Tehran University Medical Journal

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Increase in the rate of elderly population have persuaded the people and governments of the most developed countries to evaluated and confront the complexity of social, economic, and health issues involved. Increase in the number of aging people is commonly called the aging of society. Currently, in the countries of Western Europe (Germany, France, England, Sweden), the figure of the people over 60 years old comprises 12-15 percent of total population, and according to the forecasting estimate will reach to 25% up to the year 2020. In our country, based on censuses that have been carried out during the years of 1355, 1365, 1375 this figure is 5.12%, 5.25% and 7.67%, respectively. The number of 60 years old persons or over under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences was 135379 persons, in the year 1376. Due to these demographic changes that is arising from the phenomenon of aging of society, a considerable increase in the incidence of chronic diseases and health requirement of the elderly living in the society happens. This can be translated in terms of more demands in the affiliated fields of nursing, health care and treatment. This study has been proposed to clarify and evaluate the afore mentioned requitements. In this study, the following results can be concluded. Contrary to physical and psychological problems of adulthood, only 25% were aware of assisting economic, health and treatment institution that were available to them. These people were usually suffering from a single to multiple ailments that happen concurrently and ladies were complaining more in this respect. The interesting point in this study is the answer to the question of most basic problems of their life. Many elderly mentioned financial problems the most influential factor in their life. The figures concerning the responses to the question of basic problems of elderly for economic and physical problems were 37.7% and 18.3%, respectively.

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Chronic otitis media is a common disease which can lead to serious complications or even death. Betterment of eustachian tube function is effective on results of operations. The main goal of this study was to determine the effect of eustachian tube function on outcome of graft in tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy for chronic otitis media. We prospectively studied 126 patients who underwent these operations in Amir Alam hospital in 1998. Eustachian tube function, technique of operation, use of silastic, age, sex, presence of cholesteatoma were evaluated in each patient and graft vascularization after 6 to 8 weeks of surgery was considered as successful outcome. Among 126 ears, 59 had good ETF and among those 59 ears 88.1% or 52 had successful outcome. Among 67 patients with poor ETF 46 or 68.7% got successful results. This significant difference shows the role of Eustachian tube function on the result of surgery.

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The nephrotic syndrome is the most common chronic renal disease of childhood.
Materials and Methods: In this study the clinical course, risk factors for relapse and the predictors of long-term outcome of 502 patients (median age 5 years)with primary nephrotic syndrome were followed for an average of 60 months (3.5 to 240 months) from 1981 to 2000.
Results: Among the 502 patients 5 (1%) achieved spontaneous remission and 313 children were initial responder. One hundred eighty four patients received at least 1 kidney biopsy (78 prior and 106 after initiation of treatment). Of 104 children with frequently relapsing steroid sensitive and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome, levamisole induced prolong remission in 33 ( 31.7%) of patients. Cyclophosphamid and cyclosporine A induced prolong remission in 49 (50%) of 98 and 28 (41.3%) of 68 patients respectively. At the time of the final clinical evaluation, 73 patients (14.5%) were on remission 301 (59.9%) had relapsing 43 (8.6%) had persistent nephrotic syndrome 33 (6.6%) of patients evolving to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and 6 (1.2%) of them with chronic renal failure died (infection and cardio respiratory were the cause of death in 5 and 1 patient respectively). Young age (1-5 y) at onset of disease and atopy were identified as an independent risk factors for relapse (P0.05). Patients with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) or MCNS had better response to cyclophosphamide or cyclosporin than children with steroid resistance nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) or FSGS (P0.05). Persistent proteinuria, hypertension, microscopic or macroscopic hematuia, glucosuria were associated with progression to chronic renal failure (PO.05).
Conclusion: Steroid dependency and histopathology of MCNS in patients with nephrotic syndrome were significantly associated with good long-term prognosis. In contrast persistent proteinuria, histopatholoy of FSGS, hypertension, macroscopic or microscopic hematuria, and glucosoria were significantly correlated with unfavorable long-term outcome. Additionally our study showed a positive correlation between young age and atopy with higher rate of relapse.

