Parent's learning strategies: a qualitative study on parents of preterm infants

This study aimed to understand the learning strategies of parents of preterm infants, hospitalized in NICU. This study was performed by qualitative research approach. Twelve participants including nine parents whose infants were admitted in NICU, two nurses and one physician, all selected by purposive sampling method were interviewed by a female expert occupational therapist. Data were gathered by semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed by inductive content analysis approach. Three subcategories emerged from data analysis expressed learning strategies of parents of preterm infants hospitalized in NICU. These subcategories were: Asking question, Getting help, Learning caring skills. Preterm infants' parents stated that they do not have enough ability and knowledge for managing their feelings and needs. So, they seek for resources of help and apply some special strategies for playing parental roles correctly

Epinephrine's effect in varying concentrations on the end artery organ in an animal model

To determine the concentration of epinephrine that causes end artery necrosis and ischemia. An experimental study. Animal Laboratory of Khordad Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from September 2007 to June 2008. This study was done on 54 ear flaps from 9 rabbits [9 [rabbits] x2 [ears] x3 [splits] =54] divided into three groups of 18 ear flaps each. Nine of the ear flaps were randomized as control and nine of them were randomized as study group. The different concentrations of epinephrine and lidocaine 1% were injected in study groups but only 1% lidocaine was injected in control groups. Study group 1 received 1/200000, group 2 received 1/100000 and group 3 received 1/500000 concentration of epinephrine respectively. There was no evidence of necrosis in the control and study groups 1 and 2. However, 4 out of 9 of the ear flaps showed clear evidence of tissue necrosis in group 3. Injecting epinephrine in 1/200000 and 1/100000 concentrations had no side effect for the end artery of the rabbit ear flaps, but 1/50000 concentration is shown that it can cause tissue necrosis. Further studies need to be done in order to find out the effects of epinephrine with the same concentrations on the human end artery

Comparing the effects of conventional method, pulse dye laser and erbium laser for the treatment of hypertrophic scars in Iranian patients

Hypertrophic scar is an elevated scar with ugly appearance that isn't acceptable even in reconstructive surgery. Unfortunately, there is no standard and effective treatment for it. Conventional treatments such as corticosteroid injection and garment usage have limited effectiveness. In recent year, laser is suggested for reduction of the volume and height of these scars. But in different studies, different results from very effective to ineffective were reported for this type of treatment. This study was a single blind randomized clinical trial that was done on three groups. In each group, 40 patients with hypertrophic scar were included. In group one PDL, group 2 Erbium laser and in group 3 corticosteroid were used. Scar improvement was assessed by the amount of decrease in Vancouver burn scar [VBS] score; the higher the decrease, the better the improvement. Although the mean VBS score significantly decreased in all three groups after treatment, the decrease in mean VBS score in group 3 was significantly lower than the decrease in mean VBS scores of groups 1 and 2 [P values were 0.037 and 0.041, respectively]. Some types of laser such as PDL and erbium can improve elevation and vascularity of hypertrophic scar. These types of treatment can use in hypertrophic scar management when vascularity and elevation of scar are unfavorable

Effect of D-penicillamine in prevention of post operative pelvic adhesion formation in rat

Adhesion formation after pelvic surgery is still a major cause of several morbidities such as infertility, pain, bowel obstruction and subsequent intra-operative complications. Our aim was to investigate the effects of dpenicillamine in preventing adhesion formation in rat uterine horn. This experimental trial was conducted on 30 rats. The rats were randomly assigned to two groups of 15. Measurable serosal injury was created using a standard technique. The rats in one of the two groups were given 17 mg/kg of d-penicillamine. All of the animals were operated on 4 weeks after surgery and adhesions were assessed and scored by an examiner who was blind to the test. Frequency of severe adhesions in control and case groups were 76 and zero percent, respectively. Total scores of adhesions were found to be significantly reduced in the d-penicillamine treatment group when compared with control group [P = 0]. This study showed that penicillamine can decrease the chance of post-operative intra-peritoneal adhesion formation