SADRA MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Year:2014 | Volume:2 | Issue:3|Papers Count:10

Background: Physical activities have been long believed to play a role in control and improvement of type II diabetes. Therefore, the present research aimed to assess the effect of yoga exercise on lipidprofile and blood sugar of the female patients with type II diabetes.Methods: In this quasi-experimental research, 26 women with type II diabetes from Isfahan were randomly divided into an intervention (N=16) and a control group (N=20). The intervention group did selected yoga exercises3 sessions a week each session lasting for 75 minutes for 12 weeks. The control group, on the other hand, had no regular and systematic physical activity. The participants’ blood sugar, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), TG (Triglyceride), and TC (Total Cholesterol) were measured before and after the exercise period. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (T-test for the difference between the means of the independent groups).Result: The results showed no significant difference between the two groups regarding LDL, HDL, TG, TC, and FBS levels before the intervention. However, a significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the mean of FBS (t=-2.1, P=0.04) and TG (t=-2.9, P=0.007) after the intervention.Conclusion: The findings of the present research showed that doing a cycle of yoga exercises led to a significant improvement in blood sugar of the patients with type II diabetes. Thus, in addition to diet and medications, yoga exercises can be considered among the factors improving diabetes.

Background: Social capital is an important issue in various stages of human life and has an important role in individuals’ social, economic, and health status. The natural process of biological and social changes causes disorders in personal affairs, quality of life, and social roles of the elders. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the variables associated with social capital and its relationship with quality of life in the elders of Ilam, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 330 elders aging 60 years old and above from Ilam were selected through multi stage sampling. The demographic, social capital and life quality data were collected using standardized social capital and SF12 questionnaires.Results: The results revealed a relationship between individual trust and education level, occupation status, mental dimension of quality of life, physical dimension of quality of life, home ownership, and length of residence in the region. The results also showed an association between solidarity and social support and marital status, home ownership, mental dimension of quality of life, insurance coverage, length of residence in the region, and family size. Also, social trust and associative relations were significantly related to age, gender, occupation, marital status, family size, physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, length of residence in the region, and family size.Conclusions: Since various factors are related to the elders’ social capital and considering the cumulative effect of the aforementioned components on social capital components, improving the modifiable factors, such as socioeconomic status, social support, and quality of life, can have a direct effect on social capital.

Background: Tarkhineh is a traditional fermented food of the western part of Iran (Kermanshah, Ilam, Kurdistan, and Lorestan). Wet Tarkhineh has antibacterial effects. In Kurdish regions, Tarkhineh is used as a traditional medicine for treatment of patients with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. The present study aimed to identify the flora of traditional and industrial Tarkhineh to determine its capacity as a traditional healthy food with probiotic potential.Methods: In this research, dried, wet, and industrial samples were examined regarding total microbial flora, pH, and moisture content. Then, various species of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were isolated in order to determine their biochemical and morphological features.Results: According to the results, wet Tarkhineh had the maximum amount of LAB, including L.nagelii (67%), L.bifermentans (21.3%), Leu.cermoris (6%), L.fructosus (1.45%), L.fermentum (1%), L.intestinalis (0.9%), L.agilis (0.9%), and L.acidipiscis(0.9%). In addition, approximately 1% of the isolated samples remained unknown. Moreover, the industrially dried samples contained L.plantarum, while the sun-dried samples showed no LAB.Conclusions: Considering the high amount of LAB in wet Tarkhineh, the authorities are recommended to improve its production process. Overall, this food can be used as a beneficial dietary supplement.

Background: The present study aimed to compare brain/behavioral systems activity in the patients with unipolar major depression disorder, bipolar manic disorder, and normal controls based on BAS dysregulation model.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 21 patients with major depression disorder and 21 patients with bipolar manic disorder. The patients were selected from the psychiatric hospitals of Shiraz through convenience sampling using DSM-IV diagnostic interview, Beck Depression-II, Young Rating Mania Interview, and Shugar Self-Rating Mania Inventory. The control group participants were also selected from the hospitals staff using the above-mentioned scales. These participants had to have normal performance in the diagnostic interview and to obtain standard scores in the screen scales. The data were collected using SPSR and BIS/BAS self-rating scales and were then analyzed by MANOVA and Toki post-hoc test.Results: Bipolar manic patients showed higher levels of BAS and SR indexes compared to the two other groups. However, no significant difference was observed between the major depressive patients and the normal controls in this regard. Moreover, major depressive patients showed higher levels of BIS and SP indexes in comparison to the two other groups.Conclusion: Vulnerability to bipolar spectrum disorders results from a dysregulated BAS.

Background: Power is one way by which leaders and managers can penetrate through their followers’ behaviors. Using power resources, managers can provide the ground for growth or deviation of the organization. This depends on the nature of power and how managers make use of power resources. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between power resources used by managers and staff productivity in the selected hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive-analytical, correlational study with practical purposes was conducted in 6 selected hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The statistical community included 1937 individuals, 350 of whom were selected through stratified random sampling. The study data were collected using Sussman and Deep’s standard power resources questionnaire and Hersey and Goldsmith’s standard productivity questionnaire. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 20) and analyzed using t-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis.Results: The study findings showed that specialty (mean: 5.26) and reward (2.46) had respectively the highest and lowest means among the used power sources. The results of the correlation test revealed a negative correlation between managers’ coercive power and staff productivity (r=-0.25, P<0.0001). Also, a positive correlation was found between the managers’ authoritative power and staff productivity (r=0.29, P<0.0001).Conclusion: Power resources could significantly predict productivity. This implies that in case managers make use of their specialty and skills in application of power, they can increase productivity. However, managers’ coercive power reduced productivity. The results of regression analysis showed that authoritative power significantly predicted productivity. Thus, managers have to employ their authoritative power in order to enhance staff productivity.

