The effects of Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae family) and Dolichos biflorus (Fabaceae family) extracts on decreasing size and excretion of kidney and urinary tract stones: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Given high and growing prevalence rate of urolithiasis in most societies as well as the problems caused by this issue, it is necessary to apply more cost-effective and safer therapeutic methods, which are accessible for all the individuals worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate efficacy of herbal medicines named Cynodon dactylon and Dolichos biflorus on solving and excretion of renal and urinary tract stones in patients with urolithiasis. METHODS: This study included 96 patients with urolithiasis who were randomly allocated into three groups. The first group received the extract of D. biflorus seeds (1,600 mg), the second group received extract of C. dactylon rhizome (1,600 mg) and the third group received placebo for 21 days. In this study, we used an hydroalcoholic extract of D. biflorus and C. dactylon prepared by Soxhlet method. For each patient, the size of the stones, the amount of calcium in the urine, the number of stones excreted and their chemical substance type were measured. RESULTS: In this study, changes were observed at the significance level in the interventions groups of 1 and 2, and the placebo group in the left kidney, so that changes in size of the stone in left kidney as intergroup were significantly different in these three groups (p=0.02). The mean of changes in stone size in left kidney in the group C. dactylon was 3.78 ± 7.1 and in the group D. biflorus, it was 0.27 ± 0.6. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference in the results of this study show that C. dactylon rhizome and D. biflorus seed extracts are able to decrease the size of the stone and can be effective on kidney stones excretion.

Diagnostic Value of Hepatic Vein Ultrasound in Early Detection of Liver Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis is a common disease that destroys liver cells, and it has various etiologies. The early diagnosis of cirrhosis can be effective in improving prognosis. Considering the availability and affordability of ultrasound devices throughout the world, in this study we evaluated the diagnostic value of hepatic vein ultrasound examination in the early detection of liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 45 patients referred to the radiology department of Ghaem Hospital for liver biopsy were evaluated for changes in the hepatic veins under ultrasound with a transducer of 5-7MHz. One piece of the hepatic vein was selected for ultrasound, and the wall of hepatic veins was examined for straightness and uniformity of echogenicity. Subsequently, patients underwent biopsy by ultrasound guide. Of all the study subjects, eight patients presented mild chronic hepatitis without fibrosis, four patients were diagnosed with fatty liver, and 33 patients had severe cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis with fibrosis. RESULTS: Our results showed that hepatitis patients with or without fibrosis had irregular and wavy hepatic vein wall (impairment in straightness) with non-uniform echo (impairment in uniformity of echogenicity). While patients without hepatitis and cirrhosis, but diagnosed with fatty liver, had a smooth and regular hepatic vein wall with a uniform echo. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that hepatic vein examination in terms of echogenicity and straightness could be used to diagnose hepatitis, its severity as well as its course towards fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Resolution of Bile Duct Adenoma over Follow-up Period; A Case Report.

Bile duct adenoma (BDA) is a rare neoplasm of bile ducts with various clinical manifestations and imaging appearances. A few cases of BDA and their predisposing factors have been described. We report a 35-year-old woman with right upper quadrant pain who consumed oral contraceptive pills. Ultrasound study revealed three hypoechoic subcapsular liver masses; two of them were hypodense in computed tomography. Fine needle biopsy of the largest mass showed bile duct adenoma. Liver masses disappeared after discontinuing the pills over a 2-year follow-up. BDAs can manifest in imaging. Although previous studies have not reported tumor resolution over a follow-up period, we suggest paying more attention to predisposing factors in order to give an opportunity for tumor resolution by risk factor elimination.

Marchiafava-Bignami and Alcohol Related Acute Polyneuropathy: The Cooccurrence of Two Rare Entities.

Objectives. The aim of this article is to represent the first reported case with cooccurrence of two rare alcohol related complications. Case Report. We report a 38-year-old man with chronic alcoholism who presented with both cranial and peripheral nerve palsy. On MRI examination characteristic findings of Marchiafava-Bignami disease were recognized. Discussion. Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare complication of long-term, heavy alcohol abuse that has characteristic MRI findings. Acute alcohol related polyneuropathy (AARP) is another rare and not-well-understood complication of chronic alcohol abuse. We could not find any previous report of the cooccurrence of these two complications in the literature.

