Reducing Labor Anxiety with Auriculotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety.@*METHODS@#In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions.@*RESULTS@#The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4).

Factors that influence the occurrence of multiple pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection cycles with two or three fresh embryo transfers

Background: Multiple pregnancies are an important complication of assisted reproductive technology [ART]. The present study aims to indentify the risk factors for multiple pregnancies independent of the number of transferred embryos

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent intracy topi asm ic sperm injection [ICSI] cycles in Royan Institute between October 2011 and January 2012. We entered 12 factors that affected the number of gestational sacs into the poisson regression [PR] model. Factors were obtained from two study populations-cycles with double embryo transfer [DET] and cycles that transferred three embryos [TET]. We sought to determine the factors that influenced the number of gestational sacs. These factors were entered into multivariable logistic regression [MLR] to identify risk factors for multiple pregnancies

Results: A total of 1000 patients referred to Royan Institute for ART during the study period. We included 606 eligible patients in this study. PR analysis demonstrated that the quality of transferred embryos and woman's age had a significant effect on the number of observed sacs in patients who underwent ICSI with DET. There was no significant predictive variable for multiple pregnancies according to MLR analysis. Our findings demonstrated that both regression models [PR and MLR] had the same outputs. A significant relation existed between age and fertilization rate with multiple pregnancies in patients who underwent ICSI with TET

Conclusion: Single embryo transfer [SET] should be considered with the remaining embryos cryopreserved to prevent multiple pregnancies in women younger than 35 years of age who undergo ICSI cycles with high fertilization rates and good or excellent quality embryos. However, further prospective studies are necessary to evaluate whether SET in women with these risk factors can significantly decrease multiple pregnancies and improve cycle outcomes

Relationship between CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism and acute brucellosis risk

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the association between the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14)-159C/T (rs2569190) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to acute brucellosis in an Iranian population.@*METHODS@#The study included 153 Iranian patients with active brucellosis and 128 healthy individuals as the control group. Genotyping of the CD14 variant was performed using an amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of CD14-159 TT and CT genotypes were associated with increased risk of brucellosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.993, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.07-3.71, P = 0.03 for CT; OR = 3.869, 95% CI = 1.91-7.84, P = 0.01 for TT genotype. Additionally, the minor allele (T) was significantly more frequently present in brucellosis patients than in controls (61% vs. 45%, respectively), and was a risk factor for brucellosis (OR = 3.058, 95% CI = 1.507-6.315, P = 0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The findings provided suggestive evidence of association of the CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism with susceptibility to acute brucellosis in the Iranian population.

Relationship between CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism and acute brucellosis risk

Objective: To investigate the association between the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14)-159C/T (rs2569190) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to acute brucellosis in an Iranian population. Methods: The study included 153 Iranian patients with active brucellosis and 128 healthy individuals as the control group. Genotyping of the CD14 variant was performed using an amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. Results: The prevalence of CD14-159 TT and CT genotypes were associated with increased risk of brucellosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.993, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.07-3.71, P = 0.03 for CT; OR = 3.869, 95% CI = 1.91-7.84, P = 0.01 for TT genotype. Additionally, the minor allele (T) was significantly more frequently present in brucellosis patients than in controls (61% vs. 45%, respectively), and was a risk factor for brucellosis (OR = 3.058, 95% CI = 1.507-6.315, P = 0.01). Conclusions: The findings provided suggestive evidence of association of the CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism with susceptibility to acute brucellosis in the Iranian population.

effects of ISM1 medium on embryo quality and outcomes of IVF/ICSI cycles

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ISM1 culture medium on embryo development, quality and outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection [IVF/ICSI] cycles. This study compares culture medium commonly used in the laboratory setting for oocyte recovery and embryo development with a medium from MediCult. We have assessed the effects of these media on embryo development and newborn characteristics. In this prospective randomized study, fertilized oocytes from patients were randomly assigned to culture in ISM1 [MediCult, cycles: n=293] or routine lab culture medium [G-1[TM]v5; Vitrolife, cycles: n=290] according to the daily media schedule for oocyte retrieval. IVF or ICSI and embryo transfer were performed with either MediCult media or routine lab media. Embryo quality on days 2/3, cleavage, pregnancy and implantation rates, baby take home rate [BTHR], in addition to the weight and length of newborns were compared between groups. There were similar cleavage rates for ISM1 [86%] vs. G-1[TM] v5 [88%]. We observed a significantly higher percentage of excellent embryos in ISM1 [42.7%] compared to G-1[TM] v5 [39%, p<0.05]. Babies born after culture in ISM1 had both higher birth weight [3.03 kg] and length [48.8 cm] compared to G-1[TM] v5 babies that had a birth weight of 2.66 kg and a length of 46.0 cm [p<0.001 for both]. This study suggests that ISM1 is a more effective culture medium in generating higher quality embryos, which may be reflected in the characteristics of babies at birth

investigation on the effect of Health Belief Model-based education on refusal skills in high risk situations among female students

