[Clinical and histopathological evaluations of local honey application in the healing of experimental wounds in dog]

Honey has been generally used in traditional medicine for healing different kind of wounds. In this research complex, the clinical and histopathological effects of West Azarbayjan non-boiled honey in healing process of surgical wounds [cuts] were evaluated. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of honey on healing time and duration of wound closing in dog. 30 dogs, each weight was almost 25kg, were divided into 2 clinical [n=10] and histopathological [n=20] groups. In each group, after surgical preparation and anesthesia surgical wounds were produced by a similar pattern and size [rectangle; 25×50 mm[2]] in the thoracolumbar region. Wounds on the left side arbitrary taken as treatment group and on the right side as control group. Postoperative treatment in the honey group was included daily wound irrigation with normal saline and then topical application of 20g honey. In the control group only irrigation with normal saline was performed. Clinical and histopathological parameters were evaluated in each group 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after operation. Honey caused in acceleration an healing and surgical wound closure and in decreasing the level of infection and secretion in the experiment group in compare to control group which was more significant at days 14 and 28 [p<0.05]. Decreasing the area of wound during experiment in honey treated group was 11.1% more than control group. From histopathological aspect, especially from the second week on, less neutrophilic chemotaxis was found in treatment group than in the control group and in treatment group the compact connective tissue was developed more rapidly. West Azarbayjan non-boiled honey is potentially effective in surgical wound healing

Frequency of risk factors of HIV and hepatitis infections among the homeless in tehran, iran [2005-2007]

Background and Purpose: Identifying the risk factors of Hepatitis C, B, and HIV is necessary to prevent their increasing prevalence. Therefore, we sought to identify the frequency of their risk factors among the homeless of Tehran, Iran during 2005 to 2007

Methods and Materials: This descriptive analytical study was conducted during 2005 to 2007 on the homeless population of Tehran, Iran. Two groups of patients were enrolled in this study: 103 HIV-positive and 75 hepatitis patients were examined [total 178], and relevant risk factors were investigated. The relevant details of the participants were obtained and recorded by a questionnaire, HIV and Hepatitis diagnosis using Eliza technique. Data were analyzed using Chi square and factor analysis in SPSS 13

Results: 60.8% of the HIV positive cases and 43.88% of the hepatitis cases had no relations with their friends; the difference was statistically significant [p=0.027]. Also, 94.2% of the AIDS cases and 85.1% of the hepatitis cases were deprived of their family support, and the difference was statistically significant [p=0.o44]. the prevalence of addiction to crack and heroin was 28% and 44.7% in hepatitis and AIDS sufferers respectively, where the difference was statistically significant [p=0.023]. The results of factor analysis revealed five major factors: familial factors [relation with family, relation with friends, lifestyle], type of addiction [opium, crack, heroin], social factors [sex, incarceration history, family support], personal factors [age, marital status, living parents], cultural factors [education, psychological problems]. The five factors related to HIV comprised 68.42% of the total variance, and those of hepatitis 56.69% of the total variance

Conclusion: The risk factors among the two groups are having no relations with friends, lack of family support and addiction to crack or heroin

comparative study of klimek and ballard methods in determining neonatal maturity

Background and Purpose: By defining the exact time of fetus maturity, complications and side effects could be predicted and best decisions could be made. Since the present methods are complicated, time-consuming and stressful for the neonates, researchers decided to compare the simple Klimek method with the New Ballard method

Methods and Materials: This study is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional research in which 229 neonates, who were admitted to the postpartum wards in Qaem and Imam Reza Hospitals in Mashad from April through September 2005, were sampled through non-random and purpositive sampling. Qualified neonates in a single group were examined for maturity by both Klimek and New Ballard methods. The first neonate was examined by the first co-researcher with New Ballard method, and immediately examined by the second co-researcher with Klimek method. The second neonate was examined by the first co-researcher with Klimek method and then immediately by the second co-researcher with Ballard method. The examinations were done in the first 6-12 hours after birth. Analysis of data was conducted in SPSS, using Mann Whitney U and Kappa Coefficient

Results: In the present study, determination of gestational age via 2 methods [New Ballard and LMP] was not statistically different; and in 74.6% [171 cases] the same gestational age was obtained by both methods [p=0.664]. Also, determination of gestational age by Klimek method and LMP was not statistically different; and 75.9% [174 cases] the same gestational age was obtained by both methods [p=0.943]. In 51.5% [118 cases], both methods detected mature neonates [K=0.806]

Conclusion: The simple Klimek Method is completely compatible with the New Ballard and LMP methods in determining neonatal maturity

Cost of care in Iranian hemophilic patients

Lifetime treatment of persons with hemophilia entails a heavy financial burden. The main goal of this study was to determine the factors influencing care cost of hemophilia A in southern Iran. The present study comprised 88 of 170 hemophilia A patients who had been registered and virtually treated in Fars Hemophilia Treatment Center in southern Iran. The data concerning patients' characteristics and medication schedules were collected from their past medical records and staff interviews. The scale utilized by the Hemophilia Utilization Group Study [HUGS] was used to assess the status of patients' functional health. The severe, moderate and mild deficiencies of factor eight were found in 43.2%, 21.6% and 35.2% of 88 patients respectively. The mean age in the study group was 21.8 years [ +/- 12.2] and 58 [65.9%] enjoyed high health status. In regard to laboratory records, 25 [28.4%] patients were HCV-positive, 2 [2.3%] HBS-positive and all were HIV negative. The average cost of care for a patient with Hemophilia A was dollar 8,510 [ +/- 8,066] and the total annual costs were significantly [p< 0.05] associated with: severity of arthropathy, presence of factor eight inhibitor and its titer, severity of factor eight deficiency, positive HCV infection and functional health status. Costs unrelated to foregoing factors included only 1% of the total. The total cost of patient care was correlated with severity of factor deficiency, arthropathy, positive HCV infection and functional health status. Financial resources to meet factor-unrelated costs should increase, in order to provide patients with improved quality of medical care

[Attitudes of general practitioners to pharmaceutical sales representatives in Sousse]

The therapeutic knowledge of physicians is the corner stone to the rational use of medicines; however information about medicines is generally obtained from the pharmaceutical industry via their sales representatives [reps]. We aimed to identify general practitioners' [GPs] attitudes to pharmaceutical reps and the information they provide. We surveyed 140 GPs using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 78% [72 GPs from the public sector and 68 from the private sector]. About 10% of the GPs said they received daily visits from pharmaceutical reps; 84% of GPs considered them an efficient source of information and 31% said they might change their therapeutic prescribing following visits from these reps. Because of their positive perception of pharmaceutical reps, GPs are susceptible to the information they provide. Controlling the validity of the therapeutic information imparted by the pharmaceutical industry is thus a fundamental component of the programme for the rational use of medicines