Background and objectiveAsthma is a growing problem worldwide. Acute exacerbations impose considerable morbidity, mortality, and increased cost. Viral respiratory infections are the most common cause (80–85%) of pediatric asthma exacerbations and admissions to the hospital. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a new synbiotic Lactocare® on viral respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations in asthmatic children.MethodsIn this double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 72 children with mild persistent asthma, aged between 6 and 12 years, were randomized to receive either Lactocare®, a Synbiotic containing 1 billion CFU/Capsule of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Fructooligosacharide (Zist Takhmir, Tehran, Iran) or placebo daily for 60 days. The primary outcome was the number of viral respiratory infections, and secondary outcomes were school absence, salbutamol and prednisolone usage, outpatient visits, and hospital admission for asthma. The outcomes were compared among study groups using the SPSS 11.5 program and the Mann Whitney and Fisher exact tests.ResultsOf the 72 children who were enrolled with mild persistent asthma, 36 were assigned randomly to be treated with synbiotic and 36 with placebo. The number of viral respiratory infections was significantly higher in placebo group than the synbiotic group during the first month of intervention (0.74 ± 0.12 vs. 0.44 ± 0.1, p < 0.007) but not during the second month (0.5 ± 0.8 vs. 0.5 ± 0.8, p < 0.641). Considering the total duration of the study (two months), infection episodes also were significantly lower in the synbiotic group (0.92 ± 0.15 vs. 0.69 ± 0.11, p < 0.046). Salbutamol consumption was significantly lower in the synbiotic group, but there were no significant differences in school absenteeism, oral prednisolone use, outpatient visits, or hospital admissions.ConclusionThis new synbiotic (a mixture of seven probiotic strains plus fructooligosacharide may reduce episodes of viral infection in asthmatic children.Trial registrationThis study is registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with registration number of IRCT201509234976N3.FundingThis research was supported financially by the Research Council of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Grant Number: 911048).

We report on 8 azotemic patients with anuria or progressive oliguria owing to bilateral uric acid lithiasis. In 7 patients the precipitating cause of acute obstructive renal insufficiency was choking of at least 1 distal ureter with numerous small uric acid stones. In 6 of these ureters contrast retrograde ureterography showed relief of obstruction, which was believed to be owing to the stone dissolution properties of the contrast medium used. In situ alkalization via nephrostomy catheters achieved dissolution of obstructing stones in 3 tracts and systemic alkalization dissolved the stones in 3 others. An operation was necessary in 4 cases of large calculi, all of which showed some radiodensity, either because of super added calcification or phosphatic incrustation, rendering dissolution unfeasible. Methods of management of the obstructed tract caused by uric acid stone disease are evaluated and discussed.

Renal transplantation is considered the best treatment option for patients with end-stage renal disease. In this study, the prevalence of oral lesions was studied in a cohort of renal transplant recipients before and after transplantation. Fifty-nine kidney transplant recipients were examined one week before and four months after transplantation. The information gathered included age, sex, smoking history, duration on dialysis, drugs and their doses. There were 41 males (69.5%) and 18 females (30.5%) with a mean age of 37 years. Before surgery, two patients had non-specific lesions and two other patients had leukoedema. Following transplantation, 24 patients (40.7%) did not have any specific lesion. In six patients, we observed non-specific erythematous lesions (10.2%). Other recorded observations are as follows: Gingival hyperplasia in five patients (8.5%), oral candidiasis of the erythematous type in five patients (8.5%), hairy leukoplakia in four patients (6.8%) and leukoedema in seven patients (11.9%). In our study patients, the prevalence of oral lesions increased after transplantation, although it was lower than that reported in other studies. This could be due to the differences in sample size, differences between Iranian race and other races and different pharmaceutical formulation of the drug produced in Iran.

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Identifying the causes of anaphylaxis which is an acute, potentially fatal systemic reaction is very important in every community. Treatment strategies and pitfalls should also be determined. We sought to determine the most common triggers of anaphylaxis, clinical manifestations and treatment strategies in Mashhad, northeast of Iran. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate all patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction who were referred to University Allergy Clinics between 2006 and 2016 in Mashhad Iran. We used a combination of patient’s clinical history and allergy diagnostic testing including radioallergosorbant test and skin prick test in order to determine the etiology of anaphylaxis. We identified 172 anaphylactic reactions in 70 patients. Median age was 15 years with a range from 6 months to 48 years. The triggers included: foods, 61.4%; drugs, 15.7%; hymenoptera venom, 8.6%; idiopathic, 5.7%; immunotherapy, 4.3% and other etiologies: 5.7%. Nuts and seeds were the most important triggers of food induced anaphylaxis, especially in school children, adolescents and young adults, followed by fruits. However, Cow’s milk and hen’s egg were the main triggers of anaphylaxis in children aged under 2 years. The most common symptoms were cutaneous and cardiovascular. Corticosteroids (94.3%) and/or antihistamines (85.7%) were used most frequently for treatment followed by intravenous fluids (54.3%), whereas epinephrine was only used in 17.1% of the cases. Food related anaphylaxis and other typical triggers of anaphylaxis are age dependent and the risks and triggers change with age. Epinephrine injection should be increased by improving the awareness of physician and medical teams. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (approved number: IR.MUMS.REC.1393.960).

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