JOURNAL OF NORTH KHORASAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2012 | Volume:3 | Issue:4 (10)|Papers Count:17

Backgrounds & Objectives: Since of heavy metal such as chromium in the environment has a major risk, including skin cancer and lung and kidney and liver damage. Aim of present study was investigation removal of Cr (VI) using photo-chemical and photo-catalytical process such as UV/ZnO, UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2 from aqueous solution.Material & Methods: In this study, factors affecting recovery processes such as catalyst concentration (0.05-0.15 g / L), the concentration of H2O2 (0.5-1.5 mol / L) and pH were investigated, initial substrate concentrations between 0.1 to 15 mg/L was varied. Stock solution of chromium (VI) was prepared using the solubility of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in distilled water. Residual concentration of chromium was measured by spectrophotometer at wavelength 540 nm.Results: The results showed that with increasing TiO2, ZnO nanoparticles, H2O2 concentration and decreasing pH increased the efficiency of Cr removal. Also removal efficiency decreased with increasing initial concentration of Cr (VI). Maximum reduction of Cr (VI) with ZnO was occurred in 4 to 8 pH range. With increasing pH, the removal efficiency for TiO2 and H2O2 decreased. The results showed that reduction of Cr (VI) follows approximately Langmuir–Hinshelwood first-order kinetics model.Conclusion: The obtained results indicate that can be used UV/ZnO, UV/H2O2 and UV/TiO2 to remove Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions, as a friendly environmental treatment processes and without residual.

Background & Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) still remains and expands as a major health problem in many parts of the world, including Iran. The study was carried out to determine the epidemiological status of disease in Marvdasht, a county of Fars province, in 2008-09.Material & methods: This cross-sectional study has been done on cases referred to Marvdasht health center which their disease has been diagnosed and approved using clinical and parasitological methods. The data were gathered from epidemiologic forms and were analyzed using STATA version 9, and by Chi-Square, Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney test.Results: Out of 2627 cases, 1377 and 1290 were diagnosed in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The disease was found frequently in male (60.3%), autumn (53.8%) and in 15-30 years old group (40%). Also, the most of patients were resident in city (57.5%) and new buildings (72%). There was significance relationship between number of lesion and gender, type of building and season of disease start.Conclusion: Regarding to more occurrence of the disease in male and 15-30 years old cases and also in city and new building residents, it is important these factors to be considered in designing and implementing of prevention and control programs.

Background & Objective: At the present time, increasing of nitrate ion in water resources observed most of cities and these conditions can cause various environmental health hazards. High nitrate concentrations in drinking water for infants fewer than 6 months could make in methemoglobinemia and Blue Baby syndrome. Hence, at present study, the rate of nitrate ions removal from aqueous using the aerated electrochemical process has been studied.Materials & Methods: This study was conducted a laboratory-scale experimental, which done in pilot study. Experiments were performed in a batch reactor (with an effective volume 1 L), with four iron electrode connected in parallel (bipolar mode). Electrodes using a bipolar power supply were connected to convert alternating to direct current electricity. In the first time, reactor was filled synthetic samples containing nitrate anion concentrations of 5, 50 and 100 mg. The reaction was started. The efficiency of the system in removal of nitrate under various condition, pH (3, 7, 10), voltages (10, 20, 30 and 40 V), initial concentration of nitrate (5, 50 and 100 mg/L) and reaction time (15, 30, 45 and 60 min) were determined.Results: Results obtained with synthetic solutions revealed that the most effective removal capacities of nitrate (96%) could be achieved at 40 V electrical potential, pH=10 and reaction time= 60 min for initial concentration of nitrate equal 5 mg/L. Also under these conditions, the amount of energy consumption was 0.0257 kwh/L.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that nitrate removal efficiency using aerated electrochemical technique has a direct correlation with pH, voltage and reaction time and reverse correlation with initial nitrate concentration. Moreover, it can be concluded that this process has the potential to be utilized for the effective and safe removal of nitrate from water and wastewater.

