[Effect of vitamin C on colony formation of ovine spermatogonial stem cells in vitro]

Background and Aim: The technology of using spermatogonial stem cells [SSCs] has been limited due to lack of an ideal culture system for growth and proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin C on SSCs colony formation in vitro

Materials and Methods: The cells were isolated from testes of prepubertal lambs by two enzymatic digestions, purified by differential platting, and then treated for 10 days by using 4 methods: Simple culture including SSCs in DMEM containing 1% antibiotic and 5% FBS as our control group and for the three other cultures we used the same culture medium as that in control group plus 20, 40 and 60 micro g/ml of vitamin C respectively. Culture media were refreshed every 72h and colony numbers and diameters were determined on the 4[th], 7[th] and 10[th] days after the beginning of culture by using inverted microscope. Spermatogonial cells were identified by immunocytochemistry staining against PGP9.5. Using R software, the results obtained from 5 repeats were evaluated by ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered significant

Results: On the 7[th] day, we found a significant difference between the culture No. 2 [0.41 mm[2]] and culture No. 3 [0.08 mm[2]] in regard to spermatogonial colonies surface areas [P<0.05]. Also, colonies surface areas on the 10[th] day in the culture No. 2 was significantly greater than those in the other groups [P<0.05]

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that vitamin C with a dose of 40 [micro g/ml] was effective in increasing the surface area of spermatogonial colonies. But it had no effect on spermatogonial cell number

[Comparison of the effect of electronic education and pamphlet on the knowledge of women about their post partum hygiene]

Introduction: E-learning has a great role in patient education. This study aimed at comparison of the effect of electronic education and pamphlet on the knowledge of women about their post partum hygiene

Method: this quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shahid Behshti hospital, Isfahan, Iran in 2013. A total of 72 primipara women were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. Intervention group received education using electronic and booklet package for 2 weeks. A questionnaire was completed by both groups before and 2 weeks after the test. Collected data was entered into SPSS v.11.5. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square were used for analysis of data. The significant level was considered less than 0.05

Results: before intervention findings did not show any significant difference between knowledge scores in intervention and control groups, while a statistically significant difference was observed 2 weeks after the intervention [P=.013]. Paired t-test showed a statistically significant difference in knowledge scores of both groups after the intervention [P=.021, P=.014]

Conclusion: electronic and pamphlet educational packages can increase the level of knowledge in postpartum women; hence, the importance of using this teaching materials

[Assessment competencies among emergency nurses for responding in disaster situation with Objective Structured Clinical Examination]

Introduction: Nurses are the first people that attend the accident site. Therefore, they must be able to take care of victims and have skill to prevent detrimental effects of disaster. The aim of this study was to determine competencies among Shahrekord emergency nurses responded in disaster situation with Objective Structured Clinical Examination [OSCE].

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive study which 25 emergency nurses of educational hospital in Shahrekord were recruited by census statistical methods. Competency of nurses for responding in disaster situation were evaluated by utilizing 8-station objective structured clinical examination [OSCE]. In each station "Task Based Checklist" has been used for evaluation. For measuring validity, content validity and for reliability, test re test was used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS/16.

Findings: The mean scores of nurses' performance in 8 stations were less than average. In triage station was [3.5 +/- 1.6], life support [4.4 +/- 1.2], airway management [3.9 +/- 1.5], Chest tube insertion [4.9 +/- 1.5], naso gastric tube insertion [6.1 +/- 2.2], IV therapy [1.9 +/- 0.7], IV line insertion [5.4 +/- 1.3], suturing [8.6 +/- 1.5] urinary catheterization [9.1 +/- 1.5].

Conclusion: Competencies of nurses in providing care in disaster were undesirable and less than average in all skills. So it is essential for nurses to acquire clinical and special skills to prepare for disaster situations.

