Background: Boswellia serrata oleo-gum-resin (frankincense; olibanum) has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of frankincense extract in the treatment of oral aphthous ulcers. Materials and Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, patients with aphthous ulcers were randomly assigned to either experimental (Frankincense extract) or placebo groups to use orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) of frankincense and placebo, respectively, four times a day for 3 days. The size of aphthous ulcers and the pain severity by visual analogue scale were recorded at days 0, 2, and 4 and compared between the groups. Results: Twenty-five patients in each group completed the study. Olibanum extract ODT significantly reduced the ulcer size on the second (P < 0.001) and fourth (P < 0.001) days as well as the pain score on the second (P = 0.002) and fourth (P < 0.001) days of the intervention compared to placebo. Furthermore, at the end of the intervention, the number of patients with complete ulcer healing and pain relief in the experimental group was significantly more than the placebo group (5 vs. 0, P = 0.02; and 11 vs. 0, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Taking olibanum extract ODTs reduces the ulcer size and pain severity and accelerates the healing process in the oral aphthous lesions.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether waterpipe smoking can be associated with the transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection or not. Materials and Methods: Between March 2018 and April 2019, 445 patients aged over 18 years old who were admitted to outpatient clinics with dyspeptic complaints were recruited for the study. Patients are divided into two groups – Group 1 is H. pylori-positive patients and Group 2 is negative. Waterpipe smoking, smoking, age, gender, and educational status were compared among groups. Results: Two hundred and sixty-one women (58%) and 184 men (42%), totally 445 patients, tested for H. pylori infection. Seventy-nine of 261 (30%) women and 60 of 184 (32%) men had H. pylori positive. One hundred and sixty-two of 445 (36%) patients were smoking cigarette and 66 of 445 (14%) patients were using waterpipe tobacco. Waterpipe smoking individuals were found to be associated with the H. pylori positivity (P < 0.001); whereas, age, gender, educational level, and smoking were not found to be statistically significant (all P > 0.05). In binary logistic regression analysis, waterpipe tobacco smoking was found to be the only independent predictor of H. pylori infection (P < 0.001, odds ratio = 5.51, confidence interval: 3.158–9.617). Conclusion: Waterpipe smoking seems to be an important risk factor for H. pylori infection and may be one of the reasons of high prevalence of H. pylori infection.

Background: Suitable mechanical ventilation strategies can reduce the incidence and severity of ventilator-associated lung injury in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, the effects of adaptive support ventilation (ASV) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) on respiratory parameters and arterial blood gases (ABGs) parameters were compared in ARDS patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups of ASV and SIMV. Patients were followed up for 3 days, and respiratory parameters including rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), spontaneous breathing rate (SBR), minute volume, and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) as the primary outcomes and ABG parameters including PaO₂, FiO₂, PaCO₂, HCO₃, and PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio as the secondary outcomes were measured. Results: PIP in patients in the SIMV group on the 1^st day (P = 0.013), 2^nd day (P = 0.001), and 3^rd day (P = 0.004) was statistically significantly more compared to those in patients in the ASV group. RSBI, SBR, and minute volume between the ASV and SIMV groups during the 3 days were not statistically significantly different (P > 0.05). The mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, PaO₂, and PH between both groups were similar (P > 0.05). At the end of the 2^nd and 3^rd days, the level of FiO₂ and PaCO₂ in ASV was significantly lower than those in ASV group. HCO₃ in each of the 3 days in the ASV group was statistically significantly lower than that in the SIMV group (P < 0.050). PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio in patients in the ASV group in the 3 days was statistically significantly higher than that in the SIMV group (P < 0.050). Conclusion: By reducing PIP and improving oxygenation and ABG parameters, ASV mode may be a safe and feasible mode during mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS.

Background: Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a common complaint causing several referrals to pediatricians. On the other hand, the most common presentation of hyperuricosuria and also hypercalciuria is chronic/recurrent abdominal pain. Therefore, a hypothesis has been raised; abdominal pain due to hyperuricosuria and/or hypercalciuria may be misdiagnosed as FAP. The current study has aimed to respond to this theory. Materials and Methods: This is a case–control study conducted on children diagnosed with FAP based on Rome IV criteria and age-matched normal controls. Blood and random urine samples were taken from healthy children and those with FAP. Random urine samples were examined for calcium, uric acid, oxalate, and creatinine concentrations. Random urine calcium to urine creatinine above 0.2 mg/mg was considered hypercalciuria and random urine uric acid above 0.56 mg/dl, GFR as hyperuricosuria. The data were analyzed using logistic models. Results: Hypercalciuric children had a significantly lower chance of FAP (odds ratio [OR] =0.425, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.204–0.886). Although an inverse association was seen between hyperuricosuria and FAP (OR = 0.693, 95% CI = 0.395–1.214), it was not statistically significant. In stratified analyses by gender for both hyperuricosuria and hypercalciuria, a marginal inverse significant association was seen in male gender (P < 0.1). Conclusion: Our study showed that hypercalciuria is significantly in inverse association with FAP but not hyperuricosuria. Therefore, these disorders, particularly hyperuricosuria may not be considered as the possible causes of FAP. Further studies with larger sample size for providing more reliable evidence are recommended.

