Arch Iran Med
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widespread since late December 2019, with several symptoms related to the upper and lower respiratory system. However, its cardiac manifestations are less frequently studied. We aimed to analyze the available COVID-19 data on acute cardiac injury, using troponin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. ⋯ Acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients is more frequent than what was expected at the beginning of the outbreak. Meanwhile, further studies are needed to investigate the utility of cardiac biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for long-term cardiac complications of this infection.
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Multicenter Study
A Multicenter Survey on the Trend of Chest CT Scan Utilization: Tracing the First Footsteps of COVID-19 in Iran.
Chest computed tomography (CT) scan has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19 in Iran. ⋯ The observed peak in chest CT utilization in Month 3 prior to the surge in Month 6 could be explained by the seasonal influenza. However, unawareness about an emerging viral disease, i.e. COVID-19, might have underutilized chest CT in Months 4 and 5 before the official announcement in Month 6. The unbalanced increase in the workload of radiology departments in the shortage of cardiothoracic radiologists with the simultaneous decrease in income initiated a vicious cycle that worsened the economic repercussions of the pandemic.
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Thrombocytopenia is the most well-known hematological abnormality occurring in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, the rate of platelet count reduction is not the same across different chronic liver disease etiologies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the differences in the platelet count levels between primary sclerosing cholangitis-related cirrhosis (PSC-C) and other causes of liver disease. ⋯ The findings indicate that PSC-C patients present with mild degrees of thrombocytopenia compared to other causes of chronic liver disease.
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Ectopic pancreatic tissue (EPT) is a congenital pancreatic tissue located in a location other than the normal anatomical site of the pancreas. It is usually asymptomatic and can be detected during surgical procedures or postoperatively in pathology examinations. The importance of EPT is the possibility of malignant transformation, although rare. ⋯ Since preoperative diagnosis is often unlikely, resection is the preferred method. We report a case with gallstones who underwent elective cholecystectomy. EPT was detected in the gallbladder.
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Review Historical Article
Fifty Years of Research and One Conclusion: Opium Causes Cancer.
In September 2020, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced that opium consumption causes cancer in humans - a conclusion drawn after reviewing data from five decades of research. Given the widespread use of opium and its derivatives by millions of people across the world, the classification of opium consumption as a "Group 1" carcinogen has important public health ramifications. In this mini-review, we offer a short history of opium use in humans and briefly review the body of research that led to the classification of opium consumption as carcinogenic. We also discuss possible mechanisms of opium's carcinogenicity and potential avenues for future research.