Dietary total antioxidant capacity and the risk of breast cancer: a case-control study

There is growing evidence that dietary antioxidants may have favourable effects in reducing cancer risk. In a case-control study we investigated the association of dietary total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and risk of breast cancer. Sociodemographic data, medical history and anthropometric measurements were collected from 275 women [100 breast cancer cases and 175 controls]. Participants' usual dietary intake was measured using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and their dietary TAC was estimated. An inverse, but non-significant, association was observed between dietary TAC and breast cancer risk. Multiple logistic regression models based on TAC of individual food groups showed that consumption of fruits and vegetables with higher TAC [micro molTE/100 g] was associated with a significantly decreased risk of breast cancer. Our study supports a protective effect of dietary antioxidants in relation to breast cancer risk. Food selection based on TAC of foods may be an effective strategy to modify the risk of cancer

[Effect of supplementation with grape seed extract [vitis vinifera] on serum lipid profiles in patient with type 2 diabetes]

Lipid abnormalities are a major cause of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the supplemental effects of grape seed extract on serum lipid profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was a randomized, triple-blind, clinical trial in which 48 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the grape seed extract supplement and the placebo group. The patients in the grape seed extract group received 200 mg/d grape seed extract for 8 weeks while the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and or the end of the 8[th] week of the study, 5 ml blood was collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C were measured. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to mean changes of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C. The results of the present study indicate that grape seed extract supplement has no effect on serum lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Mashhad, Northeast Iran

Hepatitis C is a disease with significant global impact. The distribution of hepatitis C virus [HCV] genotypes in Mashhad [the Northeast and the biggest city after the capital of Iran] is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes among HCV seropositive patients, and to study the relationship between types, virologic and demographic features of patients in Mashhad. Three hundred and eighty-two clinical specimens obtained from HCV-infected patients referred to Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad during a period of 2009 to 2010 were selected. HCV genotype was determined by Nested PCR amplification of HCV core gene using genotype specific primers. Totally, 299 patients were male [79.9%]. The most common HCV genotype was genotype 3a, with 150 [40%] of subjects. Genotype 1a was the other frequent genotype, with 147[39.2%] subjects. Frequency of genotypes for 1b, 5 and 2 was 41[10.9%], 13[3.4%] and 9[2.4%], respectively. Mix genotype including 1a+1b in 4 [1.04%], 1a+3a in 3 [0.8%] was found in 7 patients. Four percent out of these samples had an undetermined genotype. Among the hemophilia patient, there were 13[48.1%] genotypes as 1a, 3[11.1%] 1b and 10[37%] 3a, respectively. The dominant HCV genotype among patients living in Mashhad was 3a. This study gives added evidence of the predominant HCV genotypes in Iran

[Clinical education problems: the viewpoints of nursing and midwifery students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences]

Clinical education is a complicated process which may be affected by different factors and variables. Therefore, recognizing the current situation and problems is the first step to minimize these factors. The aim of this study was to determine the viewpoints of nursing and midwifery students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences about problems that they have encountered in clinical education. In this cross-sectional study, 59 bachelor nursing and midwifery students who were in their last semester were involved. The data were collected using a questionnaire with three parts: dempgraphic data; clinical education problems [measured by Likert scale]; and one open question related to clinical education problems. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS [ver.13] software. The most important problems in clinical education were lack of welfare facilities [71.2%], lack of proper clinical environments [39%], lack of educational aids [37.3%], lack of facilities in clinical environments [35.6%] and lack of skilled clinical trainers [35.6%]. According to our findings, it is recommended to provide enough facilities and equipment for students in clinical environments and also to employ expert clinical trainers to improve quality of education

[ effect of different methods of health education on knowledge, attitudes and practice of female students regarding menstrual hygiene in Bandar Abbas [2006]]

