ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic anal fissure is a common disease that is accompanied with pain and bleeding during defecation. Various surgical and non-surgical methods have been offered for the treatment of this condition. Objective: The aim of this randomised clinical study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was performed on patients aged 20 to 60 years old in 2012 to 2013. The samples with a primary diagnosis of chronic anal fissure were enrolled from the patients admitted to public treatment at the educational Imam Ali Clinic, Shahrekord, Iran by researchers and general surgery specialists. The patients were randomised into two groups: nifedipine 0.3% (n = 35) or ISDN 0.2% (n = 35) applied three times a day for three weeks. The patients were examined on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days of treatment, and the symptoms including bleeding, pain, and healing status, as well as the side effects of the drugs, were assessed. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: After 21 days of follow-up, complete healing was achieved in 77.1% (n = 27) of patients in the nifedipine group and 51.4% (n = 18) in the ISDN group (P = 0.05). The mean VAS of the pain on day 21 was 0.91 (SD 0.01) in the ISDN group and 0.45±0.78 in the nifedipine group, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.038). The bleeding was similar in the two groups (P = 0.498). Conclusion: In view of the findings on healing status and pain in the patients, nifedipine may be significantly more effective in the treatment of chronic anal fissure than ISDN.
ABSTRACT
Introduction and Aims: the present study tries to investigate factors influencing continuing studies among graduates of associate of health sciences, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences [SKUMS]
Methods: for this descriptive-analytical study, educational profiles of all health graduates of SKUMS between 1986- 2005 were examined and the data was gathered through a researcher-developed checklist and also phone calls. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 16 using Cox regression
Results: from 398 respondents of the study with a mean age of 22.2 +/- 2.25 [range: 20-39], 140 [35.2%] were male and remaining were female. Generally, 206 [51.8%] graduates had been entered to higher education. According to Cox regression, some factors, e.g. age, gender, marital status, residency, and GPA of associate of health sciences, were significantly effective on continuing studies and some others including associate course of study, course period, and diploma GPA had no significant effect on the chance of entrance to higher education levels
Conclusion: growing older, one gradually enters other living arenas like marriage, making continuing studies marginalized. Therefore, it could be assumed that the factors influencing continuing studies should be considered a whole, i.e., the circumstances should be prepared to facilitate continuing studies before growing older and facing consequent life issues
ABSTRACT
The effect of fluid and food restrictions on biochemical substances relating to the renal and bone function of pregnant women is not well defined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of fluid and food restriction on the following substances in pregnant fasting women during Ramadan: blood urea nitrogen [BUN], creatinine [Cr], calcium [Ca], phosphorus [P], and alkaline phosphates [ALP]. Thirty fasting pregnant women voluntarily participated in this prospective descriptive study. The serum levels of BUN, Cr, P, and ALP were measured at the baseline, and on the 7th, 14th, and 28th days of Ramadan; the measurements were also performed 2 weeks after this month. The statistical significance was defined as P<0.05 and the analyses were performed using SPSS version 11.5. As to the results of the present study, the weight and body mass index [BMI] of women didn't change during the experiment. BUN and Cr increased significantly by the 2nd week of Ramadan; however, no differences were observed between BUN and Cr values at the end of Ramadan and two weeks after it [P>0.05]; also, Cr didn't change during Ramadan and 2 weeks after it [P>0.05]. Moreover, no differences in P and ALP levels were noticed between the end of Ramadan and two weeks after it [P>0.05]. According to this study, there is no sufficient evidence regarding the adverse effects of Ramadan fasting on biochemical substances relating to the renal and bone function of pregnant fasting women