Journal of Inflammatory Diseases
Year:2012 | Volume:16 | Issue:2 (63)|Papers Count:17

This was a cross-sectional study investigated the degree of depression among students of Islamic Azad University living in Takestan, Abhar, and Bouin-Zahra dormitories. A total of 407 male and female students were included in the present study performed in 2009. The Beck questionnaire was used as the measuring tool to collect data. The proposed theories were examined by statistical tests including chi square test, Mann Whitney test, Somers’ D, Pearson’s, and Kendall’s correlation coefficients. Our data showed that 18.2% of students suffered from severe depression. The depression rate in Takestan, Abhar, and Bouin-Zahra dormitories was, 17.5, 14.7, and 21.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in depression rate between the students of three dormitories. However, a significant correlation between the degree of depression and the conditions of dormitory was found (P=0.001).

One of the important choices of the young people after high school period is to make decision about their future field of study. The aim of this study was to assess the factors affecting the selection of educational field among the students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. In this a cross-sectional study, 400 students (24.4% male and 75.6% female) were interviewed in 2009-2010. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and Fisher exact test. Of total students, 71.6% mentioned the reason to choose their field of study was the need of the society, 70.8% interested in the future income of the field, and 34.2% for personal interests. Students should be properly oriented toward their fields of study during pre-university period.

Background: Exercise test is a non-invasive method to assess the cardiovascular situation. The results of exercise test alone cannot determine the presence or absence of coronary artery diseases and for definite diagnosis the application of angiography is necessary.Objective: To investigate the results of coronary artery angiography in persons with positive exercise test.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed on 200 clients with chest pain who underwent exercise test at Imam Sajjad Hospital in Ramsar during 2009-2010. Study population was selected based on simple sampling and data were collected through interview and observation. Data were further analyzed using chi-square and t-independent tests.Findings: Of 200 clients participated in the study, 49 (24.5%) had positive exercise test, 122 with negative exercise test (66%), and 19 (9.5%) needed further evaluation. Among those with positive exercise test, 29 had positive angiography indicating a real-positive exercise test of 59.2% and a false-positive figure equal to 28.56%. There was a significant relationship between the positive exercise test and both BMI and sex (P<0.05, P<0.04).Conclusion: It seems that the application of exercise test to be a suitable screening tool especially in people with chest pain. However, caution must be taken when interpreting the result of an exercise test for a patient.

Background: Developing De Quervain’s tenosynovitis due to repetitive and routine activities causes re-admission to orthopedic clinics, increasing health care costs, and waste of patients' time.Objective: The present study aimed at comparing the efficacy of local injection of methyl prednisolone and lidocaine with and without splint, splinting alone (with no drug injection) in treating patients suffered from De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.Methods: This was a clinical trial carried out on 108 patients with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis who attended the orthopedic clinic at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in Shahrekord (Iran) in 2010. Patients were randomly divided into three groups as follows: a) Those injected with 1ml of %1 lidocaine and 40 mg of prednisone plus splint, b) those injected with 1ml of %1 lidocaine and 40 mg of prednisone with no splint, and c) those treated with splinting alone. All three groups were given a 3-week follow up. Data were collected by visual analogue scale questionnaire and further analyzed by statistical tests including ANOVAs, chi square test, and independent t test.Findings: The findings of this study revealed that the mean pain intensity was significantly lower in the group treated by injecting drugs and splinting compared to other two groups (P<0.01).Conclusion: Local injection of methylprednisone and lidocaine with splint seems to have a higher efficacy in treating De Quervain’s tenosynovitis compared to other two procedures.

Background: The prevalence of adrenal insufficiency and association of serum cortisol with prognosis in intensive care unit patients is controversial. Some studies have shown a direct association between serum cortisol and bad prognosis while in other studies no such association has been made.Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the association between serum cortisol and prognosis of patients in intensive care unit.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed on intensive care unit patients of Bou-Ali teaching hospital in Qazvin (Iran) in 2009. Serum cortisol levels were measured before and after injection of cosyntropin. Basal cortisol level below 441 nmol/l was interpreted as adrenal insufficiency. In patients with serum cortisol between 441 and 938 nmol/l following injection of cosyntropin the level of serum cortisol was re-measured after 60 min. Patients with serum cortisol response less than 255 nmol/l were interpreted as having partial adrenal insufficiency. Later, patients were divided into 4 groups based on APACHE scoring system. Association of serum cortisol with APACHE score, hypotension, intubation, and mortality was evaluated.Findings: Of 60 patients under study, none found to have adrenal insufficiency. Serum cortisol was independently associated with mortality, hypotension, and intubation.Conclusion: Based on results found through this study, Adrenal insufficiency was not common in ICU patients and serum cortisol could be used as a predictor of prognosis.

