J Res Med Sci
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Uremic pruritus or chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a frequent compromising symptom in end-stage renal disease. Despite the little attention paid to drugs used among hemodialysis (HD) patients, investigating medications used in this population of patients and examining the status of CKD-aP may lead to the identification of medications that improve or worsen the pruritus condition. We aimed to assess the role of underlying diseases-related drugs on CKD-aP in HD patients. ⋯ Atorvastatin was associated with decreased frequencies of CKD-aP among HD patients in our study. This knowledge may guide further clinical trials to evaluate atorvastatin's immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on the CKD-aP in HD populations.
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As the diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research-structured interview (DCPR-SI) is a rater-assessed questionnaire, it has not been used vastly in community-based studies and clinics. Describing and investigating self-assessed form of DCPR are an attempt to apply it easier and more worthwhile for medical settings. The aim of this study was to describe and present self-assessed form of DCPR self-assessed (DCPR-SA) and test its validity and reliability. ⋯ The findings show that the DCPR-SA is valid and reliable and can be used by medical professionals as a psychosomatic screening tool and can be used properly in Persian-speaking population.
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Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator in the acute phase of inflammatory diseases such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The level of IL-6 is higher in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of NMO patients compare to MS. Vitamin D has a regulatory effect on IL-6, so it may have a negative correlation with IL-6 in the acute phase of these diseases. This study was performed to evaluate the serum levels of IL-6 and Vitamin D in NMO and MS patients at the onset of disease to find differences that may help in early diagnosis. ⋯ Our results showed that serum IL-6 levels were higher at the onset of NMO disease compared with MS. The serum levels of Vitamin D were low in both groups and there was no association between serum levels of Vitamin D and IL-6 in either group. Future studies with large sample size are needed to confirm these findings.
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The Isfahan COVID Cohort (ICC) study was designed to investigate the short- and long-term consequences of patients with COVID-19 in Iran. This report presents the rationale, methodology, and initial results of ICC. ⋯ During 1-year follow-up after hospital discharge, about 60% of patients experienced persistent symptoms. Incident hypertension, diabetes, and CHD were the most common events seen. Close monitoring and extensive health services with integrative approaches are needed to improve the health status of these patients.
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The main aim of the study was to identify selected factors that determine patients with multiple sclerosis (MS') failure to take home therapeutic exercises (HTE) and other physical activity (OPA). ⋯ Physicians relatively rarely encourage patients with MS to undertake HTE and OPA. The patients do not perform HTE primarily because of fears of health deterioration or fatigue. Undertaking HTE is influenced by age but undertaking other forms of physical activity by the type of MS. Actions should be taken to popularize HTE and OPA, especially HTE among young patients.