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Volume 65, Issue 10 (2 2008)
Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis in children. Eosinophilia, a reflection of the host's immune response that can cause tissue damage, has been associated with KD, with eosinophils preferentially accumulating in the microvasculature. In early-stage Kawasaki disease (KD), lesions (perivasculitis and vasculitis) first form in the microvessels, which can then extend to the larger vessels and result in coronary artery aneurysms, possibly leading to myocardial infarction even in young children. Overall, the prevalence of coronary artery aneurysms in children with Kawasaki disease is about 10-18%, which is much higher among those not treated early in the course of the illness. We performed this study to gain a better understanding of the initial pathogenesis of KD and to assess the relationship between eosinophilia and coronary artery disease.
Methods: The data from forty-eight patients at Vali-asr Hospital of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (1996-2006) were included in this cross-sectional descriptive analysis. The presence and degree of coronary artery disease was assessed by echocardiography. Data was analyzed via Fisher's exact test and student's t-test using SPSS software, v. 11.5.
Results: Eosinophilia was seen in 10 cases (22%) and cardiac lesions were observed in 19 cases (41%). The frequency of microvessel lesions was significantly lower in patients with eosinophilia (10% with eosinophilia versus 50% without eosinophilia, p<0.03). The frequency of microvessel lesions was lower in males than in females (35 vs. 44%, respectively), although this was not significant. We found no correlation between the frequency of microvessel lesions and age.
Conclusions: In spite of the controversies regarding eosinophilia and microvessel lesions, in this study the number of circulating eosinophils was associated with fewer cardiac lesions. Comparative studies are needed to determine the exact relationship.
Volume 65, Issue 11 (1 2008)
Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection often occurs in childhood and adolescence, with the frequency increasing with age. Hp infection is associated with insufficient hygiene, overcrowding and low socioeconomic status. Although declining in developed countries, children in the developing countries continue to have a high prevalence of Hp infection. As the association of Hp infection with chronic abdominal pain is not ubiquitously accepted, in this study we investigate the significance of endoscopic finding associated with Hp infection in children with abdominal tenderness.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,665 healthy children, aged 6 to 12 years, in whom Hp infection was evaluated using the IgG anti-H. pylori test. Hp-positive children with epigastric tenderness underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Urease activity of gastric mucosal biopsies was measured. The presence and density of Hp organisms, the presence of follicular gastritis, and the nature of inflammation and gastritis activity were assessed by histologic examination.
Results: Of 1665 children, 429 (26%) subjects (51% girls, 49% boys) were seropositive for H. pylori. There was a significant association between Hp infection and older age (p<0.001) and male/female ratio (p<0.05). Epigastric tenderness was detected in 39 children (1%), 29 of whom underwent upper GI endoscopy. Nodular gastritis with antral erythema was the most common endoscopic finding (26/29 89.7%). Histological findings revealed that, in all cases with endoscopic nodularity, lymphoid follicles were present. Bacterial density was low in 13 (44.8%), moderate in 14 (48.2%) and high in 2 (7%) subjects.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that antral nodularity is the most common feature in children with Hp infection and epigastric tenderness was significantly associated with histological findings of lymphoid follicles.
Volume 67, Issue 8 (6 2009)
Background: Dopaminergic is the most important
neurotransmitter is fear. The dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway has essential
role in excitable behavior, and it's role in Parkinson disease. The aim of this
research in study, the effect of dopaminergic pathway in fear response.
Methods: The elevated plus maze was used in
combination with the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the maze (OAT%) and the percentage of entries into the
open arms (OAE%) to measure fear. Increases in the OAT% and OAE% indicate an anxiolytic effect
(reduction in anxiety), whereas decreases in the OAE% and OAT% indicate an anxiogenic effect. After
five days, the rats were injected with saline and different doses of sulpiride
and Bromocriptine.
Results: Results showed that intracerebroventricular
administration of sulpiride, in the doses of 5, 20μg/rat and bromocriptine, D2 agonist in doses 65, 95μg/rat produced
a significant effect comparing to sham groups (p<0.05). While intracerebroventricular
administration of sulpiride 15, 10μg/rat,
and bromocriptine 70,
80μg/rat,
did not show any significant effect comparing with sham group (p<0.05). In the current research
intracerebroventricular administration of sulpiride, D2 antagonist at the doses of 5, 10, 15, 20μg/rat and Bromocriptine, D2 agonist in the doses of 65, 70, 80, 95μg/rat were used and theire effect on
the fear behavior were studied.
