Nariman Nezami

Doppler Ultrasonographic Indices After Renal Transplantation as Renal Function Predictors

OBJECTIVES Doppler ultrasonography is mostly used for assessment of both graft and native kidney vascular status. In this study, correlation between Doppler sonographic indices and transplanted kidney function was evaluated. METHODS In our retrospective study, we reviewed data on 273 renal transplanted (RTx) patients. The Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation included resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) in interlobar arteries as well as stenosis (TRAS) or thrombosis of renal arteries and veins. Serum creatinine (Cr) and cyclosporine levels (CsA) were measured just prior to sonography. RESULTS The mean age of 154 male and 119 female patients was 36.67 +/- 13.13 years. Both RI and PI showed significant linear correlations with serum Cr (P = .033 and P = .002, respectively). Also, direct linear correlations existed between patient age and RI and PI values (P = .004; r = +.174 and P = .003; r = +.183 respectively). The prevalence of TRAS was 11.35%. Among patients with TRAS or thrombosis the mean Cr level (2.08 +/- 1.7 mg/dL) was significantly higher than that among patients without TRAS or thrombosis (1.48 +/- 0.97 mg/dL; P = .004). Despite this finding, RI and PI were significantly lower among patients with TRAS or thrombosis than those with a patent renovascular tributary (0.59 +/- 0.15 vs 0.65 +/- 0.11; P = .029 vs 1.02 +/- 0.40 vs 1.18 +/- 0.46; P = .049). CONCLUSIONS Both RI and PI were two valuable Doppler ultrasonographic markers to evaluate renal allograft function and related vascular complications.

Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on fracture callus mineral density and flexural strength in rabbit tibial fresh fracture

BackgroundLow-intensity ultrasound is a biophysical intervention on a fracture repair process. However, the effect of low-intensity ultrasound therapy on fracture healing is controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy on the fracture healing process, including mineral density and strength of callus using a rabbit model.MethodsA total of 30 rabbits underwent unilateral, transverse, and mid-tibia open osteotomies that were stabilized with external fixators. Then, the animals were divided into two study groups composed of 15 rabbits each: the case group (US), which were exposed to low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with 30 mW/cm2 intensity and 1.5 MHz sine waves; and the control group (C), which underwent sham ultrasound treatment. Callus development and mineral density were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography at 2, 5, and 8 weeks, after which the animals were killed. Three-point bending tests of both healed and intact bones were assessed and compared.ResultsThe results demonstrated that the callus mineral density in the US group was higher than in the C group (1202.20 ± 81.30 vs. 940.66 ± 151.58 HU; P = 0.001) at the end of the 8th week. The mean recorded three-point bending test score of healed bones in the US group was not significantly different from that of the C group (359.35 ± 173.39 vs. 311.02 ± 80.58 N; P = 0.114).ConclusionsThe present study showed that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound enhanced callus mineral density with an insignificant increase in the strength of the fractured bone.

Paraoxonase Enzyme Activity Is Enhanced by Zinc Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients

Background and Aims: Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) face an increased risk of atherosclerosis, a crucial problem and the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on paraoxonase (PON) enzyme activity in patients on HD. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2005 to June 2007. Sixty HD patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: treatment (case) and control. The treatment and control groups were treated with 100 mg/day zinc or placebo, respectively, for 2 months. Serum zinc concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. PON activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric method. Lipid profile was determined using commercial kits, and apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI) and B (Apo-B) levels were measured by commercial immunoturbidimetric kits. Results: In the case group, there was no significant change in the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Apo-B levels, while the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), Apo-AI, and PON activity were significantly increased (p = 0.02). In the control group, although significant increases were observed in the serum levels of TC, TG, and Apo-B (p = 0.009, 0.019, and 0.001, respectively), the serum PON activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.025) and the serum levels of HDL, LDL, and Apo-AI were not changed. At the end of intervention period, the serum level of Apo-AI and PON activity were significantly higher in the case group. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation increased both the activity of PON and the serum level of Apo-AI in the HD patients.

