Exposure to radiofrequency wave [RFW] generated by a base transceiver stations [BTS] antenna model affects learning and memory in female more than male rats

Background: exposure to electromagnetic radiation may impair memory. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency wave [hereafter referred to as RFW] on passive avoidance learning and memory in healthy males and females

Materials and Methods: ten adult male and ten female Sprague- Dawley rats [230 +/- 20 gr] were randomly divided into four groups including two control groups [one for males and one for females], and two experimental groups [exposed to 900 MHz radio frequency wave] each representing one gender. The exposure was performed for 30 consecutive days [4h/day]. Evaluation of learning and memory of the rats started on the last day of exposure by shuttle box. Learning and memory of animals was recorded by the period of time they remained within the light area; this time was called the light time

Results: results of the study showed that exposure to RFW significantly decreased the duration of light time in the rats within the experimental groups as compared to the control groups [P<0.05]. Exposure to RFW significantly decreased the light time in females in comparison to males in the experimental group [P<0.05]. Histological study of brain section did not show significant changes between Groups

Conclusion: with regard to these findings, it was concluded that exposure to RFW causes disorder in memory retention of passive avoidance learning in rats. The extent of damage to the learning and memory in rats exposed to RFW was more for females than males

[Fuzzy clustering of medical sciences universities in Iran on the basis of medical indices in 2008]

Introduction: Prescribing and consuming drugs on a standard base is an important undertaking in health organizations. Achievements in promoting quality standards in prescription and drug consumption have decreased the related indices in Iran. This study focused on identifying homogenous groups among universities of medical sciences in terms of social infrastructure, economic differences and cultural climate dominating different regions

Methods: Homogenous clusters were obtained on the basis of drug prescription indices using fuzzy clustering method among universities of medical sciences in 2009. Data were analyzed by R software for 30 medical universities

Results: Medical universities were divided into 4 clusters by fuzzy clustering method. Each cluster had elements appearing to have similarities in terms of the indices under the study. Among these clusters, the fourth cluster belonged to Golestan province with the highest average prescription in the provinces under the study

Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that Golestan province requires a change in the culture of drug prescription and consumption

[Correlation between anthropometric indices at birth and developmental delay in children 4-60 months]

Advancements in medical knowledge and treatment modalities have resulted in increasing the survival rate of high risk infants. This increased number of survivors call attention to future development of these children. After infection and trauma, developmental and behavioral problems are the most common children medical problems. The aim of this study was to determine correlation between anthropometric indices at birth and developmental delay in children 4-60 months that were visited in health services centers affiliated to University of Medical Sciences in 2010. In this descriptive-corrolational study, 401 children 60-4 months that were visited in health services centers affiliated to University of Medical Sciences in 2010 were selected by multistage method. Anthropometric indices of children at birth were collected from their health care records and development status of children was measured by "Ages and Stages Questionnaire". Validity of 0/84 and reliability 0/94 were obtained from pervious study. Data were analyzed by SPPS v 18. The results showed that the average age of children in normal group was 17/33 +/- 13/18 month and in developmental delay group was 29/92 +/- 19/19 month. Most gender in normal group was female [%56] developmental delay group was male [%55/2]. In addition, there were no correlation between height and head circumference at birth and developmental delay. However, birth weight of children with developmental delay were four times lower than birth weight of normal developmental children [p = 0.004, OR = 4]. Factors that lead to intrauterine growth reduction will create many problems in the neonatal period. On the other hand, staying these infants in NICU is longer and lead to presenting disorders in child developmental process

Risk factors associated with cerebral palsy in children born in eastern and northern districts of Tehran

Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive motor impairment syndromes caused by lesions of the brain arising early in development. In this study, we evaluated perinatal risk factors of children born in eastern and northern districts of Tehran city, when perinatal records were widely available. This was a case-control study performed on one to six year-old children living in Tehran, at healthcare centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Asma Rehabilitation Center, over 12 months. During the study period, 112 subjects in the case and 3465 in the control groups were studied. The main factors associated with cerebral palsy were [odds ratios, confidence interval]: neonatal convulsion [81.35, 35.09-188.6], low Apgar score [<5] at 5 min or beyond [21.83, 13.13-36.26], low birth weight [5.83, 3.47-9.77], mother's complication during pregnancy [7.83, 4.23-14.50] and maternal age over 35 years [3.88, 2.03-7.42]. Neonatal encephalopathy, low birth weight, and high risk pregnancy were the most powerful independent predictors of cerebral palsy in this population. The majority of infants with cerebral palsy were born at term; therefore, cerebral palsy is quantitatively mainly an issue of term infants

effects of health education through face to face teaching and educational movies, on suburban women in childbearing age

