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The association between Antihypertensive drugs and oral health- related quality of life in the elderly: results of Amirkola cohort study
Full text linkBackground: Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. The prevalence of hypertension in the elderly is increasing. Patients with high blood pressure have to take medication throughout their lives. In this study, the relationship between antihypertensive drugs and oral health-related quality of life in the elderly was evaluated. Methods: This modified cross-sectional study, which is the part of the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP), was performed on 900 elderly people. Participants included 300 people with hypertension under medical treatment, 300 people with hypertension without medication and 300 people with normal blood pressure. All patients’ blood pressure was recorded, and the standard xerostomia questionnaire and GOHAI questionnaire (Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index) was completed for all participants. Then, the obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 17, whereby student’s t-test, ANOVA and chi square, Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression model were used. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean GOHAI score in the three studied groups: hypertensive under medication treatment, hypertensive without medication treatment and normal blood pressure (51.1±7.4, 51.7±7.3, 51.1±7.5, respectively) did not differ significantly (P=0.533).The frequency of xerostomia was significantly different in the three groups (P=0.008). Among the antihypertensive drugs, the highest rate of xerostomia was due to the use of calcium channel blockers (31.1) and diuretics (26.8). Conclusion: In our study, although antihypertensive medications were associated with xerostomia, they did not decrease the oral health-related quality of life
Clinical, demographic, and laboratory characteristics of COVID -19 infection and risk of in-hospital mortality. A single center study
Full text linkBackground: Despite advances in preventive measures, COVID -19 has spread and mortality continues due to delay in timely diagnosis. This problem is partly dependent on variations in disease characteristics, distribution of risk factors particularly comorbidities and demographic characteristics of patients. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentation and associated factors of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID -19 infection. Methods: Patients were divided into survivor and deceased groups, and clinical and laboratory findings and factors associated with mortality between the two groups were compared by calculating odds ratio (OR) with 95 confidence interval (95 CI). Results: A total of 257 patients (female 45.1) with a mean age of 59.8+15.7 years and a mean hospital stay of 4.89+3.57 days were studied. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and chronic renal disease (CRD) were found in 29.6, 37.5, 16.3 and 3.5 of all patients, respectively. Forty-one (16) patients died. Factors such as age >50 years, coexisting CRD, serum creatinine > 2 mg/dl; SPO2 <70 lymphocytes < 20 during hospitalization were independently associated with mortality. The adjusted ORs (95 CI) were 10.08 (1.39-73); 4.51(1.15-17.61); 6 (1.14-31.5); 16.8(2.93-96.7); and 4.9(1.31-18.1), respectively. Most of the expected effective drugs were not associated with lower mortality. Conclusion: These results indicate a high in-hospital mortality rate in COVID -19 patients. Some mortality factors occurring during hospitalization can be prevented by timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment
The Correlation between Predictive Factors and Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy Outcomes in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a common age-related vascular retinal disorder and is a condition in which the main vein of the retina is blocked partially or completely. This leads to macular edema (ME) and can cause blurred vision and loss of visual function. The aim of this study is evaluating the prognostic factors of visual acuity (VA) and macular thickness (MT) changes in response to intravitreal bevacizumab therapy.
Methods: In this historical cohort study, 107 patients with CRVO were examined and their hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus status were recorded. All of the patients were treated with an intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg/0.05 ml bevacizumab. Visual acuity and macular thickness were examined at baseline and at all follow-up visits. Follow-up examinations were performed for three months and then VA and MT changes were analyzed.
Findings: After the intervention with bevacizumab, there was significant improvement in MT (0.104±0.13 versus 0.296±0.22) and VA (425.41±64 versus 325.94±51.82) (p<0.001, for both). The improvement of MT in response to bevacizumab therapy in hyperlipidemic patients was significantly less than patients with normal lipid profile (p=0.035). No significant relationship was found between MT reduction and hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Also, no significant relationship was observed between VA improvement and hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, age and gender.
