[Comparison of oral and intravenous N-acetylcysteine administration in the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning]

Intravenous or oral administration of N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen poisoning has been a matter of controversy until recently. Each of these routes of administration has its advantages and disadvantages. This study was carried out to compare the effect of intravenous and oral acetylcysteine in the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning. This study was a parallel RCT study. The study population included all adults over 18 years of age who had been used more than 7.5 gr acetaminophen during a 24 hour interval before admission to poisoning emergency ward of Baharloo Hospital in Tehran. Each group consisted of 30 patients. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Patients were divided into two groups by block randomization method: oral [72 h] and IV [20 h] N-acetylcysteine treatment groups. Liver enzyme levels were measured at baseline and then daily up to 72 hours after treatment. Side effects of drug administration in both groups were recorded. Data were entered into SPSS16 software and the data frequency tables were prepared. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U and t-tests were used for data analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in relation to different variables at baseline. The two groups showed no significant differences in regard to the mean serum levels of AST, ALT, bilirubin, and prothrombin time24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment and the therapeutic results were similar in both groups. Occurrence of nausea and hypotension after treatment in the oral treatment group was significantly higher than in the intravenous treatment group [57.6% vs. 33.3% and 12.1% vs. Zero respectively] [p<0.05]. Considering other complications, no significant differences were noticed between the two groups. Considering the same safety and efficacy of both intravenous and oral acetylcysteine treatment, mild and manageable side effects of oral therapy on one hand and economic status and cultural attitudes in our community about admission and discharge of the patients, it seems more advisable to use oral treatment as the first therapeutic choice for acetaminophen poisoning in the absence of any contraindication to its use

[Patient satisfaction in Baharloo hospital in 2008]

Given The importance of patient satisfaction levels of health care is an effective role in planning health services management system. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction of hospital services and related factors was designed in Baharloo study Hospital This is a cross sectional. The data is collected by questionnaire and interview and after completing the questionnaire based on the number of samples required in this study, the information was collected into the computer and analyzed. The study statistical society was 320 patients hospitalized in all different parts of the hospital in the second six months of 1387 were selected in the form of the random sampling. To measure the patient satisfaction used satisfaction questionnaire with six demographic questions and 20 satisfaction terms. Questionnaires were given to the patients by trained persons [non-medical staff] in the last session of therapy. In young patients the questionnaire was completed by the patients family or friend and about cases with illiteracy or low literacy the questionnaire was completed by Trained questioners. Satisfaction including satisfaction levels was as follows: heat and cooling systems [44.8%]- facilities [48.3%] - Food Quality [44.8%] - daily clothes and sheets change[41.6%]- Sanitation and hygiene [48.3%] - room lighting [56%] - the speed of filing reception files[58.6%]- Nurse attitude [55.2] - time presence of clinical nurses on the patient's bedside [58.6%] - appropriate communication with sick relatives [55.2%]. Highest level of patient satisfaction was as follows: satisfaction of nurse time presence on the patient's bedside [58.6] - the speed of filing reception files and the patient good guidance by receptionist[58.6%] and room lighting [58%]. The largest percentage of patient dissatisfaction was regarding facilities of rooms, food quality and daily clothes and sheet change [24.1%]

[Investigating the visions of administrators and employees in Shaheed Beheshti Medical University towards the rate of the employees' possessing the components of empowerment]

To understand the empowerment process and to raise the organization capacity to make the empowerment atmosphere and to study the empowerment components, consequently, the managers and employees views in these fields are of considearable necessity. The visions and assumptions of managers are too determinant to make decisions and manage personnel and organization. Also, employees' visions are effective in their empowerment acts in cooperation, participation and their job satisfaction. This study is performed to investigte the visions of managers and employees of Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, in the rate of the employees possessing of the components of the empowerment between the years 1384 and 1385. This study was carried out by a descriptive-survey method on 377 managers and employees of Shaheed Beheshti Medical University and its affiliated colleges, whom were in formal employment or contract situation [192 managers and 285 employees]. Random sample method was used and was chosen equal numbers of samples related collages and units. Data compilation method consisted of a questionnaire including 35 close-endedquestions and demographic characteristics. From the managers [P<0.0019] and employees [P<0.0001] point of view, the rate of the employees possession of the empowerments was not acceptable and managers' views differed from those of employees in this category [P<0.0001]. There was a significant difference between women and men visions [P<0.001] and also a significant correlation between the age of managers and employees [P<0.023]. Although there was no significant statistical correlation between the background of managers and employees, the difference between the vision of managers and employees of different educational grades was significant [P<0.0001] as well as their difference between view points of managers and employees with different academic field of study [P<0.001]. The rate of possession of the empowerments amongst managers and employees of Shaheed Beheshti University, was not in an appropriate level. It suggests that the managers of university pay more attention to the employees' potentials for deputing responsibilities to them and attempt many to make an empowerment atmosphere with their schematization to achieve the appropriate level

[Assessment of hydroalcoholic extract of thymus vulgaris on neurogenic and inflammatory pain in mice]

The side effects of anti-nociception chemical drugs caused notice to medical plants. This study was performed to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Thymus vulgaris [TV] on neurogenic and inflammatory pain in formalin test in mice. 40 male albino mice [20-30 gr] were used. TV [100, 500 mg/kg] as extract and saline were injected 30 mine before formalin test. Indexes for evaluation were duration of licking and foot elevation for assessment of acute pain [5 min] and chronic pain [15-40 min] after injection of formalin 5% [25 microl] in paw. Results indicated that TV has analgesic effect in both doses [P<0.01], and higher dose [500 mg] was more effective. Findings showed that hydroalcoholic extract of TV can modulate acute and chronic pain. Further research is required to determine the mechanisms by which TV has an inhibitory effect on pain sensation

[Development of an indirect ELISA for detection of specific IgG subclasses for saffron pollen allergens]

Allergic reactions to plant pollens are a common problem. There are some evidences that saffron pollen has allergenic properties. Although IgE-mediated hypersensitivity has been reported, other immunologic mechanisms may be involved based on a variety of clinical manifestations in allergic cases. One of the mechanisms that have been suggested is specific IgG and its subclasses. In this study, an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] was developed for detection of specific IgG subclasses against saffron pollen extract. Briefly, microtiter plates were coated with crude extract of saffron pollen and then blocked with bovine serum albumin [BSA], and the sera were added to the plates which followed by the addition of anti-human IgG. TMB was used as substrate. Finally, after stopping the reaction with addition of HCl, plates read at 450 nm. The method was verified by testing two groups of samples, first, sera from individuals living near saffron farms in Khorasan and second, sera from individuals living in areas not having any saffron farms. The results indicated significant differences between the two groups