Primary cardiac osteosarcoma: A rare cause of chest pain in a young man

Although primary cardiac osteosarcoma is uncommon, cardiac neoplasms should be in the differential diagnosis of cardiac complaints. We present a case of a 35 year old man with recurrent episodes of exertional chest pain and who was diagnosed with primary cardiac osteosarcoma. Cardiac osteosarcomas are rare but must be suspected.

Genetic analysis of Iranian patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia [FH] is a frequent autosomal dominant disorder of lipoprotein metabolism. This disorder is generally caused by mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor [LDLR], apolipoprotein B 100 [APOB], and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9] genes. In the present study, we aimed at identifying the common LDLR and APOB gene mutations in an Iranian population

Methods: Eighty unrelated Iranian patients with FH entered the study, based on Simon Broome diagnostic criteria. All samples were screened for two common APOB gene mutations, including R3500Q and R3500W, by the means of ARMS-PCR and PCR- RFLP assays, respectively. In addition, exons 3, 4, 9, and 10 of LDLR gene were sequenced in all patients

Results: A novel mutation in exon 3 [C95W] and a previously described mutation in exon 4 [D139H] of LDLR gene were found. Three previously reported polymorphisms in LDLR gene as well as three novel polymorphisms were detected in the patients. However, in the studied population, no common mutations were observed in APOB gene

Conclusion: The results of our study imply that the genetic basis of FH in Iranian patients is different from other populations

share of implant treatments in dental claims in Iran

Introduction: Dental malpractice is the failure of a professional person to render appropriate services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows. Since dental implants have gained a special place in modern dentistry and this new treatment is a costly one, paying more attention to the prevention of malpractice is more important. In this study, we decided to survey the proportion of complaints of dental implant treatments and compare them to the total rate of dental claims in a period of 5 years. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data was collected in Medical Council of Iran during 2006 to 2011 by the means of a checklist inquiring about the date of complaints, main complaint field, gender of doctor and complainant, degree [specialist/general] of the therapist, and the court decision. In regard to ethical issues, the name of dentist and complainants were not mentioned in any document. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test by SPSS. Result: From the total 44 dental claims, 93% were for general practitioners and 86.5% of the accused dentists were male. Moreover, 33 complainants were female. In 57% of cases the court found the dentist guilty. The complaints of male dentist in the field of surgery had the greatest percentage [50%]. The second field according to complainant frequency was implants and prosthodontics accounting for 27% of all dental claims. There was only 1 implant complaint submitted about a specialist, and all the others were from general dentists. There was no gender difference regarding dental implant complainants. Conclusion: According to study findings, implants and prosthodontics complaints are in the second rank of dental claims. Therefore, paying greater attention to the training process in universities and continuing training programs is necessary

Association between menstrual cycle regularity and obesity-related anthropometric indices in dormitory students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

A significant proportion of the women in reproductive ages suffer from problems such as menstrual irregularities. The aim of this study was to determine the association between menstrual cycle regularity and obesity-related anthropometric indices in students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a questionnaire through systematic random sampling at dormitory of Kashan University of Medical Sciences from September to October 2012. The questionnaire contained demographic questions, menstrual cycle characteristics, anthropometric measurements and Visual Analog Scale questionnaire for pain. A midwifery student measured obesity-related anthropometric measurements included waist, pelvis, thigh and mid-arm circumference, height and weight. A total of 250 students entered in the study. Mean +/- Standard deviation [SD] age of students was 21.295 +/- 1.585 years. Irregular menstruation was seen in 17 students [6.8%]. Results showed a significant statistical between menstrual cycles regularity with height [MD = -3.37, confidence interval [CI] = -6.039 to 0.703, P = 0.013], body mass index [BMI] [MD = 1.654, CI = 0.199–3.109, P = 0.026], and pelvic-to-height ratio [MD = 0.027, CI = 0.003–0.051, P = 0.023]. Mean +/- SD duration and interval of menstrual cycles were 6.564 +/- 1.3014 and 29.301 +/- 4.821 days, respectively. Based on the Pearson correlation index, menstrual intervals showed significant statistical between waist-to-thigh [P = 0.010] and arm-to-thigh [P = 0.019] ratio, but showed no correlation with other anthropometric indices. In the univariate analysis to assess the unadjusted relationships, there were significant statistical between waist-to-thigh and arm-to-thigh ratio with menstrual interval. Due to association between menstrual cycle regularity and obesity-related anthropometric indices, control of weight and BMI may lead to a reduction of menstrual irregularity

