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

Quality of the results section of original dental articles published in national Farsi and international English journals

Objective: Lack of scientific writing skills is one major problem encountered for publication of research results of Iranian scientists in accredited journals. As the result, many research projects or dissertation findings remain unpublished. This study aimed to assess the quality of writing of the "results" section of some original articles published in Iranian Farsi and international English journals

Methods: This analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 64 dental articles published in 3 international English and 3 Iranian Farsi journals. Selection of journals was non-random but articles were selected randomly based on specific criteria. A checklist containing 32 criteria regarding general statistics, context of the results, statistical tests, tables, charts and graphs was prepared. Obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 10 using Fisher's exact and chi square tests

Results: Farsi articles met 64.1% and English articles met 65.8% of the checklist criteria. No significant difference was found in the quality of the results section of Farsi and English papers [p>0.05]

Conclusion: Most papers did not provide adequate details in the results section to help readers better comprehend the subject

Comparison between the effects of continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise on weight loss and body fat percentage in overweight and obese women: a randomized controlled trial

Prevalence of obesity and overweightness in different societies is increasing. Role of physical activity in weight loss and also prevention from some chronic diseases has been discussed previously. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two different aerobic exercises [intermittent and continuous exercises] while prescribed with concurrent calorie-restrict diet on the weight loss and body fat of overweight and obese females. Fifteen individuals in intermittent group performed 40 min moderate Intensity exercise in 3 bouts per day for 5 days per week; the 15 participants of continuous group exercised a single 40 min bout per day, 5 days per week. Also, 15 participants were included in control group without exercise program. A self-monitoring calorie-restrict diet was recommended to all participants. The body fat percentage, waist circumference, and also skin fold thickness of all participants were assessed at baseline and 12[th] weeks. The reduction of weight and BMI of participants in intermittent group [-3.33 +/- 1.80 and -1.34 +/- 0.70, respectively] was significantly more than comparable changes in continuous group [-1.23 +/- 1.60 and 0.49 +/- 0.65, respectively] [P = 0.048 and 0.041, respectively]. After the intervention, there was no significant difference between case and controls in terms of body fat percentage, waist circumference, and sum of skin fold thickness. It seems that moderate intensity intermittent exercise for more than 150 min/ week is more efficient than continuous exercise in weight loss of obese and overweight women

[Long term effects of a continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise on weight changes and body fat percentage in overweight and obese women]

Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are growing problem. The global community's concern is to find the best strategy to obtain a more efficient process of weight reduction, increase physical activity, and minimize weight regain level. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a short-term intervention on weight changes. The present study is a one-year follow-up study of a 12-week intervention during which the 15 individuals in the intermittent group performed 40 minutes exercise in three bouts per day; however, the 15 participants of the continuous group did the same but 40 minutes continuously. The 15 participants in the control group had no exercise prescription. After one year, weight changes, body fat percentage, and BMI were re-evaluated in the groups. After adjusting the baseline weight, patterns of change in the mean weights from the end of the third month to the twelfth month were different across groups [P=0.02]. After significant weight loss in the intermittent group, the mean weight in this group increased by 2.32 kilograms during the period, although not statistically significant. No increase was observed in the control group's mean weight [P=1.00]. In the continuous group, the mean weight increased statistically [P=0.048, 3.63 kilograms]. It seems that long-term effects of moderate intensity intermittent aerobic exercise in overweight and obese women on weight control are more efficient than those of continuous exercise. However, for a change in lifestyle and prevention of weight regain, longer follow-ups are required

Salivary soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in periodontal disease and health

PURPOSE: The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, activation of osteoclasts, and regulation of bone resorption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the salivary soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis in nonsmokers. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 individuals with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study. Samples containing 5 mL of unstimulated saliva were obtained from each subject. Salivary sRANKL and OPG concentrations were determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 18.0. RESULTS: The levels of sRANKL and OPG were detectable in all of the samples. Positive relationships were found between the plaque index and clinical attachment level and both the salivary concentration of sRANKL and the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05). The salivary concentration of sRANKL and the sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the healthy group (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). In contrast, the OPG concentration showed no significant differences between the groups (P=0.455). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio may be helpful in the screening and diagnosis of periodontitis. However, longitudinal studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these results.

