Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2004 | Volume:3 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Background: Pulmonary function tests before surgery can be used either for assessment of morbidity and mortality after surgery or for estimation of residual lung function after resection. Other useful tests are maximum voluntary ventilation, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, arterial blood gas measurement, perfusion and ventilation scan. The aim of this study was the patient selection method for lung resection in Iran.Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, 26 patients were studied between 1997-1999. For each patient before and 3 months after surgery, pulmonary function tests were performed and the amounts of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, MVV were determined before and after surgery and their relation with lung resection type, diagnosis of disease and postoperative complications were assessed.Results: Among pulmonary function tests parameters only the percent of preoperative and postoperative FEV1/FVC and FEV1/VC had statistically significant relation with lung resection type, diagnosis of disease, postoperative complications and body mass index. In smokers also the percent of postoperative FEV1/FVC and FEV1/VC increased significantly.Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, pulmonary function tests are not useful for patient selection for lung resection and should be used with other lung function assessment test.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most widespread metabolic disease and a major risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Life expectancy is reduced up to 25% in type II diabetic patients. Mortalities are mostly due to cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. The present study was planned to determine the prevalence of DM in Rafsanjan city in the year 2000 since there was no previous study showing the prevalence of this problem in this city. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study that carried out on over 30 year old people who were living in Rafsnajan city. By the stratified random sampling technique, 756 people were selected and entered into the study. A questionnaire which has been already designed was completed by interviewing the subjects. Anthropometric indexes were also measured. A Fasting blood sample was collected and criteria of WHO and ADA was used for diagnosis of DM. Obesity was determined by calculation of the body mass index (BMI). Inorder to investigate the association between variables x2 test was used. Results: The findings showed that the point prevalence of diabetes mellitus was %14.7 according to WHO criteria and 19.1% according to ADA criteria. It should be mentioned that the DM prevalence was higher in women than men (19.1% versus 8.6%). The prevalence of the DM increased by increasing the age of the subjects. However, this association was not significant. There was a significant association between diabetes mellitus and women’s job (P=0.005).Conclusion: This study indicated that prevalence of diabetes could be considered as a health problem in this city. The extent of this problem justifies implementation of an interventional approach on the people’s lifestyle

Background: Malaria pathogenesis is based mainly on extensive changes of biochemical and hematological parameters. The normal values of these parameters differ according to ethnic, racial and economic conditions, and there was no study on them in Iran. The aim of this study was the survey of hematological and biochemical parameters in acute stage of vivax malaria. Regarding to restoration of these altered parameters to normal levels after treatment, we can attributed the changes to effects of malaria disease on human body and can apply them in malaria diagnosis and treatment as well as understanding the malaria pathogenesis.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 70 male patients infected to Plasmodium vivax living in Kahnouj city. Serum levels of total and direct bilirubin, total protein and cholesterol, transaminases (SGOT, SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), RBC count and RBC indices ( MCV and MCH) of the patients were measured before and after radical treatment with chloroquine and primaquine. Then, differences between of the mean pre- and post-treatment levels of these parameters as well as correlation between the parameters and ages of the patient were statistically analyzed.Results: Post-treatment levels of protein, albumin, cholesterol, Hb, Hct, RBC count and MCV were significantly increased (p<0.001). In contrast, post-treatment serum levels of total and direct bilirubin, transaminases, ALP, LDH as well as MCH significantly decreased (p<0.001). Among mentioned parameters, changes of serum levels of direct bilirubin, cholesterol and ALP had a significant but reverse correlation to ages of patients.Conclusion: Patterns of some biochemical and hematological alterations specially cholesterol, ALP and direct bilirubin are useful as indices in determining the severity of malaria disease in patients infected to plasmodium vivax

Background: Previous study indicated that glucocorticoid’s receptors (GRc) in accumbens nucleus (AN) probably are involved in modulation the processes of emotional memory storage. The aim of the present work was to determine the effect of agonist and antagonist of GRc on the modulation of memory processes (Acquisition, Consolidation and Retrieval) in AN of rat in Passive Avoidance Learning (PAL) model.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 120 (12 groups) male Albino Wistar rats (220 – 250 g body weight). Two cannulae implanted bilaterally at the AN and after week the animals were trained in PAL. Corticosterone (1 µg/µl/side) as an agonist and RU38486 (3ng/µl/side) as an antagonist of GRc were injected bilaterally before, immediately after the training and before the retrieval test. Control rats received the same volume of Vehicle. Two days later, retention test was done and Step-through Latency to the dark chamber and total time that spend in light chamber in 10 minutes used as two criteria for measurement of memory.Results: Results indicated that bilaterally injection of agonist and antagonist of GRc immediately after training enhanced and impaired the memory consolidation respectively (P<0.01). But injection these drugs before the training and before the retrieval test had not significant effects on emotional memory processes.Conclusion: Findings of this experiment showed that glucocorticoid’s receptors in AN have important role in memory consolidation of new emotional data in PAL.