[Assessment of body work condition by RULA method in a motor vehicle industry in order to design an effective exoskeleton system]

Physical activities in occupations like handling, static and dynamic postures, sudden movements, and repetitive postures are amongst most important risk factors of Work related Musculoskeletal Disorders [WMSDs]. There are many ergonomic methods for assessing WMSDs which can be used in different cases, but these assessments and analyses can't be beneficial by themselves and should be promoted with usable, practical suggestions to improve the work condition. This quality is brought to this research paper by first assessing ergonomic risks level, resulted by postural stresses, with special emphasis on improper postures, forces and repeating and then using these information to design assisting device called exoskeleton for improving work condition and industrial tasks. For assessing and analyzing upper body work condition, postures in 17 different tasks were analyzed by RULA [Rapid upper limb assessment] method and a set of 60 worksheets were created out of them. Also biomechanical movement observation during normal tasks was done. Then HONDA company's exoskeleton for lower body was analyzed and some design elements were extracted from it, to design an upper body exoskeleton based on the same design language. This Research shows that none of tasks were completely acceptable, and neck, trunk and legs were more affected by improper postures. There was no meaningful difference between right and left hand conditions in overall task and posture assessment. Research also shows dominant effect of force and repeat risk factors in tasks being harmful for upper body. Analyzing HONDA company's exoskeleton shows the likelihood of success in upper body exoskeleton for improving work conditions and minimizing WMSDs. Although redistribution or regular rotation of personnel, changing and optimizing work cycles and proper training might reduce WMSDs and improve work condition, but using an assisting device such as exoskeleton can minimize WMSDs and have a more desirable effect from ergonomic and physiological perspectives. Assisting devices like HONDA company's lower body assisting exoskeleton have clearly shown the statement to be true

Ilizarov versus AO external fixator for the treatment of tibia open fractures

In developing countries, Ilizarov or AO external fixator is usually used for treatment of tibial open fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of these two methods for treatment of tibial open fractures. From April 2002 to April 2010, 120 patients with open tibial fractures admitted to the Department of Orthopedics of Babol University of Medical Sciences entered this study. In each arm, 60 subjects randomly received Ilizarov or AO external fixator. All patients were followed at least for one year. These two groups were compared regarding non-union, malunion and cure rates. The mean age of the patients in Ilizarov group was 32.35 +/- 11.28 and for AO were 31.3 +/- 10.99 years. Mean time for union in Ilizarov group was 5.25 +/- 1.85 and for AO external fixator was 5.85 +/- 2.13 months. Non-union rate in Ilizarov group was 10% and for AO external fixator was 11.7%. Malunion rate in Ilizarov group was 10% and for AO external fixator was 18.3%. Totally, efficacy of treatment in the Ilizarov group was 81.7% and in AO external fixator was 65%.The efficacy of treatment in Ilizarov was higher than that AO external fixator in treatment of open tibial fractures

[Seasonal variation of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils]

Rosmarinus officinalis L. [Rosemary] is one of the essential oil containing plants from Lamiaceae family. Rosemary is a native of the Mediterranean region of Europe and the Near East. It has been used as a food spice and as a medicine since ancient times. Today rosemary is cultivated in nearly all countries as a medicinal and ornamental plant. There are some reports about the effect of environmental conditions and genetic on rosemary essential oil. The goal of this work was to investigate the seasonal variation on rosemary essential oil composition. Aerial parts of plants were dried after collection from Evin, Tehran. Essential oils were obtained by using Clevenger type apparatus for 90 min and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Rosemary essential oil showed 52 compounds, where 31 of those were similar in different seasons, alpha -Pinene, Limonene, Camphene, Camphor, 1, 8-Cineol and Bornyl acetate were major components of rosemary oil. The content of 1, 8-Cineol was the highest in September [14.15%]. The elevated levels of alpha-Pinene and Limonen were observed in February [28.8% and 17.29% respectively]. At least in various seasons from spring to winter constituent of alpha-Pinene [18.5%, 24.7%, 20% and 28.3%], Limonene [11%, 6.1%, 8.6% and 17.3%], Camphene [7.5%, 8.3%, 7.3% and 8.1%] and Camphor [7.4%, 13.4%, 8.3% and 4.7%] were compared respectively. Except alpha-Pinene, Limonene, 1, 8-Cineol and Bornyl acetate, most of these components did not affected by seasonal change. Some of these essential oils components converted to others, thus their concentrations decreased in summer but their amounts were at the highest levels in winter

[Study of functional-performance deficits in athletes with previous ankle sprains]