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Background: addiction and drug abuse have many risk factors in community and individual attitude also causes much diversity in community perception and attitude toward addiction.

Methods: in this study we assessed attitude toward an addict in 42 addict men and asked about problems in their community and recreational behaviors. They were residents of a rural area in Babol city. In the control group we assessed the same parameters in 268 non addicts in the same area. All of the addicts have been using opium more than many times a week at least for recent 6 months. Data collected via a semi structured questionnaire through conversation.

Results: There was a significant difference between addicts’ attitude toward toward addiction compare to non-addicts’. Both addicts and non-addicts indicated that the first three community problems in their area were unemployment, lack of recreational facilities and addiction, in respective order. Answering questions about recreational activities, both groups indicated that there were no recreational facilities in the community.

Conclusion: In planning a preventive approach, there is a major role for attitude toward addiction in any community. The conflict seen in this study between addicts’ attitudes toward an addicted person and addiction as a community problem has it’s interesting feature. Recreation and physical and cultural facilities need to pay more attention as indicated by our study participants. This seems to have an important impact in prevention of many community problems as well as addiction.

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Background: Psychosocial stressors and the quality of the support system are important factors in attempted suicide. This research has studied these stressors and the condition of the support system in suicide attempt cases in Karaj, Iran. Methods: This is a part of the Iranian section of the widest multisite study on suicide prevention (SUPRE-MISS) proposed and directed by the WHO in eight countries, including Iran. Here we present data obtained from 632 suicide attempters presenting in emergency centers over a period of ten months.
Results: According to the time lapse from the stressor to the suicide attempt, proximal stressors are considered to be precipitating while distal stressors are considered to be perpetuating factors. Although, family conflicts were found to increase the risk of suicide one year after the conflict, conflicts with family (25%) and spouse (35%) were the most frequent stressors one month before the attempt, acting as proximal factors. Conflict with spouse was more prominent for people who had been married less than seven years. Conflict with family was the most important stressors for 15-25 year-old attempters. Though it is not clear which areas of conflict are more crucial in a suicide attempt, especially considering gender differences, educational and financial problems were more prominent one year before the suicide attempt. The support system was more crucial for female attempters: Although they received more practical support than males, females complained more of deficiencies in support.
Conclusions: The roles of different psychological stressors in attempted suicide vary according to the time lapse from the stressor until the suicide. Family and marital conflicts can be precipitating and perpetuating factors, while educational and financial problems appear to be perpetuating factors. Family is considered to be an important support system for a great number of attempted suicide cases, especially since it offers practical support. Support systems are crucial in preventive programs for suicide, especially among women.

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Background: Considering the psycho-social model of diseases, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychiatric intervention on the pregnancy rate of infertile couples.

Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 638 infertile patients referred to a university infertility clinic were evaluated. Among them, 140 couples with different levels of depression in at least one of the spouses were included in this substudy. These couples were divided randomly into two groups. The patients in the case group received 6-8 sessions of psychotherapy before starting infertility treatment and were given fluoxetine 20-60 mg per day during the same period. The control group did not receive any intervention. Three questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Holmes-Rahe stress scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire were applied for all patients. The clinical pregnancy rates of the two groups, based on sonographic detection of the gestational sac six weeks after LMP, were compared. The data were analyzed by paired-T test, T-test, χ² and the logistic regression method.

Results: The pregnancy rate was 47.1% in the case group and 7.1% in the control group. The pregnancy rate was significantly related to the duration and cause of infertility and the level of stress in both groups (p< 0.001). The pregnancy rate was shown to be higher in couples in which the male has a secondary level of education (p< 0.001).