Demographic features and antibiotic resistance among children hospitalized for urinary tract infection in northwest Iran

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common serious bacterial infection during infancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate demographic characteristics, clinical presentations and findings, and antimicrobial resistance among infants and children hospitalized in Tabriz Children’s Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive observational study, 100 children who had been admitted with UTI diagnosis to Tabriz Children’s Hospital from March 2003 to March 2008 were studied. Demographic characteristics, chief complaints, clinical presentations and findings, urine analysis and cultures, antimicrobial resistance, and sonographic and voiding cystourethrographic reports were evaluated. Results: The mean age of patients was 35.77 ± 39.86 months. The male to female ratio was 0.26. The mean white blood cell count was 12,900 ± 5226/mm3. Sixty-two percent of patients had leukocytosis. The most common isolated pathogen was Escherichia coli spp (77%) followed by Klebsiella spp (10%), Enterobacter spp (9%), and Enterococcus spp (4%). Isolated pathogens were highly resistant to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, and cephalexin (71%–96%), intermediate sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporins, and highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (84.4%), amikacin (83.8%), and nitrofurantoin (82.8%). Conclusion: The most common pathogen of UTI in the hospitalized children was E. coli spp. The isolated pathogens were extremely resistant to ampicillin, and highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin and amikacin.

Mediastinal goiter: a comprehensive study of 60 consecutive cases with special emphasis on identifying predictors of malignancy and sternotomy

BACKGROUND We describe the clinical characteristics of patients with mediastinal goiter and our principles in surgical management of this pathology; we also identify the predictive factors of malignancy, sternotomy, and posterior mediastinal extension. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of 60 patients with mediastinal goiter who underwent surgical intervention. RESULTS Major perioperative complications were recurrent laryngeal nerve sacrifice (3.3%) and vagus nerve sacrifice (1.7%). A total of 12.7% of cases were malignant. The presence of dysphonia increased the likelihood of malignancy (P = .02), and malignancy was associated with a significant increase in sternotomy (P = .04) and nerve sacrifice (P < .001) during surgery. A history of thyroidectomy was a predictive factor for extension of the tumor to the posterior mediastinum (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Presenting with dysphonia is a predictor of malignancy that necessitates careful surgical planning because malignancy is associated with an increase in nerve injury and sternotomy during surgery.

Patent foramen ovale: Unanswered questions.

The foramen ovale is a remnant of the fetal circulation that remains patent in 20-25% of the adult population. Although long overlooked as a potential pathway that could produce pathologic conditions, the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with a higher than expected frequency in a variety of clinical syndromes including cryptogenic stroke, migraines, sleep apnea, platypnea-orthodeoxia, deep sea diving associated decompression illness, and high altitude pulmonary edema. A unifying hypothesis is that a chemical or particulate matter from the venous circulation crosses the PFO conduit between the right and left atria to produce a variety of clinical syndromes. Although observational studies suggest a therapeutic benefit of PFO closure compared to medical therapy alone in patients with cryptogenic stroke, 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not confirm the superiority of PFO closure for the secondary prevention of stroke. However, meta-analyses of these RCTs demonstrate a significant benefit of PFO closure over medical therapy alone. Similarly, observational studies provide support for PFO closure for symptomatic relief of migraines. But one controversial randomized study failed to replicate the results of the observational studies while another two demonstrated a partial benefit. The goal of this review is to discuss the clinical conditions associated with PFO and provide internists and primary care physicians with current data on PFO trials, and clinical insight to help guide their patients who are found to have a PFO on echocardiographic testing.