Conclusions: The possible effect of Dopaminergic
system in the fear process, especially D2 receptor increase fear.
Volume 69, Issue 3 (5 2011)
Background: Despite advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, survival rate of patients suffering from glioblastoma multiform (GBM) has not been significantly improved. Therefore, novel therapeutic adjuncts to routine therapies have been suggested over time. Inhibition of angiogenesis by antiangiogenic drugs is one of the new approaches to inhibit the growth of malignant cells. Microvessel density (MVD) assay is a technique performed by counting immunohistochemically-stained blood vessels. Nowadays, athymic nude mice are widely used for the establishment of xenograft tumor models in cancer research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MVD of autochthonous xenograft models of GBM isolated from Iranian patients for use in pharmaceutical research on antiangiogenic drugs.Methods: Fresh tumor samples of GBM were obtained from three patients in Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Fall of 2010 and Winter of 2011. After preliminary processing, minced tumor samples were implanted heterotopically on flanks of athymic nude mice. Two months later, the animals were sacrificed and the xenograft tumor samples were sent to the pathology laboratory. After establishing the proof of the xenograft tumor type, MVD-CD34, an endothelial cell marker, was assessed by counting hot spot areas in 22 samples.Results: The mean number of microvessels in these xenograft tumor models was 30±2.1. Conclusion: These autochthonous xenograft models of GBM can be used in preclinical settings for research on antiangiogenic drugs regarding a pharmacogenomics-based treatment regimen for the Iranian population. Moreover, such models can be used in future studies for determining the sensitivity or resistance to antiangiogenic drugs in individualized cancer therapy.
Volume 70, Issue 5 (5 2012)
Background: Adipokines are proteins which are secreted from the adipose tissue. These groups of proteins are involved in the control of metabolism. Chemerin is one of these adipokines with different proposed biological roles. Serum levels of chemerin have been associated with increased body mass index, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between serum chemerin concentrations and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Methods: This case-control study was performed in Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2011. On 45 patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome and 45 normal individuals as the control group. The participants were selected by easy given sampling method. Body mass index, fasting chemerin and serum insulin concentrations were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELIZA) method. Fasting serum glucose was measured by the enzyme-calorimetric method and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was measured by the calculation of relevant equation. Data was analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient by SPSS version 18.
Results: Serum chemerin, insulin, and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome than the control group. There was no significant correlation between body mass index, serum levels of insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, or chemerin in cases and controls.
Conclusion: This study showed that serum chemerin levels increase in polycystic ovarian syndrome. The findings also suggest that changes in chemerin serum levels could be considered as a criterion for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Volume 71, Issue 11 (February 2014)
Background: Traumatic amputation of upper limb above the level of the elbow, are rare injuries that a surgeon may be faced with a handful of cases during his career. Even with advanced techniques in microvascular surgery, the survival of the transplanted limb that cut off completely from the arm is relatively weak. Case Presentation: Four injured people (patient) in Imam Khomeini Hospital during 1999-2013 in Tehran University of Medical Sciences were treated. Two patients had complete amputation of limb and other patients suffered from complete cutting in artery and vein along with neurological and soft tissue damages. There was not any ischemia or gangrene. However, efficiency of limbs with damages in peripheral nerves was not significant. The main reason was lack of immediate repair of the damaged nerves. In the recent examination, after discharge, the performance of the limb is firstly related to the conditions of the nerve system and secondly it depends on the severity of the injury in each of the muscles. However, none of the patients were dissatisfied of any situation and they were prepared to make any cooperation for improving the condition of their transplanted limb. Conclusion: Transplantation of the amputated limb can be done in spite of limited resources. Any delay in repairing damaged nerves will result great reduction of final organs’ performance. A limb, made from the own body, always take precedence to prosthesis, even when the efficiency is low.
