[Effect of acupressure at the Sanjiao point [SP6] on women's general heath with dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial]

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most prevalent gynecological problems among women. The aim of this randomized, single-blind clinical trial was to examine the effectiveness of SP6 acupressure on women's general health. This was a single-blind, placebo-controlled study and included 86 single students who had regular menstrual cycles. The students were randomly allocated to either acupressure group or sham pressure group. Participants in acupressure group received acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point [SP6] in the first 24 hours after menstruation. Using General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] we assessed general health of both groups before and 3 hours after intervention. The general health scores improved significantly after intervention. We found significant differences between the two groups in relation to the 4 domains of general health after the first and second months of intervention [p<0.05]. The results of this study showed that both acupressure and placebo were effective in promoting women's general health, but, acupressure was more effective than placebo. Sp6 acupressure is a self-manageable approach which can improve women's general health

[Cardiovascular risk factors in first relative member of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in Shiraz, Iran]

There is a genetic background for polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. Due to increase metabolic disorders, lipoproteins, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypertension in PCOS patients, this study was done to determine the cardiovascular risk factors in first relative member of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrom in Shiraz, Iran. This case - control study was carried out on 107 parents and siblings of women with PCOS as cases and 107 non-PCOS parents and siblings of women as controls in Shiraz, Iran during 2007-08. Demographic characteristic, BMI, obesity and blood pressure were recorded for all subjects. Serum lipoproteins including total cholestrol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL and fasting blood sugar were measured in cases and controls. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16.5, independent t-test, Chi-Square and Kappa tests. 35.3%, 26.5%, 11.76% and 5.8% of fatheres in cases were considered as overweight class I, class II, class III of obesity, respectively when compared to controls. This differecne was significant [P<0.05]. Waist -hip ratio in mothers in cases [25.6%] and controls [17.9%] were higher than 0.85. Waist -hip ratio among the sisters in case and control groups were 23.5% and 17.6%, respectively [P<0.05]. Hypertension was observed in 12.2% of cases and 3.7% of controls. This difference was not significant. High level of triglyceride were determined in 14.94% of cases and 6.5% of controls. A significant correlation was found between BMI and diabete II in case and control groups [P<0.05]. Disorder in glucose tolerance test [GTT] in case and control goups were 19.62% and 7.47%, respectively [P<0.05]. The obesity was found in 18.7%, 6.54% in cases and controls with disorder in GTT [P<0.05]. This study showed that obesity, central obesity, high level of serum lipoproteins and hypertension among first relative member of patients with PCOS are significantly higher than the controls

Assessment of noise induced psychological stresses on printery workers

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between psychological stresses and noise stresses on printery workers in Tehran, Iran. Hence, 267 workers were randomly selected. The Leq and Lmax were measured and the psychological stresses such as depression, anxiety, aggression and job satisfaction were also studied by the relevant questionnaires. The data were statistically analyzed by Pearson correlation test. The results demonstrated that there was no significant statistical relationship between noise and psychological stresses. In addition, by using Spearman regression method, the influence of variables such as age, gender and job history on psychological stresses caused by Leq and Lmax was studied and the results only revealed that the aggression caused by Leq increased in young personnel [P=0.02] as well as, anxiety caused by Lmax increased accompanied by increasing the job history and age of the workers [P=0.002 and P=0.007]. Therefore, more variables must be taken into consideration to judge about noise induced psychological stresses in workplaces

[Prevalence of osteoporosis in rural men of Fars based on both local and WHO reference data]

Recently osteoporosis [OP] has emerged as a basic public health problem. It is characterized by low bone mass with micro architectural destruction of bone, resulting in increased bone fractures, morbidity and mortality. To evaluate the prevalence of OP using the local reference data of rural males of Fars and to compare it with WHO criteria, a total of 263 male adults, aged between 2-94 yrs, participated in this cross-sectional study. Bone Mineral Density [BMD] was measured by DXA. We utilized a fit curve method to determine the best age range over which to calculate Peak Bone Mass [PBM] and we used regression analysis for association of OP with age and Body mass index [BMI]. PBM was observed at the age range of 20-24 years, at the various sites. The prevalence of OP increased with age. It was negatively correlated with BMI and varied dramatically based on local versus WHO criteria. Based on local criteria, prevalence of OP in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total femur were 3.8%, 24.8% and 14.8%, respectively, and based on WHO criteria, they were 10%, 6.1% and 24%, respectively. Using local or WHO reference values for evaluation of OP may yield different prevalences. Therefore prospective fracture studies in correlation with the two above reference values are recommended

[Effect of reflexology on anxiety level in nuliparous women]

Labor potentially causes stress and anxiety, especially in nulliparous women. In Iran, many pregnant women undergo cesarean section electively due to fear of labor pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of reflexology on the anxiety level, blood pressure, and pulse in nulliparous women in Kerman. In this clinical trial, 70 nulliparous women with gestational age more than 37 weeks and cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm were recruited for the study. The participants were randomly allocated to two equal reflexology and control groups. The reflexology group received the intervention for 20 minutes [each foot: 10 minutes] on their feet; and the control group received massage for 20 minutes on their legs. Anxiety level, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention using Spielberger questionnaire. Anxiety level did not differ between the two groups at baseline [P=0.85]. After the intervention, the mean of anxiety level was significantly lower in the reflexology group than in the control one [P<0.001]. The pulse rate [P=0.44] and blood pressure [P=0.59] did not differ significantly in two study groups after the intervention. Reflexology reduced anxiety level in labor

