2023 CiteScore: 0.7
pISSN: 0044-6025
eISSN: 1735-9694
Editor-in-Chief:
Ahmadreza Dehpour, PharmD, PhD
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Vol 49, No 8 (2011)
Original Article(s)
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorder associated with significant impairments in occu¬pational, academic, neuropsychological, and social functioning. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are recommended as first-line medication therapy for children. CNS stimulants include formulations of methylphenidate and amphetamine derivatives and are available in a large variety of immediate- and extended-release preparations. Extended-release preparations are often preferred to limit drug administration during school or work and may help to limit side effects associated with rapid fluctuations in serum concentration. Stimulant medication is by far the most commonly used treatment in managing children with ADHD, 10-20% of those who take such medication do now show clinically significant improvements in their primary ADHD symptom. Even when a favorable response is obtained, some children experience side effects that are of sufficient occurrence and severity to prevent continued use of stimulant medication. In such instances or when families are unwilling to consider a stimulant, non-stimulant medications may be appealing. This review focuses on etiology, assessment and treatment of ADHD with various stimulant and non-stimulant agents.
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Neonatal sepsis, a life-threatening condition, presents with non-specific clinical manifestations and needs immediate empirical antimicrobial therapy. Choosing an appropriate antibiotic regimen covering the most probable pathogens is an important issue. In this study we compared the effectiveness of ceftizoxime and amikacin in the treatment of neonatal sepsis both in combination with ampicillin. In a randomized clinical trial, all term neonates with suspected sepsis referred to Bahrami hospital during March 2008 to March 2010 were evaluated. Patients were randomly recruited into two groups; one group receiving ampicillin and amikacin and the other ampicillin and ceftizoxime. Blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid cultures, leukocyte count and C-reactive protein level were measured in all neonates. A total of 135 neonates were evaluated, 65 in amikacin group and 70 in ceftizoxime group. 60 neonates (85.7%) in ceftizoxime group and 54 neonates (83.1%) in amikacin group responded to the treatment (P= 0.673 and χ2 = 0.178). Only 24 (18%) blood samples had a report of positive blood culture. The most frequent pathogen was coagulase negative staphylococcus with the frequency of 58.32% of all positive blood samples. Ceftizoxime in combination with ampicillin is an appropriate antimicrobial regimen for surrogating the combination of ampicillin and amikacin to prevent bacterial resistance against them.
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Multiple myeloma (MM) characterized by proliferation of plasma cells in bone marrow and production of monoclonal immunoglobulin's. Recently, arsenic trioxide (ATO), has been considered for treatment refractory MM. We assessed the safety and efficacy of ATO for patients with refractory MM. A phase 2, study of arsenic trioxide was conducted in 12 MM patients, whose refractory to two standard therapy. Patients received arsenic trioxide, 0.25 mg/kg/d for 5 d/week during the first 2 consecutive weeks of each 4-week cycle with 2 week rest. Patients who completed one 4-week cycle were evaluated for response to treatment. Twelve patients with refractory multiple myeloma received ATO. Disease assessment was based the amount of serum proteins electrophoresis. Of the10 patients; stable disease was observed in four patients(33%), progression disease in five patients (41.6%), complete response in one patient (3.8%) and the remaining two patients could not be assessed for a response (because of increased liver enzymes after the first week). Some adverse events: increase liver enzymes and serum creatinine, neutropenia, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, lower extremities edema, noninfectious diarrhea was observed. These results indicate that ATO is active and well tolerated as a single-agent salvage therapy, even in patients with late-stage, refractory MM.
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Peribulbar anesthesia is widely applied in cataract surgeries. The aim of this study was comparing the effect of using Atracourium, cis-Atracourium, and placebo as adjuvant agents to the local anesthetic substance on peribulbar-induced akinesia in cataract surgeries. The study was double-blind randomized clinical trial, among the patients candidate for the cataract surgery who were hospitalized in ocular surgery ward in Farabi Hospital between 2006 and 2007. 90 patients were subcategorized into 3 groups randomly. Group I received a mixture (8 ml) containing equal parts of Marcaine 0.5%, Lidocaine 2% and Hyaluronidase 90 IU plus 0.5 ml normal saline; group II received the mixture (8 ml) plus 0.5 ml Atracourium 5 mg, and group III received the mixture (8 ml) plus 0.5 ml cis-Atracurium with the help of peribulbar blockage technique. The score of akinesia were evaluated in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 10th minutes after administration of the medications. 10 minute after drug administration, 25 (92.6%) reached the total akinesia with Atracourium, 23 (85.2%) with cis-Atracourium, and 23 (85.2%) with the placebo (P>0.05). Addition of low-dose Atracourium and cis-Atracourium to the anesthetic drug is recommended in order to accelerate the onset of akinesia resulted by the peribulbar block, and in order to enhance the quality of akinesia especially when Hyaloronidaze is not added.
