A 10-year-old Child with Severe Subglottic Stenosis Following Intubation: A Case Report

Background: Subglottic stenosis is among the most common airway problems in children, i.e., acquired or congenital. More than 90% of acquired cases are secondary to endotracheal intubation and occur iatrogenically. Subglottic stenosis is an unexpected problem that requires timely diagnosis and intervention. Most cases of subglottic stenosis in children are mild to moderate. Case Presentation: The presented patient was a 10-year-old child who, after long intubation due to head trauma following early discharge from the surgical center, was referred to the Children’s Hospital on the same day with a complaint of high fever and shortness of breath. With the development of respiratory distress and cyanosis, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. Due to the impossibility of passing the tracheal tube with the appropriate age for the patient, the initial diagnosis of subglottic stenosis was established and a tracheostomy was performed. Diagnostic bronchoscopy confirmed severe subglottic stenosis, and the child was referred to a specialized Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) center for the repair of the tracheal stenosis. Conclusion: One of the most common causes of stridor in children is subglottic stenosis following prolonged intubation. Recognizing the predisposing factors, prevention, strong clinical suspicion, timely diagnosis, and treatment can prevent further adverse complications or consequences in children.

Assessment of Propolis Supplementation on Serum Concentrations of Liver Enzymes in Endurance Athletes with Four Weeks Aerobic Training

Background: Aerobic and intense exercises with an increase in free radicals cause damages at the cellular level, heart disease, cancer, and the development of aging processes, which one of its symptoms is increased serum concentrations of liver enzymes. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concurrent effect of four weeks of aerobic training and propolis supplementation on the activity of liver enzymes, including ALT, AST, and SOD in endurance athletes. Methods: Thirty-two male athletes (age: 21±1.4 years) in track and field were randomly divided into three groups: exercise group, exercise with placebo group, and exercise with supplement group. Propolis supplementation was taken as two tablets (500 mg) twice a day and aerobic exercise was performed for 4 weeks and in 24 sessions with an intensity of 60 to 65% of heart rate. The statistical method was done using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test by SPSS v. 18 software. Findings: The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between groups in serum levels of SOD, AST, and ALT (P<0.05). There was not a statistically significant difference between the exercise group and placebo+exercise group in serum levels of SOD, AST, and ALT (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that aerobic exercise alone can increase SOD levels and propolis supplementation with aerobic exercise can reduce AST and ALT serum levels and lead to improved liver cell function.

Barriers to Receiving Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases are the second common cause of mortality worldwide. The onset of reperfusion in the first 3-4.5 hours is a predictive factor of treatment. Objective: The present study investigated barriers to receiving tissue plasminogen activator in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 191 patients with first-ever stroke referring to the emergency department of the Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital of Bushehr City, Iran, in 2016. One checklist was completed which included demographic data, history of diseases, knowledge of stroke symptoms, and intervals regarding the onset of symptoms to informing emergency, informing emergency on arrival at the emergency department of the hospital, and making the diagnosis for the patients. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS v. 19. Results: Mean±SD age of the patients was 65.92±12.48 years. The majority of patients under investigation (55.5%) were female, 63.4% were married, 56% were illiterate and 72.3% resided in other districts of Bushehr province. Mean duration between onset of symptoms and arrival at emergency department, onset of symptoms and call the emergency service, time of arrival at emergency department to perform brain Computer Tomography (CT) scan and also to be counseled by a neurologist were 699.66, 195.51, 45.11 and 423.62 minutes, respectively. Finally 14.6 percent of patients were qualified to be treated with tPA. Conclusion: The main barrier to timely therapy is a delay in golden time. Therefore, public education to promote public awareness could be of great benefit in reducing the referral delay time.

The Effects of Prenatal Norharman Exposure on Seizure Severity in Rats

Background: Norhraman is an alkaloid that can damage the nervous system. Objective: This experimental study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal norharman exposure on seizure severity in adult rats. Methods: A total of 36 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as follows: Control, sham (solvent), and norharman (1000 ug/kg). The sham and norharman groups were treated once daily for 8-18 of the fetal period. 2 months after birth, kindling was performed by the daily injection of Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (30 mg/kg); then, the seizure behavior was recorded for approximately 30 minutes. The obtained data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s posthoc test. Results: The present study data indicated that administrating norharman in the fetal period increased seizure responses to PTZ, i.e., significant in the examined female rats (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the current research findings, the severity of seizures increases in subjects who have been exposed to norharman during the prenatal period.

The Effectiveness of Pilates Training and Vitamin D Intake on the hs-CRP and TSH in Overweight Men

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is known as a risk factor for various diseases and plays an important role in regulating systemic inflammation and thyroid function. Objective: The study was done to survey the effectiveness of Pilates training and vitamin D intake on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels in overweight men. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 50 overweight men aged 45-55 years. Subjects were selected through available sampling and randomly assigned to the Pilates training, Pilates training with vitamin D, vitamin D, and control groups. The Pilates training was performed for eight weeks with the intensity of 50%-75% of reserve heart rate in 3 sessions/week. The supplement groups received 50000IU vitamin D weekly. The levels of hs-CRP and TSH were measured at first and eighth weeks after interventions. The data were analyzed by paired t-test and one-way ANOVA (p˂0.05). Findings: The results showed that 60% and 40% of the subjects had a vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. Also, eight weeks of Pilates training, vitamin D intake, and the combined intervention resulted in a significant decrease in hs-CRP and TSH levels (p<0.05). Also, the combined intervention was associated with a stronger effect on the reduction of these factors compared with two other interventions (p˂0.05). Conclusion: It seems that abnormal levels of vitamin D are common in overweight men and vitamin D intake, Pilates training, and the combination can improve thyroid function and systemic inflammation in overweight men with abnormal vitamin D status. However, the combined intervention is associated with stronger effects.

