correlation between left and right ventricular ejection fractions in patients with ischemic heart disease, documented by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction: The correlation between right and left ventricular ejection fractions [RVEF and LVEF, respectively] has been studied in only a small number of patients with a marked decrease in RVEF and LVEF. The aim of the present study was to compare LVEF and RVEF in patients with ischemic heart disease. RVEF and LVEF were measured by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance [CMR] imaging

Materials and Methods: This observational study was done in Ghaem general hospital in 2014. LVEF and RVEF were measured in a series of 33 patients with ischemic heart disease, undergoing CMR for the evaluation of myocardial viability. The correlation between RVEF and LVEF in patients with ischemic heart disease was studied, using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis

Results: Right ventricular end diastolic volume [186.33 +/- 58.90] and left ventricular end diastolic volume [121.72 +/- 61.64] were significantly correlated [r=0.223, P=0.005]. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between right ventricular end systolic volume [88.18 +/- 40.90] and left ventricular end systolic volume [140.96 +/- 35.33] [r=0.329, P=0.000]. The most significant association was observed between RVEF and LVEF [r=0.913, P=0.000]

Conclusion: Based on the findings, RVEF and LVEF were significantly correlated in patients with ischemic heart disease, although this association was not always present in all cardiac patients. The cause of this discrepancy is still unknown

Optimal stent expansion by stent balloon multiple inflation at nominal pressure in resistant lesions: a new technique

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four-time inflation of the stent balloon at nominal pressure on optimal stent expansion in resistant lesions

Materials and Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 39 patients with coronary artery lesions, in whom Zotarolimus-eluting stents [N=20], Paclitaxel-eluting stents [N=11] and other stents [N=8] were deployed four times at nominal inflation pressure and increased inflation times [5, 15, 30 and 45 seconds]. After the deployments, enhanced stent visualization imaging technique [IC stent] was used to assess stent placement and artery expansion

Results: In this study, early success rate was estimated at 79.5% using the enhanced stent visualization imaging technique. In addition, major adverse cardiac event [MACE] was determined at 2.6%. Also, conventional methods resulted in lower success rate and higher MACE in resistant lesions

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, four-time stent balloon inflation at nominal pressure could allow adequate stent expansion in resistant lesions leading to lower MACE

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding tuberculosis among final year students in Yazd, central Iran

Tuberculosis [TB] remains a global health problem. Treatment and prevention of TB has shifted from inpatient to outpatient settings. A report from the World Health Organization has emphasized educational strategy to ensure students graduate with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to the effective management of TB. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices among medical students. The survey was done from 2012 to 2013. Knowledge, attitudes and practices were assessed regarding tuberculosis with a questionnaire. Knowledge mean score of students was 16.13 +/- 2.06 and Attitude score was 36.08 +/- 3.76, Knowledge and attitude levels of students were moderate to high in the majority of them. Practice score of the study subjects was 22.77 +/- 4.95, 11.9% of students had poor practice level. 43% did not know that a sputum smear is the most important method used for diagnosis of TB. Two-thirds of them did not know the distance that should be kept from contagious patients. Half of them believed that the BCG vaccination has no role in the prevention of TB. This study concluded that more efforts should be made to improve the knowledge of students regarding TB transmission and the role of sputum smear in diagnosis. The importance of the BCG vaccination should be emphasized

Efficacy of glucantime for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran

Glucantime remains the first-line treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. In a prospective study, we evaluated its efficacy and side effects in patients treated in Yazd from 2010 to 2011. Patients with lesions compatible with cutaneous leishmaniasis were considered eligible for inclusion in this study if the disease was confirmed parasitologically. The exclusion criteria were as follows: the patient preferred a treatment modality other than Glucantime; there was no indication for treatment; the patient had underlying kidney, liver, or cardiac disease; or was pregnant and lactating. Patients with ?3 lesions and/or lesions <3 cm in diameter were treated with Glucantime intralesionally if the lesions were not located on the face, neck or joints; sporotrichoid; or superinfected with bacteria. All other patients were prescribed intramuscular Glucantime at 10-20 mg/kg/day for 20 days. The failure rate for patients treated with one course of Glucantime was 22.6% overall. There were no associations between age, sex, weight, the route of administration, the number and size of lesions, the adequacy of the dose of the drug injected intramuscularly, the number of intralesional injections [<6 or > =6] and the duration of therapy. The only factor associated with failure was reported previous exposure to antimony [p value 0.047]. Adverse effects occurred in 14.2% of patients [22/155]. Glucantime is an effective drug for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran. However, because cutaneous leishmaniasis heals spontaneously and to prevent the acquisition of resistance, the indications for treatment in each region should be defined carefully