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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. Thisstudy was carried out to assess the safety of omitting antibiotic prophylaxis prior to TUL. In a prospective randomized clinical trial from January 2005 to December 2007, 114 patients with ureteral stones were enrolled; Fifty seven had preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis administered before TUL and fifty seven patients underwent TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis. The rate of postoperative infectious complications (fever, positive blood culture, significant bactriuria), the length of hospital stay and overall stone free rate were compared between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in the operation time, length of hospital stay, postoperative bacteriuria, positive urine culture, postoperative fever and overall success rate of TUL. It appears that the incidence of infectious complications does not increase in patients undergoing TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis if they have negative pre-operative urine culture and antiseptic technique have been performed thorough the procedure.
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The administration of opioids during induction of general anesthesia is a matter of challenge in obstetric anesthesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenous fentanyl before induction of general anesthesia on the"1st and 5th minutes' Apgar scores" in neonates with elective cesarean surgery. In a double blinded randomized clinical trial on 60 parturients undergoing elective cesarean surgeries under general anesthesia in Vali-e-Asr Hospital, in Tehran, Iran, were divided randomly into two groups; the intervention group and the control. In intervention group, intravenous fentanyl 1µg/kg was administrated three minutes before anesthesia induction. The induction route, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were the same in the groups. The blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) measures were recorded before anesthesia induction (as baseline measures) and so during laryngoscopy and intubation. The 1st and 5th minute's apgar scores and the pH of umbilical cord arterial and venous samples were compared in two groups. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate changes before and after induction and in various times after intubation showed significant difference between two groups (P0.05). Based on the results of this study, the administration of 1 µg/Kg intravenous Fentanyl, three minutes before induction of anesthesia for cesarean section can lead to a stable hemodynamic situation in mother and showed no effects on neonate`s outcomes. Fentanyl showed no effects on Apgar scores and on umbilical cord arterial and venous blood gases analysis and it probably can be used safely in elective cesarean surgeries. More studies are required to obtain a clear view.
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a variety of painful conditions following injury which appears regionally having a distal predominance of abnormal findings. This study, evaluate the use of phentolamine for sympathetic block and regional anesthesia in treatment of CRPS related pain. In this study, 68 patients with CRPS who were referred to pain clinics of Imam Hossein and Akhtar Hospitals and Gandy Center of Surgery between 2003-2008 were evaluated. Forty three of 87 patients finally undertaken intravenous regional sympatholytic block according to therapeutic protocol. 37 patients (86%) received one block, 2 of them (4.75%) received 2 repetitions of blocks and finally repeated block for three times occurred in 4 patients (9.3%). A week after block pain relief outcomes was recorded as following; excellent in 7 patients (16.3%), good in the 32 patients (74.4%) and moderate in the 4 patients (9.3%). After a month, 8 patients (18.5%) showed excellent relief and it was good and moderate in 32 (78%) and one case (2.4%), respectively. Pain relief after three months was excellent, good and moderate in the 13 patients (31.7%), 25 patients (61%) and 3 patients (7.3%), respectively. In this study level of pain relief was significant in various intervals and it showed significant difference in relief three months after block (P=0.04). CRPS due to SMP(sympathetically maintained pain) is thought to be alleviated by phentolamine. Intravenous phentolamine infusion is potentially a new significant option for the therapy of CRPS.
