Opium use and risk of lung cancer: A multicenter case-control study in Iran.

Opium use was recently classified as a human carcinogen for lung cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We conducted a large, multicenter case-control study evaluating the association between opium use and the risk of lung cancer. We recruited 627 cases and 3477 controls from May 2017 to July 2020. We used unconditional logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and measured the association between opium use and the risk of lung cancer. The ORs were adjusted for the residential place, age, gender, socioeconomic status, cigarettes, and water pipe smoking. We found a 3.6-fold risk of lung cancer for regular opium users compared to never users (95% CI: 2.9, 4.6). There was a strong dose-response association between a cumulative count of opium use and lung cancer risk. The OR for regular opium use was higher for small cell carcinoma than in other histology (8.3, 95% CI: 4.8, 14.4). The OR of developing lung cancer among opium users was higher in females (7.4, 95% CI: 3.8, 14.5) than in males (3.3, 95% CI: 2.6, 4.2). The OR for users of both opium and tobacco was 13.4 (95% CI: 10.2, 17.7) compared to nonusers of anything. The risk of developing lung cancer is higher in regular opium users, and these results strengthen the conclusions on the carcinogenicity of opium. The association is stronger for small cell carcinoma cases than in other histology.

Impact of Using Educational Multimedia on Knowledge, Skill, and Reduction of Medical Error Following Bronchoscopy.

Background: Achieving procedural skills is one of the pillars of health higher education which is in line with the social responsibility of medical education. Since it is not possible to encounter important cases in bronchoscopy during the training course, the common cases that the students encounter in their future work environment were prepared as an educational video. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to find out the impact of using bronchoscopy educational video intervention on medical assistants' knowledge, skill, and medical error comparing it with the traditional method at Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, two groups were randomly assigned: the experimental and the control. Each one consists of 15 participants. The first group used mannequins (traditional method) and the second used multimedia as the experimental group. Both groups were evaluated by pre and post-tests. Multiple choices (MCQs) were given to evaluate the knowledge and a checklist for skills. A comparison of the impact of intervention before and after education in both groups was statistically analyzed using the independent t-test. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group at a significance level of 0.042 for the skill. An average increase of 3 points was observed in the experiment group, while the control group increased by 1.4 points. No significant difference was seen for knowledge. The number of patients with pneumothorax was also decreased. Conclusion: Results showed that the multimedia training method effectively promotes the assistants' skills and reduces medical errors following bronchoscopy Administration. It is recommended to use educational videos (multimedia) to improve assistants' skills. It is suggested to apply the new model of education rather than sticking to the traditional one.

Correlation of Echocardiographic and Right Heart Catheterization Estimations of Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure.

Background: Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) is one of the most important and valuable markers in cardiovascular disease, measured by right heart catheterization (RHC) as the gold standard diagnostic modality. However, due to several limitations, such as invasiveness, lack of repeatability, and high health costs, echocardiographic estimation of PAP has been used to substitute RHC for diagnosis and monitoring of this disease. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of echocardiographic and RHC estimations of systolic PAP. Materials and Methods: In this study, patients, who were referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, Iran, evaluated by RHC and echocardiography, were selected. The median PAP (mPAP) and systolic PAP (sPAP) for each modality, time interval between the two modalities, sex, and age were extracted from the patients' records. The RHC mPAP data was used for categorization of patients as pulmonary hypertension, while the sPAP data of two modalities was used to assess correlations and define a cut-off point by the ROC analysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, and the level of statistical significance was less than 0.05. Results: Seventy-six patients, including 31 males (40.8%) and 45 females (59.2%) with the mean age of 45±14 years, were evaluated in this study. The mean sPAP was 71.98±30.22 mmHg when measured by RHC and 69.75±26.03 mmHg when measured by echocardiography (correlation coefficient=0.805; P<0.001). Agreement between the two measurements was 97%, and the accuracy of echocardiography was 43%. By considering 40 mmHg as the cutoff point, the sensitivity and specificity of echocardiography were estimated at 89.2% and 42.8%, respectively. Based on the ROC analysis, the highest sensitivity (86.7%) and specificity (87.5%) were achieved with an estimated sPAP of 57.5 mmHg. Conclusion: Echocardiography showed a good correlation and agreement with RHC in estimating sPAP; therefore, it is appropriate for screening of patients because of high sensitivity. However, for diagnosis confirmation, monitoring, and follow-up of pulmonary hypertension via echocardiography, high specificity is needed, which can be achieved by considering sPAP of 57.5 mmHg as the cutoff value for pulmonary hypertension.

