The Effect of 131I Therapy on the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Patients with Thyroid Disorders: A Preliminary Study.

The leading cause of gastritis and its complications is Helicobacter pylori Radioactive iodine (131I) accumulates significantly in the stomach after consumption. On this basis, we decided to determine whether different doses of 131I in the stomach would be effective in eradicating the infection. Methods: All patients with hyperthyroidism or differentiated thyroid carcinoma who were referred for 131I treatment were invited to the study. A stool antigen test was conducted before consumption of 131I (0.15-5.5 GBq) and was repeated 2 mo later to detect H. pylori infection. Results: H. pylori positivity was found in 51.8% (14/27) of the patients. At 2 mo after treatment, 13 of the 14 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma or hyperthyroidism who had been identified as positive for H. pylori stool antigen before 131I administration were still positive, representing a nonsignificant eradication rate of 7.1%. Conclusion: Administration of 131I to patients with H. pylori did not show potential to eliminate the infection.

Clinical manifestations of pain in patients suffering from COVID-19 infected with Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2.

Background: Although respiratory presentations of COVID-19 predominate, the extra pulmonary involvement such as muscle pain, joint pain, headache, back pain, abdominal pain, and sore throat are usually included in the clinical picture of the disease and it can be considered as an early symptom in COVID-19 patients. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency, localization, and intensity of pain in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil, Iran. Methods and materials: A prospective study was conducted on 388 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Ardabil, Iran's Imam Khomeini Central Hospital between March and June 2020. Demographic characteristics of patients and general clinical manifestations of pain at the first admission to the hospital, localization, severity, and continuity of pain were evaluated by using a questionnaire and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Findings: For the 388 (51.3% female, age 47.25 + 15.55 and 48.7% male, age 50.12 + 15.26 years old) Delta COVID-19 patients, the median duration from illness onset to hospitalization was 5 days. Patients' complaints included 89.7% fatigue, 85.56% cough, 67.8% fever, 64.17% loss of taste, 63.91% loss of smell, 37.9% diarrhea, and 11.85% skin lesions, respectively. Pain including muscle, joint, bone and low back pain was the chief complaint in both sexes. Pain complaints had started on average 5 days before admission. The distribution of pain was 313 (80.41%) muscle pain, 264 (70.61%) joint pain, 299 (77.1%) headache, 208 (53.6%) low back pain, 312 (80.41%) sore throat, and 157 (40.46%) abdominal pain. Out of 388 patients, 292 (75.25%) had diffuse pain. Conclusions: Acute pain including myalgia, sore throat, arthralgia, headache, and low back pain were the most common symptoms of COVID-19 patients. Viral diseases such as COVID-19 may trigger the immune system to release cytokines that lead to muscle pain. Patients presenting to healthcare centers with complaints of pain should be evaluated for suspected COVID-19 infection.

Evaluating the Efficacy of the National Early Warning Score in Predicting the Mortality of Stroke Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units.

Background: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) is a tool used to identify patients at risk. Scores are based on initial clinical observations, including heart rate, respiration rate, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness, body temperature, and oxygen support. To date, few studies have been conducted on NEWS evaluation worldwide, and no study has been conducted in Iran. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the NEWS in predicting the mortality of stroke patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 90 patients with a definitive diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) based on symptoms and para-clinical evidence. At the beginning of admission to the ICU and up to first 24 hours of admission, all NEWS parameters were measured and evaluated. Results: There was a significant relationship between systolic blood pressure, respiratory support, heart rate, and level of consciousness with patients' discharge status. Also, there was no significant relationship between age, sex, respiratory rate, SPO2, and fever with discharge status. In addition, there was a significant relationship between clinical risk based on NEWS scoring system and patients' status. Conclusions: Our results showed a significant relationship between clinical risk based on NEWS scoring and patients' discharge status so that there was a significant increase in mortality in patients with higher NEWS.

