[Low dose oral theophylline effects on HS-CRP in stable COPD patients]

Low dose theophylline may have some anti-inflammatory effects on COPD patients. This study was conducted to determine the effect of oral low dose theophylline on serum CRP level in patients with stable COPD. In this double blind randomized clinical trail study, 50 patients [25 in experimental and 25 in placebo group] were enrolled into the study by randomized blocking method. Serum HS-CRP using ELISA method was measured before and after the study. Data was analyzed using t-test and paired t-test. There was no significant difference in gender, age, smoking and spirometry variables before study between two groups. Serum HS-CRP level remained the same between two groups before and after the intervention. More studies with large sample size needed to find anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on macrophages and neutrophils and their derivative inflammatory materials in COPD patients

Effect of zinc sulphate on peptic ulcer disease

In-vitro study, the effect of zinc sulfate on healing ulcers is being shown but it is a limited study which has been done to demonstrate the effect of zinc sulfate on peptic ulcer in human. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on healing peptic ulcer disease. This was a double blind randomized clinical trial in which patients who were referred to endoscopy clinic in Sanandaj Besat hospital were included. Patients were allocated to intervention group [n=46] and control group [n=58] at random. All patients received standard treatment for ulcer containing Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Omeprazole and Bismuth. For intervention group one zinc sulfate capsule [220 mg] was added to treatment regimen [one capsule on alternate day]. After four weeks, endoscopy was repeated again. The data was analyzed by SPSS software and x[2] Fisher exact and T test were used for analysis. There was no difference between intervention and control group in the same factors like smoking, alcohol, NSAID drugs consumption and the size of ulcer. Mean size of ulcers in intervention and control group before treatment were 24.6 [ +/- 17.7]mm and 22.5 [ +/- 21.2]mm respectively. The mean percentage size reductions of ulcer in intervention and control group after treatment were 92 [ +/- 14] percent and 89.4 [ +/- 16.4] percent which did not illustrate significant difference in two groups. This study confirms that zinc sulfate with the dosage of 220 mg on alternate days doesn't have significant effect on peptic ulcer healing. More studies with higher doses needs to be undertaken to determine effective dose of zinc

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma [HMH] is a rare liver tumor in childhood. Yet its biology and pathogenesis are poorly understood. We report a case of a six month-old male infant, who presented with abdominal distension for two month and fever and vomiting for two weeks. The management and etiology of this case is discussed