[Evaluation of the rate of occupational exposure to wheat flour dust in wheat flour mill factories in Hamedan]

Wheat flour is a complex organic particle containing an array of different allergic and antigenic components. Exposure to flour dust may result in a variety of respiratory problems such as allergic responses, occupational asthma and allergic rhinitis. The aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of inhalable dust and gliadin of flour dust as an important wheat flour allergen and to determine the relationship between concentrations of flour dust and that of gliadin in the air breathed by the workers in different workstations of wheat flour mill factories. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. 64 air samples were collected by means of universal air sampling pumps. Inhalable flour dust density was measured by gravimetric method and flour dust gliadin concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The mean flour dust density was higher than that of permissible limit in all wheat flour mill factories [1.64-4.68 mg/m3] and showed a significant positive relation with gliadin concentration [R2 = 0.708, p<0.05] in all factories. In addition, Inhalable dust density and gliadin concentration have been different in different stations of the factories and were highest in flour packing workstation. This study revealed the density of Inhalable flour dust had been higher than the level of permissible limit [0.5 gr/m3] and the workers in Hamadan flour mills are exposed to a dangerous level of flour dust, and inhale a high level of gliadin in all flour packing unites of the factories in Hamedan

[Comparison of the effects of propofol versus thiopental induced anesthesia on postoperative nausea and vomiting]

Postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] are common and unpleasant complications. Various drugs are used for prevention and treatment of PONV. But it stands to reason to overcome this problem by the anesthetic drug itself. In this study, the effects of propofol versus thiopental on PONV were evaluated. This was a double blind clinical trial. In a period of 8 months, ninety patients [aged between 18-50 years] who had been scheduled for elective surgery [ASA physical status I] were entered into this study and randomly divided into two comparable groups; group A received 2 mg/kg propofol IV and group B received 5 mg/kg thiopental sodium for induction of anesthesia. Each group included 45 patients. The patients were observed for 12 hours for PONV [2 hours after operation in the recovery room and 10 hours in the surgery ward. The results were processed with SPSS soft ware and analyzed by means of student t-test. The results of this study showed that in propofol group the number of episodes of nausea and vomiting was less than that of thiopental group which revealed a significant difference [p < 0.05]. The mean age of the patients was 29.4 +/- 9. 51.12% of the patients were female and 48.86% were male which revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Propofol is more beneficial than thiopental for the prevention of PONV and it is recommended to be used for induction of anesthesia, when PONV may be life threatening

[Assessment of the effect of addition of propofol to remifentanil on seizure duration, homodynamic change and recovery from anesthesia]

General anesthesia is required to perform ECT. The hypnotic drug used for induction of anesthesia in ECT may affect the duration of seizure and recovery from anesthesia and also homodynamic change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of remifentanil to propofol for induction of anesthesia in ECT on seizure duration, homodynamic change and recovery from anesthesia. Twenty ASA 1 and 2 patients scheduled for ECT underwent induction of anesthesia for two times randomly with remifentanil-propofol [study group] or saline-propofol [control group]. ECT induced via bilateral electrodes and after injection of 0.5 Mg atropine, 50 Microgram remifentanil [study group] or 3 ML saline and 1Mg propofol, 0.5 Mg/Kg succinylcoline [control group]. Then the patients were oxygenated with 100% oxygen via face mask. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were measured before induction of anesthesia and 1, 5 and 10 minutes after termination of seizure. Duration of seizure, time of opening of the eyes on command after anesthesia and time for sitting and walking 10 meters without help were also measured and recorded. Data were introduced into SPSS soft ware and analyzed by means of T test and ANOVA. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Systolic and diastolic pressures as well as heart rate increased after induction of seizure in both methods but this increase was significantly higher in control group. Duration of seizure was the same in two groups. The time for opening of the eyes on command and sitting without help after termination of seizure were similar in both groups. Our study shows addition of remifentanil to propofol for induction of anesthesia in ECT has no effect on duration of seizure and recovery from anesthesia but modifies the homodynamic response to ECT

Prevalence and Causes of stick injuries, in medical personnels of Kurdistan University's hospitals and dealing with such injuries due to contaminated sharp tools in 1383

Needle stick injuries can cause transmission of 3 important blood viruses [HCV-HBV-HIV] to health care personnel. Generally these injuries inflict loss of life and property on the health care personnel, so that the medical associations of different industrial countries have scheduled important plans in order to take care of patients, provide personnel education and guarantee the health of physicians and medical staff. Considering the prevalence rate of blood-borne diseases in African and Asian countries, as well as our country, it is important to scrutinize the reasons and prevalence rate of these injuries to take proper preventive measures. This study was conducted with the aim of determination of the prevalence rate of needle stick injuries in the personnel of health care centers of Kurdistan's medical university. This descriptive-Analytic study was conducted in the university's hospitals. A questionnaire including necessary information was designed and sent to the personnel of the hospitals. The sampling method was census. 847 individuals filled out the questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by means of SPSS statistical software. The findings of this study showed that the majority [73.7%] of the subjects were female. The mean age was [36.1 +/- 7.07] years old. Most of the subjects had the bachelor degree [47.9%]; [74.5%] of them were nurses, 5.5% midwives, 3.3% anesthetists, 7.7% personnels of the laboratory and 9% were the radiology staff. About 57.5% of the subjects had experienced splashing of blood or secretions into their mouth or eyes. In most cases, needles and angiocatheters were responsible for injuries in 43.77% and 35.3% of the cases respectively. According to the staffs opinion the most important predisposing factors included haste and being inundated with work. There was a significant difference between professions and needle stick injuries [p<0.05]. Prevention of needle stick injuries should be regarded a priority. Providing safe medical equipments regardless of their costs, in addition to necessary education for health care staff, should be taken into consideration. Special centers for treatment and follow up of the injured personnel should be allocated