The comparison effects of intra-articular injection of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (PRGF), Hyaluronic Acid (HA), and ozone in knee osteoarthritis; a one year randomized clinical trial.

Background: Our study compare the short and long-term efficacy of the intra articular injections (IAIs) of hyaluronic acid (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), and ozone in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 238 patients with mild to moderate knee OA were randomized into 4 groups of IAIs: HA (3 doses weekly), PRP (2 doses with 3 weeks interval), PRGF (2 doses with 3 weeks interval), and Ozone (3 doses weekly). Our outcome measures were the mean changes from baseline (immediately from the first injections) until 2,6, and 12 months post intervention in scores of visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Lequesne index.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose, Short-Term Vitamin D Administration in the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is a relatively common complication affecting short- and long-term survival. The renoprotective effect of vitamin D (VitD) has been confirmed in several experimental models. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of high-dose VitD administration in patients with VitD insufficiency on the incidence of postoperative AKI, the urinary level of tubular biomarkers, and serum anti-inflammatory biomarker after coronary artery bypass graft.

The Effects of Knee Orthosis with Two Degrees of Freedom Joint Design on Gait and Sit-to-Stand Task in Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Knee bracing as a conservative treatment option for patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is of great interest to health practitioners and patients alike. Optimal orthotic knee joint structure is essential to achieve biomechanical and clinical effectiveness. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the effects of a knee orthosis with a new two-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) joint design on selected gait parameters and in a sit-to-stand task in patients with mild-to-moderate medial KOA.

A Multicenter Survey on the Trend of Chest CT Scan Utilization: Tracing the First Footsteps of COVID-19 in Iran.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19 in Iran.

Objectives: To trace the footsteps of COVID-19 in Iran by exploring the trend in using chest CT scans and its economic impact on radiology departments. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the number of imaging examinations from 33 tertiary radiology departments in 9 large cities of Iran was collected from September 23, 2019 to March 20, 2020 (Months 1 to 6) and the corresponding months in 2018-2019.

Performing Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy without using Fiberoptic Bronchoscope.

Background: Percutaneous tracheostomy is an elective method that is increasingly being taken up in the intensive care unit alongside the patient's bed. In many centers, bronchoscopy is used, but the necessity of using bronchoscopy in percutaneous tracheostomy has not yet been determined. Discontinuing use of bronchoscopy can potentially reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of percutaneous tracheostomy.

The impact of metabolic syndrome on morbidity and mortality among intensive care unit admitted COVID-19 patients.

Background And Aims: Given the limited information describing the connection between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), we aimed to assess the impact of MetS on morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed from 1st April to May 3, 2020 on 157 ICU-admitted COVID-19 patients in Shahid Modarres Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Patients' clinical, laboratory and radiological findings, and subsequent complications, were collected and compared between MetS and non-MetS groups.

Intermediate versus standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation and statin therapy versus placebo in critically-ill patients with COVID-19: Rationale and design of the INSPIRATION/INSPIRATION-S studies.

Background: Microvascular and macrovascular thrombotic events are among the hallmarks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Furthermore, the exuberant immune response is considered an important driver of pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19. The optimal management strategy to prevent thrombosis in critically-ill patients with COVID-19 remains unknown.

Mortality Risk Factors among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in a Major Referral Center in Iran.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has killed many people worldwide since December 2019, and Iran has been among the most affected countries. In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine the prognostic factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients by analyzing 396 survived and 63 non-survived patients in Shahid Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from January 30 until April 5, 2020. As the results, the BMI > 35 (p = 0.

Efficacy of single high-molecular-weight versus triple low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid intra-articular injection among knee osteoarthritis patients.

Background: To compare intra-articular (IA) knee injections of a cross-linked high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) with a linear low-molecular weight HA (LMW-HA) in terms of pain and functional improvement among knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients.

Methods: In this single-blinded RCT, the patients were randomly divided into two groups for HA injections. The first group received an HMW-HA (Arthromac) injection, while the other received three weekly LMW-HA (Hyalgan) injections.

Platelet-Rich Plasma-Derived Growth Factor vs Hyaluronic Acid Injection in the Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis: A One Year Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: In this study, we aimed at performing a comparison between intra-articular injections of PRP-derived growth factor (PGRF) and hyaluronic acid regarding their effect on pain and patient's function in knee osteoarthritis, as well as their safety profiles.

