Background: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common, bothersome symptom in hemodialysis (HD) patients with end-stage renal disease. Immunohypothesis is currently favored as an explanation of the cause of UP. Fumaria parviflora L (FP) is a medicinal herb with several pharmacological properties, including prominent anti-inflammatory activity. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of FP for reducing UP severity among HD patients. Methods: A total of 79 HD patients with pruritus were randomly assigned to receive either FP or a placebo for eight weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the Duo score for calculating pruritus score, serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured in the patients before and after treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment phase, the pruritus score decreased in both groups (P < 0.001); however, the mean reduction

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Introduction:Thi study aimed to determine the status of pruritus and its relation to dialysis adequacy and laboratory factors among hemodialysis patients in Shiraz dialysis centers so that appropriate interventions could be planned for promotion of the life quality. Materials and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study on the data collected from 141 patients selected by convenient sampling. We used a questionnaire, interview, and lab test for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software and appropriate tests. A p value=0.05 was considered as the significance level. Results:The mean age of our patients was 53±16 years, (82.3% were married), and 53.2% of them were male. Of these patients, 39.7% had pruritus and most of them (48.1%) reported they had pruritus in different times of the day. A significant correlation was found between dialysis adequacy and pruritus (p=0.029), and the correlation of pruritus and high sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was significantly positive (p=0.009). Conclusion:Pruritus is a common problem in haemodialysis patients and is significantly associated with dialysis adequacy and hs-CRP. The level of their quality of life could be enhanced by appropriate interventions.

Background: Several studies addressed the association between fragmented QRS (fQRS) on 12-lead EKG and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with a variety of cardiovascular disorders. We tested such association in healthy individuals. Methods: Out of 500 healthy participants without-overt cardiovascular disease from the Shiraz Heart Study cohort, we identified 20 subjects with fQRS (cases) and 20 peers without fQRS (controls). Global LV longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured by speckle tracking echocardiography in the two groups. Comparison was made between case and control groups by using chi-square or independent sample t-test or ANOVA. Results: Age, gender, ejection fraction, LV volume and dimensions did not differ between the case and the control groups. Overall, 14 subjects out of 40 had reduced GLS (≤20%) and 10 of them (25%) had fQRS. GLS was significantly lower in the group with fQRS than in the control group (19.9 ± 1.8 vs 21.4 ± 1.6; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Healthy subjects with fQRS present regional LV systolic dysfunction, assessed by GLS, in the presence of a normal ejection fraction. These data suggest that fQRS may be a promising tool to identify apparently healthy subjects with regional LV systolic dysfunction.

Background The present study aimed to compare dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Methods One hundred and sixty healthy women (partner with male infertility) were recruited to a control group; 168 women with PCOS (diagnosed on ultrasound) were recruited to a case study group for this cross‐sectional comparative study. The case group was classified into three phenotypes based on the presence or absence of menstrual disorder (M), hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovary according to sonography (PCO): HA+PCO (n = 53), PCO+M (n = 57) and M+HA+PCO (n = 66). Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour were measured using a food frequency questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire. Results The mean energy (P < 0.001) and fat (P < 0.001) intakes were greater in PCOS groups compared to the control group. The average energy and fat intakes were greater in HA+M+PCO group after age and body mass index (BMI) adjustment compared to the other phenotypes (P < 0.001). In comparison with the control group, lifestyle scores were lower in the PCOS group in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control after age and BMI adjustment (P < 0.001). The average score of lifestyle in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control, and psychological health was lower in the phenotype HA+M+PCO compared to the other phenotypes (P < 0.001). Conclusions A limited energy and fat intake is strongly recommended in Iranian women with PCOS, especially for phenotype HA+M+PCO. Consultation with respect to improvement of psychological health and the importance of weight and nutrition control, as well as appropriate physical activity, is advocated, especially in patients with phenotype HA+M+PCO.