Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences
Volume:9 Issue: 3, Jul 2022

The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following orthopedic major surgery, such as peritrochanteric femoral fracture, is high. Also, there is a lack of accurate information about the results of using rivaroxaban in Iran. This study aimed to compare the effects of injectable enoxaparin with oral rivaroxaban in DVT prophylaxis in patients with femoral peritrochanteric fracture.

This randomized single-blind clinical trial included 88 patients with femoral peritrochanteric fracture in Shohada Hospital of Tabriz, Iran from January 2019 to December 2019. The participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups (n=44 each) receiving enoxaparin (40 mg subcutaneously once daily for 28 days) and rivaroxaban (10 mg orally once daily for 28 days). Using independent t test in SPSS version 20, the results of clinical examinations and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of DVT at the end of intervention were compared between the two groups. A P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

No significant differences were observed in laboratory results and DVT-related symptoms between the two groups, as well as before and after the intervention (intragroup). Also, the prevalence of DVT at the end of the study was zero.

According to our results, there was no difference in the prevalence of DVT and short-term (one-month) complications between the two groups receiving rivaroxaban and enoxaparin after the peritrochanteric femur fracture.

The existence of a valid scale of fear of childbirth (FOC) has an effective role in identifying women at risk, so this study was conducted to determine the validation of the Slade FOC scale for pregnancy in a sample of Iranian women.

In this cross-sectional study, initially, the Slade scale was translated based on a forward-backward approach. For sampling among pregnant women in Anbarabad city, 820 pregnant women were selected by multistage cluster sampling method. The research questionnaire included (a) demographic information, (b) Slade FOC scale (new scale), (c) childbirth attitude questionnaire (validated scale), and (d) Wijma scale (validated scale). Face validity, content validity, construct validity (using factor analysis), convergent validity, and concurrent validity (by calculating the present scale correlation with childbirth attitude questionnaire and Wijma scale were used to determine the validity of the scale. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), split-half, and stability (test-retest) methods were used for scale reliability. SPSS software version 22 and LISREL version 8.8 were used for data analysis.

Target population comments were applied in face validity, the impact score of face validity was in the range of 1.6-4.5. Content validity ratio (CVR) values (81%-100%) and content validity index (CVI) value (83%) were acceptable. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) showed that the scale had four factors which include uncertainty and injury with 18.39%, the unprofessional behavior of maternity staff with 14.51%, the unpredictable with 14.44%, and negative emotions with 10.54% of the variance. The scale had acceptable convergent validity and the correlation between items and the total score was between 0.41-0.63. The correlation coefficient between the present scale with the childbirth attitude questionnaire and Wijma scale was 0.81 and 0.79, respectively. The reliability result showed an acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84), acceptable split-half (0.71 for the first half of scale and 0.78 for the second half of scale) and acceptable stability (r = 0.78).

The results showed that the Slade scale has acceptable validity and reliability. Therefore, this scale can be used in scientific research and screening for FOC.

The prevalence of fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis is high. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Rosa damascena oil on fatigue severity in patients receiving hemodialysis.

This randomized controlled trial was performed on 74 patients receiving hemodialysis in Tabriz, Iran from January 21 to February 21, 2019. The patients were conveniently recruited and assigned into two groups of intervention and control using a block randomization method with block sizes of four and six and a sequence of 1:1. Patients in the intervention group were trained to inhale three drops of R. damascena oil each night for one month. We used the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) for data collection and analyzed the data using the independent samples and paired t tests.

No significant difference was found between the two groups respecting the mean baseline fatigue scores (P=0.12). However, at the end of the study, the mean fatigue score was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001).

We witnessed that R. damascena oil aromatherapy significantly reduced the severity of fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis. This useful and inexpensive technique can be utilized as a complementary method to relieve fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Despite the importance of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the population, the risk factors predisposing infants to be born with non-syndromic CHD are not well understood yet.

In a case-control study, we recruited consecutive 109 infants with non-syndromic CHD who were referred to our pediatric cardiac care clinic and then compared them with 117 infants without CHD (2015-2016). Paternal, maternal, and neonatal demographic information, maternal past medical history, and antenatal history were recorded for each child. To investigate the potential risk factors for developing CHD, infants with and without CHD were compared in terms of study variables. In a second analysis, preterm infants were excluded and term infants were compared regarding the study variables.

