Modern Care Journal
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Sep 2010

Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease, but its relationship with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in early age is poorly documented. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of obesity in premature AMI. In this case-control study we assess 94 consecutive patients with AMI before the age of 50 years and 94 age-and sex- matched neighborhood healthy controls without a history of cardiovascular disease. Definition of obesity based on the body mass index (BMI> 30). BMI was calculated as weight in kg divided by height in square meters. Waist circumference was measured at the horizontal level of the umbilicus and WHR was a ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference measured at the horizontal level of the maximal protrusion of the gluteal muscles. Data collected and entered to SPSS and analysed by t-test and chi-square. The mean of BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) was significantly higher in case groups [BMI (27.1±4.4 in case and 25.7±4.4 in control group P= 0.04), WHR (0.93±0.07 in case and 0.91±0.06 in control group P= 0.01)]. Prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) is higher in case groups (27.7% in case, 14% in control P=0.021, OR= 2.35, CI%95= 1.12- 4.93). In this case-control population-based study, obesity and higher WHR are independently associated with the premature AMI.

The congenital malformation of male external urogenital system is one of the most common anomalies in newborns. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of external genital anomalies among the male live births in Arvand maternity hospital Ahvaz, Iran.

In this retrospective-descriptive study in 2005-6, a total of 2423 male live births were examined within 24 hours after delivery by pediatrician for external urogenital anomalies. Data was analyzed by SPSS and descriptive statistics in p˂0.05.

11.02% of the cases (267 persons) had anomalies, such as: undescended testis 3.67%, Hypospadiasis 0.9%, Hydrocele 6.11%, Epispediasis 0.12%, Microphalus 0.04%, and small prepose 0.08%.

According to this study external genital anomalies existed in 11.02% of male live births. Hydrocele and undescended testis were the most prevalent.

Diabetes is a chronic disease with a high incidence in Iran and the world which needs many researches for preventions. This study was carried out to determine the quality of life in diabetic patients referring to Parsian Diabetes Clinic in Mashhad. This analytic-descriptive study was done on 156 diabetic patients referring to Mashhad Parsian clinic with the use of simple in-access sampling and special questionnaire about quality of life in diabetic patients. SPSS was applied to analyze data by descriptive tests as: t test, one-way variance analysis, tukey test, and correlation coefficient (P<0.05). In this study, results showed that the level of quality of life was average in the sample group. Also, according to theses results, there were significant statistical correlations between quality of life and sex (P=0.04), education level (P=0.006), job (P<0.001) and hospitalization history (P<0.001). Regarding to significant correlation between quality of life and education level, job, sex and hospitalization history, it is recommended to plan regular educational programs for patients, mental and financial supports and diabetes screening in the society to decrease complications related to this disease.

Drug interaction includes the effect of a drug, food or anything that can induce changes in the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties of a certain drug. The aim of the present study is to assess drug interactions of bedridden patients in three Tehran hospitals. This retrospective research was accomplished on 400 bedridden patient’s dossiers in three hospitals of Tehran city at secondary half of 2006 year. Questionnaire was used according to Hansten classifications to gather information from available data. Dossiers assessment showed 1087 visits and 2610 drug order. 168 dossiers (42%) were found having drug-drug interactions (568 cases). Drug interactions were severe (4.4%), moderate (47%) and mild (48.6%). Antibiotics had the commonest (27.5%), while the neuroleptics and digitalis (0.5%) and bronchodilators (0.3%) brought about the least drug interactions. Our findings showed that the drug prescription doesnt follow a correct logic and is still increasing in comparison to the past.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that causes severe infections in humans and animals. This study investigated the prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection in women in pre marriage stage in Birjand. This cross-sectional study was done in 2008. By randomized-simple sampling, we evaluated the anti Toxoplasma antibody (total antibody) titer in 300 women in pre marriage stage referred to provincial health office in Birjand. Total antibody against Toxoplasma gondii in serums of participants was measured, using ELISA method. Antibody titer above 20 IU/ml was considered positive. To investigate factors associated with infestation, a self-made questionnaire was used. Statistical analysis was performed using the spss software program, v. 11 and logistic regression test (α=0.05). The mean age of participants was 21.7 ±4 years with a minimum of 14 and maximum 30 years; and most of them (68.7%) were living in urban areas. Majority of participants were students (51.2%) and housewives were in the next rank (25.8%). 37of the total participants (12.33%) were seropositive. We found a significant relationship between consumption of soft-boiled egg and antibody titer against Toxoplasma gondii (P=0.035). No significant relationship between antibody titer against Toxoplasma and age, residence, occupation, history of consumption of non-industrial produced eggs as well as uncooked vegetables was found. As there is significant relationship between Toxoplasma infection and consumption of soft-boiled eggs, training the families in the prevention of toxoplasmosis infection is recommended.

Although male's participation in family planning programs improves living standards and national development, just a few men welcome these programs. Based on this preface, the present study was conducted to determine level of knowledge and attitudes of male staff working in health centers of Birjand University of Medical Sciences about Vasectomy. This descriptive and analytical study was performed on 247 male employees of health centers of Birjand in 2010 and the data was collected through questionnaires including three parts: personal data, knowledge gauge and attitude gauge. Those were filled in by married men who had been chosen by census-based method and then the collected Data was analyzed through SPSS software and descriptive statistical methods. Based on findings obtained from the personal information, 30.4% of people who had taken part in this survey were less than 30 years old, 36% of them were between 31 and 40 and 33.6% were over 40. People who had graduate diploma were the most frequent and those above the Bachelors were the least frequent with the quota of 48.6% and 6.1 % respectively. 53.8% of the individuals had no college education and 2% had an academic degree. The results also showed that 21.4% and 54.3% of people participating in this survey, had poor awareness and average knowledge respectively and 24.3% of whole were well aware. The results also revealed that 44.5 and 25.2% of people -who were asked in this survey- had poor and average attitude respectively and 29.6% of the whole had good attitude. Besides, there was a significant relationship between the individual's level of awareness and their income (P=0.001). The results showed that there is also a significant relationship among individual's attitude, amount of income, (P=0.001) and the length of their marriage (P=0.01). According to the results of the present study it seems necessary to devise a plan in order to enhance men's awareness and attitudes about vasectomy. It would not be practical except through classes and training programs to create incentive among men to increase their awareness and performance.

