Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections

PURPOSE

Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds.

METHODS

This review article was based on published studies on inpatients and laboratory animals receiving phage therapy for surgical wounds, phage therapy for tissue and bone infections treated with surgery to prevent recurrence, antibiotic-resistant wound infections treated with phage therapy, and biofilm-involved surgical wounds treated with phage therapy which were searched without date restrictions.

RESULTS

It has been shown in this review article that phage therapy can be used to treat surgical-site infections in patients and animals, eliminate biofilms at the surgical site, prevent infection recurrence in wounds that have been operated on, and eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections in surgical wounds, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), extensively drug resistance (XDR), and pan-drug resistance (PDR). A cocktail of phages and antibiotics can also reduce surgical-site infections more effectively than phages alone.

CONCLUSION

In light of these encouraging results, clinical trials and research with phages will continue in the near future to treat surgical-site infections, biofilm removal, and antibiotic-resistant wounds, all of which could be used to prescribe phages as an alternative to antibiotics.

Characteristics and outcomes of diabetic foot ulcers treated with surgical debridement and standardized wound care

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a significant clinical challenge, often leading to amputations and hospitalisation. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of DFUs treated with surgical debridement and standardised wound care. This descriptive cross-sectional study focused on diabetic patients with appropriate vascular conditions, as determined by an Ankle Brachial Index >0.9. Based on their infection status, participants were admitted to Poursina Hospital in Rasht, Iran, and subjected to initial supportive measures, antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement. The study incorporated primary treatment with wet bandages, silver spray and fibrinolysin ointment. Statistical analysis employed SPSS 22 software. Most patients were male (54.7%) and under 60 years old (50.7%). Overweight status was prevalent in 69.3% of diabetic ulcer patients, amongst whom 48% underwent wrist debridement. The 64% and 36% of the cases had grade III and grade II Texas index. Moreover, 96% of patients exhibited signs of infection and were classified as Stage Texas B. Reoperation was necessary for 34.7% of patients. The mean hospital stay was 8.5 ± 7.55 days, and the average recovery time was 15.2 ± 15.19 days. Out of 75 patients, 10 were unable to return to limb function due to disability. In this study, around one-third of patients required secondary repair with grafts and flaps. A small number of them were unable to recover because of underlying disability, and the mean recovery time in other cases was 24 days. Future studies should follow up with patients for longer periods to assess long-term therapeutic outcomes and quality of life.

The role of diabetic foot treatment in improving left ventricular function: Insights from global longitudinal strain echocardiography

We decided to evaluate the effect of treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in improving heart function by strain echocardiography than conventional transthoracic echocardiography. This prospective cross-sectional study included patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Conventional and two-dimensional strain echocardiography performed before and after three months diabetic foot treatment. Then, we compared the echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS). Multivariate and univariate logistic regression analysis were performed to find which variable was mainly associated with LV-GLS changes. 62 patients with DFU were conducted. After echocardiography, all patients underwent surgical or non-surgical treatments. Three months after the treatment, LV-EF was not significantly different with its' primary values (P = 0.250), but LV-GLS became significantly different (P<0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, with the increase in the grade of ulcer, LV-GLS improved by 6.3 times. Not only the treatment of DFU helps to control adverse outcomes like infection, limb loss and morbidity but also it enhances cardiac function. Of note, strain echocardiography found to be a better indicator of myocardial dysfunction than LV-EF. These findings make a strong reason for the routine assessment of cardiac function in patients with DFU.

The prevalence of onychomycosis in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis: A cross-sectional study

Onychomycosis is one of the most common cutaneous symptoms in patients with chronic renal failure. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and determine the factors likely associated with developing onychomycosis among dialysis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 with 312 chronic renal failure patients undergoing dialysis visiting the dialysis departments of Guilan University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected by consecutive sampling method. A dermatologist subjected the patients to a detailed clinical assessment of the fingernails and toenails to find evidence of Onychomycosis. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was performed in case of suspicion of Onychomycosis. A total of 312 inpatients were investigated during the time frame of the present study. Among study patients, 62.5% were male, the average age of the patients was 59.3 ± 13.9 years, and the mean duration of dialysis was 37.5 ± 38.5 months. A total of 12.8% (n = 40) of patients undergoing dialysis had Onychomycosis. Diabetes mellitus was present in 37.5% of dialysis patients. Diabetes and Onychomycosis were significantly associated, so the prevalence rate of Onychomycosis in diabetic patients was almost twice that of non-diabetic patients (17.9% vs. 9.7%; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, education level, and type of dialysis access were the predictors of Onychomycosis development. Onychomycosis puts people at risk for more severe infections, including erysipelas, cellulitis, and amputations; thus, dialysis patients need to learn how to take care of their toenails properly.

Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells transplantation for critical limb ischemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a preliminary report of phase I clinical trial

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects more than 230 million people worldwide, with approximately 11% of patients presenting with advanced-stage PAD or critical limb ischemia (CLI). To avoid or delay amputation, particularly in no-option CLI patients with infeasible or ineffective revascularization, new treatment strategies such as regenerative therapies should be developed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most popular cell source in regenerative therapies. They possess significant characteristics such as angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities, which encourage their application in different diseases. This phase I clinical trial reports the safety, feasibility, and probable efficacy of the intramuscular administration of allogeneic Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) in type 2 diabetes patients with CLI. Out of six screened patients with CLI, five patients were administered WJ-MSCs into the gastrocnemius, soleus, and the proximal part of the tibialis anterior muscles of the ischemic lower limb. The safety of WJ-MSCs injection was considered a primary outcome. Secondary endpoints included wound healing, the presence of pulse at the disease site, the absence of amputation, and improvement in visual analogue scale (VAS), pain-free walking time, and foot and ankle disability index (FADI). No patient experienced adverse events and foot or even toe amputation during the 6-month follow-up. Six months after the intervention, there were a significantly lower VAS score and significantly higher pain-free walking time and FADI score than the baseline, but no statistically significant difference was seen between other time points. In conclusion, allogeneic WJ-MSC transplantation in patients with CLI seems to be safe and effective.

Knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran

Optimal management of burns begins with first aid from the first hours of injury. Adequate knowledge of how to perform first aid for burns can reduce the consequences of injury. Therefore, this study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and sources of information assessment towards burn First aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran in 2023. In this survey, a convenience sampling method was adopted. The variables consisted of four items on socio-demographic information, 15 items on knowledge, ten items on attitude, and one item on sources of information related to burn First aid. A total of 371 individuals responded to the survey. The mean age of participants was 31.90 ± 8.49 years old. The mean score of the total knowledge of the participants in the research was 6.04 ± 3.05. There was a statistically significant relationship between the variables of age, sex, marital status, place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' knowledge level. The average score of the total attitude of the participants was 44.08 ± 3.88. Out of 371 participants, 214 people (57.7%) had an average attitude, and 157 people (42.3%) had a good attitude towards burn first aid. There was a statistically significant relationship between place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' attitudes in the research. In addition, the level of knowledge had a statistically significant relationship with the participants' attitude level in the research (p-value <0.001). The majority of participants have limited knowledge of burn first aid. This lack of knowledge could lead to severe consequences. Therefore, healthcare organizations should review and promote consistent guidelines for burn first aid to tackle and minimize the effect of this grave injury.

Prevalence of surgical wound infection and related factors in patients after long bone surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to provide an overview of the prevalence of surgical wound infection and related factors in patients after long bone surgery. A comprehensive, systematic search was conducted in different international electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Prevalence", "Surgical wound infection", "Surgical site infection" and "Orthopedics" from the earliest to the May 1, 2023. The appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool) evaluates the quality of the included studies. A total of 71 854 patients undergoing long bone surgery participated in 12 studies. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients who underwent long bone surgery reported in the 12 studies was 3.3% (95% CI: 1.5%-7.2%; I2  = 99.39%; p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in male and female patients who underwent long bone surgery was 4.6% (95% CI: 1.7%-11.7%; p < 0.001; I2  = 99.34%) and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.0%-6.3%; I2  = 98.84%; p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients with femur surgery sites reported in nine studies was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.1-6.4%; I2  = 93.43%; p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in open and close fractures was 16.4% (95% CI: 8.2%-30.2%; I2  = 95.83%; p < 0.001) and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.5%-5.5%; I2  = 96.40%; p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) was 4.6% (95% CI: 2.3%-8.9%; I2  = 81.50%; p < 0.001), 2.7% (95% CI: 1.2%-6.0%; I2  = 83.82%; p < 0.001) and 3.0% (95% CI: 1.4%-6.4%; I2  = 69.12%; p = 0.006), respectively. In general, the different prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients undergoing surgical treatment after long bone fracture may be caused by underlying factors (gender and co-morbidity) and fracture-related factors (surgery site and type of fracture).

