[Sonographic evaluation of nasal tip skin stickness among patients undergoing rhinoplasty with or without defatting]

Background: Skin thickness has an important role in aesthetic results of rhinoplasty. Currently, some surgeons employ defatting technique to reduce subcutaneous tissues and decrease the thickness of skin during rhinoplasty

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the nasal tip skin thickness with and without nasal tip skin defatting technique and to further evaluate the long term effects of this technique on rhinoplasty patients by sonography

Methods: In a case-control study, 111 rhinoplasty candidates were evaluated at a university referral hospital in northern Iran during January to August 2010. Before operation, all patients were investigated through physical exams. Later, the skin thickness of the tip and supra tip were measured by sonography. Patients with moderate to thick nasal skin were randomly allocated to case and control groups for defatting. Sonography results of 44 patients, obtained one and 12 months after the surgery, were compared with those found in two groups before the surgery using Wilcoxon test and Repeat Measure test

Findings: A total of 111 patients with mean age of 25.1 +/- 7.6 years including 16 [14.4%] men and 95 [86.6%] women were enrolled. Based on physical examinations, the skin type was thin in 20 [18.9%], moderate in 68 [59.4%], and thick in 23 cases [21.7%]. Considering the sonography results, the skin type was thin in 7 [6.8%], moderate in 83 [80.6%], and thick in 13 cases [12.6%]. There was no significant difference in the thickness of tip and supra tip skin between defatted cases and control group measured before surgery and within the follow-up period

Conclusion: Based on results found through this study, Sonography is a precise instrument in assessing the nasal skin thickness before rhinoplasty. Defatting technique was shown to be of no effect on reduction of skin thickness of tip and supra tip in moderate or thick skins following rhinoplasty

[ relationship between allergic rhinitis and chronic otitis media]

Allergic inflammation in upper airways can act as a predisposing factor for infectious ear diseases. There are some evidences about the role of allergic rhinitis [AR] in chronic otitis media with effusion, but its role in establishing Chronic Supportive Otitis Media [CSOM] has not been clearly shown. To assess the relationship between allergic rhinitis and CSOM in patients referring to Amiralmomenin hospital, Rasht, Iran. 61 adult patients with established CSOM were considered as case group and 58 patients with minor head and neck trauma as control group, they were evaluated for the presence of allergic rhinitis. All case and control group were over 15 years old and underwent skin prick test for 23 common regional aeroallergens. Allergic rhinitis was defined with positive symptoms and signs of AR and positive skin prick test. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 15[26.20%] and 8 [13.80%] of patients and controls, respectively [P=0.065].By logistic regression equation after corroding the age factor and the difference between two groups became significant [x2=0.026, OR=3.27, CI=1.15 - 6.57]. Indoor allergens, especially mites and molds, were the most prevalent allergens among both groups, but Outdoor allergens like grass pollen have a low prevalence. The prevalence of AR in the CSOM patients is more than the controls

[Survey influencing factors on prenatal care in referring maternal to health care centers in Rasht city]

Prenatal care is an indicator of health care system. Knowing the factors that prohibit reciving proper is essential in every society.The aim of the research was to determine mothers reciving prenatal care from health centers in Rasht and influencing factors from their view in 2008. This descriptive study surveyed 354 mothers referring to health centers in Rasht city who were chosen by cluster sampling. Data collection tool was a 3 part questionnaire. Data were analyzed through chi square. Findings showed that 53.4% of women reciving insufficient prenatal care. There was a significant correlation of care and employment condition [P=0.026] level of spouse's education [P=0.042] and income [P=0.005]. The most effective factors on reciving prenatal care from mothers' view were know [the manner and number of prenatal care] [85.3%]. Also there was a statistically significant relationship between efficiency of prenatal care and some socio demographic factors. In existence of prenatal care in health centers, almost half of women do not use these care provided. Provider's attention to the demographic and family characteristics and their needs are important in promotion of receiving better prenatal care

comparative study about effectiveness of an exercise therapy program on improvement of gait and balance in left and right hemiplegia

Impairment in the function of the brain caused by deficiency in the brain circulation is called stroke. Stroke is the most important factor of disability in adults. One of the most prevalent consequences of stroke is disability of walking or so-called [gait disorder] so that more than 50 percent of the patients who are in the acute phase of the disease are not capable of walking, and need to a rehabilitation period to reach for walking. In order to compare the effect of exercise therapy on the function of walking and balance and Improvement of depression in left and right hemiplegics patients, a Non-randomized clinical study was done. This study consisted of 13 right- hemiplegics patients with an average age of [60.46 +/- 1.47] and 13 left hemiplegics patients with an average age of [61.92 +/- 2.01] who were matched in age, height and weight. To measure the function of walking the Gait Dynamic Index, function of balance the Berg Balance Scale and Depression Beck Depression Questionnaire were used. The data were analyzed by SPSS software. To compare the effect of exercise therapy on the improvement of walking and balance before and after the treatment in each group t-paired -test and for more comparison of the two groups an independent T-test was used. With analyzing the received data the following results were derived: From the viewpoint of walking, a significant difference in the right hemiplegics group [p<0.001] and the left hemiplegics one [P=0.0] before and after the treatment is derived. From the viewpoint of balance, a significant difference in the right hemiplegics group [p<0.001] and the left hemiplegics group [P=0.0] before and after the treatment was noticed. About the improvement of depression, a significant difference in the right hemiplegics group [p<0.001] and the left one [p<0.00l] before and after the treatment was noticed. There was no significant difference between two groups before [p=0.85] and after [0.36] the treatment from the point of view of walking. There was no significant difference between two groups before [p=0.056] and after [p=0.067] the treatment in balance. There was no significant difference between two groups before [p=0.067] and after [p=0.054] treatment from the viewpoint of depression. This study showed that performing the exercise therapy protocol improves the function of walking, balance and depression in herniplegic patients; never the less, no differences were observed between the two right and left hemiplegics groups