[ comparison of the relationship between the serum level of vitamin D and coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes]

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death and disability in patients with type 2 diabetes. According to some studies, Vitamin D deficiency is associated with risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the serum level of Vitamin D between diabetic patients with coronary artery diseases and control group. In this case-control study, patients with diabetes referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Qom for coronary angiography, were divided into two groups of positive angiography [case group] and negative angiography [control group]. In this study, stenosis of the lumen of at least one coronary artery more than 50% was considered as positive angiography and suffering from coronary artery disease, and stenosis lower than 50% was considered as negative angiography. Personal characteristics, biographical information, consisting of age, gender, history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, history of coronary artery disease, and family history were recorded using a questionnaire. Venous blood samples of the patients were taken to measure the serum level of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D, and the two groups were compared in terms of Vitamin D level. The mean serum level of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D was 35.09 +/- 26.41ng/ml. Also, there was no significant difference between case and control groups. The level was 35.67 +/- 29.58ng/ml in the case group and 34.50 +/- 23.30ng/ml in control group. The level of Vitamin D in patients with cardiac disease had no significant difference. The results of this study indicated that there was no relationship between serum level of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D in type 2 diabetic patients and stenosis of coronary arteries

Povidone-iodine and bleomycin in the management of malignant pleural effusion

Malignant pleural effusion is a common complication in certain malignancies. Pleurodesis is the best option most of the time. The purpose of this study was to compare the choice of belomycin with povidone-iodine, which is not only determined by the efficacy of the agent but also by its cost, accessibility, safety, ease of administration and the number of administrations to achieve a complete response. We performed a randomized clinical trial on 39 patients presenting with symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. Patients were selected and randomly assigned to undergo chemical pleurodesis with either bleomycin or povidone-iodine. Primary characteristics of patients were assessed and graded before and after treatment concerning pain, dyspnea, and chest radiographs. A complete response was obtained in 79% of belomycin group and 75% of povidone-iodine group which was not statistically significant. Patients on belomycin treatment had a significantly lower score for dyspnea in one month follow up. This was significant after controlling for age, pain score and dyspnea score after drainage, using general linear model. Due to similar effect and significant cost advantage between bleomycin and povidone-iodine, we conclude that povidoneiodine is the agent of choice when utilizing pleurodesis for control of symptomatic malignant pleural effusions