Despite the importance of functional-performance deficits in athletes with history of ankle sprain few, studies have been carried out in this area. The aim of this research was to study relationship between previous ankle sprains and functional-performance deficits in athletes. The subjects were 40 professional athletes selected through random sampling among volunteer participants in soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball teams of Lorestan province. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: Injured group [athletes with previous ankle sprains] and healthy group [athletes without previous ankle sprains]. In this descriptive study we used Functional-performance tests [figure 8 hop test and side hop test] to determine ankle deficits and limitations. They participated in figure 8 hop test including hopping in 8 shape course with the length of 5 meters and side hop test including 10 side hop repetitions in course with the length of 30 centimeters. Time were recorded via stopwatch. After data gathering and assessing information distributions, Pearson correlation was used to assess relationships, and independent T test to assess differences between variables. Finally the results showed that there is a significant relationship between previous ankle sprains and functional-performance deficits in the athletes. The athletes who had previous ankle sprains indicated functional-performance deficits more than healthy athletes in completion of mentioned functional-performance tests. The functional-performance tests [figure 8 hop test and side hop test] are sensitive and suitable to assess and detect functional-performance deficits in athletes. Therefore we can use the figure 8 hop and side hop tests for goals such as prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of ankle sprains without spending too much money and time

Critical thinking and clinical decision making in nurse

Today, nurses are exposed to everchanging complicated conditions in health care services, they provide. To be able to cope with these conditions effectively, they should be competent decision makers. Besides, as decision making conditions get more complicated, using critical thinking is a need. The current study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision making, in nurses of critical and general care units of hospitals in Isfahan. In addition, it is also aimed to compare the nurses of critical and general units in critical thinking and clinical decision making. This is a correlation, descriptive study of cross-sectional type. The participants are 140 nurses; 70 working in critical care unit and 70, working in general units. Sampling method was random stratified sampling and the data was collected using a questionnaire with three sections; containing items on demographic data, clinical decision making and California critical thinking skills test. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was approved using content validity, test-retest method and internal correlation test. The data was analyzed using variance analysis, Pearson correlation and t-test. The mean score of critical thinking and clinical decision making was 10.61, 63.27 and 10.67, 61.66 for nurses of critical care and general units, respectively. No statistical significant difference between two groups was observed in the area of clinical decision making and critical thinking. In addition, no statistical correlation was observed between the clinical decision making and critical thinking. The findings of the study demonstrated that the mean score of critical thinking was low in nurses. Probably, it originates from the educational system shortages and also, the professional environment problems. Some experts believe that the reason for lack of correlation between critical thinking and clinical decision making goes back to the absence of appropriate tool to measure the correlation

Effective factors on survival time of the leukemic patients and estimating the mean of survival time by expectation and maximization algorithm and Monte Carlo Markov chains simulation method

Leukemia is a kind of malignancy blood system which leads to death of human beings in a very short period of time. In this paper, the effective factors on survival time of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] patients have been considered to achieve a linear regression model show the relation between the life-time after diagnosis and some explanatory factors. In this study, the data of 52 patients died from ALL was used. The designed model contained three variables, hemoglobin, large undifferentiated cell [LUC] and age. According to the data suggesting, a kind of mixture distribution, we considered a mixture model for survival time. Applying the EM-algorithm, we have found the maximum likelihood estimate of mean survival time and the Bayesian estimate of the mean survival time by Monte Carlo Markov Chain method. Based on the obtained estimating survival function, we can predict the survival time of the patients and decide about their treatment protocol. It is suggested that by conducting larger studies and statistical analysis used in this paper, a correlative can be found between clinical and paraclinical findings and the survival time. This model can be used in often kinds of diseases for determining the prognosis

Treatment of tibia open fractures with external fixator

Tibia shaft fractures are the most common long bone fractures in the body and its treatment is controversial. One of methods of treatment is external fixator. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment of open tibia fractures by external fixator in Babol. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 106 patients suffering from tibial open fractures treated with external fixator in Babol hospitals from 1991-2003. After admission, patients underwent irrigation and wound debridment and then the external fixator was fixed, Patients were visited regularly and serial radiography was done to control complications for one year and then complications were recorded. In this study 90.5% of injuries caused by traffic accident. Fracture had healed in 98.1% of patients for an average of 4 months. Complications were as follows: pin tract infection in 24% of patients, chronic osteomyelitis in 2 cases, pin loosening in 5.7%, peroneal nerve injury in 4.7% and nonunion in 1.9%. The results showed that external fixator could be reliable method for treatment of tibial open fractures

Study of major trauma of genitourinary system in patients referred to emergency center of Babol Shahid Beheshti Hospital [1998-2003]