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Ultrasound is one of the preferred modalities for evaluation of the parathyroid glands. This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of high resolution ultrasound for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic renal failure. From March 2008 to March 2009, ninety-one hemodialysis patients were examined by high resolution ultrasound (14 MHz) of the parathyroid glands in comparison to parathyroid hormone level. 43.9% of patients showed enlarged parathyroid glands with an average of 8.7 mm. The mean parathyroid hormone level of patients with enlarged parathyroid glands on sonography was 503 ± 450 pg/ml. We observed a significant correlation between parathyroid hormone level and enlarged parathyroid glands (P<0.0001). Sensitivity and specificity of sonography for detection of secondary hyperparathyroidism were 62.5% and 85.7% respectively. In conclusion, our study showed that high resolution sonography is a useful noninvasive method for the evaluation of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on hemodialysis and that sonographically enlarged glands may be a measure of severity of secondary hyperparathyroidism.
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Recent studies show that, Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and in the pathogenesis of acute cardiovascular events. There is a possible association between ventricular dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction and high Sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) and uric acid. In this study we assessed the relationship between HS-CRP and uric acid with LVEF and Killip Class in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In a cross sectional study, 188 patients (63 females and 125 males) with AMI (STEMI) who were admitted in CCU ward in Emam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran/Iran, were entered. Uric acid and HS-CRP were measured within first day of admission. We measured ejection fraction (LVEF) and used Killip classification system. The mean age of patients was 60.4±9.2 years. The mean of uric acid was 5.9±1.6, 6.6±2.1, 7.1±2.1 and 9.4±1.3 in patients with Killip Class I, II, III and IV, respectively (P=0.005). The mean of HS-CRP was 1.9±1.4, 14.2±10.9, 12.2±10.9 and 15.7±6.7 in patients with Killip Class I, II, III and IV, respectively (P=0.005). There was a relationship between HS-CRP and LVEF (Correlation coefficient= -0.788, P<0.001), but there was not between uric acid and LVEF (Correlation coefficient= -0.111, P=0.129), The plasma concentration of C-reactive protein correlated with LVEF and Killip Class in patients with AMI but serum uric acid was just correlated with Killip Class IV. It seems that plasma concentrations of HS-CRP and uric acid are useful for prediction of development of heart failure in AMI patients. More future studies are necessary for final judgment.
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The current study was conducted in order to examine the effectiveness of shelf procedure in symptomatic adult patients due to hip dysplasia. This study is retrospective and was performed on patients who had undergone surgery by one orthopaedic surgical team during the past 20 years. Twenty-three men and twenty-three women were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 29.3 years at the time of operation and they were followed up for a mean of 9.3 years. Shelf acetabuloplasty was performed unilateral in 30 patients and bilateral in 16 patients. Results demonstrated that mean Harris Hip Score and CE Angle significantly improved after the operation, while osteoarthritis got more severe post-operatively. The severity of osteoarthritis and the Harris Hip Score respectively significantly increased and decreased 14 years after the operation. Results also demonstrated that as the age of the patient was less, and the patient was more satisfied and the degree of osteoarthritis was less at the time of the operation, the mean change of the Harris Hip Score would be higher and the results of the operation would be more favorable. The preoperative osteoarthritis was significantly worse in to-be-operated hips than their control hips, this difference was not significant after the operation. And finally, although Harris Hip Score has been lower in to-be-operated hips before the operation, it was higher in these very same hips than the control hips after the operation. In short, according to this study although the shelf acetabuloplasty is a salvage procedure and cannot cover the femoral head concentrically like the modern redirectional osteotomies , but it is an effective procedure for a young patient to postpone the progression of the hip osteoarthritis (OA) once it occurs in order to perform reconstructive surgeries later when justified.
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There is limited data in the literature on the normal size of the anterior fontanelle. This crosssectional study was to determine normal values of anterior fontanelle size on the first day of life, using standard methods. Anterior fontanelle size was measured in 400 term and healthy neonates delivered at the Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Examination included assessment of head circumference, anterior fontanelle size, weight, length. Type of delivery was also recorded. The mean size of anterior fontanelle was 25.34 ± 13.27 mm, and it was established in both genders, 26.70 ± 13.19 mm in boys, and 23.67 ± 13.20mm in girls. A significant difference between the mean anterior fontanelle size in boys and girls was found (P=0.023). There was no significant difference in anterior fontanelle size between the infants born with a normal vaginal delivery and those with cesarean-section (P=0.08). There was found a significant negative correlation between the mean size of anterior fontanelle size with both weight and height (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between mean size of anterior fontanelle and head circumference or with gestational age of infant (P≥0.05). Our results proved possible to define a references range and centile chart. The method used is simple and accurate and easy used in the routine neonatal examination.
