Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences
Year:2004 | Volume:10 | Issue:4 (30)|Papers Count:16

In this study, we investigated the effects of Berberis vulgaris (BY) extract on blood pressure in anaesthesized hypertensive rats and also on responses of the rats' isolated perfused mesenteric bed. 17 male rats of Sprague - Dawley race (200 – 250 gr) were subjects of this study. Hypertension was iuduced by DOCA - salt injection (20 mg/kg, twice weekly; for 5 weeks, s.c.) and drinking water was replaced by Nac1 (1%). Five weeks later, animals were anaesthesized with Sodium thiopental (30 mg/kg, i.p.), then systemic arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) was directly measured. Mean arterial blood pressure in hypertensive rats was 192 ± 6. Administration of aqueous extracts of BV reduced. The arterial blood pressure in a dose- dependent manner. In other sets of experiments, mesenteric beds were removed and pre-contracted with kc1 (40 IlLM);then different concentrations of the aqueous extract were added. In this preparation, addition of BV reduced the contactile effects of KCL. Incubation of mesenteric bed with indomethacin (10-5 M, for 20 min) and L - NAME (10-4 M, for 20 min) did not change the response to RV. The findings suggest that the antihypertensive effects of BV extract is  implemented through the reduction in total peripheral resistance and this effect is not mediated by the activation of nitric oxide pathway and prostaglandins.

Drug addiction is one of the most important problems of the present age and one of the four major crises destroying millions of lives and devastating huge national wealth. It is commonly believed, among those suffering from CVD and diabetes, that opium affects blood sugar and fat and reduces the risk of CVD and diabetes. We carried out this study to test this commonly-believed assumption. 100 drug - dependent and 100 drug-independent subjects were studied for their fasting blood sugar and triglyceride. Both groups were homogeneous as for age, height and weight; those with history of CVD, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and other chronic diseases were excluded from the study. Drug-dependence was determined through morphine quick test. Findings revealed a significant difference in the rate of blood sugar in cases (94.76) and controls (106.31).Also, the difference of cholesterol level in case and control groups (162.4VS.   185.1)was found to be significant. However, no significant relationship was found between the two groups as for their triglyceride level. Therefore, we recommend further extensive studies as there are no generalizable findings proving the effect of morphine on the reduction of blood sugar and triglyceride.

Type II diabetes is the most common type. Diabetics take anti - diabetic tablets to control their blood sugar. However, they become resistant to the tablets and higher doses, even, bring about no changes in the level of their blood sugar. Oral drugs are alternatives when patients do not like insulin injection. This clinical trial was carried out to determine the effects of alprazolam on the reduction of glucose in type II diabetics whose blood sugar was not controlled by oral agents. It was done in before - after manner on 48 (19 men an 29 women) cases of type II diabetes. Their BMI>25, 150<FBS<250 and were randomly selected. They received Alprazolam 0.5 for six weeks when their blood sugar was measured at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of taking alprazolam. Obtained data were analyzed in SPSS. Mean FBS before alprazolam administration and two, four and six weeks after administration were 197.25 ± 41.48, 174.65 ± 30.7, 172.92 ± 46 and 160.62 ± 47 mg/dl respectively. Mean decrease of FBS in first two weeks and after 6 weeks were 14 and 37 mg/dl respectively. Finally, it was concluded that a short course of alprazolam administration improved glucose regulation in cases. Therefore, it is recommended.

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is one of the safe methods of preserving the airway during surgery but it can disturb the hemodynamic status of patients through changing blood pressure and heartbeat rate. This study is conducted to explore possible ways of preventing or reducing those changes to avoid ischemia, high blood pressure and heart failure. This clinical trial randomly involved 100 cases under general anaesthesia in Class I surgery with no history of CVD. They were randomly assigned into clonidine - taking and control groups. In the former, 90 – 120 minutes before anesthesia, 5 Mg/Kg oral clonidine was given to the patients. Their systolic, diastolic Bp and heartbeat were measured before induction and immediately after intubations. Anesthsia method was the same for both groups. The obtained measurements were compared using independent and paired t-test. Mean heartbeat rate before induction in case and control groups were enhanced by 29.1% and 14% respectively after intubations. Systolic BP (clonidine 20.3% and control 9.4%), diastolic BP (clonidine 11.4% and control 6.4%) and mean arterial BP (15.2% and 7.6%) also had increased and the increase rates were significant in both 6 groups (P<0.05). Although we experienced significant increases in the rate of pulse, systolic and diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure after intubation, the increase rate in clonidine-taking group was half the rate of inctease in the control group. We recommend clonidine as premedication particularly in patients susceptible to hemodynamic changes.

