Relationship between serum levels of oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome components

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) with number of metabolic syndrome (Mets) components on the personnel working in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences.

Temporal assessment of splenic function in patients who have undergone percutaneous image-guided splenic artery embolization in the setting of trauma

PurposeThe role of transcatheter splenic arterial embolization (SAE) in the nonoperative management of splenic injury is evolving. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients who have undergone SAE for laboratory markers of hyposplenism in the years after their procedure.Materials and MethodsThirty-four subjects who had undergone SAE as part of nonoperative management of splenic trauma during a period of 10 years were included. A blood sample was collected from each patient for complete blood count and smear analysis for peripheral markers of hyposplenism (as indicated by Howell–Jolly bodies [HJBs]). Sample size and power analysis was performed, and likelihoods for various true prevalences were calculated.ResultsThe average time interval from procedure to follow-up was 4.4 years. No participants had peripheral markers of hyposplenism or abnormalities in cell count on follow-up.ConclusionsPhagocytic function of the spleen in patients who have undergone SAE is preserved, as evidenced by the absence of HJBs on follow-up peripheral blood smears.     

Effect of the time to intervention on the outcome of thrombosed dialysis access grafts managed percutaneously

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the effect of the time interval from the clinical presentation of a thrombosed dialysis access graft to intervention on procedure success.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records from two academic institutions for patients who underwent percutaneous thrombectomy of occluded surgical hemodialysis graft access sites in interventional radiology from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. The following data were recorded: gender, age, time and date of the initial request for a thrombectomy and the procedure, age of the surgical access, angiographic outcome, and clinical outcome (successful or unsuccessful postinterventional dialysis). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate whether the time to intervention significantly affected the study endpoint.

RESULTS

In total, 268 percutaneous thrombectomies were performed in 139 patients. Of these 224 (83.5%) were categorized as successful and 44 (16.4%) as unsuccessful. The time to intervention was 19.9±30.1 vs. 22±35 hours for successful and unsuccessful procedures, respectively. The difference between the two was not significant, and there were also no significant differences in covariate distributions between successful and unsuccessful outcomes.

CONCLUSION

During the first 72 hours following clinical presentation of a thrombosed dialysis access graft, time to intervention may be considered independent of procedure outcome.Patent vascular access is critical for patients with kidney failure who rely on regularly scheduled hemodialysis. Detailed evidence-supported guidelines have been developed regarding vascular access placement (1–4), and much has been written about the surveillance, maintenance, biology, cost, and interventional techniques for these accesses (5–15). Similarly, predictors of success following radiological intervention of these access sites have been evaluated, including pressure, the degree of stenosis, and procedure type (16, 17). Patient age, access site, underlying comorbidities, the serum albumin level, and systemic systolic pressure over time have been evaluated as potential predictors of graft patency following intervention (16, 18). Nevertheless, the optimal timing of intervention for thrombosed dialysis access remains unknown. This study investigated the relationship between the time elapsed from clinical thrombosis presentation and intervention on the procedural success as defined by anatomic (angiographic) and clinical (subsequent dialysis) outcome variables (19).     

Percutaneous CT-guided Cryoablation of the Dorsal Penile Nerve for Treatment of Symptomatic Premature Ejaculation

PurposeTo evaluate expansion of image-guided interventional cryoablation techniques usually employed for pain management to address the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of treatment for a urologic condition with otherwise limited treatment options, premature ejaculation (PE).Materials and MethodsProspective institutional review board approval was obtained, and 24 subjects with PE were enrolled. All patients underwent unilateral percutaneous computed tomography–guided cryoablation of the dorsal penile nerve (DPN). Postprocedural intravaginal ejaculatory latency times (IELTs) and PE Profile (PEP) results served as outcome variables. In addition, subjects were asked whether they would have the procedure done again based on their experience at the 180- and 360-day marks.ResultsThe technical success rate was 100%. Baseline average IELT was 54.7 seconds±7.8 (n = 24), which increased to a maximum of 256 seconds±104 (n = 11; P = .241) by day 7 and decreased to 182.5 seconds±87.8 (n = 6; P = .0342) by day 90. The mean IELT remained at 182.5 seconds±27.6 at day 180 (n = 23; P<.0001) and decreased to 140.9 seconds±83.6 by 1 year (n = 22; P<.001). PEP scores improved overall, IELTs significantly improved at 180 and 360 days, and 83% of subjects reported that they would undergo the procedure again if given the same opportunity. There were no procedure-related complications.ConclusionsCT-guided percutaneous unilateral cryoablation of the DPN is a feasible, safe, single-day outpatient procedure for the treatment of symptomatic PE.     

The effect of acupressure on quality of sleep in Iranian elderly nursing home residents

IntroductionSleep disturbances are very common in elderly people and Traditional Chinese acupressure a noninvasive technique that promotes health and comfort recently has been used in this regard. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of acupressure on a group of institutionalized elders experiencing sleep disturbances.MethodA randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to test the effectiveness of acupressure on quality of sleep of elderly residing in a Nursing home. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI) questionnaire was used as a screening tool to select 90 residents with moderate to marked sleep disturbances. The elders were randomly assigned to an acupressure group, a sham acupressure group and a control group by Balanced randomization method.ResultsThere were significant differences between the acupressure group and the control group in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance. But no significant differences were found in sleep indices between the sham acupressure group and the control group. Sleep log data showed a significant decrease in nocturnal awakenings in acupressure group compared to other two groups.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicated that acupressure has an effect on improvement of sleep quality and endorsed it as a non-pharmacological and complementary therapy for sleep-disturbed elderly people.     

Development and validation of psychosocial determinants measures of physical activity among Iranian adolescent girls

Background  

The present study aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of psychosocial determinants of physical activity-related measures in Iranian adolescent girls.