Volume 72, Issue 3 (June 2014)
Background: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is the most common chronic pediat-ric rheumatologic disease. There is a wide range of variation in disease subgroup distri-bution and evolution according to different populations, environments and genetic pre-disposition. This study was designed to evaluate epidemiologic characteristics of JRA in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional studies was performed on children suffering from JRA ac-cording to American College of Rheumatology during 10 year (2002-2011). Patients' data was recorded in hospital questionnaires Patients' age at the first presentation and time of diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, early clinical and constitutional presentations, joint in-volvement pattern and presence of associated diseases were evaluated. Results: In this study, 171 children (91 boys and 80 girls) were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 5.2±3.5 years at the time of presentation and 5.7±3.6 years when the diagnosis was confirmed. The most common type of disease was polyarticular arthritis (41.9%). The prevalence of pauciarticular and systemic onset subtype were 31.6% and 19.3%, respectively. According to ethnicity, the most common incidence was seen in Fars and Turk populations respectively. The most common constitutional presentation was fever. Fever and morning stiffness was significantly higher in polyarticular pa-tients. Extra articular manifestation was seen in 40.4% patients. Among extra-articular manifestations, skin involvement was seen more than others. There was no correlation between sex and type of chronic arthritis. Uveitis was detected in 5.8% of our cases. The mean age was significantly higher in polyarticular group (6.04 year) in comparison to pauciarticular and systemic group (4.4 year in both groups) (P= 0.005). There was no correlation between sex and type of chronic arthritis. Conclusion: The prevalence of JRA subgroups was different in Iran comparing with western countries and polyarticular disease was the most common subgroup in this study. Uveitis was less common in this study in comparison to studies in other coun-tries. There is no sex predilection in each subgroup of JRA.
Volume 74, Issue 4 (July 2016)
Background: As a psychoactive plant, Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) is widely used throughout the world. Several investigations have indicated that administration of Marijuana affects various cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors. These include anxiety-like behaviors and learning and memory deficit. It has been shown that three main cannabinoid receptors [i.e. CB1, CB2 and CB3 are involved in cannabinoids’ functions. CB1 receptors are abundantly expressed in the central nervous system regions such as hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and the cortex. Therefore, the neuropsychological functions of endocannabinoids are thought to be more linked to CB1 receptors. Among other brain regions, CB1 is highly expressed in the amygdala which is an integral component of the limbic circuitry. The amygdala plays a major role in the control of emotional behavior, including conditioned fear and anxiety. In present study we examined the possible roles of basolateral amygdala (BLA) GABAB receptors in arachydonilcyclopropylamide (ACPA)-induced anxiolytic-like effect and aversive memory deficit in adult male mice.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted from September 2013 to December 2014 in Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics, School of Cognitive Sciences, Tehran and Male albino NMRI mice (Pasture Institute, Iran), weighting 27-30 g, were used. Bilateral guide-cannulae were implanted to allow intra BLA microinjection of the drugs. We used Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) to examine memory and anxiety behavior (test-retest protocol). ACPA administrate intra-peritoneal and GABAB agonist and antagonist administrated intra-amygdala.
Results: Data showed that pre-test treatment with ACPA induced anxiolytic-like and aversive memory deficit The results revealed that pre-test intra-BLA infusion of baclofen (GABAB receptor agonist) impaired the aversive memory while phaclofen (GABAB receptor antagonist) improved it. Interestingly, pretreatment with a sub-threshold dose of baclofen reversed and potentiated anxiolytic-like effect and aversive memory deficit induced by ACPA, respectively. Conversely, similar effect with sub-threshold dose of phaclofen showed that this drug only restored aversive memory deficit but did not alter anxiolytic-like effect induced by ACPA.
Conclusion: Data indicated that BLA GABAB receptors have critical and different roles in anxiolytic-like effect and aversive memory deficit induced by ACPA.
Volume 76, Issue 2 (May 2018)
Methods: This experimental study was conducted in September 2012 at Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Iran. In this research, 80 male rats were divided into 8 groups of 10 rats, which included: control group consisting of healthy rats and experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 (healthy+ritalin), which ritalin was taken as daily gavage 2.5 mg/kg, as well as control group (diabetic) and experimental group 4, 5 and 6 (diabetic+ritalin) after 2 months of diabetic ritalin at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg as daily gavages up to 30 days. At the end of the prescribed day, the rats were anesthetized and after sampling from the heart, samples were taken from the liver and samples were delivered to the laboratory.
