Transfusion audit of blood products using the World Health Organization Basic Information Sheet in Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran

We assessed the practicality of using the transfusion basic Information Sheet [BIS] for data collection, to determine the overall adequacy of physician documentation of Blood product transfusion, and to make an audit of the appropriateness of blood product transfusion. The transfusion process and clinical indications for transfusions administered to adult hospitalized patients in 3 tertiary care teaching hospitals in Qazvin were prospectively reviewed. Adequate documentation was achieved in transfusion episodes, range 41%-73%, depending on the medical specialty; 15.7% of red blood cells and whole blood requests, 40.8% of platelet requests and 34.1% of fresh frozen plasma requests were inappropriate. BIS-based information along with data collection can be used to provide feedback regarding the effectiveness of and compliance with local and national transfusion guidelines

[Evaluation of alpha-fetoprotein and alkaline phosphatase levels in prediction of preterm labor]

Preterm labor is one of the complications of pregnancy affecting 7% of cases. To determine variations of AFP and ALP as a predictive index of preterm labor. A case-control study was performed on 210 patients in Kosar hospital, Qazvin. The case group composed of 70 pregnant women between 28-37 weeks who had their deliveries in labor ward and diagnosed as preterm labor. The first control group included 70 pregnant women between 28-37 wks who were followed until 37th week of pregnancy and the mentioned parameters were measured in their serum. The second control group consisted of 70 women who had term delivery and evaluated for the effect of labor on the level of predicting markers. The data derived from questionnaires were used as primary information. The analysis of data was performed based on parametric test [t-test] using SPSS 4 [confidence interval of 95%]. The mean of AFP in preterm labor group was 167.61 IU/ml followed by 77.5 and 70.5 IU/mL in first and second control groups, respectively. There was a significant difference [up to 2-205 times of mean value] between preterm labor group and the first control group [p<0.05]. The mean of ALP in preterm labor group was 320 IU/mL followed by 284.1 and 280.1 IU/mL in first and second control groups, respectively. Regarding ALP levels, no significant difference was found between two control groups. The serum level of AFP was increased in preterm labor whereas no variation in the level of ALP was observed

Helicobacter pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum is one of the pregnancy complications which leads to decreased efficiency of pregnant women. To examine a hypothesis indicative of the presence of an association between hyperemesis gravidarum [HG] and Helicobacter pylori [HP] infection. This work was a case control study carried out on 35 pregnant women with HG [study group] and 35 asymptomatic pregnant women [control group] admitted to Kosar hospital, Qazvin, Iran in a six-month period between 2003-2004. Serum specific IgG for HP was assayed on the sera of both study a control groups after formal agreement was made. Data were analysed statistically using Chi-square and student t tests. Serologically positive HP infection was detected in 23 out of 35 patients with HG [%65.7] whereas in control group, only 7 out of 35 asymptomatic gravidas [%20] were found to have positive antibody titers against HP, The ratio of HP positivity in pregnant women with HG was significantly higher than asymtomatic group [P<0.004]. The mean index percentages of IgG titers in study and control groups were 27 +/- 30 and 10 +/- 13, respectively. HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with HG in pregnant population with hyperemesis gravidarum investigated in our study