[Lamellar keratoplasty for management of mustard gas keratitis]

To report the outcomes of manual lamellar keratoplasty [LKP] in patients with delayed-onset mustard gas keratitis [MGK] and compare visual outcomes between subgroups with simultaneous or sequential KLAL and LKP. In this retrospective, interventional study, 52 eyes of 37 male survivors of chemical warfare with MGK who underwent LKP were included. The results were evaluated with respect to best spectaclecorrected visual acuity [BSCVA], refractive error, keratometric readings and graft clarity. Eyes with sequential versus simultaneous surgery were compared in terms of BSCVA, refraction, corneal graft surface stability, and stem cell and corneal graft survival rates. Mean patient age at the time of surgery was 43.4 +/- 8.2 [36-48] years, and mean follow-up period was 41.4 +/- 19.6 [19-107] months. Mean preoperative BSCVA was 0.51 +/- 0.48 logMAR, which increased to 0.33 +/- 0.18 logMAR [P=0.03]. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error was -2.40 +/- 1.5 diopters [D], which remained unchanged postoperatively [-1.52 +/- 3.7 D, P=0.77]. No significant difference between sequential and simultaneous surgery subgroups was observed in BSCVA, refraction, keratometry readings, or corneal graft survival [90.3% and 89.9%, respectively; P=0.68]. However, the simultaneous group had statistically better stem cell survival. LKP can effectively improve BSCVA in MGK. The simultaneous approach is superior to sequential surgery when both stem cell and corneal transplantation are indicated

Injuries associated with landmines and unexploded ordnances in Iran

Although in the last few years there has been increasing awareness of the problem of landmines, there are still an increasing number of people especially children, illed and injured by landmine every week in the world including Iran which is estimated to have the second rank for landmine injuries. Eighteen years after cessation of Iraq-Iran war, the provinces located near the west border of Iran still suffer from the burden of vast areas highly infested with Landmines. This study aims to gather more information on the particulars of mine associated incidents and victims. This is a retrospective study of people with documented deaths or injuries due to landmine and/or unexploded ordnances [UXO] explosions, as documented in their medical files between Jul 1988 [after ceasefire] and Feb 2003. 3713 victims from 3 main organizations in charge of providing health care services for them were included in this study. Of these, 3461 [93.2] were male, and 252 [6.8%] were female. Most of the victims were civilians and the majority of them [40.4%] had one or more amputations. Most of the patients were injured in the period between1994 and 1998. The majority of them were young, and 41.8% were children. The occurrence of death and injuries due to landmine in Iran is regrettably high; this places a significant burden on the health care system, rendering increased commitment of the government a must. Collecting data on accident particulars and landmine victims can provide meaningful information on the risk factors

Women pose innocent victims of landmines in postwar Iran

Although in the last few years there has been an increasing attention to the problem of landmines, to date, the implications of women being victims of landmine has not been duly dealt with in the world including Iran, which is estimated to be the second most landmine infested country in the world. Still, provinces by the west border of Iran, 18 years after cessation of Iraq-Iran war suffer from the burden of vast areas, highly infested with landmines. This study aimed to provide a gender focused insight into landmine accidents in. In this retrospective study, women with documented deaths or injuries due to landmine and/or unexplodeda ordnances [UXO] explosions as documented in their medical records between Jul 1988 [after ceasefire] and Feb 2003 were studied in 5 western provinces of Iran. Data was analyzed by SPSS for Windows Version II.P value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant During the 14-year study period, 252 women from 5 western provinces of Iran were reported to have injuries or death due to landmine and UXOs. All of the victims were civilians and the majority of them [47.6%] had one or more amputations. Most of them were injured in the period between 1994 and 1998. The majority of the patients were young. Women who should take care of themselves as well as their families are more prone to sufferings inflicted by landmines and UXO

Low level laser therapy in the treatment of pressure ulcers in spinal cord handicapped veterans living in Tehran

Pressure ulcers result from immobility and continuous pressure on an area of body. Besides imposing further restriction of movements and thus creating a vicious circle in the healing process, these ulcers are of significant importance in decreasing the life quality and increasing the costs of treatment in these patients. In this study we compared the outcome of treatment of pressure ulcers with GA-AL-AS [Gallium-Aluminium-Arsenide] and Gal-AL-In-Ph [Gallium-Aluminium-Indium-Phosphate]-diode lasers, on contact, continuous emission mode at an every other day dose of 4-6 J/cm2 for 3 weeks plus conventional treatments of pressure ulcers, with that of conventional treatment alone in two groups of veterans with spinal cord paralysis who reside in Tehran. The study was a triple blind clinical trial conducted among 16 veterans who were randomly divided into case and control groups. The diameter of the ulcers was measured and staged by one person who was unaware of the subjects' allocation. Digital photographs of the ulcers were initially taken and a combination of conventional treatment [wet dressing, irrigation] with Low Level Laser and conventional treatment alone was performed for the case and control groups respectively. After 3 weeks the subjects were evaluated again and photographed with the same method. The results demonstrated a statistically significant enhancement of the healing process by combination of Low Level Laser with conventional treatments of pressure ulcers

[Quality of life in war related spinal cord injured women]

To assess health-related quality of life [HRQOL] in women who had suffered spinal cord injuries in the Iran-Iraq war [1980-1988]. A total of 35 female patients who had suffered spinal cord injury [SCI] in the war were entered into the study. Patients who gave their consent to participate in the study were asked to complete The Short Form of Health Survey questionnaire [SF-36]. The study achieved a response rate of 60% [21/35]. The mean age of participants was 41.95 [SD=12.9] years [ranging from 17 to 62 years]: 57.7% of the subjects were single and 28.6% were married. Compared to the normal population, quality of life was significantly lower in all subscales [p<0.05] studies except for Vitality [VI] and Role Functioning [RP]. The study showed that spinal cord injury was associated with a significant decline in quality of life