68Ga-DOTATATE Radioisotope scan to detect neuroendocrine tumors; A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJEVTIVES: Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that arise from the peptide-producing cells of the neuroendocrine system. Different functional imaging methods have been suggested to diagnose NETs. There is still not enough evidence to recommend 68Ga-DOTATATE as a standard diagnostic tool in NETs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the value of 68Ga-DOTATATE scan in detecting NETs. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. All patients with a pathologically confirmed NET tumor referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences entered the study. Patients underwent a 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. All statistical analysis were performed by SPSS software version 18. RESULTS: Forty patients with a mean age of 48.1±15.80 years entered the study. Twenty-one (52.5%) were male and 19 (47.5%) female. In the studied patients, neuroendocrine tumor was present in 19 cases (47.5%) in pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, 9 (22.5%) in lung, 3 (7.5%) in mediastinum and adrenal gland, 6 cases (5%) in liver and 3 other sites. There was no significant association between mean age and gender with primary location of the tumor. The mean SUVmax was 11.62±20.02 and the the mean tumor size was 38.25±31.35 mm. The mean size of the metastasis was 40.55±24.53 mm. The mean percentage of ki-67 was 12.54±18.40. There was no significant correlation between SUVmax of the lesion and age (r=0.063, P=0.701), tumor size (r=-0.63, P=0.067) or Ki-67 (r=0.011, P=0.960). In 20 cases, metastases were reported, of which 14 were (70%) in the liver, 3 in the lungs (15%), 2 in the gastrointestinal and cervical lymph nodes, and 1 in the bones and pancreas(%5). CONCLUSION: 68Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT could find the primary or metastasis sites of NETs with good quality images. In general, this modality can enhance the management in patients with NETs.

Prognostic Value of Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a hemodynamic and pathophysiological disease defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure of ≥20 mm Hg. Pulmonary hypertension severity and prognosis play an essential role in the management of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with PH referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 61 patients with PH referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran were enrolled. Patients' information such as age, sex, type of PH, echocardiographic data, and blood cell count, including platelet, lymphocyte, and neutrophil count, hemoglobin, and RDW, were collected in each follow-up. Results: Out of 61 patients with PH, 27 (44.3%) were male, and 34 (55.7%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 43.19 ± 2.25 years. Our results showed that during hospitalization, PLR decreased from 13.2 to 9.7, and NLR also decreased from 4.49 to 3.08. Neither PLR nor NLR was associated with gender. However, both PLR and NLR showed a significant difference between deceased vs. discharged patients and were significantly lower in the patients who died. Conclusion: Both PLR and NLR decreased during hospitalization in patients with PH, and this decrease was greater in the patients who died, suggesting these indicators as potential prognostic markers for the disease.

Comparing the Quality of Life and General Health Status in Thoracic Cancer Patients with their Family Caregivers in Iran.