Background: The adaptive immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been reported previously. However, the association between airway and circulating autoantibodies (AAbs) levels is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the link between the AAb levels in airway and circulation in stable patients with IPF. Materials and Methods: From June 2016 to March 2017, 21 stable IPF patients and 22 healthy volunteers were recruited. We established Luminex interacting AAbs with bead-antigen complex to detect the immunoglobulin G antibodies levels of ten autoantigens which were matched serum (Se) and sputum (Sp) samples collected from recruited subjects, including Smith (Sm), Anti-ribosomal P antibody (P0), Sjögren syndrome type A antigen (SSA), La/Sjögren syndrome type B antigen (SSB), DNA topoisomerase (Scl-70), histidyl-tRNA synthetase (Jo-1), U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1-SnRNP), thyroid peroxidase, Proteinase 3, and Myeloperoxidase. Spearman's rank correlation matrix was applied to explore the associations of Ab profiles between Se and Sp. Results: For IPF patients, Spearman's correlation matrix showed multiple intercorrelations among Sp-AAbs and Sp-AAbs (P < 0.05), while only the levels of AAb against Sm and anti-La in Se were correlated with those Sp-AAb counterparts (P < 0.05). For healthy individuals, only anti-La in Se was associated with those Sp-AAb counterparts (P < 0.05). For IPF patients, there was a positive correlation between carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DL_CO)% predicted and Sp-anti-P0 level (r = 0.464, P = 0.034). Forced vital capacity% predicted was positively correlated with Sp-anti-Scl-70 level (r = 0.466, P = 0.033). Conclusion: Comparing to Se-AAbs, Sp-AAbs are more associated with clinical parameters in the patients with IPF. In order to better understand the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of IPF, detection of Sp-AAbs for local autoimmune responses may be a good choice.

Background: The main aim of the study was to identify selected factors that determine patients with multiple sclerosis (MS') failure to take home therapeutic exercises (HTE) and other physical activity (OPA). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a self-completed online survey that was aimed at adult people diagnosed with MS, registered on the portal TacyJakJa.pl. In total, 335 persons were involved. Results: Almost half of all people who completed the survey (49.9%), reported that no one encouraged them to use HTE, and only 16.1% were encouraged by their doctor. As many as 51% of the respondents reported also that no one encouraged them to undertake OPA, and only 18.5% were encouraged by their doctor. As the most important reason for not using HTE, the respondents chose fear that exercises may worsen their condition (47.3%). However, the most important reason for not using the OPA was high fatigue (61.9%). The number of people exercising at home increased with age (P = 0.013). Those surveyed with relapsing–remitting MS significantly more often (P = 0.002) took up OPA (60.7%) than the respondents with a secondary progressive MS (10.0%) and a primary progressive (4.4%). Conclusion: Physicians relatively rarely encourage patients with MS to undertake HTE and OPA. The patients do not perform HTE primarily because of fears of health deterioration or fatigue. Undertaking HTE is influenced by age but undertaking other forms of physical activity by the type of MS. Actions should be taken to popularize HTE and OPA, especially HTE among young patients.

Background: Given the inadequate control of pain in patients with the trauma that refer to the emergency departments, the rapid onset of action of intranasal administration in pain management, and the avoidance of administering opioid medications, the present study aimed at evaluating the effect of intranasal ketamine versus intranasal fentanyl on pain management in isolated traumatic patients. Materials and Methods: The current study was performed on 125 patients that were divided into the following three groups: control group (n = 41), 1 mg/kg intranasal ketamine group (n = 40), and 1 μg/kg intranasal fentanyl group (n = 44). Then pain scores, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded at baseline, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 min after the intervention. Results: Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients in the intranasal ketamine group 5 and 10 min after the intervention were 61.50 ± 20.45 and 55.00 ± 21.96, respectively. The mentioned scores were significantly lower than the VAS scores of patients in the control group with the mean of 72.44 ± 22.11 and 66.59 ± 24.25 and the VAS scores of patients in the intranasal fentanyl group with the mean of 71.59 ± 22.09 and 65.00 ± 22.87 at 5 and 10 min after the intervention, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the onset of action in < 10 min, intranasal ketamine can be proposed as an appropriate analgesic medication in pain reduction of patients with isolated limb injuries. Moreover, the incidence rate and severity of adverse effects were insignificantly higher in the intranasal ketamine group as compared with the intranasal fentanyl group.