Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss is a form of infertility with at least three consecutive pregnancy losses or more. Y chromosome microdeletions are a class of most likely genetic factors that occur in a special zone of Y chromosome which is named azoospermia factor region. The purpose of this study was to analyze the presence of Y chromosome complete microdeletions in male partner of couples suffering from idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss among Iranian population.
Methods: In the present study, Y chromosome microdeletions were evaluated in ninety-two male partners of couples with the experience of recurrent pregnancy loss as the patient group and also a group containing fifty fertile males as the control group. The research has done in Medical Genetic laboratory of Tehran and Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran within June 2013 to September 2014. The selected sequence tagged site markers (primers) including sY84, sY86, for azoospermia factor a; sY127, sY134, sY129, for azoospermia factor b and sY254, sY255, for azoospermia factor c were used to screen complete microdeletions in Y chromosome. At the first step DNA samples were extracted from all men’s peripheral blood in both patient and control groups and then multiplex polymerase chain reaction and also agarose gel electrophoresis were performed on this DNA samples so as to detect deletions.
Results: With due attention to the data resulted from multiplex polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis in order to recognize Y chromosome micro deletions in azoospermia factor region, in this work, all the bands related to the mentioned primers which were formed during the polymerase chain reaction, were detected on the gel obviously. It means that none of the samples neither the fifty fertile men nor the ninety-two patient men had complete micro deletions in their Y chromosome.
Conclusion: This study suggests that there is no correlation between Y chromosome micro deletions and occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss in Iranian population.

Background: Children's health, preserving and promoting it is a health priority of any society. Malnutrition affects all age groups, but malnutrition in children is one of the most common nutritional problems that can delay body growth, shortened height, frequent infections, mental retardation, the prevalence of mental disorders, lack of academic achievement and reduced efficacy. Because of the importance and impact of this issue in children, the purpose of this study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of underweight in Iranian children, in order to highlight the importance of this issue to health policy-makers.
Methods: A meta-analysis was performed for relevant articles in scientific databases including Scientific Information Database (SID), ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar. Entrance criteria included cross-sectional studies (March 1996 to February 2017) that had a low incidence of underweight in Iranian children in different parts of Iran. Non-relevant articles included review articles, interventions, cohorts and case studies, and studies that looked at obesity, overweight and the relationship between these factors and other diseases, excluded from the study list. Reference lists of identified articles were reviewed for additional articles. Heterogeneity of study was checked using I2 index and the possibility of publication bias by funnel plot and Begg and Mazumdar's rank correlation test and a significance level of 0.1. Data were analyzed using the comprehensive meta-analysis software, version 3 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA).
Results: In 26 articles reviewed in the study, total number of participants was 142938  persons at the age of 1 month to 12 years. The overall prevalence of underweight in Iranian children was 15.5% (Cl 95%: 12%-19.7%) during 1996 to 2017. The highest prevalence of underweight in was recorded in Birjand city in 2006 and Zahedan city in 2009, 68.6% (Cl 95%: 63.3%-72.9%) and the lowest prevalence of underweight in was found in city of Jahrom in 2013, 1.8% (Cl 95%: 1.2%-2.9%).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the prevalence of low-birth-weight in the country is high and requires interventional measures.

