مجله فیض
سال پانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 57، بهار 1390)

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most important occupational diseases worldwide. NIHL has been found to be potentiated by simultaneous carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. This study was performed to evaluate the protective effect of N- acetylcysteine (NAC) administration on potentiating effect of CO on NIHL in rabbits. In this experimental study forty-two male adult white rabbits were divided into seven groups (n=6 for each group). Group 1, as control (no exposure to noise or CO and no injection); Group 2, noise exposure (100 dB for 40 h); Group 3, noise+CO exposure; Group 4, noise exposure+NAC administration (325 mg/kg); Group 5, noise+CO exposure+NAC administration, Group 6, NAC administration alone and Group 7, CO exposure (700 ppm for 40h). Audiometric test of rabbits was assessed by Auditory Brain stem Response (ABR) test in three stages: before exposure, 1 hour and 14 days post exposure at 1, 2, 4 and 8 kHz frequency. The administration of NAC attenuated temporary and permanent ABR threshold shift caused by noise exposure and simultaneous exposure to noise plus CO. NAC administration blocked the potentiating of temporary threshold shift by CO at 1, 2, and 4 KHz frequency and also blocked potentiating of permanent threshold shift by CO at all frequencies. NAC as an antioxidant agent can attenuate temporary and permanent noise induced ABR threshold shifts and provides protective effect against potentiating of NIHL by CO in rabbits.

Accelerating of skin wounds healing process has been focused by researchers in recent years. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of topical phenytoin, silver sulfadiazine and conjugated estrogen on skin wounds healing in male rats. Accessing a way to accelerate skin wounds healing is still one of the important goals in medical science. This experimental study was accomplished on 32 male rats (8 animals in each group) with approximately equal body mass. Skin wounds were made with an area of 40 mm² and a depth of 0.5 mm on the back of the necks. Three groups were administered daily by topical phenytoin (1%), silver sulfadiazine (1%) and conjugated estrogen (625%). Control group received no drug. Wounds healing was evaluated daily and the study was continued until the wounds healing completed. Silver sulfadiazine demonstrated to be the best treatment for the wounds healing; compared with the other medicines, it required significant shorter time of treatment. Silver sulfadiazine accelerates skin wounds healing in male rats.

Dyspepsia is one of the most common ailments today and Helicobacter pylori infection is known as one of the common causes of dyspepsia in adults and children. Histopathologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori is a standard method and biopsy samples can be obtained by invasive endoscopy method. The current study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of stool antigen test of Helicobacter pylori as a non-invasive method. One-hundred dyspeptic patients (50 men and 50 women) with a mean age of 43.3±17.13 referred to GI clinic of Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital from 2005 to 2007 were involved in this study. In upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, mucosal biopsy was taken from antrum and corpus; simultaneous examination of the stool antigen sample for diagnosing of Helicobacter pylori was evaluated using ELISA method (positive titer>1/1). Data were collected and analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in stool antigen test were %83.3, %79.4, 88.7% and 71.7%, respectively. There was a direct correlation between the severity of Helicobacter pylori infection and stool antigen titer in biopsy samples. The stool antigen test as a noninvasive method of diagnosing Helicobacter pylori can be regarded as an affordable alternative to the invasive biopsy procedure.

Touch cytology is one of the sensitive ways of diagnosing Helicobacter pylori in stomach biopsies. The current study was designed to compare touch cytology with histology method in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

This study was performed on 150 dyspeptic patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital. Antrum samples (2-4) were taken from each of 150 patients. One biopsy sample was considered for touch cytology and the remaining biopsy samples were studied for histological examination.

Eighty-three out of 150 patients (55.3%) were men with the mean age of 46.63±5.93 years. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in the touch cytology method were 95.65%, 100%, 100% and 66%, respectively, while in the histology method they were 84.78%, 100%, 100% and 36.36%, respectively. The sensitivity of the touch cytology was more than that of the histology method (P<0.001) in the diagnosis of H. pylori.

Since the cytology method is more sensitive with equal specificities in relation to histology method, when the histological information is not necessary, the cytology method can be considered more reliable for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori.

Mesenteric ischemia is a potentially life-threatening disorder; however, there is still no exact diagnosis for it. This study was designed to evaluate pH value and potassium level of DPL for diagnosing mesenteric ischemia in the afflicted rats. Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 32 rats were divided in four groups (8 rats in each group). In groups 1 and 2 abdomen was opened and closed without any medical interventions then through a catheter they were injected 200cc of normal saline intraperitoneally. In group 1 after one hour and in group 2 after two hours the liquid was lavaged for determination of potassium and pH values. A blood sample was also prepared for determination of potassium. In groups 3 and 4, after anesthesia, the main branch of the superior mesenteric artery was ligated with a non-absorbable suture and the animals were introduced to the procedures just mentioned. Mesenteric ischemia led to varied peritoneal pH and blood as well as peritoneal lavage potassium between the two groups. Only blood/peritoneal potassium level showed a significant difference after 2 hours of mesenteric artery ligation. Peritoneal pH and blood/peritoneal lavage potassium can be used as an indicator of mesenteric ischemia. Blood/ peritoneal potassium level may also be helpful to predict the duration of mesenteric ischemia.

