ABSTRACT
Falls in the elderly cause a variety of injuries and may lead to dependency, lower self-efficacy, depression, limitation in daily activities, hospitalization, admission to a nursing home and cost to the individual and community. The present study was conducted to determine the types of injuries from falls in the elderly. In this cross-sectional study, all patients aged 60 years and older who were hospitalized due to fall in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in 2011 were investigated. External cause codes w00-w19 based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems [ICD-10] related to fall were selected from the hospital health information system, and the patient records, demographic variables, external causes of injury and type of injury were extracted. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Relationship between duration of hospitalization and background variables were evaluated using chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA or nonparametric equivalents. A significance level of 0.05 was considered. A total of 251 patients aged 60 years and older were studied that 127 of them [50.6%] were women. The mean age of the patients was 76.82 +/- 7.3 years. Fall on the ground was the most common type of injury [78%] and upper limb fractures [44.1%], lower limb fractures [28.9%] and head injuries [15.9%] were the most common types of injuries. The total number of hospitalization days was 1425 and mean of hospitalization was 5.68 +/- 4.5 days. The most frequent injuries are fractures of the upper limb, lower limbs and head injuries that caused the greatest length of stay and cost of hospitalization in the elderly
ABSTRACT
There is evidence suggesting an association between insomnia and obesity and probable beneficial effects of magnesium supplementation on insomnia. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary magnesium supplementation on the energy intake and weight reduction of insomniac overweight or obese elderly subjects. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 46 overweight or obese subjects randomly allocated into the magnesium or the placebo group, receiving, daily for 8 weeks, either 500 mg magnesium or a placebo, respectively. Using appropriate questionnaires, data were collected on insomnia [insomnia severity index = ISI], physical activity, and sleep-log at baseline and at the end of the intervention period. In addition, information was obtained on anthropometric confounding factors and daily intakes of magnesium, calcium, potassium, caffeine, energy form carbohydrates, fat and protein, and total daily energy intake using the 24-hr dietary recall questionnaire for 3 days. The N4 and SPSS software version 16 were used for data analysis, the level of significance being a p-value < 0.05. No significant differences were observed in the assessed variables between the two groups at baseline. As compared to the placebo group, in the experimental group diatery magnesium supplementation brought about statistically significant increases in sleep duration and sleep efficiency, as well as significant decreases in the total energy intake and energy from carbohydrate and fat. The total length of time in bed, morning awakening time, energy from protein, serum magnesium concentration, or body weight were not different between the experimental and the placebo groups. In this study diatery magnesium supplementation resulted in improvements in sleep indices and a decrease in energy intake in elderly subjects. However, it had no beneficial effect on their body weight
ABSTRACT
Several treatments have been suggested in shingles viral infection caused by Varicella zoster virus that may lead to complications such as PHN [Post-herpetic neuralgia]. Intradermal injection of botulinum toxin was shown with few side effects. This study evaluates the efficacy of intradermal injection of botulinum toxin in patients suffering from PHN. Fifteen patients suffering from PHN for more thanl month were enrolled. Data collected were patients' age, sex, and lesion site, the dermatome involved and the duration and severity of pain by visual analog scale [VAS]. Botulinum [15 units /every 10 cm[2] of body involved] was injected intradermally. The patients were followed 2, 14 and 30 days after injection. Of participants, 6 were males and 9 females. The mean age was 60 years and the mean duration of neuralgia was 6.5 months. The mean VAS on day 2 was 6.4, on day 14 was 7.2 and after 30 days was 7.6. The overall pain after injection decreased but was not significant. It seems that intradermal injection of botulinum toxin decreases pain in PHN patients and this de-crease is less prominent by passing time
ABSTRACT
Recently, especial therapeutic effects and nutritional values of probiotic dairy products have made them as one of the most interesting research topics in the field of production and maitenance methods and the nutritional and therapeutic aspects of these products. The technological problems encountered in the production of these products can be overcome by using methods to improve the growth of probiotic bacteria in fermented milk. In this paper the effect of milk composition [skim milk and whey powder], percent of inoculum [Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and starter culture] and incubation temperature on the growth of the probiotic bacteria in yogurt was investigated, and suitable conditions to reach maximum growth were determined using the Taguchi design. The effect of five independent variables [at three levels] on the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 [6 hr incubation] in probiotic yogurt production was investigated by Taguchi approach. The variables included: skim milk powder [10, 12, 14% w/w], whey powder [0, 0.75, 1.5% w/w], size of yogurt culture