Clinical tests and examinations of knee joint have been expounded fully and frequently in medical textbooks; however, few researchers have attempted to evaluate their credit through statistical analysis. This prospective, cross – sectioual study has been carried out in 2001-2002 on 163 patients (overall 171 arthroscopies) to assess the accuracy and validity indices of clinical examinations. Data on age, sex, clinical symptoms, pre-and per anesthetic physical examinations and arthroscopic findings were collected Clinical presentations of the patients, in the order of prevalence, included pain (98.9%), locking knees (61.2%), swelling (33.9%), limited range of movement (11.7%) and clicks (3.5%). 75.5% were male and the rest female. The most prevalent group was 20 -39 age group. Arthroscopy done on the right and left knee were 50.9% and 49.1% respectively. ACL rupture was the most common in patients with locking plus meniscus tear and those with giving way. In patients with medial meniscus tear, joint line tenderness was primarily on the medial side of the knees; however, in patients with lateral meniscus tear, the most common side of joint line tenderness was on the opposite side (lateral side). The validity indices of knee stress tests (including anterior drawer test, Lachman test and McMurray test) were statistically analyzed and determined. McMurray test (for meniscus tear) and anterior drawer and Lachman tests (for ACL rupture) had a high specificity and positive predictive value Sensitivity of McMurray test decreased under general anaesthesia; while those of the other two tests increased significantly. Finally, a new, useful and simple clinical classification system is suggested for patients with internal derangement of knee.

Determining the Gestational age and estimating the labor date are considered as one of the main caregivings. In developing countries, unfortunately, lack of accurate information about the last menses is a common problem. In this cross-sectional study, 802 pregnant women were included into the study. Gestational age was calculated from the last menstruation to the labor day. Required parameters from mothers and neonates were obtained. 56% were primpiarous. Labor pains automatically started in 61%. Only in 21.9%, head engagement occurred on hospitalization. Correlation of gestational age and vaginal height in primipara and multipara were r=0.145 and r=0.159 respectively. Findings indicated that the highest correlation existed in primiparous and multiparous subjects. Despite the correlation of vaginal height and gestational age at final stages, it is not recommended as an effective technique as the correlation coefficient is not high. However, regression equations imply the high power of vaginal height in predicting the fetus weight.

Pain in vertebral column or low back pain is of high prevalence in all communities. It seems odd to associate back pain with foot disorders but taking the role of foot in body balance into consideration, any change in the foot components can affect the forces on muscles and their functioning. This study focused on two groups: healthy subjects and those with mechanical back pain. In this case – control study, hallus valgus, hallux rigidius, flat foot, calf muscle tightness and foot dimensions were evaluated in both groups. 83 subjects (35 male and 48 female) were assigned into each group through random sampling. The findirgs revealed significant relationship between the hallux valgus, hallux rigidius, flat foot and short calf muscle with chronic back pain. However, no such relationship was found between back pain with foot dimensions and short gastro chnemius. Therefore, we can conclude that foot disorders cause back pain through affecting body posture, balance and gait pattern.