Diffuse skeletal metastasis and low thyroglobulin level in a pediatric patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is frequently measured in follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. A low stimulated Tg level (<1 ng/ml) associated with normal neck ultrasonography is considered as the most reliable criteria for complete remission in low risk patients. We are reporting a case of pediatric thyroid cancer with diffuse skeletal metastasis associated with low serum Tg level bringing a point of caution in evaluation of patients with low Tg.

The efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging and color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis of salivary gland tumors.

Background and aims. Although salivary gland tumors are not very common, early diagnosis and treatment is crucial because of their proximity to vital organs, and therefore, determining the efficacy of new imaging procedures becomes important. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and color doppler ultrasonography parameters in the diagnosis and differentiation of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors. Materials and methods. In this cross-sectional study, color doppler ultrasonography and MRI were performed for 22 patients with salivary gland tumor. Demographic data as well as MRI, color doppler ultrasonography, and surgical parameters including tumor site, signal in MRI images, ultrasound echo, tumor border, lymphadenopathy, invasion, perfusion, vascular resistance index (RI), vascular pulse index (PI) were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and independent t-test. Results. The mean age of patients was 46.59±13.97 years (8 males and 14females). Patients with malignant tumors were older (P < 0.01). The most common tumors were pleomorphic adenoma (36.4%), metastasis (36.4%), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (9%). Nine tumors (40.9%) were benign and 13 (59.1%) were malignant. The overall accuracy of MRI and color doppler ultrasonography in determining tumor site was 100% and 95%, respectively. No significant difference observed between RI and PI and the diagnosis of tumor. Conclusion. Both MRI and ultrasonography have high accuracy in the localization of tumors. Well-identified border was a sign of benign tumors. Also, invasion to adjacent structures was a predictive factor for malignancy.

The effects of calcitriol on improvement of insulin resistance, ovulation and comparison with metformin therapy in PCOS patients: a randomized placebo- controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in females of reproductive age. Insulin resistance is a frequent metabolic disturbance in PCOS. Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem. Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D has a role on insulin sensitivity so may contribute to reduction of hyperandrogenemia. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the effects of vitamin D treatment in metabolic components and ovulation evidence in PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty one untreated PCOS patients were randomly divided into three groups and treated with calcitriol, metformin, or placebo. Before and 3 months after treatment, ovulation evidence was assessed by ovarian trans abdominal sonography. Plasma fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone and androgen levels were measured before and after treatment. A 75gr glucose test was performed before and after treatment and two set of results was compared. RESULTS: Three patients did not continue this study. Only 11 patient (22.9%) had sufficient vitamin D levels (>30 ng/ml). Metformin caused a significant decrease in weight (p=0.027), insulin level (p=0.043), and insulin resistance (p=0.048). Systolic blood pressure and PTH significantly improved after calcitriol (p=0.029, p=0.009 respectively). An improvement in ovulation was detected after calcitriol and seven patients, without evidence of ovulation before treatment, illustrated ovulation after 3 months. Difference with calcitriol in ovulation was significant versus other two methods (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Calcitriol treatment in PCOS may be prior to metformin in ovulation induction.

Evaluation of the sonographic features of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with head and neck malignancy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sonographic findings of metastatic cervical lymph nodes and of differentiating them from benign ones in patients with head and neck malignancy. METHODS: In this study, the cervical lymph nodes of 14 patients (12 female and 2 male patients; mean age, 52.8 years (with head and neck region malignancy were evaluated ultrasonographically. The gray-scale sonographic parameters, which included short- and long-axis lengths, shape index, presence or absence of hilar echoes and cystic necrosis, parenchymal echogenicity and echo texture, margin, and the color Doppler parameter including vascular pattern were evaluated. Finally, sonographic findings were compared with pathologic results. The following statistical analyses were included: χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, and independent-samples t-test. RESULTS: Overall, 88 cervical lymph nodes were evaluated ultrasonographically. According to the histopathologic results, 77% of them were benign, and 23% were malignant. The study's results showed that the metastatic lymph nodes are accompanied with significantly larger size, rounded shape, absence of hilus, and presence of cystic necrosis and mixed and peripheral vascular pattern. The parameters related to minimal and maximal axis diameter had the highest sensitivity (85%), whereas 2 parameters of vascularity pattern and cystic necrosis had 100% specificity in detecting metastatic cervical lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study revealed that there was a considerable difference in the diagnostic value of the sonographic parameters, in differentiating metastatic lymph nodes from benign ones, between 4 specific neck regions.