JOURNAL OF RAFSANJAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SERVICES
Year:2002 | Volume:1 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Background: The main function of the immune system is to defense against infections and killing the tumor cells. It has been reported that smoking reduces the resistance to infections and increases the incidence of cancers. The aim of this study was to assess selected indices of immunity, in healthy cigarette smoker men.Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 68 healthy men, including, 32 subjects smoking for more than 5 years (case group), and 36 aged-matched men who never used to smoke (control group). The following parameters were studied and compared in two groups: total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, serum concentration of immunoglobulin including: IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, C3 and C4 complement components. Results: Decreased serum concentration of IgG, IgM and, IgA observed in smoker men compared to nonsmokers. Smokers had higher IgE concentration than non-smokers (522 IU/ml Vs 381 IU/ml; P<0.01). In smokers, the absolute count of circulating WBC, PMN cells and lymphocytes was significantly higher than those in nonsmokers. Conclusion: These results indicated that several significant immunological alterations were occurred in smoker men, compare to nonsmoker.

Background: Extensive evidences indicate that the two hemispheres of brain are differentially involved in emotional memory and Accumbens Nucleus (AN) is a key sub cortical structure involved in emotional experiences. The present work investigated possible lateralization of AN involvement in passive avoidance learning (PAL). Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were surgically implanted bilaterally with cannulae aimed at the AN were trained to Place avoidance learning by mild foot shock. They received one trial PAT (1 milliam pere 3s) foot shock. Retention was tested 2, 4 and 6 days after the training. One hour before retention test bilateral or unilateral injections of Tetrodotoxin (5 ng/0.6ml in each) were used to temporarily inactivate the AN during retrieval of the passive avoidance task. Control rats were injected with the same volume of saline. Results: The data indicated that bilateral or only right AN 2 and 4 days after training significantly impaired retrieval memory(p<0/01). But in activation of the left AN 6 days after training had no significant effect. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the right and left AN has different contribution to the expression of memory and that the contribution of the right AN may be more important to the expression and retention of memory for the passive avoidance task.

Background: The polychlorinated pesticide toxaphene is one of the most important organic pollutants. The persistence of this pesticide is the result of low degradation of toxaphene in soil and water. Results of an experiment on dry and moist soil samples amended with gin trash or not amended showed that no toxaphen degradation or dissipation had occurred. there fore, this experiment was conducted under `Flooded` conditions to characterize the effectiveness of flooding on degradation of toxaphene in soil. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out on nine soil samples with different amount of toxaphene and energy sources including gin trash and alfalfa meal for microorganisms. The experiment was conducted for three months. Toxaphene residues of samples taken an day zero and 3 months following the initiation of the experiment were extracted and analyzed using a gas- liquid chromatography.Results: Chromatograms of toxaphene residues indicated the extensive toxaphene decomposition occurred in samples amended with fresh gin trash or alfalfa meal. However, little or no toxaphene degradation occurred in samples which were not amended or those containing previously decomposed gin trash.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that toxaphene decomposition in soil is a microbial process which takes place under anaerobic conditions . Moreover, addition of an energy source enhances the degradative activity of the micro flora. Therefore, incorporation of organic material with the soil and subsequent flooding might be a practical means of achieving degradation of toxaphene in the field thereby reducing the environmental levels of this insecticide.

Background: Stroke is the third ranking cause of death after heart and cancer diseases. The evaluation and knowledge of sensor motor complications is the most important,. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of sensor motor dysfunctions during the first 3 months after stroke in hospitalized patients in neurologic ward of AliIbn Abitaleb Hospital of Rafsanjan City Materials and Methods: This study was a cross sectional descriptive method of sampling during 20 months (from 4thApril 2000 to 6thDecember 2001) in hospitalized patients of neurologic ward of AliIbn Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan. 90 patients who were afflicted with stroke were evaluated by a questionnaire with 25 statements that was used to record information's about this study during 4 stages (3days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after the stroke). Complications of stroke patients included:side effects, type of stroke, light touch sensation, sense of joint position, two points discrimination, flaccidity, spasticity, normal tone, painful shoulder at rest and passive movement, contracture, limb neglect, pressure sore, sitting, standing and walking balance, movements of wrist, ankle, elbow, shoulder, fingers of hand, foot, knee, bridging and straight leg raising.Results: The results of this research showed that out of 90 patients during four stage of evaluation, the highest amount of movements recovery were observed in shoulder 77.7%, elbow 61.1% and straight leg raising 61.1% respectively. Recovery of light touch sensation in fourth stage of evaluation was 85.6%which was more than other sensations. In the fourth stage of evaluation 21.1% of individuals had normal muscle tone which was more than other stages. During the third stage of evaluation, shoulder pain with passive movment was 68.9%, spasticity 67.8% and shoulder pain at rest 51.1%, these complications comprised the highest percentile. During fourth stage evaluation, contracture was observed in 20% of patients which was more than other stages. The most pressure sore was observed in 18.9% of patients. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that considering the high prevalence of shoulder pain in patients, after stroke proper support of shoulder and correct handling of patients is required, so the hospital personnel and health care workers should be educated. Also spasticity is decreased by proper exercise therapy and use of orthosis can prevent muscle contracture. It was clear that the most complications were pressure sores that developed within the first- month after stroke, there fore prevention of this complication is very important.

