A review on modafinil: the characteristics, function, and use in critical care.

In critically ill patients, sleep is generally interrupted. Some factors that lead to such sleep interruption include the intensive care unit (ICU) circumstance, primary medical disease itself, mental stress, and impacts of many drugs and other managements utilized to treat ICU patients. Another illness that may cause profound daytime somnolence is narcolepsy.

Computerised tomography scan in multi-drug-resistant versus extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Purpose: Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is simultaneously resistant to isoniazid and rifampin. Of course, this germ may also be resistant to other anti-tuberculosis drugs. Patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are also resistant to all types of fluoroquinolone and at least one of the three injectable medications: amikacin, clarithromycin, or kanamycin, in addition to isoniazid and rifampin.

Prevalence of Mycobacterium abscessus among the Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

Background: Considering the importance of the increasing incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, especially Mycobacterium abscessus worldwide, we conducted a study to evaluate the incidence of these diseases in our area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of M. abscessus in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Association of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms with susceptibility to pseudoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliative and primary open-angle glaucoma.

Background: The involvement of cytokines in pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and glaucoma has been demonstrated in several studies. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between three promoter polymorphisms -592C/A (rs1800872), - 819C/T (rs1800871) and -1082A/G (rs1800896) of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene with susceptibility to pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG), and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: In this study, 114 PEX, 118 PEXG, 114 POAG patients and 126 healthy individuals from Iranian population were participated.

Therapeutic effects of nebulized verapamil on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized and double-blind clinical trial.

Objectives: In this study, we assessed the clinical effect of inhaled verapamil on hospitalized COPD patients in a randomized and double-blind study.

Method: COPD patients randomly received 10 mg of inhaled verapamil or 4 cc nebulized distilled water (DW) as placebo.

Results: Twenty patients enrolled in each group with no difference in baseline characteristics.

Effects of High-Dose Vitamin D Replacement on the Serum Levels of Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with increased inflammatory responses to noxious particles, which can be further enhanced during Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Considering the important immunoregulatory function of vitamin D, high prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD) in COPD patients and a negative link between vitamin D levels and inflammatory biomarkers, suggests the seemingly interesting mechanism of vitamin D effects on inflammation resolution during the conventional treatment of AECOPD. The admitted AECOPD patients with VDD were recruited and randomly allocated to receive either 300,000 IU of intramuscular vitamin D ( = 35) or placebo ( = 35).

Three Markers in Cancerous and Healthy Cells of Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC).

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among males and females. The diagnosis of lung cancer is of great importance for clinical considerations and follow-up treatment. This study aimed to examine the expression of CEA, LUNX, and CK19 biomarkers in the cancerous and healthy tissues of patients suffering from NSCLC.

Synbiotics and Treatment of Asthma: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: We examined the efficiency and safety of a specific synbiotic compound, brand name Kidilact, in the treatment of asthma in children 12 years of age or younger.

Materials And Methods: This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from May 22, 2016, to May 21, 2017. One hundred children, 12 years of age or younger, who suffered from mild to moderate asthma were recruited in this study.

Evaluation of Quality of Life in Terms of Sinonasal Symptoms in Children with Cystic Fibrosis.

Objective Sinusitis is a common complaint in children with cystic fibrosis. However, the actual prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis and its effect on the quality of life of children have not been well considered. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of sinonasal quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis.

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Abdominal compartment syndrome patients suffer severe obstacles such as kidney failure and shock. To evade further complications, identifying the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), in critically ill individuals and hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) is obligated.

Aim: The current study intended to study the abdominal compartment syndrome and the concomitant risk factors among hospitalised patients in ICU, by using the Intra-abdominal pressure test.

Effects of Coffee, Black Tea and Green Tea Consumption on the Risk of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Several studies have evaluated the association between coffee, black and green tea consumption and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) risk, while the results were inconsistent. We conducted a dose-response meta-analysis of available observational studies to assess the association among coffee, black and green tea intake and the risk of NHL in the general population. Studies published up to August 2018 were identified on the basis of a literature search in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases using Mesh and non-Mesh relevant keywords.

Fosfomycin: the characteristics, activity, and use in critical care.

Fosfomycin (CHOP) is a phosphonic acid derivative representing an epoxide class of antibiotics. The drug is a re-emerging bactericidal antibiotic with a wide range of actions against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Among the existing antibacterial agents, fosfomycin has the lowest molecular weight (138 Da), which is not structurally associated with other classes of antibiotics.

