Systematic review
Ali Shamsa
Abstract
Introduction: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an imaging technique that provides spectroscopic information about changes in biological markers. Studies suggest that MRS can be helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI).Methods: The PubMed and Scopus databases ...
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Introduction: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an imaging technique that provides spectroscopic information about changes in biological markers. Studies suggest that MRS can be helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI).Methods: The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched in June 2015 using following search strategy: (“Magnetic resonance spectroscopy” OR MRS OR “MR spectroscopy”) AND [(“Diffuse axonal injury” OR DAI] AND Prognosis) to find relevant articles in which the prognostic value of MRS had been investigated in patients with traumatic DAI. All relevant information was extracted from the identified articles and used to synthesize the data for the purpose of this study.Result: In total, 19 articles were found in PubMed and 151 in Scopus. Of these, eight documents were selected for further data extraction following the application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The total number of patients who participated in the research studies described in the selected documents was 197. All of the selected documents showed that MRS can be used to quantitatively assess metabolite changes in patients with DAI.Discussion: The results of the studies indicate that MRS imaging as a sensitive method can quantitatively determine even small variations in metabolites. Any changes in the metabolite level of the brain after traumatic injury may be a useful predictor of a patient’s outcome; therefore, if the sensitivity of MRS is proven, this method can have prognostic value when employed with patients with DAI.Conclusion: Based on the results of this systematic review, MRS is a sensitive tool that is helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with DAI.
Systematic review
Sona Sepahi; Bamdad Riahi-Zanjani; Adel Ghorani-Azam
Abstract
Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) is an acidic compound that is commonly used as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing agent in the treatment of epilepsy, mania and bipolar disorders as well as the prevention of migraine headaches. But, it can affect metabolic and endocrine system resulting in hormonal ...
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Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) is an acidic compound that is commonly used as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing agent in the treatment of epilepsy, mania and bipolar disorders as well as the prevention of migraine headaches. But, it can affect metabolic and endocrine system resulting in hormonal disturbances and incidence of some metabolic disease, especially in pediatric patients. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literature wherein metabolic and endocrine effect of valproic acid has been studied in pediatric patients with epilepsy.Methods: To evaluate the relationship between VPA consumption and metabolic diseases, a systematic literature search was performed through searching for related documents in the PubMed and Scopus as two known databases using the following key terms “valproic acid”, “metabolic disease” and “pediatrics” in the title, keywords, and abstract of literatures. Data were then extracted and described.Result: Nearly 934 documents were collected and reviewed based on the main purpose of this study. Of the collected articles, 918 documents were excluded in several step by step processes of article selection, and only 16 relevant documents were included for further data assessment. The results showed that VPA can cause significant increase in plasma concentration of thyroid hormones and therefore increase the risk of metabolic disease in patients with epilepsy.Conclusion:The results of included documents in this review showed that VPA may induce metabolic and hormonal disturbances in pediatric patients, who were on treatment with VPA.
Systematic review
Hooman Mosannen Mozaffari; Hosein Ali Abbasi; Ladan Goshayeshi; Abbas Esmaeelzadeh; Ali Bahari; Ali Mokhtarifar; Azita Ganji; Omid Ghanaei; Kambiz Akhavan Rezayat
Abstract
Introduction: It is long known that vitamin D deficiency was common in patients with liver disease, but little is known on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D, especially in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literatures and study the evidences ...
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Introduction: It is long known that vitamin D deficiency was common in patients with liver disease, but little is known on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D, especially in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literatures and study the evidences in which the effects of vitamin D supplementation had been investigated on the severity of chronic liver disease or liver cirrhosis.Methods: A systematic literature search was performed by using the following key terms “vitamin D supplementation” and “chronic liver disease” in the PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar to find relevant articles. After collecting the eligible documents, data were extracted and described based on the purpose of this review.Result: Of total 196 articles found, only 7 relevant documents with 518 studied patients were included. The results of this study showed that the levels of 25(OH) D were considerably lower in patients with chronic liver disease. Findings showed that vitamin D supplementation can rise up the mean serum level of 25(OH) D in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency, especially patients with liver cirrhosis.Conclusion:The results of this review showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the severity of liver disease and may have prognostic value in the assessment of liver disease. Also, it was shown that vitamin D supplementation may be helpful for the treatment of liver disease at least in certain groups of patients.
Systematic review
Gholamreza Bahadorkhan; Omid Daneshvarfard
Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have indicated that administering erythropoietin (EPO) can have a beneficial impact on the clinical outcomes of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This review examines the possible therapeutic effects EPO can have neuronal functions, neurological performance, ...
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Introduction: Previous studies have indicated that administering erythropoietin (EPO) can have a beneficial impact on the clinical outcomes of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This review examines the possible therapeutic effects EPO can have neuronal functions, neurological performance, and neurological recovery. Methods: The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched on the 5th June, 2015, using the following search strategy: (“traumatic brain injury” OR “brain trauma”) AND (erythropoietin OR EPO) to identify relevant articles in which the effect of erythropoietin on patients with TBI was assessed. No time limitation was defined as the inclusion criteria. All available studies were extracted and categorized based on the purpose of this study.Result: Of the 908 articles in total that were identified during the initial database search, 901 documents were excluded from further examination because they did not meet the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The total number of patients enrolled in the selected literature was 798. Of these, the use of EPO failed to show significant improvement in 113 patients.Discussion: Previous studies have shown that EPO may represent a valuable neuroprotectant that is useful in the treatment of neonatal brain injury, neurodegeneration, and TBI. Studies on animal TBI models have also found that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) reduces the development of post-traumatic brain edema.Conclusion: EPO may represent a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of TBI. In addition, it can improve the patients› recovery prospects and reduce in-hospital mortality and morbidity.