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. Caregivers of these patients are affected by various physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial factors that can affect their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to compare the QoL and general health status of thoracic cancer patients with their family caregivers in Iranian population. Materials and Methods: Using the City of Hope-Quality of Life (COH-QOL) questionnaire and the General Health Status (GHQ) questionnaire, this cross-sectional study compared the QoL and general health status in 71 thoracic cancer patients with their family members as the primary caregivers. The study was conducted in Masih Daneshvari Hospital of Tehran, Iran from 2017 to 2018. Demographic data and results of the questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v.20). Student's t-test, Chi square test, and Pearson's correlation were used to compare the results. Results: In patients and their caregivers, 53.5% (N=38) and 36.6% (N=26) were male, respectively (P=0.043). While the average score of physical wellbeing was 6.12 ± 1.95 in caregivers, it was 5.32 ± 2.08 in patients (P=0.021). In case of psychological wellbeing, the average score in caregivers was 4.14 ± 1.50 and in patients was 5.7 ± 1.54 (P=0.000). We observed no significant difference between caregivers and patients regarding social concerns (4.62 ± 1.50 vs. 4.90 ± 1.74) and spiritual wellbeing (7.03 ± 1.17 vs. 7.2 ± 1.53). Also, the mean scores of GHQ-12 were 5.06 ± 2.5 and 4.17 ± 2.53 in caregivers and patients, respectively (P=0.04). A significant negative correlation was observed between GHQ-12 and QoL scores (r=-0.593, P<0.001). The probability of acquiring mental disorders in female caregivers was two times higher than male caregivers (P=0.05). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that family caregivers of thoracic cancer patients suffer from physical and psychological distress, sometimes even more than the patients. This highlights the important role of family caregivers in the process of approaching a patient with thoracic cancer.

Lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the gold standard for the evaluation of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease; however, lung ultrasound (LUS) is being increasingly used for the assessment of lung in these patients due to its lower cost, availability, and lack of irradiation. We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of LUS for the evaluation of CF pulmonary exacerbation. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients with CF pulmonary exacerbation admitted to Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from March 21, 2020 to March 20, 2021. Age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) of the patients were recorded. All patients underwent chest X-ray (CXR), HRCT, and LUS on admission. Pleural thickening, atelectasis, air bronchogram, B-line, and consolidation were noted in LUS and then compared with the corresponding findings in CXR and HRCT. Taking HRCT findings as reference, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy (DA) of LUS and CXR for the detection of each pulmonary abnormality were determined. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients included in this study, with a mean age of 19.62 ± 5.53 years, 14 (46.7%) were male. Of the 15 patients aged 2-20 years, BMI was below the 5th percentile in 10 (66.7%), within the 5-10 percentiles in 1 (6.7%), 10-25 percentiles in 3 (20%), and 25-50 percentiles in 1 (6.7%). The mean BMI for 15 patients > 20 years was 18.03 ± 2.53 kg/m2. LUS had better diagnostic performance compared to CXR for the detection of air bronchogram, consolidation, and pleural thickening (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]: 0.966 vs. 0.483, 0.900 vs. 0.575, and 0.656 vs. 0.531, respectively). Also, LUS was 100% and 96.7% specific for the diagnosis of pleural effusion and atelectasis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LUS appears to be superior to CXR and comparable with HRCT for the evaluation of CF pulmonary exacerbation, especially in terms of air bronchogram and consolidation detection. LUS can be used to lengthen the HRCT evaluation intervals in this regard or utilized along with HRCT for better evaluation of CF pulmonary exacerbation.

The Prevalence of Atopic Manifestations in 313 Iranian Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity.

INTRODUCTION: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are rare inherited disorders with a broad spectrum of manifestations. Here, we aimed to delineate the atopy burden in a cohort of patients with IEIs. METHODS: 313 patients with IEIs were enrolled in the study within a 9-years period, and data were collected via a questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (v. 25.0, Chicago, IL, USA). The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, 51 out of 313 (16.3%) patients were identified to have atopic manifestations. Food allergy was detected in 34 (10.2%), atopic dermatitis in 21 (6.7%), as well as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis each in 4 (1.3%) patients. The allergic disorders were reported as initial manifestations among 14 out of 35 (40.0%) atopic patients. Most of these 51 patients fell within the category of combined immunodeficiency (CID) (n = 38, 74.5%), followed by, severe CID (SCID) (n = 5, 9.8%), common variable immunodeficiency (n = 3, 5.9%), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 3, 5.9%), selective IgA deficiency (n = 1, 2.0%), and leukocyte adhesion defect (n = 1, 2.0%). No patient with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacteria was found to have atopic manifestation. Atopic dermatitis (p = 0.001) and food allergy (p < 0.001) were both significantly higher in patients with CID than in other IEI groups. Among atopic patients with CID and SCID, food allergy and atopic dermatitis were the most prevalent comorbidities. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Atopic diseases may contribute to the clinical picture of IEIs, particularly in patients with CID. Atopy in association with other warning signs of IEIs increases the possibility of an underlying IEI.