Background: Preterm birth and low birth weight are important causes of mortality in infants.Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between bacterial vaginosis, low birth weight, and PROM.Methods: This analytical study was performed on vaginal discharge of 751 pregnant women within the weeks 23-26 of gestation in Qazvin health centers during 2008-2009. Cluster sampling was the method used in our study. Samples were analyzed according to Nugent criteria and the data evaluated with chi-square test.Findings: Results showed that 734 (97.7%) of specimens were negative for bacterial vaginosis and 17 (2.3%) cases positive. Migration of a number of study population made it impossible to check the delivery status. Of 697 patients with negative bacterial vaginosis, 72 (10.3%) had PROM while in other group there were four cases (23.5%) with PROM however, the difference was found to be insignificant, statistically.Conclusion: Based on results found through this study, No significant difference was found between bacterial vaginosis, preterm delivery, and LBW.

Background: Skin thickness has an important role in aesthetic results of rhinoplasty. Currently, some surgeons employ defatting technique to reduce subcutaneous tissues and decrease the thickness of skin during rhinoplasty.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the nasal tip skin thickness with and without nasal tip skin defatting technique and to further evaluate the long term effects of this technique on rhinoplasty patients by sonography.Methods: In a case-control study, 111 rhinoplasty candidates were evaluated at a university referral hospital in northern Iran during January to August 2010. Before operation, all patients were investigated through physical exams. Later, the skin thickness of the tip and supra tip were measured by sonography. Patients with moderate to thick nasal skin were randomly allocated to case and control groups for defatting. Sonography results of 44 patients, obtained one and 12 months after the surgery, were compared with those found in two groups before the surgery using Wilcoxon test and Repeat Measure test.Findings: A total of 111 patients with mean age of 25.1±7.6 years including 16 (14.4%) men and 95 (86.6%) women were enrolled. Based on physical examinations, the skin type was thin in 20 (18.9%), moderate in 68 (59.4%), and thick in 23 cases (21.7%). Considering the sonography results, the skin type was thin in 7 (6.8%), moderate in 83 (80.6%), and thick in 13 cases (12.6%).There was no significant difference in the thickness of tip and supra tip skin between defatted cases and control group measured before surgery and within the follow-up period.Conclusion: Based on results found through this study, Sonography is a precise instrument in assessing the nasal skin thickness before rhinoplasty. Defatting technique was shown to be of no effect on reduction of skin thickness of tip and supra tip in moderate or thick skins following rhinoplasty.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Obesity is known as a risk factor for breast cancer acting directly on breast cancer by producing adipocytokines. On the other hand, it seems that telomerase activity and especially expression of its catalytic subunit (hTERT) are critical for cancer initiation and development.Objective: To determine the relationship between obesity grades and adipocytokines associated with expression of hTERT gene at different stages of breast cancer.Methods: This was an analytical study carried out on 65 breast cancer patients during 2009-2010. Blood sample and fresh tumour tissue were collected from all patients. Expression of hTERT gene in tumour tissue was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and the plasma level of adipocytokines also tested.Findings: Expression of hTERT gene was detected in 53 samples with an expression level which significantly correlated with BMI, stage, and grade of cancer. Also, there was a positive significant correlation between hTERT expression level and leptin level (r=0.484, P=0.008) however, no correlation with other adipocytokines including IL-6 (r=-0.041, P=0.83) and TNF-a (r=-0.059, P=0.76) was observed.Conclusion: Considering the data, it could be concluded that obesity, as the source of leptin, may play a direct role in occurrence and development of breast cancer.

Background: Nicotinic and dopaminergic systems influence anxiety behavior. Furthermore, the interaction between nicotine and dopamine D1 receptors has been demonstrated in modulation of some behaviors.Objective: To investigate the involvement of dorsal hippocampus dopaminergic D1 receptor in the nicotine effects on anxiety behavior.Methods: This was an experimental study carried out at Tehran Institute of Cognitive Sciences in 2009. Initially, 190 mice in 10-member groups were placed in a stereotaxic apparatus and two cannulae placed in the CA1 region of hippocampus. Later, the effects of dopaminergic D1 receptors agonist (SKF38393) and antagonist (SCH23390) on nicotine anxiogenic effects in mice were measured using hole-board test of anxiety. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett’s test.Findings: Nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) produced anxiogenic effect (P<0.001). Intra-CA1 injections of ineffective doses of SCH23390 reversed the anxiogenic effects induced by nicotine (P<0.001). Furthermore, co-administration of ineffective dose of SKF38393 plus ineffective dose of nicotine increased the anxiogenic effect of nicotine (P<0.001). Locomotion activity was unchanged when no drug was administered.Conclusion: The results indicated that dopamine D1 receptors of the dorsal hippocampus have modulatory role in the anxiogenic response induced by nicotine.