Effect of Nebulized Verapamil on Oxygenation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Many pharmacological and behavioral therapies have been investigated to improve oxygenation in the intensive care unit (ICU). In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the purpose of therapy is to correct the ventilation perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Agents, such as calcium blockers, can affect both ventilation and vasculature.

The Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Outpatient Cancer Therapy in Iran.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the main causes of mortality in patients with cancer. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in breast cancer patients receiving outpatient cancer therapy.

Materials And Methods: This multi-center prospective cohort study was conducted on patients with breast cancer, initiating an outpatient chemotherapy regimen in five medical centers in Iran.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Intensive Care Units: An Updated Review.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Patients with PH who require critical care usually have severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Although different groups of PH have different etiologies, pulmonary vascular dysfunction is common in these groups.

Serum Procalcitonin Level as a Predictor of Bacterial Infection in Patients with COPD Exacerbation.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Although the cause of COPD exacerbations can be bacterial or viral, use of antibiotics in exacerbations remains controversial. Procalcitonin serum level dramatically increases in bacterial infections, but not in viral or noninfectious febrile diseases.

Association Between Vitamin D Deficiencies in Sarcoidosis with Disease Activity, Course of Disease and Stages of Lung Involvements.

Background: Despite negative association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D and incidence of many chronic respiratory diseases, this feature was not well studied in sarcoidosis. Current study investigated the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency with sarcoidosis chronicity, disease activity, extra-pulmonary skin manifestations, urine calcium level and pulmonary function status in Iranian sarcoidosis patients. Results of this study along with future studies, will supply more effective programs for sarcoidosis treatment.

TNFα -857 C/T and TNFR2 +587 T/G polymorphisms are associated with cystic fibrosis in Iranian patients.

Identification of modifier genes influencing phenotype of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has become a challenge in CF pathophysiology, prognostic estimations and development of new therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to explore the association between four genetic polymorphisms of three modifier genes with CF, by comparing their alleles, genotypes and haplotype frequencies in patients and controls. In this favor, two regulatory polymorphic loci in TNFα promoter (-857C/T, rs1799724 and -238A/G, rs361525) and two functional polymorphic loci in TNFR1 (+36A/G, rs767455) and TNFR2 (+587T/G, rs1061622) were genotyped in 70 patients and 79 controls, using PCR-RFLP.

A Rare Report of Lung Metastasis of the Common Non-Melanotic Skin Cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma is a common non-melanotic skin cancer with a prevalence of 74.5%-82.6% in the Iranian population.

Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of the Fatigue Assessment Scale in Iranian Sarcoidosis Patients.

Introduction: Fatigue is one of the common symptoms of sarcoidosis, which occurs in about 50-70% of patients.

Aim: Considering that there are no valid Iranian questionnaires for evaluating fatigue in sarcoidosis, in the present study, for the first time, we translated Fatigue Questionnaire into Persean and evaluated its validity and reliability among Iranian patients with sarcoidosis.

Material And Methods: In methodological research, English version of Fatigue assessment scale (FAS) 10 items questionnaire which is designed to assess physical or mental fatigue in chronic disease patients, was translated into Persian and back-translated into English.

Linezolid: a review of its properties, function, and use in critical care.

Linezolid can be considered as the first member of the class of oxazolidinone antibiotics. The compound is a synthetic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis through binding to rRNA. It also inhibits the creation of the initiation complex during protein synthesis which can reduce the length of the developed peptide chains, and decrease the rate of reaction of translation elongation.

Role of Vitamin D Replacement on Health Related Quality of Life in Hospitalized Patients with "Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease".

Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is substantial and increasing in the world. There are controversial reports regarding vitamin D supplementation in COPD. We investigated relationship between vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) supplementation with Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and symptom recovery in AECOPD patients with concurrent Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD).

The Potential Biomarkers and Immunological Effects of Tumor-Derived Exosomes in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite considerable achievements in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, the global control of the disease remains problematic. In this respect, greater understanding of the disease pathology is crucially needed for earlier diagnosis and more successful treatment to be achieved.

Morphological changes and induction of antifungal resistance in due to different CO2 levels.

Background And Purpose: Aspergillosis is one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised and neutropenic patients. () is the most common causative agent of this infection. Due to variable CO concentrations that pathogens are exposed to during the infection process and to understand the role of CO, we examined the effects of various CO concentrations as one of the environmental factors on morphological changes and induction of antifungal resistance in .