RESUMO
There are few papers on the combination therapy of deferiprone (DFP) and deferasirox (DFX) in iron-overloaded patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM). A total of 6 patients with ß-TM (5 males and 1 female) with a mean age of 23.8±5.8 years (ranging from 17 to 31) used this treatment regimen. The mean doses of DFP and DFX were 53.9±22.2 and 29.3±6.8 mg/kg/day, respectively. The duration of treatment was 11.5±4.6 months. Their serum ferritin levels were measured to be 2800±1900 and 3400±1600 ng/mL before and after treatment, respectively (p<0.6). Their cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* values were 16.69±15.35 vs 17.38±5.74 millisecond (ms) before and after treatment, respectively (p < 0.9). Although there was no significant difference between their cardiac MRI T2* values before and after treatment statistically, the values improved after combination therapy with DFP and DFX in most of the patients. Liver MRI T2 * values were changed from 2.12±0.98 to 3.03±1.51 ms after treatment (p < 0.01); Further, their liver T2* values and liver iron concentration (LIC) were improved after treatment. Our study found that cardiac MRI T2* values, liver MRI T2* values, and LIC were improved after combination therapy with DFP and DFX in ß-TM patients and that DFP and DFX combination therapy could be used to alleviate cardiac and liver iron loading.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Traffic accidents and traffic-related injuries and mortality have become a major public health concern in Iran. This study aimed to examine the role of drug and alcohol use in motor vehicle accidents in Iran. METHODS: This case-crossover study was conducted on 441 drivers who survived a road traffic crash and were taken to the emergency department of Shahid Rajaee trauma hospital in Shiraz, southern Iran. Data were collected using checklists that included demographic characteristics and drug and alcohol use prior to driving. Alcohol and drug use was identified through self-report, and cannabis, morphine, and methamphetamine urine tests were used to confirm drug abuse among drivers. RESULTS: In total 17.9% of drivers reported using drugs (cannabis, opium, or metamphetamine) and 8.84% of drivers reported consuming alcohol prior to the collision. The crude odds ratios (ORs) for having a crash for opium, cannabis, and metamphetamine were 1.94 (95% interval confidence [CI], 1.11-3.38), 2.37 (95% CI, 1.03-5.42), 5.5 (95% CI, 1.21-24.81), respectively, and for all drugs was 3.83 (95% CI, 2.28-6.43). The OR for alcohol was 3.5 (95% CI, 1.73-7.06) based on self-report. CONCLUSION: Drug and alcohol use are increasing the risk of traffic crashes in Iran. Risk-reducing programs must be designed and implemented.
