the lowest frequency. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was reported more in girls than in boys, and among the studied cities it was the highest. The outbreak was in the city of Ilam. There was no difference between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori with age, sex, place of residence and type of delivery.
Conclusion: The general results of our study show that Helicobacter pylori is an important factor for chronic abdominal pain in children, but factors such as sex, place of residence and type of delivery do not affect its prevalence. It is suggested that in future studies, the family history, parents' infection with Helicobacter pylori and its relationship with transmission to the child should be measured.

Comparison of primary nocturnal enuresis and psychiatric disorders in children

Zahra Taherkhani

Background: Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is a common and distressing childhood disorder characterized by involuntary urination during sleep after the age when bladder control is normally achieved. It affects not only the child’s quality of life but also family dynamics and social relationships. Previous studies have suggested a possible link between PNE and psychological or behavioral problems, yet findings have been inconsistent across populations. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders among children with primary nocturnal enuresis and healthy controls in Sanandaj, Iran.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Sanandaj from October 2024 to April 2025. The study population included children referred to the Medical, Educational, and Therapeutic Center of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. A total of 228 participants were enrolled, comprising 108 children diagnosed with primary nocturnal enuresis and 120 age- and sex-matched healthy controls selected through convenient sampling. Psychiatric assessments were performed using the parent version of the Child Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4) questionnaire, which evaluates a wide range of childhood behavioral and emotional disorders based on DSM-IV criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 18, and comparisons between groups were made using the chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Children with primary nocturnal enuresis had significantly higher frequencies of attention deficit disorder (ADD), hyperactivity disorder (HD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and tic disorder compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, the prevalence of phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was slightly higher in the control group. No statistically significant difference was found regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between the two groups.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that primary nocturnal enuresis may serve as an indicator of increased vulnerability to certain psychiatric disorders in childhood. Early recognition and psychological evaluation of children with enuresis are recommended to improve long-term outcomes and mental well-being.

Physician migration management: a letter to editor