comparison between the efficacy of iranian and syrian hydrogel dressings on wound healing in rats

Following the production of Syrian gel, the scientists from Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, researchers in Yazd Atomic Energy Commission Radiation Processing Center in Iran, have manufactured a hydrogel wound dressing. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of these two hy-drogels. In this study, 32 male Wistar rats underwent a full thickness circular skin wound on the dorsum under light anesthesia. Animals were divided into two groups. Wounds in the 1[st] group were dressed by the Syrian hydrogel and in the 2[nd] group by Iranian gel. Wound contraction rate was determined on days 1, 3, 7 and 12 for comparing the wound healing rate in two groups. Laboratory investigation of blood samples, skin tensile strength and histopathology of repaired skins were also evaluated. Wound contraction ratio on 7[th] and 12[th] days in Iranian gel was significantly greater than Syrian gel group. According to histopathological evaluations, wound repair in 63.6% of specimens in Iranian gel group was excellent and in 35.5% good while in Syrian gel group, 54.5% of repaired wounds were graded as excellent and 1 case showed to be in a weak repairing state. A significant difference was noticed in wound repair patterns between the two groups. The differences in skin tensile strength in two groups on days 15 and 30 were not significant. According to our findings Iranian and Syrian hydrogels did not show any adverse effects on wound healing in rats and could be easily removed from the wound area without any trauma. However Iranian hydrogel dressings were more effective in wound repair regarding wound contraction rate and histopathological evaluation of the skin specimens in the region of healed wounds

intervention based on protection motivation theory in reducing skin cancer risk

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable, curable and treatable of all other cancers. In the past decade, the rates for most cancers, specially the skin cancers increased visibly. Sun exposure is a major causative factor for skin cancer for which prevention is possible. Protection motivation theory [PMT] provides one model for increasing healthy behavior through persuasive communication. We apply this theory for skin cancer prevention behavior. This was an experimental study. Participants were 360 female students from four high schools in Yazd city, Iran that divided in two groups [180 in case and 180 in control group]. A self-report questionnaire was used to assess the variables in the PMT model at pretest, post-test and follow-up. The questionnaire was distributed before the intervention [pre-test] and afterwards [post-test] and following at a 2 month lag. For data analysis ANOVA, T-test, Wilcoxon, Pearson's correlation and coefficient were used. A significant difference between all variables except fear was noted in the case and control groups in follow-up [p=0.00]. There was significant difference between mean grades score of all of variables in case group, in pre-test and follow up. No significant difference was seen between mean grade scores of variables in control group in pre-test and follow up. There is significant difference between using methods for prevention skin cancer in case and control group after intervention. Results support the effectiveness of a PMT-based intervention to change the attitude and behavior associated with skin cancer risk. Theory-based intervention can motivate people to alert their attitudes and behaviors regarding sun exposure

Dermatological problems in kidney recipients in Yazd Province, Iran

Kidney transplantation is one of the effective methods to treat kidney disease. In a kidney transplant, due to the use of many immunosuppressive drugs, the body is often subjected to various benign, premalignant and malignant dermatoses. The early diagnosis and effective treatment of such conditions can potentially reduce morbidity and mortality. To determine the distribution of dermatoses in patients who have received kidney transplants. This cross-sectional study was performed on 120 kidney transplant recipients in Yazd University Hospitals in two years. The patients were examined by a dermatologist and diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical observations. Biopsies and scraping of the lesions were taken whenever necessary. 120 evaluable patients included 84 males and 36 females with mean age of 32 years. A total of 116 patients developed dermatological symptoms, which included: hypertrichosis [78.3%], photosensitivity [70%], cushingoid face [60%], gingival hyperplasia [43.3%], warts [40%], pityriasis versicolor [33.3%], steroidal acne [26.6%], herpes simplex [13.3%] herpes zoster [10%], nonmelanoma cancer [10%], oral candidiasis [6.6%], striae [6.6%], actinic keratosis [6.6%] and sebaceous hyperplasia [3.3%]. Skin lesions are a significant problem in kidney transplant recipients. A careful monitoring of these patients is recommended in order to detect these lesions in early stages and treat them

