[ relationship between occupational stress and related injuries among physician's assistants: a case-control study]

Job stress can have a direct impact on the incidence of work-related injuries and unsafe behavior and the highest rates of occupational injuries are in the health professions. Therefore, as we did not find any studies regarding the physician's assistants job stress; this research was performed to determine the relationship between job stress and occupational injuries among physician's assistants working at different units of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This analytical study [case - control] was performed among physician's assistants working at 5 hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. 50 cases [with occupational injuries] were compared with 50 controls [without occupational injuries] about job stress. Job stress was measured by Osipow questionnaire with 6 domains; validity [content] and reliability, were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha = 0.89. The Mann-Whitney test for comparison of means and chi-square test for comparison of proportions were used. The mean stress scores did not show significant difference between the two groups in all domains except in role ambiguity and role boundary. After grouping stress scores, we observed significant differences in all domains, except in the responsibility [p = 0.11]. The stress score due to responsibility was very high for case [84.6%] and control [71.4%] groups. Maximum odds ratio was estimated in the role ambiguity field [OR = 8.36]. Because of some unavoidable stressors in medical practice and the necessity of preventing mental and behavioral effects of stress; implementing measures and actions to improve the quality of working life, education and coping strategies, are the duties of the departments, and the director of the hospital, in order to maintain the health of the current staff and to prevent their displacement.

[ duration use and causes of discontinuation IUD in Sarvabad]

The intrauterine device [IUD] is the most widely used reversible method of contraception. Discontinuation of various contraceptive methods can cause unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. The aim of this study was to determine duration use and causes of discontinuation IUD in Sarvabad in 2005-2008. This descriptive study was conducted at medical health center of Sarvabad. The study population were all women who had IUD removal from 2005-2008. Data were collected cases of IUD removal, duration of use and reasons for removal of it were analyzed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15. At the time of IUD insertion, the mean age of the subjects was 29.14 +/- 8.1 years, number of children was 2.8 +/- 1.33, and mean duration of IUD use was 36.5 +/- 31.14 months. Continuation rates at the end of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 7 years were 92.7, 87, 79.2, 71.6, 65.3, 20.8 and 11.8 per 100, respectively. The reasons for removal were frequently bleeding, desire for conception and expired date. Bleeding was the common side effect of IUD which caused discontinuation [30.5%], thus lower mean duration were found among this group as comparative to other groups. The present study that high discontinuation rate of IUD and the main reason was bleeding. Therefore, more time for consulting about use of other type of IUD and prevention method is necessary

Assessment of helicobacter pylori viability by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for determination of bacterial viability. Here we assayed the capability of flow cytometry to detect Helicobacter pylori viable cells in both forms of spiral and coccoid. Viable bacteria stained with Rhodamin 123 and fluoresced with laser beam of 488nm. The rate of Rh123 absorption was determined in both forms of bacteria. In positive control that consisted of live bacteria, the rate of rh123 absorption was at highest, but negative control that consisted of dead bacteria, the rate of Rh 123 absorption was at lowest absorption. This method showed that non-culturable coccoid forms of H. pylori, which could resist environmental stresses, were alive and might be responsible for bacterial transmission and failure in disease treatment. Due to simplicity, reliability, and sensitivity of flow cytometry, this method is preferred to other expensive and no reliable methods such as autoradiography, PCR and Electron microscopy used for assessment viability

Comparison of validity of microlymphocytotoxicity and flow cytometry methods with PCR for HLA-B27 antigen typing

The Human Major Histocompatibility Complex [MHC] plays a crucial role in transplantation, transfusion, paternity test and assessment of susceptibility to some diseases associated with HLA-B27. Three of the most fashionable methods for determination of HLA antigens in clinical and research laboratories are microlymphocytotoxicity [MLCT], flowcytometry and polymerase chain reaction [PCR].The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MLCT and flowcytometry methods with PCR as a gold standard method in determination of HLA-B27 antigen. In the present study, all three above-mentioned techniques have been used for 36 patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis and 31 healthy volunteers. Specific antisera and monoclonal antibodies against HLA-B27, and allele specific PCR have been used in MLCT, flowcytometry and PCR methods respectively. The results show that sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of MLCT method as compared with PCR technique were 83.3%, 100%, 100% and 88.1% respectively. Moreover, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of flowcytometry compared to the PCR technique were 100%, 94.6%, 93.8% and 100% respectively. Based on the results, the flowcytometry method in determination of HLA-B27 is more valid than MLCT in this regard, particularly in research programs. The similarity between the results of our study and those studies done in Europe suggests the probability of resemblance between HLA-B27 subtypes in Europe and in Iran

Attitudes of students, teachers and graduates towards the role of educational contents in clinical skill laboratories

The main aim of medical science is survival of human beings and relief of their suffering. Proper clinical skills is of great importance in this regard. To determine the attitude of medical students, teachers and graduates towards the role of a proper educational content in clinical skill laboratories in Kerman medical university. Through a cross - sectional study 141 general practioner, 69 specialists and 87 medical students [stagers, interns and assistants,] filled in a questionnaire. The findings indicated that 99% of the respondents believed that clinical skill laboratories were necessary. 65% did not have any familiarity with clinical skills before enterance to hospital and 82% did not have a proper model to learn clinical skills. The students believed that cardio- pulmonary resuscitation was the most and injection was the least important course content. Establishing a skill laboratory and a proper training course before students entrance to a ward and direct contact with patients seem to be necessary

Effect of human follicular fluid on implantation of mouse embryo

Prevention of implantation is considered as one of the suitable methods for contraception or interception. Therefore during this study the effect of human follicular fluid [FF] on mouse implantation was evaluated. The results obtained during this study show that FF contains enzymes and upon incubation with mouse uterine tissue, results in delimitation of epithelium. This effect was inhibited by heat inactivation or addition of EDTA to FF. In vivo uterine wash with follicular fluid on days 3,4,5 and 6-post mating prevents implantation and therefore significantly reduces implantation and pregnancy rate. However uterine wash on day 7 post mating with FF had no effect on implantation and pregnancy rate. On day 3,4,5,6 and 7 with Ham's 10 as control had no effect on implantation or pregnancy rate. Addition of EDTA also prevented the in vivo effect of FF, suggesting that the active agent present in FF is likely to be a metalloprotoinase which inactivates with heat and addition of EDTA. Taking into consideration the fact that FF does not affect the pregnancy of the next cycles, thus the FF or its active agent can be considered as good interceptive agent for prevention of pregnancy rate