[Evaluating the effects of Omega-3 on quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis]

Cystic fibrosis [CF] is an autosomal recessive disorder chiefly characterized by respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study investigates whether omega-3 fatty acid affects quality of life in children with CF. Materials and This was a single-blind, pilot study undertaken at the Cystic Fibrosis Center of Sarvar Children Hospital, Mashhad, Iran from March 2009 until September 2009. In this study, 11 patients aged 2-12 years were assigned to ingest 3 capsules of fish oil daily for 3 months. Each capsule contained fish oil [1 gr], eicosapentaenoic acid [180 mg] and docosahexaenoic acid [120 mg]. At the beginning of the study and after the treatment period, questionnaires were used to determine the quality of life of all patients, both totally and separately, in four domains [physical [PH], emotional [EM], social [SOC] and school functioning [SCH]]. Wilcoxon test compared the scores before and after treatment intervention. p < 0.05 was considered significant. The difference in total score of the Pediatric Quality Of Life Inventory TM 4.0 Short Form [PedsQLTM 4.0 SF15] before and after intervention showed a significant improvement [p = 0.02] in addition to the physical and social domains [p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively], but was not significant in the other two domains. Fish oil, as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid could have beneficial effects on improving quality of life in these patients. Other long-term studies including more patients might better clarify omega-3 effects on children with CF

[Substance use in schizophrenic patients admitted in Ibn-e Sina Hospital_Mashhad [1385]]

Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder that inflicted nearly 1% of the human population. Coincidence of schizophrenia and substance use is common. Co-occurence of schizophrenia and substance use serves as an indicator of bad prognosis. Given the fact that up to the present no research has been done on the substance use among schizophrenic patients in Mashhad city, we decided to study the amount and rate of substance use, as well as the type of consumed substance, among the schizophrenic patients at Ibn-e-Sina Hospital in [1385]. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. One hundred schizophrenic patients hospitalized at Ibn-e-Sina hospital in 2006 were assessed for substance use, substance type, and demographic specifications. The data were obtained from patient files and recorded in questionnaires, which were then analyzed with chi- test and SPSS software. Among the 100 patients being studied there was 68 men and 32 women. The average age of the patients was 42 years. 47% of the patients had familial history of psychiatric disorders. In more than half of the patients the disease had begun before 25 years, and the age for beginning of substance use was between 21 and 31 years. 58% of the patients had a previous record of substance use; 46.5% of them used one and 53.5% of them used several substances simultaneously. The most widely used substance was cigarette [73.98%] and after that opium and cannabis were the most common. There was a significant relationship between sex and substance use, yet there was no such relationship between age, occupation, substance type, duration of illness, and substance use. One-third of female and two-third of male patients had a previous history substance use. The rate of substance use among the patients being studied was about 58%. Given the fact that substance use can increase symptom severity; increased rates of hospitalization, infectious illnesses, violence, victimization, homelessness, and nonadherence to medication; and poor overall response to pharmacologic treatment. Co-occurring substance use disorders can tribute substantially to the financial costs and emotional burdens of schizophrenia. For patients, their families and the mental health system. It is necessary to pay more attention to substance use and its treatment in schizophrenic patients

Evaluation of stress factors in nurses of different hospital wards

Nurses are at risk for the job-related-stresses, because of their responsibility in preparing convenience, comfort and cure for patients. These stresses affect their mental and physical health. This study aims to evaluate the job-related stressors of nurses in different wards. In this cross sectional [2005] study, 150 professional nurses were randomly selected from surgery, burn, psychiatry, emergency and internal wards of Ebn-e-Sina and Imam Reza hospitals. They answered to nurses' stressors questionnaire that evaluates all aspects of self- stress and physical, patients care, management and interpersonal stressors. Data were analyzed through 12 test, Pearson's correlation, variance analysis and SPSS software. The most important stressors were physicians who could not attend in emergency cases, shortage of working staffs compared to the numbers of patients and caring of end- stage patients. The most severe stressors were about management and the less severe were interpersonal. There was not a significant difference between the mean tension rates of wards. Job stresses of nurses did not relate to any of variables such as age, gender marital status, work shift, job history and working in different wards. The most severe job-related stressors in professional nurses are management stressors

Epidemiological characteristics of patients in methadone maintenance treatment, admitted in Hejazi Hospital, Mashad [1384-1385]

Opioid dependency is chronic disorder with high recurrence that predisposes patient to HIV infection, hepatitis and others complications. Most of patients with heroin dependency can not tolerate drug abstinence permanently and they continue to live through preparing and using drugs permanently if there is no method of maintenance treatment. One of treatment methods is Methadone Maintenance Therapy [MMT] which not only prevents from recurring illegal drugs but also improves psychological and physical conditions of patients. Now, MMT is used as a maintenance method in Mashhad and we decided to evaluate this method in addicted patients in Hejazi hospital. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was done from Sep. 2005 to Aug. 2006. The study populations, was chosen by easy sampling from the patients whom have been referred for treatment to Hejazi hospital. The tools for searching were epidemiologic questionnaire, patients file and interview. Collected data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics, chi- square and fisher exact test. 64 patients were abandoned the study. Data collected from 116 patients were analyzed. 112 patients were male [96.6%]. 68.5% were married and 49/6% had regular work. Crystal was the most common illegal drug that was used and common age group was 18-30 years 49.1% of patients had high school diploma and higher. 81.9% had not any medical disease as a background but 90/5% had co morbid psychiatric disorders. 45.7% had positive familial drug abuse history and 52.6% had more than 5 years of drug abuse history. This study shows the most common age group in crystal users is 18-30 years. Early onset of crystal abuse shows the importance of preventive strategies in society

[Epidemiological study of Ebn-e-sina psychiatric Hospital patients]

Epidemiological Knowledge about the psychiatric inpatients is critical in treatment plans. In this study we answered the epidemiology of admitted patients in the only psychiatric hospital of Khorasan province, Ebn-e-Sina Hospital in the first half of year 1382. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was filled for all inpatient during the first half of the year 1382 based on their documents. 889 people were recommended for admission, from which 863 were admitted. Among them, profiles of 810 were accessible. Data were analyzed by SPSS and Excel software. 28% of patients was female and 72% male; aged from 21-40; 73% was urban residents; 55% unemployed, 18.5% housewife, and the rest were employed. 22% had previous histories of admission, 28% used substance, of witch the most common was opium. 22% of diagnoses was BMD-I, 12% schizophrenia, 9.5% PTSD, and 7.5% substance related disorder, mental retardation and psychiatry problem due to general medical conditions or substances. Since the most common reasons of admission were severe psychiatric disorders such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders proper, plans for management of patients seem needed