[Restless legs syndrome and the quality of sleep in type II diabetes]

Restless legs syndrome is one of the most common sleep disorders that decreases the quality of life. Diabetic patients suffer from restless legs syndrome more than the others. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between restless legs syndrome and the quality of sleep in type II diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, type II diabetic patients [n=108] referred to the Saqqez diabetes unit were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using screening questionnaires for restless legs syndrome including Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI] and Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS] and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient and independent T tests. The mean sleep quality scores in the presence and absence of restless legs syndrome were 8.1 +/- 0.6 and 5.5 +/- 4.4, respectively and there was a significant difference in the quality of sleep between the two groups [P=0.001]. Forty-two percent of samples suffered from restless legs syndrome and other sleep disorders. Considering the high incidence of sleep disorders in diabetic patients and also the lack of proper diagnosis of restless legs syndrome, using various screening methods for the diagnosis of restless legs syndrome is necessary for diabetic patients

Study of situation and role of the aged in Dezful families

Old age is a critical stage in human life so paying attention to problems and needs of this group is a social necessity. Considering special needs of this stage, paying attention to behaviors that promote the place and situation of the elderly people in society and family is an important issue, but this is often neglected. The purpose of the present study is to investigate causes and factors that affect the place and situation of the elderly people in their families. This study tries to take a step toward maintaining and promoting this place and situation by identifying factors that stabilize and improve the place and situation of the elderly in families, and it tries to help, though slightly, improve and promote the elderly life conditions in family circles. The present study was performed using survey method on 280 elderly people aged more than 60 residing in families that were living in Dezful. These people were selected by cluster sampling method randomly. A questionnaire the reliability and validity of which had been determined was used to gather data. After data were analyzed, there was a meaningful relationship between all independent variables considered in this study and dependent variables of the situation of the elderly people so that variables such as age, academic degree, health conditions, cooperation rate and economic status, as well as family type and, finally, religious beliefs of the elderly people families influence the situation of elderly people. The results obtained from independent [t] test showed that there was difference between the elderly men and women in terms of health conditions, cooperation rate in household work, economic and religious status of their families. This difference in health conditions and economic status was in favor of elderly men, and the difference in family being religious and cooperation rate in household work were proved to be in favor of elderly women, that is, elderly men acted better than elderly women in health conditions and economic status, whereas elderly women acted better than elderly men in being religious of families and cooperation rate in household work. factors such as religious being rate of families of elderly people are highly important; therefore it can be possible to promote and improve their situation as much as possible in their families as well as prevent and minimize their present and future problems by identifying and studding these factors acting properly and planning effectively

[Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis to assess the expression levels of iNOS in chicken macrophages]

iNOS is inducible by a variety of factors related to inflammation and referred to as inducible NOS[iNOS]. It is regulated at the level of gene expression; once expressed, it produces NO at a high rate. iNOS gene-expression profiling is an important tool in understanding molecular markers of the responses of cells and tissues to external factors. In this article a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] protocol was optimized to extract RNA [ribonucleic acid] from chicken spleen and to measure the expression levels of iNOS mRNAs from each sample. Detailed procedure was described for the analysis of iNOS levels. beta-actin was used as an internal control to normalize for sample to sample variations in total RNA amounts and for reaction efficiency. Co-amplification of the iNOS gene with housekeeping gene [beta-actin] provides a quantitative result. Changes in gene expression level may be monitored, while avoiding sample-to-sample loading variation

[Parents' knowledge about the symptoms of substance abuse: a study on parents of students in Kerman high schools and secondary schools]

