[ effect of guidance channel on sciatic nerve repair in adult rats]

Peripheral nerve lesions are a challenge for neurosurgeons and different surgical repairing methods are applied for the treatment of this problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the poled polyvinelidene fluoride [PVDF] tube filled with nerve growth factor [NGF] and collagen gel as a substitute for nerve autograft. In this experimental study the left sciatic nerve was manipulated in 50 male Wistar rats and then the animals were divided randomly into five groups. In the epineural group the injured nerves were repaired by end to end suture. In the rats with autograft a 10 mm piece of sciatic nerve was rotated through 180 and sutured in the nerve gap. In the nerve guidance channel group [NGC], polarized piezoelectric PVDF tube containing NGF and collagen gel was replaced in the gap and in the axotomy group two nerve ends were hidden among muscles. The left sciatic nerve was exposed but not transected in the sham group. After two months L4-L6 segment neurons of spinal cord were studied histologically and by immunohistochemical and axonal DiI tracing. The collected data were analyzed by one way ANOVA, LSD and paired t-test. The mean number of Bax positive cells and labeled motor neurons increased significantly in axotomy and sham group respectively, compared to the other groups [P<0.05]. Also, the mean number of labeled motor neurons increased significantly in epinural group in comparison to the autograft and the NGC groups [P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the mean number of the labeled neurons between the autograft and nerve guidance channel groups. The mean number of motor neurons in the left side showed a significant decrease in comparison to that of the right side [p<0.01]. The PVDF tube together with other therapies provided a favorable environment for nerve regeneration and could be used as a substitute for autograft in nerve injuries

Effect of smoking on leptin concentration in normal subjects and during acute myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to measure leptin concentrations in the blood of smokers and non smokers during ST elevation acute myocardial infarction, and to compare them with values obtained from normal smoker and non smoker subjects. Leptin serum concentrations were measured in 58 patients [34-75 years of age] with acute myocardial infarction and 38 normal subjects [36-69 years of age]. Leptin serum concentrations were measured using two-site immunoradiometric assay [IRMA] principle. In normal smokers [N=20] leptin concentration was 5.8 +/- 2.5 ng/ml [mean +/- SD], while in non smokers [N=18] this value was 5.9 +/- 4.1 ng/ml [mean +/- SD]. Data showed no significant difference in both groups [p > 0.05]. While leptin concentration was 7.8 +/- 2.9 ng/ml in smoker patients [N=32] which was significantly higher than in normal smoker subjects [p=0.02]. Also leptin value was 9.2 +/- 3.7 ng/ml in non smoker patients [N=28] which was also significantly higher than in normal non smoker subjects [p=0.001]. Our results demonstrated that smoking has no effect on leptin concentrations in normal subjects and in patients with acute myocardial infarction, but leptin concentration increases significantly during ST elevation acute myocardial infarction in smoker and non smoker patients

Job satisfaction of nurses in Shaheed Beheshti Hospital

Work is one of the interesting things that people can think or talk about. All of the managers must know factors related to motivation and job satisfaction. Studies show that job satisfaction in nursing and health care settings is low. Low job satisfaction diversely affects on nursing care. It causes decreased quality care, and increased hospitalization as well as cost. This descriptive study was conducted to determine nurses' job satisfaction at Shaheed Beheshti Hospital in Yasooj, 2004. All subjects including 115 nurses were selected. Data were collected by a questionnaire validated and made reliable by content validity and test-retest reliability respectively. 70% of the subjects had university degree and the rest had high school diploma. Average age was 33.45 +/- 10.25. 54.6% of them were female and 45.6% were male. 89.7% were married and 10.3% were single. Findings showed that 80% of the subject didn't have job satisfaction and 20% had enough job satisfaction. 62% of the subjects didn't have job security and 37.4% felt it. 89% had enough satisfaction about managers and 11% had occasional satisfaction. Results showed that most nurses were dissatisfied, which can be related to job insecurity, low job improvements and general vision of society about nursing particularly at small towns. Accordingly, nursing should be known to people