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Background: The use of a single sauna for decreasing weight quickly has a significantly negative impact on the health. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Saffron aqueous extracts on maximal oxygen uptake, serum lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity of young men athlete following a single Sauna leads to a 4 percent body weight loss. Methods: In a semi-experimental study twenty young athletic men were randomly divided into two equal groups of 1- control 2- supplement. Subjects in supplement group consumed 5 mg /kg/day of saffron for 4 days, whiles other group received the same amount of placebo (lactose). After four days of supplementation all subjects lost 4% of their body weight by dehydration in dry sauna. Serum total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels were measured in three stages, (baseline, and 4h before and immediately after sauna) and vo2 max was measured in two stages (1week before and immediately after sauna). Results: The mean age, weight, and body fat were 22.60+0.98 years, 76.07+5.11 kg, and 18.06+1.64 percent, respectively. The vo2 max in the two groups after sauna significantly decreased (p=0/001). As well as total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels in the only control group after sauna significantly decreased and increased respectively (p=0/001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the use of saffron extract improved levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, and thereby it significantly prevented the increase of in serum malondialdehyde after sauna. However the uses of saffron extract no significant effect on prevented the decrease in vo2 max after sauna.

Pectus excavatum is a chest wall deformity with an incidence of around 1 in 400 live births. The Nuss procedure is a surgical intervention that aims to restore functional integrity in these patients. We report the first case of bar migration into the stomach necessitating further surgical intervention for removal. Our case presents a rare complication of pectus excavatum repair and highlights the importance of vigilant follow-up in these patients. If bar migration does occur, imaging in the form of X-ray and CT scans may be of use in early detection in order to expedite management.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV)-A/Riboflavin corneal cross-linking (CXL) for the treatment of the refractory cases of fungal keratitis. METHODS: In this prospective interventional study, 9 patients with the diagnosis of fungal keratitis that were referred to our emergency eye center were included. These patients were resistant to conventional treatment and underwent therapeutic UV-A/Riboflavin CXL. Response to the treatment was considered as good if rapid epithelialization and rapid decrease in stromal infiltration was occurred after PACK-CXL, and poor when the emergency transplantation was necessary to eradicate the infection. RESULTS: Nine patients treated with CXL due to recalcitrant fungal keratitis. Culture of the corneal scrapings showed Aspergillus species in 4 patients, Candida albicans in 1 patient and Fusarium species in the remainder of them. CXL was performed from 1 to 20 days after the presentation of corneal ulcers (Mean: 9.12 ± 4.02; range: 5–20 days). Postoperatively, the mean time to epithelialization was 14.25 ± 2.38 days, and mean time to resolution of stromal infiltration was 22.5 ± 7.29 days, in responsive cases. Four out of 9 eyes showed good response, and five patients showed no response, and corneal transplantation was performed to eradicate the infection. There was no statistically significant difference in mean depth of infiltration and mean size of ulcer between responsive and unresponsive patients (P = 0.86 and 0.08, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although UV-A/Riboflavin CXL is not a definite treatment for all of the fungal keratitis, it seems promising in the management of some refractory cases.

Ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm is a high-risk complication post cardiac surgery.1 Although surgical repair is the conventional method of treatment, it is associated with a high mortality rate of 30% and a very poor prognosis.2 We report an old man aged 85 years who underwent elective biological aortic valve replacement for severe aortic valve stenosis and closure of left atrial appendage with AtriClip. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established with standard ascending aorta and right atrial cannulations. The aortic valve was replaced with 27 mm Hancock II type using 2/0 Ethibond pledgetted sutures in interrupted suture techniques. His medical history included arterial …

Purpose. Evaluating the therapeutic effect of topical and intrastromal voriconazole and topical natamycin onFusariumkeratitis.Methods. 24 rabbits were selected. The stroma of their corneas was inoculated with suspension ofFusarium solanispecies complex. Seven days after injection they were divided into 4 groups randomly: the first group was treated with topical voriconazole (TV) 1% for one week, the second one with one-time intrastromal injection of voriconazole (ISV) 50 microgram/0.1 mL, and the third group with topical gel of natamycin (TN) for one week, and the last one did not receive any antifungal treatment. Finally the eyes were enucleated and sclerocorneal buttons were sent for histological and microbiological examinations.Results. After treatment the ISV group and TN group showed significantly lower clinical score and colony forming units than the control group (P=0.040andP=0.026, resp.), but there was statistically no significant difference between control and TV groups (P=0.249) or between ISV and TN groups (P=0.665). In pathological evaluation, fewer chronic inflammations were reported in 2 of the 3 buttons from TV group and 3 of the 3 buttons from ISV and TN groups in comparison with the control group.Conclusion. Intrastromal injection of voriconazole seems to be effective in treatment ofFusariumkeratitis as much as topical natamycin and these are more effective than topical voriconazole.