Inflammatory Markers in the Serum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Children with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Background: It is known that inflammatory responses occur in the airways of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis during respiratory exacerbations but the role of these cytokines is not clear in this condition. Herein we evaluated the levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage among children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis who were admitted with respiratory exacerbation in the pediatric pulmonology ward of Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran-Iran. All patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and spirometry before and after the bronchoscopy. IL-1ß, IL-8, and TNF-α levels were measured in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage. Results: Patients included 10 (59%) female and 7 (41%) male subjects with mean age of 13.8 years (range, 5-18). Mean values for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were below the normal range before and after bronchoscopy. Mean value for FVC (from 55% to 63%, P= 0.01) and FEV1 (from 60% to 64%, P= 0.26) increased after bronchoscopy compared to before that. IL-1ß and IL-8 levels were increased and TNF-α level was decreased in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage but no significant correlation was found between spirometry and these cytokines levels. Conclusion: Changes in inflammatory cytokines levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage during respiratory exacerbation in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis have no significant correlation with spirometry and cannot be used in clinical practice.

The relationship between QT interval indices with cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Long QT interval (QT) and abnormal QT dispersion (QTd) are associated with sudden death. The relationship between cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and QT indices in type 2 diabetic patients were investigated. METHODS: Totally 130 diabetic subjects (mean age 50.87 ± 13.9 years) were included (70 individuals with and 60 individuals without CAN). All participants had sinus cardiac rhythm. The patients who had diseases or take drugs that cause orthostatic hypotension (OH), cardiac arrhythmia and QT prolongation were excluded. After interview and examination, standard and continuous ECG was taken in supine position with deep breathing and standing up position. CAN diagnosis was based on Ewing's tests. QT, QT corrected (QTc), minimum QT (QT min), maximum QT (QT max) and mean ± SD of QT (QT mean) and QTd were assessed from standard ECG. QTc was calculated by Bazett's formula from V2 lead. QTc > 440 ms in men and QTc > 460 ms in women and QTd > 80 ms were considered abnormal. RESULTS: In patients with CAN, 21.5% were symptomatic. The prevalence of abnormal QTc and QTd was 11.3% and 28.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the patients with or without CAN in terms of long QTc and abnormal QTd. However, the mean ± SD of QT max, QT mean and QTd was higher in the patients with CAN (P value < 0.03). The used cut points for QTc and QTd have high specificity (79% for both) and low sensitivity (30% and 37%, respectively). To use QTc and QTd as screening test for CAN in T2DM patients, the cutoff points 380 and 550 ms are suggested, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asymptomatic CAN was 3.7 times that of symptomatic CAN. In patients with CAN the QT max, QT mean and QTd were higher than those without CAN. There was no association between CAN and long QTc and abnormal QTd.

Structural Characteristics of the Iranians Nose: An Anatomical Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures performed among Iranians. An important issue to be considered by nasal surgeons is anatomical variations between different ethnic groups. Working on Iranians with the existing ethnic variety encourages the need for an analysis of this particular population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional observational study was conducted on Iranian patients who underwent primary open rhinoplasty at a university hospital in Tehran, Iran. The preoperative evaluations included routine aesthetic analysis as well as the measurement of the subcutaneous fat thickness (using ultrasound imaging) and the angle between the anterior nasal spine and the alveolar process of the maxilla. Intraoperative assessments were performed on the alar rim-inferior border of lateral crus distance, maximal width of lateral crus, connection pattern of upper lateral cartilage, and lower lateral cartilage. Alar cartilage thickness was measured with microscopic evaluation. Moreover, the similar studies conducted on other ethnic groups were reviewed as well. RESULTS: In total, 66 cases were included in the study (41 females and 25 males) who were within the age range of 18-38 years old (27.82±5.51). According to the results, nasolabial angles were 93.68°±7.82° and 92.25°±6.98° in females and males, respectively. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the anterior nasal spine-maxilla angle and nasolabial angle (P<0.05). Moreover, the findings revealed a significant but weak negative correlation between alar subcutaneous fat thickness and alar cartilage thickness (0.0002). Maximal width of lateral crus was found to be 11.44mm±2.02 and 10.41 mm±1.72 in males and females, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the differences observed between various ethnic groups, drawing a definiteconclusion about these variations needs comparative studies with similar samples (cadaver vs. patients) and measurement techniques.