Trauma is a dynamic process and involves different systems of body according to its severity. Genitourinary system injury is seen in trauma process. This study was done to evaluate the major trauma of genitourinary system with special attention to multiple trauma patients. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed on records of 293 patients with genitourinary system trauma who referred to emergency center of Shahid Beheshti hospital from 1998-2004. One hundred and two patients suffering from major trauma of genitourinary system who operated were included in this study. Then necessary information such as sex, age, pattern of trauma, type and mechanism of trauma, involved organ, clinical findings, associated lesions, surgical procedure, laboratory findings, duration of hospitalization and year of admission were obtained and studied. From 102 patients, 92.2% were male and 7.8% were female with mean age of 29.4 +/- 13 years. 33.3% of patients had multiple trauma and 98% of them had blunt trauma. Mean duration of hospitalization was 6.2 +/- 4.4 days. From 13 patients [12.7%] with major kidney trauma, 5 cases had shattered kidney that went under nephrectomy. Only 1 patient [1%] had ureter trauma with final diagnosis of left middle ureter transection. Five patients [4.9%] had intraperitoneal rupture of bladder in which 3 cases had rupture in dome area. Five patients [49%] had urethral injury with clinical findings such as blood at meatus and inability to void. In 50 patients [49%] with penile trauma, 49 patients had penis Fx and 1 case had total amputation of penis and left testis. Fifteen patients [16.7%] had testis trauma in which clinical findings were pain, swelling and ecchymosis. Eleven patients [10.8%] had major trauma of scrotum. According to the results of this study, the most common organ involved in major trauma of genitourinary system was penis. Accurate history and complete physical examination should be considered in patients with multiple trauma

Outcome of osteotomy of coracoid process in treatment of recurrent shoulder dislocation

According to the high prevalence of recurrent anterior and traumatic shoulder dislocation, different methods have been suggested for treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of surgery of coracoid osteotomy and fixation to anterior glenoid. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 43 patients suffering anterior dislocation of shoulder from 1993 to 2004 in Babol. All patients were treated by coracoid transfer and fixation to glenoid by its incision and passing through subcapsular muscle without manipulation on articular capsule. Fixation was done with velpo for 21 days and the rehabilitation performed by physiotherapy program. Outcome was evaluated by different radiographics, range of motion, absence or presence of continuous and night pain, recurrence dislocation, muscle atrophy and returning to normal activity. Mean age of patients was 26.09 +/- 6.3 years. Three to twenty eight dislocations were reported. There were no recurrence after surgery and the mean time for returning to normal activity was 7.7 +/- 1.5 months. Average loss of external rotation and flexion were 8 degrees compared with normal side. Continuous pain after surgery was seen in one patient due to screw loosing that was repaired with screw extraction. Results show that this procedure had good success in treatment of recurrent and traumatic shoulder dislocation. Comparative studies with other procedures are required to evaluate the results of this procedure

Nurses' clinical thinking and decision making

Nowadays in health care arena, the nurses are confronting with increasingly complicated situation constantly changing. This unreliable and unstable situation requires nurses with ability of decision making. Since decision making became more complex, critical thinking is necessary to use. Regarding the importance of critical thinking and clinical decision making in modern nursing, this study aims to estimate capacities of nurses and to evaluate their relationship. This is why most of the authors believe that critical thinking improves clinical decision making. This research was a cross sectional descriptive correlation study. The study was planed with the purpose of detection of relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision making of nurses in general and intensive care wards. Furthermore, it is to compare nurses of general wards with nurses of intensive ones. This study was conducted on 140 nurses in two groups [70 nurses from general and 70 nurses from intensive wards]. The samples were selected based on stratified random sampling and the data were collected by a questionnaire. This questionnaire was consisted of three parts, demographic characteristics, clinical decision making inventory and California critical thinking skills test. Validity and reliability of the tool were confirmed with content validity, test retest and internal correlation. Data were analyzed with SPSS and descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean score of critical thinking and clinical decision making for intensive care nurses were 10.61 and 63.27 respectively. For general care nurses, they were 10.67 and 61.66 respectively. The results didn't show a difference between mean score of critical thinking in intensive and general ward nurses. Also there was not any difference between mean score of clinical decision making in intensive and general ward nurses. The result didn't show any relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision making of nurses. The findings showed that mean score of nurses' critical thinking is low. The reason can be either due to the defects during training or professional ones during working period. Also, this study didn't show any relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision making. Some experts claim that lack of relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision making is due to lack of an appropriate tool or project to measure them rather than the lack of their relationship

