JOURNAL OF GORGAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2007 | Volume:9 | Issue:1 (21)|Papers Count:15

Materials & Methods: In this study Wistar male rats received L-arginine (200 mg/kg) as NO precursor, L-NAME (20mg/kg) and 7-nitroindazole (25mg/kg) as non specific and specific NO sentries inhibitors. L-arginine and L-NAME were injected intra peritoneal (IP) and 7-nitroindazole injected subcutaneously (S.C) during one month per day. Rats divided in two groups (with stress and without stress). The kind of stress was immobilization every day for one month during injection of materials. Brains were removed after this period and each brain with a coronal section manner divided in two parts. Anterior part of brain fixed by formalin and tissue processing was done. By using rotatory microtome 10m serial cross sections were obtained and stained with H & E. Posterior part of brain homogenized with such solution then amount of NO in obtained solution was measured by spectrophotometer with 540 nm wavelength.Results: Statistical analysis of light microscopic findings indicated that stress of immobilization with use of L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole result in decrease of thickness of prefrontal cortex, numbers of Betz cells and NO production in rats' brain, it means L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole exaggerate the brain damage and from other hands Larginine with stress can convert these results.Conclusion: On the basis of these results we believe that stress of immobilization damages prefrontal cortex and also NOS inhibitors can aggravate the cortical damage. On the other hand although NO precursor (L-arginine) decreases the cortical damage in rats that impress with stress, it can result in these changes in rat's brain without stress.

Background and Objective: Copper and zinc, two essential trace elements, are neuroactive substances that can be synaptically released during neuronal activity. These metals have been implicated in diseases with neuropathological components, including Alzheimer's disease, Menkes disease, Wilson's disease, Pick's disease, stroke and seizures. Copper and zinc levels in body tissues reflect many physiological and pathological conditions, including dietary factors, hepatic disease, and acute and chronic infections. The purpose of the present study was to examine the plasma levels of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in schizophrenic patients and to compare the Cu/Zn ratios with that of matched healthy subjects.Materials and Methods: Forty patients with schizophrenia (diagnosis were made according to DSM-IV) were sampled along with 50 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria included another concurrent psychiatric disorder, pregnancy, and medical disorders (endocrine, immune, liver cirrhosis, renal) or drugs (anticonvulsants, contraceptives, glucocorticoids) known to affect trace element metabolism. Fasting blood samples were withdrawn from an antecubital vein between 07.00 and 09.00 h. Plasma copper and zinc levels were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer GmbH, Uebelingen, Germany). Two-tailed t test was used to determine statistical differences. All data were analyzed with the computer program, GRAPHPAD software (V2.01+).Results: Mean±SE of sera copper levels in cases and controls were 145±28 and 65±3 mg/dl respectively (P<0.05). Also Mean±SE of sera zinc level in cases and controls were 67±2 and 81±4 mg/dl, respectively (P<0.05). Cu/Zn ratios was 2.07±0.38 and 0.87±0.04 in cases and controls respectively (P<0.05).Conclusion: There was a significant higher Cu/Zn ratio in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy subjects. These results suggest that Cu and Zn may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia

Background and Objective: Abnormal BMI of mother and weight gain play very important role in the outcome of pregnancy. Several researches were done on the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and mother weight gain in pregnancy, and the complications in neonates, like low birth weight and prematurity and mother complications like preeclampsia. This study was performed in order to determine the correlation between body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy, maternal and fetal complications in patient admitted to Deziani hospital in Gorgan, Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 350 pregnant women in Deziani hospital during a year (2002-03). Patients' information's like mother age, prepregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy and maternal-fetal complications (preeclampsia, PROM, preterm labor and macrosomia) were recorded. After coding, data were analyzed by SPSS and Chi-Square test was used for description.Results: In high BMI women, higher weight gain was seen than normal BMI women. Preterm labor was significantly related with pre-pregnancy BMI (P<0.05) but no relationship was seen between weight gain and preterm labor. PROM and birth weight were significantly related to pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain during pregnancy (P<0.05). Preeclampsia has significant relationship with weight gain (P<0.05); but not with pre-pregnancy BMI.Conclusion: Abnormal maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain during pregnancy can complicate the delivery. Low and high BMI and weight gain during pregnancy can contribute with the complications in mothers and neonates.

