[Prevalence of fatty liver in overweight, ohese and normal children]

Background and Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide and it is defined as a disorder of excess fat accumulation in the liver. This study | was done to determine the prevalence of fatty liver among overweight, obese and normal children

Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on 90 children ages 5 to 13 years old in Taleghani pediatric theching hospital in Gorgan, north of Iran during 2014. Subjects according to Body Mass Index [BMI] classified into obese [95%>BMI], over weight [85-95% BMI] and normal [5-85% BMI]. Childern were matched for age and sex. Liver enzymes [ALT Alanine aminotransferase and AST [Aspartate aminotransferase] and lipid profile includingTriglyceride: TG [High Density Lipoprotein: HDL and [Low Density Lipoprotein: LDL were measured and fatty liver evaluated based on sonographic parameters by a radiologist who didnot know children's BMI

Results: The prevalence of fatty liver was 23.3% in obese children that was non- significantly higher j than normal [16.7%] and over weight [16.7%] children. The prevalence of fatty liver was not] significantly different between two sexes. AST was significantly higher in children with normal BMI j in compared to obese and over weight children [P<0.05]. The highest and lowest level of cholesterol J was seen in obese and normal children [P<0.05]

Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of fatty liver non-significantly was higher u] obese children in comparision with normal and over weight children

Effect of neoprene dynamic orthosis on improvement of walking ability among children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Improving the ability to walk is often a key target for the treatment of abnormal gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy [CP]. One of the goals of orthotic rehabilitation is to improve walking in this field. The aims of this study was to design and manufacture the dynamic neoprene orthoses and evaluate its impact on the gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy. This quasi-experimental study was done on 12 children with spastic CP at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in Tehran, Iran during 2010-11. Initially neoprene dynamic orthosis is designed specifithy for each subject, this neoprene dynamic orthosis was used for six weeks and 6-8 hrs daily. For evaluating the walking speed and the gait variation, 10 meter walking test and visual analogue scale have been used. Modified Ashworth's Scale and electro-goniometre were used to assess muscle spasticity and the flexion degrees of knee joint. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Paired t-tests. The alteration of knee flexion angle, walking speed and walking distance following dynamic orthosis were -18.31 +/- 4.61 [degree], 0.50 +/- 1.82 [meter] and 4.18 +/- 1.51, respectively. The improvement in knee joint angle and walking following dynamic orthosis was significant [P<0.05], but the walking speed was not significant. This study showed that neoprene dynamic orthosis can improve knee flexion angle and walking distance among children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

[Non-book organizing status in TUMS libraries of hospitals and schools]

The major tasks of libraries is collecting information resources in appropriate shapes for clients needs and organize resources for making them available. This study has been done to review this status in school and hospital libraries of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This is survey descriptive research. Method statistical population consisted of all college and hospital libraries of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Intrument data collection was a questionnaire that its resiability and validity was measured Setting tables and getting percentages is performed as the Average measures in Excel spss version 12 programes. The highest rate of bachelores and masteres in libraries organized sector [more than 62 percent] belong to the libraries professionals. Staffes of 7 libraries [32 percent]are familiar with abstract and indexing services and staff is of more than 45 percent of libraries [more than 10 libraries] are familiar with a variety of subject headings and thesauri. Low percentage of the average organization also show little attention in organizing some non-book materials. Low percentage of librarians orientation with abstracting and indexing services and also thesauri [45%] are the reason for this little attention

Learning critical thinking in virtual medical education: a qualitative study of faculty members' and students' experiences

Background and Purpose: Critical thinking is a high priority outcome of higher education. With the ever-increasing spread of virtual courses, enhancement in the critical thinking in distance learning has become the center of attention for the stakeholders

The present study was conducted to qualitatively examine the experiences of teachers and students in teaching and learning critical thinking in medical education

Methods and Materials: In this qualitative study, 7 E-teachers and 11 postgraduate E-students of medical education were interviewed using a semi-structured method. All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and then analyzed through constant comparison based on Strauss and Corbin's method

Results: Three themes were identified in this study; nature of critical thinking, critical thinking within the framework of medical education discipline; and the teaching-learning process of critical thinking in the virtual environment

Conclusion: The participants' experiences indicated that the learning-teaching of critical thinking in virtual education is affected by teaching strategies, the features of course management software, creation of a learner-centered environment and the role of critical thinking as one of the objectives of curriculum and evaluation

