[Development and psychometrics of "safety climate assessment questionnaire"]

Eighty five percent of accidents can be attributed to unsafe acts. Eighty five to ninety eight percent of workplace injuries caused by unsafe acts are due to attitude, behavior and culture. Safety climate is a multi-dimensional structure that describes the attitude and the correct priority of the people towards the safety at work. To assess safety climate, a valid and reliable tool is needed. The aim of this study was developing a psychometric questionnaire to assess safety climate in Iran. Using safety literature and other safety climate questionnaire, a 96-item questionnaire was provided. Face validity, content validity ratio and index, construct validity, internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were investigated on 550 industrial employees .After validity index survey 43 items questionnaire were obtained. Principal factors were extracted using exploratory factor analysis by Varimax rotation method. To check the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficients and Pearson correlation coefficient was used. For the face validity, CVR [78.5%] and CVI [0.75] related to safety climate designed questionnaire to be acceptable, eleven factors were extracted that covered 58.85 percent of total variance. Cronbach's alpha for most factors more than 0.7 were calculated and Spearman coefficient showed significant correlation between test and retest results. The Safety "Climate Assessment Questionnaire" which has been designed for 43 items and 11 factors has appropriate validity and reliability and can be used to assess the safety climate.

First report of Vannellidae amoebae [vannella spp.] isolated from biofilm source

Members of the Vannellidae family are free-living amoebae [FLA] distributed mainly in water and soil sources. The present study reports the first isolation of this genus in the biofilm source from hospital environment in Tehran, Iran. Biofilm samples were collected from hospital environment. Cultivation was performed in non-nutrient agar covered with a heat-killed Escherichia coli. Cloning of the suspected amoebae was done. PCR amplification and Homology analysis using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool [BLASTn] was performed to search for the most similar reference sequences. Microscopic examination showed numerous fan-shaped amoebae and peculiar cysts different to the usual shape of typical FLA. Sequence analysis of the PCR- product revealed that the suspected amoebae are highly homologous with Vannella spp. gene [99% identity and 100% query coverage] available in the gene bank database. Although Vannella spp. is not proved to be pathogenic itself, but they are capable of harboring pathogenic intracellular organisms such as Microsporidian parasites. Thus, identification of such amoebae can be of clinical importance, as they could lead to transmission of other pathogens to human

Correlation between grade in transitional cell carcinoma [TCC] and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]

The present study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor [EGFR] expression with grade of Transitional Cell Carcinoma [TCC]. Tumor samples of 75 patients from Mostafa Khomaini Hospital with Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the bladder were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of EGFR. In this context, we assigned the bladder tumors a grade according WHO classification. Results analyzed for possible correlation with the expression status of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor [EGFR]. This cross-sectional study showed that all grades of Transitional Cell Carcinoma expressed EGFR, and 14 cases were EMP [18.9%] which 10 cases among them had negative cells according EGFR point of view [71.4%] and 4 cases had reported positive [28.6%]. Thirty five cases were low grade [46.7%] which 18 cases among them had reported negative cells [51.4%] and 17 cases had positive cells [48.6%]. Twenty six cases were high grade [34.7%] that 9 cases among them had reported negative cells [34.6%]. Seventeen cases had positive cells [65.4%]. Mann-Witney test showed the relation between grade and expression of EGFR [P<0.05]. This study showed that expression of EGFR is correlated with grade of tumor

[Evaluation of anxiety and fear of labor in postpartom period]

Pregnant women are exposed to biological, physiological, and psychological changes. Furthermore in many patients referred to the medical care [as pregnant women], psychiatric problems are the main causes or complications. Our aim in this descriptive study is to determine the prevalence of fear and anxiety of childbirth in pregnant women referred to four educational hospitals in Tehran; this study was performed from Mar 2003 to Jul 2003. 300 pregnant women who were in 20 to 40 days after childbirth completed 4 questionnaires. Prevalence of the fear of childbirth in our study was 59.7%. And prevalence of anxiety of childbirth was 14.7% mild, 26% low moderate, 23% high moderate, 23.7% slightly severe and 12.7% severe. Also demonstrated was that an increase of age, decrease of the rate of fear and anxiety of childbirth. The rate of fear and anxiety of childbirth in employed women is more than unemployed [housewife's] women, and it was demonstrated that increase rate of gravidity and parity of pregnant women, decreased the rate of fear and anxiety of childbirth . The rate of fear and anxiety of childbirth in women who had difficult labor in the past is more than other women. Also the rate of fear and anxiety of childbirth in women with cesarean section delivery is more than in women with vaginal delivery

[Comparison of O2 saturation, heart and respiratory rate following injection of vasoconstrictor containing anesthetic [lidocaine 2%] and without vasoconstrictor anesthetic [mepivacaine]]

Along with higher usage of dental local anesthesia with risks to people health together with their positive role, the important goal of dentistry, patients' health, has been stressed repeatedly nowadays. This study was conducted to compare O2 saturation, respiratory rate and heart rate of patients following injection of anesthetic containing vasoconstrictor [lidocaine 2%] and without vasoconstrictor [Mepivacaine]. This experimental study was conducted on 32 healthy humans [16 females and 16 males] with 25-50 years age range and no history of drug usage. Cases were classified into two matched groups. O2 saturation, heart and respiratory rate were recorded before extraction of a mandibular posterior tooth. In the first group, 3.6 ml lidocaine 2% with 1:80,000 epinephrine and in the second group Mepivacaine 3% was injected, using inferior alveolar dental nerve block with aspiration. Variables were measured and recorded. Tooth extraction was performed and the mentioned variables were recorded again. Data were analyzed with SPSS software using t and Paired t-test with P<0.05 as the limit of significance. After injection of lidocaine, the heart rate was increased [12.25 +/- 1.75 bpm], and the time to reach the maximum rate was 64.75 +/- 11.26 seconds. After extraction of tooth, heart rate in both groups was increased not considering the type of injection. The study showed that the injection of lidocaine [containing epinephrine] in patients without contraindication has no risk. Also, possible increase in heart rate is not risky and is not associated with O2 saturation decrease and respiratory interruption