Results: Significant decrease in albumin levels of experimental groups compared to control group (P<0.05) and significant increase in aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes in all experimental groups compared to control group was observed. The rat liver tissue study showed that rats that had been exposed to different doses of riatalin for 30 days, had fibrosis around the arteries (2+), moderate to weak fibrosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells around the arteries. In experimental groups (diabetic+ritalin), hepatocyte columns have no regularity compared to control.
Conclusion: Oral consumption of ritalin caused a disturbance in the balance of liver enzymes and elevated serum albumin levels in healthy and diabetic rats. In the experimental groups (healthy ritalin) and (diabetic+ritalin), the higher the dose of the drug, the increased levels of liver enzymes as compared to the diabetic group. Severe degrees of tissue alteration are observed in the group (diabetic+ritalin). The texture of the tissue in the group (diabetic+ritalin) disappeared and appeared in the texture of the disintegration.
Volume 76, Issue 2 (May 2018)
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, from May to March of 2016. A total of 170 female students were selected by stratified random sampling. Being in the age of 18-35 years, having a regular menstrual cycle, not following a specific diet and not taking any medication or dietary supplements that could affect iron status were indicators of inclusion in the study. General information and physical activity questionnaire were completed and a semi-quantitative feed frequency questionnaire was used to obtain food intake information. Anthropometric indicators including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat were measured. Obesity was evaluated with 3 different definitions. Biochemical indices such as iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit, transferrin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, and hs-CRP were also measured.
Results: The dietary intake of iron and some nutrients related to iron (including energy, protein, vitamin C and calcium) showed no significant difference in dietary intake between different groups of obesity definitions. Serum iron levels and hemoglobin concentration had a significant negative correlation with BMI and hs-CRP concentrations (P=0.026 and P=0.01 respectively). The relationship between transferrin levels and total iron binding capacity with the index of waist circumference was positive and significant (P=0.040, P=0.034, respectively). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between obesity and hs-CRP levels (P=0.014). There was no significant relationship between other evaluated factors with different degrees of obesity.
Conclusion: Chronic obesity and inflammation which could be caused by obesity, can contribute to iron deficiency, regardless of dietary iron intake.
Volume 76, Issue 8 (November 2018)
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, The population of 210 pregnant women admitted to the Rasoul Akram Hospital in Tehran, were selected for the study using non-random sampling. The urine specimens were collected from 194 pregnant women from May to December, 2015. The samples were transferred to the Infectious Disease Research Center of Rasoul Akram Hospital under sterile condition. Samples were exposed to DNA extraction followed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the infection. Data including sex, age, history of abortion, history of genitourinary tract infections were collected subsequently.
Results: The prevalence of MG and UU infections in urine samples was 5.6%, 11.2%, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the risk of UU was 2.08 (3.56-1.22) in women with a history of abortion and 0.70 (1.03-0.47) in women without a history of abortion. There was a significant relationship between the history of sexually transmitted diseases and the frequency of UU (P<0.022). From 22 patients with UU infection, six patients had a history of sexually transmitted diseases. A significant correlation was found between prevalence of MG and UU infections. The History of abortion was significantly related with the frequency of UU and MG infections. The prevalence of MG infection is negatively correlated with pregnancy trimesters. The History of genitourinary tract infections was significantly associated with the frequency of UU.
Conclusion: The presence of UU and MG could be associated with abortion.
Volume 79, Issue 4 (July 2021)
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Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed over a period of 6 months (May to November 2018) in a university-affiliated hospital. Data of 75 patients suspected of pulmonary embolism who were referred for CT angiography were collected. All CT scans were performed by a 16-slice CT scanner (Lights Speed, GE Healthcare) with fixed imaging parameters including 100 kVp and 100 mA. In order to evaluate the adequacy of pulmonary artery enhancement, the Hounsfield unit (HU) of the main pulmonary artery was measured in the aortic arch, upper, and lower segmental parts. Also, 8 factors affecting the image quality were examined.
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Results: The mean HU of the main pulmonary arteries was 312 in the range of 124 to 677. The mean HU in patients with and without pulmonary embolism was 358 and 302, respectively. Most CT images (61%) had poor quality for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Only 2% of the images were acceptable compared to standard images and protocols. Late imaging was the most common quality confounding factor in this study.
