Heavy metals concentrations in Mashhad drinking water network

Existence of heavy metals, may have adverse effects on consumers. This study was carried out to determine some heavy metals concentrations [cadmium, chromium and lead] in Mashhad drinking water network. In this cross study, samples were collected from different points of urban drinking water network according to the standard methods, and tested by atomic absorption spectrophotometeric method. Cadmium and chromium concentrations did not exceed national and international standards, only lead concentrations were slightly higher than standard rate in some areas and its mean difference spring and summer was significant [p=0.03]. It is necessary to do needful measures by responsible company because of the metals importance

Knowledge of iranian medical interns regarding cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation [CPR] is one of the most important procedures in emergency medicine. As new trends are evolving in medical education, we planned to evaluate the interests and knowledge of medical students regarding educational methods in CPR learning. In a cross-sectional analytical descriptive study, a standardized questionnaire was distributed among 180 medical interns at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire had three parts: demographics, general questions, and CPR knowledge. If they had more than 10 correct answers [out of 15] in knowledge, they were placed in group A and if more than 5, in group B and correct answers less than 5 were categorized in group C. 159 interns filled the questionnaires. Mean age was 24.99 +/- 0.96 and 56.5% were female; 52.7% were educated only theoretically and 47.3% had combined theoretical and clinical knowledge; male interns were significantly more educated [P=0.041]. Residents were the majority of trainers [56.8%] and only 14.3% were educated by the staffs. Only 7% mentioned that they felt they could do a complete CPR and 37.3% considered themselves as assistants; 93.7% believed that isolated emergency ward and teaching courses were needed for better education and 95% declared that continuous education is obligatory; 33.5% were in group A and 45.8% were in group B. CPR education is of interest to most interns. Due to lack of emergency medicine wards and, the interns' knowledge and their practical skills were insufficient to perform acceptable CPR

Lead exposure changes gastric motility in rats: role of nitric oxide [no]

Abdominal colic, constipation and delay in gastric emptying are symptoms of lead poisoning, but there is scant information about the effect of lead on gastric motility. In the present study, we investigated the effect of lead acetate on gastric motility in rats. Animals were divided into nine groups [n=8]; four groups were exposed to lead acetate solution [1%] for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks [Pb1, Pb2, Pb3, and Pb4 groups, respectively]. Sodium acetate solution was given to another four groups for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks [Na1, Na2, Na3, and Na4 groups, respectively] and the control group had free access to tap water. Gastric motility was measured in the basal and acetylcholine [Ach]-stimulated states using a physiograph instrument. Nitric oxide metabolite of gastric tissue was determined by Griess micro-assay. There were no significant differences between basal and Ach-stimulated gastric motility in Pb1, Pb2, Na1, and Na2 groups. However, it was significantly greater in Pb3 and Pb4 groups when compared with Na3 and Na4 groups in both basal and Ach-stimulated states [P<0.05]. In addition, nitric oxide metabolite of gastric tissue was more in all Pb groups in comparison with their Na counterparts [P<0.05]. We found that lead exposure could affect gastric motility via the nitric oxide pathway

Views of users towards the quality of hospital information system in training hospitals

Users of hospital information system [HIS] use these systems during working day and know its problems better than others know. Studying their views is very important and can be especially effective in the development of the information system. The aim of this study was to investigate the users' view towards the quality of hospital information system in the training hospitals in Mashhad University of medical sciences. The current study was an applied research in Training Hospitals of Mashhad [East of Iran], which was conducted with descriptive cross-sectional method. A four-section questionnaire was designed for data collection consisting of: characteristics of information quality, reasons of low quality of information, accessibility of information and decision support. Validity and reliability were tested and SPSS was used for data analysis. 62.8% of users explained that one of reasons of low quality information was a problem related to obtaining information. 47.7% of them were unsatisfied with hospital information system ability for decision-making support. In general, 53.2% of users were slightly satisfied with the overall quality information of the system. There are some problems concerning information quality of HIS in Mashhad training hospitals. These problems include inappropriate information quality of the system and incompatibility with user needs which leads to decreased satisfaction of users towards the system

Effects of zinc supplementation in occurrence and duration of common cold in school aged children during cold season: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Zinc deficiency is common in children in developing countries due to low intake of animal foods, and high dietary phytate content. Zinc deficiency impairs overall immune function and resistance to infection. The effect of zinc on the common cold is still questionable. To determine whether supplementation of zinc could reduce frequency rate and duration of common cold during cold season in school aged children living in a low socioeconomic suburb of Mashhad [Altimor], north-east Iran. we designed a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial. Subjects were 200 grade 2 primary school children who all completed the trial. Intervention supplementation was zinc sulfate tablets [10 mg elemental] and placebo tablets for case and control groups, respectively. Tablets were taken on a daily basis, 6 days a week, for 5 months [November to March].Among the zinc-supplemented group common cold incidence of 1.37 +/- 0.86 episodes per child during the study period was recorded in comparison to 3.15 +/- 0.55 cold episodes per child among the placebo group [P<0.001]. Mean overall missing days from school was 0.55 +/- 1.09 days and 1.35 +/- 1.79 days for zinc-supplemented and placebo groups, respectively. [The need for administration of antibiotics for bacterial infections [pharyngitis, acute otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia] were 20 and 47 courses for zinc-supplemented and placebo groups, respectively [P<0.01]. This study showed that zinc supplementation has a beneficial impact on the occurrence of common cold

Comparison of efficacy of oral fluconazole with intramuscular Glucantime in patients with acute cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an important skin parasitic disease. Ideal treatment is not found yet and seeking for proper drugs continues. Comparison of the efficacy of fluconazole with systemic Glucantime in patients with acute cutaneous leishmanisis in Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad in 2002 .During one year of study, all patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were divided to two groups. Thirty-one patients were treated with oral fluconazole [100 mg twice a day] for 6 weeks and 29 patients were treated with intramuscular Glucantime [20 mgSb/kg] for 21 days. Both groups were evaluated 3 and 6 weeks after onset of treatment. T test and chi-square test were used for statistical analyses and P<0.05 was considered as significant. Six weeks after begining of treatment, clinical cure, improvement and failure were observed in 4 [12.9%],11 [35.5%] and 16 [51.5%] of patients treated with fluconazole, respectively. These figures were 11[37.9%], 10 [34.6%] and 8 [21.5%] of patients treated with Glucantime, respectively [P>0.05]. It seems that efficacy of fluconazole in acute cutaneous leishmaniasis is lower than Glucantime. A larger clinical trial is recommended