Journal of Paramedical Science and Rehabilitation
Year:2015 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between contrast sensitivity and visual field defects in patients with glaucoma.Methods: 120 eyes of 60 patients with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and 40 (80 eyes) normal subjects whose visual acuity was 20/40 or better and 30 -60 years old were included in this study. Visual field analyzed according to the MD and PSD criteria of Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer and, contrast sensitivity was measured using the Freiburg Acuity and Contrast Test according to the Michelson and Weber criteria. Visual fields of the patients were measured using the 24–2 full threshold program on the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer. Data analysis was performed for descriptive and analytical statistical methods.Results: According to the Michelson and Weber criteria, contrast sensitivity was reduced in glaucomatic patients. A significant correlation (r=-0.289, P<0.001) was found between the visual field mean deviations and contrast sensitivity scores (Michelson) and the correlation (r=-0.302, P<0.001) was found between visual field mean deviations and contrast sensitivity scores (Weber). The correlation (r=0.140, p=0.048) was less between the visual field pattern standard deviation and Michelson contrast, as was the correlation between the visual field pattern standard deviation and Weber contrast (r=0.158, p=0.027).Conclusion: For glaucomatous eyes with visual acuity of 20/40 or better, a decrease in the contrast sensitivity correlates with increased visual field loss. We speculate that this decrease in contrast sensitivity in glaucoma patients may account for their complaints of poor vision despite normal or near normal visual acuity. This correlation may serve to develop improved testing to monitor the status of our glaucoma patients prospectively.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the horizontal components of the ground reaction force with subjects’ flat foot and to compare these changes with subjects with normal foot.Methods: Fifteen subjects were randomly selected from 86 children with flexible flat foot, with a mean age (10.40±1.12), height (124.60±8.76) and weight (24.10±6.70).15 subjects were randomly selected to the control group from the population with normal feet that were homogeneous with group flat foot of the height, age and weight. Flat-arched feet were determined by the navicular drop test with Brody method, and 1000Hz KISTLER force plate were used to measure horizontal components of ground reaction force at heel strike (Initial heel contact), transfer weight onto the heel (Loading response), touch the foot of land (Mid stance) and transfer weight onto the toes (Terminal stance) during the Stance phase. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 21 software and independent t-test was used (p<0.05).Results: There was a significant difference in the initial heel contact between flat foot and a normal foot. However, no significant difference was noted between the two groups at loading response, mid stance and terminal stance.Conclusion: According to the present research findings, it may be concluded that there are differences between children with flat foot and normal foot in the direction and amount of force at the time of heel strike or initial heel contact.

Purpose: Deficit in fluency of speech is named stuttering. Stuttering could influence the personality characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stuttering on personality characteristics in male individuals.Methods: In this study, 31 stuttered men aged upper than 18 years old were compared with another 32 unstuttered men of the same age and education in terms of their personality characteristics by applying the Neo-FFI test.Results: Results from student t test showed that the mean score of mental racial, extraversion and agreeableness of personality was statistically different between two groups.Conclusion: The present findings indicate that individuals with stuttering problem have different personality compared with fluent speakers; however, this different does not mean abnormal personality.

Purpose: The requirements of information security in a telemedicine network can be categorized in four areas, namely; data storage and data accessibility, data transfer, human resources, and equipment for medical diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of each of the above areas from the perspective of information technology (IT) managers in teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences, and the experts in the field who worked in the Ministry of Health.Methods: This was a survey study conducted in 2013. The participants of the study included 41 information technology (IT) managers in teaching hospitals and seven experts who worked in the Ministry of Health. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by the experts in the field. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (a=0.75).Results: The results of the present study showed that among the requirements of information security in a telemedicine network, human resources were of high importance (mean=87.50). The requirements related to the medical diagnostic equipment and those related to data storage and data accessibility were in the second (mean=87.04) and the third place (mean=85.97) of importance respectively. The requirements of information security in the area of data transfer were in the fourth place of importance.Conclusion: Considering the degree of importance that human resources gained compared to the importance of other requirements of information security in a telemedicine network, it seems that employing experts in the field of information security and training health care professionals in the application of telemedicine technology, may facilitate efficient deployment of this technology in the healthcare settings.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of contraction and relaxation of ciliary muscle caused by pilocarpine and tropicamide eye drops on corneal radius, central corneal power and corneal astigmatism.Methods: This prospective study was performed on sixty normal and healthy eyes of sixty volunteers with a mean age of 38.19 year (range 18 to 49 years) and without any ocular pathology. Volunteers divided into 2 groups of thirty, in the first group corneal topography of both eye were measured before and 30 minutes after instillation of topical tropicamide 0.5% in only one eye, and the other eye was the control eye and no drop was given. In the second group, the same routine was performed, except that subject received on drop of pilocarpine 1% in one eye. Statistical comparison between groups for the central corneal power, corneal radius and corneal astigmatism were performed using paired t test.Results: In group 1, no significant changes were found in corneal radius, power and astigmatism, however, in group 2 subjects who have received pilocarpine eye drop, mean corneal radius value decreased significantly by 0.05 mm and mean corneal power increased by a plus power of+0.32 D. There was no significant change in corneal astigmatism in both groups.Conclusion: It seems that pilocarpine induced ciliary muscle contraction which may cause pressure on corneal limbus of cornea and scleral spur that resulted in changes in corneal curvature. But tropicamide eye drop did not affect corneal radius and other corneal parameters and corneal topography can be carried out after instillation of tropicamide eye drop.

