Senior-Loken syndrome secondary to NPHP5/IQCB1 mutation in an Iranian family

Senior-Loken syndrome (SLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by nephronophthisis and early-onset retinal degeneration. We used a large Iranian family with SLS to establish a molecular genetic diagnosis. Following clinical evaluation, we undertook homozygosity mapping in two affected family members and mutational analysis in known SLS genes coinciding with regions of homozygosity. In a region of homozygosity coinciding with a known SLS locus on chromosome 3q21.1, we found a homozygous non-sense mutation R332X in NPHP5/IQCB1. This is the first report of a molecular genetic diagnosis in an Iranian kindred with SLS.

The role of gastrostomy in the staged operation of esophageal atresia

Introduction:

The aim of this study is to recommend criteria for selection of patients who benefited from the use of gastrostomy rather than emergency fistula closure during the staged operation of esophageal atresia (EA).

Materials and Methods:

Between August 2004 and July 2006, 75 cases of EA, were consecutively operated. Nineteen out of 75 (25%) underwent routine gastrostomy because they required a type of staged operation: Group I: Five cases with pure atresia had gastrostomy and esophagostomy; Group II: Six with severe pneumonia and congenital heart disease (Waterson class C) had gastrostomy and conservative management; Group III: Eight with long gap EA (2-4 vertebras); four out of 8 cases underwent primary anastomosis with tension and the other four had delayed primary anastomosis plus primary gastrostomy.

Results:

GI: Only three cases survived after esophageal substitution; GII: Three out of six cases with severe pneumonia (fistula size: f > 2.5 mm) underwent emergency fistula closure with only one survival, but all (f < 2.5 mm) recovered without complication, GIII: Four patients with long gap and primary anastomosis with tension developed anastomotic leakage; they required gastrostomy following the leakage, except for those with delayed primary anastomosis, and all of them recovered without early complications.

Conclusion:

All the cases with long gap, although two esophageal ends can be reached with tension, should undergo delayed primary closure with primary gastrostomy. Those were brought with Waterson class C and the fistula size greater than 2.5 mm should undergo emergency fistula closure; however, if fistula size was less than 2.5 mm, it is better to be delayed by primary gastrostomy for stabilization. In this study, we had a better outcome with gastric tube for substitution than colon interposition in infants.

D-penicillamine, a potent melanogenesis inhibitor, lacks any depigmenting effect on black guinea pig skin: the first randomized, evaluator-blinded, vehicle-controlled, in vivo study

D-penicillamine is a melanogenesis inhibitor. This in vivo study on ten black guinea pigs using a 5% D-penicillamine ointment showed its lack of any skin-lightening effect. The potential reasons for this ineffectiveness are discussed in the paper, which could be very helpful for researchers exploring new skin-lightening agents.

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder after liver transplantation: report of 5 cases among more than 550 liver transplants in Iran

BACKGROUND

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a spectrum of diseases defined as polyclonal or monoclonal proliferations of lymphocytes which occur after solid organ transplants. In this study, we report our first experiences with PTLD following liver transplantation in Iran.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed five cases of PTLD which followed liver transplantation among more than 550 liver transplants in our center. Of these, three were pediatric cases and two were adults. The underlying causes were tyrosinemia, autoimmune hepatitis, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) in the three pediatric cases. HCV hepatitis was the primary cause for cirrhosis in one of the adults and the other adult was labeled as cryptogenic cirrhosis. All cases, except for one, developed PTLD during the first year following liver transplantation.

RESULTS

Patients were diagnosed as PTLD, B-cell, MALT and Hodgkin-like (according to the WHO classification of PTLD). The three pediatric patients died despite discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs and chemotherapy. Fortunately both adult patients, until now, are still alive.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of PTLD in our center is lower than previous reports from other centers (0.9%), with a 60% mortality rate and worse prognosis in the pediatric age group.

Acute renal failure and acute necrotizing pancreatitis after Echis carinatus sochureki bite, report of a rare complication from southern Iran

Venomous animal bites are a significant health problem for rural populations in many parts of the world. Herein, we report an unusual presentation of Echis carinatus sochureki bite from southern Iran. A 36 year old woman was referred to Shiraz Nemaze Hospital due to anuria, headache, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea and vomiting and severe abdominal pain after Echis carinatus sochureki bite. According to the clinical and paraclinical evaluations, the patient was admitted with impression of acute renal failure and acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a rare complication after snake bite. This article is the first report of acute pancreatitis after Echis carinatus sochureki bite.

