[Prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Taleghani hospital in Tehran]

Malnutrition in hospital increases the mortality of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and related risk factors in hospitalized patients. This descriptive study was carried out on 446 patients [217 males, 229 females] during 6 months, admitted to the Taleghani hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2005. Anthropometric measurements and previous admission to hospital in previous 6 months for each patient was recorded. Mild, moderate and severe malnutrition were considered as BMI=18-20 kg/m[2] and TSF, or MAMC<10th, or weight loss<5%; as BMI=16-18kg/m[2] and TSF, or MAMC<5th, or weight loss 5-10% and severe as BMI<16kg/m[2] and TSF, or MAMC<5th or weight loss>10% in previous 6 months respectively. The prevalence rate of malnutrition as a general was 52% with following subdivision: 14%, 10% and 28% in mild, moderate and severe, respectively. The highest prevalence of malnutrition observed in gastrointestinal ward, males, those aged 18-29 year and patients with secondary and high school education. In malnourished patients, the prevalence of TSF, MAC and MAMC <5th were significantly more than of well-nourished subjects [P<0.05]. Increase BMI per unit decreased the risk of malnutrition by 17% [OR: 0.83; CI: 0.79-0.87]. Malnutrition was 64% higher in patients with 1 >/= gastrointestinal disturbances, compared with those without it and 2.1 higher in patients with 2 >/= -hospitalized readmission, compared with subjects without readmission in previous 6 month. Odds ratio of at least one hospitalized admission in previous 6 month was 1.64 in patients with MAC <5th, compared with those with MAC 50-75th [P<0.017]. This study showed that Malnutrition upon hospitalization is common in Tehran. BMI, gastrointestinal disturbances, and readmission were associated with malnutrition

effect of exercise on level of general health of pregnant women referred to a prenatal-care-clinic of Baghiatallah hospital

Prenatal care is one of the most confident and basic services to protect fcto-maternal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical exercise on level of general health of pregnant women. This was a quasi-experimental clinical trial study. The research samples included 60 primigravid women referred to the prenatal-care clinic of Baghiatallah hospital in Tehran. The participants were randomly divided to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained for 1.5-2 hours in groups with 3 to 4 members and then they began to practice. No training was performed for control group. Level of general health of two groups was investigated by general health questionnaire [GHQ-28], before and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by analytic and descriptive statistical testes. Sixty primigravid women with average age of 26/11 years and average gcstational age of 8/13 weeks participated in the study. The education level of majority of participants was highschool diploma and they have no history of exercise during pregnancy. Before intervention, the total scores for GHQ were 38/06 and 29/46 in experimental and control groups, respectively. After intervention, the total scores were 19/2 and 27/5 in experimental and control groups, respectively. T test showed a significant difference between two groups his before and after the intervention [p<0/05]. The mean scores for all dimension of general health showed significant difference between two groups of study [p<0/05]. Results showed the positive effects of physical exercises on physical and psycho-social dimension of general health of pregnant women

[Relationship between sleep quality and body mass index in chemical warfare victims with bronchiolitis obliterans]

Background: sleep is one of the basic requirements of human and any disruption in the normal flow of sleep, in addition to causing psychological problems, can also reduce a person's performance

Objective: This study was aimed to determine the relationship between the sleep quality and body mass index in chemical warfare victims with bronchiolitis obliterans

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the respiratory clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital in winter of 2007. A total of 93 victims of chemical warfare with bronchiolitis obliterans referred to the respiratory clinic were selected by nonprobability and convenience sampling method. Body mass index, as a variable impact on quality of sleep, was evaluated for its relationship with sleep quality. Sleep quality was measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistics including Spearman's rank correlation, chi-square test, and the independent-samples t-test

Findings: Over 95% of subjects had undesirable sleep quality and the rest [4.4%] with desirable sleep quality. The mean BMI was 26.68 +/- 3.88. Of total population, 65.6% were overweight or obese. There was no significant correlation between sleep quality and BMI [P>0.05]. A significant correlation between the psychological disorders and undesirable sleep quality was found [P<0.05]

Conclusion: According to the data obtained, future studies regarding the psychological disorders and treatment protocols to improve the quality of sleep in chemical warfare victims are recommended