One of the fundamental ways to health promotion is training the hygiene. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education on the level of knowledge attitudes and practice of female students in Bandar Abbas city regarding the menstrual hygiene. This study was semi-experimental as type before and after. The number of sample was 400 female students on high school in Bandar Abbas city, that they collected by cluster sampling and two methods of training peer education and booklet compare with each other. Information was caught by questionnaire that to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of students. At the first of study accomplished pretest, then after training plans accomplished the post test. [3 months later]. Finally information analysis was performed with software as spss12. The results of this study indicated that there was significant difference between the mean score in knowledge, attitude and practice before and after training in two groups. The effect of peer education on this item was more than the other methods that caused to increase in knowledge and attitudes level in samples [p=0.000]. But despite increasing in mean score of practice there was no change in practice level and training with booklet just increased the level of knowledge. Therefore, it can be concluded that health education is effective on knowledge, attitudes and practice of students but health education providers would be able to come up with appropriate methods to empower and educate young girls to adopt necessary life skills

IUD continuation rate and the reasons for discontinuation in women referring to Bandar Abbas health centers, Iran

Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] is an effective treatment for many psychological disorders, mainly major depression and schizophrenia which is often associated with some complications such as hypertension, tachycardia arrhythmia and even myocardial infarction. Various methods have been used for prevention or control of these cardiovascular side effects. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of oral clonidine as premedication on hemodynamic response after ECT. This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 100 patients aged 15-50 years with ASA I and II who were candidates for ECT. Prior to ECT, patients were randomly divided to 2 equal groups. The first group [N=50] received oral clonidine and the second group [N=50] received placebo as premedication. After baseline measurement of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, similar induction of anesthesia was done in both groups. Then ECT was induced. The patients heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured again 2 minutes after termination of convulsion. Data was analyzed by t-test p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Regarding age, sex and baseline hemodynamic parameters, the patients were similar in both groups. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures after ECT were significantly lower in clonidine group [p<0.05], but there was no significant difference between heart rate after ECT in the two groups. According to these results, we recommend usage of clonidine as premedication before ECT

[Comparison of self and students' evaluation of faculty members in school of health of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences]

Comparing the results of students' evaluation and faculty members' self-evaluation can reveal the strengths and weaknesses of faculty members in teaching. The aim of this study was to compare students' evaluation of teaching and faculty members' self-evaluation in School of Health in Bandar Abbas. The population under study in this cross-sectional survey was faculty members and students of School of Health in Bandar Abbas University of Medical Sciences. Twenty faculty members selected through census sampling method evaluated themselves. In addition to self-evaluation, each faculty member was evaluated by 20 students who were selected randomly. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire consisted of 20 questions with 5 point Likert scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. The mean of the faculty members' self evaluation scores was 89.7 +/- 6.3 and the mean of this evaluation by students was 85.1 +/- 6.5 which demonstrated a significant difference. The correlation coefficient between the scores of self-evaluation and evaluation by students was 0.26. The scores of self-evaluation for most faculty members [75 percents], was higher than the scores of evaluation by students. The results of faculty members' self-evaluation are exploitable for improving the quality of teaching. It is recommended that faculty members take students' evaluation of teaching into consideration more seriously

IUD survival and its determinants; a historical cohort study

IUD is one of the safest and most widely used reversible methods of contraception. The purpose of this study was to determine IUD survival and reasons for early discontinuation in Bandar Abbas, south of Iran. Probability of IUD continuation rate and factors associated with discontinuation were assessed in a historical cohort study of 400 women records from March 2002 to February 2004. Data were collected from documents in health centers and interview with subjects. Life tables, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test and cox regression model were used for data analysis. The continuation rate of using IUD at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 month were 92%, 87%, 81%, 75%, 69%, 62%, 56% and 50%, respectively. Counseling and desire to becoming pregnant were associated with continuation rate [P < 0.03]. Furthermore the most important reasons for IUD discontinuation were side effects of IUD followed by pregnancy tendency, health concerns, expulsion, and unsatisfied with the method. Conclusion: This study suggested that women should be fully informed about side effects of IUD before inserting it as well as during its using