Association of zinc deficiency and depression in the patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

Depression is a common psychological symptom in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. In the general population, low serum zinc level is associated with major depression. The current study surveys the possible relationship between the prevalence of depression and plasma level of zinc in patients on hemodialysis (HD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 135 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD were enrolled in the study. The severity of depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Plasma zinc level was measured from fasting samples.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 52.45 (standard deviation: 15.33) years. In all, 76% of the patients had some degree of depression according to BDI scoring system (BDI >14). The mean level of plasma zinc in the depressed patients was significantly lower than the rest of the patients (67.46 ± 29.7 vs. 85.26 + 40.05).

DISCUSSION

Zinc deficiency may be a reversible cause which might contribute to the increased rate of depression in HD patients. This is the first study reporting the association of zinc deficiency with the presence of depression in HD patients; therefore, these findings need further investigations.

The role of routine chest radiography in initial evaluation of stable blunt trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Radiology plays an important role in evaluation of a trauma patient. Although chest radiography is recommended for initial evaluation of the trauma patient by the Advanced Trauma Life Support course, we hypothesized that precise physical examinations and history taking accurately identify those blunt trauma patients at low risk for chest injury, making routine radiographs unnecessary. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the role of chest radiography in initial evaluation of those trauma patients with normal physical examination.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional study, all the hemodynamically stable blunt trauma patients with negative physical examination result referred to our trauma center during a 4-month period (March-June 2009) were included. Chest radiographies were performed and reviewed for abnormalities.

RESULTS

During the study period, 5091 blunt trauma patients referred to our center, out of which, 1008 were hemodynamically stable and had negative physical examination result. Only 1 (0.1%) patient had abnormal chest radiography that showed perihilar lymphadenopathy, unrelated to trauma.

CONCLUSION

Performing routine chest radiography in stable blunt trauma patients is of low clinical value. Thus, decision making for performing chest radiography in blunt trauma patients based on clinical findings would be efficacious and resource saving.

Senior-Loken syndrome in an Iranian family

Senior-Loken syndrome is a rare entity that combines familial juvenile nephronophthisis with retinal dystrophy. Herein, we report Senior-Loken syndrome in six members of an Iranian family with progressive blindness and renal failure since childhood. Although, this syndrome was reported from other parts of the world, report of six members of one family with this syndrome is rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Iran.

Slow graft function after pediatric renal transplantation from volunteer live donors

Slow graft function (SGF) may occur during the early post-transplant period. In this paper, we present our findings regarding SGF after pediatric renal transplantation and its predictive variables. From 1985 to 2004, a total of 300 pediatric renal transplants were performed at our institution. A total of 10 cases with SGF and 50 controls that were operated by the same surgeons were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the recipients and donors was 11.4 (3-15 yr) and 28.05 yr (20-50 yr), respectively. All kidneys were retrieved from living donors. We compared patients with SGF with controls regarding four independent variables: age difference between donors and recipients, serum hemoglobin difference between donors and recipients, mean blood pressure (systolic blood pressure + 2 [diastolic blood pressure]/3) difference between donors and recipients, and weight difference between donors and recipients. The mean age of recipients was 10.5 +/- 4.1 in SGF group and 11.6 +/- 2.5 in control group (p = 0.4). The differences between donors and recipients regarding weight and mean blood pressure in subjects with SGF were not higher than other patients (42 kg vs. 37.4 kg, p = 0.4; -3 mmHg vs. -4.1 mmHg, p = 0.8). The mean hemoglobin difference between donors and recipients was 6.3 +/- 2.1 g/dL in SGF group and 6.7 +/- 2.3 g/dL in control group (p = 0.6). The differences between donors and recipients regarding age, weight, mean blood pressure and serum hemoglobin level are not predictive variables for SGF.

Does Pre-Transplantation Antireflux Surgery Eliminate Post-Renal Transplantation Pyelonephritis in Children?

PURPOSE

Antireflux surgery for VUR before renal transplantation decreases the risk of post-kidney transplant UTI in pediatric patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux. We studied the risk of post-kidney transplant UTI in patients with or without surgical correction of VUR before transplantation compared to patients without VUR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared 12 patients who had VUR corrected before transplantation (group 1) to 17 patients with VUR who did not undergo antireflux surgery before transplantation (group 2) and 36 patients undergoing renal transplantation without VUR (group 3). A total of 10 patients in group 1 (83.3%) and 10 in group 2 (58.8%) had high grade VUR.

