Association between malnutrition and depression in elderly people in Razavi Khorasan: a population based-study in Iran

To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and depression in free-living elderly people and their relationships [If any] in Razavi Khorasan, Iran 2007. To evaluate nutritional status, we used Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] method in free-living elderly people [n=1565 using cluster sampling, 720 males and 845 females, aged>/= 60 yr] and their relationship to Socio Economic Conditions [SECs]. Based on the final scores, our patients were classified into three groups: score 17-23.5 [at risk for malnutrition], score less than 17 [with malnutrition], and score 24-30 [well nourished]. To determine the mood status [here depression], we used Geriatric Depression Score [GDS]. According to this score our participants turned out to be in two distinct groups: depressed [score >/=8] and non-depressed [score< 8]. From the total subjects entered the study [1495], 22.07% were depressed and 11.5% and 44% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition respectively. In depressed group, the prevalence of malnutrition was 14.5% [48 out of 330] and the prevalence of "at risk of malnutrition" was 45.8%, whereas the prevalence of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition in non-depressed population were 10.6% and 43.3% respectively. From the aforementioned information we have concluded that there is a significant statistical difference between the prevalence of malnutrition in depressed and non-depressed individuals [P= 0.047]. With respect to the high rate of vegetative symptoms in elderly depressed individuals, malnutrition would have a higher prevalence in the depressed people

[Comparison of the effects of three music on the immune cells of patients with allergic rhinitis]

The effects of music on blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and other physiological functions have been proven for several years. The effects of the music on human system have also been studied in several populations. But, this effect has not been studied in Iranians. So, we have decided to research on this matter. In this experimental interventional study, 28 patients with allergic rhinitis [12-36 years old, with the mean age of 25] were included after application of a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into four groups, three interventional groups [traditional Persian, western classic, and pop music] and one control group. Seven subjects were allocated to each group based on their favorite music. Each group underwent a period of intervention for one month and blood samples were obtained before the start and after the end of intervention. Samples were examined immediately by flow cytometry according to the standards and six cellular parameters of CD3+ T cells [CD4+ and CD8+] Natural killer cells [CD16+], B cells [CD19+], and activated T cells [HLA-DR+] were measured. We found significant difference between interventional groups and the control group. The differences are as follows: CD3+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control [Pvalue = 0.03, increase], atopic Persian classic versus atopic control [Pvalue =0.04, increase]. CD4+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control [Pvalue =0.03, increase], atopic Persian classic versus atopic control [Pvalue = 0.03, increase]. Non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control [Pvalue =0.01, decrease]. CD8+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control [Pvalue = 0.05, increase], non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control [Pvalue =0.02, decrease], western classic non-atopic allergic versus non-atopic control [Pvalue = 0.02, decrease]. CD16+ NK cells: atopic pop versus atopic control [Pvalue =0.014, increase], non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control [Pvalue = 0.02, decrease] CD 19+ B cells [Pvalue = 0.07, noticeable increase]. Evaluation of immune cells in atopic patients who listened to pop music showed significant increase in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells, and a noticeable decrease in B cells. Therefore, it can be concluded that pop music had positive effects on atopic subjects. But, apparently, the effects of this music on non-atopic subjects are opposite i.e. CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+ cells were significantly decreased in these patients. In contrast, humoral immunity was strengthened and B cells were significantly increased

Quality assurance program for prototype stereotactic system developed for Neptun 10 PC linac

A prototype stereotactic radiosurgery set was designed and constructed for a Neptun 10 PC linac that is currently being used at Imam Reza hospital in Mashhad. A complete quality assurance program was designed and performed for the constructed system including isocentric accuracy test, localization accuracy test, dose delivery accuracy test and leakage radiation test. Target simulator, control alignment device and plexiglass phantom which were parts of the developed hardware were used to fulfill quality assurance program. The average isocentric shift resulted from the gantry rotation and couch turning were respectively obtained to be 1.4 and 2 mm. The average localization error in the three coordinates was found to be 2.2 mm. The total treatment uncertainty due to all of the probable errors in the system was equal to 4.32 mm. The dose delivery accuracy test was carried out, the result indicated a 3-7% difference between the given and measured dose. The quality assurance tests showed consistent performance of the constructed system within the accepted limits; however, some inconsistency might exist in certain cases. The safety of SRS method is increased when the overall uncertainty is minimized and the treatment of the lesions adjacent to critical organs is avoided

Place of primary chemotherapy in nonmetastatic head and neck epidrmoid carcinoma

Primary chemothrapy as a curative treatment always has been considered in nonmetastatic head and neck carcinoma with the purposes of improving locoregional control, decreasing probability of distant metastasis and improving overall survival. Although its improving effect on locoregional control and increasing probability of organ preservation, especially in laryngeal carcinoma has been shown and there are many reports which suggest at least delyaing distant metastasis with primary chemotherapy however randomized controlled trials have not yet reported significant improvement of overall survival. Though many of these studies have some essentail structural faults, a curative chemotherpy on its own has a relative effect that means with every chemotherapy course one log of tumor cells dies and in spite of several courses it never sterile the tumor. In additon available chemotherapy drugs, single or in combination are not the most effective ones and studies to find more effective drugs continue. On the other hand, locoregional recurrence-synchronous or earlier than metastasis-that is verycommon with low potency locoregional treatments in locally advanced head and neck carcinomas compromise the limiting effect of chemotherapy on overall survival. While enthusiasm on neoadjuvant and concurrent chemotherapy is raising nowadays, and both involve in organ preservation treatments only the latter has a relative effect on survival improvement. Therefore concurrent chemoradiotherapy with insistence on keeping dose intensity of both modalitties while increasing acute but not delayed normal tissue toxicities is the promising measure for operable or inoperable stage III and nonmetastatic stagelV head and neck carcinomas