[Evaluation of treatment effect of anti-tuberculosis drugs on the quality of life among tuberculosis patients admitted in Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran]

Despite the possibility of curing TB with medical therapy, it has a sizable impact on the lives of afflicted patients. This study aimed to evaluate of treatment effect of anti-tuberculosis drugs on the quality of life on tuberculosis patients admitted in Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran. The investigation was a before and after study. It was done in 2006-2007 by fill in Persian translated questionnaire of WHOQOL- BREF on 46 pulmonary or extra pulmonary TB infected patients. Paired samples T-test was performed to find out the differences. After 8 weeks of treatment, mean score elevation was significant in physical [15.76 +/- 23.89, p<0.001], psychological [7.84 +/- 17.57, p=0.004], and social [6.83 +/- 19.48, p=0.02] domains. It was not significant in environmental domain [2.15 +/- 8.48, p=0.09]. Mean score elevation at the discharge time in physical, psychological, social and environmental domains were: [5.65 +/- 16.56, p=0.09], [11.69 +/- 19.22, p=0.001], [1.04 +/- 8.60, p=0.41], and [4.37 +/- 17.77, p=0.1], respectively. In our study, after treatment of tuberculosis, patient's physical, psychological and social -not environmental- domains of quality of life were elevated, but at the discharge, there was a significant elevation in physical and psychological domains. These results emphasize the importance of patient's treatment at the first days of admission, with special attention to social and environmental domains

Is community-based participatory research [CBPR] useful? a systematic review on papers in a decade

Community-based participatory research [CBPR] has been applied by health researchers and practitioners to address health disparities and community empowerment for health promotion. Despite the growing popularity of CBPR projects, there has been little effort to synthesize the literature to evaluate CBPR projects. The present review attempts to identify appropriate elements that may contribute to the successful or unsuccessful interventions. A systematic review was undertaken using evidence identified through searching electronic databases, web sites, and reference list checks. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed by reviewers. Levels of evidence, accounting for methodologic quality, were assessed for 3 types of CBPR approaches, including interventional, observational, and qualitative research design as well as CBPR elements through separate abstraction forms. Each included study was appraised with 2 quality grades, one for the elements of CBPR and one for research design. Of 14,222 identified articles, 403 included in the abstract review. Of these, 70 CBPR studies, that 56 intervention studies had different designs, and finally 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings show that collaboration among community partners, researchers, and organizations led to community-level action to improve the health and wellbeing and to minimize health disparities. It enhanced the capacity of the community in terms of research and leadership skills. The result provided examples of effective CBPR that took place in a variety of communities. However, little has been written about the organizational capacities required to make these efforts successful. Some evidences were found for potentially effective strategies to increase the participant's levels of CBPR activities. Interventions that included community involvement have the potential to make important differences to levels of activities and should be promoted

Intraocular lens power determination in 10 patients with previous radial keratotomy with or without astigmatic keratotomy: a case series

To compare results of different methods for true corneal power determination and intraocular lens [IOL] power calculation formulas in 10 eyes of 7 patients with previous radial keratotomy [RK] with or without astigmatic keratotomy.In this case series study, we determined the corneal power of 10 eyes of 7 patients who had undergone RK with or without astigmatic keratotomy with two methods: the contact lens method [CLM] and the mean keratometry of the 3 mm zone in topography. In the next step, the IOL power for these eyes was calculated with the 3 formulas of SRK II, SRK T, and Holladay II; the latter was used for the IOL selection. Refractive results were determined 3 month after surgery. According to the rule that 1.5 diopter [D] change in IOL power results in 1.0 D change in a patient's refraction at the spectacle plane, we estimated the manifest refraction of these eyes with other formulas and compared them with the results achieved by Holladay II formula. Using the CLM and Holladay II formula, the postoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent in 8 eyes ranged from -3.00 to +2.00 D. Both CLM and the mean keratometry of the 3 mm zone in topography lead to a greater degree of hyperopia after cataract surgery with SRK II formula than SRK T, and with SRK T than Holladay II. The mean spherical equivalent with mean keratometry of the 3 mm zone in topography and Holladay II formula was 0.08 D, and with CLM and Holladay II formula was -0.05 D. In this study, it seemed that after RK, the mean keratometry of the 3 mm zone in topography gives a better estimate of true corneal power compared with CLM, and that the Holladay II formula brings results closer to emetropia compared with SRK II and SRK T formulas