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 'face-to-face education' and 'educational movies' on 'knowledge' and 'practice' of women of child-bearing-age, in terms of health-care during pregnancy and during infancy in a suburban region near Tehran City, Iran. In this quasi-experimental study, the sample included 873 married women. Questionnaires for knowledge and practice assessment were designed. The women were assigned to three groups: control [group I], face-to-face education [group II], and educational movie [group III]. Knowledge questionnaires were completed before and immediately after intervention. Practice questionnaires were completed before and three months after intervention. Both questionnaires consisted of two types of questions: type A [concerning infant care issues] and type B [concerning prenatal health care]. There was a significant difference in post-test knowledge between groups I and II and between groups I and III, but not between groups II and III. In terms of post-test practice, the changes were determined for every individual question, and significantly, better results were seen in group II, especially concerning type B questions. Face to face education lead to better practice than educational movies. In addition, significantly better practice occurred regarding child health care issues rather than prenatal issues in both groups. Realistic and tangible issues, those easy to practice, and with little or no economical burden imposed on the family, progressed from the knowledge state to the practice state more successfully in both groups

[Peace and humanitarian in the poem of Hafez, Saadi and Molana]

Background: by using intellectual and cultural capacities of a society it can improve the humanitarian activities in Red Crescent society. Thus, this paper aims to study the viewpoint of Hafez, Saadi and Molana- Iranian great poets- in different aspects such as humanitarian view and a comprehensive and immortal ideology to the subjects of peace and reconciliation beyond any race, religion and nationality

Methods: in this descriptive research, it is used of library information based on humanitarian subjects

Findings: Molana pays attention to peace regarding to his thoughts and mysticism. Saddi has a social viewpoint about peace based his life style, training and also concerning Hafez cares about peace socially in a new method

Conclusion: without any bias and stratification, Iranian great poets like Hafez, Saadi and Molana have a humanitarian and global idea about peace and recommend all for admirable characteristics such as forgiveness, kindness, concealment of others' fault and etc in their poems

[Hypolipidemic effects of allium porrum l. leaves in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice]

There is evidence about medicinal effects of Allium porrum, Liliaceae [leek] in Iranian traditional medicine. The plant has many properties such as improvement of digestive defects, atherosclerosis, joins pain, respiratory inflammation and kidney stone disease. The hypolipidemic effect of leek is investigated in diabetic rabbit, but its hypoglycaemic effect is unknown yet. In the present study the hypoglycemic effect of the ethanolic extract of Allium porrum L. [Leek] leaves was investigated in both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The animals were made diabetic using by streptozotocin [60 mg/kg, i.p.]. The ethanolic extract at doses 100, 200, 250 and 300 mg / kg, i.p. were administered for 14 days intraperitoneally. Blood samples were obtained from heart after 14 days. The healthy and diabetic control groups were administered saline as vehicle of extract. Serum glucose and insulin levels were measured by glucose oxidase and radioimmunoassay methods, respectively. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of leek significantly reduced the serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice but not in healthy mice. Also, the ethanolic extract increased serum insulin in diabetic mice. LD50 of ethanolic extract was measured 3500 mg/kg. The present data indicates that extract of leek has hypoglycaemic effect on diabetic animals by releasing insulin from pancreatic beta cells. So, this plant should be considered in future therapeutic researches

Blood transfusion acute reactions in patients of Shahid Ghazi Hospital

Cancer patients due to bone marrow suppression, sepsis, and other relevant complications require appropriate blood components for transfusion. However, there are risks of transfusion reactions. These reactions are influenced by many factors varying across different geographic regions and medical centers. This study was performed to determine incidence of early transfusion reactions and their clinical symptoms and signs in cancer patients, and to calculate the correlation of these adverse reactions with some demographic data and some specifications of blood components. In this descriptive study, 39 reactions from 4023 blood transfusion attempts were assessed. Patients were monitored for symptoms and changes in vital signs within 24 hours following transfusion. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics [X 2 and ANOVA].The majority of reactions belonged to platelets [56.43%] and packed cells [43.58%]. The most common symptoms were shown to be rigors [2.72%], and fever [2.33%]. The incidence rate was estimated to be 2.7% for FNHTR, and 2.1% for allergic reactions. Haptoglobin deficiency was found in 0.8% of FNHTR cases. A correlation was observed between sex and history of previous reactions [p=0.048, p=0.04, respectively] with blood transfusion reactions. These findings indicated that incidence of blood transfusion reactions and clinical symptoms correlated with other studies. The incidence of reactions in women and individuals with previous history of repeated blood transfusions was shown to be greater. Transfusion of packed cell was associated with allergic reactions [p=0.04], and high platelet lifetime associated with pulmonary reactions [p=0.044]