Coronary artery calcification score as the determinant of coronary artery disease in chronic kidney disease patients: A preliminary study.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive cardiovascular imaging procedure that visualizes coronary artery calcifications (CAC), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Due to different calcification patterns in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general population, this study aims to present diagnostic cut-off values for CAC to detect early coronary artery disease (CAD) in CKD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 807 patients: 407 with CKD and 400 controls with normal kidney function who underwent CCTA during 2019-2021.

Anxiolytic Effect of Jasmine Aromatherapy in Pediatric Dental Procedures: A Single-Blinded Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the possible anxiolytic effect of jasmine aromatherapy in pediatric dental procedures. A parallel randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed and conducted from February 19 until April 19, 2020, on children aged 7 to 12 years-old requiring class 1 restorative treatment of primary or permanent tooth with infiltration anesthesia. Interventions were defined as 15 minutes of aromatherapy using 2mL of jasmine extract for the intervention group, and with water for the control group.

Evaluation of the new modified apnea test in confirmation of brain death.

Background: Apnea testing is mandatory to confirm brain death; however, it is unsafe for patients who have substantial hypoxemia without ventilator support. We used a new modified apnea test without the need to disconnect the patient from the ventilator in the present study and compared the outcomes and complications of the new method to the widely used old method.

Materials And Methods: The current study was conducted on people suspected of having brain death.

The effect of dexamethasone and bupivacaine on postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting by preperitoneal nerve blocking in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study aims to examine the effects of preperitoneal administration of dexamethasone and bupivacaine surrounding laparoscopic trocars on postoperative pain (POP) and nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Method: In this randomized triple-blinded trial with a 1:1 randomization ratio, 104 patients with chronic cholecystitis were candidates for elective LC. A total of 40 mg (8 ml) of bupivacaine was mixed with 8 mg (2 ml) of dexamethasone or normal saline.

Cardiomyopathy discovered during pregnancy: Insights from speckle tracking echocardiography in a cohort of pregnant patients.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is considered the leading cause of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) presents diagnostic challenges, often mirroring dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of the study is to evaluate echocardiographic features, including global and segmental longitudinal strain values, in pregnant women with a history of newly diagnosed left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Optic neuritis following COVID-19 vaccination: Case series and review of the literature.

Objective: To review cases of optic neuritis after COVID-19 vaccination and add similar cases to the literature.

Methods: Thorough PubMed and Scopus searches were conducted, and data from studies describing optic neuritis after COVID-19 vaccination were extracted, tabulated, pooled, and reviewed.

Results: We present 6 cases of optic neuritis following COVID-19 vaccination.

Pain management after thoracotomy with dexamethasone and bupivacaine through a peripleural cather: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Thoracotomy procedures can result in significant pain and cause nausea/vomiting. Glucocorticoids have anti-emetic and analgesic effects due to their anti-inflammatory and nerve-blocking properties. This study investigates the additive effect of local dexamethasone with bupivacaine as sole analgesic medication through a peripleural catheter after thoracotomy.

Span of spleen is associated with disability status in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional abdominopelvic ultrasonography study.

Characteristics of livers and spleens of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) could constitute good biomarkers of MS-related characteristics such as the disability status. To test the hypothesis "the gross anatomical features of livers and spleens, are not similar between pwMS with different disease characteristics" a cross-sectional study was conducted on pwMS seen at the Isfahan MS clinic, Iran, from February until December 2023. Definitive, otherwise-healthy, pwMS were enrolled after an initial laboratory evaluation.

Midterm outcomes of one anastomosis gastric bypass for patients with BMI < 35 kg/m from a large single center.

Background: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is gaining more attention in patients with severe obesity and recently is used for patients with body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m. In this 5-year single center experience we aim to report our outcomes of using OAGB for patients with BMI < 35 kg/m.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data recorded in to our national obesity registry database.

Whole spinal transverse myelitis in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Background: Spinal cord is one of the prominent targets of autoimmune mechanisms in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). Rarely, NMOSD causes damage to the entire length of the spinal cord, from cervical segments to conus medullaris, which has not been characterized in the existing literature.

Material And Method: We reviewed medical records, demographic information, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences of 174 NMOSD patients from January 2011 to January 2023 who were admitted to Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis center to find patients with whole spinal transverse myelitis (TM).

Remnant Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass: A Systematic Review of Indications and Outcomes of Resectional Gastric Bypass.