Purpose: Massage is performed in order to adjust the vital signs of patients in the ICU that needs long-term hospitalization. The aim of the study was to determine the short-term impact of foot massage on patients' arterial blood oxygen saturation values that hospitalized at Hospital of Imam Reza (AS) in Kermanshah.Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental study to investigate the short time effect of massage on the feet on arterial oxygen saturation in patients admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit. After the pilot study subjects, 78 patients were selected by simple sampling.39 patients were allocated in the intervention group and 39 patients in the control group. Forms and questionnaires and checklists were used for data collection and methods of data collection were interviews and physiological measurements. The patient's blood oxygen saturation in the first and fifth minutes before the massage was measured in both groups (from the monitor to the patient's bedside). Then, researcher gave 5 min foot massage and blood oxygen saturation values were recorded. Immediately after the massage, arterial oxygen saturation values in the first and fifth minutes in both groups were recorded respectively and the results evaluated.Results: Results showed that the Spo2 in the intervention group was increased after the first and fifth minutes of foot massage (p=0.023 and p=0.019). It should be noted that the Spo2 levels in the control group were not significant when compared before and after the massage.Conclusion: Results showed that a significant increase in Spo2 level is a result of foot massage. It may be concluded that changes in metabolism occurred after foot massage is followed by decreased oxygen consumption and thus the value of massage increases.

Purpose: Wilson disease is a rare metabolic disorder and damaged areas of the brain in this disease are related to the coordination of movements. Therefore, the disease is considered as a motor disorder. Dysarthria is the most common speech problem in these patients. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of intensive voice therapy based on principles of LSVT on improvement of articulation skills and voice features and finally, its impacts on speech intelligibility as well as voice handicap index in patients with Wilson.Methods: A 23-year-old female was diagnosed with Wilson's disease. Acoustic assessment of voice, speech articulation, speech intelligibility, and voice handicap index were performed before and after Intensive Voice Therapy based on the LSVT principles.bn Results: After the treatment, significant increases in acoustic parameters of voice, speech articulation and also speech intelligibility were observed which consequently resulted in a considerable reduction of voice handicap index (VHI).Conclusion: Intensive Voice Therapy based on LSVT principles was effective in improving the acoustic parameters of voice, speech articulation, voice handicap index, and speech intelligibility, and generally, improving verbal communication which has the positive impact on the quality of patient’s life.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differences between acceleration time and time to peak torque of the knee muscles of female elite karate athletes before and after muscular fatigue.Methods: Thirteen female elite karate athletes (age: 15.5±1.3 years) were evaluated using the Biodex system 3 isokinetic dynamometer at 60◦/s, 180◦/s and 300◦/s before and after hamstring and quadriceps muscular fatigue.Results: There were no significant differences in time to peak torque and acceleration time variables at the 60◦/s speed before and after fatigue (p>0.05). At the 180◦/s speed, the quadriceps and hamstring presented a lower time to peak torque after muscular fatigue (p<0.05). At the 300◦/s speed, only hamstring muscles showed a higher time to peak torque and acceleration time after muscular fatigue (p=0.04).Conclusion: Results of the present study indicated that the functional demands of muscular fatigue among female elite karate athletes are not necessarily their muscular strength. This can be explained because the time to peak torque and acceleration time were changed after muscular fatigue. However, muscular fatigue could produce agonist-antagonist muscle asymmetries, particularly in high velocities that could influence the knee joint injuries.

Purpose: The purpose of this study detecting normative nasalance scores for 7-11- year-old male students in Mashhad during incessant speech.Methods: Participants consist of 26 boys aged 7-11 years with normal articulation skills, resonanceand voice and speech structure were randomly selected from different regions of Mashhad and voluntarily had participated in the study. The test was run by Nasometer II (model6450) inspeech therapy clinic of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad. Subjects read the following Persian texts of which their validity and reliability have been determined: 1."Bahareh's Bag" (made from oral consonants) 2.the text combines "four seasons" (with normal frequency of nasal consonants) 3.and nasal sentences (loaded with nasal consonants).Results: Nasalance means in the text "Bahareh's Bag", 12.13±4, in the text "four seasons", 30.68±4.8 and 61.5±5.7 in the nasal sentences were calculated. The results of this study have not found any statistical significance for difference in age.Conclusion: Normal nasalance means are calculated at one accent of Persian language, in 7-11- year-old students. Valid and reliable texts were produced (four seasons and nasal sentences) to evaluate nasalance. Given data and standard sentences can apply in speech pathology clinics for assessment and treatment of voice resonance deficit in (cleft palate, velopharyngeal Insufficiency etc.).

Purpose: Vertebral column or spine is the main part of the upper torso of human skeleton. The vertebral enables body to bend and turn in all directions, and supports the body and vital structures such as nerves and spinal cord. The aim of this research is to quantify and measure the moment and force on the L4 and L5 vertebrae in different races and genders, during praying. The necessity of performing this type of research on the spine is to show the effects of religious activity on physical health of people with different anthropometry.Methods: In this study, for biomechanical analysis of vertebral column, two methods were used: modeling and analysis in CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) V5R20 software and torque calculations based on inverse dynamics. The amount of torque and force which are applied on the spine during praying among different races were evaluated and compared by using these methods. In addition, by application of occupational health and safety standards in software, the motor position of manikin limbs was judged.Results: Comparison between the compressive force exerted on the L4 and L5 vertebrae and standards in software indicated the amount of force on the L4 and L5 is less than NIOSH AL, which is 3433 N. In addition, in all nationalities, compressive force and moment about L 4 and L5 in woman were lower than men. Also, results showed that the relative error of the torque calculated by inverse dynamics and CATIA software was 4.6 to 20.9 percent and the maximum percentage of population who were unable to perform bowing was below 1% for all nationalities.Conclusion: The results of this study compared with international standards such as NIOSH, indicate that applying forces on the spine during daily praying task, contrary to the statements of some articles, does not create any problems for prayer.