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BACKGROUND: Different approaches to treat myasthenia gravis showed variable outcomes probably because of remained ectopic thymic tissue. The aim of this study is to determine incidence of thymic tissue in cases without any thymic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients scheduled for open heart surgery during 2000 and 2007 without thymic disease that were enrolled in the study at Chamran Hospital. Intraoperative biopsies were taken form aortopulmonary window, aortocaval groove and left and right pericardiophrenic regions. Finally, the distribution of ectopic thymic tissue was evaluated in above regions. RESULTS: Thymic tissue was found overall in 70.85% of patients. The most common sites for thymic tissue were left pericardiophrenic (50%) and right pericardiophrenic (31.9%) regions. Frequencies of ectopic thymus in aortopulmonary window and aortocaval groove were 19.4% and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Because of high incidence of ectopic thymic tissue in mediastinum in patients without thymic disease, we recommend wide excision of thymus gland and all of adipose tissue in patients with myasthenia gravis.
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INTRODUCTION: The Isfahan Healthy Heart Programme (IHHP) is a community-based programme for non-communicable diseases prevention and control using both a population and high risk approach in Iran. This study demonstrated the efficacy of IHHP interventional strategies to improve lifestyle behaviours in a population at risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthy Lifestyle for NCDs High Risk Population is one of ten projects of IHHP. High risk individuals were defined as those who have at least one risk factor for developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Changes of behavioural indicators have been compared between two areas with a survey after 5 years of intervention. RESULTS: Among high risk individuals in the intervention and reference areas, 77.8% and 82.5% had at least one major risk factor for CAD. The prevalence of major risk factors for CAD (except cigarette smoking) was decreased in both intervention and reference areas during 5 years of intervention and the pattern of diet and physical activity was improved. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional activities in IHHP targeting the high risk population seem to be effective in improving lifestyle behaviour, increasing awareness and control of risk factors of the high risk population.
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The objectives of the current study, that is the first of its kind, were to determine the prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype in a nationally representative sample of children, as well as the metabolic risk factors identified by HW, and to identify lifestyle habits related to this phenotype. This national survey was conducted on 4811 representative school-students. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the HW phenotype for abnormal anthropometric and biochemical factors by using receiver operator characteristic curves. We determined the association of dietary patterns (obtained by factor analysis), physical activity level and some environmental factors with the HW phenotype. Overall, 8.52% of participants had the HW phenotype. Those children with the HW phenotype were more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors, notably for overweight and hypercholesterolemia. The dietary pattern characterized by junk foods increased the odds of having the HW phenotype, OR = 1.426 (95%CI, 1.109, 1.892), whereas the other dietary pattern including healthy foods decreased this odds, OR = 0.874 (95%CI, 0.765, 0.998). The risk of the HW phenotype rose with the consumption of solid hydrogenated fat as well as white-flour bread. Low education of parents and a positive family history of diabetes mellitus, obesity and or premature cardiovascular disease were the other risk factors for the HW phenotype. Low levels of physical activity significantly increased the risk of having the HW phenotype. The HW phenotype can be used as an accurate and easy tool for screening children at metabolic risk in population-based studies.