Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences
Year:2004 | Volume:11 | Issue:3 (33)|Papers Count:11

More than 85% of the world population are infected with herpes simplex virus. Inability to eradicate it after infection is one of the unique characteristics of this virus. Numerous methods have been tried out in the treatment and prevention of recurrent episodes and its complications. However, research to find out an effective, inexpensive, accessible method with low complications is still to be conducted. This study is conducted to compare the effectiveness of topical solution of zinc sulfate with that of oral polio vaccine in preventing the recurrent herpes simplex infections. In this prospective clinical trial, 60 patients with recurrent herpes simplex (with more than 3 recurrences per year) were treated with 0.05% zinc sulfate solution and OPV (4 droplets each month for 3 consecutive months). Both groups were followed up for 6 months and the characteristics of each recurrence episode were examined in follow-up visits. Chisquare was utilized for analysis. According to the findings , statistical means of 3 follow - ups suggested significant effects of both zinc sulfate and OVP in reducing the frequency, severity and duration of episodes up to 60 to 70% at the end of sixth month (P=0.01); however, no significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods (P=0.192). Therefore it is concluded that zinc sulfate is an effective, available and low - cost treatment with delayed effects but equivalent to OVP in preventing recurrent herpes simplex episodes.

Postoperative Shivering, reported to be of up to 66% prevalence, can cause serions complications such as over consumption of oxygen , vascular cowstriction, myocardial disorders and cerebral pressure increase. In this study, the effect of oral clonidine on postoperative shivering has been studied. 86 patients of class I and II surgery were randomly assigned into clonidine and placebo groups in this clinical trial. The former received 5 g/kg oral clonidine 90 to 120 minutes prior to surgery and the latter received similar pills with no clonidine. Anaesthesia was the same. The patients were observed at recovery for their shivering. The results indicated that the two groups were homogeneous across their age, sex, BMI, type and duration of surgery, bp and body temperaturye. Postoperative shivering in placebo group was 24.1% while it was reduced to 6.3% in the Clonidine group. Therefore, oral Clonidine is Recommended as a supplement to pre - and Post operative caregivings in order to decrease shivering and its complications.

This prospective, double - blind clinical trial is intended to study the effect of taking "Shirafza Drop" by mothers on the weight gain of infants up to age of six months. 158 nursing mothers, referring to Mashad Health Clinics and suffering from insufficient breast milk were randomly selected for the study and assigned into "Shirafza" and placebo groups. The infants of these mothers did not have a normal development curve despite their exclusive breastfeeding. The control group received placebo or solution of chlorophyl in alcohol; while the "Shirafza" group was given the alcoholic extraction of six milk increasing plants including Foeniculum Volgar, Pimpinella Anisum, Cuminum Cyminum, Nigella Sativa, Anetom Gravolen and Petroselinum Crispum. The drops were given in three separate dosages of 30 drops per day for four weeks. Relevant data were gathered through questionnaires and follow - up forms; their height and weight were also measured. Student t-test and chi-square were utilized to ensure the homogeneity of variables intervening with the infants" weight gain; t - test was used to compare their weight gain. Covariance analysis was also used to study the effects of "shirafza" on the intervening variables. Data aualysis was done in SPSS. No significant differences were found to exist between the mean weight gain of "Shirafza" group (471±322 gr) and control group (554±321gr) at the end of different weeks. However, the comparison of their weight gain in the first and second trimesters (26 gr/day vs. 17 gr/ day respectively) indicated that infants older than 3 months had achieved minimum amount of weight gain.

Osteoporosis is most common osteoporosis causing increased disability and mortality in the elderly. Many medicinal and non-medicinal treatments have been suggested for the prevention of the progressive loss of the bones and treatment of the loss of bone mineral density by preventing bone wasting or enhancing bone generation in menopausic women and the elderly. Although single drug treatment is preferred, combination therapy is suggested in most studies. In the present study, combination therapy with alendronate, calcium and vitamin D together with regular exercise was prescribed for 66 patients with osteoporosis complication. Bone mineral density (BMD) and T-score were measured before and after therapy in all patients. After treatment for 14.21 ± 4.7 months, significant increases were observed in BMD by 1.52 ± 4.48, 2.5 ± 4.68 and 2.6 ± 4.17 precent in pelvis, spine and forearm respectively. Significant increases were also observed in T-score of pelvis, spine and forearm by 0.115 ± 0.39, 0.149 ± 0.3 and 1.34 ± 0.5 respectively. Therefore, the efficacy of combination therapy in the treatment of osteoporosis is verified and suggested to be applied if economic and medical conditions of the patient demand.

