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Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of supratarsal dexamethasone injectiontopical cromolyn combination versus topical cromolyn in patients with vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) referred to Matini hospital during 2012-2013. Materials and Methods: This analytical study included 168 eyes of 84 patients with moderate to severe VKC. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both eyes of each patient in group1were assigned to receive cromolyn drop (every 6 hours for 3 weeks) and both eyes of each patient in group 2 were assigned to receive a 0.5 ml injection per eye of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in supratarsal area in addition to topical cromolyn. All of the patients were followed-up for 3 weeks after the treatment and evaluated for the removal of itching, epiphora and redness. Results: Although the effect of the two treatment methods on subsiding of patient`s itching was not significantly different, the elimination of inflammation, redness and tearing in patients treated with cromolyn-dexametasone was significantly better than the other group (P<0.001).This study showed that the elimination of the signs and symptoms was more significant in patients with combination therapy compared to cromolyn (P<0.001). Moreover, 68.3% of the patients with combination therapy have eliminated itching and epiphora, and inflammation and redness were resolved in 88.1% of the patients, but in the cromolyn group, itching, redness and inflammation became worse or had no change in 50% of the patients. Conclusion: Combined supratarsal injection of dexamethasone and topical cromolyn is an appropriate treatment for the moderate and severe VKC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving the quality of life (QOL), as the most important goal of therapeutic interventions, is considered in the chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of different treatments on QOL in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Materials and Methods: This cohort study was performed, using the convenience sampling, on 167 patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome in Kashan Shahid-Beheshti hospital during 2013-2014. Under the supervision of a cardiologist and based on the standard protolab, the QOL of the patients who were received a drug therapy, angioplasty or bypass graft was evaluated before and two months after receiving the treatments using the short form-36 (SF-36) tools. Results: One-hundred and sixty-seven patients (mean age, 56.5± 10.22) were studied. Among them 50.3% were female. Angioplasty and drug therapy had positive effects on the mental health and bodily pain dimensions and increased the total score for QOL. Moreover, drug therapy had a positive impact on the social activity dimension (P=0.01). Coronary artery bypass graft improved the role playing dimension (P=0.005). No significant difference was found in QOL among the three groups: drug therapy; angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft (P=0.67). Conclusion: Different therapeutic interventions improve the QOL in the acute coronary syndrome and can have a positive effect on some life dimensions of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]