Methods: During our single-masked randomized clinical trial, the candidates with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis received two intra-articular injections of PRGF with 3 weeks apart or received three weekly injections of HA. The mean improvements from before treatment until the second, sixth, and twelfth months post-intervention in scores obtained by visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Lequesne index were our primary outcomes.

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease: Update on Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, Pathophysiology and Management.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is relatively common in critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and it increases mortality and prolongs hospital stay. This article aimed to investigate the history, virology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology and management of COVID-19 disease, in general, and the pathogenetic mechanisms of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2)-induced kidney damage, in particular. Keywords like SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, renal impairment, sepsis, viremia, etc.

Abdominal Surgery in Patients With COVID-19: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Abdominal and Adipose Tissues.

Multiple tissue samples were obtained during emergent abdominal surgery in 4 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to examine for tissue involvement by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder empyema and died from severe respiratory failure. The second patient with Crohn disease underwent emergent laparotomy for a perforation in the terminal ileum and recovered.

Vitamin D Treatment Attenuates Heart Apoptosis After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system and in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with an extensive inflammatory response. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of vitamin D treatment on the apoptosis and inflammatory changes developed after CABG.

Pulmonary thromboembolism presenting with chest pain in a case of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic reduction in left ventricular function, presenting at the peripartum period. The diagnosis is based on echocardiographic features and excluding other causes of heart failure. Similar to any other cause of heart failure, the management of PPCM consists of diuretics, prevention of ventricular remodeling, preventing short and long-term complications.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection of High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid versus Corticosteroid in Management of Plantar Fasciitis: A 24-Week Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Aims: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the leading cause of heel pain in adults. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection in reducing the symptoms of PF, compared with corticosteroid (CS) injection as a conventional treatment.

Methods: In this triple-blind, randomized, clinical trial, 75 patients who had the symptoms of PF for at least 3 months were randomly divided into two groups of 38 and 37 individuals.

MRI Changes After Platelet Rich Plasma Injection in Knee Osteoarthritis (Randomized Clinical Trial).

Purpose: Few papers have studied the objective effects of PRP on cartilage. In this study, we investigated the effect of PRP on cartilage characteristics by special MRI sequencing in knee osteoarthritis (IRCT registration number: 2014020413442N6).

Patients And Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical trial, patients with bilateral knees osteoarthritis-grade 1, 2, and 3 were included in the study.

Subclinical involvement of the heart and its associated factors in patients with sarcoidosis with normal systolic function using 2D speckle tracking.

Background: Cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis may affect any part of the heart such as the pericardium, atriums, ventricles, and papillary muscles. In this regard, the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain has been reported to be valuable in detecting heart sarcoidosis and its distinction from cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical cardiac involvement using 2D speckle tracking and its associated factors in patients with normal systolic function by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

The effects of doxapram on time to tracheal extubation and early recovery in young morbidly obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Bariatric surgery is a well established treatment of the obese. Postoperative respiratory failure and airway obstruction after bariatric surgery can often be attributed to the residual depressant effects of anaesthetics, sedatives and opioids. Peri-operative management of morbidly obese patients is still a concern for operating room professionals.

Comparing The Efficacy Of Local Triamcinolone Injection In Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Three Different Approaches with or without Ultrasound Guidance.

Purpose: The present article has investigated the added value of ultrasound (US) guidance on improving the efficacy of local triamcinolone injection via comparing two US-guided methods versus a conventional landmark-guided approach.

Methods: Eighty-one subjects with mild or moderate CTS were included and randomly assigned into three categories including landmark-guided, conventional US-guided midline approach and US-guided ulnar in-plane method. Primarily, participants in the three groups were relatively similar in terms of demographics and their clinical variables comprising visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, pain-free grip strength (PFGS), Boston CTS questionnaire (BCTQ), EDX parameters, and cross-sectional area (CSA) of median nerve measured by ultrasonography.

Randomized controlled trial of aquatic exercise for treatment of knee osteoarthritis in elderly people.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of aquatic exercise on pain, gait, and balance among elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial at a university hospital. Overall, 32 men with knee osteoarthritis, aged ≥ 60 years, were included.

The Effect of Subcutaneous and Intracutaneous Injections of Sterile Water and Normal Saline on Pain Intensity in Nulliparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Normal vaginal delivery is considered a painful process and it is difficult to tolerate the pain. The goal of this study was to compare the effect of injection of sterile distilled water and normal saline on pain intensity in nulliparous women.

Materials And Methods: This triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 164 nulliparous women randomly selected from among those who were hospitalized in Motahari Hospital of Jahrom, Iran, from 1 May 2012 to 1 October 2013.