Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies
Volume:4 Issue: 3, Jul 2017

There is no doubt that problems during wakefulness can affect the quality and length of sleep. Sleep disturbances can have a serious negative effect on a person’s ability, function, and overall well-being. One of the most important issues that can result in sleep disturbances is professional causes, and the most important of which is shift work. The present study aimed at investigating the association between shift work and various sleep disorders and quality of life.

This was a cross-sectional study. The data were collected using the Persian version of Epworth sleepiness scale andSF-36 questionnaires to assess the participants’ sleep disorder and quality of life. The questionnaires were filled in by 207 shift workers. Age, gender, shift works experience, and working experience were recorded for all participants.

In total, 45 (21.7%) out of 207 participants were male and 162 (78.3%) were female. The mean ± SD age of participants was 25.71 ± 4.38 years. The mean ± SD shift works experience and working experience were 3.76 ± 3.75 and 4.68 ± 3.92, respectively. Females were more at risk for sleep problems caused by shift work than males (P = 0.006). The prevalence of problems in initiating sleep, frequent waking from sleep, and early morning awakening was more common among shift workers, respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between quality of life and Epworth sleep score, meaning that with the increase in Epworth Sleep Score the quality of life was reduced, and the quality of life was improved by reduction in Epworth sleep score (r = - 0.5, P = 0.001).

Higher prevalence of insomnia and poor sleep quality among shift workers and the subsequent reduction in their quality of life based on in this study emphasizes the importance of paying serious attention to sleep disorders in shift workers.

Recently, X-rays radiation hazards rise with the exposure of patients and personnel. Exposure of people to radiation in the operating rooms is an important problem to study the safety of personnel and patients. To date, few studies are accomplished to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among personnel in hospitals. The current study aimed at evaluating KAP level of radiation hazards and protection amongst personnel in the operating room.

A questionnaire-based, cross sectional study was conducted in 11 provinces of Iran from 2014 to 2015. Respondents in the current study were 332 personnel of operating room, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Demographic characteristics, as well as knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of operating room personnel were collected. The selected hospitals were 3 types (educational, non-educational, and private clinics) located in 5 different regions of Iran (Tehran, Center, East, North, and West). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and statistical analyses were accomplished with the one-way ANOVA.

The current study results showed no statistically significant difference in the KAP level of operating room personnel towards radiation protection for both genders (P = 0.1), time since graduation (P = 0.4), and work experience (P = 0.1). According to the analyses, the highest level of KAP concerning radiation protection was observed in the personnel of private clinics (mean score = 53.60) and the lowest value was observed in non-educational hospitals (mean score = 45.61). Besides, the KAP level was significantly higher in the Northern region (P < 0.0001) and the lowest was observed in the hospital personnel of the Central region (mean score = 34.27).

The current study findings showed that the level of KAP regarding radiation protection among operating room personnel was inadequate and it is necessary to pay attention to the principles of radiation protection in the operating room. In this regard, holding courses on radiation protection and an elaborate educational program might be useful.

Malnutrition is a common problem, which may exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms, reduce treatment efficiency, and deteriorate hemodynamic stability in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

This study aimed to investigate nutritional status and gastrointestinal health in HD patients and to determine the association of these variables with laboratory parameters and dialysis adequacy in Semnan, Iran in 2016.

This cross sectional study was conducted on 80 patients with a minimum 6-month history of HD. Gastrointestinal health and nutritional status were assessed using gastrointestinal symptom rating scale and subjective global assessment, respectively. The laboratory parameters included alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, albumin, iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood sugar.

Overall, 27.5% of the patients had mild to moderate malnutrition, while 72.5% had a good nutritional status. The most common digestive problem was constipation (83.7%). Calcium intake ( r = 0.2313; P = 0.046), creatinine (r = 0.234; P = 0.041), and alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.414; P< 0.001) showed a positive correlation with gastrointestinal health. In addition, alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.419; P < 0.001) had a positive relationship with nutrition. HD adequacy was > 0.8 in 15% and ≥ 1.20 in 11.3% of the patients. HD adequacy ( r = 0.260; P = 0.023), urea nitrogen (r = 0.228, P = 0.046), and creatinine (r = 0.330; P = 0.003) had a positive correlation with gastrointestinal health. Overall, there was a significant positive correlation between nutrition and gastrointestinal health (r = 0.799; P < 0.001).

The present findings can facilitate better planning to improve nutritional status, gastrointestinal health, laboratory parameters, and dialysis adequacy in the management of HD patients, particularly those with malnutrition.

Few studies have evaluated the effect of Rosa damascena (R. damascena) on uterine smooth muscle contraction and dysmenorrhea; but, their ‎results were inconsistent.

The aim of the study was to consider the effect of alcoholic extract of R. damascena flower on uterine smooth muscle contraction amplitude, duration, and frequency in virgin rats.

Thirty adult Wistar rats (180 - 220 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups including control, extract, and oxytocin plus extract. After anesthesia, 1.5 cm of the uterine horn was cut and placed in an organ bath. The contractile responses of the uterine smooth muscle to a cumulative concentration of alcoholic extract of R. damascena flower (1, 2, and 4 mg/mL) and to oxytocin (4 mU/mL) plus alcoholic extract of R. damascena were recorded. The extract or oxytocin was diluted in 0.2 ml of De Jalon solution and added to the organ bath. The amplitude, duration, and interval of contractions were recorded.