Background: Observing the principles of professional ethics in psychiatric patients not only leads to improvement of patient-doctor relationship, early recovery, preferment of treatment process, and client respect, but it also results in a reduction in the patients’ complaints about medical staff’s misdemeanors. The present study aimed to determine the level of psychiatric patients’ satisfaction with principles of professional ethics of the medical team.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 of patients referring to the psychiatric clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire including 20 questions about patients' satisfaction level with the medical staff’s observation of professional ethics. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by cronbach's alpha=0.926. The data were analyzed by SPSS using chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests.Results: The mean score of the patients’ satisfaction with the medical team’s observation of professional ethics was 46.15±4.47. The patients’ highest mean score of satisfaction was related to “explanations about the drugs which had to be consumed at home” and "respecting the patients' privacy", while the lowest mean score was related to "providing information about services". According to the results, women, married individuals, and those between 51 and 60 years old showed the highest level of satisfaction with observation of professional ethics principles by the medical staff. The lowest satisfaction level, on the other hand, was related to the adolescents (13-18 years old).Conclusion: The results showed that the patients were averagely satisfied with observation of professional ethics in psychiatric clinics. Since the lowest satisfaction levels were related to males, adolescents, and singles, more attention should be paid to these groups.

Background: One of the most stressful missions for the emergency medical service personnel is being encountered with injured infants and children. This study aimed to survey the causes and time and place indices of pediatric pre–hospital emergency.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the histories of all pediatric pre-hospital emergency missions performed for below 15 year old children from March 2011 to September 2012 were extracted from their records. Then, the demographic data, types of accidents, causes of accidents, time indices, and the missions results were recorded in the standard pre-hospital emergency questionnaire. The data were then entered into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Among the 10121 records, 594 missions were related to pediatric pre-hospital accidents, 74.6% of which being related to boys. The most common reasons for calling emergency centers were damages caused by accidents, diseases, and falls. Besides, epilepsy was the most frequent cause of diseases. The results revealed a significant correlation between accidents and age (P=0.04) and sex (P=0.03). Moreover, the mean time of getting to the patients and transferring them to hospitals was 5.53 and 14.1 minutes, respectively.Conclusion: This study indicated that accidents were the most common causes of pediatric medical emergency missions. However, the results of this study were not consistent with those of other researches. Thus, these findings can be used for further planning for better service provision.

Regular physical activity plays an important role in individuals’ physical and mental health. Organized physical activity also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. Nonetheless, physical inactivity is one of the fundamental problems in modern societies. This study aimed to assess the relationship between physical activity level and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the students of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. In this cross–sectional study, 134 students living in dormitories were selected through simple random sampling. The study data were collected using Beak’s physical activity questionnaire. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using Pearson correlation test. The students’ means of physical activity and BMI were 7.7±1.19 and 21.47±3.08, respectively. Accordingly, most of the students had moderate physical activity (70.1%) and normal BMI (70.9%). The results revealed no significant correlation between physical activity and BMI (r=0.08, P=0.34). The study results indicated that most of the students had moderate level of physical activity and normal BMI. Considering the students’ role in public health and the negative effects of inactivity, they are recommended to follow regular and effective programs to increase their physical activity. Further studies are also suggested to be conducted on the reasons for students’ limited physical activity.

Evidence has identified the harmful effects of antibiotics and synthetic preservatives used in foodstuffs. Therefore, researchers are looking for natural and safe alternatives. Annatto is carotenoid dye and can be used in food industry. This dye has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of annatto dye on the some pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. Annatto dye was extracted by maceration methods and after filtration; it was powdered by a vacuum oven. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined using agar dilution method. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 16) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The results revealed the effectiveness of annatto dye in the growth of all the tested bacteria. Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) showed the lowest and highest sensitivity to annatto dye, respectively. Moreover, E.coli had the highest MIC among the bacteria under study, but MBC was not observed in E.coli in any annatto dye concentration. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than gram-negative bacteria to the antimicrobial activity of annatto dye. According to the results, annatto dye can be used as an inhibitor of bacterial growth.

Physician-patient interaction plays a major role in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This study aims at conceptual evaluation of this issue based on the Islamic attitude. It is in fact a documented, descriptive-analytical study investigating physician-patient interaction from Islamic concepts point of view. In doing so, the researchers referred to three Persian scientific databases, namely SID, Noormagz, and Magiran, and a foreign database; i.e., Google, and searched using the following 5 keywords: physician, patient, relation, Islam, and model. Library resources with Islamic ethics and medical ethics entries were also used. The results showed that physicians, either as the agent (a physician) or as a structure (medical institutions), inevitably have to identify their position as a 'mediator' between patients and God. The interactional framework of this mediating role is Islam’s ethical standards and Islamic sharia'a. Therefore, 'transcendental reflexive’ model is proposed in which reflexivity refers to the permanent presence of physicians in the Godly order in the Universe. Besides, transcendence refers to amending of attitude and behavior according to the sharia'a concepts, which is the result of reflexivity. This framework minimizes the probability of imposing physical, material, and spiritual costs on patients. Thus, in the transcendental model, a physician not only assumes him/herself as a doctor, but s/he also finds him/herself in the presence of God having duties and responsibilities. The main outcomes of this understanding are acceptance of limitation of knowledge, being aware of the holiness of life, placement of interactional ethics in the sharia'a framework, and finally achieving appropriate diagnosis and treatment for patients.