Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:8 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Introduction: Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims during which they fast. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of selected exercise programs and Ramadan fasting on plasma glucose, lipids and lipoproteins.Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 32 healthy, young untrained men who voluntarily participated in the study. They were divided randomly into two groups of exercisers (n=17, age: 25.76±5.27) and controls (n=15, age: 25.42±3.99). Their blood samples were taken four times [1 day before the beginning of Ramadan Fasting (Pre-RF), 15th and 29th of the Ramadan, and 30 days after the end of Ramadan Fasting (After-RF)]. The exercise selected included aerobic exercises (intensity: 70% of maximal heart rate, frequency: 3 times a week, duration: 4 weeks). Statistical method of t-test and repeated measure tests were used for analysis.Results: Triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were significantly lower in the experiment group on the 15th of Ramadan and TG was significantly lower After-Rf (P£0.05). There was no significant difference between other variables including low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) in the exercise and control groups (P>0.05). In the exercise group, TG, VLDL and FBS decreased on day 15 versus pre-fasting, TG and VLDL increased on day 29 versus day 15 and decreased in After-RF versus day 15 (P£0.05). There were no significant changes within the measures of the control group (P>0.05).Conclusion: It seems that metabolic response to fasting is closely related to interactive response of exercise and fasting.

Introduction: Ig E-mediated allergy to the protein of natural rubber latex is an important global health problem. Due to the specific immunity status of children and adolescents with renal failure, possible exposure to other cross-reactive allergens specially pollen and trees, their exposure to frequent hemodialysis and use of gloves, catheters and other equipment containing latex, this study was designed aiming at determining the prevalence of latex allergy in hemodialyzed children and adolescents under 18 years old in hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences-2006.Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, reaction of 68 participants to scratch skin test (Prick) with standard latex extract, previous history about sensitivity and their demographic data were analyzed by SPSS, version 11 software using descriptive and inferential statistic such as proportion test, independent t-test and Chi-square.Results: The findings revealed that one of the seven subjects (14.7%) had positive reaction to latex. Proportion test indicated that this prevalence rate was higher than the normal population sensitivity rate (P =0.001).Conclusion: With respect to the results, researchers suggest that exact history taking and the necessary latex allergy tests should be performed in this high risk group to prevent damage and possible side effects. Also, to reduce the sensitivity of latex, we recommend that protein component of the gloves, the catheter and other equipment used containing latex be decreased by Chlorination, Autoclaving and use of Proteolytic enzymes or Nonionic surfactants such as Polyethylene glycol.

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are a common problem and the first thyroid malignancy presentation in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate FNABs performed in patients with thyroid nodule during the years 1995 to 2006 for cytohistologic concordance.Material and Methods: In this study, we reviewed the files of 1150 patients with thyroid nodule and finally 218 patients underwent thyroid surgery following FNAB biopsy and were chosen for the study.Results: Four cytologic diagnostic categories were used and the rates of these categories were as follows: benign, 57.8 percent; suspicious for malignancy, 20.2 percent; malignant, 19.7 percent and nondiagnostic, 1.4 percent. We obtained a sensitivity of 72.5 percent, a specificity of 83 percent and an accuracy of 76 percent. The false negative rate was 19 percent and the false positive rate was 24 percent.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that diagnostic value (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy) of FNAB in our region in comparison with other countries is low. The most important result is the low rate of nondiagnostic (1.4 vs. 17 percent) and high rate of false negative reports (19 percent) in comparison with other studies (5.2 percent). It seems that FNA is an accurate and cost effective procedure; yet, it can be more accurate with better sampling and more attention to false negative and inadequate results. is It is suggested that a standard classification and clinical data should be taken into account, especially in the case of suspicions results.

Introduction: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is one of those problems which repeatedly happens and affects the future of children. In order to decrease the negative effects of CSA, many countries attemptto fight against this problem by developing new educational programs. One of the target populations t be educated in this regard is primary school teachers, who can offer great helps due to their day-to-day and close relationship with the victims of CSA. Therefore, they are supposed to have the knowledge and ability in this area. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge of primary school teachers regarding CSA and their attitudes towards it, and also to evaluate their ability to identify and report this phenomenon.Material and Methods: The sample group consisted of 62 primary school teachers in Karaj who were selected through cluster sampling method. To collect the data, a researcher-made questionnaire was used with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86.Results: The analysis of data showed that although the teachers are aware of the significance of their role in identification and reporting of CSA, their knowledge in this area is insufficient. 86 percent of these teachers had received no instructions in this area and it seems that their ability to identify and report this phenomenon was not sufficient.Conclusion: Therefore, it seems necessary to provide the teachers with proper instructions about identification and reporting of this problem in pre-service educational courses.