Background Decellularized extracellular matrix has been suggested as a scaffold for heart valve tissue engineering or direct implantation. However, cell removal impairs the physical properties of the valve structure and exposes bare collagen fibers that are highly thrombogenic. Matrix/polymer hybrid valves with improved biological and mechanical characteristics may be advantageous. Methods Porcine aortic valves were decellularized enzymatically and impregnated with biodegradable poly(hydroxybutyrate) by a stepwise solvent exchange process. Biocompatibility was tested in vitro using cell proliferation and coagulation assays. Proinflammatory activity was assessed in vivo by implantation of matrix/polymer patches in the rabbit aorta. Biomechanic valve properties and fluid dynamics were tested in a pressure/flow-controlled pulse duplicating system. Matrix/polymer hybrid valves were implanted in pulmonary and aortic position in sheep. Results Biocompatibility assays indicated that human blood vessel cells survive and proliferate on matrix/polymer hybrid tissue. In vitro activation of cellular and plasmatic coagulation cascades was lower than with uncoated control tissue. After implantation in the rabbit aorta, matrix/polymer hybrid patches healed well, with complete endothelialization, mild leukocyte infiltration, and less calcification than control tissue. Matrix/polymer hybrid tissue had superior tensile strength and suture retention strength, and hybrid valves showed good fluid dynamic performance. The two valves in aortic position performed well, with complete endothelialization and limited inflammatory cell invasion after 12 weeks. Of the two valves in pulmonary position, one failed. Conclusions Matrix/polymer hybrid tissue valves have good biological and biomechanic characteristics and may provide superior replacement valves.

Hybrid heart valve scaffolds were fabricated from decellularized porcine aortic heart valve matrices and enhanced with bioresorbable polymers using different protocols: (i) dip coating of lyophilized decellularized matrices, and (ii) impregnation of wet decellularized matrices. The following polymers were evaluated: poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co4-hydroxybutyrate). Tensile tests were conducted to assess the biomechanical behavior of valve leaflet strips. Suture retention strength was evaluated for the adjacent conduit. A pulse duplicator system was used for functional testing of the valves under physiological systemic load conditions. The properties of the hybrid structures were compared with native, decellularized, and glutaraldehyde-fixed specimens. Mechanisms of the polymer impregnation process were studied with IR spectroscopy, fluorescent microscopic imaging, and SEM. Altogether this study demonstrates the feasibility and improved biomechanical function of a novel hybrid heart valve scaffold for an application in tissue engineering.

PURPOSE To evaluate the therapeutic effect of UV-A/riboflavin collagen cross-linking (CXL) on moderate bacterial corneal ulcers. METHODS Thirty-two patients with moderate bacterial keratitis were selected. All patients were treated according to the standard medical treatment protocol. The patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups: case and control groups of 16 patients each using a numerical randomization table. The case group received CXL treatment. In the CLX group, corneal epithelium was removed and 0.1% riboflavin drops were applied. Then the corneas were irradiated with UV-A (365 nm) with an irradiance of 3 mW/cm for 30 minutes. The grade of ulcers, size of epithelial defects, and area of infiltrates were recorded on days 1, 7, and 14 of treatment. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the groups 1 day after the treatment. The mean treatment duration was 17.2 ± 4.1 days in the CXL group and 24.7 ± 5.5 days in the control group. The epithelial defects were smaller in the CXL group at 7 days (P = 0.001) and 14 days (P = 0.001) after the beginning of treatment. The area of infiltrates in CXL group was smaller than the control group at both 7 days (P = 0.001) and 14 days (P < 0.001) after the start of treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the beneficial effect of CXL in patients with moderate bacterial keratitis. In addition to accelerating epithelialization, this method shortens the course of treatment and may minimize or remove the need for surgery or other serious sequelae, such as corneal perforation.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an immune-mediated disease caused by transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies, primarily anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB). The major clinical manifestations are congenital heart block, cutaneous lupus lesions, and hematologic problems. Hepatic, pulmonary, and neurological involvements are rare. We report a 5-day-old male neonate, born to a clinically asymptomatic mother, presenting with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, cutaneous lupus lesions, congenital heart block, and thrombocytopenia. Both the neonate and his mother had high titers of antinuclear antibodies (1:640), anti-Ro (SSA), and anti-La (SSB) antibodies. The thrombocytopenia improved with prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. The skin lupus rashes and bilirubin resolved 2 months later, and liver enzymes were completely normal by 6 months.