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The umbilical vein (UV) has a non pulsating and even pattern in normal fetuses. Pulsation of UV has been described in severely growth restricted fetuses with chronic hypoxia. We wanted to see whether UV pulsations could also be seen in fetuses with heart deceleration during labor, as an adjunctive measure to assess the intra partum hypoxia. In a prospective study Doppler examination was performed on 34 fetuses with normal cardiotocography (CGT) and 26 fetuses with abnormal CTGs (GA>37w and cervical dilatation>3cm). Perinatal outcome was assessed according to presence or absence of UV pulsations. The 2 groups were similar regarding gestational age, cervical dilatation, Umbilical artery blood pH, S/D ratio,Pulsatility Index( PI) and Resistance Index (RI). Intraabdominal UV pulsation were present in 6 (23.1%) of abnormal CTG group but no case were seen in normal CTG group (P= 0.005). Five of 6 (83.3%) fetuses with UV pulsation underwent cesarean delivery. The rate of cesarean delivery was 90% in abnormal CTG group without pulsation and 14.7% in normal CTG group. The frequency of Apgar score <7 was more in fetuses with UV pulsations (16.7% vs 5%) although not statistically significant. NICU admission was considerably more in UV pulsation group (33% vs 5%, P= 0.123). After exclusion of LBW fetuses the UV pulsation was present in 4 (19%) of abnormal CTG group, who 3 of them underwent cesarean section. Neither umbilical artery pH<7 nor Apger score <7 or NICU admission were seen in these 4 neonates. Pulsation in UV was seen in 23% of fetuses with abnormal CTG during intra partum period. Cesarean delivery and NICU admission was increased in fetuses with UV pulsations, although not statistically significant. When LBW fetuses were excluded no case of UA pH<7, Apgar sore <7or NICU admission were seen.
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Serum samples from 201 HIV positive patients were collected to determine the seroprevalence of CMV infection in Iranian HIV infected patients during March 2004 until March 2005 using conventional ELISA kits. An antibody level of >1.1 Iu/ml was considered positive. The seroprevalence of CMV infection was 94%.The maximum prevalence of CMV antibody was seen in patients with unsafe sex and IDUs. Prevalence of CMV was much higher in patients with low socioeconomic status and low level of education. 83% of patients with CD4<100 were CMV seropositive. Our study showed that a significantly high prevalence of CMV in HIV positive patients in Iran. By increasing the level of education and socioeconomic status the prevalence of CMV infection decreased.
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It is estimated that one third of the world's population is latently infected with tuberculosis (TB). The HIV epidemic fuels the TB epidemic by increasing the risk of reactivation of latent TB infection and by facilitating a more rapid progression of TB disease. Although the incidence of TB is constant or decreasing in many regions of the world, rates remain high in developing countries as a consequence of the HIV epidemic. This study was conducted as a collaboration of the Infectious Diseases department of Imam Khomeini Hospital with the Microbiology department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The hospital dataset of 94 patients admitted with TB during 2003-2005 was reviewed. We aimed to study factors correlating with positive blood culture including age, sex, immune deficiency status, HIV serology and SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) status. In this study, we found that positive blood cultures are more frequent in patients less than 45 years old. Positive blood cultures were also more frequent in HIV infected patients and there was a significant correlation between blood culture and SIRS status. Therefore, we recommend that we obtain blood cultures from these high-risk groups in order to increase early detection of TB.
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Acute paraplegia is a rare but catastrophic complication of surgeries performed on aorta and corrective operations of vertebral column. Trauma to spinal cord after spinal anesthesia and ischemia of spinal cord also may lead to acute paraplegia. Acute paraplegia as a complication of general anesthesia in surgeries performed on sites other than aorta and vertebral column is very rare. Here we present a 56 year old woman with acute paraplegia due to spinal cord infarction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia probably caused by atherosclerosis of feeding spinal arteries and ischemia of spinal cord after reduction of blood flow possibly due to hypotension during general anesthesia.