Background: Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the most common causes of mortalities worldwide. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has an important role in the pathogenesis of CVDs. The aim of the current study was to compare serum PTH levels between patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, and normal coronary function.
Methods: This descriptive and analytic study was performed on patients with acute MI, unstable angina, and normal coronary function visiting Imam Ali Hospital of Kermanshah city in Iran, during years 2016 to 2017. Data collection was done from December 2017 to March 2018. Of the patients who met inclusion criteria, 120 were selected by accessible sampling and were allocated into three groups. Serum level of PTH was determined in the three groups.
Results: Among the studied subjects, females and males comprised 43 (35.8%) and 77 (64.2%) respectively. Among those with normal coronary function, 22 (55%) and 18 (45%) were females and males respectively. In acute MI group, women and men comprised 8 (20%), and 32 (80%) respectively. Finally, males and females constituted 13 (32.5%) and 27 (67.5%) in unstable angina group. Based on this study, the overall mean serum PTH level was obtained 18.32 pg/ml. The highest PTH level was observed in individuals with normal coronary function, while the lowest level was recorded in patients with unstable angina. There was a significant difference in mean serum parathyroid hormone levels between the study groups in those with no history of smoking.
Conclusion: Our results indicated that parathyroid hormone serum level can be associated with cardiovascular diseases including unstable angina. There were significant differences in the means of parathyroid hormone level between the studied groups depending on the presence or absence of hyperlipidemia. In vitro evaluation of parathyroid hormone level in suspected subjects should be performed in the case of myocardial infarction, unstable angina and normal coronary, prevented from these diseases by testing.

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) is a diverse group of diseases, characterized by a defect in the immune system. These patients are susceptible to recurrent respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. In most cases, patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders have genetic defects and are monogenic disorders that follow a simple Mendelian inheritance, however, some PIDs recognize a more complex polygenic origin. Overall, almost 70 to 90 percent of patients with primary immunodeficiency are undiagnosed. Given that these patients are exposing to respiratory infectious agents and some live-attenuated vaccines, thus they have a high risk to some clinical complications. The administration of oral polio vaccine in patients with PIDs especially can increase the possibility of acute flaccid paralysis. These patients will excrete the poliovirus for a long time through their feces, even though they are not paralyzed. Long-term virus proliferation in the vaccinated individuals causes a mutation in the poliovirus and creates a vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs), which is a major challenge to the final stages of the worldwide eradication of polio. 
To increase the diagnosis and identification of patients with immunodeficiency and carrying out a national plan for screening patients with immunodeficiency from the fecal excretion of the poliovirus, a possible polio epidemic can be prevented during post-eradication. Development of laboratory facilities in provincial and city centers, improvement of communications among physicians regarding medical consultation and establishment of referring systems for patients by national network lead to improve status of diagnosis and treatment of patients with primary immunodefiicencies. In this context, launching and activating the national network of immunodeficiency diseases is essential for improving the health of children and reducing the cost of the health system of the country. A national network of immunodeficiency can lead to increase awareness of physicians regarding primary immunodeficiency disorders, improve collaboration among physicians about genetic consultation and establish a practical referral system in Iran that results in increased diagnosis and improve treatment of patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Background: The ineffectiveness of hemodialysis fistulas causes high costs and increases mortality and morbidity rates. The efficacy of drug-coated balloon and nondrug-coated balloon in dysfunctional arteriovenous Fistula was evaluated over six month period.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, a total of a total of 50 hemodialysis patients who referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah for failing of arteriovenous fistula in 2018 year, were randomly divided into two separate groups of drug-coated balloon angioplasty and non-drug coated balloon angioplasty. All of these procedures were done with the same surgeon. Patients were followed-up for 6 months. Variables and data of patients like age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and location of arteriovenous fistula were documented and analyzed by SPSS software, version 21 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) using statistical tests. T-test and chi-square test were used for data analysis and the significance level was considered less than 0.05.

Background: Total body irradiation (TBI) is a technique that is commonly used as a part of the patient conditioning regimen before the bone marrow transplant (BMT). The purpose of this study is to introduce and implement a reasonable TBI technique on the human-like phantom in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran.
Methods: The present experimental study was conducted from October 2016 to November 2017 to implement the TBI technique at the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. For this purpose, percentage depth dose, and dose rate were measured in TBI condition (i.e. SSD=310 cm, field size=40×40 cm2, gantry angle=90°, and collimator angle 45°) in homogeneous phantom. Gafchromic EBT3 films were used to measure the absorbed dose in different areas of the human like phantom at the levels of head, neck, thyroid, lung, umbilicus, pelvic, thigh, knee and leg. Phantom irradiation was performed in parallel opposed anterior-posterior geometry using an 18MV photon beam produced by Varian 2100C/D. Cerrobend blocks were used for lung protection. After analyzing the exposed films with Image J software, the dose uniformity was calculated.

