مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قم
سال ششم شماره 1 (پیاپی 21، بهار 1391)

In recent years, following the increasing of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity and low side effects. One of these herbal medicines, Eucaliptus, has shown some therapeutic effects including antibacterial and antiviral activities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalchoholic extract of Eucaliptus on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) in vitro. In this experimental study, the hydroalchoholic extract of Eucalyptus leaves was prepared using 70% ethanol through maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated onto 48-well culture plates. 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50%) of the extract on BHK cells was determined, and subsequently 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50%) of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extracellular and intracellular cases was assessed. Based on Probit analysis, CC50% of the extract was 0.650mg/ml. Significant relationships between the concentration of the extract and cell death in the cell studied were shown using the Probit model (p<0.01). IC50s of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 456.82ug/ml and 180.75ug/ml, respectively. Based on the model, with increasing the extract concentration, the percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) in both stages was increased (p<0.05). Based on the findings of this study, hydroalchoholic extract of Eucaliptus could be probably an appropriate anti herpetic herbal medicine.

Heavy metals have an important role on organism life and their high concentration may be a great threat for humans and other organisms’ lives. Up to now, various methods have been used for the removal of these metals, which include the adsorption process. The aim of this study was the recovery of municipal disposals, and using as absorbent for lead & cadmium removal from aqueous solutions. Adsorption of lead & cadmium on dry activated sludge was investigated. Activated sludge was obtained from diary industry (Tehran). All experiments were performed in batch system on 202 synthetic samples to investigate the effects of pH, contact time initial concentration lead & cadmium and adsorbent dose. The most conventional adsorption and kinetic models were applied to describe metal adsorption and dynamic reaction. The results showed that with increasing of adsorbent doses, contact time and pH solution, lead & cadmium removal efficiency increased. The maximum lead & cadmium adsorption was obtained at pH: 6 and an equivalent time of 180 min. With increasing initial concentration of lead & cadmium, removal efficiency decreased. The obtained results in this study were matched with langmuir 2 isotherm (R2>0.99) and interparticle diffusion kinetic (R2>0.94). Maximum adsorption capacity of lead & cadmium on dry activated sludge was obtained to be 2.66 and 1.66mg/g, respectively. Maximum constant rate of lead & cadmium was 0.045 and 0.041mg/g.min0.5, respectively. According to the results, dry activated sludge is recommended as a low cost and available adsorbent to remove lead & cadmium from aqueous solutions.

Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity and the importance of knowing its causes is clear. Since the effect of physical activity on preterm birth is unknown and its prevention is the priority in health care, we decided to do this study with the aim of determining the relation between physical activity and preterm birth. In this case-control study, 300 pregnant women delivering in Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran in the second half of 2008, selected through simple sampling. The data were collected using standard pregnancy physical activity questionnaire that categorizes the physical activity into 4 groups: work activities, home activities, transport activities and fun/exercise activities. The physical activity severity was calculated as MET (Metabolic Equivalence Test). Finally, the data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic (x2 and t test) statistics. A p<0.05 was considered as significant. The findings didnt show any significant relation between physical activity and preterm birth. In addition, in view of activity type, fun/exercise and work activities (respectively) and in view of activity severity, sedentary and moderate activities (respectively) were associated with higher, but insignificant rate of preterm birth. Among demographic factors, only gravidity of women was significantly associated with preterm birth. Although, in this study the significant relation between physical activity and preterm delivery wasnt observed, the same research with further sample is recommended.

Nutrition in pregnancy has an important role in fetus and mother health, and also in the pregnancy outcome. One of the significant changes related to nutrition is weight gain of pregnant women as one of the influencing indicators which is measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). This study was conducted to determine nutritional education effect upon pregnancy weight gain in pregnant women on the basis of health belief model (HBM) in Gonabad, Iran. This is a quasi-experimental randomized and controlled study on 110 pregnant women referring to health centers in Gonabad, Iran. They were divided into experimental and control groups who participated in the study, in the year of 2009. The data of two groups were collected by reliable and valid questionnaires during the first part of pregnancy care in pre-test stage. Then, two educational sessions were held for the experimental group. Post test was done for both groups in the last stage of pregnancy care, and the data were analyzed by paired T, T independent, the correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square. A p<0.05 was considered to be significant. No significant differences were found between the education, parity, abortion, jobs and the mean age of the two groups. After the intervention, the mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, threat, benefits and barriers and nutritional behavior in the experimental group, significantly changed in the control group (p<0.01). Moreover, statistical analyses showed a significant difference between the two groups in gaining recommended weight in pregnancy. While 77.78% of the experimental group members achieved recommend MBI, just 32.29% of those in the control group had a gain in this criterion. This study proved that HBM application in nutritional education was successfully effective to gain recommended weight in pregnancy, so that increasing suitable weight gain reached maximum and un-standardized weight gain reached minimum in accordance with women BMI.

