Hormozgan Medical Journal
Volume:19 Issue: 3, Aug-Sep 2015

Supplying healthy blood and blood products for patients is amongst the high-priority goals of every country in the world. It is evident that meeting this goal needs a large organization with ideal human resources and equipments. Improper ordering of blood by hospitals and medical centers not only increases the Iran Blood Transfusion Organization expenses, but also prevents proper distribution of blood units among the medical centers and will result in false shortage, expiration of blood and blood products, and reduction of blood quality. In this study, we decided to analyze how blood and its products are used in hospitals and also why blood is not used in various departments of the most important teaching hospital of Hormozgan Province. A total of 8523 order forms for receiving blood and its products, which have been sent to blood bank of Shahid Muhammadi Teaching Hospital within September 2011 to March 2012, were studied in this descriptive retrospective study. The collected data from the blood bank were analyzed using SPSS 16 Software. In this study, out of 8523 blood order forms, 5864 forms belonged to men (68.8%) and 2659 forms belonged to women (31.2%). A total of 21474 units of blood products including red blood cells, plasma, platelet and cryo were ordered. The total C/T for RBC measured 2.8 and its total Ti was 0.59. Results of this study show that consuming blood in contrast to standard is ideal. Maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) shall be designed only for parts that have a high C/T ratio and for preparing blood only determining blood group and antibody screening (T&S) were necessary.

Pregnancy and parturition process affects considerably the society’s health. Female genital injuries caused by vaginal parturition are very prevalent. This study aims at comparing active and expectant managements of the second stage of labor on frequency of perineal injuries and using episiotomy, as a solution. In this quasi-experimental study, a total of 160 qualified pregnant women, diagnosed by a qualified physician, were divided into one of two groups, expectant management group (experimental group, n=80) and active management group (control group, n =80). For the experimental group, in the second stage of labor, researcher did not touch the perineum before the baby’s head delivered and just supported the frontal area and urethra. For the control group, the researcher supported perineum using Ritgen Maneuver. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16, T-test, Fisher’s exact test and Chi-Squared test. In the experimental group, women’s perinea were significantly healthier than those of women in the control group (P<0.001) (38.8% vs. 10%); however, there was not a significant difference between two groups in terms of spontaneous rupture. Need to perform episiotomy in experimental group was 33.8%; whereas control group members’ need to episiotomy was 66.%, which it was a significant difference (P<0.001). The expectant management of the second stage of labor (perineal control with hand-off technqiue) is accompanied with fewer perineal injuries; therefore, it can be used as a safe technique by the birth centers.

Since ancient times Malaria in Iran has been considered as a serious health risk, especially in Hormozgan Province, as no other disease like Malaria has imposed irreparable financial and life losses to the country. Since saving costs in the healthcare sector comes as first priority in most countries, this study aims at launching a cost-effectiveness analysis on malaria diagnosis diseases in the fevered patients with suspected malaria in Hormozgan Province. The target population of this study was all fevered patients with suspected malaria who have referred to the healthcare centers. All subjects whose disease was diagnosed correctly (both truly positive and truly negative) with microscopy methods and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were selected as the final population in this study. Decision tree analysis and Treeage2011 software were used for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis and sensitivity analysis of both abovementioned methods. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the key variables. Results of the study indicated that the total cost of the microscopy method was 18293576000.2 Rials and the total cost of RDT method was 1739980000 rials. Cost per each correct diagnosis by RDT was 17399 rials and cost per each correct diagnosis by microscopy method was 18293 rials. The total cost-effectiveness resulted from microscopy and RTD methods were 92135 and 90298 cases, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for each correct diagnosis by the microscopy method in contrast to RTD method was 47052 rials. The mean cost-effectiveness ratio for RDT was 19289; whereas it was 19862 for the microscopy method. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that when sensitivity of the microscopy method for Plasmodium vivax is below 0.981, then RDT will be the cost effective method. This study demonstrated that RDT in contrast to the microscopy method is cost-effective, if its high accuracy is maintained.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus with a similar name. As a very contagious disease, Hepatitis A is one of the most prevalent infant infections across the developing countries. People who have been vaccinated and also those who caught this disease already are immune against hepatitis A. Since it was not possible and cost effective to analyze the immunity level of all asymptomatic children, in this study, the immunity level of some children against this virus was measured in order to estimate their immunity potential against this infection. A total of 400 6-11 years old children in Kerman County, who have referred to the Besat Specialized Clinic and infants emergency care ward of Afzalipour Hospital and their blood have been collected for any reason except diagnosing hepatitis, were studied. Children with chronic liver, blood, immunity system deficiency and malignity were excluded from the study. Using ELISA technique and Dia-pro Milano Italy, made by Italy (with a sensitivity of 100% and specialty of 99.6%), their serum was analyzed in terms of anti-hepatitis data were analyzed using SPSS 16. 42.8% of children were immune against hepatitis A. 55% and 45% of children referred to the mentioned medical centers were girl and boy, respectively. 59.1% of boys and 40.9% of girls were immune, but there was not any significant difference between them. There was a direct relationship between immunity and children's age, as with increasing their age as large as 1 year their immunity level against hepatitis A is increased as large as 0.75%. There was not found any relationship between the immunity level and other demographic properties. Most of 6-11 children are immune against hepatitis A because of their asymptomatic disease.

Antioxidants protect body against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This study aims at comparing the antioxidant properties of hydro-alcoholic extract and extract of Nepeta crispa (from its shoot part). The study was carried out in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Both hydro-alcoholic extract and essence of Nepeta crispa were prepared and antioxidant properties of samples were assessed using different methods. The ability to inhibit free radicals production was measured through 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Total antioxidant capacity was measured using Phosphomolybdate Method. Likewise, phenol and flavonoid compounds of samples were measured using folin-ciocalteu Zishen method. The results showed that the total antioxidant capacity of hydro-alcoholic extract and essence of Nepeta crispa were equal to 0.23±0.12 and 0.82±0.40 Nmol ascorbic acid per gram extract or essence. The phenol content of hydro-alcoholic extract and essence of Nepeta crispa were 254.63±15.75 and 6.94±1.37 mg gallic acid per gram extract or essence, respectively. Flavonoid content of hydro-alcoholic extract and essence of Nepeta crispa were equal to 5.53±0.34 and 0.36±0.06 mg quercetin per gram extract or essence, respectively. IC50 value (concentration that will inhibit 50% of free radicals production), hydro-alcoholic extract, essence of plant and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), as positive control, were equal to 2.09±0.11, 6.05, and 3.88±1 μg/ml, respectively. The results showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract has better antioxidant properties in contrast to essence of Nepeta crispa. As a result, hydro-alcoholic extract of Nepeta crispa is a good and available source of antioxidant compounds which can be used, if useful, in food, pharmaceutical and industrial products.

This study aims at analyzing the effect of 12 weeks physical exercise (30 minutes for three days a week: 70-85% of the maximum heart rate) on variations of inflammation markers in middle-aged women's Coronary Heart diseases (CHDs). In this study a total of 40 subjects including 40-55 years old women were selected purposively and were divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group members were asked to follow a certain physical exercise program including 12 weeks physical exercise (30 minutes, three days a week with 70-85% of maximum heart rate using a treadmill); whereas subjects in the control group were asked to follow their normal lifestyle and do not change their activities and food habits. Levels of factors that can affect coronary heart risks including fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBCs) were measured before and after exercises. Independent and paired t-tests were used to analyze data. The results of this study indicated a significant decrease in fibrinogen, CRP, and WBC levels after 12 weeks physical exercise in the experimental group (P≤0.05); whereas no significant change was seen in the control group (P>0.05). Regarding the results of this study we can conclude that performing physical exercise (30 minutes, three days a week with 70-85% of maximum heart rate) can play an effective role in reducing risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hence in preventing coronary heart disease in 40-55 years old women with the similar properties of patients examined in this study.

Previous studies have reported contradicting results about the effect of medication therapy on attribution bias and jumping to conclusion (JTC) bias in schizophrenic patients. This study aims at analyzing the effect of medication on attribution bias and JTC bias in schizophrenic patients. This study is an ex post facto and casual-comparative research. 28 people including 14 schizophrenic patients, who have not used drugs already, and 14 schizophrenic patients, who have used drugs at least for past 4 weeks, were selected and they did not show any significant difference in terms of age, gender and education level. Computer-based similarities task and Internal-Personal-Situational Attributions questionnaire were used for analyzing jumping to conclusion bias and attribution bias, respectively. The independent T-test was used to analyze data. The results showed that schizophrenic patients, who had used drug at least for 4 weeks, gained higher scores in similarities task in contrast to patients, who did not use drugs; however, they did not show any significant difference in score of personalization subscale in Internal-Personal-Situational Attributions Questionnaires. Jumping to conclusion bias was reduced after medication therapy, so it is a postural trait whereas personalization bias was not reduced by medication therapy, so it is a character-based trait.

Hydrochemical properties of waters used in balneotherapy are very important, as they play a key role in success or failure of this kind of treatment. There are 30 mineral and hot spas in Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran, which are traditionally used for treating diseases. In this study, hydrochemical properties of Fotoyeh and Sanguyeh Springs, in western Hormozgan Province, are discussed and analyzed. The mentioned springs’ water was sampled four times during different seasons of 2012. Physicochemical factors including EC, pH, and temperature were measured using portable devices at the sampling point; whereas primary and secondary ions were measured using ICP, titration, atomic absorption spectroscopy and photoelectric flame photometer in laboratory. Radon concentration also was measured by Rad7, an active radon detector, at the sampling location. Measurements showed that the average total of minerals in Fotoyeh and Sanguyeh springs is 5741 and 24037 mg/l and their mean electrical conductivities (EC) were 9626 and 42550 μs/cm, respectively. Sodium cations, chloride and sulfate anions are the most frequent primary ions of these springs. Concentration of some rare and secondary elements and heavy metals in the mentioned springs varies from 0.1 ppb to 10 ppb and radon concentration in Sanguyeh and Fotoyeh Springs was 76.51 and 159.98 kBq/m3, respectively. Water in Sanguyeh and Fotoyeh Springs is of sodium-chloride type with high concentration of sulfate for treating rheumatism, lymphatism, Rickets, gynecological diseases and localized swelling. Since concentration of some rare elements and heavy metals such as copper, plumb, and antimony is high in these springs, drinking, vaporing or injecting them in the framework of balneotherapy is not recommended. Likewise, regarding high radon concentration in the Fotoyeh Spring, frequent and long-term uses seem unhelpful.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is considered as a public health condition in many tropical and sub-tropical areas like Iran. Qom Province is considered as a center for CL in Iran. This study aimed at determining the effect of rodents’ management control in controlling the disease incidence in the endemic centers of Qom Province in 2012. The first part of the study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study deals with rodents found in the villages of the central part of Qom Province. The second part of the study deals with the rodents’ management operation which was carried out as a quasi-experimental study through four phases in all mentioned villages including 12 villages with 11061 people. SPSS, Chi-Squared and Mann-Whitney tests were used for analyzing data. Out of 46 hunted small mammals, 31 (67.4%) rodents were Meriones libycus, 8 (17.4%) rodents were Allactaga elater, 4 (8.7%) rodents were Mus musculus, 2 (4.35) rodents were Nesokia indica, and 1 (2.7%) rodent was Hemiechinus auritus. The disease incidence rate before intervention (2011) was 17.9 cases per 100,000 people which it was decreased to 11.2 cases per 100,000 people after intervention (2012). The decreased incidence of CL in the region controlled by rodent's management plan was significant (P<0.001). Most rodents were hunted during summer and fall seasons. There was no significant difference between year before intervention and the year after intervention in terms of gender and age (P>0.05). The results showed that rodents’ management plan can play a key role in controlling CL incidence rate. Thus, it is recommended that people, who live in the areas where the plan is implemented, are invited to participate in the relevant training courses.