[Correlation between drug use, alcohol, smoking and psychiatric drugs with the academic progress in university students in Bam city]

Addiction is a modern social issue, especially in countries like Iran. One of the side effects of substance abuse, it is its negative impact on the academic performance of students. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between drug use, alcohol, smoking and psychiatric drugs with the academic progress in university students in Bam city. In this descriptive-correlational study, 760 students of Islamic Azad University, School of Nursing and the Payamenoor were randomly selected in bam city. Data were collected by questionnaire "Drug Use Questionnaire" that consisted of two parts. The first part included 5 questions about demographic characteristics and the second part consisted of 12 questions on smoking, psychiatric drugs, alcohol and drugs. Validity of the questionnaire was measured by content validly [by asking 10 experts people] and reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 88.0. Collected data was analyzed by the software SPSS/17. The drug use in students in psychiatric drugs was 13.8%, in alcohol was10.8%, in drugs this value was 9.9% and finally in tobacco was5.7%. Average score for the previous semester and final semester of students with use cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and psychiatric medications than other students were significantly lower [P <0.001]. Usage of smoking, alcohol, drugs and psychiatric medications in the students was significant. Employing these drugs has negative effects on students' achievement. Therefore, university is authorized for prevention and treatment of students. This certainly will lead to a much healthier society

[Survey the relationship between urinary tract infections and nursing interventions in elderly who are resident in Kahrizak nursing home]

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections in elderly people in nursing homes and hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between urinary tract infections and nursing interventions in elderly residents in Kahrizak nursing home. This descriptive- analytical study was done on 256 elderly men and women with an average age 76.03 +/- 8/32 in 2010. Sampling was done through simple random among elderly above 60 years old who were resident in Kahrizak nursing home. Data were collected through a questionnaire which is made by researcher and urine culture. For data analysis, SPSS 17, the chi-square and fisher's exact test were used. The significant level of P<0.05 was considered. 34% [87 patients] of elderly were diagnosed with urinary tract infections. 74.3% elderly men and 46.9% of elderly women who had the foley catheter had positive urine culture [P=0.001]. The prevalence of UTI in elderly people who washed the area around of catheter with water and antiseptic solution were respectively 47.2% and 35.5% which was statistically significant [P=0.042]. The results of this study indicated that the prevalence of UTI in elderly who were received standard nursing care was less than from those who didn't receive these interventions, whereas by the accomplishment of standard nursing care, the frequency of UTI in elderly can be reduced.

[Assessment of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in elderly resident in nursing homes in Tehran]

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of disability and death in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in elderly resident in nursing homes in Tehran. This descriptive study was conducted with 310 elderly men and women above 65 years in elderly house in Tehran. A sample was chosen with random clustering. Data was collected by questionnaire which included demographic questions [5 questions] and "Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease Questionnaire" [7 questions]. Later section included, history of heart disease and medications, family history of heart disease, smoking, physical activity and exercise. Validity was measured by content validity index and reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient [0.88]. In addition, other data such as height and weight, blood pressure, blood lipids [cholesterol, triglycerides] and fasting blood glucose were collected. All statistics were computed using the SPSS/15. Findings showed that mean age of sample was 75/25 +/- 7/98. Prevalence of risk factors for high cholesterol [P<0.001], high triglyceride [P<0.05], diabetes [P<0.05], inactivity [P<0.001], lack of exercise [P<0.05], obesity [P<0.001], systolic blood pressure and diastolic, was higher in women than in men, whereas smoking was higher in men than in women [P<0.001]. Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in nursing homes in Tehran is high. According to findings of this study, it can be concluded that, elderly women were more exposed than elderly men to risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Appropriate training toward their lifestyle change to prevent this disease and its complications is necessary

[Comparison of military and civilian life style of people with hypertension]

