JOURNAL OF ILAM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2008 | Volume:16 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

Introduction: There are different methods for measuring the angle of lumbar lordosis. This study investigated a comparison between the angles of lumbar lordosis in clinical method using flexible ruler with that of radiograms. The accuracy level of these two applied methods was a goal of this research.Materials & methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. One hundred-twelve patients with low back pain, who had lumbar lateral radiograms, were conveniently recruited from the physical therapy clinics. The angle of lumbar lordosis (degree) was measured twice using Cobb's principle on lumbar lateral radiograms and clinically using a flexible ruler. The obtained data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation test.Findings: The mean age of participants was 31.6±9 years. The mean angle of lumbar lordosis on clinical and radiographic methods was 36.0±9.7 degrees and 38.5±9.4 degrees, respectively. The mean angle of lumbar lordosis measured in Cobb's method were significantly correlated (r=0.95) with the mean angle of lumbar lordosis measured in flexible ruler (P<0.0001). Conclusion: The results showed that lumbar lateral radiograms were reliable tools for measuring the angle of lumbar lordosis.

Introduction: Vitamin D3 deficiency seems to be associated with the induction and development of patients infected with M tuberculosis to tuberculosis disease. Materials & methods: In this case control study, 45 patients with tuberculosis beside another 45 people without any TB history were selected. All the patients and the control group were compared with each other for vitamin 03 level by RIA (radioimmunoassay) method. Then, results were analyzed by t-test and analyze & variance in spss11/1.Findings: The mean and SD of vitamin D3 level were (M=12.25, SD=9.98) and (M= 24.68, SD=19.22) (P=0) among patients and the control group, respectively. 39 (86.66%) patients and 26 (57.77%) control members had a vitamin 03 level of below 20ng/ml. 28(62.22%) patients had tuberculosis in warm seasons. (Summer P=0/007) & (fall, P=0/02) & (winter, P=0/08).Conclusion: There was a significant association between previous vitamin 03 deficiency and tuberculosis. Furthermore, tuberculosis frequently occurred in warm seasons.

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogens commonly seen in immuno-compromised patients. Septicemia due to this organism is rare in healthy individuals. We reported a multiple trauma patient with septicemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter.Material & methods: The case was a male patient of 43 years old who had experienced multiple trauma. Before referring to Baqiyatallah hospital, the patient had been admitted to another hospital for treatment. The case was studied by clinical and paraclinical examinations. Findings: The patient was febrile and toxic. His traumatic lesions were purulent. He was introduced to surgery unit for debridement of traumatic lesions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter were isolated from traumatic lesions. Conclusion: It seems that nosocomial infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter was causative agents of septicemia in the patient during the first hospitalization. Infection surveillance and control programs play a key role in prevention of nosocomial infections in hospitals.

Introduction: In the heart cells, rapid delayed rectifier K+current is one of the important currents for action potential repolarization phase. Rapid delayed rectifier K+current is blocked by low concentration of E-4031. The aim of this research was to compare the effect of E- 4031 blocker on pacemaker activity ofsinoatrial node (SAN) and atrioventricular node (AVN) of mouse heart.Materials & methods: The pacemaker activity of distinct intact SAN and AVN by two separate metal microelectrodes that contact the endothelial surface of nodes, was recorded before and during 1mME- 4031 and cycle length (CL) was measured.Findings: 1 mME-4031 increased CL on SAN preparations by 67.6±12.5 % and on AVN preparations by 28:t3.5 %. These changes were significant in two nodes.Conclusion: It is passable to conclude that 1) the rapid delayed rectifier K+current were present in two nodes 2) the effect of E-4031 on CL of two nodes was different.

Introduction: Herpes Simplex Virus type I is held to cause different kinds of complications in different parts of the body including skin, mucosa, eyes, genital tract, fetus and central nervous system. These viruses after primary infection, will remain in the body in the form of latent and then recurrent infection. The aim of this study was to find new treatments with the least side effects on people infected with this virus; therefore, the antiviral and virucidal effects of Marjoram extract in decrease of titer and replication virus were evaluated.Materials & methods: In the beginning, after cell culture of Vero cell line and Herpes Simplex culture, titer of virus was assessed by plaque forming unit (PFU) method. In another stage, the extraction of plant by peculation method besides investigating the toxicity of this extract on Vero cell line in DMEM medium cell culture was evaluated. Then, direct veridical effect of Marjoram extract on suspension of wild type virus during (0, 1, 2, 3 h) was evaluated, in the other step, indirect antiviral effect of Marjoram on virus replication inside the cell after virus attachment until 5 hours after penetration of virus was assessed evaluated. Finally, antigen expression of the virus on cell surface with immuno-fluorescence technique was determined.Findings: The results showed that direct effect of 50 mg/ml Marjoram decreases the virus titer from 5x105 PFU/ml to 1x102 PFU/ml and more significantly after beginning of replication in the cell a decrease of virus titer from 5x105 PFU/ml to o takes place. The degree of fluorescence in virus control (without effect of Marjoram) from 4+, that is corresponding to 74% IF positive cells, decreases to 1+ corresponding to 16% IF positive cells in infected cells treated with Marjoram.Conclusion: The above results indicate that Marjoram has obviously a direct and indirect antiviral and virucidal effect on replication and proliferation of Herpes Simplex Virus. However, this extract must be evaluated on virucidal condition.

