[ impact of stress management training on the copping style and perceived stress in medical students]

Medical students experience a high level of stress, with potential adverse consequences on their academic performance. Stressors cannot be modified in numerous cases but students' abilities to cope with stressors should be upgraded. In this study, we investigated the effect of stress management training [As part of the Life Skills Curriculum in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences] on perceived stress, coping style in medical college students and also persistence of the effect of training. This was a quasi-experimental study [before and after]. The sample size was 35 medical students and included all of the second semester medical students. Sampling method was census. Stress management training included four two-hour sessions for four consecutive weeks. Assessment was carried out by use of Perceived Stress Scale [PSS-14] and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations [CISS-21] in four steps [before, immediately, 3 and 6 months after classes]. Collected data were entered into SPSS17 software and analyzed by paired t-tests., ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. Before training, the mean value for perceived stress among students was 33.42 which decreased to 32.70, 31.50 and 29.22, after one, three and six months after training, respectively. We found significant differences in perceived stress only between the stages conducted before training and six months after training. [P-Value: 0.012]. The dominant style of copping with stress in all periods was that of problem oriented but changes in a variety of styles in different periods were not significant. In this study, reduced perceived stress can be related to the training, but the role of confounding factors should be kept in mind. Lack of change in the students' coping style after training can be attributed to short-term training and defective contents of the training. It seems that other factors such as students' level of education and compulsory training can interfere with the results of this study. Therefore, further studies are required to carry out alterations in the life skill curriculum in Kurdistan University of medical sciences

[Emotional intelligence and its correlation with some demographic variables in the clinical nurses working in Kurdistan university hospitals in 2010]

Nurses must be able to recognize and manage emotions and feelings of themselves and clients; also, they must have good empathic and communication skills. These capabilities are part of the constituent elements of emotional intelligence. The aim of this study was to determine the level of emotional intelligence, its components and its correlation with some demographic variables in nurses working in the hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2010. This descriptive study included 344 nurses. Bar-On questionnaire was used to collect required information. Data were analyzed by use of SPSS-18 software. 86.6% of the subjects were female and 13.4% were male. The majority of nurses [77.8%] had a good level of emotional intelligence. Of the five components of emotional intelligence, interpersonal component with a mean value and SD of 77.2% +/- 12.5% had the highest score. Among the 15 factors related to emotional intelligence, social responsibility, empathy and interpersonal skills with mean values and SD score of 82.16% +/- 14.14, 76.84% +/- 13.74%, and 73.59% +/- 15.64% had the highest score, respectively. Emotional intelligence had no correlation with demographic variables of gender, work background, marital status, university and university degree. The nurses had a good level of emotional intelligence in regard to empathy, social responsibility and interpersonal relationships, but improvement of other skills such as problem solving, control of impulsivity and toleration of psychological pressure are also important because of their importance in nursing care

[Conjugation of anti-morphine antibody to gold nanoparticles synthesized with glutamic acid]

Gold nanoparticles are one of the most applicable metal nanoparticles which are widely being used in different fields such as nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. The goal of this study is the production of gold nanoparticles with appropriate size by the use of Glutamic acid which is considered as a green method. For diagnostic application the synthesized gold nanoparticles would be than conjugated with anti-morphine antibody. In this experimental study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized and coated by chemical reduction method with the use of Glutamic acid. Formation of gold nanoparticles and their size were recognized and measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering and Transmission electron microscopy. Anti-morphine antibody was purified and prepared by subcutaneous injection of 400 micro g/ml dose of morphine vaccine to 9 rabbits. Study of immunity, immunogenicity and antibody production was performed by immuno-diffussion methods. After production and recognition of colloidal gold nanoparticles they were changed into suspension by the use of PBS buffer. They were then conjugated with anti-morphine antibody and incubated at 4 degree C for 115 hours. Conjugated nanoparticles were characterization by SDS-PAGE and UV-V is spectroscopy. The highest absorption of these particles was at 525 nm and their size was about 20 nm formed bands pertaining to conjugated nanoparticles were displaced in compare with standard samples. Glutamic acid is capable of synthesizing gold nanoparticles and since amino acids are intoxic, the nanoparticles which are synthesized by the use of amino acids, would be applicable in medicine and biotechnology. Nanoparticles conjugated with antibodies, could be also used as recognition tools.

relationship between job burnout and public health of telecommunication central office personnel in zahedan

Job burnout is a mental syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization [negative and without any emotional reaction to clients] and reduction of efficiency feeling which makes people have negatives attitude to themselves, their job and others and jeopardize the peoples general health. The purpose of this research is to survey the relationship between job burnout and general health of Sistan and Baluchestan telecommunication central office personnel. This is a descriptive-analytical study with stratified random sampling. The sample number was 150. The data collection instrument was questionnaire including 22 job burnout questions and 28 Goldenberg general health questions [GHQ28]. Meaningful correlation was found between the subjects' job burnout and their general health. Also there was correction between emotional exhaustion, anxiety and sleep disorder with general health; depersonalization with general health, anxiety and sleep disorder with job burnout and finally between incompetent personality with social relationship disorder. Regading the obvious relationship between job burnout and general health, it is necessary for organization managers to perform schedules for improving motivation, job satisfaction, self accomplishment and human relationship

