ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Hepatitis E virus [HEV] is considered as one of the common causes of acute viral hepatitis in the world, particularly in the developing countries. It also causes fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women. Although HEV infection in Iran is endemic, there are numerous reports of epidemics caused by this infection in this part of the world. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence of HEV among patients with acute hepatitis symptoms in Ahvaz, Iran
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients were selected based on laboratory findings related to acute hepatitis including elevated serum bilirubin levels, markedly elevated levels of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and mild increases in alkaline phosphatase activity.The plasma samples were tested for IgM/IgG Hepatitis E antibody [anti-HEV] using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Results: Out of 241 study patients, 125 [51.9%] were male and 116 [48.1%] female. The mean age+/-SD was 31.53+/-17.17 years. The results indicated 27.4% prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies among patients with acute hepatitis in Ahvaz
Conclusions: In regard with the findings, HEV can play an important role in incidence of hepatitis. The study needs to be conducted in high-risk groups and in general populatios
ABSTRACT
Background: Education is a process beginning with informing, followed by attitude-making and finally leading to appropriate behavior and performance in trainees. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, as a term, is originated from the social cognitive theory structures of Bandura. This theory refers to one's beliefs and confidence in her/his ability to perform health behaviors like exclusive and successful breastfeeding
Methods: In this study, 270 pregnant women with gestational age over 30 weeks were selected among those referring to health centers by cluster sampling method. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group was considered as the control group and the two other groups were educated through either face to face or small-group methods. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, performance assessment check list, and breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests in SPSS
Results: Data analysis on breastfeeding self-efficacy showed that there was no significant difference between 3 groups before training. The mean scores of women attending face to face and small-group education were 2.89 and 2.88, which increased to 4.73 and 4.18, respectively. There was a significant difference between the intervention groups after education [P < 0.001]. Self-efficacy mean scores after delivery showed that face to face education is more efficient. The results showed that there was a significant association between self-efficacy and performance in mothers [P < 0.001]
Conclusions: Face to face education method has positive effects on infant feeding pattern, mother performance, breastfeeding satisfaction and beliefs as well as self-efficacy
ABSTRACT
Compressive neuropathy of median nerve is relatively common but development of an hourglass like constriction is a rare phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to show morphologic changes of median nerve in advances carpal tunnel syndrome. Eighty patients with thenar atrophy, anesthesia and paresthesia of first, second and third finger and severe changes of EMG-NCV were chosen for surgery. All the cases were operated by classic approach. At ten cases, nerve was constricted in point and in six patients' area constriction was seen. Internal and external neurolysis was performed in all the cases. In two of them because of the wide and severe constriction, resection and end-to-end repair was performed. All the patients have been examined periodically. Mean follow-up was 12 month [8-40]. According to grading, pain degree [from 8-9 pre operation to 3-4 post operation] and two point discrimination [from the mean of 14 mm [13-20 mm] to 8 mm [6-10 mm]] decreased. Grip power was increased from the mean of 10 kg to 21 kg. In 15 cases return of sensation, and in 13 cases improvement of opposition power was seen. We recommend epineurolysis for mild to moderate constriction and also end-to-end repair may be needed if extensive and severe constriction was found. It means that if we manage mild to moderate constriction sooner, it can prevent the need for further surgical procedure because of sever constriction
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Educational services should be provided to students in a way that they feel they are in a safe environment. Since registration is the first stage of educational process, this study was conducted to survey the students' satisfaction of the registration process. Method: This is a cross-sectional study performed by stratified sampling from each faculty of Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed using Chi square, t-test and one-way ANOVA and through SPSS software
Results: In whole, 200 students [82 females and 116 males] were studied. From all subjects, 175 ones [89.3%] had been registered without using internet of whom, 96 students [69.6%] mentioned that it had been due to the lack of easy access to the registration programs. A total of 109 students considered officials' familiarity with the registration process desirable while, 7 students [4.9%] considered it undesirable. According to109 students [59.9%] officials' assistance in students' registration based on their job duties had been desirable and only 5 students [2.7%] considered it undesirable. Mean satisfaction rate based on students' sex [P < 0.05], local and non-local residency [P< 0.05] and the university's faculty [P <0.001] showed significant difference [95% confidence level]
Conclusion: The majority of students were satisfied with registration process in whole, but not with online registration. Therefore, it is recommended to use more advanced techniques in online registration process to make students more satisfied
ABSTRACT
Finger injuries are very common and the majority can be treated under digital block anesthesia. Traditional digital block is one of the most commonly performed blocks by care providers in several medical fields. There is another less known method, transthecal [Pulley] block, in which local anesthesia is injected into the flexor tendon sheath. A randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the transthecal [Pulley] and traditional digital block with regard to the length of anesthesia and the need for another anesthetic method [due to insufficient anesthesia] as a supplement. We divided 100 patients who needed digital block due to finger injury, into two groups randomly. In each group the patients were anesthetized either by traditional or transthecal digital block. All blocks were performed by the same investigator. Mean length of anesthesia was 34.2 minutes in the transthecal digital block method versus 33.8 minutes in the traditional digital block method [P > 0.05]. A repeated injection or local infiltration as a supplement was necessary only in 5 instances in the traditional digital block method [P < 0.05]. Regarding fewer injections and reduced amounts of lidocaine, absence of neurovascular bundles damage and comparable length of anesthesia and no need to supplemental anesthesia, transthecal digital block is an appropriate alternative to traditional digital block