Jundishapur Journal of Chronic Disease Care
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Jul 2013

In recent years, many treatments have been used for hot flashes. Non-hormonal methods have the utmost attention and applied by the most women with hot flashes due to their high acceptability and limited side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Manhae and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on hot flashes in postmenopausal women. In this single blind randomized controlled trial, 72 eligible postmenopausal women recruited randomly. The Manhae group was treated with Manhae (850 mg daily) and HRT group was treated with (0.312 mg conjugated estrogen plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone daily). Two groups followed-up for 12 weeks. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and Repeated Measure, t-test and Chi – Square test were used to compare changes in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes in two groups. After 12 weeks intervention, significant differences were not observed between two groups in the frequency of hot flashes (p= 0.73), however, significant differences were observed between two groups in intensity of hot flashes (p< 0.001), when HRT could reduce intensity of hot flashes better. Manhae and hormone replacement therapy have similar effects on reducing the frequency of hot flashes, but the most significant effect of hormone therapy on reducing the intensity of hot flashes was evident. Manhae appears to be somewhat effective in reducing frequency of hot flashes in women who HRT is contraindicated.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most fatal diseases of the present century. Due to its chronic and incurable nature as well as the malign thoughts and the label applied in the society, there would be psychologically dramatic impacts on the patient. The present study aimed to explicate the psychic-psychological experiences of such patients. The approach applied in this qualitative study was Phenomenological. The research community was of 13 AIDS patients who were selected by purpose-based sampling method up to reaching saturation point. The data were collected through in-depth and non-structured interviews. To analyze the data, Colaizzi approach was adopted. Through the interpretation of the data, four major themes emerged: inconsolable grief, anxiety, fury and bleak future. Such themes were called psychic-psychological experiences of the AIDS patients. The results of the present study demonstrated the AIDS patients were beset with various psychic-psychological problems. While treating such patients, it seems necessary to care for their psychic-psychological needs other than treating them physically. Therefore, it is undeniable to bring in psychological and religious specialists along with the treatment of the nursing-medical services. Moreover, an attempt in changing the public view toward these patients seems essential.

Due to the need to maintain maximum bone mass before age 35, the preventive measures must be initiated; This study was aimed to determine the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of men and women over 35 years about osteoporosis in Ahvaz, Iran. In this descriptive study 186 men and women over 35 years were recruited. Data collection was done through a questionnaire with four sections including 51 question. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version20 and descriptive statistics, and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical purposes. In terms of knowledge, 109 persons were moderate (58.3%), 147 persons had a positive attitude (78.6%); and 106 persons had practice in moderate level (56.7%). A direct relationship was found between the economic situation and practice and also between the knowledge and the education level. But, it was not any significant relationship between awareness and attitudes, and also between awareness and attitudes and practice. We can conclude that due to the increase in the elderly population and the need for preventive measures concerning osteoporosis; Therefore, it is necessary that officials take essential decision to proceed the general awareness about prevention of osteoporosis, and by this means, reduce the level of disability and treatment costs.

Despite enormous efforts to search for cure, diabetes mellitus still remains as a formidable challenge for public health. This project was designed to evaluate effect of standardized ginseng extract Panaxs (G115®) on fasting blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin and lipid profiles in patients with diabetes type 2. In this randomized, double blind placebo controlled clinical trial, 30 patients with type 2 diabetes were contributed. They were divided into two groups (n=15 each), the randomized and placebo groups, the former received300 mg/day G115 and placebo received300 mg/d wheat flour. FBS, HbA1c and lipid profile were determined at baseline and at the end of study. SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis. Independent and paired samples T-test was applied for comparison. Subjects randomized to G115, as compared to the placebo group, had a significant decrease in HbA1c (t= -2.593,p=0.015)) and FBS levels (t=-2.13,p=0.042). There was no improvement lipid profiles of subjects randomized to G115, compared to controls. Results of this study suggest that G115 supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes may improve glucose control but it has no significantly effect on lipid profiles.

