mahtab bonyadi

Systemic sclerosis is an incurable autoimmune fibrotic skin disease. Many factors were described as aetiology of SS, but the impact of nutritional factor is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with systemic sclerosis in Ilam, Iran. In a case-control study, 47 people confirmed with systemic sclerosis disorders were enrolled as case group and 47 subjects as control group; while they were matched for age and BMI and compared statistically. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and demographicvariables were collected for all participants. Meat and dairy consumption was higher among case group (Adjusted OR=5.1, p<0.01, CI=1.08-24.64; Adjusted OR=4.2, p<0.01,CI=1.23-14.29, respectively); while there was a reduction for vegetables intake (Adjusted OR=0.09, p<0.05, CI=0.01-0.876). An increase in meat and dairy consumption and reduction in intake of vegetables seems to be the causes for systemic sclerosis in patients in the area. Further evaluations in a large sample size with a longer follow-up duration are needed to verify these findings. The results can help health authorities when planning for patients with systemic sclerosis.

Although soft tissue calcifications are relatively common and are commonly seen on panoramic radiographs, few studies have reported their causes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between systemic diseases and ectopic calcifications.

In this descriptive study, the study population included patients referred to the Radiology Department of two specialized dental clinics in Ilam and Kermanshah cities from 2020-2021. A total of 1000 participants were voluntarily examined. The collected data were analyzed using the correlation and logistic regression tests. 

The prevalence of calcifications was 39.4% in Ilam and 27.6% in Kermanshah. Also, the results showed that there was a significant relationship between systemic diseases and calcifications (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient between systemic diseases and calcifications was r=0.76 (P=0.02) in Ilam, and r=0.84 (P=0.00) in Kermanshah. Age and sex could not predict calcifications (P>0.05).

Based on the findings, calcifications on panoramic radiographs may serve as a predictor for presence of systemic diseases.

Dyspepsia is a common disorder that puts much socio-economic pressure on patients due to its high prevalence. Various factors can cause this disorder.

This study investigated the relationship between dyspepsia, quality of life, and personality traits.

This case-control study selected 50 people with dyspepsia and 50 healthy people by simple random method. Patients’ demographic information was recorded using a researcher-made checklist. Then, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire measured the quality of life, and the NEO-FFI-60 questionnaire assessed personality traits. Finally, the data were analyzed using a chi-square test, independent t-test, and multivariate linear and logistic regression by SPSS software version 22 at the significance level of 0.05.

The mean score of anger was higher in people with dyspepsia than in healthy people (P = 0.000), but other indicators were higher in healthy people than in people with dyspepsia (P < 0.05). Finally, the personality traits of anger, acceptance of new experiences, and conscientiousness had a significant relationship with quality of life in people with dyspepsia (P < 0.05).

Dyspepsia reduces the quality of life and affects the personality traits of individuals. Thus, improving dyspepsia can improve patients’ personality traits and quality of life.

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) can cause death and severe disorders in the developmental process of children and, in most cases, are associated with other congenital defects. The current study investigates the prevalence of such defects among infants born in 2019 and 2020. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Ilam province on 91 referred neonates, with the possibility of heart diseases, who were diagnosed with CHDs. Demographic, clinical, and definitive diagnoses of cardiologists were recorded and analyzed in these infants, followed by a 6-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and correlation coefficients. A total of 91 infants out of 16,064 newborns were diagnosed with CHDs, and the prevalence of heart diseases was 5.9 in every 1000 live births. The most frequent defects were ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and PDA, with prevalence rates of 59.3% and 14.2%, respectively. Among 54 VSDs, mus VSD (n = 39) was the most common form of this disorder. The incidence of CHDs in Ilam province was lower than the global average, which may be attributed to the easier access of several cities to the health centers of the bordering provinces. The highlighted results of this study were the frequency of VSDs and the high rates of muscular VSD compared to membranous VSD.

Thalassemia major (TM) is an inherited hemolytic disease with a high prevalence. Nowadays, no complications have been studied in these patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the complications of tuberculosis packs and iron chelators in patients with TM in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in 2018-2019.

This cross-sectional study was performed in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in 2018-2019. All eligible patients' records and necessary information, including age, sex, and periodic tests (cardiac, liver, bone, and hormonal and infectious examinations), were reviewed and collected using a checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS22 software with a significance level of 0.05.

Enrolled patients were 93 cases with TM. The incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis (69.9%) was the most common, and the lowest cases were hypogonadism (35.5%), hypothyroidism (9.7%), heart failure (5.4%), hepatitis C (2.2%), and liver failure. Hepatitis B and HIV were not seen in these patients.

Results demonstrated that the highest rate of complications was related to the bony part of the body structure, which is due to the pathophysiology of the disease. The low rates of heart failure and liver failure were because the patients with this level of complications may not survive for long.

