[Concerns of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study]

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most common chronic endocrine disorders with a prevalence estimated to range between 4-25%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used. It has significant and diverse clinical consequences associated with reproductive, metabolic, psychological morbidity and some cancers. It is not clear how PCOS symptoms influences women's physical experiences and concerns. This qualitative study aimed to explain study the effects that life experiences and concerns women with polycystic ovary syndrome have. Twenty women, aged 18 to 39 years, diagnosed with PCOS were interviewed using semi-structured open interviews to reach data saturation. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analysed using content analysis, with deductive and inductive methods. Four closely intertwined themes were disclosed: Physical consequences of PCOS, fear of the future, economic burden of disease and coming to terms with a chronic condition. The results of our study suggest that healthcare professionals working with PCOS patients should consider providing peer support groups as a means to alleviate patients concern and to promote self management activities like lifestyle modification. Ideally, support groups should be designed to meet the patients support needs and expectations, and should be evaluated regularly

Frequency and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms/disorders, violence and suicidal in schizophrenic patients

This study determined the prevalence and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms/disorder [OCS/OCD], aggression and suicidal in schizophrenic patients. Also we compared the prevalence and severity of aggression and suicidal in schizophrenic patients with and without OCS/OCD considering anxiety, depression and substance abuse as confounding factors. During 2007 and 2008, 100 schizophrenic patients were evaluated with Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Spilberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Scale for suicide Ideation, and Overt Aggression Scale. OCS/OCD and suicidal attempts were seen in 33%, 10% and 12% of patients respectively. The most common form of aggression was against others [55%], and aggressive obsessions were seen in 10% of the patients. Comparing patients with and without OCS/OCD, there were no significant differences in the severity of schizophrenia, suicidal and overt aggression. The severity of overt aggression was related to the patients' age and education reversely. Also, there was a relationship between their suicidal thoughts and residence in the cities. Conclusions: High rate of aggressive obsessions and lack of relationship between severity of aggression and presence of OCD indicated that these patients did not act on these thoughts. The risk of suicide was more serious in patients living in the cities, and risk of violence was more serious in younger and less educated patients

[Study of the effects of acetazolamide on decreasing viability of breast cancer cells in T-47D cell line]

This study aimed at investigating the inhibitory effect of acetazolamide on the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells [T47-D]. The appearance of morphological symptoms of apoptosis was checked after staining with Annexin-PI using fluorescent microscope. Flow cytometric studies were used for determination of the amount and type of cellular death and also for analyzing the cell division cycle. The amounts of caspase-3 activity and DNA laddering were determined in the treated cells and compared with samples of the control group. Unilateral variance test was used to analyze data [p<0.05]. Analysis of the apoptotic morphological symptoms using fluorescent microscope beside the obtained flow cytometric plots did not show any induction of apoptosis in the treated cells. On the contrary, increasing caspase-3 activity was registered when the cells were treated with the drug. While, in studies carried out on the genomic DNA, distinct laddering pattern was not observed indicating the occurrence of small amount of apoptosis in the treated cells. On the other hand, flow cytometric results, drawn with DAPI staining, confirmed that acetazolamide has a low potential to reduce velocity of the cell division cycle and stop only small percentage of the cells in G[2]/M phase. Based on the results of the study, the inhibitory effect of acetazolamide on T-47D cells should be explained through other cellular processes apart from apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Those processes such as mitotic catastrophe can affect the cellular viability and hence prevent increase in the number of cancerous cells over time

[Evaluation of sub-fascial lidocaine infusion in post-operative pain management following laparotomy]

One of the important problems of major abdominal surgery is post-operative pain control. There are different modalities to control the pain after surgery, such as oral, local or intravenous analgesic drugs, regional nerve block, epidural catheters and pain killer pumps with their own benefits and complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous peritoneal infusion of lidocaine by a pain killer pump for post-operative pain management following laparotomy. This double blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 76 patients [38 cases and 38 controls] who underwent laparotomy with midline incision, in Imam Hospital, Sari, Iran, in 2008. Two groups were matched in age and sex. After surgery a catheter infusion pump was prepared for all patients. In case group, 2% lidocaine [20mg/kg/day] and for control, normal saline infused for 24 hours. Pain score [Visual Analog Scale], blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and analgesic requirement was evaluated in 4, 10, 16 and 24 hours after surgery. Results analyzed by means of SPSS [15] software and chi-square, t test and repeated measurement. The p value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant statistically. 76 patients, 39 [51.3%] females and 37 [48.7%] males, with mean age of 47.03 +/- 15.2 years were studied. There was no significant difference in age, sex and weight between two groups. The mean of admission days was 5.03 +/- 0.6 in case and 5.29 +/- 1.3 in control, with no significant difference between them. Mean of opiod consumption was 16.05 +/- 13.05 mg and 25.39 +/- 11.4 mg in case and control respectively [P= 0.002]. Mean of VAS score, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature in case group was less than control group and the difference was significant statistically. Pain severity changes during 4, 10, 16 and 24 hours following surgery were significantly different in two groups, with linear correlation between time and pain reduction. Our study demonstrates that continuous infusion of 2% lidocaine by a pain killer pump can reduce pain and opioid requirements after abdominal surgeries

[Assessment of satisfaction rate among the working staff of Mazandaran University of supplemental insurance company in 2005]

The range of medical services is so large that rendering services under the support of medical insurance is not possible for the insurance companies. Many of the patients need the supplemental insurance, specially when this type of insurance completes the general medical insurance. Clients' consent with the health service center is undeniable nowadays. This study was performed to determine the rate of working staff's consent at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences of the supplemental insurance company in Sari. In a descriptive study, 120 out patients and hospitalized patients who had benefitted from the supplemental insurance for once company underwent the study. Data collected by questionnaire were confirmed on account of P validity to be used in the pilot study. Also, data were analyzed in descriptive method with SPSS software. The obtained results were as follows; 63 [%52.5] were male, 79 subjects aged 30-49 years [65.8%], 63 had higher education [52.5%], 90 were married [75%]. 54 [%45] subjects were hospitalized with cardiovascular disease and digestive problems. Also 72 subjects [%60] had the history of 3 days hospitalization. Sonography was the method of treatment [43%] that was used for%43 of them. Regarding the purpose of the study, many of the subjects under the study, [51.7%], were satisfied with the supplemental insurance company in terms of behavior, 64 subjects [%53.3] with insurance compancy's cooperation and finally 59 subjects [%49.2] were pleased with the organization's commitment to its responsibility. The X2 test showed that there is significant relationship among the age, education number of hospitalization, the reason of hospitalization, diagnostic procedures, and the rate of satisfactions p<0.001. This finding indicates knowledge, relation with the medical care centers, type and quality of rendered services. Therefore, it is suggested that a logical planning be conducted by the authorities of the insurance company to achieve the utmost degree of satisfaction