The alcoholic extract of R. damascena (4 mg/mL) significantly reduced the basal contractions ‎of ‎uterine smooth muscle (P = 0.004). Rosa damascena (4 mg/mL) significantly diminished oxytocin-induced uterine smooth muscle contractions (P = 0.026). The extract of R. damascena had no significant effect on the duration of normal or oxytocin-induced contractions in uterine smooth muscle. However, R. damascena (4 mg/mL) significantly reduced the frequency of uterine contraction in normal (P = 0.006) and oxytocin-induced contractions (P = 0.014).

Rosa damascena extract reduced the amplitude and frequency of the basal and oxytocin-induced contractions in the uterine smooth muscle of virgin rats. The extract may relieve dysmenorrhea and premature labor, which needs further study for more clarification.

One of the important side effects in spinal cord injuries in both genders is sexual dysfunction. This study aimed at investigating histopathological changes of ovaries in the chronic phase after spinal cord injury.

Animals (adult female rats) were divided to the following groups, Control (Co), Sham (Sh), and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI); each group contained 18 rats. The spinal cord of SCI animals was transected by the bilateral laminectomy method on level T9, while the rats of the sham group were incised in the same location without any spinal cord injury. Animals were sacrified at 7th, 14th and 21st day postsurgical intervention, then the body weight, and the weight and volume of ovaries were measured. The slices were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff methods. The histomorphometric changes of the diameter of the follicle and ovum, and the thickness of granulosa layer were measured in different kinds of follicles including, Unilaminar Primary Follicle (UPF), Multilaminar Primary Follicle (MPF), Secondary Follicle (SF), and Tertiary Follicle (TF).

The results showed that the animal weights were decreased in three SCI groups (P = 0.018). In the SCI groups, the diameter of follicle and ovum and the thickness of granulosa layer were significantly decreased in different kinds of follicles (P = 0.012). Also the thickness of zona pellucida and theca interna were significantly decreased in UPF, SF, and TF in the SCI groups on 14th and 21st day (P = 0.024). The histopathologic examination revealed widespread ovarian follicle atresia in the SCI groups on the 14th and 21st day, including numerous cell debris and inflammatory cells in the antrum atretic follicles. The ovarian stroma showed edema, fibrosis, hypercellularity, and vasodilation in the SCI group, compared to the sham or control groups.

The histopathlogic data indicated that after spinal cord injury many histologic parameter changes occurred and hetrogenity of ovarian structure increased. These changes may be caused by dysfunction of the autonomic system and the modification in amount of the ovarian neurotransmiters.

Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is a major cause of debility after stroke. This study examined socio-demographic and clinical determinants of PSF.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the associations between PSF and socio-demographic (age, gender, marital status, educational level, and poststroke employment status) as well as clinical (type, side and nature of stroke, poststroke duration and function disability) characteristics of stroke survivors undergoing outpatient physiotherapy at 2 government hospitals in Nigeria. Functional disability and PSF were respectively assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale through face-to-face interviews. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations between PSF and the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants.

One hundred stroke survivors with a male majority (66%) participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 55.3 ± 13.8 years while mean post-stroke duration was 12.6 ± 19.3 months. The regression model obtained from the statistical analysis was responsible for 33% (of the variance in PSF (R2 = 0.33)) while only functional disability was independently and significantly associated with PSF (β = 0.59; P < 0.0001; 95% CI = 0.35 - 0.75).

Functional disability was the sole significant determinant of PSF. The need to effectively address functional disability through effective and proven rehabilitation strategies is emphasized

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a significant occupational problem among employees and workers. This study attempted to explore the effect of stressors in the hospital environment on nurses’ development of musculoskeletal disorders.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of 123 hospital nurses from Semnan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected during working days over 3 months starting from January 2014. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire for stresses and musculoskeletal disorders at work. Musculoskeletal disorders were used as the dependent variables, while demographic, physical, and psychosocial work factors were used as independent variables.

Our study revealed prevalence of low back ache, neck ache, shoulder ache, arm-elbow ache, and hand-wrist pain rated 48.3%, 39.5%, 33.1%, 31.3%, and 23.4%, respectively. The findings showed significant statistical association between musculoskeletal complaints in neck and upper extremity with exposed stress levels (P = 0.04). Musculoskeletal symptoms rates increased in employees experienced poor work posture (P = 0.01), fatigue (P = 0.04), and work-family conflict (P = 0.04).

This study provides indication of the relationship between work environment stress levels and musculoskeletal disorders. Physical and psychosocial stressors should be considered for the development of preventive measures.

Emerging evidence point out that exercise is an epigenetic modulator and is able to alter brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in different populations. However, little is known about the impact of exercise on these markers in well-trained aged individuals, making this research topic particularly relevant.

Therefore, the current study aimed at investigating the impact of the regular running practice on global histone H4 acetylation and brain–derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels as well as on the functional mobility in healthy elderly males.

Fifteen male volunteers aged 60 years and older were recruited. They were allocated into 2 groups: runners (RUN, n = 8) and sedentary (SED, n = 7), taking into account the question that they were sedentary or amateur street runners. Whole blood samples (15 mL) were collected for the biochemical measurements and the functional mobility assessment was performed through the timed up and go (TUG) test. The biochemical analyses were determined using specific kits, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The RUN group showed a significant increase in plasma BDNF levels (P = 0.007) and H4 hypoacetylation status (P < 0.001) in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs), compared with the SED individuals. The RUN group also presented significantly lower values in TUG, an indicative of better motor performance (P = 0.02).

Collectively, the current study data suggested that the modulation of histone H4 acetylation status might emerge as an important biomarker related to the elderly runners phenotype. The data also supported the idea that the running practice enhances peripheral BDNF levels, which could be linked to the functional mobility improvement in the elderly runners