Effect of relaxation on the physical symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis

Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis [MS] is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, leading to progressive disability, reduces daily activity and function and emerges with a wide range of physical symptoms. This study was done to determine the effect of relaxation on the physical symptoms in women with Multiple Sclerosis

Methods: In this clinical trial study, 50 patients with MS were randomly divided into relaxation and control groups. In the interventional group, Jacobson and Benson method was performed for 4 weeks, twice a week for 40 minutes and patients in the control group were received only care and routine medical treatment. Data was collected via fatigue severity scale [FSS], numerical rating scale [NRS] before, immediately after and two months after intervention

Results: The mean seventy of fatigue score, before, immediately and two months after the intervention were not the same and time trends was effective on severity of fatigue score [P<0.05]. The mean of fatigue score were significantly reduced in intervention group [immediately and two months after intervention] in compared to pre-intervention. The mean severity of pain score ,before, immediately and two months after the intervention were not the same and time trends was effective on mean severity of pain score [P<0,05]. The mean intensity of pain score over time in the relaxation group non-significantly reduced in compared to the control group

Conclusion: Relaxation technique is effective as a low-cost, safe and easy method to reduce fatigue and pain in patients with MS

Extraction and determination of pyrethrins from Pyrethrum cultivated in Iran

Pyrethrum Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium [Trevir] Vis. is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is perennial plant commercially grown for extraction of natural pyrethrins used to make insecticides. It has low toxicity for humans and other warm blooded animals but its effectiveness against a wide range of insects. The aim of this study has been extraction and determination of pyrethrins from pyrethrum cultivated in the experimental fields of ACECR at Karaj, Iran. The plant materials were dried, powdered and extracted with different organic solvents. Then extract analyzed by Diode-Array UV-VIS spectrophotometer and reversed-phase HPLC system. [1] Both of methods can be used for determining the total of pyrethrins and that both can be successfully used in laboratories that are not so well equipped. [2] We found that pyrethrins content was 1.6% of dried weight by both methods. It is good result because concentrations ranging from 1 to 2% of pyrethrins have been adopted by the foremost manufacturers of pyrethrum insecticides. These results indicated that cultivation of pyrethrum in Iran should have high economical

Assessment the several types of pain in the first stage of labor: the effect of mother's selected positions

Attention to labor pain and its sedation are important parts of maternity care. Mother positioning seems to be effective in pain intensity and positions that women choose in order to become more comfortable are often those that tend to promote the baby's progress through the birth canal. Women often describe less pain when the fetus and pelvis are better aligned. This study investigated the effects of mother's selected positions on the intensity of several types of pain in the first stage of labor. This is a clinical trial on 68 pregnant women with singleton fetus in vertex presentation, 38-42 weeks gestational age and normal labor progress at Zeinab hospital in Mashad in 2004-5. They were randomly allocated to selective positions group and routine positions group. Mothers in selective positions group changed position as they wished while mothers in routine positions group were cared in bed. Pain intensity of low back and abdomen were measured hourly by visual analog scale. Data were gathered by using forms of interview and observation, and visual analog scale and analyzed in SPSS using Student t-test, Chi-square, Mann-whitney and Fisher's exact test. Scores of total pain [average of low back pain and abdominal pain] arid low back pain were significantly lower for the selective positions group than those for the routine positions group [p=0.007 and p<0.001 respectively]. Score of abdominal pain was the same in both groups. In accordance with time and location, the mean score of low back pain between contractions was significantly lower for the selective positions group than that for the routine positions group [p<0.001]. This study showed that in the active phase of the first stage of labor, mother's selective positions reduce intensity of low back pain between contractions. Therefore using alternative positions are simple and cost effective methods that reduce labor pain

effect of mother's selected positions on the duration of the active phase of the first stage in labor

Background and Purpose: Left to their own choice, parturients will usually select positions they find most comfortable and will frequently change their positions over the course of labor. Maternal changing the positions will adjust fetus alignment to pass through the birth canal. Therefore, maternal positioning choice will include those positions with maximum comfort and those which improve the descent of the fetus through birth canal and make the labor process progress normally. This study is therefore intended to study the effect of mother's selected positions on the duration of the active phase of the first stage of labor

Methods and materials: This clinical trial was carried out in 1383-84 [2004-5] at the labor ward of the Hazrate Zeinab [S] hospital in Mashad, Iran. Subjects were 68 low risk pregnant women with gestational age of 38 to 42 weeks, who were randomly assigned into two groups: cases [selective positioning] and controls [routine positioning]. In the selective positioning group, mothers changed their positions at wish while mothers in the routine positioning group were given bedside care. Observation and interview checklists were used for data collection, and Student t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis in SPSS

Results: Mean duration of the active phase of the first stage of the labor was significantly lower for the selective positioning group [p= 0.002]. Mean +/- standard deviation were 156.75 +/- 66.48 and 207.25 +/- 61.04 minutes for the selective and routine positioning groups respectively

Conclusion: The study indicated that the duration of the active phase of the first stage of the labor was lower in the selective positioning group. Therefore, selective positioning can be advised for parturients to decrease the duration of staying mothers in maternity wards