Background & Objective: The life time prevalence of schizophrenia is estimated about 1%-1.5% in United States and various studies have shown that between 7.8-46.6% of these patients suffer from OCD. The differences in these statistics are partly due to the assessment and treatment methods. The purpose of this study was to measure the frequency of OCD in hospitalized schizophrenic patients. Materials & Methods: The study was cross-sectional. 96 inpatients (56 men and 40 women) with DSM-IV schizophrenia diagnostic criteria were selected from Iran Psychiatry Hospital by simple non-random sampling. Results: The age range of the patients was 17-73 with a mean age of 35±12.6. The majority of patients (88.5%) suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. 47 patients (49%) were diagnosed to have obsessive-compulsive symptoms on interview. The mean age of schizophrenia onset was 24.7±8.8 and the mean age of OCD onset in schizophrenic patients was 20.2±6.7. In 8 (17%), the two disorders were began simultaneously and in 20 (20.8%), schizophrenia was started earlier.Conclusion: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are completely prevalent in schizophrenia. The co morbidity of these two clinical entities has both etiological and therapeutic importance.

Background & Objective: Status epilepticus (SE) is an emergency situation for the neurologist as for the critical care physician, because it is caused by a focal or by a generalized sever brain suffering. The aim of this study is determine of the etiology of SE, the causes of mortality and the efficancy of side- effect on the mortality of SE.Materials & Methods: In this retrospective and prospective study that was done in ICU department of Tabriz Imam Khomeini hospital (1990-04). 50 cases of mortality from 176 cases of SE were present. Informations were obtained by finding documented.Results: Acute mortality associated with SE in this study was 35.2%.Mortality rate in patient older than 60 years, in females, in Tonic- Clonic and in >1h SE was highest. Lead was the most important causes of SE and it's mortality (26.4%). Aspirative pneumonia was the most important complication of SE (48%). 28% of patients had previous epilepsy and 4% had pervious status epilepticus. The most common complication that effect on short term mortality was long infections.Conclusion: The mortality rate in this study is more than other studies that is in result of delay reference to therapeutic centers or insufficient acquaintance of personnel with correct management of SE. low antiepileptic drug level or give up their usage is the most common causes of mortality that is in result of high prevalence of them in SE's incidence.

Background & Objective: People with cancer commonly experience a range of symptoms, including pain and various types of physical and emotional distress. One of important roles of health care providers is managing these complications. The aim of this study was to the evaluation of Therapeutic Touch on hospitalized cancerous females suffering from pain. Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study performed on cancerous females hospitalized in Imam Khomeini hospital at Tehran. It was performed on 3 groups (case, placebo, control) 30 female with different cancers were selected, matched and then divided in 3 groups: the case group received five 20-25-minute session of therapeutic touch, the placebo group 5 ten-minute session with no energy exchange and no intervention for control group. Data gathered by two tools include: demographic questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale of Pain (0-10). Pain severity was measured before and after intervention Data was analyzed by SPSS-11.5 using ANOVA, Repeated measurement analysis variance (Wilks lambda test), qui-square and TUKEY tests. Results: The means of pain score in case, placebo and control groups before intervention was 3.8, 4.1 and 4.16 and after intervention 0.8, 6.4, 4.2 respectively. There was significant difference between 3 groups in pain severity during using ANOVA and repeated measurement analysis variance (Wilks lambda test) (p<0.05).

Background & Objective: Hypertension is the most important Cardio-Vascular risk factor, and also the most common cause of heart failure, stroke and renal failure. This semi-experimental study aimed at determining the effect of education, by means of Health Belief Model (HBM), on nurse's staff knowledge, attitude and their practice toward hypertension. Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study was done on 136 nurse's staff selected by stratified random sampling. Data collection instrument were a questionnaire and a check-list. At first, the subjects' knowledge, attitude and their Practice were studied by a questionnaire and a check list, and then a HBM-based educational program was carried out. For three months, Afterwards, their knowledge, attitude and practice were measured and compared with pretest findings. In statistical analysis, Wilcox on test, independent t test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation.Results: Before education the mean score of knowledge, benefit perceived, barrier perceived, threat perceived, attitude and practice was 9.68, 23.76, 25.63, 22.82, 71.99 and 4.55 respectively. After education these scores reached 16.66, 26.06, 28.94, 24.98, and 80.08 and 4.83. Based on the results, nurse's staff training via HBM led to high knowledge, positive attitude and practice improvement (p<0.05).The difference between this research variables such as age, gender, marital status, record of service and family background was not significant, But there was significant difference between variables (occupational levels, educational levels, and hospital ward) and knowledge and practice. Furthermore, the relation between hospital ward and attitude was positive (p<0.05).

