BackgroundFinasteride is a competitive inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase enzyme, and is used for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. Animal studies have shown that finasteride might induce behavioral changes. Additionally, some cases of finasteride-induced depression have been reported in humans. The purpose of this study was to examine whether depressive symptoms or anxiety might be induced by finasteride administration.MethodsOne hundred and twenty eight men with androgenetic alopecia, who were prescribed finasteride (1 mg/day) were enrolled in this study. Information on depressed mood and anxiety was obtained by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants completed BDI and HADS questionnaires before beginning the treatment and also two months after it.ResultsMean age of the subjects was 25.8(± 4.4) years. At baseline, mean BDI and HADS depression scores were 12.11(± 7.50) and 4.04(± 2.51), respectively. Finasteride treatment increased both BDI (p < 0.001) and HADS depression scores significantly (p = 0.005). HADS anxiety scores were increased, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.061).ConclusionThis preliminary study suggests that finasteride might induce depressive symptoms; therefore this medication should be prescribed cautiously for patients with high risk of depression. It seems that further studies would be necessary to determine behavioral effects of this medication in higher doses and in more susceptible patients.
Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab immediately after surgical excision of primary pterygium is well-tolerated, but it cannot significantly prevent the recurrence of this condition.
Background and Aims: Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) face an increased risk of atherosclerosis, a crucial problem and the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on paraoxonase (PON) enzyme activity in patients on HD. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2005 to June 2007. Sixty HD patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: treatment (case) and control. The treatment and control groups were treated with 100 mg/day zinc or placebo, respectively, for 2 months. Serum zinc concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. PON activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric method. Lipid profile was determined using commercial kits, and apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI) and B (Apo-B) levels were measured by commercial immunoturbidimetric kits. Results: In the case group, there was no significant change in the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Apo-B levels, while the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), Apo-AI, and PON activity were significantly increased (p ¼ 0.02). In the control group, although significant increases were observed in the serum levels of TC, TG, and Apo-B (p ¼ 0.009, 0.019, and 0.001, respectively), the serum PON activity was significantly decreased (p ¼ 0.025) and the serum levels of HDL, LDL, and Apo-AI were not changed. At the end of intervention period, the serum level of Apo-AI and PON activity were significantly higher in the case group. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation increased both the activity of PON and the serum level of Apo-AI in the HD patients.
Retinal arteriovenous malformations are rare and most are reported to be asymptomatic. We report an 11-year-old boy who attended for blunt trauma to his eye. The first ophthalmologic examination was performed in Nikookari Hospital Eye Emergency Room. Visual acuity was 20/20 and relative afferent pupillary defect was negative in both eyes. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed multiple massive dilated retinal vessels in the superior arcade of the right eye. The arteriovenous malformation was not associated with exudation, hemorrhage or abnormal pigmentation. The left eye examination was unremarkable. We performed fluorescein angiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the right eye fluorescein angiography, the malformation was not associated with leak or edema. The left eye fluorescein angiography was unremarkable. Brain MRI was unremarkable. After 16 months follow-up, there were no symptoms. This is the first case report from the Middle East region. To the best of our knowledge, retinal arteriovenous malformation has rarely been reported in children. Previously published literature suggests that these malformations may become complicated in time. Brain MRI is strongly recommended because of the possibility of Wyburn-Mason syndrome.
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