Effect of acupressure on nausea in patients undergoing strabismus surgery

Postoperative nausea is a common problem after general anesthesia, especially in ambulatory surgery. In ocular surgeries including strabismus surgery, intraocular pressure increase may lead to eye damage. Drug therapy has various side effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate acupressure on nausea in patients undergoing strabismus surgery. In this double-blinded clinical trial, 60 patients undergoing strabismus surgery were allocated into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, a sea-band was placed on the P6 point of patients' wrists 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia. In the control group, the sea-band was placed in the opposite position of the patients' wrists. Data were collected during six hours after surgery in the recovery room. Data were analyzed using Chi square, t-test, and Mann-Whitney tests. There were no differences in demographic and surgical characteristics between the two groups at baseline. The intensity of nausea in the recovery room [P=0.002] and six hours after surgery [P<0.001] were significantly less in the intervention group than the control group. Based on the findings of this study, acupressure decreases post operative nausea. Acupressure is a simple, noninvasive and cost-effective intervention which can be applied by nurses to prevent post operative nausea

[Mid-term results of pulmonary valve replacement in patients with total correction of tetralogy of Fallot in Rajaei heart center, Tehran, Iran]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcomes of concurrent total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot [TOF] after pulmonary valve [PV] replacement and its relation to QRS duration and MRI results. In this study, 51 patients with TOF who had the TOF surgery and PV replacement enrolled the study. Demographic data, MRI results such as, right ventricular end diastolic volume, right ventricular end systolic volume, systolic and diastolic indexes noted. Moreover, QRS duration and the patients' cardiac functional class were evaluated immediately before and 6 months after the surgery. From 51 patients, 27.5% were female and 72.5% were male. The mean age of participants was 23.48 [SD=5.82] years. Functional class changes were statistically different [P<0.001] comparing the status before and after the surgery. The mean QRS duration before surgery was 130.20 [SD=16.89] ms which was in significant contrast with post-surgical states, 122.45 [SD=16.90] ms [P<0.001]. Mean QRS duration before and after surgery was statistically lower in asymptomatic patients [P=0.028 and P=0.025, respectively]. There was a statistical relationship between pre-surgical systolic and diastolic indexes to post-surgical functional class as asymptomatic patients had lower systolic and diastolic indexes [P=0.005 and P=0.028, respectively]. This study demonstrated that QRS duration before and after surgery can be an indicator to evaluate the cardiac function after surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot. Moreover, systolic and diastolic indexes are factors affecting the good prognosis of patients; therefore, PVR surgery needs to be done before the deterioration of systolic and diastolic indexes and cardiomegaly

Two cases of syndromic neutropenia with a report of novel mutation in G6PC3

Severe congenital neutropenia [SCN] is a rare primary immunodeficiency. Different genes are found to be associated with SCN, including ELA2, HAX1, WAS, GFI1, G-CSFR. Also, recently G6PC3 as a rare gene in SCN has been reported. Patients with G6PC3 often have cardiac and/or urogenital malformations. Two patients with persistent severe neutropenia, recurrent infections and maturation arrest at promyelocyte-myelocyte stage in their bone marrow were assessed in this study. Both patients showed structural heart disease and one of them also showed urogenital anomaly. Sequence analyses of G6PC3 in 2 patients revealed two different homozygous mutations, one in exon 6 [Asn 313 fs], and the other in exon 3 [Ser 139 Met], the latter is a new mutation which has not been reported in previous studies. It can be concluded that G6PC3 is one of the responsible gene for SCN in Iranian patients. Based on the results, a new mutation in G6PC3 observed in one patient