The objective of this study was to report on three members of a family with familial expansile osteolysis; the important point about these patients was that none of them had middle-ear ossicles.A retrospective case review including three cases with familial expansile osteolysis.Department of Otolaryngology in a tertiary referral center.Each patient underwent computerized tomography of the temporal bone in the coronal view, audiometric and tympanometric evaluations, biochemical investigation, whole body isotope scans by Tc-99 mMDP and X-ray. Also the patients' pedigree was studied. Two of the patients had exploratory middle-ear surgery as well.The temporal-bone computed-tomography scan in the coronal view of all three patients and also exploratory middle-ear surgery, which was done on two of the patients, showed no ossicles in the middle ear of either ear in all three cases. This feature hadn't been reported in previous studies. Hearing loss was revealed in the medical histories since childhood. Audiometry indicated mild to moderate conductive and mixed hearing loss and also an AD-type tympanogram pattern along with an absence of acoustic reflexes in both ears of the cases. Both serum alkaline phosphatase and hydroxyproline levels were elevated. There was an increase in uptake and activity at multiple foci of the whole skeleton. No improvement in hearing thresholds was obtained after reconstruction of the middle ear.The total absence of middle-ear ossicles can probably be regarded as a new symptom in some patients with familial expansile osteolysis. Common ossiculoplasty for improving the hearing thresholds in this condition may be unsuccessful; therefore, both surgeons and patients must be completely aware of the contingent undesirable results.

Purpose: To report the characteristics and laboratory findings of 182 patients with bacterial keratitis diagnosed at Farabi Eye Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, data were collected on demographics, risk factors, location, size and depth of the ulcer, height of the hypopyon, uncorrected visual acuity, results of smear and culture tests, and antibiotic sensitivity of cultured bacteria. Results: There were 110 (60.4%) males and 72 (39.6%) females with an average age of 56.0 ± 2.3 years. Ocular trauma (17.6%) and positive history of corneal surgery (14.3%) were major risk factors. The mean age of contact lens users was 22.5 ± 7.7 years. Sixty patients (33%) used topical antibiotics, 21 (11.5%) patients utilized topical steroid, and 26 (14.3%) cases used both topical antibiotic and steroid at presentation. Culture results were, 81 (44.5%) cases were Gram-positive, 63 (34.6%) were Gram-negative, 10 (5.5%) were mixed bacteria and in 28 (15.4%) cases had detected growth. The isolated bacterial species from the corneal ulcers were less resistant to ceftazidime (6%) and amikacin (6%). The majority of patients were treated with medical therapy; however, 81 cases (44.5%) received at least one surgical procedure. Conclusion: Among the patients with bacterial corneal ulcers, trauma was the most common risk factor. Over-the-counter antibiotic and steroid were commonly used in the majority of patients. The most common bacteria isolated were Gram-positives, and they were less resistant to ceftazidime and amikacin. Penetrating keratoplasty was the most common surgical procedure in patient who required surgery.

Background: The two most common causes of neonatal cholestasis are biliary atresia (BA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH). Differentiating between them needs meticulous investigations. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the different stereological findings of liver biopsies in BA and NH to find features that might be helpful in differentiating them from each other. Patients and Methods: Five patients with BA and four patients with NH were recruited. The study was restricted to infants with confirmed diagnosis through lab data, histopathological findings in liver biopsies, and by intraoperative cholangiography. The liver biopsies were evaluated with stereological study for the followings: volume density of connective tissue, fibrosis, hepatocytes, bile duct, and sinusoid; the diameter of duct, epithelium, and lumen; the length density of duct; numerical density cell; and the mean volume of hepatocyte and nucleus. Results: The stereological study findings revealed that the mean volume density of the connective tissue and fibrosis in NH was about 17.5% less than BA group. However, the other parameters did not show any significant difference between them. Conclusions: Our results showed that portal fibrosis was a significant stereological study finding in BA that could differentiate it from NH. This study is the first stereological analysis of the patients with neonatal cholestasis. Further studies in this field are required to confirm our findings.