Diagnosis of acute nasal fractures using ultrasound and CT scan.

Objective: Nasal fractures need timely and accurate diagnosis for required treatment to prevent future deformities and unnecessary surgery. Radiography does not provide accurate finding in this case. The aim of this study is to evaluated diagnostic efficiency of ultrasound and CT scan for acute nasal fractures. Methods: In this cross-sectional study included patients with nasal trauma referred to (XXX) from January 2020 to December 2020. Diagnostic ultrasound and CT scan was performed on all the patients and data obtained was stored in patient data collection forms along with their demographics. The data was statistically analyzed using SPSS v20. Results: Of 32 patients included in our study, 4 (12.5%) were females and 28 (87.5%) were males. The mean age of the patients was 40.28 ± 16.9 years. The specificity and sensitivity of ultrasound was 100% and 83.33%. The accuracy of the test was 93.75%. The specificity, sensitivity and accuracy were 100%, 95% and 96.88%, respectively. Chi square test also showed that there were a significant association between nose fracture and both CT scan and ultrasound, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Our study showed that both, ultrasound and CT scan are efficient for the diagnosis of nasal fractures in the patients. Further studies with greater sample size are required in this domain.

The effect of COVID-19 on public hospital revenues in Iran: An interrupted time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND: The "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major challenge for all healthcare systems worldwide, and besides generating a high toll of deaths, it has caused economic losses. Hospitals have played a key role in providing services to patients and the volume of hospital activities has been refocused on COVID-19 patients. Other activities have been limited/repurposed or even suspended and hospitals have been operating with reduced capacity. With the decrease in non-COVID-19 activities, their financial system and sustainability have been threatened, with hospitals facing shortage of financial resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the revenues of public hospitals in Lorestan province in western Iran, as a case study. METHOD: In this quasi-experimental study, we conducted the interrupted time series analysis to evaluate COVID-19 induced changes in monthly revenues of 18 public hospitals, from April 2018 to August 2021, in Lorestan, Iran. In doing so, public hospitals report their earnings to the University of Medical Sciences monthly; then, we collected this data through the finance office. RESULTS: Due to COVID-19, the revenues of public hospitals experienced an average monthly decrease of $172,636 thousand (P-value = 0.01232). For about 13 months, the trend of declining hospital revenues continued. However, after February 2021, a relatively stable increase could be observed, with patient admission and elective surgeries restrictions being lifted. The average monthly income of hospitals increased by $83,574 thousand. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has reduced the revenues of public hospitals, which have faced many problems due to the high costs they have incurred. During the crisis, lack of adequate fundings can damage healthcare service delivery, and policymakers should allocate resources to prevent potential shocks.

Fatalities Due to Poisoning with Aluminum Phosphide (Rice Pill) and Methadone.

Acute poisoning is commonly seen with pharmaceutical substance or pesticides. Understanding pattern of acute poisoning due to different agents can enable better emergency management. The aim of this study is to present and evaluate the fatality-related data of acute poisoning due to aluminum phosphide (rice pills) and methadone. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on patients Shahid Rahimi Hospital due to poisoning with rice tablets (aluminum phosphide) and methadone from 2015-2020. The data collection tool was a questionnaire using with demographic data, type and dose of poison and clinical presentation, duration of hospitalization was obtained and statistically analyzed. Out of 19 238 patients with poisoning referred to this center, 412 people referred to the hospital due to rice pill poisoning, of which 56 (13.59%) died and among 2157 patients due to methadone poisoning, 22 of them (1.09%) died. In both the groups, rice pill and methadone, there were more male patients 53.57 and 81.81%, respectively. In aluminum phosphide poisoning, the greatest population was in the age group (15-35). However, no specific age group was seen in methadone poisoning. The duration of hospitalization and the time of referral to the emergency department to the death of the patient was significantly correlated with mortality in both the groups. The prevalence of intentional rice kill poising was greatest, effecting young population, we recommend that health care awareness program and training should be provided in this regard. Furthermore, psychiatric care should be made easily available in the region.

Evaluation of Allergic Reactions Following Intravenous Infusion of Polyvalent Antivenom in Snakebite Patients.

BACKGROUND: Antivenom is a gold-standard treatment for snakebite envenoming. However, adverse reactions to snake antivenom are common in many parts. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the allergic reactions following intravenous administration of antivenom sera. METHODS: This was retrospective study conducted on snakebites patients referred to the Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad. The files of these patients were accessed for demographic data, snakebite-related data, treatment provided, clinical presentation and allergic reaction status as a result of antivenom treatment. RESULTS: 141 cases were investigated, including 73.8% male and 26.2% female patients. The mean age of the patients was 38.1±17.1 years. Age group 30-39 years accounted for the highest number of snakebite cases (24.1%). A majority of victims (89.4%) were from rural areas. Most of the patients (51.8%) were bitten in the spring and highest number of snakebite were reported in May (39.1%). The most common site of snakebite was lower extremities (50.4%) and upper extremities (44.7%). Among clinical feature of snakebite, pain was the most prevalent in 135 cases (95.7%) followed by swelling (83.7%). The mean antivenom vials used were 6.5±3.7 vials. Allergic reactions occurred in 6 patients (4.26%); reactions were mild in 5 patients and severe in 1 patient. The commonest presentation was maculopapular rash (1.4%) and the least common were headache (0.71%), nausea (0.71%), fever (0.71) and hypotension (0.71%). CONCLUSION: Snakebite is one of the significant life-threatening environmental events. Immediate antivenom treatment can reduce mortality however, patients should be carefully monitored for adverse allergic reactions.

Symmetry Breaking of B2N((-, 0, +)): An Aspect of the Electric Potential and Atomic Charges.

In this study, the three forms of B2N((-, 0, +))-radical, anion and cation-have been compared in terms of electric potential and atomic charges, ESP, rather than the well-known cut of the potential energy surface (PES). We have realized that the double minimum of the BNB radical is related to the lack of the correct permutational symmetry of the wave function and charge distribution. The symmetry breaking (SB) for B2N((0, +)) exhibits energy barrier in the region of (5-150) cm(-1). The SB barrier goes through a dynamic change with no centrosymmetric form which depends on the wave function or charge distribution. In spite of A ˜ 2 Σ g + exited state, the B ˜ 2 ∏ g excited configuration contributes to the ground state ( B ˜ 2 ∏ g - X ˜ 2 Σ u + ) for forming radicals. The SB did not occur for the anion form (B2N((-))) in any electrostatic potential and charges distribution. Finally, we have modified the Columbic term of the Schrödinger equation to define the parameters "αα' and ßß'" in order to investigate the SBs subject.

N-acetylcysteine overdose after acetaminophen poisoning.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is used widely and effectively in oral and intravenous forms as a specific antidote for acetaminophen poisoning. Here we report a rare case of iatrogenic NAC overdose following an error in preparation of the solution, and describe its clinical symptoms. Laboratory results and are presented and examined. A 23-year-old alert female patient weighing 65 kg presented to the emergency ward with weakness, lethargy, extreme fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. She had normal arterial blood gas and vital signs. An excessive dosage of NAC over a short period of time can lead to hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure in patients with normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and finally to death. Considering the similarity between some of the clinical symptoms of acetaminophen overdose and NAC overdose, it is vitally important for the administration phases and checking of the patient's symptoms to be carried out attentively and cautiously.