The Effects of Pentoxifylline on Memory in Male Rats Treated with Zinc Oxide NPs

Background: Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (NPs) present irreversible effects on the nervous system, memory, and learning. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline on memory impairments, CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells, and blood serum antioxidant enzymes in male rats treated with zinc oxide NPs. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into the control, zinc oxide NPs (1.25 mg/kg), pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg), and pentoxifylline with zinc oxide NPs groups. In all study groups, saline, zinc oxide NPs, and pentoxifylline were intraperitoneally injected 30 minutes before training. In the co-treatment group, pentoxifylline was injected one hour before injecting Zno NPs. After performing the behavioral test, the tested animals’ brains were fixed and the number of healthy neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was counted. In all research groups, malondialdehyde levels, total antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase levels, and glutathione peroxidase in blood serum were measured. Results: Zinc oxide nanoparticles decreased memory and the number of healthy neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and increased oxidative stress in blood serum, compared to the controls. In the co-treatment group, using pentoxifylline improved the above-mentioned factors and reached the level of the control group. Pentoxifylline alone presented no significant effect on the aforementioned characteristics, compared to the control group. Conclusion: ZnO NPs may decrease memory retrieval and cause cell death in the pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region of the hippocampus by increasing oxidative stress. Pentoxifylline, as a potent antioxidant, can prevent the harmful effects of ZnO NPs.

Genome-based Detection of Novel Coronavirus: An Overview Study

The Coronavirus Disease 2019, named COVID-19 is a global problem. According to the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a novel and extreme outbreak, spreading worldwide. Firstly, numerous patients reported exposure in Wuhan City, China at a large animals and seafood market. Accordingly, the first idea is suggesting the animal-to-human transmission of this infection pathogen. Next, since then, numerous patients have decelerated no exposure to animal shops, indicating that human-to-human transmission is occurring. The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a positive RNA virus with a 29.8 kb genome and S, E, M, N, and Orf1 gene fragments. The most popular method for 2019-nCoV detection is genome-based approaches, like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based tests that require expensive experimental equipment, a controlled working environment, and high-trained technicians; they are often lacking in massive viral outbreaks. Therefore, another rapid and simple genome-based assay was evaluated for this pathogen. In this review study, the RT-LAMP technique, as the main isothermal amplification assays with less time consumption and without the need for expensive equipment, compared to conventional PCR-based methods to 2019-nCoV identification, was discussed. Accordingly, the advantage or disadvantage of these techniques was compared. The obtained data indicated that this molecular and isothermal method could be used as a successful one-step process for portable screening and the rapid identification of 2019-nCoV.

The Alteration of Clinical and Laboratory Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19 in Re-infection: A Case Report

Background: Patients can be carriers of the virus for a long time or become re-infected or re-infected following the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Clinical manifestations in patients are very diverse and can range from asymptomatic to severe illness with death. Patients may also present with manifestations such as coagulation disorders, cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, kidney injury, liver injury, Refer to diabetic hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis. This is an essential point in the prevention of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Case Presentation: We reported a case in which the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test was positive after re-negative after 5 months. Moreover, the patient presented different and more severe symptoms than the previous infection, as the genetic difference between the strains increased over time. Conclusion: As a result, immunization may become more complicated, and different clinical pictures occur; thus, this condition can challenge vaccine immunization.

Association of White Blood Cell Count With Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Men and Women

Background: Despite the widespread obesity epidemic in the world, not all obese people are equally susceptible to the complications of obesity. Inflammatory factors play an important role in the complications of obesity. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association of White Blood Cell (WBC) count with metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese men and women. Methods: This cross-sectional study is a part of the Qazvin Metabolic Disease Study (QMDS) conducted in 2010 in Qazvin, Iran. Participants were 622 obese people with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, recruited from the QMDS. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis (to evaluate the relationship between WBC count quartiles and metabolic syndrome). Findings: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was not significantly different between men and women. In men, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were not different between WBC quartiles. In women, 2.23% and 5.06% had metabolic syndrome in the first and fourth quartiles of WBC count, respectively (P<0.001). Moreover, the prevalence of insulin resistance was higher in fourth quartile compared to the first quartile (7.74% vs. 6.52%, P<0.001). After controlling the effects of age and BMI factors, the risk of metabolic syndrome in the fourth quartile of WBC count remained significant in women (OR=2.56, P<0.01). Conclusion: Association of WBC count with metabolic syndrome is significant in obese women compared to obese men.

Assessing the General Health Indicators Predicting Marital Satisfaction in Older Couples

Background: Due to the increasing life expectancy and aging population, attention to general health and marital satisfaction of older people can provide an opportunity to improve their living conditions. Objective: This study aims to assess the general health indicators of older couples to predict their marital satisfaction. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 older couples (men and women) living in Qazvin, Iran who were selected using two-stage cluster sampling technique. A demographic form, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings: The Mean±SD age of older women and men±SD was 64.15±5.46 years and 67.68±6.93 years, respectively. Their Mean±SD EMSS score was reported 109.72±12.58. Multivariate analysis showed that gender (β=0.169, P=0.050), age (β=0.097, P=0.567), age of marriage (β=0.214, P=0.002), somatic symptoms (β=0.233, P=0.013), anxiety/insomnia (β=0.227, P=0.008), social dysfunction (β=0.326, P<0.001), and depression (β=0.356, P<0.001) could significantly predict marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Different dimensions of general health can affect marital satisfaction of older couples. Therefore, interventions in these domains and the promotion of general health level can lead to increased marital satisfaction and, consequently, quality of life in the elderly.