Background & Objective: Inflammatory markers predictive of Cardio - Vascular disease than lipid profile in the diagnosis of these diseases are highly sensitive. Provide a suitable model for determining the type of training will play an important role in public health. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two methods of intermittence and continuative exercise on new and traditional inflammatory indices of cardio –vascular system in women.Material & Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved the population of women (aged 35 - 45 years old) in Kashan, Iran. Among volunteers for participating in the study, 20 were selected as samples and randomly assigned into two groups: intermittence (N=10), and Continuative Exercise (N=10).The training program was run for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. Blood samples were obtained from Subjects before starting an exercise program and 24 hours after the last session under 14-hour fasting.Data were analyzed by using Kolmogorov - Smirnov, Independent and dependent t-test to investigate the changes between and within groups at a significance level of 0/05 through SPSS.16 software.Results: After 8 weeks, in two groups of periodic training and continuing significant reduction Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), Total Cholesterol (TC) in serum and the High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly improved in both groups.However, the Triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein Cholesterol (VLDL-C) in both groups after 8 weeks of training did not significantly change.Conclusion: Both the Continuative and intermittence aerobic exercise was associated with a significant reduction in TC, hs- CRP, and LDL-C and significant increase in HDL-C. There was no significant difference between two methods of training on traditional and new inflammatory indices of Cardio - Vascular disease.

Background & Objective: Early diagnosis of biliary atresia is very important for better outcome of patients. Ultrasonography is one of the tools for early differentiating of biliary atresia from other causes of neonatal cholestasis. It has been reported that triangular cord sing (TACS) in sonography is a reliable sign for diagnosis of biliary atresia. The aim of this study was to reassess the accuracy of TACS alone and coupled with abnormal gallbladder in the diagnosis of biliary atresia.Material & Methods: Infants with prolonged cholestatic jaundice underwent ultrasonography and liver biopsy. Results of ultrasound scans (TASC and gallbladder abnormality) were compared with histopathologic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of ultrasonographic findings for diagnosis of biliary atresia based on liver histopathology were calculated.Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of TACS for diagnosis of biliary atresia were 36%, 95% and 77% respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 77%. The sensitivity and specificity of gallbladder abnormality for diagnosis of biliary atresia were 36% and 88% respectively. Positive predictive value of TACS couple with gallbladder abnormality for diagnosis of biliary atresia was 100%.Conclusion: The ultrasonography TACS is very specific for diagnosis of biliary atresia. Positive predictive value and accuracy of this sign is much higher than of gallbladder abnormality. The sensitivity of TACS for diagnosis of biliary atresia is very low.

Background & Objective: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are major parts of the occupational diseases in workplaces. Protection from such diseases is dependent on assessment and improvment of job posture by using job analysis methods in ergonomics.This study was aimed to evaluate ergonomics conditions of Hairdressers by REBA in 2011.Materials & Method: This study was a discriptive-analytical approach performed on 50 persons working at hairdressers by using REBA method. The prevalence of MSDs was obtained by using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). The data were analyzed by SPSS15.Results: In the investigation, the Prevalence of disorders for different parts of the body was as follows: 8% for wrist, 20% foe neck, 36% for shoulders, 46% for back and 84% for legs. The risk level for right part body was as follows: 4% in low level, %56 in middle, %30 in high and %10 in very high. The risk level for left part body was as follows: 4% in low level, %76 in middle,%16 in high and %4 in very highConclusion: It is concluded that the work conditions need to be improved. In addition the level of education regarding biomechanical hazardous effects as well as correct work conditions and postures should be increased.