Identification of Sonographic Features for Predicting Benign Versus Malignant Mediastinal or Hilar Lymph Nodes Using Endobronchial Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: In countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, such as Iran, the differentiation of malignant from non-malignant tumors is crucial. We attempted to find a reliable model in determining malignant nodes by investigating the sonographic characteristics of lymph nodes (LNs). METHODS: In this prospective study, the morphologic characteristics of LNs, including size, shape, vascular pattern, echogenicity, margin, coagulation necrosis sign, calcification, and central hilar structure, which had been obtained during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, were compared with the final pathology results. RESULTS: We examined 253 LNs from 93 patients. Round shape, non-hilar vascular pattern, heterogeneous echogenicity, hyperechogenicity, distinct margin, and the existence of necrosis signs were significantly higher in malignant nodes. On the other hand, the existence of calcification, as well as the presence of central hilar structure, were highly suggestive of benign nodes (p < 0.050). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that size > 1 cm, heterogeneous echogenicity, hyperechogenicity, the existence of necrosis signs, and the lack of central hilar structure are independent predictive factors for malignancy. The accuracy of each of the aforementioned characteristics are 42.3%, 71.5%, 71.9%, 73.5%, and 65.6%, respectively. Of 74 malignant LNs, 100% had at least one of these independent factors. CONCLUSIONS: The morphological features of LNs based on endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration can play a role in predicting malignancy.

The utility of elastography during EBUS-TBNA in a population with a high prevalence of anthracosis.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound elastography, is a pioneer sonographic modality that is conducted during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in order to increase the accuracy of sampling location. The current study aims to evaluate the usefulness of elastography during EBUS-TBNA in a population with a high prevalence of anthracosis. METHODS: This prospective single-blinded study was performed on 69 lymph nodes (LNs) of patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy undergoing EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-elastography from October 2017 to July 2018. The stiffness level of the tissue was translated into a color to demonstrate the hardness of tissue. Blue and total areas of each section were measured to calculate the hardness of each LN. RESULTS: Sixty-nine LNs were evaluated by elastography. Twenty percent of LNs were malignant. There was a statistical difference between malignant and non-malignant nodes based on color dominancy (P = 0.032). However, with the exclusion of anthracosis nodes from the analysis, the difference was more significant (P < 0.001). Moreover, when the blue dominancy was used as the predictor of malignancy or anthracosis, the results showed a significant correlation (P < 001). CONCLUSION: The usefulness of elastography in selecting the hardest area of tissue that is appropriate for diagnosing diseases has been proven previously. Since in countries with a high prevalence of anthracosis, blue color achieved using elastography predicts either malignancy or anthracosis so, cases with blue dominancy of LNs in elastography and the white color in the EBUS-TBNA indicate anthracosis-caused calcification should be reconsidered.

Clinical Significance of Quantitative FDG PET/CT Parameters in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: An initial evaluation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan can modify treatment planning. We investigated the clinical significance of FDG PET/CT quantitative parameters (QPs) in NSCLC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 125 NSCLC patients for initial staging FDG PET/CT scan. The primary tumor (T), regional lymph node metastases (N), and distant metastases (M) were evaluated on FDG PET/CT images. QPs, including standard uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated separately for each T, N, and M lesion and also for the whole body. Statistical analysis through SPSS version 22 was used to evaluate the clinical significance of PET/CT QPs concerning primary tumor pathology characteristics, initial tumor stage, and patient's prognosis. RESULTS: We followed the patients for 19.28 (±11.42) months. Considering primary tumor pathology, there was a significant difference in FDG PET/CT QPs, including primary tumor SUVmax (p=0.00), metastases SUVmax (p=0.014), whole-body MTV (p=0.045), and whole-body TLG (p=0.002). There was also a significant difference in QPs, including primary tumor SUVmax (p=0.00) and regional lymph node metastases SUVmax (p=0.048) when accounting for tumor initial stage. There was a significant prognostic value for the whole-body TLG (p=0.01) and a cut-off point of 568 was reached to differentiate better versus worse survival outcome. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a statistically significant difference in FDG PET/CT QPs when accounting for primary NSCLC pathology characteristics and initial stage, as well as patient's prognosis, and recommend incorporating QP values into clinical PET/CT reports.