Conclusion: Bevacizumab therapy was effective to successfully improve VA and MT. Hyperlipidemia has prognostic value in bevacizumab therapy in CRVO patients
Causes of Infant Mortality in Babol, Northern Iran
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Infant mortality is an important health indicator. In order to reduce infant mortality, its causes should be considered in each region so that steps can be taken to improve the quality of health care and treatment. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to determine the causes of infant mortality in Babol, northern Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all infants who died in public and private hospitals of Babol. The cause of infant death was extracted and analyzed based on the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) and also based on laboratory, clinical and paraclinical evidence recorded in the files.
Findings: Out of a total of 16,005 live births in Babol, 123 infants (7.6%) died, of which 53 (43.1%) died in the first 24 hours of life. The mean gestational age of the deceased cases was 31.4±5.5 weeks, the mean birth weight was 1705.4±1045.3 grams, and their mean life span was 5.4±6.6 days. The most common causes of infant mortality were prematurity (30%), congenital anomalies (25.3%), sepsis (17.1%) and respiratory distress syndrome (13%).
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the most common causes of infant mortality are prematurity and congenital anomalies
Iranian Smell Diagnostic Test in Covid-19 Disease; Report of Covid-19 Center of North of Iran
Full text linkBackground: SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 syndrome. In the pandemic of COVID-19 many patients were affected to new onset olfactory dysfunction. Since there is a dearth of research studies regarding the standard smell test, the present study was conducted to fill this gap. Methods: The present retrospective cohort study was conducted on 250 clients with or without diagnosis of Covid-19 disease who referred to Covid-19 centers of North of Iran. Two groups were matched for age and sex. Data were collected by examination, demographic and clinical information questionnaire and Iranian smell diagnostic test. The binary logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio value in SPSS version 23.0 was used. Results: One-hundred cases (42.2) had hyposmia and 20 cases (8.4) were found to have anosmia. Type of covid-19 sign and symptom were statistically significant with olfactory dysfunction (41 cases, 31.8), fever (28 cases, 21.7), weakness and dyspnea (15 cases, 11.6), (p=0.0001). The urban residency equal OR=6.42 (3.04-13.53) to rural residency for olfactory dysfunction (p=0.0001). Covid-19 patients’ OR=61.25 (27.36-137.11) chance to be affected by the olfactory dysfunction in compare to control group (p=0.0001). Also, with increasing age, chance of olfactory dysfunction changed from OR=0.61(1.16-0.13) to OR=1.89 (0.82-4.33). Furthermore, female chance OR=1.21 (0.72-2.03) and employee patients was OR=2.29 (1.30-4.04) to olfactory dysfunction. Conclusion: Alf of the patients were affected by olfactory dysfunction. Furthermore, Covid-19 patients, urban residency, lower age, female and employee were the prognostic factors for olfactory dysfunction. The standard olfactory tests such as IR-SIT is suggested for screening and detecting the clients probably affected by covid-19 especially in younger ages
Aftermath histopathological findings of 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia
Full text linkBackground: There have been several studies describing clinicoradiological features of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection. It seems that we still should know more about pathological features in the different stages of this infection. Case presentation: A 77 year-old man with cough and respiratory distress was admitted to the intensive care unit.  Real-time PCR on nasopharyngeal swab was done for him and it was positive for SARS-CoV-2.He was treated with oxygen therapy, hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic therapy and was discharged from the hospital with brief improvement of clinical symptoms. However, due to persistent dyspnea, the patient was admitted to the hospital again and throracotomy and wedge biopsy were performed for about 3 months from the onset of symptoms. Conclusion: Pathological examination revealed diffuse alveolar damage, fibroblastic hyperplasia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyaline membrane formation.  
A Case of Isolated Neurofibroma of the Bladder in A Young Adult Man with No History of Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Case Report
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Genitourinary neurofibroma is a benign nerve sheath tumor commonly found in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. This disease is very rare and can appear in all urinary tracts. Considering the rarity of neurofibromatosis of the bladder, the present case report is introduced with the aim of showing the importance of this pathology.