Pain assessment in patients with chronic pain is very important. This study was performed to evaluate the pain severity and the correlation between visual analogue scales (VAS) and short form of McGill questionnaires in patients with chronic low back pain. In a prospective descriptive study, pain intensity in 150 patients who were referred to the Physiotherapy Ward of Baghiatallah Hospital in Tehran, was measured by Mc-gill and VAS pain questionnaires, and then the correlation between these questionnaires was evaluated. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation and regression statistical tests. the patients’ pain intensity score was 8.36±0.9 by VAS and 39.04±4.2 By Mc-gill questionnaire, respectively. The data show that most of our samples had severe pain. The correlation between VAS and Mc-gill was r=0.86 that shows a very good correlation between these questionnaires. VAS as this formula predicts McGill: McGill=4.727+4.1(VAS), R²=0.771. Regarding the importance of pain evaluation and excellent correlation between VAS and Mc-gill, and the fact that VAS questionnaire is very easy to be completed, it seems that VAS questionnaire is superior to short form to McGill pain questionnaire to evaluate pain in patients with chronic low back pain.

Hemodialysis as a treatment manner in chronic renal failure is a stressful process and has several various psycho-cognitive and social complications. The present study evaluated effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients. This research was a clinical trial study. Samples were young adults who were 18-45 years old. The Participants were divided into two groups (case & control). The Beck depression & anxiety inventories were used as a measure of psychological symptoms at pretest and posttest and Cognitive-behavioral group therapy as intervention was done at week12. Data Were analyzed with SPSS-16 and t-test, chi square. A p<0.05 was considered significant. In this study, there was not a significant difference in the demographic characteristics between the two groups. Before of intervention, mean Anxiety score of the experimental group was 25.72±5.87, and in the case group it was 25.22±7.56 as well as mean Depression score in the two groups was 35.44±14.97, 33.11±9.2 respectively. The difference of the two groups in anxiety and depression scores was not significant. After the intervention, the mean anxiety score of experimental group was 15.94±6.23, and in the case group it was 28.05±10.04 (p<0.05). Mean of depression score in the experimental group was 22.27±13.32, and in the case group it was 33.94±9.46 (p<0.01). This research showed that group therapy (cognitive-behavioral) decreased depression and anxiety remarkably in dialysis patients. Therefore, it is suggested that in addition to the prescription of medication, psychological interventions be done for such patients.

Angiography is the most common invasive method to assess coronary artery. Back pain is a common complication after coronary angiography among patients after coronary angiography that is associated with immobility and restricted positioning. This study compared the effectiveness of three changing position methods in bed on back pain severity and comfort level of patients after coronary angiography. This study is a clinical trial carried out in angiography ward of Valiasre Hospital in Qom, Iran, in 2009. 75 patients undergoing angiography were randomly divided into three equal groups. The first group received the usual care after angiography, remaining supine and flat for 6 hours with the affected leg kept straight. In the second group, patients’ positions were changed hourly for 6 hours, varying between semi-Fowler’s (up to15° or 30° or 45°) positions. In the third group, patients’ positions were changed hourly for 6 hours, varying between supine, right side-lying and left side-lying. The data were collected by a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, visual analog scale of pain and comfort. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Loon statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Pain intensity in the second and third groups was significantly lower than the first group at 2, 4, and 6 hours after angiography (p<0.05); moreover, the discomfort level in the second and third groups was significantly lower than the first group at 2, 4, and 6 hours after angiography and the following morning (p<0.05). The study findings showed that changing position in bed can prevent post angiographic patients, back pain and promote their physical comfort.

