[The effect of microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones on human short term memory]

The widespread use of cell phones has made the researchers focus on its health effects. However, the biological effects of electromagnetic fields have not been clearly known. This study was performed to determine the effect of microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones on the human short term memory. This interventional study has been performed on 70 male sets who were studying at Rafsanjani University of Medical sciences [RUMS] in 2006. Participants were divided into two groups. The First group which included 25 students whose short term memory was tested by using Wechsler test. Ten minute real/sham exposure intervals to microwave radiations emitted from a mobile phone were performed at 0 h [sham], 24 h [real] and 48 h [sham] and the participants were tested using 5 Wechsler subsets immediately after each real/sham exposure. The second group included 45 males were exposed/ sham exposed to microwave radiation at 0 h [real], 24 h [sham]. Data were statistically analyzed using student's t test. The means of memory scores in both groups were increased in the next day. This clearly shows the role of learning in these tests. No statistical relationship was found between exposure to the microwave radiation and memory scores. Overall the data could not show a significant effect of the mobile phone on short term memory. Repeating the memory tests after 24, 48 h clearly increased the scores in both groups. These findings confirm the role of learning in memory tests and lack of any link to cell phone use

[Child abuse prevalence among addicts referred to the Rafsanjan addiction withdrawal center in 2005]

Child abuse and neglect of children referred to the physical, psychological, emotional or sexual abuse, these circumstances result in detrimental impacts on health, welfare and education of children. Based on these considerations, the present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of child abuse among addicts referred to the Rafsanjan Addiction Withdrawal Center in 2005. In this cross sectional study, 648 addicts randomly selected. A questionnaire was completed for each particpant and the data were then analysed using X[2] test. The findings of this study showed that 81.9% of the participants were child abusers and 87.8% of them were 41-60 years old. The percentages of child abuse found in the participants with a history of parenteral drug-abuse, addiction in their families, divorce, physical harassment, and neglect during their childhood were 93.3%, 89%, 95%, 90.9% and 87.9% respectively. Slapping [17.86%] and deprivation of talking and attention [16.44%] were the most common type of physical child abuse and neglect. In 20.82% cases, the child abuse occurred at the withdrawal period of addiction. The most frequent feelings after child abuse for the child abusers were regret and sadness [36.87% and 35.25% respectively]. This study showed that there is a direct relationship between child abuse and addiction to opiates. Also there are other factors related to child abuse including level of education, economic situation, a history of addiction and divorce in the family of child abuse victims. Therefore, the necessity of an organized care system for children and addicted parents and regulating of supportive rules are obvious and of superme value

[Evaluation the memory of the major depressed patients' hospitalized in the psychiatry department of Rafsanjan Moradi teaching hospital before and after ECT in 2003]

Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] is one of the most effective treatment methods for recovery of the major depressed patients. The most important concerning in the case of ECT is temporary or permanent memory loss. Many patients who have no satisfactory recovery after receiving ECT, claim they have memory dysfunction. The aim of this research was to evaluat memory of the patients hospitalized in psychiatry department of Rafsanjan Moradi teaching hospital before and after receiving ECT in 2003.This analytical study was performed on 50 patients with major depression who received ECT at psychiatry department of Moradi hospital in six months. Memory status of each patient was evaluated by using Wechsler and Babkak memory tests before treatment, 24 hours after each ECT and one week after ending the treatment. The results presented in the form of diagrams and tables and to analyze the data wilcoxon sign rank test and paired t test were used for data analysis.After the first and the second ECTs, 18%-45% and 6%-15% of the patients showed short and long term memory dysfunction respectively. From the second ECT an increased short-term memory was observed, while long-term memory in the third and fourth ECT increased. From the fifth ECT there was no change in patients' memory. Relative frequency of long and short term memory dysfunction in the age group of 45 years old and above, married persons, low educated patients, farmers, house workers; and the patients with previous history of depression was the highest. [p<0.05].This study showed that after treating major depression by using ECT, the patients' memory was improved. However after the first and the second ECTs, some of the patients showed memory dysfunction. It can be concluded that ECT can be used as an effective way for treatment of depressed patients without risk of memory dysfunction

Small intestinal disaccharidase activities in normal and abnormal Jordanian children

The diasaccharidase enzyme activities of the small intestinal mucosa and fluid were assessed in 31 Jordanian individuals. The group investigated comprised eight normal subjects and 23 patients with gastrointestinal disorders with an age-range of four months to 11 years. A significant reduction in enzymatic activity was observed in certain Intestinal disorders as contrasted from the normal. The enzymatic reduction was found to correlate well with the structural changes in the intestinal mucosa. The present investigations confirm the reliability of enzyme assessment in the intestinal fluid in replacement of the more hazardous intestinal biopsies. The method employed can be used both in paediatric research and in diagnosis of patients with malabsorption. It is for the first time that such investigations have been carried out in Jordan. Such diagnostic aids are of low cost and are free of complications

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in a randomly selected sample in Jordan

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase [G6PD] is the first enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. It occurs in the form of a large number of variants which differ from each other. Many population studies have been reported on G6PD deficiency. In this study the range for normal level of G6PD among Jordanians of different ages were identified. Glucos-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was detected in 25 subjects among a group of 496 selected Jordanian subjects, who were apparently healthy. In addition, 12 subjects from the same group were considered to be suspected with G6PD deficiency and needs further investigations