Zohre Khodamoradi

Background: Mucormycosis infection is a complication seen in some coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This study compares the characteristics of mucormycosis infection between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.Methods: This retrospective cohort comprised 87 patients with mucormycosis divided into two groups. The first included 44 patients who had COVID-19 recently before hospitalization due to mucormycosis at Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, between February 2019 and August 2021. The second group included all 43 patients hospitalized at the same hospital due to mucormycosis between 2010 and 2019 (pre-pandemic).Results: Mucormycosis patients with a history of recent COVID-19 infection had a higher rate of diabetes mellitus, fewer malignancies and higher blood glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels (p<0.05). Glucocorticoid use was common (77%) in the COVID-19 group.Conclusions: In the pre-COVID-19 era, mucormycosis mainly affected immunodeficient patients like those receiving chemotherapy due to malignancy but now seems to affect COVID-19 patients with uncontrolled blood glucose and glucocorticoids use. Special care must be taken in prescribing glucocorticoids and controlling the blood glucose levels of COVID-19 patients.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among young women. Insulin resistance is a key feature in the pathogenesis of PCOS; also high molecular weight adiponectin is a marker of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the insulin resistance, metabolic and androgenic profiles and high molecular weight adiponectin in obese and non-obese PCOS patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study in outpatient endocrinology clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 80 women aged 17–43 years old with PCOS were enrolled. Biochemical and hormonal assay was done on fasting blood sample on the third day of follicular phase. Results: The individuals had a mean age of 28.39 ± 6.56 years, mean weight of 65.41 ± 12.59 Kg, mean BMI of 25.5 ± 4.9, and mean waist circumference of 88.0 ± 13.1 cm. Of all individuals 20% had frank insulin resistance with HOMA-IR > 3.8. Although the obese PCOS patients had lower levels of high molecular weight adiponectin (P = 0.03) than the normal weight PCOS individuals, the level of insulin and insulin resistance was not different in them (P = 0.13, 0.13). Patients with classic PCOS phenotype significantly had higher levels of insulin resistance and free androgen index (P < 0.001, 0.001). We found a significant correlation between the insulin level and free androgen index (correlation coefficient: 0.266 and P = 0.018) after adjusting for BMI. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study showed a high incidence of insulin resistance in PCOS patients independent of obesity, and determined BMI related lower level of high molecular weight adiponectin in obese PCOS individuals. More detailed studies are warranted for evaluation of insulin resistance and its pathophysiologic role in PCOS.

Background: Dementia is a health concern all over the world. The prevalence of dementia is growing due to increasing elderly population. Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) is common tool for assess cognitive disorders. We aim to construct and validate the Persian version of MMSE in illiterate elderly (60 years and older) and also assign cut off point for this population in Iran.Method: We did a cross‐sectional study on 310 elderly individuals (209 healthy participants and 101 elderlies with dementia) in teaching center in Shiraz from 2012 to 2014. Our participants categorized to different stages of dementia with Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR). We used Receiver operating characteristic analysis, kappa analysis and Cronbach’s α coefficient for statistical analysis.Result: Our results showed that MMSE score has significant association with age, marital status, living condition, occupation and CDR score (P< 0.001). The total Cronbach's alpha value for all domains of MMSE was more than 0.7. The cut‐off point of 21/5 of revised Persian MMSE for illiterate Persian elderly with 95% sensitivity and specificity rates of 72% was calculated. We showed cut off point for three age groups of elderly. We found 24.5, 21.5 and 22.5 for participants with 60‐69, 70‐80 and more than 80 years old respectively.Conclusion: The Persian version of MMSE was found to be useful and valid instrument for the determination of dementia in the illiterate elderly population.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) typically presents with respiratory illness ranging in severity. Neurological complications of the disease remain largely unknown. Herein, we discuss the case of a woman diagnosed with COVID‐19 meningitis following two positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) RT‐PCR assays, and highlight the importance of recognizing the neurological manifestations of the disease.Case report: The patient was a 49‐year‐old woman with a history of hypertension who presented with non‐specific symptoms (fever, headache, malaise, nausea/vomiting). Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a lack of pulmonary involvement and oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal RT‐PCR was negative for COVID‐19. A lumbar puncture was performed on the third day of admission and the CSF analysis elucidated a viral pattern, but the CSF bacterial culture and RT‐PCR assay for herpes simplex virus were both negative. Surprisingly, the CSF RT‐PCR for COVID‐19 was positive. The diagnosis of COVID‐19 meningitis was made and the patient was treated solely with Kaletra^®, with a second CSF analysis confirming our unique finding 1 week later. The patient's clinical characteristics improved progressively, and she was discharged in excellent general condition after 21 days.Conclusion: In contrast to what was originally believed, the SARS‐CoV‐2 can cause meningitis in isolation, perhaps by crossing the blood‐brain barrier. Hence, it seems essential that physicians maintain a high index of suspicion for neurological involvement among COVID‐19 patients, with early CSF analysis and brain imaging sometimes being indicated.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systematic and rare autoimmune disease that affects many organs. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), thiol-containing compound, can act both as the precursor of reduced glutathione and direct scavenger of reactive oxygen species.Objective: We assessed the clinical effect of NAC on the pulmonary function test of patients with diffuse scleroderma.Methods: This study is a randomized double-blind clinical trial that was done on 25 patients with diffuse SSc without lung involvement on primary chest high-resolution computed tomography. Placebo was administered for 13 patients and 1200 milligram NAC for 12 patients. Body plethysmography parameters were assessed at the beginning of the study and after 24 weeks.Results: Patients in the two groups were matched in the basic demographic data like age, duration of disease, and modified Rodnan skin score. The analysis showed no significant differences in parameters of plethysmography between the two groups. After importing the data of 2 patients in the placebo-treated group, who developed interstitial lung disease, DLCO in the placebo-treated group was 90.69 ± 21.29 milliliter at the end of the study, which significantly decreased compared with the beginning of the study (102.30 ± 13.83 ml). Also, changes of DLCO between the two groups were significantly different.Conclusions: In this trial, the sensitivity of DLCO as the first marker in the evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with SSc was confirmed. On the other hand, NAC had no effect versus placebo in a period of 24 weeks.

