Association Between Oxidative Stress, Serum Antioxidant Status and Vitamin D in Asthmatic Children

@#Introduction: The role of vitamin D in prevention of many diseases have been confirmed by many studies recently. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of oxidative and anti-oxidative markers after administration of vitamin D in asthmatic children. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study has been done on 60 asthmatic children who randomly divided into two groups. One group group received a single dose of vitamin D (5000 ng/ml) and another group received placebo with the same dose in the form of prescribed vitamin D. The levels of 25 (OH) D were measured at the baseline and also levels of vitamin D, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and Total Oxidative Capacity (TOC) were measured 10 days after prescription single dose of vitamin D. Results: The amount of Vitamin D at baseline in two drug and placebo groups were similar but at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 54.8±20.92 significantly higher than placebo group with 30.73±12.98. The GPx1 levels at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 44.2±30.9 significantly more than placebo group with 29.5±12.9. Overall TOC amount at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 15.29±3.38 IU was similar to placebo group with 15.06±3.53 IU. The levels of vitamin D in rural children was significantly more than urban children. Conclusion: The results showed that, vitamin D could significantly increase the amount of GPx1, hence it can be used as an appropriate drug in the treatment of asthmatic children.

[Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia among 2 to 12 year-old children in Ardabil, Iran]

Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection is a common bacterial infection in humans. Approximately half of the people throughout the world are infected by this gastric microbial pathogen. The outcome of H. pylori infection varies from gastritis to peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers and gastric malignancies. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia, and the possible association between these two variables among children aged 2-12 years from Ardabil, Northwest Iran. In this analytical and cross-sectional study, we randomly selected 960 children that ranged in age from 2-12 years that referred to pediatric clinics in Ardabil during February, 2011 to February, 2012. Patients' blood and stool samples were collected to assess for H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia. H. pylori infection was evaluated by the Helicobacter pylori Stool Exam Antigen Test [HPAT]. To determine the presence of iron deficiency anemia, we measured patients' serum levels of Hemoglobin[Hb], Serum Iron[SI], Ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity[TIBC]. Data were analyzed by SPSS [version 18] software. Of the 960 participants, we detected H. pylori infection in 360 [37.5%] cases, 140 [38.9%] were males and 220 [61.1%] were females. Iron deficiency anemia was present in 80 [7.3%] cases. Of these, only 25 [6.9%] were positive for both H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia. This study confirmed a high prevalence of H. pylori infection among 2-12 year-old children. We observed a significant relationship between H. pylori infection and gender [p=0.001]. There was no significant association between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia [p=0.278]

[Short-time outcome predictors of bipolar disorder type I in children and adolescents]

This study aimed to evaluate the three and six month clinical and demographic outcome predictors [recurrence rate, the rate of hospitalization, severity of illness and recovery rates] in a group of children and adolescents with type I bipolar disorders. The participants of this longitudinal and prospective study were 80 children and adolescents admitted in Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran with a diagnosis of type I bipolar disorder. Consecutive referrals were included in a prospective cohort. The participants were evaluated at admission, discharge, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months, using demographic questionnaire, Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Persian Version [K-SADS-PL-PV], Young Mania Rating Scale [Y-MRS], Children Depression Inventory [CDI], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], and Clinical Global Impression [CGI]. The Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regressions were used for data analysis. The 6-month follow-up showed that there was a positive correlation between the severity of mania with male gender [p=0.01] and the severity of mania at admission [p=0.04]. The rate of recurrence at the 6-month follow-up was correlated [p=0.05, r=0.22] with psychosis at admission. The duration of untreated disorder [p=0.03] had a positive correlation with the severity of global impairment at the 6 month follow-up. This study confirms the role of some demographic and clinical features in predicting the course of disease and response to treatment

Status and strategies for improving nursing education in view of nursing students in Ardebil University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Development of each community was affected by the trained humans of the community and identifying of the factors in academic achievement and focusing on them is a step towards sustainable development of society

There is no doubt that assessing of the existing educational situation can beneficial effects in promoting the quality of nursing education and Understanding problems of clinical training in the profession will be the first step to improve education quality

Methods: This study was a descriptive - cross sectional analysis and data was collected with a questionnaire designed by the researchers that its validity and reliability were reviewed and approved. Statistical Society of study included 100 nursing students and the study. After completing the questionnaire, data analyzed with using SPSS v.16 and Chi Square Test

Results: 56 students were female and 44 students were male, 69 nursing students evaluated that their interest to nursing is high and 54 students evaluated that the current educational evaluation methods are an appropriate that there was a significant difference in terms of gender. 62 percent of students Assessed that skill of teachers in clinical work were very well and 23 percent of students assessed that suitability of the work amount and facility in field was poor. Priorities offered by students to improve the current situation of clinical education, including creating the opportunities of nursing care from admissions to discharge process for students and providing appropriate feedback to students

Conclusion: It seems nursing clinical education requires providing comprehensive facilities and equipment and review of clinical tools and processes of clinical evaluation

On the relationship between coping strategies and mental health of diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common chronic illnesses which endanger mental health. The present study was planned to assess the relationship between mental health of diabetic patients and their coping strategies. In this cross-sectional study 193 patients who were referred to diabetes clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital were selected by available sampling method in Ardabil city [north western part of Iran] in 2006. Samples were assessed by General Health Questionnaire-28 and Folkman-Lazarus questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 software, using logistic regression analysis and independent t tests. Fifty four percents of diabetic patients were suspected to have a mental disorder and need more diagnostic assessments. Escape-avoidance [P<0.001], confronting [P<0.01] and plan-full problem solving coping strategies [P<0.01] could predict the mental health in diabetic patients. Inappropriate and emotion-based coping strategies throw patients in vicious cycle of medical and mental illnesses; for example, escape-avoidance method could predict the mental health in diabetic patients