Tehran University Medical Journal

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Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive fungal infection that spreads from nose and sinuses to brain in short time. Cunent hypothesis about brain involvement explains that infection initiates in nose and progresses into orbit through ethmoidat sinuses via erosion of lamina papyranea. Then infection spreads from orbit apex to cavernous sinus and brain. Therefore, in addition to medical therapy surgical debridement of the sinuses plays a major role in treatment of these patients. The aim of this study is introduction of a new point of view about extension of mucor from the nose to orbit and brain. Also we discuss clinical implication of this perspective on surgery.
Materials and Methods: Since 1997-2002 nine patients with mucormycosis involving nose. Sinuses and orbit were admitted in ENT ward of Imam Khomeini general hospital. 8 patients with positive pathology entered the study. Variable such as age, underlying diseases, symptoms, site of involvement, extent of debridement and its times, and outcome were studied.
Results: After review of the history, surgical reports and pathological results, we found these findings in almost all patients: 1) facial pain, facial anesthesia, paralysis of buccal branch of facial nerve, paralysis of extrocular muscles, chemosis, periorbital edema 2) involvement of cheek subcutaneous tissue, buccal fat pad, IOF, SOF, orbital apex, infraorbital and maxillary nerves 3) involvement of pterygoid fossa with or without infratemporal fossa extension. Three patients have survived. Causes of death in other five patients were pneumonia, hypokalemia, and arrythmis during anesthesia. Mucormycosis was under control in most of these patients.
Conclusion: Pterygopalatine fossa is the main source for replication and extension of mucor. After entrance to the nose, mucor reaches this site and after involvement of IOF and SOF rapidly extends to retrobulbar portion of the orbit. Paranasal sinuses, buccal space, cheek, palate and infratemporal fossa may be secondarily involved. Exploration and debridment of this area has beneficial effect on surviving of these patients.

 

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Background: Since non-contrast spiral CT (NCCT) is an imaging method of choice performed before extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), we aimed to find the association between renal stone characteristics including stone density, location, volume, and skin-to-stone distance (SSD) on NCCT and ESWL success for a more efficient selection of patients for the procedure.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 100 patients having undergone initial ESWL for a solitary renal calculus of 0.5-2.5 cm. Stone size, location, density, and SSD were determined on pretreatment NNCT. The outcome was categorized as stone free, complete fragmentation (<5 mm), incomplete fragmentation (>5 mm) and unchanged, based on KUB radiography 2 weeks after ESWL.

Results: Of 100 patients, 32 were female and 68 were male with a mean age of 46.7 years. ESWL was successful in 55 and failure occurred in 45 patients. Sex (P=0.301), age (P=0.895) and SSD (P=4.06) were not associated with treatment success. Mean stone volume in ESWL success and failure groups, respectively were 531.4 and 930.5 mm3 and stone volume was statistically associated with treatment success (P=0.01). Mean stone density in ESWL success and failure groups were 545.7 and 962.3 HU, respectively and stone density was also associated with ESWL success (P<0.01). ESWL failure likelihood was 5 times greater in stones with a density >740 HU than smaller stones.

Conclusion: We strongly suggest performing densitometry in bone window for renal stones on pre-ESWL NCCT scanning and using an alternative treatment other than ESWL for stone densities greater than 740 HU.

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Background: Different treatment used for resolving menopausal problems. Some studies assayed effectiveness of citalopram but it had some side effects and other studies about medicinal plants in Iran, including Melissa (combination of officinalis and foeniculum vulgare) showed improvement insomnia and anxiety. This study decided to assay effectiveness of this drug and comparison with placebo and citalopram in treatment of sleep disturbance of menopausal women.

Methods: Sixty postmenopausal women suffering from sleep disturbances that referred to Yas hospital between 2011-2013 were recruited to this double blind controlled study with 8 weeks’ follow-up period. They were randomized in three groups of twenty patients each, group A: received Melissa 600 mg that made by traditional medical school, group B: received citalopram 20 mg from Arya company that increased to 30 mg after one week and group C: received placebo. The patients were evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire before and after treatment, also we checked the side effects of every drugs. Study was dissertation of one of the author with code 22263. This research has been supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Grant. This study was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with code of IRCT2013072714174N1. Results: Pittsburgh sleep quality index improved significantly in all groups, there was significant differences between Melissa group and two other group, but there wasn’t significance difference between citalopram and placebo group, there was a trend in favor of Melissa versus citalopram and placebo. All of seven field of PSQI improved significantly in all groups that showed improvement of sleep quality in all field of sleep disturbance. Conclusion: Melissa (compound of officinalis and foeniculum vulgare) may be recommended for the treatment of sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women. Although further investigation with more cases is needed to find long-term results and compare with hormone therapy.