Physical activity energy expenditure may mediate the relationship between plasma leptin levels and worsening insulin resistance independent of adiposity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a single session of combined exercise on leptin levels and insulin resistance index in sedentary men. Ten male subjects (22.9±1.7 years) and BMI (23±1.7kg.m-2) performed a single session of combined exercise including aerobic exercise: 60-70% of their maximal oxygen consumption for 20 min, and resistance exercise: 2 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of 1 repetition in maximum. Leptin, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance indexes were measured before and 24 h after an exercise. There were significant differences for leptin (ng.ml-1) [pre, 4.97(1.44); post, 3.84(0.83)], and insulin resistance index [pre, 1.25(0.33); post, 1.02(0.16)] (p<0.05). But glucose (mmol.l-1) [pre, 4.4(0.42); post, 4.25(0.4)], and insulin concentration (UΙμ.ml-1) [pre, 5.8(0.74); post, 5.39(0.48)] had significantly no changes after 24 h post-exercise. This study has suggested a single session of combined exercise along with a significant change of the leptin levels can affect positively on insulin resistance index.

Assessment of intentional abortion and women's knowledge about its causes and complications is an important priority for women's health, but because of the sensitivity, the investigations in this topic are rare. This study was performed for the first time in order to determine women's knowledge and attitude toward intentional abortion. Women referring to pre-marriage counseling centers in Mashhad, Iran, were selected with easy sampling method and accessed with knowledge and attitude questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Q-Square, T-Test and Pearson correlation. Of 480 participants, 71% (CI95%=66.8-75.0) had opposed attitudes about the intentional abortion and 26.5% (CI95%=22.6-30.5) had appropriate knowledge. Between lower age and lower education, lack of interest to contraceptive use with low women's knowledge-attitude scores, there was a significant relationship (p<0.05). Most of the participants opposed attitudes to intentional abortion, but more than 70% of them had low knowledge about this topic. Inappropriate knowledge about causes and its adverse consequences, especially the beginning of marital life can lead to unwanted pregnancy, intentional and unsafe abortion that need attention.

The readmission is admission of a patient in hospital after he/she is discharged in a specific period. The prevalence of readmission in patients with congestive heart failure is more than other chronic diseases, and within 3-6 months after discharge in these patients, it is 10-50%. This study was conducted to determine the socioeconomic factors affecting the readmission of patients with congestive heart failure who were admitted in cardilogy wards of Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Hospitals in 2008. In this descriptive study, 110 male and female patients with congestive heart failure were selected with quota purposive sampling method, and were divided into two groups based on their admission background in the last 6 months prior to study onset. Data were collected by a questionnaire from the patients and referring to their files, and they were analyzed by deductive statistical tests. 61.8% of patients were readmitted to the hospital during the last 6 months ending to study onset; and economic problems, lifestyle and low income level affected the readmission rate of patients. This study confirms that socioeconomic factors, which some of them are amenable to change, dramatically increase the risk for multiple hospital readmissions among patients with CHF; and it advises that more attention to effective causes of its prevalence are needed.

Male involvement like women empowerment and maternal health is one of the main strategies in achieving millennium development goals. To prepare the theoretical grounds necessary for male involvement, this descriptive study specifically aims to understand the prevalence and the forms of male involvement in maternal health. This is a descriptive-analytic study. Subjects consisted of women hospitalized for delivery in Shahrood and Sabsevar hospitals, Iran. Inclusion criteria were alive and healthy fetus. Exclusion criteria were illegal pregnancy. The questionnaires were completed by 507 women and 420 husbands. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson correlation and descriptive tests. 17% of men didn’t attend at the time of woman’s admission at the hospital. Low level of husband’s companionship to health centers, low male involvement in household tasks and receiving low health recommendation by husbands were reported by 25%, 33% and 61% of the women, respectively. 77% of men had a low level of knowledge concerning pregnancy complications; however, 93% of them were aware of their wives’ problems in pregnancy. The observed awareness of men of their wives’ problems in pregnancy and their companionship in receiving prenatal care indicates their high level of interest in pregnancy health; however, their low level of knowledge concerning pregnancy problems, women’s physical and psychological needs is an important barrier to male involvement in maternal health. Designing and providing reproductive health education programs for men seems to be necessary.

