JOURNAL OF RAFSANJAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SERVICES
Year:2020 | Volume:19 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Background and Objectives: Considering the problem of pain expression by the elderly with dementia, assessment and determination of its severity in this group require an appropriate scale. The present study was conducted with the aim of translation and psychometric evaluation of the Abbey Pain Scale (APS) in Iranian elderly with dementia. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study of psychometric evaluation of scale, after translating and assessing the face and content validity of APS, 100 eligible elderly were selected by convenience sampling in Kashan, 2018-19. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis, known-groups approach, and convergent validity. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency, equivalence, and stability. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon and Mann– Whitney tests, Cronbach's alpha, Spearman-Brown, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results: The scale content validity index was 0. 95%, and the item impact of each item was above 1. 5. Factor analysis identified a single-factor in APS that was able to explain 68. 745% of the total variance of scale score. This scale was able to differentiate between scores during two resting positions and movement protocol, and between two groups with known painful diseases and nondiseased (p<0. 0001). There was a significant positive correlation between scores of the Persian version of APS and PACSLAC-IIIR (r=0. 877, p<0. 0001). Cronbach's alpha, ICC, and standard error of measurement of the scale were calculated 0. 927, 0. 926, and ± 1. 191, respectively. Conclusions: The Persian version of APS can be used as a valid and reliable scale for assessing pain in the elderly with dementia in Iran.

Background and Objectives: Stroke is considered as the third common cause of disability and mortality in the world. Therefore, it is important to find a new treatment for increasing the rehabilitation of disability after stroke. The aim of this study was comparing the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and functional exercise therapy (FET) on the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed in Fatemieh Physiotherapy Clinic of Rafsanjan, Iran in 2019. Thirty-three patients affected by IS were randomly assigned into three equal groups including that received FES, FET and conventional physiotherapy (CP), respectively during 10 sessions. Strength of grasping, intensity of spasticity, ability of walking and assessing of disability levels were evaluated during the first and tenth sessions and one month later. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and two-way repeated measures ANOVA followed by Tukey’ s multiple comparisons test and chi-square test. Results: The finding of this study showed that 10 sessions of FES was more effective than FET and CP in reducing spasticity, increasing walking ability and decreasing levels of disability in IS (p˂ 0. 001), but the three methods did not significantly differ in increasing the strength of grasping (p=0. 070). Conclusion: According to this study, it is recommended that FES be used in treating the complications of IS such as spasticity, problem of walking and decreasing disability.

Background and Objectives: Caraway (Carum carvi) is one of the medicinal plants which is traditionally used for weight loss. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of 6 weeks aerobic training and aqueous extract of caraway seed (carum carvi) on expression of CTRP12 gene, body weight changes and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 fat male rats were provided a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce obesity, following which they were divided randomly into four groups: 1. high-fat control diet, 2. high-fat diet+ exercise, 3. high-fat diet+caraway, 4. high-fat diet+exercise+caraway. The training groups performed aerobic exercise 5 days in week for 6 weeks (approximately 50-70% VO2max). Relative expression of CTRP12 mRNA was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), body weight changes and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’ s post hoc test. Results: Relative expression of CTRP12 mRNA significantly increased after 6 weeks of aerobic training and consumption of carum carvi extract in group 4 compared to groups 1 and 3, in group 1 compared to group 2, and animal weight and subcutaneous fat weight in groups 4, 3 and 2 significantly decreased compared to group 1. Conclusions: Considering the results of the present study, it is recommended to use moderate aerobic exercise and carum carvi to reduce the risk of obesity and weight.

Background and Objectives: Postdural puncture headache is a complication of spinal block in postpartum period, which increases the cost of hospitalization and limits maternal activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of intravenous fluid therapy before the onset of spinal block in the incidence, severity and duration of postdural puncture headache. Materials and Methods: The present study was a clinical trial. The statistical population consisted of two groups of 75 women candidates for elective cesarean section in Rafsanjan in 2018. In the pre-partum room, 500 CC ringer serum was infused into the intervention group and the control group did not receive any serum. The two groups were compared for post dura puncture headache during 7 days via independent two-sample t-test and chi-square test. Results: The results showed that intravenous fluid therapy before entering the operating room in women undergoing elective cesarean section can significantly reduce the incidence of postdural headache in the same technical conditions ( 2 persons equal 2. 7% of intervention group versus 12 persons equal 16% of control group) (p=0. 005). Although, there were no significant differences between the two groups in some indices (p>0. 05), indices such as headache severity, frequency of acetaminophen need and number of its use in the intervention group were less than the control group. Conclusion: The results showed that intravenous serum therapy prior to spinal anesthesia in cesarean section for at least eight hours fasting could significantly reduce the incidence of postdural headache in subsequent days. So, this simple and accessible action can be helpful.

Background and Objectives: It is important to observe oral health in the high-risk group of pregnant women because of their and their fetal health. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of oral health condition among pregnant mothers in Rafsanjan city based on theory of planned behavior in 2016. Materials and Methods: In the present descriptive study, 100 pregnant women in Rafsanjan city were selected by cluster sampling. The data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire for determining the behavior of oral and dental health and a questionnaire for factors affecting oral and dental health behavior based on the constructs of planned behavior theory. Data were analyzed using Pearson’ s correlation, one-way variance analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: In multiple linear regression analysis, there was a significant relationship between knowledge factors and behavioral intention and family income and the health behavior score of pregnant women (p<0. 05). In total, the constructs of the theory of planned behavior explained 22. 7% of the changes in the health behavior score of pregnant women. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that pregnant women had an undesirable situation in field of health behavior. Therefore, it is recommended that interventions be held based on theory of planned behavior in pregnant women with the aim of improving oral health in health centers.

Thyme plant is a member of the mint family that is considered as an aromatic perennial evergreen medical herb. Carvacrol and thymol are known as two important phenolic compounds of thyme plant. Carvacrol and thymol have been identified as antioxidant, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory substances. Also, the neuroprotective, hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of these polyphenolic compounds have been identified in various diseases. In addition, carvacrol inhibits platelet aggregation and is capable to modulate the signaling pathways involved in inflammation and cellular proliferation. The protective effects of carvacrol and thymol have also been reported in some body systems including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. In the present review study, the protective role of carvacrol and thymol as the main compounds of thymus plant has been studied on different biologic systems in disease models.

Background and Objectives: ANGPTL4 is a messenger protein that plays a role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two personalized low volume-high intensity and combined (strength-aerobic) exercises on Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) protein serum levels in women with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 42 overweight diabetic women referred to Pars Clinic in Shahrekord were randomly divided into three groups of low-intensity exercise, combined strength-aerobic exercise, and control. They underwent training for 8 weeks. Data was analyzed using paired t-test and analysis of variance. Results: There was no significant difference between ANGPTL4 levels in pre-test and post-test (p>0. 05). Conclusion: No significant change in ANGPTL4 serum levels following the two mentioned practices in women with type 2 diabetes was probably due to the short duration of the course, the age of the subjects and their level of fitness.

Global health geographic observation can provide valuable information regarding mortality rate, consequences and complications of new diseases for the epidemiologists while emerging epidemic diseases. This observation requires information resources which makes the information regarding the diseases accessible at no cost. ProMED is an immediate reporting system for diseases outbreak and it can provide the information at no cost for epidemiologists at global dimensions. This information source, which is a basis for numerous researchers worldwide, has not been used by Iranian researchers due to their unfamiliarity with it.