The Effect of Aromatherapy with Lavender on Pain of Needle Insertion and Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients; a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

Pain experienced during the insertion of a catheter into the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are prevalent issues among Hemodialysis (HD) patients. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to consolidate the findings from randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies examining the impact of aromatherapy with lavender on the pain associated with AVF catheter insertion and RLS in HD patients.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to August 1, 2022, using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings, such as "Aromatherapy", "Lavender", "Arteriovenous fistula", "Pain", "Restless legs syndrome", and "Hemodialysis".

Results

Finally, eleven articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The results showed that aromatherapy reduced the average pain of catheter insertion in AVF compared to the control group (Standard Mean Difference: -1.60, 95% Confidence Interval: -2.32 to -0.87, Z=4.32, I2:90.3%, P<0.001). Also, aromatherapy massage reduced the average severity of RLS compared to the control group, which was statistically significant (Weighted Mean Difference: -13.21, 95% Confidence Interval: -17.50 to -8.91, Z=6.03, I2:93.0%, P<0.001). Also, the subgroup analysis showed that lavender in the intervention group significantly decreased the pain intensity compared to the "no intervention" group (P<0.001), yet it was not significant compared to the placebo group (P=0.12).

Conclusion

In summary, the findings indicate a notable reduction in catheter insertion pain in AVF and relief from RLS among HD patients through the use of lavender essential oil. As a result, future research is encouraged to include a comparison of lavender's effects with those of a placebo group.

The association between the volume of the gallbladder based on sonographic findings and demographical data in the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study (PGCS)

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound is an important method to determine the volume of the gallbladder and check its structure. Considering the variation in the size and volume of the gallbladder in disease and physiological conditions, determining the volume of the gallbladder is clinically valuable. This study was carried out to evaluate the gallbladder volume and its association with patients' demographic data in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies of Iranian Adults (PERSIAN) Guilan cohort study (PGCS) population.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 957 individuals aged 35-70 participated in determining the gallbladder volume by a radiologist based on the ultrasound method. The demographical data were collected using a questionnaire. After fasting for 12 h, the ultrasound was performed with an Ultrasonic device (Sonix SP series) with a 3.5 to 5 MHz probe.

RESULTS

The total frequency of gallbladder lesions was 2.2%. The results showed a significant association between marriage and gender with the presence or absence of lesions in the studied participants (P < 0.05). Also, significant differences were reported between the volume of gallbladder and gender, body mass index (BMI), social and economic status (SES), metabolic equivalent of task (MET), history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and hypertension (P < 0.05). The results of a linear regression represented a significant association between gender, BMI, MET, and CVD and the mean volume of the gallbladder (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant association between the presence or absence of a lesion and the individuals' average gallbladder volume (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to our results, gender, BMI, MET, and CVD were significantly associated with gallbladder volume.

Clinical Breast Cancer Registry of IR. Iran (CBCR-IR): Study Protocol and First Results

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC), as a significant global health problem, is the most common cancer in women. Despite the importance of clinical cancer registries in improving the quality of cancer care and cancer research, there are few reports on them from low- and middle-income countries. We established a multicenter clinical breast cancer registry in Iran (CBCR-IR) to collect data on BC cases, the pattern of care, and the quality-of-care indicators in different hospitals across the country.

METHODS

We established a clinical cancer registry in 12 provinces of Iran. We defined the organizational structure, developed minimal data sets and data dictionaries, verified data sources and registration processes, and developed the necessary registry software. During this registry, we studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer who were admitted from 2014 onwards.