Systematic review
Mahsa Akbari Oryani; Masomeh Safaei; Farzane Farzam; Hadi Razmara; Navid Fathi
Abstract
Introduction: Several methods are available for the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous disease. Since the immunohistochemistry of complement component is easy and more accessible compared to other methods, it is thought that this technique as an efficient method can replace other difficult, and time-consuming ...
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Introduction: Several methods are available for the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous disease. Since the immunohistochemistry of complement component is easy and more accessible compared to other methods, it is thought that this technique as an efficient method can replace other difficult, and time-consuming procedures. Therefore, in this study we aimed to systematically review the literatures in which the diagnostic value of complement component 3d (C3d) and C4d had been investigated in bullous pemphigoid. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Google scholar, and Scopus using following search method (((C3d OR C4d OR complement component 3d OR complement component 4d immunohistochemistry)) OR (C3d OR C4d marker OR complement component 3d OR complement component 4d marker)) AND (bullous pemphigoid OR cutaneous pemphigoid) to evaluate the diagnostic value of C3d and/or C4d for early and accurate detection of bullous pemphigoid on November 2015. Subsequently, the extracted data were described.Result: Total of 28 documents were collected and reviewed based on the purpose of this study. Of the collected articles, 21 documents were excluded in several steps of article selection process and only 7 relevant articles were included for data assessment. The results showed that the deposits of C3d and/or C4d in skin biopsies were found in 125 of 134 patients, indicating that immunohistochemistry is a reliable technique for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases.Conclusion: The results of this review showed that C3d and/or C4d immunohistochemistry in skin biopsies is a reliable technique for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases, particularly bullous pemphigoid.
Review
Karim Nikkhah; Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard; Fariborz Rezaeitalab
Abstract
Interesting phenomena of reflex epileptic syndromes are characterized by epileptic seizures each one induced by specific stimulus with a variety of types. Simple triggers, which lead to seizures within seconds, are of sensory type (most commonly visual, most rarely tactile or proprioceptive stimuli). ...
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Interesting phenomena of reflex epileptic syndromes are characterized by epileptic seizures each one induced by specific stimulus with a variety of types. Simple triggers, which lead to seizures within seconds, are of sensory type (most commonly visual, most rarely tactile or proprioceptive stimuli). Complex triggers, which are mostly of cognitive type such as praxis, reading, talking, and music, usually induce the epileptic event within minutes. It should differ from what most epileptic patients report as provocative precipitants for seizures (such as emotional stress, fatigue, fever, sleep deprivation, alcohol, and menstrual cycle). The identification of a specific trigger is not only important for patients or their parents to avoid seizures, but also it might help neurologists to choose the most effective antiepileptic drug for each case. In addition, research in this area may possibly reveal some underlying pathophysiology of epileptic phenomena in the brain.In this review, we briefly introduce reported reflex epileptic seizures, their clinical features and management.
Review
Ali Asghar Rashidi; Abdolreza Norouzy; Bahare Imani; Mohsen Nematy; Mohammad Heidarzadeh; Ali Taghipour
Abstract
Several complications during childhood is associated with nutritional status of infants at birth. Therefore, nutritional status of newborns must be evaluated properly after birth. Assessment of the nutritional status of neonates based on anthropometric and physical indices is simple and inexpensive without ...
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Several complications during childhood is associated with nutritional status of infants at birth. Therefore, nutritional status of newborns must be evaluated properly after birth. Assessment of the nutritional status of neonates based on anthropometric and physical indices is simple and inexpensive without the need for advanced medical equipment. However, no previous studies have focused on the assessment methods of the nutritional status of infants via anthropometric and physical indices. This study aimed to review some of the key methods used to determine the nutritional status of neonates using anthropometric and physical indices. To date, most studies have focused on the diagnosis of fetal malnutrition (FM) and growth monitoring. In order to diagnose FM, researchers have used growth charts and Ponderal index (PI) based on anthropometric indices, as well as Clinical Assessment of Nutritional (CAN) Score based on physical features. Moreover, in order to assess the growth status of infants, growth charts were used. According to the findings of this study, standard intrauterine growth curves and the PI are common measurement tools in the diagnosis of FM. Furthermore, CAN score is widely used in the evaluation of the nutritional status of neonates. Given the differences in the physical features of term and preterm infants, this index should be adjusted for preterm neonates. Longitudinal growth charts are one of the most prominent methods used for monitoring of the growth patterns of infants.
Review
Bentolhoda Sahebnasagh; Mohammad Javad Hosseinzadeh-Attar; Amrollah Sharifi
Abstract
Findings have shown that low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level is a possible risk factor for incidence of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Vitamin D has important effects on multiple biological pathways, including angiogenesis. Some studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among ...
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Findings have shown that low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level is a possible risk factor for incidence of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Vitamin D has important effects on multiple biological pathways, including angiogenesis. Some studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among women suffering from preeclampsia, influencing immune modulation and vascular function. Evidence has shown that an imbalance of pro-antigenic and anti-angiogenic proteins can be considered as a possible etiological factor in the development of preeclampsia. Besides, there is a series of studies linking the renin–angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) with preeclampsia. In this article, we review the current studies evaluating the association between maternal vitamin D status and vascular health, metabolism, placental immune function and the risk of preeclampsia. We provided evidence of the different factor involved in the metabolism of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression, gene regulations, immune function, and chronic disease when vitamin D is used optimally.