Anthropometry and body composition of school children in Bahrain

This study was conducted because of the lack of a comprehensive nationwide assessment of data on the anthropometric status and related health problems in Bahraini school children aged 6 to 18 years. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the anthropometric status of school children enrolled in the primary, intermediate and secondary government schools in all populated regions of Bahrain. The sample size included 2594 students [1326 girls and 1268 boys] representing 2.5% of the total student population. For sample selection, a multi-stage sampling design was chosen that combined multi-cluster and simple random sampling methods. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, mid-arm circumference and skin fold thickness at two sites [triceps and subscapular]. Anthropometric indices derived were body mass index [BMI] and arm muscle area. The WHO reference standards [2007] and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] II data were used for comparison. Compared to WHO reference standards, the median height of Bahraini children and adolescents in the age range of 6 to 18 years was close to the 25th percentile or lower, while the median BMI during adolescent years was comparable in boys, but higher than WHO standards in girls, reaching the 75th percentile. The cut-off values of BMI for overweight/obesity status [85th and 95th percentile] were higher by 3-6 kg/m 2 compared to WHO standards. While skin fold thicknesses were also higher in Bahraini adolescents compared to their American counterparts [NHANES II], arm muscularity was substantially lower. Current study findings for BMI as well as skin fold thicknesses suggest an increased trend toward adiposity among Bahraini adolescents, especially in girls, which puts this age group at a high risk of adult obesity and its consequences. A need for urgent intervention programs is emphasized

[Critical thinking skills and critical thinking dispositions in freshmen and senior students of health care management]

Nowadays, experts introduce critical thinking as the main outcome of higher education and consider teaching "how to think" as the basis for learning. This study compares the critical thinking skills and critical thinking dispositions in freshmen and senior students of health care management. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 60 freshmen and senior students of health care management. The data gathering tools included California critical thinking skills test, as well as California critical thinking dispositions inventory. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, T-test, and Chi[2]. The mean and standard deviation of critical thinking skills total score in freshmen and senior students was respectively 11.55 +/- 2.18 and 11.21 +/- 2.59, which was in the normal limit for both. There was no significant difference between the freshmen and senior students' score patterns. Considering critical thinking disposition total score, the mean and standard deviation in freshmen, was 282.37 +/- 27.93 and in senior students was 289.64 +/- 21.13. There was a significant difference between the score pattern of critical thinking disposition in freshmen and senior students. The scores of senior students were higher than freshmen scores. The total score of critical thinking skills achieved by students was in a normal limit. Also, the total score of critical thinking dispositions revealed the students' positive tendency. But, with regard to the reported scores from other similar schools of the world, administrators and teachers should pay more attention to their educational planning in developing cultivating critical thinking skills

Obesity among Bahraini children and adolescents: Prevalence and associated factors

Obesity has been strongly linked to increased health risks and mortality in adults. Since childhood and adolescent obesity have a potential for adult obesity, it is important to identify its magnitude, associated factors and establish need-based primary preventive programs from early ages. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity and its associated factors among school children. The study design was cross-sectional. A multistage sampling technique was chosen to select students from primary, intermediate and secondary public schools from the eleven populated regions of Bahrain. The sample consisted of 2594 students, aged 6-18 years. Data was collected on the socio-demographic characteristics, exercise pattern and sedentary behavior using a questionnaire. Height and weight measurements were taken. The prevalence of normal, overweight status and obesity was compared to CDC standards. The findings showed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among girls [13.5%; 11.9%] and boys [9.1%; 12.3%]. Adolescent girls and boys [>/= 11 years] were more overweight/obese [30%; 23%] than their pre-adolescent [/= 7 hours/week] [p<0.05] and watching television [>/= 8 hours/week] [p<0.01] than the non-overweight. The logistic binary linear regression analysis showed that students from small-sized [/= 11 persons], students exercising less frequently [

[Quality of work life in nursing employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals]

Administrators have to pay attention to nurses as an important group among hospitals employees in order to have better patient outcomes. Recently, nurses' quality of work life is a new concept that attention to it can improve organizational efficiency. This research is to investigate the quality of work life of nurses at Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals in 2005-2006. This is a cross-sectional study. The research was conducted among 349 nursing employees. Data were gathered using a questionnaire consisted of 30 elements of QWL. The respondents were asked to determine their overall quality of work life. Validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using content validity and reliability was determined using test-retest method. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software package. The results showed that the majority of nurses were dissatisfied with environmental health and safety at work, monetary compensation and job welfare. There was significant correlation between the executive position of nurses, years of experience and their salary [P<0.05]. The study findings showed that nurses had a poor quality of work life. This indicates that majority of employees are unsatisfied with the most aspects of their quality of work life

Assessment of dietary habits during the month of Ramadan and its effect on body weight among adult Bahrain's