Conclusion: The implemented technique, obtained the acceptable ±10% dose uniformity in most of the body regions. The dosing accuracy was within the acceptable range. The lungs¢ dose was reduced to the desired level using lung shields. This technique is a simple and cost-effective method that does not require complicated dosimetric techniques. Regarding the obtained results, the proposed technique has the necessary conditions for implementation in Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran.
 

Background: Patients with severe mental illnesses are more prone to experience sexual health problems. Herein, we developed a "Safe Sex Knowledge and Behavior Questionnaire for Patients with Severe Mental Illnesses"(SSKBQ-SMI).
Methods: The present study was conducted in the form of methodological research in 4 stages. In the first stage, items of the questionnaire were selected and the item pool was formed by using similar studies and experts' opinions. During the next steps, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed using content validity, face validity, reliability and construct validity. The content validity was tested using the Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio. The charts of content validity were given to 13 specialists expert in sexual health including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, gynecologists, urologists, and infectious disease specialists. The reliability was tested by using the test-retest method in 70 patients with two-week intervals. The construct validity was tested using exploratory factor analysis in 265 patients. The internal consistency was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha index.

Background: The onset of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) can be triggered by sun exposure and physical activity. The present study aimed to determine the risk of sun exposure and physical activity in PPMS development.
Methods: The case-control study recruited PPMS cases and healthy controls from the general population from September 2019 to September 2020 in Tehran, Iran. The selection of sex-matched controls from the same source population of cases was performed. Sun exposure was assessed in terms of exposure time in two age groups of 13-19 years and over 20 years in winter and summer.

Background: Medical ethics is an applied branch of ethics that deals with ethical challenges in medical and health environments, and its related topics have a long history, but its education as an academic subject in universities has received a lot of attention in the last 40 years. In recent years, medical universities have made extensive efforts to expand medical ethics education, which has been accompanied by significant progress, but given that the modern medical ethics education system is a growing and nascent structure, more research is needed. Therefore, this study aims to assess the status of the medical ethics education system at Tehran University of Medical Sciences to identify its gaps so that the current situation can be improved with proper planning.
Methods: The type of this research is descriptive quantitative-qualitative and it was collected from December 2018 to September 2019 at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. First, the educational curriculum of 165 educational levels at Tehran University of Medical Sciences was reviewed and described in terms of the existence of a medical or professional ethics course in the educational curriculum. Then, a semi-structured interview was conducted with the 13 professors in charge of teaching this course in all faculties, and content analysis was performed to describe and identify the obstacles in its effectiveness.

Results: The results showed that in 53% of the educational levels, there was no separate medical or professional ethics course in the educational curriculum and the most educational coverage of this course took place in the faculties of medicine, dentistry, nursing and midwifery. The obstacles in the effectiveness of teaching this unit were categorized into five main themes of educational curriculum, hidden curriculum, teaching methods, teachers and education management. Conclusion: The results show that the content of curricula needs to be revised and education should be inclusive. Creating a coherent educational organization and monitoring the hidden curriculum are other issues that should be considered to increase the effectiveness of this education.

Background: People with chronic diseases of the immune system, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), are at risk for Covid-19 disease. However, more research is needed with long-term follow-up. The aim of the study was to follow up people with MS (PwMS) for up to three months after AstraZeneca vaccination for the recurrence of MS and Covid-19 infection.
Methods: This study was a case study (descriptive-analytical) of follow-up type. The study population was PwMS over 18 years of age in Kermanshah province who received both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This study was conducted from August to November 2021. Sampling was done with existing methods based on the National MS Registry of Iran (NMSRI). Demographic information of patients was extracted from NMSRI. A researcher-made form was used to collect information by telephone three months after vaccination about clinical characteristics, Covid-19 infection, and recurrence of MS. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 software.
Results: Study participants were 40 MS patients with a mean (SD) age of 39.27 (8.8) years, including 32 (80.0%) women. A mean of 9.39 (4.6) years had passed since The patients were diagnosed with MS, and 29 (76.4%) had RR type MS. Four patients (10%) relapsed between the second dose and three months later, of whom two (50%) had sensory symptoms, one (25%) had optic nerve involvement, and one (25%) had motor symptoms and pyramidal pathway involvement. The symptoms of Covid-19 were mild in three patients (10%), while severe symptoms developed in one patient (10%) who received rituximab. Among the patients, no cases of thrombosis were observed. Infusion therapy, a leg fracture, and kidney stones were the only hospitalized cases.

