Reviews in Clinical Medicine

1-6

Authors: Ali Shamsa

Abstract Introduction: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an imaging technique that provides spectroscopic information about changes in biological markers. Studies suggest that MRS can be helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Methods: The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched in June 2015 using following search strategy: (“Magnetic resonance spectroscopy” OR MRS OR “MR spectroscopy”) AND [(“Diffuse axonal injury” OR DAI] AND Prognosis) to find relevant articles in which the prognostic value of MRS had been investigated in patients with traumatic DAI. All relevant information was extracted from the identified articles and used to synthesize the data for the purpose of this study. Result: In total, 19 articles were found in PubMed and 151 in Scopus. Of these, eight documents were selected for further data extraction following the application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The total number of patients who participated in the research studies described in the selected documents was 197. All of the selected documents showed that MRS can be used to quantitatively assess metabolite changes in patients with DAI. Discussion: The results of the studies indicate that MRS imaging as a sensitive method can quantitatively determine even small variations in metabolites. Any changes in the metabolite level of the brain after traumatic injury may be a useful predictor of a patient’s outcome; therefore, if the sensitivity of MRS is proven, this method can have prognostic value when employed with patients with DAI. Conclusion: Based on the results of this systematic review, MRS is a sensitive tool that is helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with DAI.

14-19

Authors: Hooman Mosannen Mozaffari; Hosein Ali Abbasi; Ladan Goshayeshi; Abbas Esmaeelzadeh; Ali Bahari; Ali Mokhtarifar; Azita Ganji; Omid Ghanaei; Kambiz Akhavan Rezayat

Abstract Introduction: It is long known that vitamin D deficiency was common in patients with liver disease, but little is known on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D, especially in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literatures and study the evidences in which the effects of vitamin D supplementation had been investigated on the severity of chronic liver disease or liver cirrhosis. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed by using the following key terms “vitamin D supplementation” and “chronic liver disease” in the PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar to find relevant articles. After collecting the eligible documents, data were extracted and described based on the purpose of this review. Result: Of total 196 articles found, only 7 relevant documents with 518 studied patients were included. The results of this study showed that the levels of 25(OH) D were considerably lower in patients with chronic liver disease. Findings showed that vitamin D supplementation can rise up the mean serum level of 25(OH) D in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency, especially patients with liver cirrhosis. Conclusion:The results of this review showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the severity of liver disease and may have prognostic value in the assessment of liver disease. Also, it was shown that vitamin D supplementation may be helpful for the treatment of liver disease at least in certain groups of patients.

26-30

Authors: Mahsa Akbari Oryani; Masomeh Safaei; Farzane Farzam; Hadi Razmara; Navid Fathi

Abstract Introduction: Several methods are available for the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous disease. Since the immunohistochemistry of complement component is easy and more accessible compared to other methods, it is thought that this technique as an efficient method can replace other difficult, and time-consuming procedures. Therefore, in this study we aimed to systematically review the literatures in which the diagnostic value of complement component 3d (C3d) and C4d had been investigated in bullous pemphigoid. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Google scholar, and Scopus using following search method (((C3d OR C4d OR complement component 3d OR complement component 4d immunohistochemistry)) OR (C3d OR C4d marker OR complement component 3d OR complement component 4d marker)) AND (bullous pemphigoid OR cutaneous pemphigoid) to evaluate the diagnostic value of C3d and/or C4d for early and accurate detection of bullous pemphigoid on November 2015. Subsequently, the extracted data were described. Result: Total of 28 documents were collected and reviewed based on the purpose of this study. Of the collected articles, 21 documents were excluded in several steps of article selection process and only 7 relevant articles were included for data assessment. The results showed that the deposits of C3d and/or C4d in skin biopsies were found in 125 of 134 patients, indicating that immunohistochemistry is a reliable technique for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases. Conclusion: The results of this review showed that C3d and/or C4d immunohistochemistry in skin biopsies is a reliable technique for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases, particularly bullous pemphigoid.

35-38

Authors: Ali Asghar Rashidi; Abdolreza Norouzy; Bahare Imani; Mohsen Nematy; Mohammad Heidarzadeh; Ali Taghipour

Abstract Several complications during childhood is associated with nutritional status of infants at birth. Therefore, nutritional status of newborns must be evaluated properly after birth. Assessment of the nutritional status of neonates based on anthropometric and physical indices is simple and inexpensive without the need for advanced medical equipment. However, no previous studies have focused on the assessment methods of the nutritional status of infants via anthropometric and physical indices. This study aimed to review some of the key methods used to determine the nutritional status of neonates using anthropometric and physical indices. To date, most studies have focused on the diagnosis of fetal malnutrition (FM) and growth monitoring. In order to diagnose FM, researchers have used growth charts and Ponderal index (PI) based on anthropometric indices, as well as Clinical Assessment of Nutritional (CAN) Score based on physical features. Moreover, in order to assess the growth status of infants, growth charts were used. According to the findings of this study, standard intrauterine growth curves and the PI are common measurement tools in the diagnosis of FM. Furthermore, CAN score is widely used in the evaluation of the nutritional status of neonates. Given the differences in the physical features of term and preterm infants, this index should be adjusted for preterm neonates. Longitudinal growth charts are one of the most prominent methods used for monitoring of the growth patterns of infants.