Repository of Research and Investigative Information Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
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EBV associated epiglottitis in an immunocompetent child
No full textBackgroundThe article presents a case report of subacute epiglottitis in a healthy three-year-old child, secondary to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. This case is particularly significant as EBV-related epiglottitis is extremely rare, with only one prior reported case in a pediatric patient.Case presentationA previously healthy three-year-old boy developed fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, initially diagnosed as croup but worsened, leading to hospital admission with respiratory distress, odynophagia and dysphagia. He had a hoarse voice, inspiratory stridor, swollen neck lymph nodes, increased work of breathing and hypoxemia, but was otherwise alert and nontoxic. Laboratory tests confirmed acute EBV infection, and imaging showed an enlarged epiglottis. The patient received supportive care, including oxygen therapy, and did not require intubation.ConclusionsThe case highlights the importance of considering EBV as a potential cause of epiglottitis in pediatric patients
Balo concentric sclerosis, an emerging variant of multiple sclerosis: A case-series and literature review
No full textIntroduction: Balo concentric sclerosis (BCS) is a rare demyelinating disease. This study aims to follow up on patients initially diagnosed with BCS and MS or presented with BCS in the context of MS. Methods: This study was conducted at an MS clinic center in Isfahan, monitoring 2600 MS patients, among which 10 cases were related to BCS. These 10 patients were assessed clinically and radiologically during 2013-2024, with consecutive MRIs and periodic clinical examinations. Results: Among the 10 patients, BCS was either the inaugural presentation of MS or occurred in the context of the disease. The most common Symptoms included limb weakness and paresthesia. All patients exhibited characteristic onion-like lesions in the periventricular white matter, with two showing tumefactive demyelination. CSF analysis was abnormal in all patients, revealing positive oligoclonal bands (OCB), which were categorized as type 2 in all patients. Treatment mainly involved rituximab, which indicated plausible results. Conclusion: Our study highlights the variability in BCS clinical presentations and supports its classification as a variant of MS due to overlapping characteristics. Additionally, our findings contribute to understanding BCS's distinct clinical and radiologic profiles and emphasize the importance of further investigation into its pathophysiology and treatment
A comparison between adjuvant and delivering functions of iron oxide and calcium phosphate nanoparticles, using a model protein against Brucella melitensis
No full textPurpose: Calcium phosphate (CaP) and iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising adjuvants and delivery systems for vaccination. Furthermore, it has been shown that the chimeric antigen TF/Bp26/Omp31 (TBO) is a good candidate for stimulating protection against virulent Brucella melitensis. Our aim in the present study was to compare the roles of CaP and IO NPs for induction of the immune response and protection against B. melitensis 16M by using the TBO antigen as a model protein. Materials and Methods: The tbo gene was expressed in the bacterial host and was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and western blot. The recombinant TBO was loaded onto CaP (CaP/ TBO) and IO (IO/TBO) NPs. CaP/TBO and IO/TBO NPs were administered subcutaneously. Results: Antibody levels showed that immunization with both CaP/TBO and IO/TBO NPs stimulated mixed Th1-Th2 immune responses. In addition, immunized mice were challenged with a virulent strain of B. melitensis 16M. Immunized mice with CaP/TBO NPs showed a higher degree of protection than vaccinated animals with IO/TBO NPs. Conclusion: Altogether, our results indicated that the CaP NPs are a potent adjuvant and delivery system for subcutaneously administered Brucella antigens
Case Series of Anthrax in Iran
No full textIn endemic areas with a compatible epidemiological context, clinicians should consider anthrax as a potential diagnosis. The disease can present with diverse clinical manifestations, including cutaneous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or central nervous system infections
Application of Deep Dictionary Learning and Predefined Filters for Classification of Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Images
No full textIn recent years, deep learning methods have excelled in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image classification but demand high computational resources and extensive training data. We propose two effective methods for OCT image classification, combining the strength of deep learning with sparse representation of significant image features for improved detection of retinal abnormalities. The first method, Simplified Deep Dictionary Learning (S-DDL), is based on deep dictionary learning, where the loss function enforces a sparse feature representation of input image patches before classification. The second method uses the Wavelet Scattering Transform (WST), which employs predefined filters in network layers. We compare its performance with the S-DDL method. WST is a convolutional network with predefined wavelet filters that do not need to be learned, requiring lower processing time and complexity. Both methods can be directly applied to raw image data without time-consuming pre-processing, as the first layers act like denoising filters to achieve sparse significant image structures. We assess the methods on the Optical Coherence Tomography Image Database (OCTID), consisting of 572 spectral domain OCT volumetric scans in five categories. Our proposed S-DDL and WST-based methods achieved 97.2 accuracy in diagnosing AMD, MH, and Normal categories of OCT images. Additionally, WST achieved 100 accuracy in diagnosing DR or AMD from Normal images. These results are comparable to state-of-the-art methods. Specifically, our proposed method outperforms other methods in detecting one abnormality