Background: In late December 2019, a viral pneumonia known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) originated from China and spread very rapidly in the world. Since then, COVID-19 has become a global concern and health problem. Methods: We present four patients in this study, selected from among patients who presented with pneumonia symptoms and were suspicious for COVID-19. They were referred to the intended centers for COVID-19 diagnosis and management of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran. Two nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal throat swab samples were collected from each patient and tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using real-time reverse-transcriptase– polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR). The samples were also tested for influenza viruses and the complete respiratory panel. Results: In the present report, four patients were diagnosed in the starting days of COVID-19 disease in our center in southern Iran with co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. Conclusion: This co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza A highlights the importance of considering SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay regardless of other positive findings for other pathogens in the primary test during the epidemic.

Background: On late December 2019, a viral pneumonia known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was originated from China and spread very rapidly in the world. Therefore, COVID-19 became a global concern and health problem. Methods: We presented four patients in this study. They were selected from patients who presented with pneumonia symptoms and were suspicious for COVID-19 and referred to the intended centers for COVID-19 diagnosis and management of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in the south of Iran. Two nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal throat swab samples were collected from each patient and tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection by real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR), and also samples were sent for influenza viruses and all the respiratory panel. Results: In the present report, four patients were diagnosed in the starting days of COVID-19 disease in our center in south of Iran with co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. Conclusions: This co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza highlights the importance of considering SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay regardless of other positive findings for other pathogens in the primary test during the epidemic.

The objective of this article is to investigate the distinct features, morbidity and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients registered in rheumatology tertiary centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2008 to 2018. A cross-sectional study was conducted on registered patients by reviewing their medical records. The clinical presentations were classified based on each organ’s distinct involvement. Data of 1322 patients with a mean age of 40 at the time of the study were reviewed. The most common primary manifestation of the disease was arthralgia (37.5%), and the most common clinical presentation in course of the disease was skin involvement (61.8%). The most common cause of hospital admission was disease flare (27.8% (108/388)), and mortality was mainly due to pulmonary complications (27.5% (8/29)). Patients who had hypothyroidism had statistically significantly lower rates of constitutional symptoms (p = 0.006), gastrointestinal involvement (p = 0.024), hypertension (p = 0.002), headache (p = 0.019), depression (p = 0.049) and anemia (p = 0.014). Patients who presented with malar rash and photosensitivity in their course of disease were detected to have statistically significantly lower ages of disease onset (p = 0.013 and 0.003, respectively). This study is an update to an epidemiologic study conducted in 2008 in the south of Iran. By comparing results between the two studies, we have tried to investigate the change in morbidity and mortality of SLE during these years.

Objectives: Investigating the sexual dysfunction in scleroderma patients and its relation to their vascular involvements. Method: A case control study was done on 80 married female scleroderma patients with age between 20-60 years old. Eighty normal individuals adjusted for age, place of living and socioeconomic status were also recruited. Sexual performance in both groups was assessed using FSFI standardized questionnaire, which evaluated it in 6 domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Micro and macro-vascular involvements of the patients were also determined using Raynaud Condition Score, Echocardiography, physical exam for assessing their digital ulcers and reviewing their medical records for past or present history of renal crisis and thromboembolic events. Results: The total score of FSFI in the case group was significantly lower compared to control one (16.68 ± 6.35, 19.69 ± 6.01, P-value