Echocardiographic assessment of adults with repaired tetralogy of fallot: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance comparison study

Surgical management of the tetralogy of Fallot [TOP] results in anatomic and functional abnormalities in the majority of patients. Right ventricular [RV] dilation from pulmonary regurgitation [PR], residual atrial and/or ventricular septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract [RVOT] aneurysm, and pulmonary artery peripheral stenosis are some of the abnormalities frequently encountered in patients with repaired TOP. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance [CMR] can provide assessments of anatomical connections, biventricular function, flow measurement, and more, without ionizing radiation. Echocardiography is the most frequently used modality for the initial assessment and follow-up of most patients with CHD. We sought to evaluate adult patients with repaired TOP by transthoracic echocardiography and compare them with CMR. 156 patients [52 women, mean age= 23 +/- 5.5 years] late after TOP repair with severe PR were evaluated. Ventricular size and function and TOP -associated anomalies such as patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], peripheral pulmonary stenosis [PPS], and persistent left superior vena cava [LSVC] were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography and CMR separately. Mean of LV ejection fraction by CMR was 52 +/- 9% and by echocardiography was 47 +/- 5.1%. We found a significant correlation between LVEF assessed by CMR and 2D visual assessment in multiple views. Mean of RVEF by CMR was 37 +/- 8% and RV end diastolic volume index was 161 +/- 57.3 mm[3]. Linear correlation between CMR-RVEF and RVEF measured by echocardiography was weak. There was almost perfect agreement between CMR and echocardiography for the diagnosis of LSVC [99.2%]. Agreement was 88.3% in the diagnosis of PDA, 66.4% in the diagnosis of PPS, and 93% in the diagnosis of the right aortic arch was. Adults late after repaired TOF have significantly reduced biventricular systolic function. Despite abnormal LV geometry, visual assessment of LV systolic function by an expert echocardiologist has an acceptable agreement compared to the quantitative measurement of LV systolic function by CMR. However, the correlation between CMR-RVEF and RVEF measured by echocardiography is weak. We found incremental diagnostic value of CMR in PPS and PDA. Atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect are found more frequently by echocardiography

[ effects of continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise on lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in women with a body mass index more than 25 kg/m[2]: a randomized controlled trial]

Obesity is a major health problem all around the world. On the other hand, few people, especially women, are physically active to the levels recommended by Healthy People 2010 web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The objective of this study was to compare the potential effects of intermittent and continuous exercise programs combined with concurrent calorie restriction diets on lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in overweight and obese females. Forty-five women with a sedentary life style and a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups [15 subjects in each group]: a] 40 minutes of medium-intensity intermittent exercise [64-76% of maximal heart rate], 3 bouts per day for 5 days a week, b] a single bout of a 40-minute continuous exercise per day for 5 days a week, C] the non-exercising control group. A self-monitored calorie restricted diet was recommended to all participants by a dietitian. The lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure of all participants were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention period. After the intervention, there were no significant differences among the groups in terms of lipid profile [cholesterol [P=0.94], triglyceride [P=0.62]] fasting blood sugar [P=0.054], systolic blood pressure [P=0.84] or diastolic blood pressure [P=0.30]. There seems to be no significant differences between short term continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise programs in improving lipid profile, fasting blood sugar or blood pressure both in overweight and obese women

Cardiac MRI in a patient with coincident left ventricular non-compaction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy that affects both children and adults. Since the clinical manifestations are not sufficient to establish diagnosis, echocardiography is the diagnostic tool that makes it possible to document ventricular non-compaction and establish prognostic factors. We report a 47-year-old woman with a history of dilated cardiomyopathy with unknown etiology. Echocardiography showed mild left ventricular enlargement with severe systolic dysfunction [EF = 20-25%]. According to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings non-compaction left ventricle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was considered, and right ventricular septal biopsy was recommended. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy showed moderate hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes with foci of myocytolysis and moderate interstitial fibrosis. No evidence of infiltrative deposition was seen