Chronic and acute effects of cocoa products intake on arterial stiffness and platelet count and function: A systematic review and dose-response Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The findings of trials investigating the effect of cocoa products consumption on vascular stiffness and platelet are controversial. The aim of this study is to summarize the findings on the acute and chronic effects of different forms of cocoa on the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. We searched SCOPUS, Pub Med and Web of Science from inception to Jan 2020.

Acceleration rate of mitral inflow E wave: a novel transmitral doppler index for assessing diastolic function.

Background: We performed comprehensive transmitral and pulmonary venous Doppler echocardiographic studies to devise a novel index of diastolic function. This is the first study to assess the utility of the acceleration rate (AR) of the E wave of mitral inflow as a primary diagnostic modality for assessing diastolic function.

Methods: Study group consisted of 84 patients (53 + 11 years) with left ventricle (LV) diastolic dysfunction and 34 healthy people (35 ± 9 years) as control group, who were referred for clinically indicated two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) during 2012 and 2013 to Imam Hospital.

Feigned symptoms among defendants claiming psychiatric problems: Survey of 45 Malingerers.

Objective: In many jurisdictions, psychiatric problems are intended for commutation. Therefore, a forensic psychiatrist has an important role in detection of malingering. While several studies evaluate diagnostic tests, it is less known what symptoms are more likely to be imitated by malingerers.

Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary in patients undergoing ureterolithotripsy?

Transurethral Ureterolithotripsy (TUL) is a frequently used procedure in urology departments. Many urologists perform TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis; however the use of chemoprophylaxis before TUL remains a controversial issue in urology. This study was carried out to assess the safety of omitting antibiotic prophylaxis prior to TUL.

Malnutrition predicting factors in hemodialysis patients.

Malnutrition is a predictor of increased mortality in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Various factors may contribute to malnutrition in these patients including energy and protein intake, inflammation, and comorbidity. To determine the importance of these factors in malnutrition of chronic HD patients, we studied 112 chronic HD patients in two centers was evaluated with the Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS) and anthropometric and biochemical indices.

Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass in extracardiac cavopulmonary connection: does it really matter?

Objectives: We examined the effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass on the early outcome variables after fenestrated extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection.

Methods: Between May 2001 and January 2009, 102 patients with univentricular heart physiology underwent fenestrated extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection. Patients were divided into one of 2 groups: the cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 48) group and the no cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 54) group.

The lack of correlation between mast cells and microvessel density with pathologic feature of renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: The growth of solid tumors requires angiogenesis. Evidence indicates that mast cells (MCs) play an important role in tumor angiogenesis but results are not definitive. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible effects of angiogenesis and the presence of MCs on the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in abdominal blunt trauma.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CT scan findings in patients with blunt abdominal trauma admitted to the university hospital.

Methods: All the patients with blunt abdominal trauma admitted at a tertiary teaching trauma center in Iran between 2005 and 2007 were enrolled in this study. In the absence of any clinical manifestations, the patients underwent a diagnostic CT scan.

Reproducibility determination of WHO classification of endometrial hyperplasia/well differentiated adenocarcinoma and comparison with computerized morphometric data in curettage specimens in Iran.

Background: Management of endometrial precancerous lesions has been of much debate due to inconsistencies in their classification, natural history and histologic diagnosis. Endometrial hyperplasia constitutes a wide range of histomorphologic features associated with high intra and interobserver diagnostic variability.Although traditional microscopic diagnosis is by far the most applicable method and the gold standard for histomorphologic diagnosis, digitized image analysis has been used as a powerful adjunct to maximize the histologic data retrieval and to add some detailed objective criteria for correct diagnosis in difficult cases.

Gabapentin and uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Pruritus is a common and bothersome problem in 30-50% of hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gabapentin, 100 mg/three times a week (after each hemodialysis session), on uremic pruritus.

Study Design: Patients older than 18 years who had undergone hemodialysis for more than three months were enrolled in this double-blind clinical trial.

Totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in renal anomalies.

Objectives: To assess the outcome and safety of the totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in renal anomalies.

Patients And Methods: During a prospective clinical trial from December 2002 to November 2006, 60 patients with renal anomalies and nephrolithiasis were included in our study. The anomalies consisted of the horseshoe kidney, rotational anomalies of pyelocalyceal system, and ectopic kidney.

Risk factors of erythrocytosis post renal transplantation.

Post-transplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is characterized by persistently elevated hematocrit level >or= 51%. This complication is reported to develop in 10-20% of renal allografts recipients, mostly 2 years after kidney transplantation. PTE is self-limited in 25% of the patients; however it may persist in patients with an increased susceptibility for thrombosis and potential fatal outcome.

Effects of normal saline vs. lactated ringer's during renal transplantation.

Aim: We hypothesized that normal saline (NS) may have more deleterious effects compared with lactated ringer (LR) in kidney transplant recipients because of the higher risk of acidosis and higher levels of serum potassium. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the safety of LR if used during a renal transplant.

Methods: Adults undergoing kidney transplantations were enrolled in a double-blinded randomized prospective clinical trial.

Effects of prophylactic insertion of Double-J stents to decrease episodes of renal colic in patients with recurrent ureteral stones.

Purpose: To evaluate the hypothesis that prophylactic insertion of Double-J stents after uncomplicated transurethral lithotripsy (TUL) can decrease the number of episodes of renal colic and their intensity in patients with recurrent ureteral stones (those with three or more episodes of stone formation).

Patients And Methods: During a prospective randomized clinical trial from May 1999 to January 2004, 195 patients with recurrent ureteral stones were included in our study; 94 had stents in place for 4 weeks, and 101 patients remained stentless (control group). A few patients in each group had residual stone disease.