RESULTS

We registered 13086 BC cases (7874 eligible cases) between 1.1.2014 and 1.1.2022. Core needle biopsy from the tumor (61.25%) and diagnostic mammography (68.78%) were the two most commonly used diagnostic methods. Stage distribution was 2.03% carcinoma in situ, 12% stage I, 44.65% stage II, 21.32% stage III, and 4.61% stage IV; stage information was missing in 1532 patients (19.46%). Surgery (95.01%) and chemotherapy (79.65%) were the most common treatments for all patients.

CONCLUSION

The information provided by this registry can be used to evaluate and improve the quality of care for BC patients. It will be scaled up to the national level as an important resource for measuring quality of care and conducting clinical cancer research in Iran.

Family history of cancer as a potential risk factor for colorectal cancer in EMRO countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The current meta-analysis aims to investigate the existing articles that evaluated the implications of a positive family history of cancer on the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) within the EMRO countries. We employed PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as search databases for this study. To assess the quality of the selected articles, we utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa (NCO) checklist. In comparing the impact of a family history of cancer between the case and control groups, we computed the odds ratio (OR) along with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Finally, 27 articles were selected for meta-analysis. The result of the meta-analysis showed a significant association between the presence of a family history of CRC or any cancers and CRC (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.54-3.17; P < 0.001, OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.27-2.42; P = 0.001, respectively). Our findings underscore the critical importance of timely screening and early identification for individuals with a family history of cancer. By fostering close coordination among healthcare facilities and actively promoting the adoption of screening methods for early detection, we have the potential to significantly reduce both mortality rates and financial burdens of CRC on the general public, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.

Prevalence of Postoperative Hypothermia in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit

Background

Unwanted postoperative hypothermia is an unpleasant event that can cause various complications.

Objectives

As this serious complication and its provoking causes have not been investigated sufficiently, this study was designed and conducted to determine the prevalence of hypothermia and its associated factors in the post-anesthesia care unit after elective surgery.

Methods

Four hundred patients undergoing elective surgeries were enrolled in the present cross-sectional research after termination of surgery and at the time of arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit of Poursina Public University Hospital. The tympanic membrane temperature was measured and recorded at the time of arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit and every 30 minutes after arrival. The required data were collected in a researcher-made checklist and analyzed after entering the SPSS software version 25.

Results

Considering the 5% error, it can be said that the prevalence of hypothermia in patients undergoing elective surgery ranges from 20 to 28% at the time of arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit and 18.5 to 26% 30 minutes after arrival.

Conclusions

More than a quarter of patients experienced hypothermia following elective surgery. Therefore, appropriate treatment and control measures are necessary to manage this complication, particularly in patients with predisposing risk factors and comorbidities.

Incidence rate and risk factors of surgical wound infection in general surgery patients: A cross-sectional study

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are considered a major challenge in health care systems. One of the main HAIs, playing an important role in increased morbidity and mortality, is surgical wound infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence rate and risk factors of surgical wound infection in general surgery patients. This cross-sectional study was performed on 506 patients undergoing general surgery at Razi hospital in Rasht from 2019 to 2020. Bacterial isolates, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, antibiotic administration, and its type, operation duration and shift, the urgency of surgery, people involved in changing dressings, length of hospitalisation, and levels of haemoglobin, albumin, and white blood cells after surgery were assessed. The frequency of surgical wound infection and its association with patient characteristics and laboratory results were evaluated. The SPSS software package (version 16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyse the data. Quantitative and qualitative variables were presented using mean (standard deviation) and number (percentage). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the data in this study. The data did not have a normal distribution. Hence, χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate the relationship between variables. Surgical wound infection occurred in 4.7% (24 cases) of patients with a mean age of 59.34 (SD = 14.61) years. Preoperative (>3 days) and postoperative (>7 days) hospitalisation, history of immunodeficiency (P < 0.001), and interns responsible for changing dressings (P = 0.021) were associated with surgical wound infection incidence. About 9.5% and 4.4% of surgical wound infection cases were significantly associated with pre- and postoperative antibiotic use. Gram-positive cocci were the most prevalent strains isolated from 24 surgical wound infection cases (15/24, 62.5%). Among these, Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci. In addition, the most common Gram-negative isolates identified were Escherichia coli bacteria. Overall, administration of antibiotics, emergency surgery, surgery duration, and levels of white blood cells and creatinine were identified as surgical wound infection-associated risk factors. Identifying important risk factors could help control or prevent surgical wound infections.