Three basic strategies against substance abuse are control of distribution, treatment of dependents and prevention. Recent years experiences have shown the significant importance of prevention. Considering the decrease in age of substance abuse onset, parents' knowledge about this phenomenon and consequently its early prevention and control in the family is very important. In this cross-sectional study performed in 2005, knowledge of 600 parents of Kerman highs schools' and secondary schools' students in relation to the symptoms of substance abuse was determined by using a researcher-made questionnaire. In whole, 20.1% of the participants had high school or higher educational level and 11.7% of them had history of substance abuse in their family members. The highest knowledge scores in physical symptoms belonged respectively to alcohol [23%], opium [17%] and cigarette [15%]. In relation to psychological symptoms, the highest scores were obtained for tranquilizers and analgesics [29%] and then cigarette, alcohol and opium [24%, 19% and 17% respectively]. Insufficient Knowledge scores, especially in regard to substances with increasing rate of use is a serious warning requiring serious attempts for increasing knowledge of all classes of society especially parents. This should be done continuously and by using the most efficient educational programs and cooperation of all related organizations

[Comparing the glycemic index and some nutrient contents of two types of imported rice with a domestic rice]

Carbohydrate contents of different foods may have different effects on postprandial blood glucose. This study was done to measure and compare glycemic indices and some nutrients in three types of rices. This study was conducted to compare the glycemic effects of 50g carbohydrate in the Basmati, Kazemi and Sorna Perl types of rice in normal subjects. Thirty healthy subjects [13 male and 17 female], aged between 20-40 years, were selected, and were evaluated 4 times at 1 week intervals. On the first day, all subjects consumed 50 gram glucose; they were then divided into 3 groups. Each group consumed one of the 3 rice types, with 50g carbohydrate content each week. Blood samples were collected before and at 15,30,60 and 120 minutes, after taking glucose and rice. At the end of the experiment, all subjects received all three kinds of rice and the Gl was calculated for each rice as the ratio of the incremental area under the 3- hour glycemic response curve to rice, to the incremental area under the 3- hour glycemic response curve to sugar. The glycemic indices of Sorna Pearl, Kasemin and Basmati were 52/2 +/- 5/1, 67/6 +/- 13 and 61/2 +/- 6/1 respectively, the Gl of Sorna peri being lower than the others [p<0/05]. Maximum changes of blood sugar for Sorna Perl, Kasemi and Basmati were 21/8112, 27/4 +/- 6 and 31/7 +/- 5/9 mg/dl respectively. The results of this study indicate that in healthy of the 3 types of rice consumed subjects Sorna Perl had the lowest Gl and GL

[Quality of care in airways of head injury patients in emergency ward of Bahonar Hospital in Kerman city]

Introduction: Head injury is an important problem in the community. Side effects of injury relates to nursing care quality. The first and important factor for study in these patients is the situation of airway. Often due to the airway obstruction and reduction of ventilation, hypoxia in brain tissue occurs. With increased number of patients with head injuries and the vital importance of this organ, the observance of the care and nursing points is necessary. For several consecutive years, Aden Brock anesthesiology institute has examined the condition of airway but in Iran, only in 1995, a study in Tehran has considered the nursing, condition of airways

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of care in the airways of head injury patients in emergency department of Bahonar Hospital in Kerman City

Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive cross- sectional research carried out on 384 patients with head injury hospitalized in emergency department of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in winter 2003. Instrument for data collection was an observational checklist consisting of 15 care criteria that their validity and reliability were confirmed. It was for gathering demographic data

Results: Results showed that 86.5% of male patients presenting to the emergency department were the morning working shift. The patients were in the age group of 20-24 years. Their arrivals were due to the closed injuries and strokes that were consistent with study of Aden Brock Institute in 1997. The greatest rate of optimal care [98.5%] is related to the mode of oxygen therapy and the lowest correct application of sterile principles in pharynx and tracheal suction

Conclusion: It can be concluded that because of multiple traumas in men, quality of care for female patients was more favorable but among female patients, quality of care for natural airways, the conditions of head and neck, oxygen consumption, observation of safety issues, control of breathing counts and attention to the potency of tracheal tube were unfavorable and, thus, improvement for quality of care is suggested