Evaluation of Quality of Life in Terms of Sinonasal Symptoms in Children with Cystic Fibrosis.

Objective Sinusitis is a common complaint in children with cystic fibrosis. However, the actual prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis and its effect on the quality of life of children have not been well considered. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of sinonasal quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis. Materials and methods This study was a diagnostic study performed on 80 children with cystic fibrosis ranging from 2 to 20 years old, who were referred to the cystic fibrosis clinic of Masih Daneshvari Hospital from 2017-2018. The questionnaires used in this study were chronic rhinosinusitis screening questionnaire based on the European task force and the evaluation of the sinonasal quality of life was based on the SN-5 survey. Results Of the 80 patients with fibrosis from 2 to 20 years old who were recruited in the study, 41 patients were female (51.3%) and 39 were male (48.8%). In 61 cases (76.3%), there was no chronic rhinosinusitis and 19 cases (23.8%) had chronic rhinosinusitis. The mean SN-5 score in 19 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis was 3.4105 and the mean score of patients without rhinosinusitis was 1.8426, with a P-value of 0.000. The mean SN-5 score was significant between the two groups. In patients with nasal congestion, there was a significant difference in quality of life factors such as sinus infection, nasal obstruction, and allergy symptoms (P<0.001). In patients with facial pain, there was a significant difference in quality of life factors such as sinus infection, nasal obstruction, allergic symptoms, and physical activity limitation (P <0.001). There was also a significant difference in the quality of life factors such as sinus infection, nasal obstruction, and allergy symptoms in patients with postnasal drip (P <0.001). Conclusion In children with cystic fibrosis, the quality of life of sinonasal has a significant relationship with absence of chronic rhinosinusitis. This study showed that children with chronic renosinusitis have significantly lower quality of sinonasal life than children with chronic rhinosinusitis. The results demonstrated that quality of life scores in sinus infections, nasal obstruction, and allergy symptoms were significantly higher in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis than in those without chronic rhinosinusitis. The findings of this study are important for improving children's health related quality of life, as it leads to promoting communication between the patient and the health care provider, identifying overlooked problems, monitoring the progress of the disease and the burden of treatment, and promoting interventions in the daily life of patients.

Renal Disorders in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The frequency of kidney disorders varies in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients. Since the prevalence of kidney disorders among Iranian sarcoidosis patients is uncertain, this study aimed to evaluate kidney disorders and associated manifestations in Iranian pulmonary sarcoidosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with confirmed granuloma as pulmonary sarcoidosis were studied for renal disorders. Size of urinary tract and the presence of renal stones were checked via clinical examination and urinary organ ultrasonography. Patients' 24-hour urine sample was examined for pH, calcium, protein (over 250 mg) and creatinine (over 1.4 mg). RESULTS: Thirty-three percent of the patients expressed renal disorders simultaneously.Uric acid in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients could be correlated with the probability of developing renal stone. In addition, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL and uric acid levels above 7 mg/dL in urine were directly correlated with renal disorders in sarcoidosis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Urinalysis is an easy and reliable method for assessing renal disorders in sarcoidosis patients. The current study proposes inclusion of urinalysis in routine checkups of sarcoidosis individuals.