The findings revealed that higher maternal and paternal education were both associated with a lower risk of CHD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.93, P = 0.031, and OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23-0.89, P = 0.023, respectively). The family history of CHD in the first- or second-degree relatives of infants was significantly associated with CHD (OR: 3.56, 95% CI: 1.35-9.40, P = 0.007). Several parameters were more prevalent in the CHD group, including having lower birth weight, having preterm birth, being the fourth birth order or higher, and not receiving maternity care under the supervision of a gynecologist. However, higher birth order and lower birth weight were not associated with CHD in exclusively term infants. Finally, a higher maternal educational level was related to lower CHD in term infants even after adjusting for a family history of CHD and preconception diabetes mellitus (OR: 5.45, 95% CI: 1.71-17.37, P = 0.004).

Our study findings demonstrate the need for a more enhanced primary care program, especially in patients with poor financial status and a family history of CHD.

This study aimed to construct a device that could measure leg length discrepancy (LLD) automatically.

The LLD measure device measures LLD with pelvic-tilt method (Program 1) and weight-based method (Programs 2 & 3). Tests were done in 3 phases. 1: Two examiners using the LLD Measure device made -50 to 75 mm artificial LLD in two healthy subjects measuring the degree of pelvic tilt and the load bearing of lower limbs. 2: Sixteen healthy volunteers were asked to stand on the device to measure LLD with program 2 and then with both knees extended to measure LLD with program one. 3: 32 patients who had underwent lower limbs CT scanogram enrolled, and the LLD measurement with program 1 compared with those obtained by CT scanogram.

Data’s obtained in the first phase showed excellent repeatability (intra-class correlation coefficient [ICC] > 0.9) and very good reproducibility (ICC > 80%) except for measuring the limb load while both knees were extended (ICC ≈ 60%). In the second phase, we found no statistically significant difference between measuring LLD using programs 1 and 2 (P = 0.49). In the third phase, there was no statistically significant difference between measuring LLD using program 1 and CT scanogram (P = 0.80).

We have developed a device to measure LLD semiautomatic with less need for examiner expertise. The results of our new device would be reliable and accurate compared to CT measurements.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are normally observed in PCOS patients and metformin is used to treat this disease. The evidence indicates that the opioid system plays a role in the pathogenesis of the PCOS. Based on the above-mentioned explanation, the present study evaluated the role of opioid antagonist (naltrexone) in PCOS-induced infertility compared to metformin.

Totally, 120 patients afflicted with PCOS were assigned to three groups based on Rotterdam diagnostic criteria, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-30 kg/m2. The first group received naltrexone (50 mg/d) for 8 weeks. In addition, the second group were injected with metformin 1000 and then 1500 mg/d for the first and seventh weeks, respectively. Finally, the third group entered the intrauterine insemination (IUI) without prior therapeutic treatment. Then, the groups were compared in terms of the amount of estradiol produced per day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection and the total amount of gonadotropin needed, the number and size of the adult follicles, the number of days of taking the drug, and incidence of pregnancy-induced abo

Based on the results, the mean of infertility duration was not significant among the three groups (P = 0.782). Further, the mean fasting insulin level between the metformin and control groups represented a significant difference (P = 0.045). The average number of days to trigger patients in the 3 groups was not significant (P = 0.346). Although the average number of follicles between metformin and naltrexone groups was not significant, it was higher in the naltrexone group. Finally, the average BMI of the naltrexone group after the treatment was lower compared to before treatment (P ≤ 0.001).

In general, the number of receiving days and the dose of the drug in the naltrexone group was lower compared to the metformin group. Furthermore, the number of mature follicles in both ovaries and the serum estradiol level in the naltrexone group was higher compared to the metformin group.

Zataria multiflora Boiss has been used as a conventional medicinal plant for treating infections in traditional medicine. Therefore, the aim of this work was to reveal the composition and antibacterial effect of Zataria multiflora leaves essential oil.

Z. multiflora essential oil was isolated through two different

hydro isolation and steam isolation. Essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and its composition was determined. The antibacterial effect of Z. multiflora essential oil was investigated on gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutants, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria compared to that of 12 antibiotics.

The essential oil yields in hydro isolation and steam isolation methods were 2.33% and 0.33% respectively. Thirty- seven compounds were identified in the essential oil using GC/MS, among which carvacrol, thymol, linalool, p-cymene, decane, β-caryophyllene and γ-terpinene were the dominant compounds.

Z. multiflora essential oil, at the concentration of 80 μL/mL, had a strong or similar antibacterial effect on S. aureus and S. typhimurium compared to the antibacterial effect of some of the antibiotics in the study.