Comparing the Efficacy and Side Effects of Intravenous Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen in Pain Control Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The importance of using effective postoperative analgesia is widely accepted. Systemic opioids are the gold standard for reducing severe pain after surgery, but the side effects have limited the use of adequate doses. We aimed to evaluate the effect of adding intravenous acetaminophen and intravenous ibuprofen to fentanyl on patient-controlled analgesia. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial study in Ardabil city hospital at 2019, 90 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (n=30) received normal saline, the acetaminophen group (n=30) received 1g intravenous acetaminophen, and the ibuprofen group (n=30) received 800 mg intravenous ibuprofen. All patients received a pain control by intravenous pump containing fentanyl (15µ/ml). The drugs were injected intravenously after surgery. Shoulder and abdominal pain scores, sedation rate, nausea and vomiting, satisfaction, and the doses of fentanyl and meperidine were recorded in SPSS software within 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: The mean abdominal pain scores in ibuprofen (3.02) and acetaminophen (2.89) groups were not significantly different (P=0.719) but were significantly lower than in the control group (5.10) (P<0.001). The severity of shoulder pain, nausea and vomiting, sedation, and fentanyl intake were not significantly different in the ibuprofen and acetaminophen groups but were significantly lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The use of both intravenous acetaminophen and ibuprofen in pain control after surgery can reduce the need for opioid use. Acetaminophen can also be a suitable alternative for postoperative pain control in patients that are unable to use NSAIDs.

Comparison of Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine and Intravenous Ketorolac for Postoperative Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Background: Postoperative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) arises from incision sites and residual intraperitoneal CO2 gas. Opioids as a class of pain-relieving drugs are broadly used to control pain after LC; however, these drugs can cause various side effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of intraperitoneal injection of bupivacaine with that of intravenous ketorolac in managing postoperative pain in patients who had undergone LC. Methods: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out on patients who had undergone LC. Ninety patients who had undergone elective LC were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 30 for each group). Group A received 40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine solution intraperitoneally at the end of the operation; group B received 30 mg of ketorolac intravenously 30 minutes before surgery and every 8 hours after surgery, and patients in group C received normal saline intraperitoneally and intravenous injection. The patients were postoperatively assessed for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, postoperative opioid consumption, shoulder pain, side effects (sedation, nausea, and vomiting), and satisfaction. The data were analyzed using SPSS. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The intraperitoneal injection of bupivacaine and intravenous injection of ketorolac were significantly effective in reducing postoperative abdominal pain, shoulder pain, and incidence of nausea and vomiting compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). Although intraperitoneal bupivacaine and intravenous ketorolac had no significant difference in pain relief compared with each other, patients in both bupivacaine and ketorolac groups were significantly more satisfied with their analgesia compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Intraperitoneal injection of bupivacaine and intravenous injection of ketorolac both are safe and effective methods to control pain, nausea, and vomiting after LC.

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Ketofol, Dexmedetomidine, and Isofol in Anesthesia of Candidates for Dilatation and Curettage.

Background: Dilatation and curettage (D & C) is one of the relatively common surgeries among women. Familiarity with the analgesics, along with their different uses and specific characteristics, can help to determine the best and most appropriate drug to control pain in the patients. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of ketofol, dexmedetomidine, and isofol in anesthesia of candidates for D & C. Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, 150 candidates for D & C surgeries with ASA class 1 and 2 were included. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. The first group received ketamine + propofol, the second group received dexmedetomidine, and the third group received isofol (isoflurane + propofol). Any hemodynamic changes or respiratory disorders, including apnea or hypoventilation, drop in the level of blood oxygen saturation, and the need for respiratory support, were recorded and compared. Results: Hypoventilation was observed in 47 patients in isofol group, 18 in the dexmedetomidine group, and 42 in ketofol group. Also, 48 patients in the isofol group, eight in the dexmedetomidine group, and 33 in the ketofol group experienced apnea. Moreover, 17 patients in the dexmedetomidine group, 35 in the ketofol group, and eight in the isofol group experienced bradycardia. The rate of bradycardia was significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine group (70%) compared to the other two groups, and the rate of hypotension was significantly higher in the isofol group (P = 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, dexmedetomidine was associated with fewer complications during general anesthesia in D & C surgery.

Investigating the Effect of Expiratory Time Constant on Outcome in Intubated Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Caused by COVID-19 in Critical Care Unit: A Research Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a high prevalence and mortality worldwide. Thousands of patients with acute respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 are daily hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) around the world. Many of these patients require full mechanical respiratory support and long-term ventilator use. Using different ventilators and calculating important variables can be helpful in meeting therapeutic needs of patients. Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of expiratory time constant (RCEXP) on the course of treatment and duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure hospitalized in ICU. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with acute respiratory failure who were hospitalized in the ICU and underwent mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 in the first six months of 2020. The variables of RCEXP, lung compliance and lung resistance in all patients were recorded daily and analyzed. Then, based on clinical outcome, the patients were divided into two groups: the patients with wean outcome (N = 40) and those with death outcome (N = 20). Results: The mean ± SD of lung compliance in patients who were separated from ventilator and patients with death outcome were 74.73 (18.58) mL/cm H2O and 36.92 (10.56) mL/cm H2O, respectively, which was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The mean ± SD of lung resistance in patients who were separated from ventilator and patients with death outcome were calculated at 9.25 (4.62) and 14 (6.5), respectively, which was statistically significant (P = 0.015). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean ± SD of RCEXP (0.67 (0.23) vs. 0.49 (0.19), P = 0.010). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, there was a significant difference between high resistance, low compliance, RCEXP, and weaning success of intubation in patients hospitalized in the ICU.