Background & Objective: Dyspnoea and fatigue caused considerable impairment in the functional performance and quality of life in HF patients. The purpose of this study were to determine efficacy of home walking exercise program on functional performance and quality of life in patients with heart failure. Materials & Methods: This study was qusiexperimental trial that assessed efficacy of home-based exercise program on the functional performance and quality of life in patients with HF in the Ahvaz city (2005). In this study 60 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and III heart failure divided two groups training (n=30) and control (n=30). Material or measurements was demographic characteristics form, Minnesota quality of life check list and timed exercise program form. Exercise training in the patients would be performed tree day per week for 8 weeks. Determination quality of life measures by Minnesota check list would be performed in both the training and control groups at entry and after 8 weeks. Also 6 minute walking tests for determination functional performance would be performed in both groups at entry and after 8 weeks. Ultimately data analysis by SPSS softward. Results: results showed that significant difference existed between mean walking distance on the 6MWT at entry and after 8 weeks in the training group (373.86 to 412.30 m, P<0.05), that no significance was seen between control group (376.79 to 377.63 m). Also significant difference exists between mean quality of life scores at entry and after 8 weeks in the training group (52.32 to 43.80), that no significance was seen between control group (52.43 to 52.50).Conclusion: This study showed that home-based exercise program affected on functional performance and quality of life in HF patients. Its accepted. Therefore exercise training can be used as a therapeutic approach in these patients, because not only promotes quality of life but also improve the functional performance.

Background & Objective: Staphylococcus aurues is on important cause of community and hospital- acquired infections. Caused by methicillin or oxacillin- resistant s aureus (MRSA) are mainly nosocomial and are increasingly from many countries word wide. Many attempt have been made by the researchers to find new compounds as a substitute for this antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of alcoholic extracts of 20 medical plants species of Golestan province on clinical and standard strains of MRSA and MSSA and comparative and detect the best medical plant.Materials & Methods: In this study the compounds of the plant were extracted by percolation method and the effect of ethanolic extract of 20 Iranian medical plants against methicillin resistant and methicillin sensitive strains were assessed by disc diffusion method and each test were repeated 3 times and mean inhibition zone were recorded and then, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts, that show good inhibition zone in disc diffusion method, was determined by the micro broth dilution method.Results: The results of antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extracts of 20 plants revealed that, the ethamlic extracts of 8 plants have the best effect on strains and the maximum mean inhibition zone was 22.4 mm and the lowest MIC of plants was 0.01 mg/ml.Conclusion: The result of this study indicates that, ethanolic extract of Eucalyptus. Global, Peganum.hermla, Punica.granatum, Berberis.vulgaris, Ttamarixaphylla, Nnigella.sativa, Hypericum perforatum AND, Artemisia. Herb alba have the best antibacterial effect against MRSA and MSSA. The result obtained from these plants might be considered sufficient for further study.

Background & Objective: Research utilization provides quality and cost- effective care, optimizing patient outcomes and enhancing the credibility of nursing. Despite of increase in the amount and quality of nursing research, the conduct of research and use of its results remains poor. In Iran one of the most important barriers of research is related to research utilization. The aim of this study is to identify the barriers and facilitators of research utilization in nursing practice.Materials & Methods: The study used a descriptive analytic design. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: The former asked for information on the academic and professional profiles of respondents, the latter was based on the BARRIERS Scale. In addition there was one open – ended question to measure the facilitators of research utilization. Content and face validity was further enhanced by submitting it to nursing researchers.Results: In factor analysis procedure four factors were extracted. The factors were labeled as: organization barriers and limitations, Quality of research, Nurses' values, awareness and skills, Communication of research. Factor loading for barrier item ''the nurse is unaware of the research'' was not included under factor headings. The top three barriers were The nurses do not have time to read research, the facilities are inadequate for implementation and the nurses do not feel they have enough authority to change patient care procedures. All the participants suggested facilitators to increase research use The most frequently mentioned facilitators were related to human resources, individual and organizational factors.Conclusion: The most dominant findings were related to organizational support. The top three barriers mentioned by the participants reflect a traditional organizational culture which hinders professional autonomy. Organizations need to ensure that facilities are provided and give the authority to the nurses to change the practice based on research.