Risk assessment of workers exposed to noise pollution in a textile plant

In order to assess the risks associated with worker's hearing loss, due to exposure to noise pollution, at the Boroujerd Textile Factory a cross sectional study was conducted. 60 workers from the Spinning and Weaving workshops and official staff were randomly selected as case and control groups and their hearing were tested by audiometry. The audiometric results revealed that amongst workers being exposed to the noise pollution in the Spinning and Weaving Workshops there is a distinct increase in the number of cases of hearing loss at high frequencies. There also appears to be a slight bias towards hearing loss in the left ear, in preference to the right in addition, those who have worked for longer than 16 years are subjected to hearing loss even at low frequencies conversely, the office workers [the control group] seem to suffer little or no hearing loss at low frequencies at all, but after approximately 10 years of service there may be some hearing loss, but only at higher frequencies, which could be attributed to presbycusis. Also, the t-test [statistical hypothesis test] results verified the significant difference among both groups at high frequencies. The questionnaire results indicated that workers feel symptoms such as headache, no sense centralization, excitement, nervousness, vertigo. Hence, controlling procedures seem to be essential to protect workers from noise disorders

[Antagonistic ability of acid and bile tolerance Lactobacillus were isolated from dairy products]

In order to selected indigenous potential probiotic bacteria, we surveyed antagonistic activities of 22 strains of acid and bile toleran Lactobacillus, isolated from traditional dairy products by biochemical and molecular methods. In a fundamental practical study assessment of antimicrobial activity of this strain with neutralized and Dual layer two methods against bacterial pathogene such as E-coli, L. monocytogenes, S.auteus and Y.entercolitica was done. These strain were identified with two methods for determining of biochemical and sequence of 16 SrDNA. Dual layer method based on the growth of zone diameter were established in three groups of strains; inhibitors, semi inhibitors and non inhibitors. Neutralize method around well acidic extract containing strains C5i4, Y144, K213, C4ie, C612 and neutral extract C5i4 zone blight strains was observed. Based on the results, sequence area 16Sr DNA of four strains include C4i2, D1d2, Y2c4, D3b1 indicator bacteria that revealed the highest percentage of inhibitor effect of bacterial indicators, were duplicate and sequency. So four strains L.Bacilus Pentosus, L.Bacillus Bervis and L. Bacillus Paraplantarum, were identified respectively. It seems that indigenous lactobacillus from Iranian dairy products have potential as probiotics. So use of them as bio preservative prevent food bacterial contamination

double triangular sequential test to assess the effect of local heat on postoperative sore throat after endotracheal intubation

Sore throat is a common complication after intubation. The objective of this study,from the clinical viewpoint, is the evaluation of the local heat on postoperative sore throat. Alsothis study, from the methodological viewpoint, is an attempt to introduce the ethical andeconomical advantages of sequential analysis that was used for the first time in Iran. In this clinical trial patients were randomly assigned to eitherexperimental or control group. In the experimental group a small electrical blanket with thetemperature of 40° C was used during the general anesthesia. The sequuntial double triangulartest was used to analyse and monitor clinical trial. This study was stopped after the forth analysis [80 patients evaluated: 40 with electricalblanket and 40 without it] in favor of electric blanket. Whereas the sample size required by thesingle-stage-design was 160. Our findings showed that local heat on the tracheal area could reduce the incidenceof postoperative sore throat. Also, from methodological viewpoint, using the double triangulartest leading to a 50% reduction in sample size, which is more effective from health economicsviewpoint

[An evaluation of the quality of published clinical trials in Iranian medical journals during 2001-2004]

A clinical trial cannot be adequately interpreted without information about the methods used in the design of the study and the analysis of the results. The goal of this study was to assess the quality of published clinical trials in the Iranian medical journals. In this cross sectional study, all 227 randomized clinical trials published in the 25 Iranian Medical Journals were surveyed. In these trials, the methods of randomization, determination of sample size, blinding and ethical issues were examined. Results showed that only 14[6.2%] out of 227 published clinical trials reported the sample size calculations. The information about the type of randomization and the methods of blinding were reported in 3[1.3%] and 113 [49.8%] respectively. Of these figures, 27[11.9%] were single-blind and 86 [37.9%] double-blind. One hundred ninety three [85%] of the trials reported the statistical methods used. Finally, the issue of the informed consent was reported in 92[40.5%] trials. Published clinical trials are poorly designed and reported in Iranian medical journals. Therefore, it is recommended that editors, reviewers and authors should improve the standards of reporting clinical trials using a standard protocol

[Musculoskeletal pain among Daf and setaar students]

Background: Musicians' performance-related musculo-among skeletal problems ranges from mild pain during performance to severe pain, which may lead the instrumentalist to quit playing. The aim of this study was to investigate musculoskeletal problems and its prevalence

Methods: This research was performed on Daf and Setaar students in three teaching centers and 90 persons [12 in the control group and 78 in the case group] were included. After taking a thorough medical history, the volunteers underwent a standard upper extremity physical examination with special attention to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Presence of pain, tenderness, joint range of motion, sensory or motor problems were sought and all of the cases underwent a nerve conduction velocity study

Results: Out of 78 students, 42 played the Daf [15 males, 25 females] and 36 played the Setaar [16 males, 20 females]. In the whole group, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 53%, but no one had carpal tunnel syndrome. The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among Daf students was greater in comparison with Setaar students [57% versus 47%, respectively] although this difference was not statistically significant

Conclusion: This study reveals that the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among non-professional Daf or Setaar players is equal to professional classical music performers in the West. Why this is so, remains to be studied