Conclusions: Psychiatric interventions greatly improve pregnancy rates, and it is therefore crucial to mandate psychiatric counseling in all fertility centers in order to diagnose and treat infertile patients with psychiatric disorders and help couples deal with stress.

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Background: In according to immunomodulatory effect of probiotics and effect of these bacteria on the effectiveness of immune responses, at the present work we proposed the evaluation of oral administration of L.acidophilus on the immune statues in BALB/c mice bearing breast cancer.
Methods: A total of 30 In-bred BALB/c mices aged from six to eight weeks weighting 25-30g were randomly enrolled in our study, in two groups each consist of 15 mices. The L.acidophilus ATCC4356 strain used in this study was inoculated in MRS broth and cultivated for a day at 37°^C under anaerobic conditions, collected by centrifugation and resuspend in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS). After preparation of proper amount of these suspensions it was orally administered to the mice with a gastric feeding, Control mices received an equal volume of PBS in duration of study.
Results: Results showed the increase in production of IFnγ (p<0.005), and decrease in production of Th2 cytokines such as IL4 (p=0.347) in the L.acidophilus administered mice in comparison to control group of mice. In addition the proliferation of immune cells in probiotic group was significantly higher than controls, and most importantly probiotic administered mice showed an increase in survival rate of this group compared to control mice (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Results of our study suggested that daily consumption of Lactobacillus acidophilus can regulate immune responses skewed Th1 balance that is needed against tumor, further studies is needed to investigate the other mechanisms of this effect.

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Background: Body pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common phenomenon that can create or exacerbate by different parameters of clinical, psychological and demographic. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parameters of clinical (fatigue, clinical course, body mass index and duration), psychological (depression, anxiety and stress) and demographic (age, gender, marital status and education) characters with multiple sclerosis patient’s body pain. Methods: This cross-sectional study has been performed in the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Guilan Province and Imam Reza Specialized and Sub-specialized Clinic, Rasht City, Iran during June to February 2010. In this study 162 patients with MS were selected by consecutive sampling. We used the clinical and demographic variables inventory, body pain subscale of the health survey questionnaire, depression, anxiety and stress scale and fatigue severity scale along with identical analog-spring balance. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and point bi-serial, one-way analysis of variance, Gabriel test and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The findings showed that patients who scored 3 or higher in relapses experienced significantly more body pain than patients who scored 1-2 times of relapses (P= 0.031). In the meantime, significant differences were not found between the two groups of patients with a score of 3 or higher in relapses and non-relapse and between non-relapse patients and with a score 1-2 times of relapses in terms of body pain. Also, significant differences were not found in different groups of hospitalization in terms of body pain. However, anxiety and fatigue together could explain significantly 25% of the shared variance of body pain (F= 26.29, P≤ 0.0009). Conclusion: This study showed the effect of psychological and clinical factors on body pain exacerbation in MS patients. Therefore, it is necessary for clinicians to consider identifying these factors and the relationships of the factors with increasing pain in patients with MS.

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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in the world that is mostly due to vascular disease. Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most lethal form of coronary heart disease Which is increasing in developing countries. This study was done to calculate and compare lost years of life due to death and disability for the most important cause of death (myocardial infarction) in the studied population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Urmia university of Medical Sciences in Western Azerbaijan Province, Iran during 2012 to 2013. Confirmation of the occurrence of myocardial Infarction in hospitalized patients was based on clinical symptoms, changes in electrocardiogram and increases of cardiac enzymes (CK-M Band Troponin). The burden of health from Myocardial Infarction was calculated- using the disability adjusted life years index (DALY). The morbidity data of MI was collected from myocardial infarction Registration System Department of Health, and mortality data were extracted based on death registration ICD10 (I 20-25). Results: The total occurrence of MI was 7235 patients (60.6% men and 39.4% women) with the mean ages of 69±15 years. Number of disability adjusted life years (DALY) caused by MI was 53804 years (17.7 per thousand people) and the portion of early death Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature death was 52170 years (17.1 per thousand people), and Years of Life Lost (YLD) due to disability resulting from the disease was 1634 years (0.54 per thousand people). The disease burden in men was more than in women, and the greatest burden was in the age group of 80 and above in both sexes. Prevalence rate of the MI was estimated 376 (Per hundred thousand people) and the MI accounted for 18.8% of all causes of death.