Prevalence of substance abuse in medical students of Kurdistan University

Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent problems in young adults. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of substance abuse among Kurdistan university students. This was a cross sectional and descriptive analytic study. The sampling method was census and sample size included all students of Kurdistan University [1186 student] in 2007. The data were collected and recorded in a questionnaire for each subject. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by mean of Chi Square test. The results of this study indicated the percentage of students who reported usage of substance one or more times in their lives as following: alcohol 17.1, cannabis 4.7%, opium 4.8%, heroin 0.7%, ecstasy 2.7, and other substances 5.2. Ongoing abuse of different substances was assessed as following: alcohol 1.1%, cannabis 0.1%, opium 0.1%, heroin 0.1%, ecstasy 0.1%, other substances 0.2. There was a correlation between substance abuse and male gender [p<0.001], age [p<0.001], living with friends [p<0.001], and being medical student [p<0.01]. There was no correlation between substance abuse and marriage and father education. All substances, except for opium, had been offered to the medical students for the first time by their friends. Curiosity was the most common motivation for cannabis and opium use and pleasure was the most common reason for alcohol, heroin and ecstasy use. The mean age of first use for different substances was 18.6, 18.3, 19.5, 20.3, and 20.2 years for alcohol, opium, heroin, ecstasy, and cannabis. Substance use among Kurdistan university students was similar to other universities of Iran. Although substance abuse by female students was much lower than male ones in Kurdistan University, it was higher in comparison to the results of studies in other universities

Immunoblot analysis of saffron pollen proteins recognized by human IgE antibodies

Pollen is one of the major causes of allergy worldwide. Pollen allergens can cause an immediate hypersensitivity [type 1, IgE-mediated] response in susceptible individuals. Hypersensitivity to saffron pollen is a serious problem, especially among the people who working with Saffron flowers. The aim of this study was to identify protein with IgE binding activity [allergenic protein] in a saffron pollen extract. Proteins of the saffron pollen extract recognized by human IgE antibodies were investigated by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Proteins with IgE binding activity were identified with sera from 23 patients who suffered from continues sneezing, rhino rhea, conjunctivitis, throat irritation, shortness of breath during exposure with Saffron flowers. A chemiluminescent immuno-detection method was used to study IgE binding activity'of saffron pollen proteins with patients's sera.Six IgE immimoreactive proteins ranging in molecular weight from 13.5 to 85 KD were identified. From among of these proteins, four with apparent molecular weight of 13.5-14, 19.5-20, 42-43 and 85 KD could be identified with more than 35% of our allergic patient's sera. While two proteins with IgE binding activity [58 and 67 KD] could be demonstrated for only some of our saffron allergic patients.In conclusion, in this study we demonstrated the presence of several IgE binding proteins in the total extract of saffron pollen

[Melon allergy and allergenic cross reactivity of melon with other allergens]

Allergenic reaction to melon, Cucumis melo [belongs to Cucurbitaceae family], has been reported in some allergic patients. Oral allergy syndrome was the most common clinical features associated with melon allergy. This study was aimed to confirm allergenicity of Mashadi melon, identify allergenic protein[s] of melon and allergenic cross reactivity of melon with other allergens. Prick test was performed with the extract of different parts of melon [Peel, pulp and loose layer on pulp] on the 35 patients who suffered from allergic symptoms after the ingestion of melon. Total IgE and specific IgE to melon %ere nieasurcd in 21 sera from patients with positive sicin prick test and 15 healthy controls' sera by means of ELISA. The IgE reactive protein of melon extract was detected by westeni blotting, using the 13 patient's sera [with high levels of IgE]. ELISA inhibition carried out in order to detect cross-reactivity between melon and kiwi, banana, Cynodon dactylon and Poa pratensis. Clinical reactions to melon were oral allergy syndrome 61% [immediate oral itching with or without angioedema of the lips and oral mucosa], rhinitis 38%, itching 19% and gastrointestinal symptoms 4.8%. Twenty one of the 35 patients showed positive skin prick test [SPT] to loose layer on pulp. Three patients also showed reaction to pulp and loose layer. Increased specific IgE levels to melon were observed in 18 patients with positive SPT to melon extract. Inhibition experiments showed a strong cross-reactivity of melon specific IgE with two species of ragweed pollen, especially with Cynodon doctylon, but banana and kiwi extract did not inhibit melon specific IgE in inhibition ELISA method. Immunoblot analyses of aqueous protein extract from melon were showed an IgE-binding protein of - 14.4 kDa with 8 of 12 melon-allergic patients' sera. In conclusion, we confirmed IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to melon with common clinical feature of oral allergy syndrome [OAS] and presence of an IgE-binding protein of - 14.4 kDa in melon extract. These findings suggest that main allergen of melon could be profilin

Students' viewpoints on the educational methods used in Shaheed Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

Background: an education of desirable quality is the one which ends in an effective learning. Students interest on the educational method used may enhance their learning

Purpose: to determine Students' viewpoints on the educational methods offered in medical universities

Methods: this cross sectional study investigates the student's viewpoints on the educational methods used in the medical university teaching. The cases were selected by randomized sampling and a questionnaire was completed by the subjects

Results: of all subjects, 63% who were 24 years or older considered group discussion as the best educational method. 53.1% of the students valued group discussion as a prior educational method and 51% of the students deemed it an effective method while 13.4% preferred lectures and 75.3% marked "the professors skill and enthusiasm for teaching" a effective factor in the education process

Conclusion: more interactive methods such lecture with question and answerers is rather a simple change but may improve the students' satisfaction