Cigarette smoking as a major public health problem contributes extra health costs, and smoking cessation among youths is a priority for any prevention program. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking and examined factors associated with having attempts to quit smoking and the motivations to quit among medical university students. A cross-sectional survey using a random sampling was carried out among 523 (293 male, and 246 female, aged 22.48±3.33years) students in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed by t-test, chi-square test and Fisher exact tests. The overal prevalence of smoking was 8.9%. (male 18% and 1.4% female). There were significant relationships between smoking status with male gender and alcohol consumption (p<0.001). The reasons for smoking initiation were: satisfying their curiosity, new experience (37.76%), pleasure and entertainment (17.48%), mental, emotional problems and sedation (16.08%), smoker friends (15.38%), inexperience and ignorance (4.89%). 54.16% of the current smokers had a history of smoking cessation. Regarding the higher prevalence of cigarette smoking in students, especialy in male and attempting to quit smoking in majority of them, preventive interventions in younger age and providing cigarette smoking cessation services for students seem necessary.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitological disease that is transmitted by sand flies. This disease is endemic in different areas of Iran. This study was designed to determine the epidemiological aspects of CL in Qom Province during 2003-2009. This was a cross-sectional study. Geographical and epidemiological data of all patients from 2003 to 2009 with clinical and microscopic diagnosis were monitored and followed up, and their medical records were surveyed. Of 1812 patients with leishmaniasis 1047 cases (57.78%) were male and 765 (42.22%) were female. The prevalence rate of disease was 25.8 in 100,000. The most frequent age group was above 15 years old (74.5%). 50.39 of the patients were living in urban areas and the rest lived in rural areas, especially in central county villages. 52.65% of the patients had no positive history of traveling to leishmaniasis endemic areas during the previous year. 24.5% of the patients had 3 or more lesions. The most common location of lesion was on their hands (49.08%). Based on our findings, men in working age group are more likely to have the disease; the number of patients without any history of traveling to endemic areas in Iran during the previous year is very considerable; therefore, we can conclude that leishmaniasis is endemic in Qom Province including in central-part villages. So, the high prevalence rate requires further control and prevention measures.

Life satisfaction is one of the most important indicators for evaluation of mental health status in general population including university students. In this field, the appropriate tool is necessary. So, this study was carried out in order to assess the reliability and validity of the SWLS in the students of Kashan Nursing & Midwifery Faculty (KNMF), Kashan, Iran, in 2008. In this descriptive study, the SWLS English version was translated into Persian; then, the subjects were selected using random stratified method in KNMF (n=161). Reliability was determined via stability and internal consistency. Validity was determined via construct and concurrent validity. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, Intra-class correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman-Brown, Guttman, independent t-test and exploratory factorial analysis. In 5-35 scale, the life satisfaction score was 22.15±6.18 (95%CLM=21.19-23.11). The questionnaire reliability coefficient was calculated to be 0.85-0.9. Item-total correlation and test re-test confirmed its reliability too. Its correlation with Q-LES-QSF and one item life satisfaction scale was reported to be 0.7 and 0.78, respectively (p<0.0001). The known-groups approach also revealed this tool was valid (p<0.0001). The factorial analysis extracted one main factor whose Eigen value was 3/24; the mentioned factor can explain greater than 64% of the total variance. SWLS Persian version for evaluation of life satisfaction in the university students is valid and reliable.

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis which still remains as a major health problem in certain parts of the world. Osteoarticular involvement is the most frequent complication of brucellosis, in which the diagnosis of brucellarspondylodiscitis is often difficult, since the clinical presentation may be obscured by many other conditions. Case Report: We report an uncommon case of spondylodiscitis with paravertebral abscess. The diagnosis was established by using magnetic resonance imaging that was also confirmed by positive culture. This report describes a case of a 42-year-old woman. Serodiagnosis for brucella carried out at the onset of symptoms 4 months and 1.5 months before admission were negative. When the patient was admitted to our hospital, laboratory tests showed negative agglutination, and ELISA test for brucella and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a paravertebral abscess around the affected disc and tissue edema. Culture of needle aspiration of abscess tissue was positive for brucella melitensis.