Background: In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the reasons and outcomes behind remnant gastrectomy with or after gastric bypass procedures.

Results: A total of 66 studies examining 1918 patients were included in this study with 70% of female predominance. Twenty studies reported RGB on 1751 patients and 46 studies reported remnant gastrectomy after gastric bypass in 167 patients.

What About My Weight? Insufficient Weight Loss or Weight Regain After Bariatric Metabolic Surgery.

Context: This review study aimed to investigate the definition, etiology, risk factors (RFs), management strategy, and prevention of insufficient weight loss (IWL) and weight regain (WR) following bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS).

Evidence Acquisition: Electronic databases were searched to retrieve relevant articles. The inclusion criteria were English articles with adult participants assessing the definition, prevalence, etiology, RFs, management strategy, and prevention of IWL/WR.

Neuro-mucormycosis: Lessons from COVID-19-associated cases.

Scarce data are available on the neurological presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) and COVID-19-unrelated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). This study aimed to compare the neurological presentations and their associated outcomes in patients with CAM and COVID-19-unrelated ROCM. In December 2021, a case-control analysis was conducted on the CAM (case group) and COVID-19-unrelated ROCM (control group) referrals of one center in Isfahan, Iran.

Early hepatic artery thrombosis treatments and outcomes: aorto-hepatic arterial conduit interposition or revision of anastomosis?

Background: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is one of the critical conditions after an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) and leads to severe problems if not corrected promptly. However, multiple treatments have been proposed for HAT, in which surgical revascularization with either auto-hepatic conduit interposition (AHCI) or revision of the anastomosis is more familiar indeed indicated for some patients and in specific situations. In this study, we want to evaluate the success and outcomes of treating early HAT (E-HAT), which defines HAT within 30 days after OLT with either of the surgical revascularization techniques.

The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Serum Levels of Vitamin A, D and B12 and Iron Profile on Patients with Morbid Obesity.

Background: One of the concerns after bariatric surgery is the lack of nutrients and vitamins due to anatomical and physiological changes that occur after the surgery. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on these nutrients and vitamins.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was performed in Tehran and all the patients who met the inclusion criteria before the surgery were tested for serum levels of vitamins A, B12, D, ferritin, serum iron, and TIBC.

Using Anthropometric and Demographic Factors to Predict Small Bowel Length to Prevent Malnutrition in Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Small bowel length measurements and estimation have high clinical importance, especially in bariatric surgeries to prevent postoperation malnutrition. This study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between demographic and anthropometric factors with small bowel length.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 150 patients that were candidates of abdominal surgeries.

Causes and Risk Factors of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Children.

Objectives: Epilepsy, the tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures, is the most common chronic neurological disorder worldwide. About 20% to 40% of children with epilepsy suffer from refractory seizures, causing neurological, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments. Identifying the factors contributing to pediatric refractory seizures can help neurologists effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat their patients.

GLIS2 and CCND1 expression levels in breast cancer patients.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer in women, with increasing incidence and death rates in recent years. Disruptions of different signaling pathways partially cause breast cancer. Hence, different genes through particular pathways are involved in BC tumorigenesis.

Association of SOD2 rs2758339, rs5746136 and rs2842980 polymorphisms with increased risk of breast cancer: a haplotype-based case-control study.

Background: A growing body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress, high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC). Superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a mitochondria-resident antioxidant enzyme, protects cells from ROS by catalytically converting the superoxide radicals into less reactive species.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether SOD2 rs2758339, rs5746136 and rs2842980 polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of BC.

Effect of enteral probiotics on prognostic scores and C-reactive protein levels in critically ill multiple trauma patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the effect of a one-week LactoCare® oral probiotic supplementation on prognostic scores (APACHE II: acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II; SAPS II: simplified acute physiology score II; SOFA: sequential organ failure assessment), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and other outcomes in multiple trauma (MT) patients requiring intensive care compared to placebo.

Material And Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The population included MT patients admitted to ICUs of two referral centers in Isfahan, Iran, from December 2021 to November 2022 (registered under IRCT.

Effect of Obesity Duration and BMI Trajectories on Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review.

Obesity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It is crucial to understand the impact of its duration due to the more extended exposure period and the higher frequency of overweight/obesity at younger ages. In the last decade, various studies have discovered that the duration of obesity, in addition to its severity, might have an impact.