Pattern of skin diseases in the central Iran, Yazd Province

The pattern of skin diseases differs from region to region based on geographical, racial and cultural circumstances. For the purpose of education and reeducation of physicians, it is necessary to have knowledge of the conditions and distribution of diseases. To elicit pattern of common skin diseases in the region of Central Iran, Yazd Province. Two separate descriptive studies were conducted in order to analyze the dermatoses seen in outpatients and inpatients at the Dermatology Department, Shahid Sadoughi Medical Science University, Yazd, Iran. Patient files who visited the dermatologists were reviewed. Diagnosis was coded, categorized, discussed and analyzed according to International Classification of Diseases, revision 10 [ICD-10]. Skin infections with 23.4% were the most common cause of referral to dermatology outpatients, followed by dermatitis 19.2%, acne 10.8%, melasma 7.8% and urticaria 5.3%. Melasma in women and psoriasis in men were significantly more common. In inpatient group skin infections were the most common 34.3%, followed by dermatitis 13.2%, drug reactions 11.2%, psoriasis 9.6% and malignant tumors. Psoriasis was significantly more common in men and viral infections [herpes zoster] in women. The high occurrence rate of skin infections and dermatitis in our study population requires further study in order to pinpoint its root causes. Improving the socio-economic status, environmental and personal hygiene, as well as specific instruction to the at-risk group can be beneficial

prevalence of hirsutism in adolescent girls in yazd, central Iran

Hirsutism is a distressing problem especially among girls. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of hirsutism and other hyper-androgenic symptoms in adolescent girls in Yazd, central Iran. Nine hundred high school girls [mean age of 17.26 and range of 15-19 years] were evaluated for prevalence of hirsutism and other hyper-androgenic syndromes. The selected girls were examined for the presence of hirsutism, acne, hypertrichosis, history of menstruation, and family history of known cases of hirsutism. Hirsutism was determined by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey index. Laboratory tests and ultrasound were requested for hirsute only. Among girls, 10.8% suffered from hirsutism. Other accompanying hyper-androgenic disorders were separately studied in two groups of hirsute and non-hirsute subjects. The most prevalent accompanying disorders were acne [42.7% vs 38.4%], hypertrichosis [42% vs 18.3%], first degree relatives' family history of hirsutism [25.5% vs. 7%], and menstrual irregularity [14.6% vs. 10.2%], respectively. In the hirsute group, based on the hormonal and ultrasound tests, the most prevalent revealed causes were polycystic ovary syndrome [60.8%], hyper-prolactinoma [7.2%], idiopathic hirsutism [28.9%], and undetermined [3.1%]. A high prevalence of hirsutism was observed which was more prevalent at higher ages in comparison to other societies showing that definition and scoring system of hirsutism need to be based on racial differences

Efficacy of Iranian hydrogel on wound healing in rat as an animal model

Hydrogels are one of the commonly used dressings for chronic ulcers. Nowadays, much therapeutics can be delivered to the wound or circulation by the gels. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Iranian hydrogel in wound healing in rat as an animal model. Thirty four Wistar male rats were anaesthetized and a full thickness circular skin wound was created by excising the dorsum of the rats. The animals were divided into two groups. In the experimental Ir gel group, the wounds were dressed by hydrogel and in the control NS group by conventional moist normal saline gauze. The wound areas were measured on days 1, 3, 7 and 12 for comparing the wound healing rate in the two groups. Laboratory investigation, skin tensile strength and histopathology of the healed tissues were also considered for evaluation. Mean percentages of wound contraction on the 3rd, 7th and 12th days were not significantly different between the two groups. The differences in skin tensile strength, in the two groups, on days 15 and 30 were not significant. Histopathologically, wound repair was excellent in 6 [60%], good in 3 [30%] and poor in 1 [10%] of specimens in control NS group while these figures were 6 [60%], 4 [40%] and 0 [0%] in the Ir gel group respectively and the difference was not statistically significant. The effect of Iranian hydrogel effect on wound healing in rats was identical to moist gauzes. As Iranian hydrogel did not have any adverse effects and was easily removed from the wound, it can be safely used for dressing wounds