This Study is intended to study the relationship of physical activity and body fat percentage with some cardiovascular risk factors in faculty members of Sabzevar Teacher Training University in Sabzevar, Iran. For the purposes of the study, 50 male faculty members , with the age of 37 ± 5.7 years, height of 169 ± 6.9 cm and weight of 76 ± 13 Kg were non-randomly selected; they were 50% of the whole population. Cardiovascular risk factors studied included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, cholesterole, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL and HDL-C/cholestrole ratio. Data analysis using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients revealed significant relationships between body fat percentage and plasma cholestrole, TG, VLDL, HDL-C/cholestrole ratio, BMI and physical activity. However, no significant correlation was observed with plasma glucose, HDL-C, and LDL-C, physical activity showed a significant relationship only with body fat percentage and no such relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors. In general, it is concluded that in the subjects of our study, body fat percentage correlates with cardiovascular risk factors more than physical activity does.

Birth weight is one of the most important factors in determining the neonatal status. Low birth weight is associated with infant’s morbidity, where mortality rate is 40 times greater than those born with normal birth weight. In this study, 86 neonates with birth weight less than 2500 gr. were sampled in 6 months. They were all term and were not low weight by nature. Maternal age, neonates sex, parity, family members, mother’s education and job, social status, blood pressure, history of low birth weight delivery, area of residence, gestational intake of iron and calcium, history of malignant gestational nausea and vomiting and vaginal infections were the variables to be studied. Interview checklists, weight scale and sphygmomanometer were used for data collection. Findings revealed a significant relationship between intrauterine growth restriction and factors such as parity, mother’s age, blood pressure and gestational nausea and vomiting. In other words, the older the mothers, the higher the birth weigh of their infants. Mothers with bp higher than 140/90 mmHg gave birth to lower - weight infants. Also, low birth weight infants were observed with mothers having experienced malignant gestational nausea and vomiting.

Muscular injections are one of the most common medical procedures and nurses encounter the experience of pain in their patients and look for ways of reducing pain. This quasi-experimental research was conducted to study the effects of Z-track and air-lock injection methods on the intensity of pain. 585 women referring to Heshmatiyyah Clinic in Sabzevar, Iran for either of three injections (Penicillin, B-complex, Diclophenac) were randomly assigned into three groups of 195 members; in each group, 65 patients received Ztrack 65 air-lock and the last 65 routine methods of injection in lateral position. Visual scale was utilized for pain assessment. Findings revealed that in Z-track group, intensity of pain was 3.1; while it was 4.1 and 4.5 in air-lock and routine injection groups; the difference was found to be significant by one -way ANOVA. Severe pain was experienced by 4.1% in Ztrack group, 7.7% in air-lock and 14.4% in the routine injection methods; Chi-squre revealed a significant relationship between pain intensity and injection method (P<0.0001). However, no significant relationship was found to exist between intensity of pain and factors such as age, occupation, education, and BMI. Therefore, it is suggested that we make use of Z-track injection for the ease of patients.

According to the national policies of health and population, depo- medroxy progestrone acetate (DMPA) injection is provided for women for family planning purposes. This study was conducted on 374 women using this Contra caption method in Kermanshah; the subjects had used it at least for two six-month periods and had files in health centers. Questionnaires were utilized to collect relevant data on menstrual disorders, nervousness, weight gain, headache, vertigo and so on. The findings revealed that the most common complications were menstrual disorders (86.1%), nervousness being the second most common (25.4%); weight gain was another complication common to the subjects (22.2%). The most Common complication among menstrual disorders were absolute amenorrhea (53.2%) and spotting (26.7%). In general, the most common complications of DMPA injection involved menstrual disorders, nervousness, weight gain and the most common disorder among the former. were absolute amenorrhea and spotting , which were the main reason to abandon the method by the subjects. Therefore it is suggested that this method be utilized with counseling and proper selection of the clients and appropriate training about its complications.

Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria (CEP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the porphyria metabolism caused by the homozygous defect of uroporphyrinogen 111 cosynthase. We report a two-year old case with typical features of Congenital Erythropoietic Porhyria (CEP), living in Mashhad and his parents are close relatives. The disease was first manifested in infancy with muscle cramping of limb (pseudoseizure) and severe mutilating cutaneous photosensitivity eventually developed. Other signs like red urine, generalized vesicles and bullae (photosensitive lesions), red fluorescent teeth, splenomegally, and anemia gradually emerged. Laboratory findings indicated a large amount of porphyrins in urine analysis. The main histopathologic changes of CEP are dermal infiltrate with nonacantholytic subepidermal bullae. Histochemical examination showed deposition of PAS Positive material in a periveascular distribution.