مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 596 (هفته چهارم آذر 1399)

There is a close relationship between the radiation dose and the image quality; so that increasing the radiation dose leads to an increase in the image quality.

In this study, images of different thicknesses and filters were obtained by using Multidetector Computed Tomography (CT)-128 and Body mass measurement device-7 (BMMD-7) phantom scanner. The parameters of radiation dose, noise, spatial, and contrast resolution were monitored by the observers as well.

As the slice thickness increased, the amount of spatial resolution at different radiation doses was not significantly different from that of the standard image. In addition, by changing the reconstruction filter, a similar behavior was observed for spatial resolution (P ˂ 0.05).

CT operators have the task of selecting the appropriate slice thickness and reconstruction filter for each medical application. Therefore, the radiation dose can be reduced to a higher degree according to the image quality required for diagnosis.

This study aimed to investigate and compare the characteristics of abdominal pain after bariatric surgery with two techniques of Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (LOAGB) and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) in patients with morbid obesity.

This prospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 114 patients who were candidates for bariatric surgery. Patients were entered to study in one of two groups of LOAGB and LRYGB by convenient and continuous sampling. The characteristics of abdominal pain of patients were investigated and compared at certain periods (24 and 48 hours and 10, 20, 30, and 90 days after surgery) using McGill Pain Questionnaire.

The frequency of severe abdominal pain in the LOAGB group within 48 hours after surgery was significantly higher than the LRYGB group (P < 0.05). The highest abdominal pain distribution at the first 5 time periods in the two groups was in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. The frequency of description of ambiguous pain within 48 hours and 10 days in the LOAGB group was significantly higher than LRYGB. The frequency of pattern of periodical (intermittent) pain at the periods of 48 hours and 10 and 20 days after surgery in the LOAGB group was significantly higher than LRYGB.

The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference in the frequency of abdominal pain and its distribution between LOAGB and LRYGB groups. However, the definitive decision to choose a bariatric surgery technique for lower abdominal pain requires further study.

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease worldwide that is defined by lessened bone density. Osteoporosis progression is accompanied with increased risk of pathologic fractures. Osteopenia is attributed to the first steps of bone density loss process. Studies about treatment initiation while osteopenia is presented, and the treatment dose, are controversial. In this study, low dose versus high dose of alendronate among menopausal women with osteopenia was evaluated.

The current randomized clinical trial (RCT) study was conducted on 152 menopausal women with osteopenia referred to a rheumatology clinic during 2017-18. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of treatment with weekly doses of 35 mg and 70 mg alendronate, and then followed for two years. Bone mineral densitometry (BMD) was performed for all the patients prior to and after treatment, and findings were compared.

Two assessed groups were not statistically different regarding age, gender, height, weight, and body mass index (BMD) (P > 0.050 for all). BMD findings of two groups including hip and spine/wrist Fracture risk assessment system (FRAX), hip and spine T-score, and hip and spine Z-score significantly improved following two years (P < 0.001); but the comparison of two doses presented no statistical difference considering BMD findings improvement (P > 0.050).

Findings of this study are in favor of preventive treatment with alendronate in women with osteopenia. Furthermore, considering digestive irritability as the main complaint of alendronate, based on our findings, weekly 35 mg use of this agent can be considered.