inoculum [0.2, 0.4, 0.8% v/v], L. acidophilus inoculum [0.1, 0.3, 0.5% w/v], and incubation temperature [37, 40, and 43°C]. Among the variables evaluated, yogurt culture inoculum had the maximum effect on the growth of probiotic bacterium, while the incorporation of L. acidophilus inoculum and the incubation temperature had no significant effect on the bacterial growth stimulation. Anyway the most suitable conditions for enhancing the probiotic bacterial growth include: skim milk powder, 10% w/w; without adding whey powder and size of yogurt culture and L. acidophilus inoculum, 0.1%w/v and 0.4% v/v, respectively incubation temperature at 37°C. By exact determination of milk composition, inoculum size and incubation temperature, the maximum number of the probiotic bacterium can be achived in the product. Data of this research work, that are very useful for the industrial production lines, show that by using the minimum level of milk total solid, without the enrichment and by adding the standard yogurt inoculum size and minimum probiotic inoculum size and by low incubation temperature, the growth rate increased and the production of probiotic yogurt with high number of Lactobacillus acidophilus become possible
Subject(s)
Probiotics , Dietary Supplements , Yogurt , Milk , Temperature , Food HandlingABSTRACT
Nowadays prematurity is the major cause of death among infants during the first year of life and is responsible for most of admissions to nursing intensive care unit [NICU]. Having multiple neurodevelopmental problems, preterm infants are low birth weight because of staying in uterus for a shorter time. So, the survival of preterm infants would be depended on their birth weight. The stressful environment of NICU exposes preterm infants to inappropriate stimuli such as continuous light in day-night period, which in addition to the susceptibility of these infants, imposes the researcher to use alternative methods to promote their growth and health. The aim of study was to determine the effect of cycled light on weight gain in preterm infants. This study was a quasi-experimental study carried out on 66 hospitalized preterm infants in NICU in Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were gathered by interviews and observations. Weight of infants was measured by special infant scale. DX2 luxmeter was used in order to measure light intensity. In intervention group, light intensity of NICU was reduced from 180-200 lux to 5-10 lux by turning the lights off from 7.5 PM to 7.5 AM. At the beginning and at the end of study, infants' weights were measured. The length of intervention was matched between the two groups. Descriptive and analytic statistical methods were used for data analysis. The results showed a significant difference between weight gains [weight changes] of preterm infants in the two groups [P = 0.041] but there was no significant difference between weights of preterm infants before and after study in the cycled group [P = 0.058] and in the control group [P = 0.183]. According to the results, applying cycled light in NICU could improve growth and weight gain in preterm infants. The possibility of applying cycled light in clinical centers would be achieved if facilities were provided. Then, developmental interventions such as arranging environmental light are suggested to promote infants' health
ABSTRACT
Introduction: There is a moderate or severe delay in growth and development of low birth weight infants so they need developmental interventions in addition to intensive medical care. In general, these are considered as a part of nursing care. One of these interventions is tactile- kinesthetic stimulation, which is tailored to the developmental level and tolerance of each infant. There are various methods to perform tactile- kinesthetic stimulations. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of superficial tactile- kinesthetic stimulation method on weight gain of low birth weight infants
Methods: This is a quasi-experimental; type of clinical trial study, which was conducted on 54 low birth weight infants in hospitals, selected by convenient sampling method. They were assigned to two groups of twenty-seven infants. One of the groups received superficial tactile- kinesthetic stimulation respectively. This group was compared with a control group receiving no stimulations. Criteria for inclusion in the study were: birth weight <2500g,age<18 days, breast-feeding, the Iranian race, absence of congenital heart malformation, pulmonary diseases, neuromuscular disorders, respiratory distress, sepsis, maternal addiction, NPO or intravenous feeding only and blood exchange. Data were collected through observations, interviews and measuring weight by special scales of infants weighing [seco] with an accuracy of +/-10 grams. Each infant in the treatment group received superficial tactile- kinesthetic stimulation for three 15-minute periods, 30-45 minutes after feeding in the morning, afternoon and evening for 10 consecutive days. Weight of infants was measured three times: in the beginning of the study, 5 days and 10 days after it on the same equipment and by the same observer. To data analysis t-test and paired t-test were used to compare weight gain within and between groups
Results: The groups did not differ significantly on matched variables. Means of weight gain within groups, before and after of the study were statistically different. Also a significant difference was found between two groups. The treatment group was significantly gaining weight better than control group
Discussion: These findings show that superficial tactile- kinesthetic stimulation enhances weight gain in low birth weight infants. The other studies reported similar findings. Thus, this method can decrease low birth weight infant's mortality and morbidity