Mitral valve surgery in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Valvular heart disease is the common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a tendency for mitral valve regurgitation. In this study we report a case of mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis caused by Libman-Sacks endocarditis in the setting of SLE. In addition, we provide a systematic review of the literature on mitral valve surgery in the presence of Libman-Sacks endocarditis because its challenge on surgical options continues. Surgical decision depends on structural involvement of mitral valve and presence of active lupus nephritis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Review of the literature has also shown that outcome is good in most SLE patients who have undergone valvular surgery, but association of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome with SLE has negative impact on the outcome.

Postoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level in coronary artery bypass surgery with ventricular dysfunction after perioperative glucose-insulin-potassium treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of perioperative glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) infusion on preoperative and postoperative N-terminal (NT)-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in patients with a low ejection fraction undergoing isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. PATIENTS: Sixty-six patients with a low ejection fraction who required coronary artery surgery were selected. INTERVENTION: Patients were allocated to a GIK (n = 36) or a control (n = 30) group. The GIK group received GIK solution (500 mL of dextrose in water (DW) 10% + 40 U of regular insulin + 40 mEq of KCl, and 2 g of MgSO(4)) at a rate of 1 mL/kg/h for 10 hours preoperatively and until the removal of the aortic cross-clamp. The control group received half saline solution as placebo with an equivalent infusion rate during the same interval. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum NT-proBNP levels were measured before starting the GIK, at the time of anesthesia induction, and 24 hours after surgery. The primary outcome measures were preoperative and postoperative NT-proBNP level. The amount of elevation in postoperative NT-proBNP concentrations was less prominent in the GIK group than in the control group (2,601 ± 1,799 pg/mL v 4,732 ± 4,127 pg/mL; p = 0.02). The patients in the GIK group were extubated sooner (495 ± 92 minutes) than the control group (774 ± 224 minutes; p = 0.002). The overall extubation time was 606 ± 177 minutes. Delayed requirement for mechanical ventilation was significantly more in the controls compared with the GIK group (45.8% v 13.9%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: GIK is of value in the reduction of post-cardiac surgery NT-proBNP elevation. Thus, its infusion should have a protective effect in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing CABG surgery. Further studies may prove GIK infusion benefits in high-risk CABG surgery patients optimize outcome.

Irritable bowel syndrome in adults over 35 years in Shiraz, southern Iran: prevalence and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in the general population. The aim of this population-based study was to determine the prevalence of IBS and describe the associated factors including demographic, life style and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz city, southern Iran. METHODS: From April to September 2004, 1978 subjects aged > 35 years old completed a validated and reliable questionnaire on IBS. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of IBS was 10.9%, higher in females, in 35-44 years old age group and among subjects eating fast food (14.1%) but was lower in those taking more fruits and vegetables (10.5%). The occurrence of anxiety, nightmare and restlessness was also significantly higher in subjects with IBS. It had an association with psychological distress and recurrent headaches but not with drinking tea/coffee, smoking or physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: In our area, IBS was correlated with gender, age, psychological distress, recurrent headaches and consumption of fast foods that necessitate health planning programs by health policy makers.

Hepatitis B virus genotypes in southwest Iran: molecular, serological and clinical outcomes.

AIM: To investigate the associations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype with HBeAg and anti-HBe status, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and HBV-DNA detection in different groups of HBV-infected patients in southwest Iran. METHODS: A total of 89 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected from the same number of patients. All sera were then investigated to determine HBV DNA and serological markers. For all the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive samples, biochemical, histopathological assays and genotyping were also performed. RESULTS: Genotype D was the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of acute and chronic infections. There was a high prevalence of HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis (52.7%). Out of 55 patients with chronic hepatitis, seven (12.7%) were diagnosed with cirrhosis. A significant association between the presence of anti-HBe antibody and an increase in ALT level, among either HBeAg-negative (P = 0.01) or HBeAg-positive (P = 0.026) patients, was demonstrated. No significant differences were observed between the clinical outcomes of HBeAg-positive and -negative individuals (P = 0.24). CONCLUSION: Genotype D has been recognized as the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of HBV infections, including cirrhosis, among the residents of southwest Iran. Anti-HBe possibly plays a role in disease progression in some patients with chronic hepatitis, at least for a period of disease.