J Res Med Sci
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the combination of vitex agnus castus extract, as a source of phytoestrogens, plus magnesium supplementation on osteogenic and angiogenic factors and callus formation in women with long bone fracture. ⋯ Our results suggest that administration of vitex agnus castus plus magnesium may promote fracture healing. However, more studies need to further explore the roles of vitex agnus castus in fracture repair processes.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease with autoimmune etiology, characterized by synovial inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage and bone. There are controversial data about the profile of interleukin-17 (IL-17A), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon-gamma (INFγ), indicating in some studies the key role of IL-17, while in others the Th1 cytokines. ⋯ The mean serum IL-17A levels in patients with early RA, corresponded with the disease activity and severity. This might highlight the usefulness of the serum IL-17A level in defining the activity and predictive patterns, for aggressive disease therapy, and it might express specific therapeutically targets.
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We report the case of a male patient with community-acquired quadruple-valve endocarditis on presumed normal native valves. This patient had originally presented elsewhere with generalized edema and malaise and had been diagnosed with suspicious endocarditis and renal dysfunction, for which he unfortunately received incomplete treatment. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations confirmed quadruple-valve endocarditis and ventricular septal defect.
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The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of vitamin A and C, as the agents that improve wound healing, on the adhesion formation process. ⋯ Administration of oral vitamin C reduces adhesion formation and improves wound healing.
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Hepatitis B with its complications has become one of the universal problems. Injection drug use is one of the most important risk factors in the transmission of hepatitis B. Therefore, we assessed hepatitis B virus prevalence among cases with a history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) as the first announcement-based study in this regard. ⋯ We estimated that the seroprevalence of hepatitis B positivity in intravenous drug users was moderate to high. Therefore, it was suggested that this group be encouraged to prevent acquiring infection by vaccination, education, counseling for risk reduction, and treatment of substance abuse, and finally hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening.