Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 2, Apr 2007

In the past 20 years, breast cancer incidence in the world has a dramatic increase of 50-100%, which strongly supports the need for breast cancer prevention, and screening programs. The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate the knowledge and practice of breast self- examination (BSE) with the influencing factors on the compliance of (BSE) among female nurses. A study was conducted between January and December 2002. Female nurses (80) from Prince Rashid Military Hospital constituted the study population. The questionnaire contained items on the demographic characteristics of the respondents, knowledge of breast cancer, attitudes toward BSE and questions regarding the practice of BSE. The analysis included descriptive statistics to examine the association between BSE and medical history, knowledge of BSE and attitudes toward BSE. The results of the study indicated that 52% of the sample performs BSE. Approximately 30% of those who perform BSE said they learned information regarding BSE during their work experience. The significant relation was found between higher levels in work experience and BSE practice. Except for age, no significant relation was found between the socio-demographic factors and BSE practice. The sample showed strong belief in breast lump as a causing factor of breast cancer and had significant correlation with BSE practice. Positive correlations were found between nursing work experience and their practice in BSE as working nurses. Studies like these can enhance the knowledge regarding BSE among nurses and other medical professionals.

Vaginal Discharge (leukorrhea), is quite common in reproductive ages specially in sexually active women. Most encountered causes include bacteria, fungi and parasites. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of different causes, precipitating factors and symptomatology of leukorrhea, It is a descriptive cross sectional study performed in 12 months in Fatemia clinic (affiliated to Fasa Medical School, Fasa, Iran). Inclusion criteria was presence of leukorrhea in absence of pregnancy and vaginal bleeding. A questionnaire in addition to history and physical examination was completed for included cases. A direct smear, gram staining and culture was taken from the vaginal discharge. 1252 patients with average age of 31.7 ± 9.7 years (15-53 year old) were studied. 95% were married and 75% were multiparous. 12% were using condom for contraception. Neither had multipartners. Clinical manifestations included pruritus (57%), local irritation (30%), Dysparaunea (24%). Direct smear with normal saline (3% positive for Trichomoniasis), KOH (15% positive for Candida), gram staining (51% positive for gram positive cocci) and culture (82% positive for gram positive cocci) were performed. Microbial vaginal discharge in sexually active women is less common in those who use condom for contraception and causes in order of prevalence are gram positive cocci, candida, Trichomoniasis, Gardenella Vaginalis and Gonorrhea.

The aim of study was a comparison between dates and oxytocin in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. In modern obstetrics, general trend to utilize non-aggressive treatment methods that is quite safe, cheap and few symptoms. Date fruit has Calcium, serotonin, tannin, glucose that they are important for bleeding control. This study was performed in Imam Reza and Hazrat Zainab Hospitals, Mashhad University of Medical Science. It was clinical trial that was performed on 62 women delivered in hospital. Immediately after placental delivery, 50 gram oral Deglet Noor dates (group 1) and 10 unit of intramuscular oxytocin (group 2) were given. At the same time a Plastic and a cotton sheet were widen under the patients and a pad was placed on the perineum to absorb blood or fluid. All pads were collected until 3 hour after placental delivery and were weighed every one hour. The difference, before and after weight was calculated.(100 gram increase in weight was considered to be equivalent to 100 ml blood). Blood loss mean in the end of first hour after delivery were significantly different in dates and oxytocin groups (104 ml vs 141.6 ml, p=0.043), But in second and third hour were not significant, although the bleeding in dates group was less. In whole three hours after delivery the blood loss mean in dates group was significantly less than oxytocin group (162.5 ml vs 220.7, p=0.02). Use of oral dates after delivery decreases bleeding more than intramascular oxytocin and it´s a good alternative in normal delivery.

The reported prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with lichen planus (LP) shows variations in different regions. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of hepatitis C in Iranian patients with lichen planus at Imam reza hospital, city of Birjand, Iran. In this case-control study, seventy three cases of lichen planus, 31 (42.5%) women and 42 (57.5%) men were diagnosed. They were recruited after obtaining a verbal consent to participate in the study and after confirmation of the diagnosis by histology. In the patients, liver function tests were performed and the patients were screened for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. We used the prevalence of HCV antibody among 150 volunteer blood donors (age and sex matched) for comparison as the control group. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in all subjects in both groups. All patients with lichen planus had normal liver function tests. Three (4.1%) out of the 73 lichen planus group, and 1 (0.67%) out of the 150 control group were seropositive for anti-HCV Antibody. This was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that a relationship exists between hepatitis C virus infection and lichen planus among Iranian patients from Birjand.

Zinc is a microelement that recently has been more studied in human development and pregnancy outcome. the aim of study is to assess if supplementation of zinc during pregnancy may improve infancy growth and developmental parameters. 190 infants in two different groups (exposed and non exposed) followed via a historical cohort study 6-9months to assess their growth and development. We assessed them by measuring of anthropometric indicators, and also we used DDSTII (Denver developmental scoring test) for evaluating their developmental status. there were no significant differences between anthropometric indicators among exposed and non exposed group (P>0.05), but exposed group showed, significantly high percent of advanced score of development (p<0.05). In conclusion, our results don''t support this hypothesis that anthropometric indexes of infants are related to zinc supplementation of their mothers. Nevertheless, more specified studies are recommended to assess zinc effects on infant development.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection. In human, malaria is an important one is an potentially mortal mosquito-borne illness characterized by cyclic battles of fever with inflexibility of muscle, shaking and sweating in the tropical countries. Here, the author reports a case of malaria in a university study after returning from camping trip. This case can imply the importance of travel medicine and bring the attention of the physician in the Western in facing up with a case of unexplained fever returning from trips in tropical forest in Southeast Asia.

Clavicle is the S shaped collar bone having two wider ends.Fracture of the clavicle is a common traumatic injury and comprises 4% of all fractures in adults. Amongst these, midshaft injuries account for the majority and medial fractures are uncommon. Whilst segmental fractures have been reported in the literature, concurrent lateral and medial injuries are very rare. Mechanism of clavicular fracture includes fall over outstretched hand and direct trauma of shoulder. The nature of segmental fractures can pose a difficult management problem for numerous reasons, and initial operative fixation is usually indicated. Early diagnosis is therefore imperative, and as such, clinical examination is essential even if an obvious mid or lateral shaft fracture is seen on X-ray.We present a rare case of segmental fracture of clavicle caused by direct trauma.