Introduction: Spinal pain is considered as one of the important job lesions among workers of industrial plants due to heavy labor and lots of manual material handlings. So, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of spinal pain and associated factors among production line workers in Shiraz.Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of pain and its associated factors were examined in 289 workers through a self-reported researcher-designed questionnaire. The samples were selected based on inclusion criteria and through sampling with appropriate classification among the plants with a population of more than 100 people. c2 test and logistic regression was used to analyze the data.Results: 53.9% of the samples experienced pain in at least one area of the spine, including cervical vertebrae (5.9%), thoracic (11.1%), lumbar (50.9%) and sacroiliac and coccyx (3.5%). By logistic regression analysis, the factors significantly related to low level of pain prevalence were regular exercise [OR=0.19], enough working space [OR=0.39], lack of exposure to risk factors such as lifting relatively heavy loads [OR=0.21], frequent trunk [OR=0.36] and neck bending [OR=0.13]. On the other hand, factors that were significantly related to high levels of pain prevalence were using hand tools [OR=4.24], lack of resting time [OR=12.87], and resting time less than two hours [OR=5.79].Conclusion: Prevalence of spinal pain, especially low back pain is relatively high among workers. Limited work space, unsafe use of tools, and inactive life style were the most influential factors related to the high level of spinal pain prevalence.

Introduction: Birth and delivery is one of the natural phenomena and a vital part of life cycle. In this regard, the final aim for the mother to deliver a healthy child without any complications. Since urinary tract infection is one of the factors which threaten reaching this goal, there was an attempt in this study to investigate the condition of pregnant women in this respect according to Health Belief Model.Material and Methods: An explanatory-analytic study was conducted on 110 pregnant women who referred to the health and treatment centers in Behbahan city. The tool used for collection of data was a multiple choice questionnaire consisting of demographic information, knowledge, attitude and selfefficacy. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire had been studied before the investigation. Analysis of the data was conducted, using SPSS software.Results: About 40.9% of the women observed had high school diploma. About 54.5% of them obtained good points in self-efficacy. The scores obtained in self-efficacy itself depended on the people under observation and their education. Pregnant women were more self-efficient regarding the food habits. The scores of the perceived benefits were 94.5% of the good participants. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and health belief model factors.Conclusion: Health Belief Model can be used as a tool for evaluating the condition of pregnant women in the field of urinary tract infection.

Introduction: Physical activity plays an important role in the health of pregnant women. This study is aimed to determine the knowledge and performance of pregnant women on exercises during pregnancy and postpartum periods.Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 200 women were assessed. Data including demographic characteristics and knowledge and performance of women about pregnancy and postpartum exercises were recorded through a questionnaire and analyzed with c2 statistical test and then odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence Interval (CI) were estimated.Results: The mean (±SD) knowledge score was 21.6±7.7. 60% of the women had moderate knowledge about pregnancy and postpartum exercises. Only 19% of the cases were recommended to perform exercise and in 68.4% of them it was done by a midwife. During pregnancy, only 39% of the women had physical activity and most of the exercise was walking. 48.7% of the women had continued to exercise till the 9th month of pregnancy. There was a significant difference between the participants' knowledge and physical activity during pregnancy (P=0.025) but there was no correlation with other variables.Conclusion: Most of the women had moderate knowledge about physical activities and did not have a good performance. Therefore, we emphasize educating women about the importance of exercise and its role in improving the women's performance during pregnancy.

Introduction: Patient education has many advantages such as increase in the clients' satisfaction, improvement of life quality and decrease in the side effects of the disease and treatment expenditure, and decrease in the patients' readmission. The main objective of this study was to compare the importance and performance of patient educational programs in the viewpoint of nurses and patients.Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the nurses employed in Fatemeh Zahra hospital of Najafabad (n=90) and 120 patients were selected through convenience sampling method and recruited to the study. Data were gathered using self-designed questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and analytical statistics (Mann Whitney U).Results: The findings showed that there were significant differences between the viewpoint of the nurses and patients about the importance and performance of patient educational programs (P<0.005). The scores of the nurses on the importance of such services and the performance of patient education (38.64 vs. 27.91) were higher than those of the patients. (48.82 vs. 46.28). From the point of view of the nurses, patient education by highly motivated nurses and based on their educational needs were the most important measures which needs to be tackled. However, from point of view of the patients, patient education by highly knowledgeable nurses and appropriate communication skills during patient education were the most significant measures which should be taken into account.Conclusion: The mean score of the nurses about the importance and performance of patient education programs were higher than those of the patients. The results can contribute to the improvement in the quality of care for the patients.