Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:8 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

IntroductionFars Province is one of endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The present study aimed to conduct a molecular epidemiology survey of patients referring to Parasitology Lab at Shiraz School of Medicine and evaluate the PCR assay for the diagnosis of CL.Material and MethodsThis retrospective study was carried out for patients referring to Parasitology department at Shiraz School of Medicine, during 1380-84. The disease was diagnosed by direct smear and staining with Giemsa; if the direct smear was negative, specific PCR was done on the DNA extracted from the direct smear to genus and species identification and culture. The data were registered and analyzed by SPSS software.ResultsOf 186 suspected patients, 104 (56%) cases were infected with CL. PCR results were positive in 35 (56.4%) out of 62 smears, among which microscopic examination did not reveal Leishmania amastigotes. Also, Leishmania species isolated from the patients residing in the urban and rural areas were Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major by species-specific primers, respectively.ConclusionSince in some cases the direct smear is reported negative, we suggest using PCR methods on smears in endemic regions.

IntroductionToxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that invades a wide variety of host cells including macrophages and survives within it. The parts of Toxoplasma that participate in the mechanism of its evasion from immune system and macrophage defenses are not completely defined. In this study, we evaluated the effect of protein and DNA Toxoplasma fractions on proliferation and nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages.Material and MethodsThe viability of macrophages was evaluated using3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) reduction assay and the production of nitrite using Griess method.ResultsMTT reduction and hence the growth and viability of macrophages in a dose of 200 ng/ml was significantly lower than those of the negative control (P=0.022); in other lower doses of protein it was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Different doses of Toxoplasma protein fraction did not affect NO production (P>0.05). MTT assay and NO production in different doses of DNA fraction was not different (P>0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of the present study, protein fraction of Toxoplasma has a suppressive effect on macrophage viability, but this effect is dose dependent. Protein fraction of Toxoplasma does not affect the amount of NO production by macrophage. The isolated DNA fraction of Toxoplasma did not influence the viability and NO production of macrophages. So, the ability of evasion of Toxoplasma gondii from macrophage defense is due to a component of its protein.

IntroductionLeptin is a peptide hormone which is primarily secreted by adipose tissue, regulating the body weight, metabolism and reproductive system functioning. Stress activates hypothalamic- pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis that is responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis during stress.Recently, it ihas been known that leptin has an important role in these stress responses. Therefore, the purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of chronic swimming stress on plasma leptin concentratin and evaluate the role of adrenal glands in the level of leptin.Material and methodsSixty adult male rats were enrolled in this experimental study. The rats were randomly assigned to six groups. Adrenaletomy was done in the adrenalectomized groups. Chronic stress was administered by water immersion for seven days (10 min/day).ResultsChronic stress increased and adrenalectomy decreased the plasma leptin level. Stress had no significant effect on the plasma leptin concentration. in the adrenalectomized rats.ConclusionChronic swimming stress activates HPA axis and, in turn, HPA activity probably stimulates leptin secretion.

IntroductionTibial stress syndrome is classified as one of the overuse injuries. Muscle strengthening and stretching exercises have been suggested in prevention and treatment of tibial stress syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of strengthening and PNF-stretching exercise on the pain intensity and disability in patients with shin splint.Material and MethodsThis clinical trail study was performed in Zahedan. Twenty patients with shin pain were assigned randomly as either a stretching exercise group (n=10) or a strengthening exercise group (n=10). Both groups underwent a fourteen day exercise intervention. The outcome was based on self-reported disability, using Lower Extremity Functional Scale Questionnaire, joint range of motion, muscle strength and pain intensity (VAS) measured immediately before and after intervention. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon test.ResultsIn the stretching exetcise group, pain changed from 6.4±1.8 to 3.2±1.4 (P<0.05) and in the strengthening exercise group it changed from 6.4±1.2 to 3.0±1.2 (P<0.05). The differences in the mean score of disability questionnaire before and after the stretching exercise and strengthening exercise groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). Data analysis revealed no significant difference between both groups in self reported pain and disability (P>0.05).ConclusionThe results of this study support the effectiveness of strengthening and stretching exercises in reducing disability and pain in the short term in patients with tibial stress syndrome.

