Fatemeh Shahbazi

Idiopathic urinary findings and fetal growth restriction in low risk pregnancy

OBJECTIVE To determine whether maternal urinary findings in the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with fetal growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN The prevalence of urinary findings in singleton pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction were compared with a low-risk control group of pregnancies who gave birth to normal weight babies, in the same condition. RESULTS There were significant statistical differences in the mean gestational age (p < 0.001), isolated asymptomatic bacteriuria (p<0.001), hematuria (p = 0.002, OR = 6.6, CI = 1.8-24.2) and proteinuria (p = 0.016, OR = 4.1, CI = 1.2-13.3). There was no recognizable relation between ketonuria and fetal growth restriction. CONCLUSION Our data showed a relation between the increase of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth restriction, and hematuria, proteinuria and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Appropriate monitoring of pregnant women using these findings may be helpful in the identification of more complications.

Prevalence and severity of depression in chronic viral hepatitis in Iran

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and severity of depression in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, and healthy participants. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-three persons participated in this cross-sectional study between 2011 and 2012 in Imam Khomeini Hospital. The prevalence and severity of depression were assessed using the Hamilton Scale. Results: There was significantly higher prevalence of depression in CHC patients (35.9%) than in healthy participants (11.3%) and CHB patients (19.8%) (both P < 0.01). However, CHB and CHC patients did not differ significantly in their depression prevalence after excluding inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (29.3% vs. 35.9%; P > 0.05). Inactive HBsAg carriers differed significantly from CHB patients—excluding inactive HBsAg carriers—in depression prevalence (10.0% vs. 29.3%; P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in depression severity between all groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Depression screening in chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients may be beneficial in disease management.

Secondary Sjogren's syndrome presenting with hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) may develop in a large population of patients with Sjogrens syndrome (SS), but most of the subjects are asymptomatic. Here, we report a patient with known rheumatoid arthritis and symptoms of xerostomia, xerophthalmia and periodic paralysis. SS should be considered as a cause of RTA. The treatment of the underlying disorder may ameliorate the symptoms.

Coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis and hereditary multiple exostoses: coincidence or association.

Coexisting ankylosing spondylitis and hereditary multiple exostoses have rarely been reported (three patients) previously. A 27-year-old man with hereditary multiple exostoses is presented as a fourth report. At the age of 15 years, the patient had multiple exostoses around the knee, ankle and shoulder joints. He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis 3 years ago. The patient’s sister and his 3 brothers also have multiple exostoses without any family history of spondyloarthropathy or inflammatory arthritis. The aim of this report is to discuss an interesting coexistence of these two diseases. The increasing number of reported patients who have a coexistence of these two diseases might suggest that the association of these two diseases is stronger than a coincidence.