Rheumatic diseases are among the most health problems that exert economic and social burden on the general population. Patients’ information based on the inclusion criteria were collected from hospital records in separate questionnaires, that were assessed in terms of age at the time of referral, sex, ethnicity, initial clinical manifestations, involved joints, presence of comorbid disease and extra-articular involvement. The study population was 3049 patients. The mean age of patients was 52.24 ± 12.99 years. 81 % of the patients were female. The prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) was 22.00%, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 21.51%, and Osteoarthritis (OA) was 16.59%. Joint pain (OR 4.21, 95% CI 3.02–4.81, p < 0.001), BMI>25 (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.01–6.79, p < 0.001), and Lack of physical activity (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.14–3.75, p = 0.018) were risk factors of osteoporosis. It is recommended to control the known risk factors associated with these diseases, such as lifestyle modifications, and regular and effective exercise, as well as to review the associated risk factors, especially in women.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical symptoms of SARS- CoV-2 infection in HD patients.

This is a single-center study conducted at HD center, in Ilam, Iran. The study was included 87 HD patients to be tested. SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed with confirmed test by rRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) assay.

Around 35.63% of HD patients were diagnosed as COVID-19 infection; most of them were male (74.4%). Dyspnea (58.1%) and cough (45.2%) were the most common symptoms among HD cases with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diabetes (16.1%) and hypertension (19.4%) were the most coexisting medical illnesses. About 12.9% of patients needed ICU care. Additionally, 16.1% of our patients died, which all of them were male.

This study showed a high prevalence of COVID-19 among our HD group, accompanied by mild symptoms. The HD population is probably among the most sensitive and high-risk groups for COVID-19 because of advanced age, comorbidities disease, low-immune function and frequent required visits, and patient overload in HD centers. Preventive measures should be taken in order to minimize the virus transmission in dialysis centers.

The Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs), despite numerous benefits, such as the ease of use and less drug involvement, provide extensive adverse effects. One of the most significant, but rare side effects of them in women is severe and dangerous bleeding

In this study, we reported a case of severe vaginal bleeding (manometric hemorrhage) in a woman receiving rivaroxaban to prevent pulmonary thrombosis.

The oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban could present a rare adverse effect on women.

Background and purpose Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) are lung lesions that affect most of the periphery of the lower lobes, and are manifested by dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hemothorax. Pregnancy is one of the conditions in which these malformations appear due to hemodynamic changes and hormonal factors such as increased levels of estrogen. This paper presents the case of a pregnant woman at 28 weeks of gestation who received first-aid treatment for symptoms of respiratory distress and hemothorax. Then, she was transferred to the operating room and thoracotomy was performed and the vascular lesion was resected. After that, the patient had stable hemodynamic conditions and was transferred to the ward. Our patient was eligible for thoracotomy due to pulmonary manifestations of the disease. In dealing with these situations, immediate counseling and collaboration of gynecologists with thoracic surgeons can save the lives of mother and her fetus.

Helicobacter pylori infection can lead to the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer in humans. Two categories of diagnostic methods are generally used for the detection of H. pylori infection. Particularly, non-invasive methods are recognized as practical, feasible, and sensitive diagnostic tests for the detection of H. pylori infection..
This study was designed with the aim to develop an assay, based on cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antigen through western blotting method for the detection of H. pylori in fecal samples..
The antigenic region of CagA (arCagA) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and cloned to pET32a plasmid. Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was used to induce gene expression, and Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS was transformed into pET32a-arCagA. Afterwards, the recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA resin. The rats were immunized by the purified arCagA protein for the production of antibodies. For the detection of H. pylori infection, stool samples from 80 patients were evaluated, using Western blot analysis and rat anti-arCagA antibody. The antigenic recombinant CagA region was expressed in E. coli, and CagA protein was produced and purified. Rat anti-CagA antibody was produced after immunization with the recombinant antigenic protein..
We investigated CagA protein, using the immunoblotting method in stool samples, which were already identified as positive by the application of a commercial kit. The developed test showed sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 90% in the patients..
Based on the findings, application of recombinant arCagA antigen for the detection of H. pylori infection is a simple, rapid, and brief non-invasive method. Therefore, it can be suggested as an appropriate antigen for H. pylori detection kits..

Quality of life (QOL) is becoming an important indicator of treatment efficacy in patients with breast cancer. Most previous studies have compared patients'' QOL following breast conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Our aim was to assess the impact of BCS versus oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS). Selection of patients for BCS or OBS was performed according to standard criteria e.g the breast and tumor size. The QOL was assessed by employing EORTC QLQ-C3 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires concurrently and one year after the surgery. The QOL scores one year after the surgery were compared between two groups using analysis of covariance, after adjusting for the baseline values. A total of 120 patients with a mean age of 46.16±1.4 years were enrolled in the study. BCS and OBS were the main surgical treatment techniques in 57(47.5%) and 63(52.5%) patients, respectively. At the time of the last follow-up visit, there were no differences between the two groups regarding functional scales such as physical (P = 0.761), role (P = 0.356), emotional (P = 0.107), cognitive (P = 0.051), and social functioning (P = 0.659). No differences were observed between the two groups regarding nine symptom scales. Based on the results of breast cancer specific module of the questionnaire, no differences were observed in functional scales and symptoms with the exception of arm symptoms which were less common in OBS group (P = 0.023) Based on the results of the current study, it could be suggested that there are no significant differences in the in scores of QOL components between patients who received BCS or OBS.