It has been shown in research that disorders such as depression, anxiety, sleeping pattern, loneliness and social seclusion affect 15% to 25% of the 6ldely over 65 years. 245 subjects of over-60 years of age were selected through cluster sampling to fill out a questionnaire including demographic, mental and leisure aspects. Mental status scaled from 1-3 corresponding to poor, medium and good mental status respectively. Leisure time also scaled 1-3 corresponding to good, relatively good and inappropriate respectively. Chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for analysis. It was found that 70.8% of the subjects were 60-69 years old; 64.1% enjoyed good mental Status; 0.8% poor mental status. 2.2% of subjects with 70-79 years of age had poor mental Status. 71.2% of men and 54.7% of women were found to have good mental status; while, both sexes were equal as for poor mental status. 71.3% of literate subjects had good mental status while poor mental status was observed most in illiterate subjects. 68.9% of subjects who lived with their spouses showed good mental status. A significant relationship was found between gender (p=0.0/53), marital status (p=0.0398) and mental status. A negative correlation was observed between age and marital status (r=0.2389). Also correlations were found between education and mental status (r=0.504) and between age (r=0.2389) and education (r=0.1411) with leisure activities. Also, the correlation of mental health and leisure activities was significant (r=0.2309). It was finally concluded that the higher the age, the poorer the mental status. Poor mental status is noticeable in women and subjects with higher education. The correlation of mental health and leisure activities indicate the significance of entertainment in health and happiness of the aged people. Employment and leisure time activities are suggested to enhance their mental status.

Documentation is one of the most important practices in nursing and takes up about 30% of the nurses' time. Nothing can reflect the total amount of nursing care given to patients as documentation does. Already, we have had disappointing reports of poor reporting at hospitals in Tehran, Tabriz and Golestan. This study was carried out to research and evaluate the current status of nursing reports and to determine factors affecting knowledge and attitudes of nurses towards the principles of documentation at hospitals affiliated to the Semnan University of Medical Sciences in Semnan, Iran. 54 nurses participated in this desc1iptive - analytical study; they were given a questionnaire on Knowledge and attitude and a checklist on their practice of reporting. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Nine percent were found to possess poor knowledge and 63% good knowledge of the principles. Only 9.2% had low attitude. However, only 5.6% of the nurses performed good reporting. Despite their poor performed most of the nurses indicated good knowledge and attitude, so there might be other factors affecting their performance. These factors might be among time-consuming nature of the task, lack of emphasis on the part of senior officials and physicians, its null impact on the promotion of the personnel, lack of reward/punishment and mativatiug factors. Therefore, we recommend studying motivation and health factors in nurses' workplace.

In this clinical study, 262 cases with scorpion stings referring to the emergency room in Birjand were surveyed. They were followed-up for clinical course and prognosis without antivenom as treatment. Pain was observed as a general presentation in all cases; major symptoms included tenseness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, restlessness and generalized purities. No differences were observed as for the type and intensity of pain in young children and adults. The prognosis was excellent and no mortality was observed. According to the findings, it can be concluded that scorpion stings in Birjand can be successfully managed without the use of antivenom.

Waiting time before surgery is one of the environmental factors causing anxiety in surgery wards. In fact, every patient is to wait before surgery and it is during this period that stress, frustration and anxiety are intensified. This correlational descriptive study is carried out, in two steps, on 100 patients hospitalized at hospitals in Mashhad. Qualified subjects were selected through objective-based sampling and divided into two groups according to their waiting time; those with less than two hours; and those with more than two hours of waiting. They were given a questionnaire of anxiety scale the evening before surgery day and the morning of the same day, immediately before they are transferred to the operatien room. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS. The findings revealed that mean anxiety level of the first and second group, for the first stage, were 41.7 ± 10.5 and 40 ± 11.8 respectively; these figures turned out to be 39.7 ± 11.1 and 46.7 ± 12.8 respectively. T-test analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups as for their surgery-day anxiety (P >0.001). Also, a positively linear relationship was found between anxiety and pre-operative waiting time (P>0.05, r= 0.36). As waiting time before surgery is effective on patients' anxiety, we suggest that patients' waiting time is given special attention so that their anxiety is minimized.

Spondylocostal Displasia syndrome is a rare genetic disorder manifested in recessive autosomal form with etiologically heterogeneous Clinical picture consisting of shortened trunk, protruded belly and Various vertebral, costal and cardiovascular anomalies. A four-month-old male infant is reported who is suffering from tackypnea, tenseness, intermittent cyanosis, vertebral and costal anomalies, short limbs in proximal parts with cardiac disorder.