In Iran, 65% of the aged people suffer from cardiovascular diseases that need nursing care in all levels. To enhance the nurse's knowledge and attitude towards prevention of senile disabilities and disorders, especially in case of their occurring leads to reduction if disabilities, morbidity and mortality and an increase in elderly independencies. The present study was conducted to investigate nurse's knowledge and attitude towards care delivery to the aged people. In this descriptive-analytical study that was conducted by census methods, all the nurses working in internal, surgery, and special critical wards of educational hospitals participated in the study. Data collection tool was a questionnaire which was developed in three parts: Demographic information, questions relating to knowledge, and attitude terms. Data analysis was performed by SPSS Software and by using one-sided variance analysis, t test and Pearson correlation coefficient in P<0.05. Totally, 81 nurses were studied 72.8% of them were nursing school graduates and 44.4% were between 20-30 year of age. 42% had less than 6 years of job background. Mean knowledge score was 8.65±3.37. In this regard, 21% of nurses obtained high and 53.1 % of them low scores. Mean attitude score was 41.44±3.81, 23.87% of nurses obtained high and 55.6% of them low scores. There was no significant relationship between knowledge and attitude with demographic information. Results of this study revealed the poor knowledge and attitude of nurses about care delivery to elderly people with cardiovascular diseases. This poor knowledge and attitude can be improved by continuous planned education and by planning retraining courses and holding educational workshops for nurses.

Patient satisfaction is one of the concepts which today has gained a special significance in the area of medical cares, since it is only through satisfactory services that a medical system can fulfill its missions. Patients’ views must be taken into account while evaluating the success of health care services. Therefore this study was planned with the purpose of gauging patient's satisfaction from public and private medical diagnostic laboratories in Birjand. 250 patients referring to Birjand medical diagnostic laboratories were studied through a multilevel sampling method. First a state and two private laboratories were selected through cluster sampling and then the patients were selected through random sampling method. Data collection was made through questionnaires composed of 23 questions, including biographic, patient services and laboratory facilities questions, answered through direct interviews with the patients. For data analysis we used independent- t-test and unilateral variance analysis at the level of α<0.05. The cases studied were 49% men, and 51% women, 87% from urban areas, 30% with elementary school education, 32% with high-school diploma, and 37.5% with university degrees, 75% of them had come to the laboratories on the advice of their doctors, in 46% of the cases it was the first time they had come to the laboratories, in 19% the second time, and the remaining 35% more than second. The average patients’ satisfaction score, in provided services was 46.83 ± 4.74 out of 55, and the average score in laboratories Facilities was 19.59±2.81 out of 25. No significant difference between the type of laboratories (state or private) and patients’ satisfaction score, as well as, sex and education of the patients with their satisfaction score was observed. But the difference between the number of references of the patients and their satisfaction was significant (P<0.05). With respect to the satisfaction of the patients from the provision of services and the facilities of the medical diagnostic laboratories we can conclude that services provided in such laboratories are of such a good quality that they have been successful in gaining patients’ satisfaction, although they should try to improve the quality of their services.

Depression is one of the four major diseases in the world and the most common cause of disability due to problems during adolescence. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the level of depression in female students in Birjand. This descriptive- analytical study was done on 450 female high school students in Birjand in 2009-10. Proportional stratified sampling was applied. The questionnaire was a validated 21 enquiries Beck Depression Iranian test and demographic information. The data were analyzed by Descriptive and deductive statistics and SPSS with 95% confidential interval. Most students were studying in the second grade (35.1%), the humanity field (23.1%), and public schools (57.8%). Their parents were mostly under high school educated (56.9%) and had free occupations (36. 2%) and were housewives (84.2%). Generally, students were 21-30 years younger than their parents. Mostly student were the middle child in sequence(42.2%) and had brothers and sisters and lived in a family with 4-6 children.158 cases (41.1%) were not depressed and 265 cases (58.8%) had depression. 30.2% of these were mildly depressed, 19.3% moderately and 9.3% severely depressed. Only depression was statistically significant related with the type of high school variable (P=0.006). With regard to prevalence of depression in high schools, it is necessary to devise measures to identify and treat depressed students by mental health units and health centers in schools.

The medical society assumes smallpox eradication as its biggest victory in the recent half century, and AIDS as its disastrous defeat. This study investigated the level of awareness of people recovering from addiction in Sarayan County regarding AIDS. This investigation was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 121 addicts who referred to the sites for recovery from addiction in Sarayan county in 1388 using a census method and through a questionnaire composed of two parts: the first part of demographic characteristics such as the last degree and the second part of questions related to measuring awareness about transmission routes of AIDS and points the disease is found, prevention and protection measures. A positive score was awarded for each correct response. Collected information was analyzed on SPSS software by chi square (α=0.05). Of 121 studied addicts 30.6 percent had a limited knowledge about AIDS and 59.5% had an average level. A moderate and poor level of knowledge was observed in 78.5% about the points where the disease is found and in 63.7% about transmission routes and 39.5% in prevention methods. Knowledge about AIDS and its transmission routes and the places the virus found was poor. Furthermore, it is not acceptable regarding prevention methods. The necessity of continuing education in this field is felt.