MR imaging measures of intracranial atherosclerosis in a population-based study

Purpose To implement a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging protocol to measure intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) in a population-based multicenter study and report examination and reader reliability of these MR imaging measurements and descriptive statistics representative of the general population. Materials and Methods This prospective study was approved by the institutional review boards and compliant with HIPAA. Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants (n = 1980) underwent brain MR imaging from 2011 to 2013 at four ARIC sites. Imaging included three-dimensional black-blood MR imaging and time-of-flight MR angiography. One hundred two participants returned for repeat MR imaging to estimate examination and reader variability. Plaque presence according to vessel segment was recorded. Quantitative measurements included lumen size and degree of stenosis, wall and/or plaque thickness, area and volume, and normalized wall index for each vessel segment. Reliability was assessed with percentage agreement, κ statistics, and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results Of the 1980 participants, 1755 (mean age, 77.6 years; 1026 women [59%]; 1234 white [70%]) completed examinations with adequate to excellent image quality. The weighted ICAD prevalence was 34.4% (637 of 1755 participants) and was higher in men than women (38.5% [302 of 729 participants] vs 31.7% [335 of 1026 participants], respectively; P = .012) and in African Americans compared with whites (41.1% [215 of 518 participants] vs 32.4% [422 of 1234 participants], respectively; P = .002). Percentage agreement of plaque identification per participant was 87.0% (interreader estimate), 89.2% (intrareader estimate), and 89.9% (examination estimate). Examination and reader reliability ranged from fair to good (κ, 0.50-0.78) for plaque presence and from good to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.69-0.99) for quantitative vessel wall measurements. Conclusion Vessel wall MR imaging is a reliable tool for identifying and measuring ICAD and provided insight into ICAD distribution across a U.S. community-based population. (©) RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Antioxidant Status and Lipid Peroxidation in Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the effects of zinc supplementation on oxidative stress in hemodialysis (HD) patients through evaluating total antioxidant capacity (TAC), whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. DESIGN AND SETTING Double-blinded randomized controlled trialfrom October 2006 to December 2007 at Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital. SUBJECTS Sixty-five HD patients were randomly enrolled into 2 groups. INTERVENTION Patients received placebo in group A and zinc (100 mg/day) in group B for 2 months. After a washout period for 2 months, the groups were crossed over and the study was continued for an additional 2 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. TAC, GSH level, and SOD activity were determined by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. MDA level was measured using a thiobarbituric acid method. RESULTS The levels of serum zinc, TAC, GSH (P < .001 for all), and SOD activity (P < .001 for group A and P = .003 for group B) significantly increased after zinc supplementation whereas the serum level of MDA decreased after the same period (P = .003 for group A and P < .001 for group B). CONCLUSIONS Zinc supplementation for 2 months improved the serum levels of zinc, antioxidant status, and lipid peroxidation in HD patients.

Lovastatin raises serum osteoprotegerin level in people with type 2 diabetic nephropathy

OBJECTIVES Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a glycoprotein, is a member of the tumor necrotizing factor alpha receptor super-family. By considering the possible role of OPG in cardiovascular disease (CVD), higher incidence of CVD in people with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN), and anti-atherosclerotic effects of statins, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of lovastatin on serum levels of OPG and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL) in people with T2DN. DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty patients completed the study course, out of 38 adult male patients with T2DN who were initially enrolled. Lovastatin, 20mg/d, was administered for 90 days. Afterwards, lovastatin was withdrawn for the next 30 days. Serum levels of OPG and sRANKL were measured using commercial ELISA kits at baseline, after 90 days of intervention, and after 30 days of withdrawal of lovastatin. RESULTS Serum level of OPG was significantly increased (10.76 ± 16.44) and decreased (-7.38 ± 11.98) during 90 days of intervention and 30 days of withdrawal periods, respectively, while, sRANKL level was significantly decreased (-1192.08 ± 578.20) and increased (4418.67 ± 2124.66) during the same periods, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Lovastatin therapy increased serum OPG level and decreased sRANKL level in people with T2DN. The withdrawal of lovastatin decreased serum OPG level, while sRANKL level was extensively increased.

Bilateral parapelvic cysts that mimic hydronephrosis in two imaging modalities: a case report.

Parapelvic cysts are uncommon conditions that are usually found during autopsy. Their ultrasonographic appearance is similar to hydronephrosis. We report the case of a 46-year-old female with a 4-year history of vague flank pain and a previous history of bilateral moderate hydronephrosis. The patient was investigated by ultrasonography and non-enhanced CT scan, and finally diagnosed as bilateral parapelvic cysts by a contrast-enhanced CT scan. For any patient with hydronephrosis detected by sonography, the possibility of parapelvic cysts should be kept in mind, especially if no underlying cause is detected and other routine imaging is inconsistent with hydronephrosis. In such circumstances a CT scan with contrast enhancement should not be refused, and relying on sonographic signs, previously mentioned in literatures, can be misleading.