ABSTRACT
The only curative therapy for end-stage liver disease is transplantation but due to a shortage of available donor livers the waiting list mortality is high. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome and characteristics of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation in Shiraz, southern Iran during the period from April 2004 to March 2007. Medical records of all chronic liver disease patients >/= 14 years that were on the waiting list for liver transplantation at the Nemazee Hospital Organ Transplant Center during April 2004 to March 2007 were reviewed. Hospital records were used to retrieve demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Records of the referring gastroenterologists provided information about the etiology and complications of liver disease. The patients were followed at the end of the study period by clinic visits or telephone contact. There were 646 patients on the waiting list for liver transplant during April 2004 to March 2007. Hepatitis B was the most common etiology of liver disease [31.2%]. Of those on the waiting list, 144 patients 22.3%] underwent liver transplant and 166 [25.7%] died while waiting for a transplant. The mean waiting period for transplant was 6.6 months. Receiving a transplant was correlated with the etiology of liver disease and Rh blood group [p<0.05] but had no significant association with gender or ABO blood type. Among non-transplanted patients, survival was lower in those who had a history of encephalopathy, SBP or uncontrolled ascites and in patients with a Child-Turcotte-Puph [CTP] class C and/or a Model of End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] score >/= 15. Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of end-stage chronic liver disease amongst patients on the waiting list for liver transplant in Shiraz, southern Iran. Patients with a MELD score >/= 15 particularly those with a history of SBP, hepatic encephalopathy or uncontrolled ascites are recommended for waiting list enrollment
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Waiting Lists , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Retrospective Studies , Hepatitis BABSTRACT
Gypsy way of life is a nomadic life adopted by a group of people because of their liking for migration and contact with other societies to earn their livelihood. The prevalence of Hepatitis B in a small population of gypsies residing in the South West of Iran is the main purpose of this study. This study has performed as screening for hepatitis B in a community of gypsies [226 persons]. The obtained serums in the first step were tested for serologic markers of HBsAg, Anti -HBc for Hepatitis B virus [HBV].All positive cases were tested again for HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg, Anti-HBe, and Anti-HBc in the second step. Serologic results indicated that 54 individuals [20.5%] were positive for one or more HBV markers so that, 22 of them [Yh9.6 of overall] had infectious hepatitis B, 13 of them [%5.8 of overall] were only HBsAg positive, 11 individuals [%4.9 of overall] were improved and in immune state and 8 persons had isolated Anti-HBc antibody. The prevalence and relative risk of HBV in these persons has been found to be much higher than the normal population.[RR=l 0, P4.001] In societies like gypsies, who have various contacts with different groups and harboring habits like tattooing, causes an increased prevalence of diseases like HBV. Circulation of HBV infection among such societies in such surveys reveals serologic variations. In fact various serologic pattern of infection from the beginning of infection to end of infection [like cured, immune, chronic, carrier cases] could be achieved at one time
ABSTRACT
Traditionally some people employ Ocimum basilicum [Shaspram] to relieve the symptoms of dyspepsia. We therefore studied the effects of oral extract of this medicinal plant on functional dyspepsia. In a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of a four-week treatment of Shaspram was evaluated on functional dyspepsia. Two hundred cases from all patients referred for dyspepsia without having any obvious pathologic signs were randomly divided into case and control groups [100 each]. The hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Shaspram was prepared and used. Patients were asked to have 30 drops of prescribed medications [placebo or the extract, equal to 1.5 gram leaves powder] daily at 30 min before lunch and dinner for four-weeks. Severity was scored for each symptom on a numbered scale and the results compared with the results of placebo group or pretreatment period. Patients in drug group responded to treatment better than patients in placebo group [P<0.001]. Shaspram was more effective in female and young patients. Patients with functional dyspepsia that had dysmotility problems also responded to Shaspram better than others. Ocimum basilicum seems to relieve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia especially in female and young patients with dysmotility