Background & Objective: Foodstuffs additives are a general term for materials that are added to the foodstuffs in order to increase durability and to improve the appearance, composition, taste and food nutritional value. Colors are classified in this group and are added to foodstuffs in order to increase their attraction. Colors may cause illness such as allergy, rash and hyper activation in children and also they may debilitate the Immune system, Anaphylaxis reactions may also occur and they may have cancerous effect. The aim of this survey was to analyze status of added colors to the dried sweets which are produced in south of Tehran city.Materials & Methods: 191 samples of dried sweets were randomly collected and analyzed from south of Tehran areas. First, the samples were de-colored by Clorhidric Acid, and then were analyzed after refining by Thin Layer Chromatography (T.L.C) method. Samples were identified by taking Retention Factor (RF values) into consideration.Results: 93.2 percent from the total samples contained colors. Among chromatic samples, 42 samples (22%) out the total samples, contained artificial, non-edible colors and 96 samples (50.3%) from the total samples contained artificial and edible colors (for Industrial Producers) and 40 samples (21%), contained natural colors. Sunset yellow color was detected more than other added colors in sweets.Conclusion: Low costs, stability, PH, purity, and environmental conditions, motivate the producers for high utilization of edible colors without considering their possible hazards and/or their edible quality aspects. It is suggested that, based on the findings of this study and high consumption of colors.

Background & Objective: Burning is a general health problem and is also a global injury as well as a very serious sanitary issue in industrial and developing countries. In its severe form, burning can claim lives. It seems essential in every society to analyze burning, to study the causes of burning, treatment outcomes and the death rates, etc. to find proper preventive measures.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of all patients who were hospitalized and finally deceased during the years 2002 and 2004 in Zare' teaching hospital, Sari, were examined. Some variables including the age span average, the degree and percentage of burning, patients' residence, gender, the cause of burning (i.e. boiling water, fire, acids and explosives), average hospitalization period, surgery and also the abundance of self–burning attempts were examined.Results: This study indicate that during these 3 years the total number of those who died from burns was 506 (23.4%). The residential places were in Mazanderan province (41.7%), Golestan province (41.4%), and Gilan province (10.2%). The abundance of burning ranges as below: The 2 and 3 degree of burning at 91.8%. Regarding the percentage of burns, 31.7% of abundance pertains to burning at 90% and more. The greatest external causes leading to burns are petrol, gas, and gas oil at 57.9%. Also, the percentage of burns does not have much influence on death rate among 50-year-olds and older people.Conclusion: This study indicated that the importance of death between burned patient in special sex and age. To establish hospitals, some issues must be considered as: distance, transportation, route dangers, characteristics of area, existing epidemiological survey, and finally the epidemics and event statistics.

Background & Objective: Synaptosomes as an In Vitro model have unique properties. So, general method of preparation and their applications in studying presynaptic mebrane proteins are introduced.Materials & Methods: This study was done by using five rats and in every examples. Synaptosomes were prepared from rat cerebellum. In order to verify structurally and functionally, biochemical, morphological and their response to depolarization were tested.Results: Lactate dehydrogenize activity rised after exposure to detergent; 9±1.8 (n=5). 15 mM K+-evoked depolarization increased synaptosomal exogenous neurotransmitter release 3±0.76 (n=5) times, compared to the basal state. Plasma membrane, mitochondrion and synaptic vesicles were observed in electron micrographs.Conclusion: Application of synaptosomal samples may provide useful information in both basic and clinical researches because it is efficient and can easily be prepared, even from human tissues.

Congenital dislocation of radial head without any abnormality is rare, and commonly reveals with anomalies in another organs. it can be appearance in one side or two side because of late manifestations, diagnosis of congenital dislocation of radial head is usually difficult. It is more important to recognize congenital anomaly of radial head from dislocation of elbow that events in trauma. This article presents one case of congenital dislocatin of radial head that is involved one side without any anomaly.