Background: Delays in treatmeat of AMI has a negative effect on patients prognosis. This study performed to determine the influence of several factors including: age, sex, socio-economic situation, opium addiction, history of diabetes mellitus, history of ischemuic heart disease, intensity of pain at onset of infarction, time of symptoms onset, living alone, visiting the physician and distance from hospital, on patients delay in patients with AMI. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 300 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to Kerman hospitals in a seven months period. Time between onset of symptoms and arriving to the hospital considered as delay if it was more than six hours. The data were collected using a questionnaire by a Physician.Results: Patients divided into two groups based on the duration of delay. 203 patients had a delay less than six hours from symptoms onset, and 97 patients had more than six hours delay. Among the patients related variables, history of diabetes mellitus (P=0.017) and low intensity of pain at onset of infarction P=0.0087 were associated with the duration of delay significantly.Conclusion: History of diabetes mellitus and low intensity of pain at onset of infarction can increase delay and decrease the efficiency of treatment Therefore it is essential to increase the patients, awareness especially diabetic patients that are at high risk to hospital as soon as possible to improve prognosis of AMI.

Background: Malnutrition is a major health problem in the developing countries. It is recognized that 60% of causes of deaths among children under five years in these countries are associated with malnutrition. Therefore malnutrition is the most common cause of reduced life expectancy, health and survival in children. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in 1-5 year old children. in Rafsanjan city.Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive and cross sectional study, which was carried out in 1070 1-5 years children old .They were selected by classification sampling technique. Questionnaires were filled in by the children's mothers. Weight and height was measured by scale and a tape.Results: The prevalence of stunting (height for age), under weight (weight for age) and wasting (weight for height) among all children were%10.3, %11.5 and %5.8 respectively. Stunting among girls and boys were %9.3, and %11.3respectively. Wasting in girls and boys was %5.9 and %5.8 respectivel .and under.weight in girls and boys was %11.4 and %11.6 respectively.Conclusion: This study showed that malnutrition is a major problem in children in this city. Although prevalence of malnutrition in this study was lower than the other studies, but it can be concluded that an interventional approach is needed.

Background: Exclusive breast feeding during the first six months of life is the best infant nutrition. Success in breast feeding and continuation of it needs the support of health care personnel. For this reason postpartum home visits are important. This study was performed to assess the effect of postpartum home visits on continuation of berast feeding and weight gain of infants in Kerman.Materials and Methods: In this qusi- experimental study, 100 normal delivered prim para woman were divided into two equal groups. These groups were matched according to mothers age, and education level, husbans jop and infants sex. For study group, six health care programs of home visits were designed in the third, tenth days and the end of first, second, third and fourth months of postpartum. Data were collected with questionnaire and scale (for weighting infants).Date were amalysed by chi- square and T-Test.Results: Infants nutrition and their weight gain in the first and second home visits which that were perfumed in third and tenth days of postpartum respectively, showed no significant difference between the two groups, but in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth home visits that were performed out the end of first, second, third and fourth months of postpartum showed \significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results of this sludy indicated that it is likely postpartum home visits have a great impact on the continuation of breast feeding and infant weight gain.

Background: Ischemic heart disease is one of the major causes of death in the developed countries. Coronary Artery Disease is common in Iran, and deaths related to this factor are increasing. This survey is a descriptive study to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of Kerman population about prevention of MI. The sample included 600 people who were selected in several stages (cluster, randomized and systemic) from different parts of the city. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was used for collecting the data. For data analysis ANOVA, Kruskalwalis, X2and regression (pearson) were used . Results: The results of this survey showed that most people's knowledge was moderate and in women, and those with educational level above high school (diploma) was more than others. In attitude, most of the people were impartial or had positive attiude. Women and people with hyprtention, had a higher level of knowledge than others. In the practice field, the responders didn,t have proper performance in most items. The practice of 41-50 year olds and older people, who had better education, history of MI, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and hypertension was better thar the others in a number of aspects (P<0/05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the role of health service members is an important one in increasing the knowledge and prevention of MI.