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Hijri Calendar. All healthy adult Muslims are required to observe fast from dawn to sunset for the entire month. They completely abstain from eating and drinking. This study was carried out on a group of 62 volunteers, 31 males and 31 females, to investigate the quantitative differences of nutrient intake during and after ramadan and consequent body weight changes among adult Bahrainis who observe fast during the prescribed month. It was found that fasting in the month of Ramadan neither led to major changes in the amount of nutrient intake nor caused any significant changes in the body weight of the studied subjects

Multivariate analysis of phytoplankton standing crop in western harbor of Alexandria [Egypt] during spring and summer

Quantitative collections of phytoplankton were performed in the western harbor during spring and summer 1989, which represent the extreme conditions of both temperature and salinity. Seventy four species were recorded, belonging to Bacillariophyceae [43], Dinophyceae [14], Chlorophyceae [10], Cyanophyceae [4], Euglenophyceae [2] and one Silicoflagellate. Although numerous species were encountered, yet very few of them formed the main bulk of the community; namely, Euglena acus, Cycotella meneghiniana, Nitzschia closterium in spring, and Prorocentrum micans, Gessnerium mochimaensis, Skeletonema costatum during summer. Also, all these species are considered as indicator of pollution with except Gessenerium sp. The average phytoplankton standing crop reached about 156 and 194 thousand units.l-1 during spring and summer, respectively. The outer part of the harbor [western sector] was more productive than the inner part [Eastern sector]. Statistical analysis dealing with the changes in community structure was concerned with univariate [diversity] and multivariate [graphical and prediction] treatments. The latter one was applied to phytoplankton community data in relation to the physicochemical parameters. Results indicated that the western harbor is mostly polluted as supported by a moderate average of diversity value of 1.44. The graphical multivariate correspondence analysis was more advantageous over both clustering and MDS plots in that it gives the natural grouping of the stations, beside evaluating the leading classes and environmental variables responsible for community change. Multiple regression analysis illustrated also excellent equations model for the phytoplankton in the western harbor during spring and summer which can be applied to predict the phytoplankton crop in the two seasons

Effect of application of inorganic fertilizers on the benthic fauna of the Nozha hydrodrome [Egypt]

Qualitative and quantitative estimations of bottom fauna was carried out monthly in the Nozha Hydrodrme [Egypt] during the period October, 1986 September, 1987. As a result of the reduced conditions which prevailed at the botton after prolonged additions of inorganic and nitrate fertilizers and increased eutrophication of water perior to the present investigation, the chironomus larvae and the oligochaete paranais sp. Dominated the community and contributed numerically 59.4% and 34.2% of the total benthos respectively, while gammarus spp. Formed only 6.3%. previous estimations of the benthic fauna before application of these fertilizers revealed the dominance of Corophium spp. Which constituted more than 86% by number of the total benthos while they disappeared totally in the present investigation. Also the biomass of bottom fauna has decreased from 6.3 gm fresh wt/m[2] in 1955 to 2.06 gm fresh wt/m[2]. results emphasize the importance of carrying out parallel quantitative estimations of benthos beside that of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities during periods of application of fertilizers in order to maintain the optimum concentration levels of these fertilizers which yield the most favourable balance between these 3 components

Plasmid profile analysis of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from Egyptian intensive care units

During a ten months study, 58 strains of staphylococci were isolated from 262 clinical samples obtained from patients of surgical intensive care units [SICU] and critical care center [CCC]. The incidence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] among patients as determined by disk diffusion test was 8.5% [SICU] AND 22% [CCC]. The incidence of MRSA among health care personnels was also determined and found to be 9.4% [SICU] and 4.9% [CCC]. 20 plasmid profiles have been identified among the MRSA isolated. The molecular weight of plasmids varied from 6.56 to 2.3 Md. Plasmid analysis has been shown to be superior to antibiogramsin differentiating strains. Several examples have been given that demonstrate cross infections between patients. The role of health care personnels in disseminating MRSA could not be proved

Effects of a mixture of bicarbonate, saccharin and fluoride on dental caries induction and bacterial count

The possible inhibitory effects of a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, [NaHCO3] sodium fluoride [NaF] and sodium saccharine [NaS] on dental caries and bacterial count were studied in albino rats. Thirty young male conventional albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into two equal groups [groups I and II] fed on highly cariogenic diet [diet 2000]. Topical application of a freshly prepared suspension of the mixture by a sterile cotton tipped applicator was done daily to the molar teeth of rats in group II. After two months, the dental caries was significantly inhibited in group II in comparison with that of group I. The bacterial count also showed significant reduction in group II, especially that of streptococcus mutant organisms