[Comparison between the results of academic staff self assessment and those made by the students, faculty of medicine, Mazandaran university of medical sciences, 2006]

Educational evaluation is a structured process for determination of quality and effectiveness and an educational program. Of the most common and studied methods used for evaluation of academic staff is evaluation by students, however, "self-assessment" of the academic staff has not been widely used and there are few studies about it. So the purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the results of the academic staff "self assessment" and assessment by the students. This study was an analysis of correlation. Study population was clinical faculty members of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, recruited by simple sampling method. Tool of data collection was a questionnaire consisted of demographic and educational variables and questions about evaluation of theoretical and clinical teaching of member of staff. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved. Each faculty member was assessed by students and themselves and correlation between them was analysed using SPSS 13. Totally 35 member of staff participated in self assessment, with a mean age of 43.7 +/- 7.46 years, 73% male. 95.6% of the staff and only 80.6% of the students have positive attitude toward assessment of the staff by students [p<0.001]. Not only there was a weak correlation between the results of staff "self assessment" and their assessment by students [r=0.020, r=0/125] but also there was a significant difference between them [p<0.001]. Difference between these measures was higher in minor teaching departments. There was a weak correlation between measures of members of staff "self assessment" and their assessment by students, so educational intervention, for improvement of competency for "self assessment" should be designed and implemented

Survey on relation between major thalassemia and desferiexamine with renal tubular damage

Thalassemia is a hereditary quantitative hemoglubinopathy which is common in mediteranian area including IRAN. Homos zygotic beta thalassemia patients suffer from severe anemia and complication of the disease in many organs. Studies have shown different results about renal complication and disease. Thus, in this study we investigated renal function of thalassemia Major [TM] patients in comparison with control group. This was a historical cohort Study. The population who TM patients was were admitted to Boalisina hospital, Sari, and control group were brothers and sisters of the patients who were matched in gender and age. Serum and urine markers of renal function were measured and demographic and therapeutic data were gathered from medical records. Analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 11 with statistical test [t, chi square]. The Total of 84 [42 patients and, 42 controls] patients were studied. The Mean age of the patients was 21.3 +/- 5.2 years. Dose of Deferral was 70 +/- 19 mg/kg. The results showed no significant statistical differences in levels of beta2 microglobulin, 24 urine protein, Excretion Fraction of Na and K between case and control group. There was significant differences in levels of serum BUN, creatinin, Potassium and urine potassium and creatinin between case and control group. Gender, level of Hb and serum Ferritin significantly affected the differences between two groups. In this study, evidences of renal tubular damage were not detected in TM patients. There was increase in levels of Bun, serum potassium, uric Acid, specially with severe anemia, high dose desferal and Iron over load

Comparing the accuracy of doppler resistance index of the renal artery with DSMA scintigraphy in children with febrile UTI and prediction of VUR and acute pyelonephritis

UTI is one of the most common bacterial infections in pediatrics. Febrile urinary tract infection can produce severe renal complications when unrecognized or untreated. Acute pyelonephritis [APN] and reflux are two synergistic factors in the destruction of kidneys of children. There are no certain specific diagnostic laboratory tests and clinical symptoms for diagnosis of UTI. There are several diagnostic methods for APN and reflux in pediatrics, including ultrasonography IVP, VCUG, CT, Doppler and DMSA scintigraphy. Most of these methods are associated with the danger of exposure to radiation. In this study, we assessed and compared the accuracy of renal artery resistive index [RI] in doppler ultrosonography with DMSA scan and vcug to the diagnosis of APN and reflux in pediatrics patients. In this diagnostic study, we assessed 72 kidneys from 36 children [28 girls and 8 boys, age 19 days to 27/19 months] with febrile UTI admitted in Booalisina Hospital of Sari in 2005 to 2006. All patients underwent cysto-renal ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography. They Also underwent VCUG and DMSA scan to rule out vesicoureteral reflux and APN respectively. The data recorded in separate questionnaires and were analyzed using spss- statistical software. The results concluded that DMSA was positive in 34.7% of children with febrile and confirmed clinical impression, while Doppler sonography was positive in 33.3% of cases. The specificity and sensitivity of Doppler sonography were 64% and 83%, while the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 66.7% and 81.3% respectively. According to the results of this study, Doppler RI>0.7 in pediatrics with febrile UTI and clinically suspected APN are in need of careful antibiothic therapy and must be controlled by DMSA scan DMSA is not necessary in children with Doppler RI<0.7 and they must be treated for possible cystourethral infection. Thus, there is a significant relationship between increased RI and the severity of renal involvement. Considering, that 83% sensitivity and 81.3% predictive value of Doppler RI measurement to diagnosis of APN and scaring, it is concluded that Doppler index [RI] measurement to rule out of APN is valuable