[Effect of exercise program and curcumin supplementation on serum level of immunoglobulin A in rats exposed to lead acetate]

Lead as an environmental pollutant can damage the immune system. This study was done to determine the effect of moderate-intensity exercise and Curcumin supplement on serum level of immunoglobulin A in rats exposed to lead acetate. In this experimental study, 46 male rats were allocated into six groups including; Control [C], vehicle [V], lead [L], lead and exercise [LE], lead and curcumin [LC], Lead+exercise+curcumin [LEC]. Animals in training groups ran on treadmill for 8 weeks [25- 64 minutes per daily, 15-22 meter/minute and 0% grade]. Animals in Lead, LE, LC and LEC groups were received lead acetate [20 mg/kg/bw] and vehicle animals were received ethyl oleat [30 mg/kg/bw] Intraperitoneally for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Rats in curcumin and LEC groups were received Curcumin [30mg/kg/bw], for 3 day per week for 8 weeks. IgA level were measured by single radial immuno diffusion method. Lead acetate significantly increased MDA levels at P<0.05 in animals. IgA level was 0.2, 0.41 and 0.47 mg/dL in Lead, LE and LEC groups [P<0.05]. The simultaneous use of endurance exercise training and curcumin due to increased IgA activity has beneficial effects against lead poisoning

[ effect of educational intervention on continuous breast feeding in low birth weight infants]

Human milk plays a vital role in growth and development of infants especially in low birth weight and premature neonates. Lack of mothers' sufficient knowledge and also inadequate support given could lead to failure in continuous breast feeding. This study was performed to determine the effects of interventional education on continuous breast feeding in low birth weight and premature newborns. In this interventional study, 55 mothers of low birth weight infants, hospitalized in neonatal ward at Amirkolah children hospital in Babol [Iran], were selected by convenience sampling method. The population study was randomly divided into two study groups marked as experimental group [n=26] and control group [n=29]. The data collection tools were a questionnaire including parent and infant demographic information and a recording sheet to register the type of infants' diet. Interventional education was given both theoretically and practically to those in experimental group following the evaluation of mothers and neonates regarding the mothers' learning needs about breast-feeding. The members of control group were only taken care of according to the hospital routine. All study subjects were followed for three months after discharge to assess their nutritional diet through asking the mothers about continuation or discontinuation of breast-feeding and delivery of necessary instructions to mothers in experimental group having problem with breast feeding and repetition of educational program if needed. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Three months of exclusively continuous breast-feeding in experimental group led to a significant difference between two groups [p=0.03]. The decline in progress of breast feeding during the similar period in control group was quite noticeable compared to experimental group. Based on findings, delivery of necessary education and counseling on breast feeding to mothers according to their needs could enhance the success of continuous breast feeding practice by mothers

Assessment of IVIG treatment in children and its complications [Babol; 1999-2004]

IVIG is used in patients incapable of producing antibodies and in autoimmune disorders. IVIG infusion rarely causes undesirable reactions due to the speed of infusion. So, this study was performed to determine the indications and complications of IVIG infusion. This descriptive study was performed on 265 patients, hospitalized in Amirkola pediatric hospital, needing IVIG infusions, from October 1999 to June 2004. Data was analyzed by SPSS. T-test, chi square and fisher exact test were used to compare drug complications based on age and speed of infusion in two genders. In this research, 265 patients with 871 infusions were studied. One hundred and thirty one patients [49.4%] were male and 134 [50.6%] were female. Two patients [0.7%] had autoimmune hemolytic anemia, one patient [0.3%] had ataxia telangectasia, 9 patients [3.4%] had refractory seizure, 2 patients [0.7%] had guillain-barre syndrome, 83 patients [31.3%] had immune thrombocytopenic purpura, 46 patients [17.3%] had kawasaki, 51 patients [19.2%] had immunodeficiency and 72 patients [27.1%] were premature neonates. Among the studied patients, 17 infusions [1.95%] had complications, which were mild in 14 patients [82.5%], moderate in 2 patients [11.7%] and severe in 1 patient [5.8%]. Complication was the same in both genders, and it had a significant difference with the speed of drug infusion [P<0.05]. The most common cause of IVIG infusion is immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Complications are usually mild and had relationship with the speed of drug infusion

[Role of discharge planning for mothers on growth and developmental indicators in LBW newborns]

Low birth weight [LBW] infants are susceptible to many diseases such as sepsis, growth and developmental disorders, and most of them need special care. This study was carried out to determine the effects of discharge planning for mothers on growth and developmental indicators in low birth weight infants in Amirkola hospital. In this study, 55 LBW infants and their mothers were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups with the random allocation technique [29 in control group and 26 in test group]. It was used a questionnaire including family demographic characteristics, information related to health condition of newborn, growth indicators [weight, height and head circumference] and developmental indexes [reflexes]. Discharge planning was performed in test group considering mother's learning needs, while the participants in the control group received usual services from nursing staff. Infants after discharge from hospital were taken to outpatient every month until three months in order to control growth and development indexes. Repeated measurement ANOVA was used to compare the growth indexes in two groups and Mann-Whitney U-test used to assess reflexes. According to the results, there was a significant difference between two groups in weight, length and head circumference indexes [p< 0.0001]. No differences were seen between two groups in moro, sucking, grasping reflexes. There was a clinically significant difference between two groups. On the basis of the results it could be claimed that discharge planning has a positive effect in continuity of care from hospital to home and preventive complication of prematurity and development of low birth weight infants