Attitude and willingness towards tissue donation in Iranian high school students: bone marrow and blood

Tissue donation has been promising in prolonging the lives of people with life-threatening diseases. To assess the attitude and willingness of high school students towards bone marrow [BM] and blood [as tissue] donation for maintaining a safe and adequate pool. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the high school girls, aged 15-18 years, who studied in natural sciences, mathematics and humanities. All participants filled a questionnaire consisting of age, religion, education levels and study branch, attitude and willingness towards BM and blood donation according to a Likert scale. Out of 416 students, with the mean +/- SD age of 16.3 +/- 1.2 years, 31% studied in grade I, 27% in grade II [25% natural sciences, 27% mathematics, and 48% humanities], 26% in grade III [30% natural sciences, 34% mathematics, and 36% humanities], and 16% in pre-university level [college] [32% natural sciences, 42% mathematics, and 6% humanities]. The students had highly positive attitudes toward BM and blood donation [mean +/- SD score of 4.2 +/- 0.54]. The willingness for BM and blood donation was declared respectively, in 87% and 71% of respondents. Moreover, 16% of students wanted to donate only to their relatives and 84% to all persons in need of therapy. There was no significant correlation between the donation willingness and educational levels and study branch; however, these variables significantly correlated with attitude towards tissue donation [p=0.02, p=0.01, respectively]. Despite positive attitude towards BM and blood donation, willingness for BM donation is lesser than blood which may be attributed to insufficient information about this type of tissue donation. An organized educational program for high school students in all aspects of tissue donation seems necessary

Comparison of high resolution ultrasonography and nerve conduction study in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: diagnostic value of median nerve cross-sectional area

Carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy. This study was performed to evaluate whether high-resolution ultrasonography may be an alternative diagnostic method for nerve conduction study [NCS] in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. 132 wrists of 82 patients and 152 wrists of controls were enrolled in the study. The cross sectional area of the median nerve was measured at the carpal tunnel inlet and outlet in all patients and controls. All patients had a nerve conduction study. Then comparison between ultrasonography and NCS was performed. Combination of clinical diagnosis and NCS was used as the gold standard. The mean cross-sectional area [CSA] of the median nerve at the tunnel inlet was 11.4 +/- 1.7 mm[2] for the patient group and 5.78 +/- 0.9 mm[2] for the control group [P<0.001]. The mean cross-sectional area at the tunnel outlet was 9.9 +/- 1.2 mm[2] for the patient group and 4.7 +/- 0.7 mm[2] for the control group [P<0.001]. The best cut-off value of CSA at the tunnel inlet and the outlet was 7.5 mm[2]. In patients with clinical diagnosis of CTS we confirmed that the diagnostic value of ultrasonography is similar to NCS and sonography may be used in primary evaluation of CTS

[Report of a rare variation in ulnar nerve and its importance in surgery of carpal tunnel syndrome]

To report a variation in ulnar nerve and its importance in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. The case is a patient that due to pain in carpal region and parasthesia in the second and third digits of both hands had referred. In physical examination there were phalan test and tinel sign. Electromyography [EMG] and Nerve Conducting [NC] confirmed the carpal tunnel syndrome and the surgery was conducted on the left hand. During surgery an aberrant branch found on retinaculum flexore that separated from ulnar nerve in Gugon's canal. The branch crossed with retinaculum flexor and then tended toward thenar muscles Forming a neuroma. Regarding the crossing of the aberrant branch with retinaculum flexor, it should be distinguished during releasing of retinaculum flexor in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. Carelessness about this aberrant branch and its cutting leads to impairment of thumb movement

[Evaluation of the mortality rate and related factors in ICU patients at the Mostafa Khomeini Hospital, Tehran]

Background: ICU patients mortality rate has been reported 5-35%.The patients mortality is predicted by using various scoring system including, SAPS.II, APACHE.III. The aim of this study was determination of mortality rate, acute renal failure [ARF] frequency,their relationship and other related factors with mortality in ICU patients

Materials and Methods: this cross- sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted in the year 2005, at the Mostafa khomeini Hospital, Tehran. The study population consisted of 427 ICU patients. Data were registered and collected in a questionnaire. All data analysis were carried out using the SPSS-11.5, pearson correlation

Results: of 427 patients, 56.7% were male and 43.3% female. The mean value of age was 56.7 +/- 8.2 years. The mean duration of hospitalization was 7 +/- 1.9 days. The mortality rate was 28.5% so that 56.2% of dead persons were male. ARF [doubling of basal serum creatinine] was seen in 30% of patients and 72% of ARF patients were died. ARF was significantly correlated with the systolic blood pressure [P<0.001]. Other variables didn't show this correlation. ARF with requirement of mechanical ventilation [P<0.001], co-morbidity, multiple organ dysfunction, age over 60 years, plasma Na concentration disorders, elevated serum bilirubin and Liver enzymes, hemoglobin concentration [Hgb<10g/dL] and thrombocytopenia had statistically significant correlation with the mortality rate [P<0.05]. But gender, serum K concentration disorders and kind of drug administration had not correlation with it