An Update on Treatment Modalities for Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: A Literature Review.

CONTEXT: Ulnar nerve entrapment is a relatively common entrapment syndrome second only in prevalence to carpal tunnel syndrome. The potential anatomic locations for entrapment include the brachial plexus, cubital tunnel, and Guyon's canal. Ulnar nerve entrapment is more so prevalent in pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and patients with occupations involving periods of prolonged elbow flexion and/or wrist dorsiflexion. Cyclists are particularly at risk of Guyon's canal neuropathy. Patients typically present with sensory deficits of the palmar aspect of the fourth and fifth digits, followed by motor symptoms, including decreased pinch strength and difficulty fastening shirt buttons or opening bottles. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Literature searches were performed using the below MeSH Terms using Mendeley version 1.19.4. Search fields were varied until further searches revealed no new articles. All articles were screened by title and abstract. Decision was made to include an article based on its relevance and the list of final articles was approved three of the authors. This included reading the entirety of the artice. Any question regarding the inclusion of an article was discussed by all authors until an agreement was reached. RESULTS: X-ray and CT play a role in diagnosis when a bony injury is thought to be related to the pathogenesis (i.e., fracture of the hook of the hamate.) MRI plays a role where soft tissue is thought to be related to the pathogenesis (i.e., tumor or swelling.) Electromyography and nerve conduction also play a role in diagnosis. Medical management, in conjunction with physical therapy, shows limited promise. However, minimally invasive techniques, including peripheral percutaneous electrode placement and ultrasound-guided electrode placement, have all been recently studied and show great promise. When these techniques fail, clinicians should resort to decompression, which can be done endoscopically or through an open incision. Endoscopic ulnar decompression shows great promise as a surgical option with minimal incisions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical diagnosis of ulnar nerve entrapment can often be delayed and requires the suspicion as well as a thorough neurological exam. Early recognition and diagnois are important for early institution of treatment. A wide array of diagnostic imaging can be useful in ruling out bony, soft tissue, or vascular etiologies, respectively. However, clinicians should resort to electrodiagnostic testing when a definitive diagnois is needed. Many new minimally invasive techniques are in the literature and show great promise; however, further large scale trials are needed to validate these techniques. Surgical options remains as a gold standard when adequate symptom relief is not achieved through minimally invasive means.

Remifentanil versus dexmedtomidine for posterior spinal fusion surgery.

BACKGROUND: Controlling the hemodynamic situation of patients who have spinal operation is of prime importance, and maintaining the heart rate and blood pressure in normal or low- normal levels in these patients can reduce their bleeding loss. One of the commonly used drugs for this purpose is remifentanil. Another sedative-hypnotic-analgesic drug, with acceptable effects is dexmedetomidine. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine with remifentanil in spinal operation. METHODS: In a double blind randomized clinical trial, using random sampling method, 60 patients with the age range of 15-65 years who were candidates for posterior spinal fusion operation were included. Induction of anesthesia was performed, and both groups received isoflurane 1% during the surgery. Remifentanil was injected via infusion pump in one group. The patients in the trial group received dexmedetomidine. As trial outcomes, heart rate and blood pressure were measured before, after induction and during the operation. Pain score, sedation score and the need to analgesic therapy were recorded in the recovery room and the ward. Independent sample t-test and chi-square were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine had a significant lowering impact on intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate compared to remifentanil (p<0.001). The mean of sedation scores after extubation in patients who received dexmedetomidine was significantly higher than the sedation scores in patients who received remifentanil (p<0.001). The mean of post-extubation and recovery pain score in patients taking remifentanil was significantly higher than patients taking dexmedetomidine (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine in patients with spinal operation is associated with lower postoperative pain score and intraoperative bleeding. Hemodynamic effects are significantly better in patients received dexmedetomidine.