Comparison of fine-needle aspiration with fine-needle capillary cytology in thyroid nodules

INTRODUCTION

High false-negative results have been reported for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in thyroid nodules. Fine-needle capillary (FNC) cytology is an alternative technique that prevents aspiration, reducing tissue damage. This study aimed to compare FNA and FNC in assessing thyroid nodules and in terms of their predictive role in the appropriate diagnosis of malignancy.

METHODS

This is a comparative prospective study conducted on 486 patients. FNA was performed in 235 patients during 2016 and 2017 and FNC in 251 patients during 2018 and 2019. The quality of cytological specimens was compared and then correlated with the final histopathological findings of 39 patients who underwent thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Both groups were statistically similar regarding age and sex distribution. The FNA technique yielded significantly higher adequate specimens compared with FNC (p<0.001). Abundant blood in the background was found more frequently in the FNA technique (p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of FNA for malignancy diagnosis were both 100%, compared with 83.3% and 57.7% for FNC, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The two methods, FNA and FNC, did not differ in terms of overall quality. FNA was superior regarding consistency with the histopathological results and the ability to diagnose malignancy.

Quasiperiodic driving of Anderson localized waves in one dimension

We consider a quantum particle in a one-dimensional disordered lattice with Anderson localization in the presence of multifrequency perturbations of the onsite energies. Using the Floquet representation, we transform the eigenvalue problem into a Wannier-Stark basis. Each frequency component contributes either to a single channel or a multichannel connectivity along the lattice, depending on the control parameters. The single-channel regime is essentially equivalent to the undriven case. The multichannel driving increases substantially the localization length for slow driving, showing two different scaling regimes of weak and strong driving, yet the localization length stays finite for a finite number of frequency components.

Saffron ethanolic extract attenuates oxidative stress, spatial learning, and memory impairments induced by local injection of ethidium bromide

Cognitive deficits have been observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) because of hippocampal insults. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of MS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, on learning and memory loss and the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of toxic models of MS. One week after MS induction by intrahippocampal injection of ethidium bromide (EB), animals were treated with two doses of saffron extract (5 and 10 μg/rat) for a week. Learning and spatial memory status was assessed using Morris Water Maze. After termination of behavioral testing days, animals were decapitated and the bilateral hippocampi dissected to measure some of the oxidative stress markers including the level of hippocampi thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Treatment with saffron extract ameliorated spatial learning and memory impairment (P<0.05). Total antioxidant reactivity capacity, lipid peroxidation products and antioxidant enzymes activity in the hippocampus homogenates of EB treated group were significantly higher than those of all other groups (P<0.01). Indeed, treatment with a saffron extract for 7 consecutive days significantly restored the antioxidant status to the normal levels (P<0.01). These observations reveal that saffron extract can ameliorate the impairment of learning and memory as well as the disturbances in oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus of experimental models of MS.

Quality of life in phenylketonuria (PKU) patients residing in Iehran, Islamic republic of Iran

Background: The current study tried to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients residing in Tehran, Iran and it also tried to determine the average quality of life of patients. Various aspects of QOL have been analyzed depending on gender, age, and educational levels of the subjects. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of late-diagnosed PKU patients who were referred to Mofid Children's Medical Center as well as to Ali-Asghar Hospitals in order to receive metabolic diets on a one year period starting from spring 2013 to spring 2014. Due to the limited study population, subjects were selected via census, therefore 82 patients were enrolled. The research material consisted of the Persian edition of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), designed to examine physical, mental, social and environmental health. The data was gathered on two levels-descriptive and inferential- by using the SPSS software, V.20. Results: Results indicated that the low quality of life in the late-diagnosed patients suffering from PKU, with mental, physical, social, and environmental aspects, was below the average. Still, even if it was not gender dependent, QOL was greatly influenced by the educational level of the patients. Moreover, it was discovered that the mental health of the patients above 40 years old was significantly lower than the other age groups. Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, it was recommended that special attention should be given to the improvement of the social and mental health of PKU patients.

Counseling and Harm Reduction Centers for Vulnerable Women to HIV/AIDS in Iran

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a public health challenge facing both developing and developed nations. Although injecting drug use is even the main route of HIV transmission in Iran, sexual route is rising gradually. Vulnerable women have been considered as important bridging population for driving HIV epidemics. To increase the access to vulnerable women, in 2007, 5 pilot centers were established in risky areas to deliver comprehensive services to women who themselves or their spouses are engaged in drug use, risky sexual behavior or have history of imprisonment. Management of Sexually Transmitted Infection, psychological counseling and harm reduction are provided by female staff. The aim of this study was to report the activities conducting in 2008.

METHODS

Registered information was used to assess the demographic characteristic, HIV/ AIDS related risk factors and services delivered to clients.

RESULTS

Till March 2008, 442 clients have been admitted. Most of them (36.2%) had 25-34 years old. 14.3% were illiterate and 31% were totally jobless. The most prevalent risk factors were risky sexual behavior (27.1%) and non-injecting drug use (23.2%). Injecting drug use was detected in 11.3% of attendees. Dividing clients according to marital status, risky sexual behavior was the main risk factor in unmarried (40.2%) and divorced (26.9%) but in married and widow ones, non-injecting drug use was the most (25.8% and 36.5% respectively). Harm reduction (40.5%) and counseling (36.6%) were the most delivered services.

CONCLUSION

Since vulnerable women play a critical role to spread HIV-epidemic to general population, increasing centers provide more access to this population.

Improvement in health indicators of islamic republic of iran in the years 2004 and 2008

BACKGROUND

As a performance evaluating program, healthcare indicators of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the end year of the 4th five-year socioeconomic strategic plan (2008) were evaluated in comparison with the same indicators at the 1st year of the 9th government (2004).

METHODS

The indicators were selected with the Delphi technique among the published indicators in the two period of time in 41 universities and in the country. Data gathering was done on the current health information system and were statistically analyzed assessing their trends.

RESULTS

The provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan (3.4%), Kerman (2.84%), Hormozgan (2.83%), Tehran (2.63%) and Qom (2.07%) had the highest rate of population growth over these years. Improving access to primary health care (PHC) in rural areas in Iran was evident during these years. The average hospital bed index in 1998 was one bed per 1000 population in the country and it was 1.62 in 2008. This Index was the highest in the province of Yazd and lowest in Ilam during both periods.

CONCLUSION

A significant ascending trend was observed for indicators in all medical universities. A promotion in healthcare indicators in the lesser developed provinces seems necessary.