[Assessing family problems and the rate of their tendency to admitting and keeping mentally - ill patients at home after discharging from Mashhad hospital [1380-1382]]

The assessment of the remaining documents shows that phenomenon of mentally ill patients has existed since the beginning of the creation of mankind. The attitude and reaction of the society toward this fact has been under permanent change. The prevalence rate of mental problems and their hazardous effects on individuals, families and the society is increasing with growth of population and the urban life. No ethnic or nation has had an effective resistance against being attacked by these disorders. In regard to the importance of families' participation in care and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients as a key in successful treatment all over the world, more attention should be paid. The purpose of this study is to determine possible factors that could influence patients' acceptance by their families after discharging from Hospitals in Mashhad. The samples of this descriptive study [658patients] were randomly chosen and data were collected in 658 patients' families whose their patients discharged from hospital during 1380-1382. Their families interviewed by structured questionnaires. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square were used For information analysis. Findings showed that 23.9% of the families had "high" tendency for accepting the patient at home, 53.8% had "medium" tendency and the remaining 22.3% had no tendency for supporting and keeping patients and the type of family supporting, the patient relationship with his family members and family's supports, the signs of illness, the degree of his ability in doing house affairs, the type of family reactions to the patient's illness signs, level of education [family and patient] and patient's income and occupation, have significant relation with their tendency. There was a significant correlation between family's knowledge of appropriate behavior with patient and their tendency to accepting him/her [P=0.000] and also between the rate of family's satisfaction of state contributions and hospital aids and their tendency to that acceptance [P=0.02]. Experts should carefully evaluate families' psychopathology during treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In order to increase patients' security and acceptance in families, mental health facilities in the community and community mental health councils are essential

[Treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of Tibia by free vascularized Fibula graft: Case series]

The congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia [CPT] is a rare congenital malformation with unknown etiology. Several methods of surgery were used for therapy of this abnormality that often is associated with failure of treatment or amputation. The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia by free vascularized fibula transfer. This study was performed on 11 cases [Mean age=4.5 years] with congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia who referred to Hazrat Fatemeh, Akhtar and Mostafa Khomeini hospitals in Tehran during 10 years. From all, five cases had been already operated with different orthopedic methods that associated with unsuccessful results. All patients treated with free vascularized fibula graft. Anti-coagulant agent was administered to patients for one week to prevent thrombosis after surgery. All patients were followed up and no failure of therapy was found. With regard to good outcome of therapy of this congenital disorder with free vascularized fibula graft, it is recommended using this method of surgery for therapy of this congenital abnormality

[Malnutition and its effects on development in Iranian children]

Malnutrition has many detrimental effects on functional capacities of brain. Micronutrients such as iodine, zinc and iron have significant roles in the metabolic activities of the human body. In malnourished children there is a constellation of deficiencies of different macro - and micronutrients. Therefore the adverse impacts on the central nervous system is obvious. In this article we have tried to demonstrate the incidence of deficiencies of different micronutrients in Iranian infants and children. Unfortunately, as can be seen, these figures are very concerning. Our stuck showed the following data: Mean value for zinc deficiency among infants 18.6% and among children 31%. Mean value for iron deficiency among infants 37.8% and among children 18.2%, short stature due to malnutrition 15.9%, FTT [decreased weight] 10.5% and stunting 5.6%

Rapid nutritional assessment of under five year old Kurdish refugee children in Iran

In an attempt to depict the nutritional status of Kurdish refugee children under five years of age, a rapid survey was conducted on 900 children in 9 camps of Kurdistan and Bakhtaran province in May 1991. The study included anthropometric measurements on all, clinical examination of 731, and biochemical tests for anemia and protein energy malnutrition [PEM] on 160 subjects. The results showed half of the children to be anemic. Twenty% of the children had moderate to severe PEM by the most conservative criteria. This figure was around 40% in the 2 to 3 year old children. It was concluded that 50% of the children required urgent nutritional intervention and the other half were potentially in danger. Although malnutrition was serious enough in the subjects, the sanitary condition of the camps was even worse. Any measure to rectify the situation in similar cases should include both public health and nutritional solutions