Serum Interleukin-27 Level in Different Clinical Stages of Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Advanced lung cancer is indicated with rapid disease development. Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is regarded as a cytokine with anti-tumour activities. AIM: Since, the impact of type of lung cancer on the level of IL-27 in patient's serum has not yet been investigated; current study evaluated the clinical stages according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) criteria, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage and the lung cancer spread (localized or widespread) and it's correlation with serum IL-27.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with confirmed histopathological lung cancer and 30 cancer-free healthy individuals as the control group were included in the current study. Patients group were assigned to either small cell lung cancer group (SCLC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) according to the clinical features and the results of lung biopsy specimens. Level of IL-27 was quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test in serum samples. RESULTS: A significant increase in serum IL-27 level was noticed in individuals with lung cancer in comparison with the control group. The level of serum IL-27 in the NSCL squamous carcinoma (NSCLC-Sc) type was significantly greater than in the NSCLC adenocarcinoma (NSCLC-Ad) type, and in both groups, this variable was more than the control group. The serum IL-27 content level was greater in stage III versus stage IV. CONCLUSION: The current research confirmed the existence of the anti-tumour components in patients with NSCLC. IL-27 can be utilised in diagnosis and screening in early stages of lung cancer along with the management of patients. Different levels of IL-27 in different types of lung cancers in the current study can lead to design more comprehensive studies in the future.

Synbiotics and Treatment of Asthma: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: We examined the efficiency and safety of a specific synbiotic compound, brand name Kidilact®, in the treatment of asthma in children 12 years of age or younger. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from May 22, 2016, to May 21, 2017. One hundred children, 12 years of age or younger, who suffered from mild to moderate asthma were recruited in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups; the experimental group received a sachet of Kidilact®, and the control group received a sachet of placebo once a day for six months. Both groups were compared in terms of the frequency of asthma attacks that were severe enough to require administration of fast-acting medications, the number of outpatient visits for asthma-related problems, and the frequency of hospitalization due to exacerbated symptoms of asthma. RESULTS: There were fewer complaints of drug-induced side effects, e.g., vomiting, headache, stomachache, and diarrhea, exacerbated cough, and constipation in the experimental group than in the control group. Overall, a significantly greater number of participants in the experimental group were satisfied with the therapeutic intervention than those in the control group, as verified by the participants and their parents/guardians self-report. There was no significant difference between both groups in the frequency of asthma attacks and hospitalization due to exacerbated symptoms of asthma. The only significant difference between both groups was the count of outpatient visits. While the control group made 55 outpatient visits to the hospital, participants in the experimental group visited the hospital only 19 times (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Results of our study indicates that synbiotic compound Kidilact® generally alleviates the symptoms of asthma in children of 12 years of age or younger, resulting in less frequent outpatient visits to the hospital due to asthma-related problems while rarely causing any side effects. Due to ease of use, the rarity of side effects, and their indirect positive effects on quality of life of asthmatic patients, we recommend that synbiotics be incorporated in regular treatment and management of children with asthma.

Spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the six-minute walk test results in sarcoidosis patients.

Background: The 6-minute walking test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and spirometry are useful tools for evaluation of respiratory impairment and functional capacity in patients with lung disease. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Objectives: Since the pulmonary involvement can affect the quality of life in sarcoidosis patients, this study is aimed to evaluate the tests mentioned above in order to examine the functional capacity of sarcoidosis patients in different stages as well as the cause of exercise intolerance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 Iranian patients with sarcoidosis. Patients were classified into three groups based on the findings of the chest radiography as well as the pulmonary CT scan, reported by an expert radiologist. Pulmonary, cardiac, and activity function have been evaluated in the patients, using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, the 6-minutes walking test, and spirometry. Results: In cardiopulmonary exercise testing, percent-predicted peak VO2 (57.75±15.49, p=0.015) and percent-predicted O2 pulse (70.54±17.37, p=0.013) were significantly lower in the third group, in comparison with the others. Also, VE/CO2 (AT) (34.99±5.67, p=0.000) was significantly higher in the third group, in comparison with the other ones. Percent-predicted VO2 showed a strong positive correlation with age (r=0.377, p=0.009), TSH (r= 0.404, p=0.007), and percent-predicted FVC (r=0.443, p=0.002). In addition, O2 pulse had a positive correlation with BMI (r=0.324, p=0.026), percent-predicted FVC (r=0.557, p= 0.000), and percent-predicted FEV1 (r=0.316, p=0.032). Conclusions: According to this study, ventilatory limitation, pulmonary involvement, and deconditioning are the main causes of activity limitations in sarcoidosis patients.