A retrospective analysis of isoniazid-monoresistant tuberculosis: among Iranian pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Background And Objectives: Isoniazid (INH) is one of the most potent anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. The spread and transmission of INH- resistant bacilli are likely to pose a significant problem for National TB control Program (NTP). In this study, we aimed to determine the trend of INH-monoresistant TB in Iran.

Rapid identification of extensively and extremely drug resistant tuberculosis from multidrug resistant strains; using PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSCP.

Background And Objectives: Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is caused by mutations in genes encoding drug targets. Investigators have already demonstrated the existence of mutations in codons 88 to 94 in the gyrA gene and also in codons 1400, 1401, and 1483 of rrs gene among extensively and extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR & XXDR-TB) strains. The aim of this study was to identify the XDR and XXDR-TB stains based on their mutational analysis.

Normal dimensions of trachea and two main bronchi in the Iranian population.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal diameters of larger airways in the Persian population, since these demographic variables are essential for interpretation of chest CTs and/or plain X-rays.

Material/methods: During a 6-month period, sagittal and coronal diameters of tracheas of all cases admitted for a chest CT to the radiology department of the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD) were measured. The patients had to accept to take part in the study and had to fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study.

Disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii in an HIV-negative patient.

Disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection is a rare infection in non-HIV patients. This research has uncovered a very rare manifestation of disseminated M. kansasii infection in a non-HIV patient with lung and pericardial involvement.

Role of P2X7 Receptors in Release of IL-1β: A Possible Mediator of Pulmonary Inflammation.

Extracellular ATP is a signaling molecule which plays an important role in alerting the immune system in case of any tissue damage. Recent studies show that binding of ATP to the ionotropic P2X7 receptor of inflammatory cells (macrophages and monocytes) will induce caspase 1 activation. Stimulation of caspase 1 activity results in maturation and release of IL-1β in the inflammasome in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.

Dexter versus sinister deep vein thrombosis: which is the more sinister? Findings from the NRITLD DVT registry.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major health problem. Despite the wealth of studies on its epidemiology, few have described the thrombus sidedness and particularly the association of thrombus sidedness with clinical presentation and subsequent complications. This article reviews current knowledge regarding this topic and in light of recent data from a large prospective study.

Evaluating the effect of zingiber officinalis on nausea and vomiting in patients receiving Cisplatin based regimens.

Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinalis, has long been used as herbal medicine for its antiemetic effect. For evaluating the effect of zingiber officinalis on nausea and vomiting (N and V) in patients receiving cisplatin based regimens, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial was carried out in patients receiving cisplatin in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. The patients were randomly assigned to receive ginger capsules (rhizome of zingiber officinalis) or placebo in their first cycle of the study.

Epigenetics and chromatin remodeling play a role in lung disease.

Epigenetics is defined as heritable changes that affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is facilitated through different mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA-associated silencing by small non-coding RNAs. All these mechanisms are crucial for normal development, differentiation and tissue-specific gene expression.

Sticker reminders improve thromboprophylaxis appropriateness in hospitalized patients.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health problem. Even though effective thromboprophylaxis measures exist to prevent VTE, close adherence to guidelines is missing. We assessed the effects of pasting VTE prophylaxis sticker reminders, on the appropriateness of thromboprophylaxis and prophylaxis underutilization.

Synchronous Comparison of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Epidemiology Strains by "MIRU-VNTR" and "MIRU-VNTR and Spoligotyping" Technique.

Molecular epidemiology analyses are frequently used in determining epidemiology of tuberculosis. Recently, Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and Spoligotyping has become an important method, as it allows high-through put, discriminatory and reproducible analysis of clinical isolate. The purpose of this study is to compare techniques of "MIRU-VNTR" versus "MIRU-VNTR and Spoligotyping" together for study of genetic pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.

Measurement of the validity and reliability of the persian translation of the saint george respiratory questionnaire for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: One of the important tools in measuring the quality of life in patients having a chronic disease is using questionnaires in which the impact of disease and its different types of treatments on daily tasks and social activities are evaluated.

Materials And Methods: At first, the questionnaire was translated into Persian and some of the concepts were changed by the researchers. Next, it was back translated by a person living in an English-speaking area who was unaware of the subject.

Churg Strauss Syndrome after polypectomy in asthmatic and allergic patients.

Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is a form of primary vasculitis that is characterized by severe eosinophilia and often granulomatous inflammation as well as history of asthma or allergy. Previously, the association between cysteinyl leukotrien receptor antagonists (LTRAs), corticosteroid withdrawal or a sudden change in its used method and CSS had been established. We report three cases that have been referred because of dyspnea, wheezing and cough with a history of allergic rhinitis and nasal polypectomy.

Differences in cell wall thickness between resistant and nonresistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: using transmission electron microscopy.

The ultrastructure of the cell wall of extensively drug-resistant (XDR), multidrug-resistant (MDR) and susceptible tuberculosis (TB) bacilli was viewed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Under the TEM, marked differences were observed in the thickness of their cell wall: 20.2 +/-1.

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein mimicking pulmonary nodules on HRCT of the lungs and scimitar syndrome on chest radiograph: multidetector CT findings.

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein is an extremely rare anomaly of the pulmonary venous system. It is often confused with other pulmonary abnormalities such as hypogenetic lung (scimitar) syndrome, pulmonary varices, pulmonary nodules, and arteriovenous malformations. We present imaging findings including multidetector computerized tomography in a case of anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein mimicking pulmonary nodules on high-resolution computed tomography of the lungs and scimitar syndrome on chest radiograph in an asthmatic girl.

Emergence of new forms of totally drug-resistant tuberculosis bacilli: super extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis or totally drug-resistant strains in iran.

Background: The study documented the emergence of new forms of resistant bacilli (totally drug-resistant [TDR] or super extensively drug-resistant [XDR] tuberculosis [TB] strains) among patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

Methods: Susceptibility testing against first- and second-line drugs was performed on isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Subsequently, the strains identified as XDR or TDR M tuberculosis were subjected to spoligotyping and variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR).

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the lung and thyroid, co-existing with papillary thyroid cancer.

A 24-year-old man presented to our center with a huge goiter compressing his airway. He had a previous diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the lung. Core needle biopsy was consistent with histiocytosis.