[Knowledge and attitude of a group of dentists towards the topics of a course on principles of successful dental practice management]

The aim of the present study was to investigate self-perceived need to learn practice management and self reported knowledge in this regard among dentists. A group of five academic staff members of Community Oral Health Department [Tehran Dental School] and four dentists formed an expert panel to develop the content of the course. This group developed a list of topics related to principles of successful dental practice. To investigate the necessity of educating the topics and self-assessed knowledge of the topics, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 55 volunteer dentists. Forty six dentists completed the questionnaire. T-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. Totally more than two-third of the dentists believed that a huge need exists for education of all the topics The corresponded figure for such topics as ergonomics and medical emergencies was about 90%. About 80% of the dentists felt that they had a vast knowledge of safety and infection control. On the other hand, 54.3% of them reported weak knowledge regarding professional rules and regulations. Self-reported educational need and knowledge of the dentists did not show significant association with their age, gender, and work experience [P>0.05]. The dentists believed in the necessity of educating such topics and evaluated their knowledge as deficient in these areas. This shows the necessity of developing courses on these topics

effect of the theoretical course of community oral health on the oral health prevention knowledge, attitude and self-reported practice in dental school students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Evaluation of the training is a principle for successful education. This study evaluated the effect of the theoretical course of community oral health on knowledge, attitude and self-reported practice of preventive dentistry in dental students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and assessed the students' satisfaction from the course. The intervention group comprised the forth-year students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dental School and the controls were the forth year students of Shahid Beheshti Medical University. The questionnaire included questions on backgrounds, knowledge, attitude and practice of students towards preventive dentistry, and students' satisfaction from the course. The intervention was 17 weekly sessions [hours] of the community oral health course. The sum of scores for questions on backgrounds, knowledge, attitude and practice were calculated and changes were analyzed by General Linear Model. The mean baseline knowledge score in the intervention group was 16.9 [SD=4.0] and for the control group 16.3 [SD=3.5]. Corresponding figures were 23.7 [SD=3.4] and 17 [SD=3.3] after intervention. General linear model showed the intervention to be successful in increasing the students' knowledge scores on preventive dentistry [P<0.0001]. Most students [92%] were satisfied with learning several new items during the course. The students' knowledge was successfully increased by passing the theoretical course of community oral health delivered by teacher-centered method of lecture. Student-centered methods may help in changing the students' attitude and practice of preventive dentistry

Relationship between duration of breastfeeding and development of atopic dermatitis

Earlier studies on breastfeeding [BF] and atopy in infants have yielded contradictory results. To evaluate the relationship between duration of BF and developing of AD. Seven hundred fifty infants between 2 to 3 years old from kindergartens of Kerman, Iran were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by questionnaires. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis [AD] was made according to UK Working Party criteria. There was a significant association between duration of BF and the risk of AD [OR=0.93, 95% CI=0.90-0.96]. Early supplement feeding increased the risk of AD [OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52-0.92]. The adjusted odds ratios of variables show that a positive family history of atopy, contact with smoke during pregnancy, suffering from asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis increased the risk of AD in infants. On the other hand, having elder siblings and taking oral contraceptive pills by mother decreased the risk of AD. Our results suggest that duration of BF has a protective effect against developing AD in infants. We recommend prolonged BF in all infants for protection against AD