Background: Cardiovascular hemodynamic changes after laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubations can cause serious complications. This study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between the anthropometric indices and hemodynamic changes after laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation (EI). Materials and Methods: This descriptive–analytical pilot study was carried out in 2012, in the Kashani Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. After obtaining written informed consent from 130 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, they were enrolled in the study. The recorded data included were, age, weight, height, neck circumference (NC), waist-to-hip ratio (W/H ratio) and body mass index (BMI). The heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SAP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were recorded at baseline (before injection of the anesthetic drugs), just before laryngoscopy, and one, three, five, and ten minutes after EI. Results: The best cut-off points for BMI, NC, and W/H ratio, for prediction of significant cardiovascular changes after EI were, 26.56 kg/m², 38 cm, and 0.82, respectively. There was a significant correlation between BMI and HR changes in the first and fifth minutes and also in MAP in the third and fifth minutes after EI (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between NC and MAP in the fifth minute (P < 0.05). The W/H ratio was significantly related to the DBP in the tenth minute and MAP in the fifth and tenth minutes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, among the anthropometric indices, the BMI, NC, and W/H ratio were significantly correlated with cardiovascular changes after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.

Background: Fibrocyte-specific protein, otospiralin, is a small protein, widely expressed in the central nervous system as neuronal cell bodies and glia. The increased expression of otospiralin in reactive astrocytes implicates its role in signaling pathways and reparative mechanisms subsequent to injury. Indeed, otospiralin is considered to be essential for the survival of fibrocytes of the mesenchymal nonsensory regions of the cochlea. It seems that other functions of this protein are not yet completely understood. Materials and Methods: Amino acid sequences of otospiralin from 12 vertebrates were derived from National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Phylogenetic analysis and phylogeny estimation were performed using MEGA 5.0.5 program, and neighbor-joining tree was constructed by this software. Results: In this computational study, the phylogenetic tree of otospiralin has been investigated. Therefore, dendrograms of otospiralin were depicted. Alignment performed in MUSCLE method by UPGMB algorithm. Also, entropy plot determined for a better illustration of amino acid variations in this protein. Conclusion: In the present study, we used otospiralin sequence of 12 different species and by constructing phylogenetic tree, we suggested out group for some related species.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT) may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. We compared endothelial function between SHT patients and euthyroid individuals, and evaluated the effects of levothyroxine therapy on endothelial function in the patients. Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed in SHT patients and healthy controls (n = 25 in each group). Patients then received levothyroxine (50 μg/day) for 2 months, and the FMD and IMT assessments were repeated. Results: Patients and controls were similar in IMT (0.56 ± 0.09 vs. 0.58 ± 0.08 mm, P = 0.481), but FMD was lower in patients than in controls (4.95 ± 2.02 vs. 6.50 ± 2.57%, P = 0.011). A significant increase was observed in FMD (4.11 ± 2.37%, P = 0.001), but not in IMT (−0.004 ± 0.020 mm, P = 0.327), after levothyroxine therapy among the patients. Conclusions: Patients with SHT have endothelial dysfunction which responds to levothyroxine therapy. Randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Multiple sclerosis may have profound emotional consequences. The relation between psychological and physical factors could lead patients toward unforeseen disease. This study focuses on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease duration on personality type A and B in relation to individuals' behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan Alzahra hospital in 2013. Three hundred MS patients and 100 healthy individuals were determined. The distributed questionnaires related to MS patients and considering the descriptive statistics such as demographic variables. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) based on Chi-square test and independent T-test. Results: Disease duration varied between 1 to 38 years: 30% (1-4 years), 38% (5-10 years), 20% (10-20 years), and 12% (more than 20 years). Significant relationship was observed between disease duration and tendency to type A (higher stress). This relation was positive and significant in Relapsing Remitting MS patients; but negative correlation was seen in Secondary Progressive MS patients. These patients tended to type B (lower stress) when disease duration increased. Conclusions: Individuals with disease duration of one year and less than one year tend to type A personality, while patients with increment of disease duration have tendency to type B.