Boerhaave's syndrome in a patient with achalasia: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Boerhaave's syndrome (BS) is a rare spontaneous perforation of the esophagus with a high rate of morbidity that results in death in the case of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Here, we describe a patient with achalasia who was diagnosed with BS.

CASE PRESENTATION

This present case is a 63-year-old man with a previous history of achalasia and with a complaint of sudden onset of severe right chest pain, epigastric pain, etc. to Razi hospital, Rasht, Iran in March 2022.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Due to the clinical findings of the patients, the diagnosis was BS and the patient's condition was reported to be good at the two-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Early diagnosis of BS results in more effective treatment. Also, stenting is suggested to be effective to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality in patients with BS.

Evaluation of the Consequences of Targeted or Focused Mini-Incision Parathyroidectomy in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Surgical approaches to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) have been associated with a change from invasive to non-invasive methods in the last 20 years. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 55 patients with primary adenoma-induced HPT underwent surgery. The parathyroid gland in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid adenoma was removed by open surgery with an incision of about 2 cm in the neck in a targeted manner in a site localized by ultrasound or Sestamibi scan. The patients' personal information, including age, sex, length of hospital stay, serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, success rate, and problems and unwanted adverse consequences of surgery (e.g. infection and bleeding) were recorded for each patient and collected information was analyzed in SPSS software. Most patients were women (80%) and individuals in the age range of 41-60 years (47.3%). The hospital stay length ranged from 2 to 5 days with an average of 3.25±0.9 days. Success was considered as a decrease in PTH and calcium levels during the first 24 h after the intervention, and success rates of 100, 98.2, and 69.1%, respectively, were evaluated for a reduction of at least 50% in PTH levels and less than 40 ng/ml of PTH levels. No major complications were reported in the studied patients. Wilcoxon test revealed significant decreases in patients' postoperative serum calcium and PTH levels (P=0.000). Mini-incision Parathyroidectomy with limited incision was associated with significant reductions in serum calcium and PTD without complications.

Comparison of Distal Arterial Hemodynamic Changes of the Upper Extremity Loop and Straight Arteriovenous Grafts

Hemodialysis access has been considered as a support for end-stage renal patients. We measured the hemodynamic changes of the distal part of the upper extremity immediately after providing the AVGs in each method mentioned above and then compared the results. This method is a novel one and hasn’t been used in any other studies before. We studied 32 patients referred to the vascular surgery department of Rasht Razi Hospital between 2019-2020 (using the Convenient Sampling method). This study is a case-control study. Out of 32 patients referred to the vascular surgery department of the hospital, 68.8% were male, and their mean age was 53.41±12.75 years, ranging from 28 to 78 years. Changes in distal arterial hemodynamics of the upper limb before and after clamping in dialysis venoarterial loop versus straight grafts are different in studied patients (P<0.05). The mean hemodynamic changes before and after clamping in loop venoarterial grafts (19.5000) are less than straight grafts. In dialysis patients who do not have any superficial vein suitable for venous, arterial fistula, surgical placement of artificial grafts in the upper limb is appropriate. Based on the results of this study, the loop method seems to have lesser ischemic Complications and can be applied to dialysis patients.

Incidence, characteristics, and outcome of COVID-19 in patients on liver transplant program: a retrospective study in the north of Iran

The risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) disease seems to be higher in individuals with solid organ transplantation. Therefore, the purpose of the present research is to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 and laboratory data and epidemiologic factors in liver transplant recipients and the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the records of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and of recipients of a liver transplant. Demographic data, underlying disease, history of drug use and participants' outcomes were collected. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for all patients was confirmed using a nasopharyngeal swab specimen with real-time RT-PCR. During the study period, 172 patients were enrolled, among whom 85 patients (49.4%) were on the waiting list for liver transplantation, and 87 patients (50.6%) were recipients of a liver transplant. Out of them, 10 (5.8%) had a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 7.05% (6/85) and 4.6% (4/87) of patients on the waiting list and recipients of liver transplants were positive for SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Patients on the waiting list with COVID-19 infection had a higher median of albumin, ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, HDL and LDL value. In summary, the incidence of COVID-19 in liver transplant patients was slightly higher. The existence of underlying liver diseases should be well known as one of the poor predictive factors for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. So, comparative studies are recommended to identify risk factors for COVID-19 in patients with liver injury.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax and Exercise and Return to Previous Activities in Patients Referring to Hospitals of Rasht during 2015-2017

Background

The most common cause of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is subpleural bleb apical rupture. Little is known about the relationship between PSP and exercise and return to exercise the time. In this study, we tend to investigate the relationship between training and PSP and time of return to exercise and previous activities.