Background: The thermal and non-thermal effects of ultrasound has been used in physiotherapy of low back pain for a long time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the thermal and non-thermal effects of applying therapeutic ultrasound on the spinal mixed nerves (S1 – S2) of para-vertebral regions on the Parameters of H reflex of triceps surae muscles. Materials and methods: Fourteen healthy women between 20 to 30 years old were participated in 3 sessions of this experiment:Each subject voluntarily shared in 3 sessions of:1. Continues ultrasound (intensity: 1.5 w/cm2, for 5 minutes) 2. Pulsed ultrasound (intensity: 1 w/cm2, for 5 minutes)3. Placebo ultrasound for 5 minutes)At each session 5 maximal, H reflexes and 3-M waves were recorded before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 5 minutes after (T5) applying the ultrasound.Results: Statistical measurements showed no significant differences in latency and amplitude of H reflex and H/M ratio at T0, T1 and T5 recordings between the three ultrasound groups.Conclusion: This study showed that the thermal and non-thermal properties of ultrasound have no effect on motoneurone pool excitability and conduction through the spinal roots.

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory papulosquamous which has been found to be associated with liver disease, particularly hepatitis B (HBV) infection in several studies.Regarding the increasing of the prevalence of hepatitis B in our community, and the importance of the infection caused by this virus, which is among the man health problems; we conducted a descriptive and cross-sectional study in Kerman population for evaluatiof the prevalence of cases with positive hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients suffering from LP compared to the general population, that is 1-2%.Materials and Methods: 120 patients with LP (case group) and 183 healthy volunteer blood donors (control group) were studied during 10 months in 1381 in specialized dermatology clinics of Kerman city. LP was diagnosed by clinical manifestation, physical examination and skin biopsy. HBsAg was detected in cases and control group by Elisa method. Results: The mean age of the individuals was 35.75±1.45 for case group and 32.7±0.7 for control group. 57(47.5%) of patients in case group were female and 63 (52.5%) were male. In control group 46 (25%) were female and 137 (75%) were men.The results showed that the most common site of Lp involvement was upper limb (67.5%) and the most frequent clinical types were mucosal (67.5%) and classical forms (65%) respectively.One of the patients with Lp (0.8%) and four controls (2.2%) were HBsAg positive. These values were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Our findings indicated that a search for HBV infection in all patients with lichen planus is not necessary. A large multicentric studies should be conducted in other areas of the country.

Background: Many western scientists emphasis that human need the religion and his faith in God cause increase tolerance and decrease anxiety. Recitation of Holy Quran can be a mystical music that can stimulate physiological and psychological responses.In this study the effect of recitation of holy Quran on mental health in nursing students has been evaluated. Materials and methods: In this quasi experimental research 107 individuals were selected and randomly divided into two control and case groups. Mental health score was measured in both groups, by the 12 items of general health questionnaire, and the demographic characteristic determined by checklist. Case group listened to the recitation of Holy Quran for 15 minutes three times a week for four weeks. The Recietation of Holy Quran was by tape recorder and the place of listening were same .One week after finishing the interventation the individuals completed general health questionnaire and demographic check list and then mental health score was measured in both groups again, and the results were compared before and after intervention. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, paired t-test and X2.Results: The findings of this study indicated that the mean of mental health score before interventation in the case group was 31.48±0.83 and in the control group was 31.92 ±1.05 and after interventation in the case group was 35.61 ± 0.8 and in control was 31.2±1.18. Comparing mental health score before and after interventation. Indicated that mean score was increased in case group significantly (p<0.0001). But in the control there was no difference before and after intervention.Conclusion: The present data showed that listening to the recitation of Quran that has known as a mystical music, and can be a method for improving the students’ mental health

Background: Many studies have revealed that depression is one of the common psychiatric disorders, which afflicted 8-20% of population. In order to evaluate prevalence of depression in geriatrics (age >50 years old) this survey was performed in Kerman.Materials and Methods: This Cross sectional study assessed 1212 persons over 50 years old in Spring and Summer 2002 in Kerman, who were selected by two stage sampling technique. Depression was assessed by Beck Questionnaire.Results: From total number of subjects, 225 personas (18.6%) had borderline depression and 728 persons (60%) had some degrees of depression. There was a significant statistic relation between two sexes and depression. There was also significant differences between marital status, education, age, job, socioeconomic state, addiction and depression. But when anxiety was considered as a factor, there was no significant difference between sex, job, marital status and depression.Conclusion: These findings suggest a high rate of depression among geriatrics in Kerman. Female sex, low socioeconomic state, living alone and drug abuse were risk factors for depression in geriatrics.