The effect of cognitive task and gait speed on gait spatiotemporal parameters in athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: Restoring pre-injury normal gait following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) is a critical challenge. The purpose of this study was to compare spatiotemporal parameters in athletes following ACL reconstruction with healthy athletes when cognitive load and speed were manipulated. Methods: Twenty male soccer players with an ACLR history and 20 healthy matched individuals completed walking tasks under four conditions: with and without a cognitive load (auditory Stroop task), and at preferred speed as well as high speed (20 higher than the individual's preferred speed). Step Width (SW), Step Time (ST), Step Length (SL), as well as Symmetry Indexes (SIs) were measured using three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis. Gait symmetry was evaluated by SIs. The data was analyzed using Three-way analysis of variances with repeated measures (ANOVA 3 x 2). Results: ST was significantly different between groups (P = 0.04) when the cognitive load was applied at the preferred speed. However, other spatiotemporal parameters were not significantly different between groups in any conditions (p > 0.05). The SW was reduced during high-speed walking with cognitive load in both groups (p = 0.004). High-speed resulted in greater SL (p < 0.001) and lower ST (p < 0.001) in both groups. SI was not significantly different for any parameter between groups under any conditions, however, the interaction of cognitive task x speed was significant for SW (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Athletes at a mean of 19 months following ACL Reconstruction appear to manage speed and cognitive challenges similar to age and activity matched individuals who have not had surgery. (c) 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, A
The Efficacy of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet on Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Controlled Trials
No full textBACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is considered a causal risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Plant-based diets such as dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of the DASH diet on lipid profiles based on clinical controlled trials. METHODS: An inclusive online search was performed in medical databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to October 2021 to identify trials assessing the effect of the DASH diet on lipid profiles. RESULTS: Seventeen studies comprising 2218 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. In comparison to the control group, following the DASH diet resulted in a significant reduction in serum triglycerides (WMD: -5.539 mg/dl; 95 CI: -8.806, -2.272) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: -6.387 mg/dl; 95 CI: -12.272, -0.501). However, DASH diet could not reduce serum total cholesterol (WMD: -5.793 mg/dl; 95 CI: -12.84, 1.254), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: 0.631 mg/dl; 95 CI: -0.749, 2.011), and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (WMD: -0.11 mg/dl; 95 CI: -0.27, 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of this meta-analysis showed that following the DASH diet had beneficial effects on serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, however, it had no effect on serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Based on these results, the DASH diet can be considered a strategy for the prevention and complementary management of dyslipidemia
A Narrative Review of Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) Techniques in Various Industries in Iran
No full textHuman error is a significant factor contributing to occupational accidents across various industries. To address this issue, Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) techniques have emerged as valuable tools for evaluating and mitigating the risks associated with human error. These methods allow for a thorough assessment of how and why errors occur, the likelihood of these errors leading to accidents, and the potential consequences of such incidents. This research comprehensively examines several HRA techniques, detailing their applications in a wide array of sectors, including railway, healthcare, petrochemical, and engineering. By analyzing literature sourced from reputable databases such as the Web of Science, Scopus, Islamic World Science Citation, and Scientific Information Database core collection from 2009 to 2023, this review highlights key findings and trends in HRA studies. Interestingly, the investigation of HRA in Iran has been relatively limited, with most studies concentrated on the health and petrochemical industries. Recognizing the potential for improvement, this review advocates for the broader implementation of HRA methods across all sectors to enhance safety protocols and minimize the likelihood of human errors leading to accidents. © 2025 International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
Effects of Sodium Hypochlorite and Hydrochloric Acid on Hardness and Surface Roughness of Orthodontic Thermoplastic Retainers
No full textBackground and Aim: No consensus has been reached on a safe method for disinfection of orthodontic retainers without altering their physical properties. This study investigated the effects of 5.25 sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 10 hydrochloric acid on hardness and surface roughness of thermoplastic orthodontic retainers. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 40 samples measuring 10 x 8 x 2 mm were prepared using 1-mm-thick polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) Essix sheets, and randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). In group A, the samples were immersed in 5.25 NaOCl for 15 minutes followed by immersion in 10 hydrochloric acid for 15 minutes. This process was repeated twice in group B and thrice in group C. Group D served as the control group. Surface roughness was measured by a profilometer, and hardness was measured by a Vickers hardness tester. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Bonferroni tests (alpha=0.05). Results: Immersion frequency had no significant effect on surface roughness (P=0.096). A significant difference was found in hardness among the groups (P=0.008). The mean hardness of group B was significantly lower than that of group C (P=0.004). The three test groups had no significant difference with the control group in this regard (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, 15 minutes of immersion in 5.25 NaOCl followed by 15 minutes of immersion in hydrochloric acid for 3 times had no significant clinical effect on the hardness and surface roughness of PETG sheets used for the fabrication of thermoplastic orthodontic retainers. © 2025 Faculty of Dentistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University