RESULTS

Eight patients in group 1 (66.7%), 6 in group 2 (35.3%) and 33 in group 3 (91.7%) remained free of febrile UTI during followup (p = 0.00). Among patients with high grade VUR 6 in group 1 and 1 in group 2 remained UTI-free (p = 0.02). A total of 33 patients in the control group (91.7%) remained free of febrile UTI, an incidence that was significantly lower compared to group 1 (p = 0.03) and group 2 (p = 0.00). Of the patients with high grade VUR 3 in group 1 (30%) and 4 in group 2 (40%) experienced recurrent febrile UTIs (p = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Even after surgical correction of VUR before transplantation the frequency of febrile UTI remained higher than that in kidney transplant recipients without VUR. In cases of high grade VUR reimplantation before renal transplantation decreased the rate of febrile UTI but it was still higher than the level of risk in the control group.

Outcome of renal transplantation in children with low urinary tract abnormality

INTRODUCTION

Patients with end-stage renal disease and lower urinary tract abnormality are often considered high risk for renal transplantation.

METHODS AND SUBJECTS

To examine the degree of risk, we studied patients who received renal transplants between 1985 and 2003. Forty eight patients had congenital lower urinary tract anomalies and 168 patients comprised a control group without these anomalies.

RESULTS

Mean age and distribution of sex were not significantly different between the case and the control group. Among patients with anomalies, 8% had delayed graft function; 75%, acute rejection; and 39.5%, chronic rejection. Among the controls 2.3% had delayed graft function; 59%, acute rejection; and 35%, chronic rejection. None of these differences was significant. Mean survival time was 6 years in affected patients and 7.3 years in the control group (P = .7). Among patients with anomalies the rate of graft survival in the first year after transplantation was 90%; and those in the third, fifth, and seventh years, 76%, 65%, and 40%, respectively. For the controls, the graft survivals were 88% at 1 year; 73% at 3 years; 70% at 5 years; and 49% at 7 years after transplantation.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that a history of lower urinary tract anomalies had no effect on graft function. Graft survival was not different among these patients compared with patients free of these anomalies.

Mycophenolate Mofetil in Pediatric Renal Transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Since kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), we investigated the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pediatric renal transplantation.

METHODS AND SUBJECTS

Two hundred sixteen children received renal transplants between 1985 and 2003: 100 patients received MMF with cyclosporine and prednisolone (cases), and 116 patients, azathioprine with cyclosporine and prednisolone (controls).

RESULTS

The MMF group (100 patients) showed better graft survival and function than the AZA group (116 patients). Patients who received MMF immediately after transplantation experienced less graft loss and acute rejection episodes in the first 3 months after transplantation (P < .05). Patients who received MMF at the time of diagnosis of chronic rejection had stable renal function and remarkably better graft survival than those with chronic rejection who received AZA instead of MMF (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that MMF may stop persistent graft dysfunction in chronic rejection, improving graft survival in the short and long terms posttransplantation.

Is β-thalassemia trait a protective factor against hypertension in young adults?

Beta-thalassemia trait (BTT) is a common genetic disorder in Mediterranean countries including Iran. Previous studies have shown the protective effect of BTT on myocardial infarction that may be due to lower cholesterol levels or lower arterial blood pressure in BTT subjects. This study was designed to analyze the effect of BTT on arterial blood pressure in young adults. Four-hundred and eight subjects who were referred to our clinic for premarriage screening of BTT (208 BTT as the case group and 200 normal subjects as the control group) were recruited. BTT was diagnosed by complete blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and column chromatography. Blood pressure was measured twice with 20-min intervals by a medical barometer in the sitting position from left arm, and the average blood pressure was recorded as subject's blood pressure level. Mean systolic blood pressure in the control group was 122.8 mmHg as compared to 117.0 mmHg in the case group (P value = 0.249). Mean diastolic pressure was the same in both groups (76.7 mmHg in control group as compared with 77.5 mmHg in the case group) (P value = 0.433). Analysis of blood pressure by gender showed that male BTT subjects had a 10-mmHg lower systolic blood pressure than normal subjects (120.8 mmHg in the case group as compared with 130.7 mmHg in the control group). BTT has a protective effect on the development of hypertension in young male adults.