Background & Objectives: Premenstrual syndrome is a common disorder and is assessed by various diagnostic tools. However, there is no world or national agreement on single diagnostic criteria for this syndrome. This study was designed to develop and validate a scale for assessment of premenstrual syndrome in Sabzevarian adolescents in the year 2011.Material & Methods: In this methodological study, some focus group and individual interviews were conducted with high school female students to determine the elements of the scale through purposive sampling. Based on the results of the qualitative interviews and the symptoms reported in some diagnostic criteria, the new scale was developed and its face, content and construct validities were assessed. Furthermore, its reliability was estimated using internal consistency. SPSS software version 16 was used for data analysis.Results: Thematic analysis of the data concerning the symptoms obtained from interviews resulted in two major dimensions of somatic and emotional-behavioral symptoms. Content validity ratio and index were 0.78 and 0.9 respectively. Explanatory factor analysis could also extract two correlated factors that jointly accounted for 37% of the variance. The resultant scale demonstrated the Cronbach's alpha coefficient with values of 0.915 and 0.791 for the first and second factor.Conclusion: The new developed scale is a reliable and valid criteria for premenstrual syndrome in Iranian female adolescents.

Background & Objective: High concentrations of fluoride in drinking water can cause skeleton and dental crises, also create abnormalities at another widely in humans.Material & Methods: In this study, zeolite of clinoptilolite being modified by La3+ ions was used to remove fluoride from aqueous solution. In this study, contact was using a fixed bed column with upward flow. The residual fluoride content was measured using DR5000.The parameters of initial fluoride concentration, adsorbent concentration, pH solution was done between natural and synthetic samples.Result: Results showed that increasing the initial concentration of fluoride from 2.5 to 10 mg/L, result decreased of time to Breakthrough Curve and the volume of water; but the absorption capacity adsorbent (qb) increased. By increased of adsorbent from 10 to 17 gr and reach to BTC, volume of water treated and sorbent adsorption capacity was increased. The natural pH (5-9) observed of little effect on the absorption, but at pH less than 3, significantly decreased absorption efficiency. Anions in natural samples cause reduce absorption of fluoride.Conclusion: Modified zeolite with fixed bed is an effective and economical method to remove fluoride from ground water.

Background & Objective: The NICU is an important part in a hospital. Hence in this study, we studied the relationship between the type of delivery and conditions used in this section on IQ of Children who born prematurely   .Material & Methods: This study was carried out on 102 premature children who born in Najmye subspecialty hospitals during years 2004 to 2006. The tools used in this study were Wechsler intelligence scale for children and a questioner including demographical characteristic. In this study anesthesia, delivery, convulsion, apgar, Meconium aspiration, CPR, RDS, blood culture, congenital anomalies, hyperbilirubinemia (HY) and  use of ventilator and sorvanta  were consider as the independent variables and IQ consider as dependent variable. In this paper we used T test, Mann-Whitney and ANOVA and also SPSS programmer version 16 was used to analyze data.Results: The sample was including 61 boys (%59.8) and 41 girls (%40.2). The average IQ score was 100 (±16.23). Among the studied variables, only HY (p=0.036) showed a relationship with IQ but others didn’t show such relationship.Conclusion: Because of lower IQ of premature children who hospitalized in the NICU, doing some reinforcement work is recommended for these children .

Background and objectives: spiritual well-being coordinates the dimensions of life together. Quality of life can be influenced by emotional - psychological and occupational factors. This study investigated the relationship between Spiritual Well-being and quality of life in nurses.Methods and Materials: This descriptive analytical research was conducted on 93 nurses at Hashemi Nejad Hospital in Mashhad. SF36 quality of life and SWBS Spiritual Well-being questionnaire were used. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS 15 using Chi-square, independent T Test, Fisher's exact test, pearson correlation coefficient, Stepwise multiple regression and logistic regression.Results: the mean age of under research Persons was 32.52±7.2. Mean score of Quality of life and Spiritual Well-being were 64.38±17.84 and 94.3±16. Multiple regression analysis showed that the Spiritual Well-being have a significantly association with quality of life. Logistic regression test showed that with 10 points to Spiritual Well-being, the odds ratio (OR) Good quality of life was 1.781.Conclusion: High level of Spiritual Well-being in under research nurses was associated with good quality of life.

