[ effects of nicotine on the serum level of insulin, glucose, lipid profile, Liver Enzymes [ALT, ALP, AST] in streptozotocin-induced diabetic adult male rats]

Background: Nicotine is one of the ingredients in cigarettes. Nicotine is toxic to the brain, cardiovascular system and respiratory tract and the body tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nicotine on the enzymes alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP], glucose, and insulin lipid profile in diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 50 Wistar adult male rats weighing 220-250 g were used and divided into five groups of 10, including control [no treatment], diabetic control, and experimental [diabetic mice] groups 1, 2 and 3 that treated with 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg nicotine, respectively. In this study, diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin [STZ]. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were taken from mice and serum enzymes AST, ALP, ALT; and LDL, HDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and glucose levels were measured. Data analyses were performed in SPSS software 18, using ANOVA and Tukey test.

Results: The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of enzymes ALT, AST and ALP; and glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels; but a significant decrease in HDL level in the experimental group compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Nicotine increases the complications of diabetes, such as increase in glucose, lipids and liver enzymes ALP, AST and ALT.

Emotional Labour of Caring for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients: Iranian Nurses' Experiences

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the emotional labour experienced by nurses who care for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients in Iran. METHODS: Eighteen nurses participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods. RESULTS: Three main categories described the emotional labour involved, namely, emotional intimacy, feeling overwhelmed with the sadness and suffering, and changing self. Nurses had compassion for their patients, contributing to a close nurse-patient relationship. The nurses' emotional labour resulted in their feeling overwhelmed with sadness and suffering. Five subcategories described this emotional toll: (a) witnessing suffering, (b) struggling mentally, (c) hurting emotionally, (d) feeling drained of energy, and (e) escaping grief. Dealing with death and dying on an ongoing basis promoted the nurses' changing self. CONCLUSION: Iranian nurses who care for HSCT patients experience a range of positive and negative emotions. Establishing appropriate support systems for nurses might help mediate the negative aspects of emotional labour. thereby improving nursing work life and ultimately the quality of patient care.

Importance and availability of nursing support for mothers in NICU: a comparison of opinions of Iranian mothers and nurses

The current study was conducted to compare the opinions of mothers and nurses on the importance and availability of nursing support for parents with premature infants hospitalized in NICU. There is no overall picture of the nursing support for parents with hospitalized premature infants in Iran. Nurses, providing care in NICU, must view parent as an essential partner in care. But what is the situation? Assessing the viewpoints of both parents and nurses regarding the importance and availability of nursing support can elucidate this situation. A comparative descriptive design was used. The population consisted of all mothers with hospitalized premature newborns in NICU [n=300] and all NICU nurses [n=32] in three teaching hospitals in Tabriz [Iran], in 2007. Data was collected through the NPST questionnaire. Data analysis was done wit SPSS. Mann-Whitney test showed that there were significant differences between nurses and mothers on four subscales of nursing support. Generally, mothers scored every subscale lower than nurses who cared for them and their children. On the other hand, it could be said that NICU nurses claimed more importance for the subscales and rated the provided support higher in comparison with mothers who did not think so. The opinions of the nurses and mothers toward the availability and importance of the nursing supports in NICU were different. This study provides nurses with concrete information in order to better understand parents' need for support and try to meet their expectations, resulting in improved nursing care in neonatal intensive care units