Method

This study was designed as a case series and the sample size included all patients diagnosed with PSP in Razi and Poursina and Aria hospitals of Rasht during 2015-2017 based on inclusion criteria. Variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, Mann Whitney U and t-test (p<0.05).

Results

The most common treatment type in patients was transaxillary thoracotomy with pleurodesis with iodine (TTP) in 58.2% and tube thoracostomy and pleurodesis in 41.7%, which was not statistically significant between athletes and non-athletes (p=0.806). Athletes who underwent TTP after four weeks and those treated with tube thoracostomy and pleurodesis after 8-12 weeks were advised to return to their previous activity. Of athletes, 9.5% had a recurrence; of non-athletes, 9.8% had a recurrence. Of athletes, 4.8% did not tolerate returning to their last activity; of non-athletes, 7.3% did not tolerate returning to their previous activity regardless of treatment, and this difference was not significant.

Conclusion

Our study showed no significant difference between clinical manifestations and image findings and the frequency of treatment and complications in both athlete and non-athlete patients. There is no increase in recurrence and intolerance at the time recommended for return to previous activity.

Intrabiliary and abdominal rupture of hepatic hydatid cyst leading to biliary obstruction, cholangitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis and septicemia: a case report

Background

Hydatid cysts are fluid-filled sacs containing immature forms of parastic tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The most prevalent and serious complication of hydatid disease is intrabiliary rupture, also known as cystobiliary fistulae. In this study, a sporadic case of biliary obstruction, cholangitis, and septicemia is described secondary to hydatid cyst rupture into the common bile duct and intraperitoneal cavity.

Case presentation

A 21-year-old Iranian man was admitted to the emergency ward with 5 days of serious sickness and a history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, icterus, vomiting, and no appetite. In the physical examination, abdominal tenderness was detected in all four quadrants and in the scleral icterus. Abdominal ultrasound revealed intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary duct dilation. Gallbladder wall thickening was normal but was very dilated, and large unilocular intact hepatic cysts were detected in segment IV and another one segment II which had detached laminated membranes and was a ruptured or complicated liver cyst.

Conclusion

Intrabiliary perforation of the liver hydatid cyst is an infrequent event but has severe consequences. Therefore, when patients complain of abdominal pain, fever, peritonitis, decreased appetite, and jaundice, a differential diagnosis of hydatid disease needs to be taken into consideration. Early diagnosis of complications and aggressive treatments, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgery, are vital.

Challenges and strategies to end child marriage

OBJECTIVES

Child marriage is one of the most important challenges of the current era that threatens women's health and violates human rights. The present study aimed to systematically review studies evaluating the challenges and strategies to overcome child marriage.

CONTENT

Medical databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source, and Social Science Research Network, as databases for English studies and IranMedex, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, and Iran Doc as databases for Persian studies) were systematically searched from January 2010 to February 2020. To better identify appropriate studies, reference lists of relevant studies were searched. All potentially relevant abstracts and full-text were screened by two independent reviewers. Disagreements between two reviewers that could not be resolved were resolved via arbitration or consultation of a third author.

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

From 225 articles included in this review, 16 research articles met our inclusion criteria. Most of the articles were dedicated to negative health outcomes related to child marriage. Ten studies addressed the program of overcoming the Child marriage and six studies reported challenges of it. Although, many studies have shown the efficacy of strategies to decline Child marriage. On the basis of the available evidence, it seems there are a number of obstacles to end Child marriage. To delineate the most effective strategy to end Child marriage is required further research.