Background: Imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. resulting from metallo-b-lactamase (MBLs) -producing strains have been reported to be among important causes of nosocomial infections and of serious therapeutic problem worldwide.Objective: To determine the prevalence of metallo-b-lactamase among imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter isolates based on phenotypic methods.Methods: This was an descriptive study in which 140 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were initially tested for imipenem susceptibility and later for metallo-b-lactamase production using combined disk diffusion, double disk synergy test, and Hodge test during 2010. Antibiotic susceptibility of positive metallo-b-lactamase isolates were further evaluated by disk diffusion technique using CLSI methodology.Findings: Of 140 isolates, 29 (20.7%) were imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter. Positive phonetypic test for metallo-b-lactamase was 24 (17.1%).Conclusion: The result of this study is indicative of growing number of nosocomial infections associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. in this region leading to difficulties in antibiotic therapy.

Background: Osteoporosis is a worldwide public health problem with an increasing prevalence. Evidence suggests that adopting changes on some life styles can prevent or delay the development of osteoporosis.Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a health education intervention based on the Health Belief Model in promoting osteoporosis preventive behaviors in rural women.Methods: This study was an interventional research with two groups, experimental (n=55) and control (n=55) groups selected from 2 health houses in the city of Malayer (Iran) in 2009. The experimental group participated in four health education sessions based on components of the Health Belief Model. Data collection tool was a questionnaire including 37 questions based on HBM, demographic information, and preventive behaviors of osteoporosis. Data were collected at two points before intervention and two month after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 15.Findings: Before intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding the health belief constructs however, following intervention, the independent sample t-test was indicative of a significant difference between two groups (P£0.05) regarding the perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. By increasing the score of different components of Health Belief Model, the adoption of preventive actions of osteoporosis increased.Conclusion: The findings of this survey confirmed the efficiency of Health Belief Model in adopting preventive actions of osteoporosis.

Background: One of the health system main challenges is promotion of quality education. Baldrige Excellence Model improves organizations with a mechanism of self-assessment. This model has improved the principles of TQM model for Educational-Health care organizations. The«Leadership» is the first criteria.Objective: Quality evaluation of educational leadership in Baqiyatallah Hospital was the purpose of this study.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed on Baqiyatallah Hospital. Data were collected by interviewing the leaders and observing the processes and documents base on Baldrige questionnaire (version 2009-2010) and analyzed according to the Baldrige table for scoring.Findings: Of total 120 points of the leadership criterion in Baldrige model, the educational leadership of Baqiyatallah Hospital obtained a score of 53.95 (44.96%). The points earned were associated with the sub-criterion of "senior leadership" (30.63 points) and the “Governance and Societal Responsibilities” criterion (23.33 points).Conclusion: Based on our findings, the hospital in question was demonstrated to have a good approach for excellence however, the level of organizational learning and integration needed to be upgraded. Thus, the implementation of Baldrige criteria to improve the standards is recommended.

Background: Citizenship behavior is a useful valuable behavior manifested by individuals voluntarily. Thus, in the challenging world we live in, organizations seek competitive advantages by employing individuals who act beyond their tasks.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the structural relations between job satisfaction and organization citizenship behavior among nurses of Qazvin and Isfahan hospitals.Methods: In this cross-sectional study was performed on 481 randomly selected nurses of Qazvin and Isfahan hospitals during the winter 2011. Data were collected through the “job satisfaction questionnaire” developed by Smith, Kendall, and Halyn" and the “organizational citizenship behavior questionnaire” employed by Gonzalez and Garsyakarazv in their study. Data were analyzed by descriptive correlation method and structural equation.Findings: The study of each individual aspect of job satisfaction revealed that nurses were satisfied with both the nature of their job and their colleagues (P<0.001) while they were neither satisfied with their job promotion nor their supervisors (P<0.05). The nurses also showed a high degree for all three aspects of organization citizenship behavior including organizational participation, delivery of service, and organizational loyalty (P<0.001). Job satisfaction was shown to have significant direct effect on every dimension of organizational citizenship behavior (R2=0.32).Conclusion: As demonstrated by the findings of the present study, while the level of job satisfaction was low among the nurses, the level of their citizenship behavior was high.

Vascular malformations are presented at birth. Some %35 of vascular malformations occurs in bone. Intrabony hemangioma may also occur and probably is indicative of either venous or arteriovenous malformations. The aim of this report was to assess previous studies and also presenting a patient with intrabony vascular malformation.A twenty - year old man with an extensive multi-locular radiolucent lesion at the right side of mandible with bone destruction, buccal and lingual cortex expansion, malocclusion, teeth displacement, facial asymmetry, and bleeding after tooth extraction or biopsy was referred for control of bleeding. Intra - osseous hemangioma was diagnosed by clinical and para - clinical (panoramic - computerized tomography - angiography) examinations. Following access to external carotid artery by a vascular surgeon and retraction of buccal and lingual soft tissues, the right side of mandible was resected (from middle portion of ramus to left central incisor). After complete curettage of lesion and inter - maxillary fixation, the mandibular bone was fixed at its exact location by using three plates and ten screws for six weeks.The advantages of this method are:The use of patient's bone for mandibular reconstruction bypasses the process of bone harvesting from another site (iliac - calvarium), Shorter time of surgery and general anesthesia and lower morbidity rate, Intra - orally approach leaves no scar on the skin.