Conclusion: Covid-19 and MS relapse prevalence did not differ significantly in the three months before and after vaccination. There is a need for further studies with a longer follow-up period.

Background: Due to the prevalence of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, controlling common problems after this surgery is essential. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 222 patients over 18 years old with symptomatic gallstones who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from March 2021 to February 2022 in Mashhad Medical Sciences of Islamic Azad University Hospitals, were included. The amount of analgesic received after surgery was the same for all patients (Acetaminophen 1 gram intravenously every 8 hours and diclofenac 100 mg rectal every 8 hours). Demographic information of patients, body mass index, history of abdominal surgery, duration of surgery, carbon dioxide pressure, type of surgery (elective or emergency), number of surgical incisions, and pain intensity six and 24 hours after surgery (using a visual analog scale) were collected, and finally, the findings were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 26.

Results: Out of 222 patients, 179 cases were women (80.6%), and their average age and body mass index were 44.68±12.27 years and 27.08±4.7 kg/m2, respectively. In our study, 110 people (49.5%) had a history of abdominal surgery, of which cesarean section was the most common delete. Pain six and 24 hours after the operation was more common in women than in men, and surgery with three incisions was more painful than surgery with four incisions (P<0.05). In patients with a history of surgery, the pain was greater in six hours after surgery (P<0.05). Pain 24 hours after the operation in patients with gas pressure less than or equal to 14mmHg was greater than in patients with gas pressure greater than 14 mmHg (P<0.05). Pain six and 24 hours after surgery according to age, body mass index, type of surgery (emergency or elective), and duration of surgery had no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: In our study, female gender, use of three incisions for surgery, and history of previous surgery were associated with more pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adherence to the ESC 2020 guideline for the management of NSTE-ACS patients admitted to Shahid Chamran Cardiology Hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2021.
Methods: In this retrospective study which was done during April 2021 to September 2021 we reviewed the hospital documents of 239 NSTE-ACS patients, in regard to prescribed medication during the admission period in Shahid Chamran Heart Center. Guideline-adherence was evaluated according to ESC2020 guideline. Totally 18 items were evaluated including Antiplatelet (Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor, and Prasugrel) Anticoagulant (Heparin or Enoxaparin), PPI, Statin, Beta blocker, and RAAS blockers (including ACEI/ARB or MRA). In each section the selected drug and the administered dose were compared with the guideline and the guideline adherence for each part was expressed as percent.

Results: Almost complete guideline adherence was described for 12 out of 18 reviewed items (77%). However, guideline adherence in relation to the type of medicine chosen as an antiplatelet was reported to be very low, and only 1.2% of the cases received ticagrelor or prasugrel which are the guideline recommended antiplatelet agent. Additionally, most of the administered GP2b3a antagonist agents such as eptifibatide were not in accordance with the guideline (Guideline adherence 39.74%). Also, the choice of the anticoagulant agent was among the items with low guideline adherence (29.76%) and the cross-over between anticoagulants (changing heparin to enoxaparin or vice versa) which has been inhibited by the guideline was seen with high incidence in this center (78 cases). Conclusion: The present study showed relatively high guideline adherence in the most aspects of medical management. However, compliance was reported to be low in relation to the antiplatelet selection, the choice of the anticoagulant agent, and the indication for GP2b3a antagonist use, which maybe due to the higher cost of recommended agents, and shortage of some medications and dosage forms in Iran.

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.