Conclusion: The high burden of myocardial infarction, especially in men, raises the incidence of Myocardial Infarction a health priority and the need for proper planning in order to take effective measures for the prevention and treatment.

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Methods: In the present study, which was conducted experimentally from May to September 2018 in bacteriology and Cellular and Developmental Research Centers of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch, the antimicrobial activity of supernatant of Lactobacillus sakei was assessed by Well Diffusion Agar (WDA) method against some pathogenic bacteria. HT-29 Colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated in 5, 15, 10 and 20 mg/ml concentrations of sakei metabolites and incubated at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell growth was analyzed by celltiter 96® aqueous one solution cell proliferation assay kit to the manufacturer's protocol in all three incubation times. Results: The results of this study indicate that sakei was able to produce antimicrobial metabolites against pathogenic bacteria. Besides, the results of the celltiter 96® aqueous one solution cell proliferation assay showed that the bioavailability of HT-29 cell lines decreased at all concentrations of sakei metabolites in a dose and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Since lactic acid probiotic bacteria can alter the metabolic activities of the intestinal microflora, attach to carcinogens and destroy them, prevent carcinogenesis such as ammonia and secondary bile acids, producing anti-cancer substances and creating an acidic state to inhibit the growth and proliferation of carcinogenic bacteria, It seems that there is a good research field for the use of bioactive compounds produced by Lactobacillus sakei in the control of bacterial pathogens and treatment of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29).

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Conclusion: Cervical cavernous hemangioma is extremely rare. This should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially those of childbearing age, and no clinical or radiologic findings such as leiomyoma, adenomyosis, or dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Pelvic examination is the first step in the management of the patient with vaginal bleeding. Increased awareness of this unusual cervical lesion can lead to early diagnosis and conservative treatment approaches. In most cases, hysterectomy is performed, but the patient with mild symptoms can be treated with conservative management. Increased awareness of this unusual cervical lesion can lead to early diagnosis and conservative treatment approaches.

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Background: Despite the progress of medical science and organ transplantation, lung transplantation is associated with significant complications and mortality. In Iran, the first lung transplant was performed in 2000 at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. So far, there has been no assessment of the patients. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the status of lung transplantation status at this center.
Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal study, all lung transplant patients referred to the Lung Transplantation Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran from April 2000 to March 2022 were examined. Demographic and clinical data, and information related to their current status, including pulmonary function tests, transplant-related complications, pharmacotherapy, and drug-related adverse events were recorded. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied.

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Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both joint diseases with many different causes. Inflammatory arthritis, also known as rheumatoid arthritis, is one of the most complex types of arthritis. Non-inflammatory arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, is a disease caused when the cartilage between the joints begins to be damaged. Considering the different treatment approaches for OA and RA, an accurate diagnosis of the type of arthritis is very important. The present study was conducted with the aim of finding gene expression and introducing reliable molecular biomarkers for RA and OA.
Methods: The microarray dataset was obtained under the GSE27390 number. The samples included nine samples of mononuclear cells obtained from the bone marrow of RA patients, 10 samples of mononuclear cells obtained from the bone marrow of OA patients. Differential expression analysis between the OA and RA groups was performed using GEO2R, and genes with differential expression were separated by examining two factors such as logFC#1 and p.adj. Value<0.05. Signaling pathways were determined using Enrichr databases. Next, the genes with the most expression changes were introduced. This study is a bioinformatics analysis and was conducted jointly at Bam University of Medical Sciences and Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Institute from September 2022 to March 2023.

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