The Relationship between Anger Expression and Its Indices and Oral Lichen Planus / 전남의대학술지

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. Depression, stress and anxiety are psychological factors that their influence on the expression of lichen planus by affecting the immune system's function has been confirmed. There is a probable relationship between anger and OLP expression. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the association of "anger" and OLP. In this descriptive study 95 subjects were included in 3 groups. A: patients with oral lichen planus, B: positive control, C: negative control. Anger and its indices were assessed by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) questionnaire, and pain was measured via the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The collected data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 18 software. The lichen planus and positive control groups bore higher total anger index (AX index) values compared with the negative control. Comparing anger expression-in (AXI) among the lichen planus and negative control groups revealed higher grades in lichen planus group. Evaluating the pain severity index (VAS) data and anger indices in lichen planus group, Spearman's Rank Correlation Test revealed a significant correlation between TAngR (reactional anger traits) and pain severity. The findings of this study indicated that there was a significant correlation between anger control and suppression of lichen planus development. On the other hand, the patients with more severe pain mostly expressed their anger physically. Based on the findings, we can make the claim that anger suppression and its control-in (gathering tension) may play a role in the development of lichen planus as a known psychosomatic disorders.

The Relationship between Anger Expression and Its Indices and Oral Lichen Planus / 전남의대학술지

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. Depression, stress and anxiety are psychological factors that their influence on the expression of lichen planus by affecting the immune system's function has been confirmed. There is a probable relationship between anger and OLP expression. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the association of "anger" and OLP. In this descriptive study 95 subjects were included in 3 groups. A: patients with oral lichen planus, B: positive control, C: negative control. Anger and its indices were assessed by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) questionnaire, and pain was measured via the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The collected data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 18 software. The lichen planus and positive control groups bore higher total anger index (AX index) values compared with the negative control. Comparing anger expression-in (AXI) among the lichen planus and negative control groups revealed higher grades in lichen planus group. Evaluating the pain severity index (VAS) data and anger indices in lichen planus group, Spearman's Rank Correlation Test revealed a significant correlation between TAngR (reactional anger traits) and pain severity. The findings of this study indicated that there was a significant correlation between anger control and suppression of lichen planus development. On the other hand, the patients with more severe pain mostly expressed their anger physically. Based on the findings, we can make the claim that anger suppression and its control-in (gathering tension) may play a role in the development of lichen planus as a known psychosomatic disorders.

Grape seed extract to improve liver function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver change

Therapeutic intervention in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are limited, while anti-oxidative materials have shown benefits in animal models. This study aimed to evaluate grape seed extract as an anti-oxidative material in this process. Therapeutic effects of grape seed extract were evaluated in comparison to vitamin C in a double-blind setting. Fifteen patients were enrolled in each group. Liver function tests were done; also, grade of steatosis and pattern of echogenicity of the liver were determined. Patients were followed up by the same evaluation repeated in first, second and third months. Mean age +/- standard deviation was 43.2 +/- 10.3 years. Grape seed extract [GSE] significantly improved the grade of fatty liver change; and resulted in significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase in patients receiving the concentrate compared to those receiving vitamin C independently, from the initial grade of steatosis. This study describes the beneficial effect of using grape seed extract for three months in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These results may improve with a longer period of follow-up

Prevalence of hepatitis A in Iranian patients with chronic liver disease

Acute hepatitis A in patients with chronic liver diseases [CLD] may lead to a more severe outcome for which routine vaccination is recommended in many regions. Nevertheless, studies of HAV seroprevalence and exposure predictors in populations with CLD are scanty in our region. We studied 200 patients with CLD between September 2005 and September 2006. Patients were stratified on the basis of age, gender, size of family, place of residency and etiology of liver disease. The HAV seroprevalence in patients with CLD was compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Independent predictors of HAV exposure were identified by logistic regression analysis. Of 200 patients, HAV seroprevalence was available for 190 [96.5%]. Hepatitis B and C, alcohol, autoimmune hepatitis and Wilson's disease were the causes of CLD. Most of the seronegative patients aged 10-20 years. The overall HAV seroprevalence was 97.3% in controls. None of the risk factors were identified as independent predictors. Age stratified seroprevalence of HAV in patients with CLD is close to that of the general population. High prevalence of HAV must be considered in vulnerable travelers to our country

Mannose binding lectin gene haplotype in Iranian patients with hepatitis C infection

Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus [HCV] leads to liver cirrhosis [LC] and often to liverm cancer. Mannose binding lectin [MBL] is a C-type serum lectin, which plays an important role in innate immunity by activating the classical complement pathway. Variants of the MBL have been shown to be associated with low serum concentrations of the protein and to predispose to bacterial, fungal and viral infections. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between polymorphisms of MBL gene and hepatitis C virus infection. We determined genotypes of two promoters and three exon 1 SNPs in mbl2 by SSP-PSR and grouped these genotypes according to related amount of functional MBL production in 100 patients infected with hepatitis C virus and 100 healthy blood donors in Iranian population. MBL gene mutations were determined by means of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. genotypes XA/O or O/O were significantly more frequent among patients infected with hepatitis C virus, where YA/YA genotype was more common among donors. Frequency of alleles X, Y, H and L did not have a significant difference between the two groups as well as alleles HYA, LYA nor LXA. MBL may be one of the factors that influence the course of HCV infection. Additional study on subjects at a high risk for infection with hepatitis C may clarify the role of carriage for the variant allele of mbl2 in a life-long risk of infection

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in patients with chronic liver disease from East Azerbaijan, Iran

Superinfection with HEV in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] can cause severe hepatic decompensation leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence of HEV infection among CLD patients compared to blood donors from Azerbaijan, north-west of Iran. CLD patients and a group of age matched blood donors with normal liver function tests were evaluated for the presence of anti-HEV IgG antibody in their sera for evidence of hepatitis E. The risk factors were estimated. The mean age of CLD patients was 48 years [range: 10-87]. 27.5% of patients were HEV IgG-positive. Among the controls 19.7% were positive for anti-HEV IgG. By multivariate analysis, there was no association between positive anti-HEV IgG and etiology of chronic liver disease, gender, literacy, accommodation, and number of family members in patients or controls. Mean age of patients infected with HEV in both groups was significantly more than the seronegative ones. We found high seroprevalence of HEV-antibody among blood donors and CLD patients in our study, so we recommend more attention to hygiene of food and water. In addition, such patients should be informed about the potential risks and simple ways to prevent the disease in their regular life and travels. This issue must be concerned in cases of "acute on chronic" hepatitis in CLD patients

Association of mannose binding lectin polymorphism with hepatitis C infection in northwest of Iran

Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus leads to liver cirrhosis and often to liver cancer. Mannose binding lectin is a C-type serum lectin, which plays an important role in innate immunity by activating the classical complement pathway. Variants of the mannose binding lectin have been shown to be associated with low serum concentrations of the protein and to predispose the subjects to bacterial, fungal and viral infections. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between hepatitis C virus infection and polymorphisms of mannose binding lectin gene. We assessed the single nucleotide polymorphism of mannose binding lectin in exon 1, at codon 52, codon 54 and codon 57 in 100 patients infected with hepatitis C virus and 100 controls in Iranian population. Mannose binding lectin gene mutations were determined by means of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. The occurrence of the codon 54 mutation was significantly higher in patients [OR 3.53, CI 95%: 1.94-6.44, p<0.005]. No significant difference in the frequency of codon 52 and 57 mutations was observed between patient and control groups. Mannose binding lectin may be one of the factors that influence the course of HCV infection. Our results suggest that heterozygous carriage of the variant allele of codon 54 of mannose binding lectin is associated with hepatitis C virus infection in our cases. This may not be true about codons 52 and 57 mutations

Association of carotid intima-media thickness with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

To examine, prospectively, whether the intima-media thickness [IMT] of the common carotid artery and the overlying plaque predicts the presence and severity of coronary artery events. Two hundred and one consecutive patients [100 men and 101 women], who had recently undergone coronary angiography in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, were enrolled in the study carried out from May 2004 to May 2005. Measurements of IMT were performed by ultrasound, while blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels were recorded. The mean IMT of the common carotid artery was significantly higher in patients with coronary artery disease [CAD] compared with non-CAD patients, as well as in patients with significant CAD compared to non-significant CAD in both genders. The same was observed for the plaque area. Clinical systolic blood pressure, clinical diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not significantly differ between the 3 groups. Fasting blood sugar was higher in the non-significant CAD patients. The IMT of the common carotid artery is a clinically valuable parameter in the non-invasive diagnosis of non-significant CAD, as well as significant coronary artery lesions