Tehran University Medical Journal

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Introduction: Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of mortality in developed countries. CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) is one of the therapeutic methods in ischemic heart disease.

Methods and Materials: Considering the increased incidence of coronary artery disease in Iran, and with increased rate of CABG, we performed a cross sectioned study (1996-1999). In 635 patients 467 male (73.5 percent), 168 female (26.5 percent) about risk factors of mortality after CABG in cardiac surgery department "Imam Khomeini hospital. 20 risk factors were included in our study: age, gender, smoking, family history, diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, palpitation, renal failure COPD, (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), history of myocardial infarction, CHF, angina, cerebral vascular disease, pace maker, Ejection fraction<40 percent, history of PTCA, history of CPR, and coronary endarterectomy.

Results: Cigarette smoking (P=0.40), CHF in female (P=0.003). Endarterectomy in both gender (P=0.0001). Pace maker in both gender (P=0.00006), palpitation in both gender (P=0.0001). CPR in both gender (P=0.0000001), were associated with increased risk of mortality after CABG.

Conclusion: We found that, endarterctomy, cigarette smoking, CHF. Pace maker, CPR, and palpitation are important risk factors for mortality after CABG.

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Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients throughout the world. The incidence is increasing despite the major advances in the development of antimicrobial agents and other supportive treatments. Based on multiple studies, it has been shown that patient outcome depends on Th1 and Th2 cytokine response. Moreover, whenever the Th2 response is predominant, the sepsis is more severe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between cytokine levels and the severity of sepsis in patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study on the cellular levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines was carried out in patients with sepsis and severe sepsis. The study included 37 patients (24 men and 13 women), 26 of them had sepsis and 11 had the severe form of sepsis Thirty-seven healthy volunteers served as controls. The average age of the patients was 57 years (±23.3 years), with a range of 21 to 92 years. From the whole blood of the subjects, we separated the monocytes and leukocytes, which were then cultured. Using an ELISA method, we measured levels of IFN- and IL-12 (associated with Th1), and IL-4 and IL-10 (associated with Th2) in the cultured cells with and without cell stimulation.
Results: No correlation was found for IFN- production in the cells of patients with sepsis and severe sepsis, regardless of whether the patients had died or survived. However, IL-12 levels were significantly decreased in severe sepsis compared with those of sepsis patients (P=0.048). Furthermore, the cells of expired patients also had significantly decreased IL-12 levels compared with those of surviving patients (P=0.028). We also found that the levels of IFN-, IL-4, and IL-10 were decreased in patients compared with those of controls, which correlated to their production. However, there was no correlation for IL-12 production between the cells of the patients compared with those of the controls. There was also no correlation for cytokine production between men and women with sepsis and in adults compared with that of elderly patients (>55 years old).
Conclusion: We have shown that the predominating T helper cell subset in patients with severe sepsis, as well as expired patients, is Th2. In conclusion, the correlation of Th1 cytokine production and progression of sepsis was demonstrated. Most probably IL-12 levels would be significantly lower in patients with severe sepsis and those who expired.

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Background: This study aimed to assess the quality of life in vitiligo sufferers and its relationship with a number of variables such as age, gender, educational level, place of residence, marital status, disease duration, disease extension, visibility of lesions and skin phototype (SPT).
Methods: In this study we evaluate the quality of life in patients with vitiligo attending Razi Hospital in July and August 2005. Permission from Professor Finlay was obtained to use the DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life. One hundred patients with at least one vitiligo patch (age range= 14–57) answered the question-naire. Other survey questions about mentioned variables were also answered. Scoring was done according to Finlay`s guidelines. The higher the score, the greater the impairment of quality of life.
Results: The mean DLQI score in our study was 8.16 (sd=5.423) with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 28. There were statistically significant relationships between DLQI scores and marital status, skin phototype and disease extension independently, but not between DLQI scores and other variables. The mean DLQI score was significantly higher in married compared to single patients. In fact this difference was significant in women. Married women had a statistically higher score than single women while single and married men had no significant difference. Patients with Skin Phototype IV showed a higher DLQI score than other SPTs, which was statistically notable (p=0.000). The patients with more disease extension had higher score that was statistically significant (p=0.000).
Conclusions: This study shows that vitiligo has a major impact on the quality of life and indicates specific groups that are most affected by the disease. Hence, dermatologists should pay attention to the psychologic effects of this cosmetic disease and try to decrease its extension and disfiguring effects by various treatment modalities.