Conclusion: A low-quality image reduces the accuracy of the physician's diagnosis that leads to misdiagnosis. Besides, sometimes poor image quality leads to repetitive imaging, which results in increased patient exposure and therefore increased radiation hazards. Therefore, modifiable confounding factors must be identified and corrected which one of the most important ones is wrong imaging timing protocols after contrast injection. |
Volume 80, Issue 3 (June 2022)
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study all the non-toxic children under 18 who were referred to the neurology clinic of Loghman Hospital of Tehran from October 2017 to October 2018 with increased intracerebral pressure symptoms were studied. The increased intracerebral pressure symptoms were headache or vomiting or blurred vision or 6th nerve palsy and they had papillary edema. Also, if their diagnostic brain imaging measures were normal such as: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography scan (CT scan) and in some cases Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV), they were suspected to Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and were entered into the study consecutively. Their complete medical history and comorbidities and biographical information were recorded in the file. All patients were candidates for a lumbar puncture to measure cerebrospinal fluid pressure. After full explanation to the parents and obtaining written consent from them before performing a lumbar puncture, patients in coordination with the ultrasound unit without delay in performing a lumbar puncture, first underwent trans orbital ultrasound in supine position and were awakened with closed eyes. Opticians were implanted in both eyes by a skilled sonographer. And then sedated with sedatives (ketamine or midazolam) prescribed by an anesthesiologist. It was placed in a sterile position in a supine semi-flexion position and with lateral decubitus aligned with the body. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure to cm of water was recorded using a serum set in the lumber intervertebral space 4-5. Then a sample was sent for analysis and smear.
Results: Out of 10 patients (age 2.5–14 year, mean 9 years) 10% were girls, 90% were boys, and mean BMI was 22.5 kg/m2. Their symptoms included: 80% Headache, 40% Vomiting, 40% Diplopia, 20% Blurred vision, 10% 6th nerve palsy, and 10% Tinnitus when being reffered. In All patients, CSF pressure was more than 25 cm H2o (mean 40 cm H2o), right and left eyes optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) was more than the cutoff point (ONSD≤4.5 mm), the mean right ONSD was 6.31 mm and left eye was 6.64 mm.
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Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the measuring of optic nerve sheath diameter in patients suspected of increasing the pressure of idiopathic intracranial hypertension can be helpful as a non–invasive diagnosis method.
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Volume 80, Issue 4 (July 2022)
Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 20 years in Imam Khomeini Hospital from 1993 to 2013. Information of 202 hospitalized patients diagnosed with JIA who had files, containing demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded. The software 17spss was used for data statistically analyzed.
Results: The mean age of patients was 6.98±3.65 years. After treatment in all age and sex groups, the mean of Hb and HCT increased significantly and WBC and PLT decreased significantly. Mean CRP and ESR decreased significantly. Mean alkaline phosphatase was significantly reduced in boys. There were no significant changes in AST and ALT. At Ca and K levels, the decrease was significant. There was significant increase in Na. Ca level in boys and K level in girls decreased and Na level in boys increased significantly. Serum sodium also increased significantly in the group over ten years, potassium in the group of five to ten years and calcium in the group up to 5 years and over ten years decreased significantly. FBS did not change significantly. Blood pressure increased significantly. In this study, the highest joint involvement related to knee joint that was 89.7% and the lowest joint involvement related to neck joint that was 7.4%, which ultimately improved significantly By 76.7% in response to treatment.
Conclusion: Due to its availability, improving patient function and reducing clinical symptoms, this treatment is recommended. However, the need for further studies and consultation of other specialists, including cardiovascular counseling, seems necessary.
Volume 80, Issue 6 (September 2022)
Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted in the Urology unit of Emam Hassan Hospital in Bojnurd from May 2019 to Feb 2020. In this study, 92 patients with LUTS due to BPH were selected according to available method and randomly assigned into two groups of intervention. In the first group, patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg and in the second group, tamsulosin 0.8 mg once daily for 8 weeks. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated using IPSS criteria before and 8 weeks after treatment. According to a checklist, side effects were evaluated during treatment. Data was analyzed based on independent t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA by SPSS software version 22. A significance level of 0.05 was considered.
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Results: The results showed that the two groups were not significantly different in age and duration of symptoms. According to the statistics test, there is a significant difference between the two groups in the post-treatment phase. Also, based on analysis of variance with repeated measures statistical test, there was a significant difference between and within two groups in IPSS criteria at different stages of evaluation. The prevalence of complications was (8.6%) in the first group and (11.9%) in the second group. The prevalence of complications was not significant between the two groups.