Case Report: The patient is a 25-year-old man who visited the urology clinic last month due to hematuria. The patient did not mention any other clinical symptoms. An ultrasound was requested for the patient, and a mass was reported in the bladder. The patient underwent mass resection through the urethra. In the pathological and immunohistochemical studies, the patient was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. The general condition of the patient after surgery is good and the patient's symptoms are resolved.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the patient was symptomatic and had a mass in the bladder on ultrasound. Due to the lack of a previous diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 for the patient and the lack of a definite diagnosis about the type of mass, the best treatment approach is surgery and complete removal of the mass. After the final diagnosis based on histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, the best approach is to follow up the patient with imaging
Late-pregnancy sleep quality and psychological distress in Iranian primiparous women
Full text linkBackground: Even though pregnant women commonly experience poor sleep quality during
pregnancy, the role of sleep quality in psychological problems is still unclear. This study was
carried out to determine the associations between poor sleep quality in the third trimester of
pregnancy and the psychological distress among Iranian primiparous women.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 300 primiparous women who attended
prenatal care centers in Babol, Iran, in 2019. The sleep quality and the psychological status of the
pregnant women were measured with Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) and Symptom
CheckList-90 (SCL-90), respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were
used to examine the association(s) between independent, dependent, and control confounding
variables.
Results: Poor sleep quality was found in 74% of the participants. Poor sleep quality was not
associated with psychological distress (the total score of SCL-90-R). Compared with women with
good sleep quality, women with poor sleep quality were more likely to have hostility (adjusted OR
= 2.51; CI = 1.13, 5.55), somatization (adjusted OR = 4.31; CI = 1.96, 9.47), and less paranoid
(OR = 0.22; CI = 0.11, 0.44) during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Conclusion: It is suggested that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with subscales of
SCL-90 (hostility and somatization, paranoid) during the third trimester. Thus, further research on
the topic is needed
Serum dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity and progranulin level in polycystic ovary syndrome
Full text linkBackground: Evidence showed that abnormal alteration of adipokines level may perform a key role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) pathogenesis. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) and progranulin (PGRN) are two novel adipokines related to insulin resistance (IR). Thus, we aimed to determine the serum DPP4 activity and PGRN level in PCOS patients with and without IR, and non-PCOS women. Methods: Ninety women were recruited in the present study including 60 PCOS patients (divided into two groups of 30 IR and 30 non-IR) and 30 non-PCOS women. Serum levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, PGRN, and DPP4 activity were measured, and IR indices were calculated. Results: DPP4 activity was significantly higher in PCOS-IR and PCOS-NIR patients than non-PCOS women (p<0.001, P=0.011, respectively), whereas no significant variation was detected between two groups of PCOS subjects. There was no significant difference in the level of PGRN in the three groups of the present study. Conclusion: The present study suggests that increasing DPP4 activity may be associated with PCOS
Ten-year data analysis of digestive system malignancies at Babol, north of Iran: 2008-2017
Full text linkBackground: Unlike some regions of the world where digestive system cancers are not considered as important health problems, these neoplasms are among the most common malignancies in the northern region of Iran. Methods: This observational analytical study was carried out based on data collected by the Cancer Registration Center affiliated to the Vice Chancellery for Health of Babol University of Medical Sciences, North of Iran, during 2008-2017. Crude incidence rate (CR), and age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) have been calculated for different GI cancers, based on the primary involved site; and have been compared in different years, patients' age, gender and place of residence. Results: Totally, 4332 records were related to digestive system cancers. Mean age of patients was 63.48±14.73 years; men (2743; 63.3) were more affected than women (1589; 36.7) (p<0.001). The most incident malignancies of digestive system were from stomach, colorectal and esophagus in men; and colorectal, stomach and esophagus in women, respectively. These three cancers accounted for 3725 (85.98) of total GI malignancies. The mean age of patients in various types of GI cancers was statistically different (p<0.001). Age- standardized incidence rate showed different values in different years; from 521.40 (95 CI: 462.79-580.00) in year 2016 to 1834.33 (95 CI: 1637.36-2031.29) in year 2008. Conclusion: Gastric, esophageal and colorectal cancers were the most prevalent digestive system malignancies in Babol, North of Iran, and accounted for about 86 of all GI tract cancers. A considerable variation has been found in incident gastrointestinal cancers in different years