Epigenetic profiling of MUTYH, KLF6, WNT1 and KLF4 genes in carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is distinguished by epigenetic elements like DNA methylation, histone modification, histone acetylation and RNA remodeling which is related with genomic instability and tumor initiation. Correspondingly, as a main epigenetic regulation, DNA methylation has an impressive ability in order to be used in CRC targeted therapy. Meaningly, DNA methylation is identified as one of most important epigenetic regulators in gene expression and is considered as a notable potential driver in tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis through gene-silencing of tumor suppressors genes. Abnormal methylation situation, even in the level of promoter regions, does not essentially change the gene expression levels, particularly if the gene was become silenced, leaving the mechanisms of methylation without any response. According to the methylation situation which has a strong eagerness to be highly altered on CpG islands in carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis, considering its epigenetic fluctuations in finding new biomarkers is of great importance. Modifications in DNA methylation pattern and also enrichment of methylated histone signs in the promoter regions of some certain genes like MUTYH, KLF4/6 and WNT1 in different signaling pathways could be a notable key contributors to the upregulation of tumor initiation in CRC. These epigenetic alterations could be employed as a practical diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer. In this review, we will be discuss these fluctuations of MUTYH, KLF4/6 and WNT1 genes in CRC.

Prevalence of pre-cancerous colon lesions in referred patients under patronage of a local relief foundation in Guilan province

Colon cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers in developed countries with varied incidence and the onset age of disease worldwide. Overall, 161 participants who were under patronage of a local relief foundation and referred to the endoscopy ward of Razi Hospital affiliated to the Guilan University of Medical Sciences. These patients have been aged more than 50 or more than 40 years with history of colorectal cancer in their first-degree family were enrolled from March 2016–March 2017. Demographic information were collected. Colonoscopy was performed and histopathological evaluation of observed lesions and polyps was done. Most of participants were female (113 individuals, 70.2%) and aged 50–60 years (83 individuals, 51.6%). Seventy-four (46%) had certain lesions. Most of colonoscopy findings were observed in the ascending colon in which depressed polyps and diverticulum were most frequent. However, rectum showed the most histological findings. All polyps of descending and ascending colons were neoplastic, while most of rectal polyps were non-neoplastic. Male patients, who were aged more than 60 years and smokers had significant higher percentage of both lesions and polyps in their colon (p<0.05). Moreover, significant positive association was detected between exposure to harmful industries and having polyps (p=0.01). We found male gender, higher age, smoking, and exposure to harmful industries as important risk factors for having colorectal lesions, which must be confirmed in further studies.

Efficacy and tolerability of fourteen-day sequential quadruple regimen: pantoprazole, bismuth, amoxicillin, metronidazole and or furazolidone as first-line therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

The optimal pharmacological regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been investigated for many years. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bismuth-based quadruple therapy (B-QT) and a modified sequential therapy (ST) regimens in eradication of H. pylori. A randomized, double-blind trial was conducted on 344 patients. Patients with H. pylori infection and without a history of previous treatment were randomized to receive 14-day B-QT (bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily) or 14-day ST (bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and metronidazole 500 mg twice a day for seven days followed by bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and furazolidone 100 mg twice a day for additional seven days). Drug adverse effects were assessed during the study. H. pylori eradication was determined eight weeks after the end of treatment using ¹⁴C-urea breath test. Based on per-protocol and intention-to-treat, the eradication rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the B-QT regimen 91.9 % (95 % CI; 88.1-94.0) and 90.2 % (95 % CI; 86.3-92.9), respectively compared to the ST regimen 80.8 % (95 % CI; 76.6-84.9) and 78.1 % (95 % CI; 73.7-82.4), respectively. The severity of vomiting and loss of appetite were significantly higher in ST regimen (p<0.05). The B-QT regimen was more effective and safer than the ST regimen. Conclusively, it is suggested to assess the efficacy and safety of this regimen in longer studies, larger population, and in other communities.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the sigmoid colon: a case report and review of literature

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon consisting of both glandular and squamous histopathologic features is a rare colorectal neoplasm. Metastasis commonly occurs in right and transverse colon. A 71-year-old Caucasian man presented with a four-month history of intermittent rectal bleeding. Pathologic analysis of biopsy specimen revealed an adenosquamous carcinoma of sigmoid colon. Sigmoid resection with a proximal and distal resection was performed. Early detection and radical operation with other available therapeutic modalities may improve clinical outcome.