Increased frequency and length of hospital stay in schizophrenic patients in psychiatric hospitals lead to many problems including the increased hospital costs for the health care system and their families. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nursing process education on the nursing care quality of schizophrenic patients. In this semi-experimental study 30 nurses in psychiatric ward of Shahid Lavasani Hospital in Tehran were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The nursing care quality in both groups was evaluated using the quality patient care scale (Qual PacS). The experimental group was trained for nursing process of schizophrenic patients. After one month the quality of nursing care was assessed again. The results of this study indicated that the rate of the nursing care quality in experimental group after training improved from poor to good in physical needs (P<0.0001), from poor to moderate in psychological needs (P<0.0001), from poor to moderate in the relationship with the patient (P<0.0002) and poor to good in the presented cares (P<0.0001). The overall nursing care quality improved from poor to good (P<0.0001). Nursing process education can improve the nursing care quality of patients with schizophrenia.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Several factors have been considered as the disease risk factors. The neonatal phototherapy has recently been recognized as the main childhood risk factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the neonatal phototherapy and childhood asthma.

This analytical case-control study was conducted on the asthmatic children with a history of neonatal icterus as the case group and those with no history of neonatal icterus as the control group with similar characteristics (age, gender, type of delivery and birth weight). Twenty-eight out of 200 subjects in the case and 34 in the control group had the inclusion criteria. Phototherapy and its duration were compared in the case and control groups. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-test.

Twenty-six (92.8%) subjects in the case group and 20 (58.8%) subjects in the control group had a past history of phototherapy (P=0.002). The mean number of days for neonatal phototherapy in the case and control groups was 4/9 and 3/2, respectively (P<0.001).

This study shows that neonatal phototherapy, as well as its duration, is an effective factor affecting childhood asthma. So, the phototherapy must be avoided except in rare situations with the least duration.

Trichomoniasis is a worldwide protozoan parasitic disease. Considering the importance of the disease in public health and the controversial ideas about the prevalence of drug resistance, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of metronidazole resistance gene in trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) with PCR-RFLP method in Tehran and in Kashan. In this descriptive study 140 samples of T. vaginalis in patients with T. vaginalis infections were collected and assessed microscopically. Then they were isolated and examined by culturing in dorset's medium, DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The PCR products were analyzed using RFLP and suspected samples were sequenced. All but 7 samples were T. vaginalis positive by PCR. Sixty-two samples (44.4%) were examined by microscopic, culture and PCR techniques; 12 samples (8.5%) by microscope and PCR, 56 samples (40%) by culture and PCR and other 3 samples (2.1%) were positive only by PCR. Two samples (1.5%) were also examined for detection of mutation in 18S rRNA gene with RFLP in Tehran. This study shows that T. vaginalis infections in the female population living in Tehran are metronidazole-resistant. Since metronidazole is considered as the drug choice for T. vaginalis infections, more studies are recommended for identification of the drug resistance mechanisms and prevention of the disease.

Heavy metals are toxic for human beings, animals and even plants. For example, nickel causes contact hypersensitivity and also may have carcinogenic effects in human. There are physicochemical and biological methods for removing these elements from environment. Some bacteria are able to remove these elements. In this study, the resistance of bacteria in Aran and Bidgol Salt Lake to heavy metals has been evaluated.

Seven bacterial samples of the lake were transferred to Ventosa culture medium. Isolated colonies were grown on the medium containing nickel. The resistant bacteria were transferred to media containing other heavy metal elements. Biochemical, morphological and phylogenetic studies were done based on sequencing of 16S rDNA gene in order to identify the isolated resistant bacteria. In addition, enzymatic potency of the bacteria was evaluated for determination of biotechnological value.

16s rDNA sequencing was applied only for one (out of 46) isolated halophilic bacteria. The bacterium displayed a good potency for growing up in the medium containing 2.5-10% NaCl with a considerable tolerance to nickel and other heavy metals.

A bacterium with 98% homology with Salinovibrio costicola species is resistant to some toxic metals and it also has the potency of removing nickel from the contaminated environment and producing some industrial enzymes.

Burnout syndrome as a serious occupational disorder has recently been focused by researchers. Three main dimensions of burnout syndrome are emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. This syndrome leads to physiological and psychological stresses and diminishes the staff interest and work efficiency. This study was designed to assess the correlation between burnout syndrome dimensions and demographic characteristics of cashiers in state banks of Kashan in 2010. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 156 cashiers in sate banks of Kashan. Frequency and severity of burnout syndrome were evaluated using Maslach burnout inventory (MBI). Demographic characteristics of subjects were collected through a specific questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. In frequency twenty-seven (17.3%) and in severity 12 (7.7%) of subjects showed the most emotional exhaustion. The most reduced personal accomplishment was in frequency in 24 (15.4%) and in severity in 27 (17.3%) participants. Also the most depersonalization was in 21 (13.5%) and in 14 (9%) subjects in frequency and in severity, respectively. There was a significant relationship between age, gender, work records and marital status with emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment of bank's cashiers. Emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment have a significant relationship with demographic characteristics.

Swimming in indoor public pools may lead to transmission of contagious diseases such as ear problems, foot tinea, conjunctivitis and amoebic meningoencephalitis in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the types of fungal and parasitic contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan. In this cross-sectional study, 200 water samples were collected from surface and depth of four swimming pools of Kashan during 2008-9. Physicochemical parameters such as, temperature, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity of the pools were studied. Samples were tested for the presence of parasitic and fungal contamination by specific mediums. The residual chlorine in 71% of samples was standard. The average pH level was 7.7 and 88% of samples were standard. No parasite and free living amoebae were observed. The prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was 42% in surface and 12 % in depth, which was not significant in different swimming pools (P=0.95). Twelve species of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi were isolated; the highest and the lowest number of species were aspergillus (50%) and fusarium (3.7%), respectively. The residual chlorine in fungal contamination between swimming pools was less than standard (P=0.014). Although no parasites and free living amoebae were observed in Kashan’s swimming pools, the prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was relatively high. Such condition may be attributed to low concentration of residual chlorine, inadequate water treatment and water high temperature.