Background & objectives: Improvement of quality of life has essential treating effects on the adolescents with epilepsy. Patient education is one of the important nursing functions to improve the patients’ quality of life and achieve them to physical, psychological, and social development. Researchers are exploring to find the best approach for patient education. Computer has very significant premium in this context. Purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a Computer based Instruction Package (CBIP) on the quality of life of adolescents with epilepsy.  Material & Methods: This Quasi-experimental study was carried out on two groups of adolescents with epilepsy. Eighteen patients were selected from Iran Epilepsy institute and allocated randomly into two groups (experimental group 40 and control group 4o patients). The experimental group used the CBIP and control group received no intervention during a month. Data were collected in the beginning of research and past of a month by questioner. Subjects in experimental group were compensated to use the CBIP and self-report by a checklist. Results: there was no significant difference between mean scores of quality of life control and experimental group in the beginning (P=0.866), but this difference after a month was significant (P<0.001). Also there was no significant difference between mean scores of quality of life in control group before and after intervention (P=0.992), but this difference in experimental group was significant (P<0.001).Conclusion: CBIP can improve the quality of life in adolescents with epilepsy. Therefore, paying attention to this kind of patient education is remedial and indispensable.

Background & Objectives: In most cases, reduced blood flow due to obstruction is considered as a primary factor in pressure ulcer formation and occurrence of bedsore. The aim of this study was to design and manufacture a care system for tissues under pressure based on variation in blood flow at different depths of the tissue.Materials & Methods: In manufacture of system, two infrared light transmitters were located 5 and 10 mm away from receivers to measure the blood flow at two different depths of the heel tissue under pressure. Also, blood flow was measured in unload condition and after loading with 30 and 60 mmHg. The study was performed on 15 participants, the mean age was 54 years, 60% were men and 40% were women.Results: The primary results showed differences in blood flow in different depths of the tissue under pressure. Also, there were significant changes in signal amplitude during loading both pressures 30 and 60 mmHg compared to unloading condition.Conclusion: Development of this system would be possible with increased flexibility in terms of probes and using potent optical receiver and transmitter to access more depth.

Background & Objectives: It is well known that measuring and monitoring blood pressure continuously is one of the most important problems especially in operating rooms and monitoring devices. Pulse transition time (PTT) is a parameter related to cardiovascular system and is extracted based on ECG and pulse oximetry signals and it can be used to measure continuous blood pressure changes. The aim of this study was to design a method to measure and monitor blood pressure continuously using PTT.Materials & Methods: Continuous recordings of pulse wave and ECG signal were done for 35 participants in 20 different positions using a setup which could record two signals. Finger pulse wave was recorded using photo pulse sensor on the left index finger and ECG in lead I by Ag-AgCl electrode on the chest. PTT was measured as the time interval from the ECG R wave to the peak of the pulse signal in the same cardiac circle. Parameters relating the PTT with blood pressure were estimated using collected data.Results: Results showed that the PTT parameter was correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure with correlation coefficients of 0.95 and 0.93, respectively. Therefore, blood pressure was monitored with appropriate accuracy.Conclusion: Hereby, a new noninvasive method was introduced for measuring blood pressure continuously in operating room and during the anesthesia.

Background and Aims: Propofol is the first line drug for intravenous induction of anesthesia. Short action duration and few adverse effects along with potent antiemetic properties made it the most widely used drug Spontaneous movement or myoclonus is one of its adverse effects. We aimed to study the incidence, time of onset, quantity, and quality of the myoclonus and its related factors.Material and methods: The study was conducted on 204 patients who received Propofol for induction while observed by two anesthesiologists for detecting myoclonus. All patients were monitored for depth of anesthesia according to Bispectral index. The abnormal movement was recorded according to movement score. To find the relationship between myoclonus and other variables, logistic regression was applied. All analysis were done using software SPSS version 16.Results: 60 patients out of 204 developed myoclonus corresponding with an incidence of 29%. The mean weight in these patients was significantly lower than the patients without myoclonus and they received higher dose of Propofol per kilogram of body weight. Multivariate logistic regression corroborates the relation of age and dose with the incidence of myoclonus.Conclusion: Comparing this study with other studies, a hypothesis about the impact of race on the dose of Propofol required to achieve the planned level of anesthesia is figured out. The difference in dose requirement between races and the importance for prevention of myoclonus remains to be studied in large multicentre studies.