Various studies show an association between lack of social skills in adolescents and the future incidence of behavioral disorders. If girls, as future mothers, lack adequate health, awareness, self confidence and social skills, they may act as a source of many social problems. Therefore, the present study has tried to educate this group on one of the most essential social skills, refusal skill in high risk situation. This is a field quasi experimental study conducted on 145 female students in middle schools in Arak, Iran in 2010-2011. The schools were randomly selected. The subjects were selected through systematic random sampling from the schools' log book. The data were collected by questionnaires containing personal and familial characteristics, three health belief model structures, and behavioral intention in high risk situations. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistical tests [frequency distribution, mean, SD] and inferential tests of repetitive variance analysis and T-test through SPSS. In the present study, repetitive variance analysis showed that education by use of a health belief model had a positive effect on refusal skills in high risk situations as well as perceived barriers [p = 0.007], self-efficacy[p = 0.015], behavioral intention [p = 0.048] after educational intervention in the study group, but not on perceived benefits [p = 0.180]. The results showed that education significantly increased refusal skills in high risk situations in the study group through the health belief model. With regard to the results, it is essential to equip the students with preventive behaviors to guarantee their physical, emotional and social health.

survey of the relationship between emotional intelligence, self-efficiency and job satisfaction: a case study at educational and medical centers in tabriz province

The most important aim in every organization is achieving the highest level of possible productivity or optimum productivity. An expert and efficient human resource is one of the most important tools for achieving the goals of the organization, because human resource plays an important role in increase or decrease of organizations productivity. The purpose of this study was to examine relationship between emotional intelligence self- efficacy and job satisfaction. A descriptive correlational design was used. Sample of the research includes 100 nurses of educational and medical centers in Tabriz Province from 10 educational and medical centers in Tabriz that constitutes statistical population of more than 3500 nurses which has been selected by simple random sampling. Data were collection by Austin emotional intelligence questionnaire, job satisfaction [JQI] and sharer self-efficiency Questionnaires. Simple correlation coefficient and multiple regressions have been used for data analyzing. On the basis of the present research and on the basis of the hypotheses, the relationship between emotional Intelligence and job satisfaction with correlation coefficient 0/36 and in the level of 0/01 is significant. The result of the research has confirmed the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-efficiency; emotional intelligence and job satisfaction and self-efficiency among the nurses of educational and medical center in Tabriz Province in Iran and also the elements of emotional intelligence can anticipate job satisfaction and self-efficiency

Symptoms of natural menopause among Iranian women living in Tehran, Iran

Menopause is a step of a woman's life when hormonal changes cause menstruation to stop permanently. Menopausal symptoms can affect women's health and differ between different races and societies. The aim of this study was to survey the symptoms associated with menopause among Iranian women living in Tehran, Iran. In this cross sectional study which has been done between 2004 and 2005, women aged equal or more than 35 years old living in districts of Tehran were selected by multistage randomized cluster sampling. For each woman a questionnaire was completed. The data gained from each questionnaire was analyzed by using SPSS version 13. At time of study, 2462 women were naturally menopause. The mean age of natural menopause onset was 47.71 [SE=0.11] years. In 52.9% of cases, the onset of menopause was sudden. The symptoms associated with menopause were night sweats [61.2%], joint and muscle pain [59.9%], hot flashes [53.1%], fatigue [45.6%], decreased libido [33.9%], insomnia [33.7%], weight gain [30.1%], forgetfulness [24.9%] and urinary symptoms [17.4%]. This study showed that night sweats, joint and muscle pain and hot flashes are the most common symptoms associated with menopause

pregnancy outcomes of day 2 versus day 3 embryo transfer: a cross-sectional study

The objective was to evaluate whether extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days would yield a more optimal selection of viable embryos, thereby increasing the pregnancy rate. We have retrospectively analyzed pregnancy rates in the patients who had embryo transfer either on day 2 [582 patients] or on day 3 [387 patients] post-insemination over a 10-month period. The relationship between the quality score of day 2 and day 3 embryos and their respective pregnancy rates was also analyzed. The demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. Embryos transferred on day 2 or day 3, were similar morphologically and we found no difference in the distribution of grades between patients who became pregnant and those who failed to become pregnant. Pregnancy rates were slightly higher in patients who had embryo transfer on day 3 [40.72%] than patients who had transferred on day 2 [38.96%], but this difference was not significant. proportion of embryos with 2-3 cells, four cells, and 5-7 cells, which selected for transfer, showed significant difference between day 2 and day 3 [p<0.05]. There was also significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant women based on embryo cell numbers on day two [p<0.011]. Extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days had no adverse effect on pregnancy rate. Embryo transfer could be done on days 2 or 3 according to the convenience of the patient and the medical team