BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia is a common, troubling, and usually chronic disorder. Although the merit of using pathological assays has not been confirmed, medications affecting eosinophils may result in some improvements. Disseminated distribution of mast cells may also be an essential factor. Given the probable associations and lack of evidenced-based data, this study was conducted to comparatively investigate the number of eosinophils and mast cells in the duodenum in functional dyspepsia patients and healthy controls. METHODS In this case-control study, 150 consecutive subjects in Kerman, Iran, were enrolled in 2015 and 2016; the subjects consisted of 100 patients with functional dyspepsia and 50 asymptomatic healthy controls. Samples from the two groups were compared for the number of eosinophils, mast cells, and Helicobacter pylori presence by grasp biopsy. RESULTS The mean number of mast cells significantly differed between the groups (P = 0.001), but the eosinophil count was similar (p > 0.05). Female gender, no opioid use, and H. pylori may increase mast cell count (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Overall, the mast cell count was significantly different between people with functional dyspepsia and people without it, but the eosinophil count in the two groups was similar.

Background: Dissertations or theses are valuable sources of information, which play an important role in scientific development because of their specific nature and characteristics. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the status of medical students and residents' dissertations in terms of contribution to scientific development in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional, analytical study examined the status of medical students and residents' dissertations, submitted to the Medical Faculty of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during 2012-2015. First, the research deputy of Kerman University of Medical Sciences provided the dissertation information. Then, the information was analyzed in terms of study design, study type, extraction of Persian and English articles, publication in domestic and international journals, and indexing in reputable scientific databases in two groups of medical students and residents' dissertations. SPSS was used for all statistical analyses. Results: In total, 643 dissertations were studied, including 342 (53%) residents and 301 (47%) medical students' thesis. Overall, 267 (41.5%) dissertations were published as articles in domestic and international journals. The findings showed that 13.4% of articles were indexed in the Scopus database. The mean scores of medical students and residents' dissertations were 19.22 ± 0.70 and 19.15 ± 0.85, respectively. Conclusions: Despite the large number of medical students and residents' dissertations submitted to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, a limited number of dissertations were published as scientific and research papers, and the number of articles indexed in international journals was insignificant. Thesis writing is generally a unique opportunity for students to learn research skills and methods. In addition, publication of thesis findings in domestic and international databases can lead to scientific development.

This study aimed to investigate its effect on hematologic cancer patients. This was a randomized controlled trial assessing quality of life in patients with hematologic malignancies from a single institute in Hamedan. Patients were allocated into two study arms and in addition to their routine treatment received either daily naltrexone 3 mg capsules (treatment group) or 3 mg starch (placebo group) and were followed up for 5 months. Quality of life was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 in four points in time (at admission, 1, 3 and 5 months follow-up). Data were analyzed to compare quality of life in two groups. Totally, 89 patients were studied (45 in treatment group and 44 in placebo group). There were no significant differences between two groups either in demographic and clinical characteristics or in baseline quality of life scores. However, at 1 month, 3 and 5-month follow-up assessments significant differences were observed. In one month follow-up two groups were significantly different in social functioning (p<0.05) indicating a better condition in the treatment group. In the 3-month follow-up, social functioning, role functioning, nausea and vomiting and appetite loss were better in the treatment group (all p-values <0.05). In the 5-month follow-up, physical functioning, social functioning, role functioning, global quality of life, nausea and vomiting and appetite loss were significantly better in the nalterxone group. Low dose naltrexone is an effective drug in improving quality of life in patients with hematologic cancers.

Background: Medical malpractice is a major cause of patient complaints and dissatisfaction, which is an alarming event for healthcare professional and medical practitioners. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate medical malpractice cases in Kerman province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective study was performed to analyze the complaint cases reported in Kerman Medical Council and Kerman Legal Medicine Organization during 2010 - 2014. Physician data were recorded on age, gender, academic degree, specialty, work experience, place of failure, and type of medical malpractice. Data analysis was performed in SPSS. Results: In total, 551 complaint cases were investigated, 167 of which (31%) were medical malpractice cases. The most common medical malpractices were imprudence (44.31%) and carelessness (41.31%). In addition, most of the medical malpractice cases occurred in governmental hospitals (64.07%). In most of the cases, physicians with specialty degrees were convicted of medical malpractice (73.65%), and the highest number of the medical malpractices was observed in ophthalmology (20.95%). Conclusions: Despite the significant advancement in medical affairs, the rate of patient complaints and medical malpractices has increased noticeably.

Regarding the importance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the high prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency in different societies. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of Vit D3 deficiency in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this cross-sectional study, 122 individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were selected by a simple sampling method. After collecting demographic data, serum Vit 25(OH) D3 level was measured by the ELFA method. Blood lipids level (TG, cholesterol, HDL, LDL), FBS, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, total and direct bilirubin, albumin, and PT were measured by the enzymatic method. To analyze the data, descriptive and analytical methods and SPSS software version 16 were used. The study cases are comprised of 122 individuals (57.4% male). The average age of cases was 42.4±11.7 years, and the mean of serum Vit D3 level was 19.8±22 ng/dl (3-220 ng/dl). Regarding the serum 25(OH) D3 levels data showed 66.4% of cases were Vit D3 deficient (Vit D3 level< 20 ng/dl), 18% had insufficient level (Vit D3 level=20-30 ng/dl), and the remained 15.6% had sufficient level (Vit D3 level> 30 ng/dl). HDL level was higher in individuals with 25(OH) D3 sufficiency compared to those with 25(OH) D3 insufficiency and Vit D3 deficiency (P=0.019). There was no significant relationship between serum Vit D3 level and other investigated variables. The results of this study indicated that most individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had Vit D3 deficiency. Further studies are suggested.