Background & Objective: Although ovarian cancer is not common but it is considered as an important cause of death in women. Considering the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme in cancer, as well as the production of prostaglandin E2 in tumor lesions, it seems that COX inhibitors are effective in cancer. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of ketoprofen as a non-selective cyclooxygenase enzyme in ovarian cancer in female rats.Materials & Method: In this study, female Wistar rats were used. The animals were divided into five groups: the first group was normal group, the animals of the second group were only injected with (DMBA) 7, 12 Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene, the third group received  DMBA + Saline, the other groups were treated with various doses of ketoprofen. In order to induce cancer, DMBA was injected directly into the ovary. The weight ovaries and the histopathological features were evaluated in all groups.Result: In this study, tumor weight was reduced extremely in ketoprofen receiving groups, so that the weight of ovaries was 0.037±0.004 and 0.033±0.001 respectively, while, in the third group the weight was 0.152±0.008. The microscopic slices of ovarian tissues also showed the reduced tumor growth in the ketoprofen receiving groups.Conclusion: This study confirms the positive effects of ketoprofen in treatment of ovarian cancer but further investigations need to be done.

Background & Objectives: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive and selective treatment for ureteral stones. We investigated the effect of ESWL on semen parameters in patients with lower ureteral stones.Materials and Methods: 150 men with stones in the lower ureter from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (n=90) and North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences (n=60) were included in this semi-experimental study. The patients' age range was 20-42 with an average of 30.8 years. All patients were treated with ESWL. The semen samples from all patients were examined on the day before and 90 days after ESWL.Results: The results showed that total number of sperms and the number of sperms with normal motility and morphology significantly changed after ESWL. No change was observed after ESWL in semen volume or PH.Conclusion: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy could have harmful effect on men fertility. Therefore, other treatments are suggested for men with lower ureteral stones.

Background & Objectives: To assess frequency of urodynamic abnormalities in young men with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Materials & Methods: We assessed 456 men (18--40 years old) with chronic LUTS. Those with the history of urogenital malignancies, neurological disease, urethral stricture or trauma, acute UTI, congenital urological disease, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. Patients were classified by special urodynamic diagnosis. Results: Mean patient age was 25.8±5.9 years old and the mean symptom duration was 12.3±3.2 months. Urodynamic studies showed bladder neck dysfunction in 96 of cases (21%), dysfunctional voiding in 69 (15.1%), detrusor overactivity in 62 (13.6%), small cystometric capacity in 49 (10.7%), and acontractile detrusor in 48 (10.5%), underactive detrusor in 11 (2.4%), low compliance in 18 (3.9%), detrusor overactivity plus acontractile detrusor in 6 (1.3%), low compliance plus small cystometric capacity in 5 (1.0%), detrusor overactivity plus small cystometric capacity together with low compliance in 4 (0.8%), low compliance plus Underactive detrusor in 3 (0.6%) and normal urodynamics in 85 (18.6%). Mean Qmax in patients with bladder neck dysfunction, dysfunctional voiding, underactive detrusor, acontractile detrusor, underactive detrusor plus low compliance, and acontractile detrusor plus detrusor overactivity were lower than those of the other groups.Mean postvoid residues in patients with underactive detrusor, and underactive detrusor plus low compliance, were higher than those in the remaining groups. Positive four-glass test in patient with normal urodynamic was greater than those in the remaining groups. Conclusion: A few clinical symptoms or noninvasive tests were useful in young men with chronic LUTS; hence, urodynamics are advised to make the correct diagnosis in this regard.