One of the main effective factors of development of hypertension in people is lifestyle. The aim of this study was to compare military and civilian life style of people with hypertension. This descriptive-comparative study on 200 patients with hypertension was conducted in Tehran. Convenience sampling method was used to select hypertensive patients referred to the military hospitals and civilian hospitals. Data was collected by "Hypertension Lifestyle Inventory" in four main dimensions [nutritional status 36 items, stress 13 items, smoking 9 items and physical activity 10 items]. Validity of the inventory was measured by content validity and reliability by test re-test [r=0.83]. The blood pressure device calibration was measured based on company manual. For collecting data, blood pressure was measured two times and data was analyzed by SPSS/17. Findings showed that lifestyle in the field of nutrition, physical activity, stress and smoking in the sample is not appropriate. In this study, factors such as marital status, education, nutrition and physical activity were significant with hypertension [P<0.05]. The results on the importance and urgency of intervention measures for change in lifestyle are emphasized. Therefore, educational programs in order to make lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, regular exercise programs, diet modification is necessary

[Prevalence of urinary tract disorders in residents of Kahrizak elderly house]

Urinary tract infection is one of the most prevalent complains among elderly in primary care centers. The purpose of this study was to assess urinary tract disorders and prevalence of urinary tract infection in residents of Kahrizak elderly House. In this cross-sectional study, 142 men and 114 women [mean age: 76.03 +/- 8.32 years] were randomly selected for the study. Data were gathered using a questionnaire. Weight and height of the participants was measured and urine cultures were ordered. Data were analyzed using ?[2] and Fisher's exact test. The P<0.05 denoted statistical significance. Findings showed that 34% of elderly had urinary tract infection. Of those, 55% [46 cases] were women and 45% [41 cases] were men. Prostate hypertrophy [32.5%] and gyneacologic disorders [16.9%] were the most diagnosed disorders [P<0.05]. The prevalence of urine tract infection in elderly with urinary system disorders is high. Recognizing at risk elderly and referring them to the health care centers can prevent urinary tract infection and its complications

[Opinion of high school students of Kerman towards affecting on narcotics tendency [2005]]

Iran is the most dangerous region in the world due to high consumption and confiscation of narcotic substances and also the growth of addiction. The recognition of affecting factors on addiction requires a qualitative study on high risk people in which even the hidden aspects of addiction pathology could be investigated. To identify the viewpoint of high school students towards affecting factors on addiction tendency. This was a qualitative study performed in 2005 using brain storming in problem finding workshops on 352 students in 9 high schools, selected in stratified randomized sampling model in Kerman. The data were conceptually analyzed considering words, phrases and concepts. The most frequent fields were Finance [20.1%], Family [19.1%] and Relationships [14.8%] among those phrases like youth high pocket money of rich family, contraband commerce as an easy job and abuse of children in drug consignment were new concepts cited in relation to earlier fields. Categories such as Knowledge, Attitudes, Multimedia and Education were found in 8.9, 8.9, 7.9, 6, and 5.7% of declarations, respectively. Positive attitudes, faulty knowledge of therapeutic use of opium, gathering session of noble youths and university entrance exam were among the recorded phrases cited in recent categories. Other categories were seen in less than 5% of phrases. Considering the economic and social distortion due to the change of values, social status and personality patterns, the capacity building in augmentation of personal, social and cultural protective factors in whole population in field by addressing the internal stratus of values and attitudes are proposed

[Effect of the dorsal raphe nucleus electrical stimulation on evoked response of the IV layers and V barrel cortical neurons in rat]

