Comparing the oxidative stress indexes of CVA patients with control group

In the recent years, oxidative stress was attended as one of the causal factors of ischemic stroke. In terms of the role of genetic, geographic and ethnic factors in the prevalence of stroke, This study was designed to compare the oxidative stress indexes of stroke patients with normal healthy subjects in this geographic area. In this case-control study, 36 patients older than 50 years with ischemic stroke and 45 healthy subjects with same age and sex, were enrolled. Five milliliter blood were drawn from all subjects. Samples were centrifuged and plasma was separated. Total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation and thiol levels were measured respettively by FRAP, TEA and HU methods. Then the result was analyzed using t-test. Results showed total antioxidant capacity and thiol plasma levels were lower in stroke patients in compare to healthy subjects, but only the thiol group had significant difference [P = 0/001]. Although lipid peroxidation showed a slight but non-significant difference in stroke patients in compare to control group. These findings suggest oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be conseaqence of an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Therefore it may be useful to recommend antioxidant medications or diet for these patients

[Effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health of nursing students in Jiroft nursing college]

Mental disorders are one of the common worldwide problems and it has been reported that they have an increasing growth in Iran. Many studies have been reported the beneficial somatic and mental effects of Ramadan fasting on human. This research was natural experience study which was carried out to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health of 115 students of Jiroft nursing school. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire and a 12-item mental health scale. The questioner and scale were completed by students in one week before and after the Ramadan month, respectively. The data of mental health scores were reported as Mean +/- SEM and analyzed by Paired and group t-test. The results showed that mental health of students were increased after fasting compared with before Ramadan month [p<0/000]. Furthermore, mental health of male students were more than female students in both before [p<0.001] and after [p<0.01] Ramadan fasting. Based on the results, Ramadan fasting may improve mental health of students. Further investigations such as case-control studies are needed to determine the exact effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health