Conclusion: Tamsulosin is effective in reducing lower urinary tract symptoms and Tamsulosin 0.8 mg is an effective treatment regimen for the treatment of LUTS secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia in those who have not responded to 0.4 mg treatment. Drug side effects were well tolerated in patients. |
Volume 81, Issue 1 (April 2023)
Methods: In this cross-sectional-analytical study, 163 patients with the possibility of ischemic heart disease from various clinics and medical centers referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia for nuclear heart scanning from April to July 1400, were assessed by the DASS-21 questionnaire in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Finally, the data obtained from the DASS-21 questionnaire, nuclear scan, and demographic characteristics were analyzed with SPSS20 software.
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Results: According to the results, the mean age of the patients was 54.78±11.54 years, 73% of whom were women. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was high (72.4, 80.3, and 59.5%, respectively). Although the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with a negative report of ischemia was higher and evaluated as 73.2, 78.7, and 58.3% respectively, there was not a significant difference with the subjects whose heart scan results were positive (P>0.05). Moreover, a weak positive correlation was observed between the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress with the severity of cardiac ischemia in study patients.
Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in patients before a cardiac nuclear scan are often moderate to mild. Likewise, among the different demographic characteristics of patients, only gender played an important role in these disorders. Regardless of the negative nuclear scan results in most patients (77.9%), the prevalence of these psychological symptoms in the studied patients was high. Therefore, considering the possibility of psychological disorders with clinical manifestations mimicking cardiovascular can prevent additional costs for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in these patients. |
Volume 81, Issue 3 (June 2023)
Background: Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder that is associated with cortical hyperexcitability. Potentially transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modifies the cortical state related to insomnia. Therefore, we hypothesized that by using tDCS the intensity of insomnia can be reduced, followed by improvement of the mood symptoms.
Methods: This study was an experimental design with a pre-test and post-test with a control group. The statistical sample included 32 females with chronic insomnia that were randomly divided into an experimental group (active stimulation) and a control group (sham stimulation). Transcranial direct current with an intensity of 2 mA was applied for 30 minutes during 12 sessions (three times in the week) in the active stimulation group. In this protocol, anodal stimulation of left Superior temporal gyrus (STG) and cathodal stimulation of right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and left secondary motor cortex (SMA). In the control group, sham stimulation was performed for 30 minutes during 12 sessions (three times in the week). The participants were evaluated before and after of the intervention using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS).
| Results: The findings of this research showed that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation was effective in reducing the severity of insomnia and improving positive and negative affect (P<0.001, F=19.87). The value of this effect (eta2) in the severity of insomnia, negative mood and positive mood is 0.64, 0.34 and 0.6 respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the implementation of our designed tDCS protocol for the treatment of insomnia, significantly reduced the intensity of insomnia in women with chronic insomnia and improved their mood symptoms. |
Volume 81, Issue 3 (June 2023)
Methods: In this cross-sectional study from April to October 2017, newborns within the first three weeks of life who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of university-affiliated hospitals in Tehran, Iran, were eligible for enrollment. CMV infection in neonates was diagnosed through testing infants' Guthrie cards and detection of viral DNA via an in-house nested-PCR assay. Congenital CMV infection in neonates with positive results was confirmed by testing urine specimens as a sensitive and gold standard sample. Related data (demographic and maternal factors) were collected by questionnaires and analyzed.
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Results: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed in 8 of 63 newborns (12.7%). Hearing loss was seen in 2 infected infants. The mean of head circumferences among infected neonates was significantly lower than that observed in uninfected cases. Infants with CMV related symptoms had statistically more chance to have infection (P=0.02). We also found Guthrie cards as a reliable sample with high sensitivity for CMV detection assays.
Conclusion: The current study showed a high rate of symptomatic congenital CMV infection among neonates attending on NICU sections of hospitals in Tehran, Iran. It is of crucial importance to note that based on evidence, diagnosis of infants with congenital CMV infection at early stages could help to decrease the burden of long-term diseases if associated with prompt interventions and reduce the costs of late-ineffective treatment. Therefore, routine screening of newborns for congenital CMV infection via Guthrie cards is suggested. |
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