Seretonergic pathway is one of the neuromodulatory mechanisms which mainly originates from dorsal raphe nucleus [DRN]. In order to explore the role of serotonin on sensory processing, we investigated the effect of DRN stimulation on response properties of the IV layer and V neurons of whisker related area of rat somatosensory cortex. In this study twenty adult male Wistar rats [250-350gr] were used. DRN was stimulated at 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400ms before principal or adjacent whiskers deflection individually or in a condition test paradigm. For assessing the effect of DRN stimulation on inhibitory receptive field of barrel neurons, adjacent whisker was also deflected 20ms before principal whisker deflection. DRN stimulation decreased the On response magnitude of layer V neurons to principal whisker deflection [p<0.05]. The On response latency of the layer IV of neurons increased when DRN was stimulated 200 or 400ms before principal whisker deflection [p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively]. DRN stimulation had no effect on both the On response magnitude and latency of neurons to adjacent whisker deflection. We observed a decrease in inhibitory effect of adjacent whisker deflection on the magnitude of neuronal response to principal whisker deflection on the IV layer when DRN was stimulated 200ms before principal whisker deflection [p<0.05]. Our results suggest that DRN have a modulatory effect on information processing in somatosensory cortex of rats

Retinal pigment epithelial cell culture and cooperation of L-carnitine in reducing stress induced cellular damage

To show that L-carnitine [LC] is capable of reducing non-oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelial cells [RPE] of the human eye. The RPE cells were cultured from donor eyes, obtained immediately after post-mortem. The interaction between bovine serum albumin [BSA] and non-oxidative [sodium hydroxide and methyl methane sulphonate] stressinducers was observed by recording the change in the absorption profiles of the interacting molecules after incubation in light for 5 hours and after treatment with LC. The isolated and cultured RPE cells from human eyes were treated with sodium hydroxide or methyl methane sulphonate and/or LC for 5 hours under light, and the qualitative effect on cell morphology after treatment was analyzed by staining the cells with Giemsa and visualization by light microscopy. The cell morphology was also qualitatively analyzed by scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. L-carnitine and stress-inducers interact with BSA and bring about changes in the spectral profile of the interacted molecules. Light microscopy as well as SEM show that the changes in the cellular morphology, induced by 100 micro M concentrations of non-oxidative stress-inducers, are considerably reduced in the presence of 100 micro M LC. However, L-carnitine alone does not cause any qualitative damage to the cell morphology during incubation under similar conditions. The results give a preliminary indication that LC has the ability to reduce the changes brought about by the non-oxidative stress-inducers in the RPE cells in culture

Clinical manifestations of hypokalemia

To observe the clinical manifestations of hypokalemia resulting from acute watery diarrhoea. A descriptive study. Paediatrics department, Isra University Hospital Hyderabad, Sindh from April 2004 to April 2005. Children less than 5 years of age with acute watery diarrhoea and vomiting who were found to have hypokalemia were included in this study. Children with chronic diarrhoea [more than 14 days duration] or hypokalemia of any other cause such as Bartter's syndrome etc. were excluded. Children with paralytic ileus due to other causes such as anti-diarrhoeal drugs etc. were also excluded. Serum potassium levels were checked at Isra University research laboratory by the standard ion selective electrode method. Hypokalemia was defined as serum potassium level of less than 3.5 mEq/l. The clinical presentations of children with hypokalemia were recorded and statistically analysed. During study period, 350 children with acute watery diarrhoea were admitted. Of these, 130 [37.14%] were hypokalemic and were included in this study, whereas 220 [62.85%] children were normokalemic [normal serum potassium level] and therefore were excluded from study. Abdominal distention was the commonest manifestation in 110[84.61%] children followed by head flop in 90[69.23%] cases, diminished bowel sounds in 55[42.30%], paralytic ileus in 30 [23.07%], inability to sit, stand or walk in 45[34.61%] and aphonia or dysphonia in 15[11.53%] children. Five children [3.84%] with hypokalemia had no clinical manifestation. Examination revealed weakness of limbs in 35 children, out of which 30 children had quadriparesis and 5 had paraparesis. Hypokalemia is an important electrolyte disturbance with acute diarrhoea. It may have serious clinical manifestations like abdominal distention, paralytic ileus, and can even lead to cardiac arrhythmias and arrest. Although, it can have fatal morbidities, timely intervention yields encouraging results