Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
Volume:14 Issue: 4, Apr 2012

Musculoskeletal disorders in developing countries are considered as main cause of occupational disorders and disability and highly associated with socioeconomic burden to individual, organization and society in general view. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors among Iranian steel workers.. In a cross-sectional study, 1439 questionnaires were provided from 1984 randomly selected workers of four Iranian steel industries. Data of musculoskeletal disorders was gathered by means of standardized Nordic self-reporting questionnaire. Demographic and work related data were collected into the check list.. Out of 1984 individuals, 1439 questionnaires returned and mean age of study workers was 37.23±8.74 years old. Among workers, 46.3% in the past week and 61% in the last year claimed one of musculoskeletal disorders in their bodies. Lumbar, knee(s) and neck areas had the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders had significant association with the job time of work and BMI.. Musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian steel industries happened in high rate. Ergonomic interventions strategies into the workplaces must be focused to eliminate environmental hazards such as apposition on the time of work and manual handling of heavy loads.

Improving the dietary intake among different groups and population is important for improving the health status. This study determines the nutrients and food group intake as well as dietary habits among female students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.. Two hundreds and eighty nine healthy female youths who were randomly selected among students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, Iran were enrolled. A validated semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used.. Folate, iron, calcium and fiber intake were lower than the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) amounts (70, 76, 90, 56% of RDA, respectively). Forty five percent of the population consumed fast foods 2 times a week and 35% used the frying oils for cooking most of the time.. Female youths had lower amount of some micronutrients. Consuming frying oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and fast food intake should be limited among this group.

Lymphedema treatment is difficult and there is no consensus on the best treatment. This study evaluated the effect of combined decongestive therapy (CDT) and pneumatic compression pump on lymphedema indicators in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL).. Twenty one women with BCRL were enrolled. The volume difference of upper limbs, the circumference at 9 areas and shoulder joint range of motion were measured in all patients. CDT was done by an educated nurse in two phases. In first phase, CDT was accompanied by use of a compression pump for 4 weeks, 3 days per week. In second phase, CDT was performed daily without compression pump for 4 weeks by patients at home. At the end of each phase, the same primary measurements were done for patients. The mean volume difference of the upper limbs and mean difference in circumference in all areas at different phases decreased significantly. Mean flexion, extension, abduction and external rotation (in degrees) at different phases increased significantly.. CDT significantly reduced mean volume and mean circumference of the affected limb, and significantly increased shoulder joint range of motion. The findings support the optimal effects of CDT in the treatment of secondary lymphedema of upper extremity.

Skin flap failure is a significant, though relatively uncommon complication of cochlear implant surgery. To achieve a good surgical result, a proper plan to locate the prospective implant is required. Thus, a new design of flap was evaluated in this regard.. Two hundred and eleven consecutive children undergoing cochlear implantation in Baqiyatallah Cochlear Implant Center were compared with 75 cases who were operated through the classic “C shaped” fashion from Jul/14/2007 to Feb/14/2009.. There was one case of flap necrosis in the classic approach but there were no major flap complications in “new” design, also keloid formation as a minor complication was rare in the “new” method. The “new” design is easier to apply with fewer complications, so it can be recommended in children undergoing cochlear implantation.

Oxidative stress forms the foundation for the induction of multiple cellular pathways which can lead to the complications of diabetes mellitus that the most debilitating ones are diseases of the nervous system. In this study, we evaluated whether treadmill running could alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis rate in the hippocampus of streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats.. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10): Control group (CR), exercised group (CE), diabetic group (DR) and diabetic-exercised group (DE). Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin in male rats. All rats in the trained group run on a rodent motor-driven treadmill for eight weeks. At the end of eight weeks, hippocampi of animals were immediately removed on ice and kept frozen. The light supernatant was taken and stored at -80˚C. They were used for determination of antioxidant enzymes and TBARs level. Index of apoptosis was detected by cell death detection ELISA Kit.. Levels of TBARs in DR and DE groups were significantly higher than CR group. SOD and GPx activities significantly increased in CE group and decreased in DR group. CAT activity significantly decreased in DR group versus CR group. The apoptosis rate significantly increased and decreased in DR and CE groups respectively compared to CR.. Exercise had beneficial effects in the diabetic exercised rats, possibly in part because of alterations in the ability to adapt to exercise- induced oxidative stress.

Spinal cord injury stimulates an inflammatory reaction that causes substantial secondary damage inside the injured spinal tissue. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein on traumatized spinal cord. Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 7 rats each as follows: Sham-operated group, trauma group, and oleuropein treatment groups (20 mg/kg, ip, immediately and 1 hour after spinal cord injury). Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for immunohistochemistry of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Attenuated TNF-α, IL-1β, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, COX-2, and PARP expression could be detected in the oleuropein-treated rats. Oleuropein modulates inflammatory reactions following spinal cord injury.

Public hospitals can privatize management activities by contracting with a private organization or person to perform the work. Management contract is a method which uses private sector for major government projects like hospitals. This study evaluates contract management in health care institutes of developing countries. Information has been collected by reviewing the management contract condition of selected countries. Different forms of public private partnership for private participation in hospitals were surveyed. The effects of management contract is expanding market opportunities to include public sector clients, capturing a market to be protected from competitors and providing a reliable and timely source of revenue. Contracting with non-governmental entities will provide better results than government provision of the same services. Contracting initiatives must be regulated and monitored at the highest level of government by experienced and astute policy makers, economists and operational personnel..

Zinc deficiency can lead to clinically relevant disturbances in tissue functions and particularly important for birth weight of neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum zinc in pregnant women and the incidence of low birth weight (<2500 g) in their newborns.. This case-control study was done on women who delivered low birth weight infants (Cases), and normal birth weight infants (Controls). Blood samples got in all women within 5 minutes of delivery, and assessed the concentration of zinc using electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum concentration of zinc was compared.. One hundred and seventeen mothers were enrolled, of them, 65 cases were low birth weight infants (1845±472 g) and 52 were controls (3166± 435 g). Mothers in the case and control groups did not differ in age, body mass index, and socioeconomic or demographic factors. Maternal zinc concentration differed between cases and controls; 753.34±15 μg/l vs. 654.76±12 μg/l respectively. Maternal zinc differed between premature and full term deliveries.. Maternal zinc concentration was shown to affect birth weight and prematurity.

A 49-year-old Iranian male with diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) was admitted at Emergency Ward of Vase’ee Hospital of Sabzevar, Iran. As well, the patient had red eye and left eye bleeding. On eye examination, leech infestation was found to be the cause of the eye bleeding. In the endemic regions in a patient presenting red eye and eye bleeding, leech infestation came up to be an important differential diagnosis. Therefore, to prevent leech infestation in endemic regions, local people are advised to be informed more effectively about the necessity to use safe, clean, and filtered drinking water, and a perfect scrutiny for leeches or other sources of infestation that should be undertaken before bathing.