[Effect of environmental exposure to Cadmium on pregnancy outcome]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of environmental exposure to toxic metal [cadmium] on pregnancy outcome and fetal growth. 330 normal pregnant women were randomly selected from vali-e-asr hospital, from July 2003 through Feb. 2005. Cadmium was measured in umbilical cord blood and mother whole blood of postpartum women without occupational exposure to metals in Tehran, Iran, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Whole blood cadmium and cord blood cadmium ranged from 0/00 to 6/30 micro g/L, respectivly. in the group higher level of maternal blood cadmium [>0.40 micro g/L] 1cm decrease was seen in neonatal birth height. [p=0.007] There was a significant association between cadmium exposure and birth weight.Mann-whitney test showed that, maternal blood cadmium level, was significantly negatively associated with neonatal birth weight [z=-1.83, P<0.06]. It was concluded that environmental exposure to cadmium significantly reduces neonatal birth height

[Study of effect of acupressure methods on pain in primary dysmenorrhea]

Primary dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent and causes much work loss and discomfort. Regard to critical role of women in family and society it necessitate that to betaken proper investment for improving their mental and physical health. In this study 100 student suffer from primary dysmenorrhea were selected by targeted sampling and take their in two equal groups, case [acupressure group] and control [sham group] randomly. Initially in addition to personal identity, we recorded their history of menstruation, physical activity, vital signs, menstrual pain intensity. Treatment was given during two consecutive menstrual cycles coincident with pain and bleeding by acupressure in case group, and pressure in control group in two time of 15 minutes and 30 minutes interval during 6 hours after onset of dysmenorrhea in each cycle. In case group the treatment was given on lumbar, abdomen, foreleg and ear points, and in control group on placebo points by single blind method. Pain rating was done with use of V.A.S [Visual Analgesic Scale] in 30 min, 1 hr, 2hr and 3hr interval after treatment. The results showed that mean pain scores before [8.2 +/- 1.6] and after [2.6 +/- 1.3] in case group have significant difference. Also there is significant difference between mean pain score before and after treatment in case and control groups [p<0.001]. This study showed that acupressure at specific points in lumbar, abdominal, ear reduce the pan intensity and psychic and mental due to primary dymenorrhea. Therefore acupressure could be used as a non-medicament, inexpensive and safe method in decrease of pain of dysmenorrhea in girl and women