Aging is a critical period of life and elderly population is growing rapidly. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in older people and involving people in treatment process who has central role in disease control. This study performed to assess self-care behaviors and related factors in elderly patients with diabetes. A cross-sectional study was performed on 200 diabetic patients referred to Golestan Diabetes Clinic in Ahvaz, 2012, who were selected by convenience sampling. Information was collected and evaluated based on questionnaire Summary of diabetes self-care activities, with scores of 0-91 in both section, personal data and self-care behaviors. The study population included of 117 female (58.5%) and 83 men (41.5%), with a mean age of 63.67±6.5, respectively. 46% were illiterate, 69% married, 54.5% housewife and 20.5% were retired. Average of self-care score was 44.04. The blood sugar of 23% was not monitored. Exercise was perform two days a week in14.5%. Foot care was not taken in 9.5% of people. There was positive association between total scores of self-care and duration of disease, education and having previous training (p=0.001), but sex was not associated with total self-care scores (p=0.27). The results of this study showed that self-care behaviors in the elderly diabetic patients in Ahvaz was poor and special attention to the educational needs of this patients and planning is necessary.

Andropause is an age-related decline in serum testosterone level and a constellation of signs and symptoms of hypogonadism. The primary aim of this study was; to evaluate the andropause symptoms and its relationship with the blood testosterone in Iranian men in Ahvaz. In this preliminary study 90 male university staffs with an age of more than 40 were randomly recruited from Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Participants were asked to complete the androgen decline in the aging male (ADAM) questionnaire. Anthropometrics and their serum levels of free and total testosterone were measured. According to the ADAM’s questionnaire، 66 (73. 3%) reported andropause symptoms، of which 9 (13. 8%) of them had a low level of free testosterone and 39 (59. 2%) had a low level of total testosterone. The remaining symptomatic men had a normal level of free testosterone. There was no significant relationship between participants with and without andropause symptoms regarding age، BMI، blood pressure، income، free and total testosterone. There was a high level of andropause symptoms according to the ADAM questionnaire that was highly discrepant with the blood test for total and free testosterone. It seems that some symptoms in the ADAM questionnaire may relate to the other socio-economic factors e. g. income.

Multiple sclerosis is one of the lifestyle-altering diseases that cause frequently progressive disabilities. The objective of this study was to evaluate Collaborative care model effect on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients'' lifestyle. In this clinical-trial study, 80 patients with multiple sclerosis which having the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to case and control groups by block randomization method. The questionnaire of lifestyle of patients with MS Was used as a data collection tool. Following gathering data in the pre-test stage, the steps of collaborative caring model (Motivation, Readying, Involvement and Evaluation) were implemented for case group for three months. The post-test was carried out one month after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS version-19 and inferential statistical tests (T-test, Repeated measures, and Mc Nemar''s test). Subsequent to the intervention, case group had a better lifestyle; and data analysis between two groups showed a significant difference between the means of lifestyle score in all dimensions except the sleep dimension (p≤0. 016). The results showed effectiveness of collaborative care model to improve lifestyle of patients with MS; therefore this model can apply by health staff to improve the lifestyle of patients with MS.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease destroying the pigments of the skin, and subsequently causing whiteness on the body skin. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of vitiligo from patients referred to Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran, 2009-2012. A cross-sectional study was performed characterize on 600 patients with vitiligo referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz in January 2009 to December 2012 using sequential sampling. Data were collected using a data collection form, Included parameters of age, sex, time of onset, family history, site of lesion, type of involvement and associated diseases. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test and SPSS software. The mean age was 26.4±11.2 years And the majority were women. The average age of onset was 27.6 years. Mean duration of disease was 11.7 years in men and women. Obtained results showed that 34.1% of the patients had a positive family history. The hands, neck and face were the most common involved sites. The generalized type was the most common form of vitiligo. Associated disorder with vitiligo were documented in order for Leukotrichia, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and alopecia areata. This study indicated that the high percentage of vitiligo occurred in young ages therefore, it is expected that better case finding and screening methods were used to identify people with this disease so that, it can be quicker to recognize this genetic and autoimmune disease, and finally treated with better quality.