Conclusions: determination of related factors with the mortality rate, in ICU patients obtains a prediction of patients prognosis. This may also be important in decreasing of therapeutic costs. This study showed that systolic blood pressure in acceptable range, anemia correction, careful monitoring of the fluid and electrolytes and critical organs function including, the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys and early diagnosis and management of their dysfunctions can play important roles in patients prognosis

Merkel cell carcinoma, A case report and literature review

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumor that develops on or just beneath the skin and hair follicles. It occurs most often on the face, head and neck. Early detection and treatment are important because the disease can spread rapidly. Merkel cell carcinoma is difficult to cure once it spreads. Researchers believe that exposure to sunlight may increase risk of this disease. Herein, we report a 70 - year - old female with a painful, nodular skin lesion of right leg that enlarged rapidly. Total excision was done. Pathologic findings confirmed diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma

[Frequency of diabetic retinopathy and related factors in ophthalmologic consults in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital between 1998-2002]

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent and important human metabolic disorder. More than 150 million people all over the world and near 3 million people in Iran are involved. A great number of cases are undiagnosed. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important complications of diabetes which may results in blindness. The aim of this study was to determine frequency and progression of diabetic retinopathy and its related factors and also role of ophthalmologic consult in detecting early stages of diabetic retinopathy

Materials and methods: As a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, we studied 253 records of hospitalized diabetic patients who had ophthalmologic consultation in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital during 19 98-2002. We considered age, gender, duration of diagnosis, treatment modality, fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, blood urea, urinary protein and glucose, hypertension, and severity of diabetic retinopathy. Results were analyzed with SPSS software

Results: Among 740 records that had ophthalmology consult, 253 cases [35.54%] had type2 diabetes mellitus. The frequency of diabetic retinopathy [DR] was 69.6% and background DR, preproliferative DR[NPDR] and proliferative DR[PDR] were 34.8%, 13.8% [NPDR=48%] and 20.9%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the diabetic retinopathy and age, duration of diagnosis, hypertension, serum creatinine, urine protein, urine glucose, blood urea, and cause of hospitalization. There was not any relationship with fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, triglyceride and gender

Conclusions: The frequency of OM in the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who were hospitalized was more than most of the other studies. In our study duration of diagnosis, age and hypertension are the factors which increase frequency of DR. In order to prevent it, ideal blood pressure control is necessary. Preventive efforts can postpone other diabetic complications such as nephropathy. Ophthalmologic consults in hospitalized diabetic patients can help us in screening, detecting early stages and appropriate treatment of DR

Frequency of diabetic retinopathy and related factors in ophthalmologic consults in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital between 1998-2002

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent and important human metabolic disorders. More than 150 million people all over the world and near 3 million people in Iran are involved. A great number of cases are undiagnosed. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important complications of diabetes which may result in blindness. The aim of this study was to determine frequency and progression of diabetic retinopathy and its related factors and also role of ophthalmologic consult in detecting early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, we studied 253 records of hospitalized diabetic patients who had ophthalmologic consultation in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital during 1998-2002. We considered age, gender, duration of diagnosis, treatment modality, fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, blood urea, urinary protein and glucose, hypertension, and severity of diabetic retinopathy. Results were analyzed with SPSS software. Among 740 records that had ophthalmology consult, 253 cases [35.54%] had type2 diabetes mellitus. The frequency of diabetic retinopathy [DR] was 69.6% and background DR, preproliferative DR [NPDR] and proliferative DR [PDR] were 34.8%, 13.8% [NPDR=48%] and 20.9%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the diabetic retinopathy and age, duration of diagnosis, hypertension, serum creatinine, urine protein, urine glucose, blood urea, and cause of hospitalization. There was not any relationship with fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, triglyceride and gender. The frequency of DM in the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who were hospitalized was more than most of the other studies. In our study duration of diagnosis, age and hypertension are the factors which increase frequency of DR. In order to prevent it, ideal blood pressure control is necessary. Preventive efforts can postpone other diabetic complications such as nephropathy. Ophthalmologic consults in hospitalized diabetic patients can help us in screening, detecting early stages and appropriate treatment of DR

One-year efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft in eighty-three hemodialysis patients

To evaluate the patency and efficacy of expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene [ePTFE] vascular graft in hemodialysis patients. In a prospective study from January 1999 to January 2001 at Sina hospital 41 patients underwent implantation of 6-mm vascular grafts and 42 underwent implantation of 8-mm grafts in order to make vascular assess for hemodialysis. They were followed up to 12 months, observing the complications. Mean patients' age was 52.2 years. Thirty-seven of them were females and 46 were males. Over a 12 months period of follow-up, 12 cases of graft infection [14.5%], 21 cases of thrombosis [25.3%], 7 cases with both complications [8.4%], and 1 case of pseudoaneurism [1.2%] were observed. One-year patency rate was 34.9%. Diabetes was the only factor associated with lower patency rate [27% versus 57%, p<0.05]. ePTFE vascular graft seems to be an appropriate substitute for arteriovenous fistula as a vascular assess in hemodialysis patients. Educating patients and good care can decrease the rate of infection, thrombosis, and other complications, resulting in a better patency and lower morbidity rate