Adult-onset familial Mediterranean fever in northwestern Iran; clinical feature and treatment outcome

Familial Mediterranean fever [FMF] is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by sporadic, paroxysmal attacks of fever and serosal inflammation. Although the disease usually begins before the age of 20 years, we aimed to evaluate the demography, clinical features and treatment outcome of familial Mediterranean fever in Iranian adult patients above 20 years old. In this cross-sectional study, adult patients [first attack at the age of > 20 years] with a diagnosis of FMF who referred to the gastroenterology and rheumatology clinics of Ardebil University of Medical Science [situated in north west of Iran] over the period of 2004-2009 were enrolled. FMF diagnosis was based on clinical criteria. Forty four FMF patients [30 male and 14 female] with the mean [ +/- Standard Deviation [SD]] age of first attack of 29 +/- 7.8 years were enrolled. Abdominal pain [95.5%] and fever [91%] were the most common clinical findings. All of the patients had satisfactorily responded to therapy. Response was complete in 76.7% and partial in 23.3% of the patients. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of amloidosis at the time of diagnosis or during follow-up. Our findings demonstrated that adult-onset FMF in Iran has different characteristics [more common in males, lesser prevalence of arthritis and erysipelas-like erythema, less delay in diagnosis] and treatment outcome [favorable response even to low-dose colchicines] in comparison with the previous data on early onset patients

[ survey of knowledge of dentists in correct prescriptionradiography in Isfahan city]

As uses of X-ray increases for diagnostic purposes, the necessity for dentists to have adequate knowledge about prescribing radiographs also increases. This mil cause correct diagnosis and reduces the radiation to the patient. The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the knowledge of dentists from Isfahan about prescribing radiographs. For this research a question form was designed and filled by 230 dentists, which were chosen randomly. T-test analysis was used. The results showed that the dentists' knowledge about prescribing panoramic and periapical and bitewing radiographs was good, about occlusal and about growth and development assessment was moderate and about in highrisk and normal patients and periodontal caries patient and CT and MRI was poor. There was no difference between knowledge of female and male dentists. There was no difference between knowledge of general dentists, residents and specialists about prescription panoramic, periapical, bitewing, growth and development assessment and caries, but the knowledge of residents was better than general dentists about prescription occlusal radiographs. About CT and MRI the knowledge of specialists and residents were higher than general dentists. About prescription radiography for periodontal patient knowledge of specialists were higher than general dentists and residents