ABSTRACT
Background: The effect of the combination of prednisolone, azathioprine, and acetylcysteine for the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is minimal. We aimed to investigate the effect of these drugs in case of intolerance to new anti-fibrotic drugs. Materials and Methods: This historical prospective study was performed on 91 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who were referred to a pulmonologist in Mashhad during 2016-2020. Patients were divided into two groups, Pirfenidone which was prescribed for 46 subjects, and a combination of prednisolone, azathioprine, and acetylcysteine which was prescribed for 45 subjects. Patients were selected by convenience sampling and a life expectancy comparison between the two groups was performed by Cox regression. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between age, gender, and drug type in the two groups at the beginning of treatment. The death rate per year in the triple-drug treatment group was 44.44% (n = 20) and in the Pirfenidone treatment group was 11.08% (n=2). Of the 65 recovered population, 49% (22 patients) were in the triple-drug treatment group, and 78% (36 patients) were in the Pirfenidone treatment group which indicated that Pirfenidone has a significant impact on reducing death rate compared to triple-drug treatment (pvalue=0.003 <0.05). Pirfenidone decreased the risk of death, compared to triple therapy (0.23 when death was set up as one in the triple-therapy group). Conclusion: Pirfenidone has a favorable effect on increasing life expectancy and triple therapy should be considered as short-term only in subjects intolerant to anti-fibrotic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychic disorder in which a person is dissatisfied with their normal appearance. Identifying these people among the applicants for cosmetic surgery leads to the proper decision about the cosmetic procedure of these patients and their postoperative consequences. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 250 women referred to a private Plastic Surgery Clinic in Mashhad, Iran from 2016 to 2017. Applicants were divided into two groups as abdominoplasty and other cosmetic surgeries. BDD was assessed using the modified form of the Bill Brown Questionnaire. Applicants' information including age, marital status, number of children, education level, and history of cosmetic surgeries were recorded. RESULTS: The mean BDD score in the abdominoplasty group and another group was 93.6 ± 23.5 and 75.5 ± 25.8, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the BDD score (P-value < 0.001). Although there was a notable relation between BDD score and marital status, no significant association between BDD score, age, and education level was found. CONCLUSION: Considering the exact criteria of BDD, we noticed a significant increase in the frequency of BDD in abdominoplasty applicants. It was erroneous and could be explained by not applying the accurate diagnostic criteria of BDD.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Exchange transfusion (ECT) is one of effective treatments for rapid reduction of the bilirubin serum levels. The main purpose of this study was to offer greater insights into the effects of ECT on the hematologic factors and bilirubin in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 380 neonates over 35 gestational weeks, and 2-14 days old with a bilirubin of above 17 mg/dl who had undergone ECT at Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad in Iran from 2011 to 2021. Blood samples were examined before, immediately after, 6 h and 60 h after ECT for complete blood cell count (CBC), platelet count and bilirubin serum level analysis. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of neonates was 5.21 ± 3.55 days with a mean birth weight of 2810 ± 710 gr. The mean platelet count (PLT), white blood cell (WBC) and the serum level of bilirubin were estimated at 260,000/mm2, 12,400/mm2, 23 mg/dl before ECT and 97,000/mm2, 7370//mm2 and 12.6 mg/dl immediately after ECT, respectively (P-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the mean serum levels of bilirubin, platelets, and leukocytes dropped to 55%, 30%, and 60% of their baseline levels before ECT, respectively, but they all spiked after ECT.
