The comparison of IL-17 levels in patients with unstable angina before and after medical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-17 plays a central role in orchestrating the cytokine cascade and accelerates atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability in animal models. However, epidemiological data evaluating the role of IL-17 levels in unstable angina are lacking. The aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the IL-17 levels in unstable angina (UA) cases before and after treatment. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from July to October 2018 in Ali Iben-abitaleb heart center, Zahedan, Iran. 48 patients with UA in the age range of below 50 years entered the study. All demographic, past medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) data were collected. Serum level of IL-17 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. In all the tests, P< 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. All data analyses were performed using the SPSS 13.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). RESULTS: In this study, 48 UA patients, including 34 women and 16 men with a mean age of 56.60 years were included in the study. The mean serum level of interleukin 17 after treatment (65.13 ± 53.29 pg/dl) was significantly lower than Its level before treatment (94.89 ± 51.25 pg/dL) (P< 0/05). CONCLUSION: Our findings point towards a role of inflammation in the form of increased activity of IL-17 in UA patients and thus suggest that IL-17-driven inflammation may play a role in the promotion of clinical instability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Reconstruction of mandibular defects using synthetic octacalcium phosphate combined with bone matrix gelatin in rat model.

BACKGROUND: Regeneration of bone defects remains a challenge for maxillofacial surgeons. The objective of this study was to assess the osteogenic potential of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and bone matrix gelatin (BMG) alone and in combination with together in artificially created mandibular bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups. Defects were created in the mandible of rats and filled with 10 mg of OCP, BMG, or a combination of both (1/4 ratio). Defects were left unfilled in the control group. To assess bone regeneration and determine the amount of the newly formed bone, specimens were harvested at 7, 14, 21, and 56 days postimplantation. The specimens were processed routinely and studied histologically and histomorphometrically using the light microscope and eyepiece graticule. The amount of newly formed bone was quantitatively measured using histomorphometric methods. Histomorphometric data were analyzed using SPSS software. Mean, standard deviation, mode, and medians were calculated. Tukey HSD test was used to compare the means in all groups. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant (i.e., 5% significant level). RESULTS: In the experimental groups, the new bone formation was initiated from the margin of defects during the 7-14 days after implantation. By the end of study, the amount of newly formed bone increased and relatively matured, and almost all of the implanted materials were absorbed. In the control group, slight amount of new bone had been formed at the defect margins (next to the host bone) on day 56. The histomorphometric analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the amount of newly formed bone between the experimental and the control groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Combination of OCP/BMG may serve as an optimal biomaterial for the treatment of mandibular bone defects.

Discharge against medical advice in paediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) from the hospital may negatively impact patients' well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the main reasons for DAMA among parents of children admitted to the paediatric ward of the Ali Ebne Abitaleb Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. METHODS: Participants in this case-control study included 130 children who had been admitted to the hospital's paediatric ward. Participants were divided into two equal groups: (1) those with incomplete treatment and (2) those who stayed in the hospital until the completion of their management and followed regular discharge procedures. A self-administered questionnaire was utilised for data collection. RESULTS: Participants included 130 children aged <1-18 years with an average of 3.3 ± 3.7 years; 51.5% (67) were girls, and 48.5% (63) were boys. The results showed a significant relationship between DAMA and the father's level of education (p < 0.05), length of hospitalization (p < 0.001), and duration of treatment (p = 0.027). No significant correlation was found for other factors (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that the key reasons for DAMA were as follows: lack of satisfaction with physicians and hospital staff, family disturbance due to the presence of other children at home, inadequate economic situation, and being away from home. Providing professional education to parents and expressing the benefits and disadvantages of refusing complete treatment may help parents make better decisions.

Histomorphometric Analysis of Newly-formed Bone Using Octacalcium Phosphate and Bone Matrix Gelatin in Rat Tibial Defects.

BACKGROUND: Repair of bone defects is challenging for reconstructive and orthopedic surgeons. In this study, we aimed to histomorphometrically assess new bone formation in tibial bone defects filled with octacalcium phosphate (OCP), bone matrix gelatin (BMG), and a combination of both. METHODS: A total of 96 male Sprague Dawley rats aged 6-8 weeks weighing 120-150 g were randomly allocated into three experimental (OCP, BMG, and OCP/BMG) and one control group (n=24 in each group). The defects in experimental groups were filled with OCP (6 mg), BMG (6 mg), or a combination of OCP and BMG (6 mg, 2:1 ratio). No material was used to fill the defects in the control group and the defect was only covered with Surgicel. Samples were taken on days 7, 14, 21, and 56 after the surgery. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and assessed using light microscopy. RESULTS: In our experimental groups, bone formation was started from the margins of the defect towards the center with an increasing rate during the study period. Moreover, the formed bone was more mature. Bone formation in our control group was only limited to the margins of the defect. The newly formed bone mass was significantly higher in the experimental groups (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: OCP, BMG, and OCP/BMG compound enhanced osteoinduction in long bones.

Octacalcium phosphate/gelatin composite facilitates bone regeneration of critical-sized mandibular defects in rats: A quantitative study.

Background. Regeneration of bone defects remains a challenge for maxillofacial surgeons. The present study aimed to compare the effects of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and the combination of octacalcium phosphate/gelatin (OCP/Gel) on mandibular bone regeneration in rats Methods. In the present study, 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The animals were randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: OCP (n=12), OCP/Gel (n=12), and the control group (n=12). Defects were created in the rat mandibles and filled with 10 mg of OCP and OCP/Gel disks in the experimental groups. In the control group, however, no substance was administered. Samples were taken on days 7, 14, 21 and 56, respectively, after the implantation. Sections (5 µ) were prepared and stained by H&E. The sections were studied, and the volume fraction of newly formed bone was measured by Dunnett's T3 test based on the significance level (P=0.05). Results. In the experimental groups, the new bone formation began from the margin of defects 7‒14 days after the implantation. During the healing process, the newly formed bone healed a larger area of the defects and grew structurally. In the control group, the defects were primarily filled with dense connective tissue, and only a small amount of new bone was formed. The present study showed a statistically significant difference in the volume of newly formed bone between the experimental groups and the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion. OCP/Gel composite can be beneficial in the healing process of mandibular bone defects.

Efficacy of Octacalcium Phosphate and Octacalcium Phosphate/Gelatin Composite on the Repair of Critical-Sized Calvarial Defects in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: The healing of bone defects in the craniofacial region is an important clinical issue. We aimed to compare the effects of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and the combination of OCP/gelatin (OCP/Gel) on calvarial bone regeneration in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 72 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the OCP (n=24), OCP/Gel (n=24), and control groups (n=24). Lesions with a diameter of 9 mm were created in the parietal bone and were filled with 9-mg OCP and OCP/Gel disks. In the control group, no substance was implanted in the defect. Sampling was performed on days 10, 14, 21, and 28 after the implantation. After tissue processing, 5-µm sections were prepared and stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. The sections were studied, and the volume fraction of the newly formed bone was assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: In the experimental groups, new bone formation was detected at the margins of the defects 10 days after the implantation. With the progression of the healing process, the newly formed bone covered greater areas of the defects and developed a more mature structure. In the control group, the defects were primarily filled with a dense connective tissue with small islands of new bone. The results of histomorphometric assessments showed that the volume of the newly formed bone in the experimental groups had a significant statistical difference with that in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The OCP/Gel composite can be useful in the healing process of calvarial bone defects.