IntroductionCompetence is defined in terms of functional adequacy and capacity to integrate knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in contextual situations of practice. Of course, the competence of nurses may vary in different clinical settings. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the level of nurses' clinical competence in a major teaching hospital of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (2009).Material and MethodsThis cross- sectional study was conducted by census. We analyzed self-assessment of clinical competence of a total of 240 registered nurses working in different wards in a major hospital of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The instrument used was Nurse Competence Scale, a 73 – item questionnaire organized into seven competence categories. The level of competence was assessed on a scoring scale (0-100) and the frequency of using items of competencies in clinical practice was assessed on a four-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5, using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThe comparison of clinical settings revealed differences in the levels of nurse clinical competence. Coronary care unit nurses considered their competence level higher than other nurses (88.36±10.59). 84% of the competence items were used frequently by nurses working in According to the findings, this university hospital.ConclusionNurses' competence in both the level and frequency of using competencies is excellent in the clinical settings of this hospital. These results can be used to encourage nurses, assess the educational needs, and improve the quality of care in university hospitals.

IntroductionNursing authorities believe that the ability to think critically by nurses plays an important role in providing individual care, solving problems, making complex decisions, Therefore, critical thinking ability needs to be developed and evaluated during educational experience and be promoted after employment as a professional nurse. The aim of this study was to determine and compare critical thinking abilities among the first and last term baccalaureate nursing students and clinical nurses of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.Material and MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study and the data were collected through self reporting using Watson and Glaser standard questionnaire (form A) matched with social and cultural circumstances of Iran country. Its validity and reliability was determined in a pilot study. The subjects of this study included 53 first term and last term baccalaureate nursing students and 41 baccalaureate clinical nurses. The sampling method inused was nonrandom while nurse contributors were selected through random sampling.ResultsThe findings showed that the mean score of critical thinking of the first term nursing students was 45/1 SD±8/1, the last term nursing students was 44/3±6/05 and clinical nurses was 44/3±7/7, indicating the weakness in critical thinking abilities in the study groups. Also, there were no significant differences between nursing students and clinical nurses in the mean scores of the five sub-scores and total scores of WG critical thinking appraisal.ConclusionRegarding the weakness and also lack of differences in critical thinking ability of the first term and last term nursing students and clinical nurses, there is a need to revise the present traditional educational strategies. The, use of more active learning methods, and application of caring methodsleading to active participation of nurses in clinical decisions are suggested.

IntroductionIn order to achieve the management of health care information, each institution needs to an organized department called the medical records. The duties of such a department include supporting services such as continuity of patient care, management processes of the institution, medical education programs, medical research, etc. ... So, the evaluation of medical records services can be significant means to promote the quality and quantity of health systems. This study was conducted, aiming at studying the problems of medical records in Jahrom Hospitals (Motahari & Peymani) in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses. The results were presented to the relevant authoritiesMaterial and MethodsThis is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The subjects included the medical workers of Jahrom hospitals (Motahari & Peymani). Due to the limited number of samples, the whole community was studied. Data were collected through 5 questionnaire, the validity of which was approved after consultation with the professors and medical record staff. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured using the Cronbach alpha which proved to be about 80%. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical softwdepartment had a good performance based on the findings. Also, performance in the studied admission and filing units was normal. Finally, the coding unit functioned favorable and the statistical unit had a quite favorable performance.ConclusionThe necessity of the maintenance and report of the information in health care centers and designing a suitable place for the contact of patients with hospitals often requires special attention of the medical record and even hospitals managers. Therefore, Due to the importance of the productivity of human resources and variety in working process in medical record departments, using rotational and periodic systems of human resources can be effective factors in solving the problems of these departments.

IntroductionBlended learning is a mixture of various learning strategies and delivery methods to optimize the learning experience of the user. The objective of this study was to assess the psychiatric effect of the program on the students' personality aspect.Material and MethodsA comparative study was conducted amongst 41 first year nursing students of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences who had participated in the course of mental diseases in 2008-2009. The students were randomly divided into two groups of face to face (classical) and blended educational method. The data were collected by Attribution Measurement Test and five big personality inventories (60- question Neo-Personality Test).The data were analyzed using T-test, Chi-squire and Multiple Analysis of Variance (Manova Test).ResultsIn the survey of the interaction between attribution pattern and kind of teaching, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between the type of teaching and the factor of internal –external unfavorable event (P = 0/04). It was revealed that, there was a significant relationship between the type of teaching and personality factors including, openness to experience (P=0/03) and conscientiousness (P=0/04).ConclusionThe use of blended educational method is recommended for teaching in medical and para-medical sciences.