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INTRODUCTION: Head trauma is a common reason for emergency department visits worldwide; many of which involve young children. We sought to determine if head ultrasound (US), as a portable, fast and safe modality, can guide diagnosis and treatment of children in emergency settings. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, brain computed tomography (CT) scan and emergency head US were performed on head trauma children who were referred to the emergency departments of Firouzgar and Besat Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, from September 2018 to May 2019. The findings of the two modalities were separately evaluated, and used to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of US. RESULTS: 538 patients with the mean age of 5.6 ± 4.9 (0-18) years were studied (54.8% male). Sensitivity and specificity of bedside US in detection of hemorrhage were 85.71% (42.13%-99.64%) and 97.99% (94.23%-99.58%) for children below the age of 2. These measures were 80.00% (51.91%-95.67%) and 97.97% (94.88%-99.44%), respectively, for those between 2 and 6 years old and 46.67% (21.27%-73.41%) and 92.90% (87.66%-96.40%), respectively, for those above the age of 6. Sensitivity and specificity were 92.31% (84.01%-97.12%) and 95.87% (93.62%-97.50%), respectively, in diagnosing skull fractures. Cohen's kappa coefficient varied greatly for different findings, ranging from 0.363 to 0.825, indicating different agreement rates for each. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, emergency US can play a greater role in the initial management of head trauma children, especially as a triage test.
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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the central nervous system. Many patients with multiple sclerosis suffer from persistent pain during the disease course. In Iranian cases, pain has not been regarded as it should be. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of pain in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted in the multiple sclerosis clinic of Sina Hospital between October 2014 and August 2015. Eighty eight multiple sclerosis patients were enrolled. Participants were asked to fill a valid and reliable Persian version of the Brief Pain Inventory. Demographic data (sex, age), disease duration and disease course were extracted from patients' medical files. All patients were examined by an expert neurologist to obtain Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). RESULTS: The mean age and mean duration of disease were 30.4±7.6 years and 5.9±4 years, respectively. Median EDSS was 1. All patients reported pain. The most common sites of pain were upper extremities (52.3%). Higher the EDSS score, higher pain interference with the evaluated items. By using the worst pain intensity as a dependent variable, and age, sex, EDSS, disease duration and type of disease as independent variables, regression analysis showed that the EDSS score was an independent predictor for the intensity of pain in this group of patients. CONCLUSION: Pain is a common symptom found in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Thus, an accurate and thorough assessment of pain should be integrated in the routine evaluation of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects all aspects of patients. Recently, the "PERception de la Scle'rose En Plaques et de ses Pousse'es" (PERSEPP) scale was designed to assess MS-related relapse on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate validity and reliability of Persian version of PERSEPP scale in Iranian patients with MS. METHODS: Two-hundred eleven patients with relapsing-remitting form of the disease asked to fill the PERSEPP scale, MSQOL-54, and SF-36 questionnaires. Fifty cases filed the questionnaire 2 weeks later to assess reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha analysis were used. RESULTS: Mean age and mean duration of disease were 32.2 ± 8.4 years and 6.5 ± 2.5 years, respectively. One hundred sixty-seven (79.1%) were female and 44 (20.9%) were male. Forty-one (19.4%) were in relapse phase of the disease. ICC score of all items was above 0.8. Cronbach's alpha of all items was above 0.8. The results show that the mean scores of four items (relationship difficulties, time perspective, and symptoms) were significantly different between cases in relapse and none relapse. Coping and relationship difficulties scores were significantly different between different expanded disability status scale groups. Pearson correlation score for QoL 54 and PERSEP calculated as r = 0.44, P < 0.001 and r = 0.66, P < 0.001 between SF36 and PERSEP. CONCLUSIONS: Persian version of PERCEPP questionnaire provides valid and reliable instrument to assess MS-related QoL.
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Venous malformations are the most common form of symptomatic vascular malformations. VM s could classify into low-flow lesions (VMs) and high-flow lesions (AVMs). For low-flow venous lesions, direct percutaneous puncture with injection of sclerosing agents (sclerotherapy) has been described as a successful therapy. In this article, we want to introduce a patient who treated with ethanol sclerotherapy for VM located in the right flank. The patients were a 35-year-old man with right flank mass, skin discoloration and hemorrhagic foci. Color Doppler ultrasonography showed low flow vascular malformation while Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed that the mass contained fat tissue with branching tubular signal void structures inside. The draining vein was first coiled via tortuous venous malformation vessels access and then VM was embolized.Under ultrasonographic guide, direct puncture of one branches of venous malformation was performed, and contrast media were injected. The patient underwent the sclerotherapy every month for four consecutive months. The patient was followed up for a year, and clinical examination revealed 40-50% size reduction of the lesion while no bleeding was detected from the lesion during the follow-up period. Sclerotherapy with ethanol is a useful method for embolizing VMs.
