Knowledge and attitude about Andropause among general physicians in Shiraz, Iran 2014

Background: Andropause in men refers to the clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advanced age and characterized by a deficiency in serum testosterone levels. With the increase in aging male population and life span in Iran and focus on quality of life, andropause will become a major health issue that needs to be addressed in order to prevent disability. The results of some research have shown that there is still low level of knowledge and attitude toward andropause among health professionals. This study aimed at assessing the level of knowledge and attitude of general physicians regarding andropause in 2014

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 402 general physicians in Shiraz. A researcher-made questionnaire was developed for assessing the level of knowledge and attitude of general physicians about andropause. SPSS 18 was used to analyze the data, and descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were applied for data analysis

Results: The mean score of knowledge and attitude about andropause was 29.4 out of 76 and 35.1 out of 45, respectively. The findings showed a poor level of knowledge and positive attitude toward andropause among general physicians. There was a significant relationship between occupational status and knowledge about andropause [P<0.001]. There was a statistically significant relationship between attitude and demographic characteristics [P<0.05].The correlation between knowledge and attitude toward andropause was not statistically significant [P=0.548]

Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate the need for designing educational interventions to improve the knowledge and attitude of andropause among general physicians

Prevalence of sports injuries among high school students in United Arab Emirates

The study intended to assess the prevalence of sports injuries among high school students. This cross sectional study was carried out using data from 300 students aged 9 to 18 years at Dubai International School and Universal American High School, UAE. A self-administered questionnaire was employed with open- and close-ended questions to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 19.0 and Chi-square test was applied to find the association between variables. The study population included 43.7% males and 56.3% females. Most of the students [74.3%] belonged to 13-15 year age group. More than half the respondents [58.3%] were in Grade 9. Over half the students [67.6%] had been injured during sports activities, the most common type of injury was sprains [34.5%]. Chi square test showed a significant association between history injury and participation [p<0.03]. Upon being injured medical treatment [66.7%] had been used as the most common option among the students. Sports injuries are common among the high school students. Therefore, awareness of possible sport injuries should be included in the school health programs

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Padua inventory: Washington State University Revision [PI-WSUR]

The psychometric properties and factor structure of the Persian Padua Inventory Washington State University Revision [PI-WSUR],a measure of obsessive- compulsive phenomena, was examined in a non-clinical sample of 348 Iranian university students. The PI-WSUR was translated into Persian, and its back translation was controlled by the author inventory. A pilot study based on cultural differences was carried out on twenty students. The study subjects consisted of 348 university students, and they completed PPI, OCI-R, MOCI, BAI, STAI, BDI-II and the demographic inventory. The factor analysis of the PI-WSUR, exhibited eight factors similar but not identical with factor structure in previous studies. as the eight factors are as follows: contamination obsessions; washing compulsions; ordering compulsions; checking compulsions; obsessional thoughts to harm self/others; obsessional thoughts about violence; obsessional impulses to harm self/others; and obsessional impulses to steal. The result also indicated excellent internal consistency [Cronbach alpha= 0.92], Spearman split test [0.95] and test- retest [r= 0.77]. We assessed the concurrent validity of the PPI in relation to the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised [OCI-R], and the Maudsley Obsessive- Compulsive Inventory [MOCI]. The Iranian version of the PI to some extend remains the sound psychometric properties of the original version

Efficacy of Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy in complex urolithiasis in the era of advanced endourologic procedures

It is believed that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL] may be less effective than other modalities for treating stones in complex calculi. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of ESWL for treatment of complex stones. Between September 2002 and October 2003, 250 complex cases of urolithiasis, including ureteral stones, staghorn stones, and stones in children, high risk patients, single kidneys, steinstrasse, and horseshoe kidneys were selected to be treated with Siemens Lithostar [Siemens AG, Munich, Germany] on an outpatient basis. Data were collected prospectively and the results of ESWL monotherapy on these complex patients were reviewed. The overall success rate was 91.2% for children and 77.7% for patients with single kidneys. Also, ESWL was efficient in the treatment of ureteral stones at the rate of 70.5% to 83.3%, depending on the location of the stone in the ureter and its size. The success rate of ESWL for patients with horseshoe kidneys, staghorn stones, and steinstrasse were marginal [66.6%, 66.0% and 33.3%, respectively]. All of the cases were managed on outpatient basis and hospital admission was not required. Outpatient ESWL can be safely performed as a minimally invasive treatment after proper patient selection, even for complex patients. Its successfulness in children, patients with solitary kidney, and for almost all of ureteral stones is quite acceptable. However, its usage in patients with horseshoe kidneys or steinstrasse, and those with staghorn stones is questionable and should be done only in carefully selected cases. Thus, with appropriate patient selection, significant improvements in stone-free rates may also be achieved in these cases

Results of buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty in complex hypospadias

Urethral reconstruction in complex hypospadias poses a significant challenge. We report our experience using buccal mucosa to repair complex hypospadias. From February 2001 to September 2003, 16 urethral reconstructions were performed using buccal mucosal graft. Twelve of the patients had previously failed urethroplasties, while the other 4 had perineal or scrotal hypospadias. Grafts were harvested from the lower lip. Onlay grafts were used in 8 cases, and tubularized grafts were used for the others. After 14 to 27 months' follow-up, 11 of 16 [69%] patients developed complications, including meatal stenosis in 2 [12.5%], urethral stricture in 5 [31%], and urethrocutaneous fistula in 4 [25%]. No oral complications were seen, and all of the urethroplasty complications were managed successfully. Urethroplasty using a buccal mucosal graft may be accompanied by a relatively high complication rate, which is more common in patients with tubularized graft; however, all complications can be managed successfully. We believe that urethroplasty using buccal mucosal graft in complex hypospadias is an acceptable treatment modality

Can thymic tissue induce tolerance to kidney allografts?

The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of donor thymic tissue to induce tolerance in thymokidney allografts, transplanted to thymectomized cross-bred canines. Seven pairs of transplant donors and recipients were selected from 3- to 4-month-old cross-bred canines with major histocompatibility complex [MHC] mismatches. Recipients underwent partial thymectomy 4 weeks before transplantation and received an autologous thymic graft under the renal capsule, which had been engrafted in the donors 3 months before transplantation [thymokidney]. Successful engraftment with evidence of thymocyte development in the donors was determined by gross and histologic examination at the time of transplantation. Biopsy specimens were obtained at the transplant day and 3 months after transplantation and were studied histologically for evidence of hyperacute or acute rejection. At 90 days after the operation, all 7 juvenile thymic grafts had developed with normal thymic structure under the renal capsule. Hyperacute rejection was not observed in allografts, and all of them were functioning until the end of follow-up; however, all of the allografts showed acute cell-mediated rejection 3 months after transplantation. No tolerance was induced by vascularized donor thymokidneys in MHCmismatched canines. The advantages of tolerance over chronic immunosuppression are so great that a potentially tolerogenic approach such as thymic transplantation would seem worthy of further investigations on large animal models. To evaluate the beneficial effects of thymic tissue in tolerance induction, utilizing a short course, lowdose adjuvant immunosuppressant to this regimen and/or application of in-bred MHCmatched canines is suggested