Razi Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:18 | Issue:90|Papers Count:6

Background: Although the diagnosis of Meralgia paraesthetica (MP) is always made based on clinical background, but electrophysiological evaluation is helpful in confirming the diagnosis. We investigated the Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) of the thigh. Because of lack of knowledge in case of its diagnostic utility in our country, this study is performed.Methods: In this cross sectional study, we entered sixty consecutive patients referred to the Loqman Hospital in Tehran (2009–2010), who have clinical symptoms and signs consistent with a diagnosis of MP underwent bilateral studies of SEPs elicited by stimulation of the LFCN of the thigh.Results: SEPs was abnormal in 32 (53.3%) patients, all of whom were clinically diagnosed with MP. The specificity of the SEPs test was 98.3% (95% CI, 91.0%–99.9%) for the diagnosis of MP.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SEPs is an extremely useful test for "ruling out" the diagnosis of MP.

Background: The disability caused by the lower back pain is one of the leading factors contributing to work absenteeism. This disability which is usually due to spinal disc herniation prevents anemployee from doing his/her daily job, thus creating numerous destructive socioeconomic consequences for him/her as well as the society. The goal of this study is to determine the patients return-to-work rate after undergoing the lumbar disc herniation surgery and to study the related factors.Methods: This study was a cross sectional study. All patients suffered from lumber discectomy from 2005 to 2009 at two TUMS (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) educational hospitals were included in this study. Required data about the patients were gathered from the hospital documents, and the return-to-work rate was evaluated by following up on patients via phone calls. Chi-square and T tests were used for evaluation of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively.Results: From 603 final participants, at least 6 month after the surgery, 504 cases (83.6%) returned to work. From these 504 cases, 364 patients (72.2%) returned full time, and 140 patients (27.8%) returned part time. A multivariate regression analysis showed that the return-to-work rate has a strong correlation with age, sex, educational level, body mass index, positive expectation from the surgery before doing it, doctor's encouragement, hospitalization time, manual work, and job satisfaction (p<0.05), however, it had no significant correlation with marriage status, income level, impairment request, insurance coverage, peer support, and the work category with respect to physical labor demand (p>0.05).Conclusions: Our findings show the importance of work related and psychological factors as the determinants of the return-to-work rate after the lumbar disc surgery. From this study, it is apparent that appropriate strategies and team work (between the patient, the surgeon, the rehabilitation specialist, the occupational medicine specialist, and the employer) would elevate the job satisfaction and positive expectations about the surgery, and therefore, they encourage the patient to return to work at a suitable time which in turn, may increase the total return-to-work rate.

Background: Central and peripheral neuropathies are the most common side effects of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The exact mechanisms of diabetic neurotoxicity are still unknown. Recently oxidative stress is introduced as one of the factors for diabetics’ neuropathies. Antioxidants also used as therapeutic agents to reduce the side effects of diabetes. In the present research the antioxidant effects of total and flavonoid extracts of Cusseta lehmaniana Bunge on high glucose inducted Pc12 were studied.Methods: PC12 cell line treated with high glucose was used. Total and flavonoid extract of C. lehmaniana Bungs were prepared. PC12 cells treated with 6X fold high glucose concentration exposed to extracts. Antioxidant activity of extracts, cell viability and apoptosis were studied by DPPH, MTT, Annexin staining and Western Blotting respectively.Results: The MTT result showed 50 mg/ml of flavonoid extract and 100 mg/ml of total C. lehmaniana Bungs extract increased cell viability after 3 hours pretreatment. DPPH assay demonstrated 50 mg/ml flavonoid extract can increased radical scavenging inhibits compare with ascorbic acid. Several assays were used for evaluated of anti apoptotic effect such as: Annexin, SubG1and Western blotting for expression of Bax protein.Conclusion: Based on our findings, it is concluded that both total and flavonoid extract of C. lehmaniana Bungs have the potential to protect PC12 cells against glucose neurotoxicity by reducing apoptosis via increased Bax expression protein.

Background: Job burnout is a common disorder in work places which has negative impacts on job satisfaction, physical and mental health status of employees of faculties. Aim of this study was to investigate job burnout and related factors in employees of Ex-Iran University of Medical Sciences faculties.Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, in the year 2010, 445 employees of Ex-Iran University of Medical Sciences, with total job history of more than one year and recent position history of at least 6 months, were included in study. A questioner included demographic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for evaluating job burnout was used in this study. The data analyzed with statistical methods. p<0.05 used for significance in this study.Results: Mean of emotional exhaustion scores was 13.13 (±9.8), depersonalization 4 (±4.49) and personal accomplishment 22.63(±10.13). In analysis of variance, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization levels in female workers was more than males and in employees with job history of ≤10 years was higher than others (p<0.05). Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization levels in employees with above diploma degree was higher than others (p<0.05). In employees of Hygiene faculty, personal accomplishment was lower and depersonalization was higher than other faculties. In analysis of regression only duration of work, was negatively correlated with job burnout.Conclusion: Generally job burnout in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization was mild and in personal accomplishment was high. Employees with lesser duration of work had more job burnout. Probably, female workers, above diploma workers and workers of some faculties were more susceptible to job burnout. It is necessary to have a suitable approach for this.

Background: Endometriosis is a estrogen-depended and chronic gynecological disease. The symptoms of this with an overall negative impact on the psychosocial parameters in the patients, leading to a significant reduction of health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life in patients with endometriosis.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on women with endometriosis in Several hospitals affiliated Tehran University of Medical Sciences, with non randomized sampling method. Health-related quality of life in patients with endometriosis was investigated with endometriosis health profile (EHP-30) questionnaire in 5 scales including Pain, Emotional well-being, control and powerlessness, Social support and self imaging scales. Data analyzed by descriptive statistics in SPSS (15) software.Results: Mean age of 100 Participants in this study was 39.5±7.54 years. Quality of life scores in core questionnaire domains was 36.20 to 46.73 and in modular questionnaire domains was 34.85 to50.55.Most aspects affected by disease were psychological and pain in core questionnaire and infertility in modular questionnaire. The least affected by the disease was self image domain. Conclusion: Our study showed that Endometriosis impairs health related quality of life, especially in the domains of psychological and pain. Emphasizing on life Quality of patients using appropriate medication therapy and Psychotherapy is necessary and important.

Introduction: Heterotopic Ossification is bone formation outside the skeletal system. Endosulfan is a pesticide in organochlorines family and endosulfan poisoning can make neurologic toxicity with loss of consciousness, diffuse convulsion and status epilepticus. There are some reports about heterotopic ossification due to neurologic and poisoning events, but there is not any report of it after endosulfan poisoning in the literature. Case report: A 44 year old man, presented with pelvic pain and difficulties in walking. There was a history of status epilepticus and coma 4 months ago due to endosulfan poisoning. There was some heterotopic bone formation around hip joints in radiography.Conclusion: Because of high mortality and morbidity due to endusolfan toxicity and absence of any antidote, it is recommended that its availability be restricted and its toxicity be treated immediately specially for convulsion.