Introduction: IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders which are important because of chronic pain and feeling discomfort and negative effects on quality of life style. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of back massage as a holistic nursing procedure on patients' comfort according to Colcaba comfort theory.Materials & methods: In a single-group semi experimental study, 11 candidates recognized as IBS patients according to Rome Criteria in range of 15-55 received back massage for 15 minutes .A two-part questionnaire including personal data, Pain intensity tool, general comfort questionnaire was used to gather data through interview before and after the intervention. Vital signs were checked to control anxiety level as well.Findings: Findings show a 5-15 minutes back massage alleviate the pain in IBS patients and make them feel more comfort, (p=0.002, p=0.001).Conclusion: The findings suggest that back massage can effectively decrease pain and increase comfort feeling in patients with IBS without any complications. However, further studies to support the results of our investigation are recommended.

Introduction: Depression is considered a prevalent disorder in addicts. Meanwhile, it is one of the main symptoms of opium withdrawal. One of the substitute treatments in opium withdrawal is methadone. Methadone is a synthetic narcotic substance which prevents withdrawal symptoms. There are, at least, two major goals in methadone therapy for opium addicts.A) Access to an oral consumption and reduction of intravenous addiction and related infectious diseases (AIDS, etc). B) Reduction of criminality in societies due to decreased contacts with pushers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of methadone therapy on depression with the intention of properly designed programs on the basis of understanding the issue and measuring the problem's volume to optimize treatment process.Materials & methods: This was pre-post trial study. Maximum sampling error was considered to be 5% and confidence level was 95%. 323 opium addicts referring to methadone clinics of Hamadan were selected and asked by questionnaires. Beck questionnaire consisting of 21 items were given to samples twice (before and after methadone therapy). Data of both Beck tests were statistically analyzed by SPSS 13. Mc-nemar non parametric and wilcoxon tests were used to compare the frequency depression in two stages and intensities, respectively.Findings: of all the 323 opium addicts studied, 261 patients (80.8%) were depressed before methadone therapy (68.6% mild, 26.8% moderate and 4.6% severe). After a month of methadone therapy, the selected patients were studied again. In this stage, 195 patients (60.3%) were depressed (86.7% mild, 12.3% moderate and 1% severe). The difference of depression rate's before and after the treatment was significant (p<0/01). Conclusion: It is concluded that prevalence of depression in opium addicts with or without methadone therapy is higher than normal population. Methadone therapy is, probably, effective in decreasing the prevalence and severity of depression among opium addicts.

Introduction: Suicide and attempted suicide are mental complex phenomena directed by personal and environmental factors. Among environmental factors, climatic conditions due to seasonal changes might have an impact on both the phenomena. Since, most relevant studies have been conducted within western countries, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seasonal patterns of suicide and attempted suicide within llam province. Material & methods: This study used confirmed and attempted suicide data, which have been collected by the systematic registration within Ilam province during 1995 to 2002. In this registration, all suicide and attempted suicide data occurred within the province with their demographic characteristics including age, sex, marital status and the time of incident had been recorded. Findings: During the investigation period, 615 cases of suicide and 1806 cases of attempted suicide took place within Ilam province. The distribution of cases based on their season of occurrence showed that most suicide cases ,191 (31.1%), had happened in spring, whilst most the attempted suicide cases 595 (32.9%) had occurred in summer. These differences were statistically significant. Similarly, in all sub-groups under investigation most suicide cases happened in spring, whilst most attempted suicide cases occurred in summer.Conclusion: Within Ilam province, as proved in many other countries, suicide and attempted suicide have mostly occurred during spring and summer. Apart from the impact of season on the occurrence of these phenomena, the results of this study also suggest that, especially, before spring and summer the health and treatment organizations within the region should have proper programs to deal with this problem.