[Evaluation of the energy expenditure during walking in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients]

Scoliosis is one of the musculoskeletal disorders which influences the energy expenditure of patients during walking. In previous studies, metabolic cost of walking measured by oxymetry. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the energy expenditure of walking of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients by use of monitoring the heart rate. This was observational comparative cross sectional study. Ten scoliotic patients and 10 normal subjects with comparable age, height and weight were recruited for this study. Energy consumption of walking in scoliotic and in normal subjects was evaluated using polar Electro Finland heart rate monitor. The heart rate during resting and walking and the walking speed were the parameters used for energy consumption based on the physiological cost index. The energy consumption of scoliotic subjects during walking based on PCI and THBI was higher than that of normal subjects, however, the difference was not statistically significant [p>0.05]. The results of this research showed that there was no significant difference between the PCI and THB index of normal and scoliotic subjects. Moreover, the walking speed of scoliotic patients did not influence by spinal deformation [p>0.05]

[Comparison of the effects of soccer competition stress on salivary cortisol and heart rate in winner and loser coaches: a short report]

Soccer coaching is considered to be one of the riskiest careers in the world. The psychological pressure caused by the nature of this profession causes wear to Soccer coaches. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of acute competition stress on salivary cortisol and heart rate in professional soccer coaches during 2004-2005 competition season. In this descriptive study, salivary samples were collected from coaches at five times. Sixteen professional soccer coaches with the average of 52.27 +/- 9.18 years of age, 11.67 +/- 6.01 years of coaching experience in the league and 64.40 +/- 5.91 beats per minute [bpm] of rest heart rate were selected as the subjects of study. The coaches were monitored with a team polar device throughout the games, during their competition. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements [ANOVA] was used. The highest level of cortisol was observed during the halftime break. This level was higher for the loser coaches than the winner ones. During the game heart rate differences changes were not significant between the loser and winner coaches. The results indicated a hormonal response to competition, which was specially characterized by an anticipatory rise of cortisol depending on outcomes [goal scoring]. Consequently, psychological stress of competition could be stressful and deterimental for the professional soccer coaches

[Effect of reflexology on anxiety level in nuliparous women]

Labor potentially causes stress and anxiety, especially in nulliparous women. In Iran, many pregnant women undergo cesarean section electively due to fear of labor pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of reflexology on the anxiety level, blood pressure, and pulse in nulliparous women in Kerman. In this clinical trial, 70 nulliparous women with gestational age more than 37 weeks and cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm were recruited for the study. The participants were randomly allocated to two equal reflexology and control groups. The reflexology group received the intervention for 20 minutes [each foot: 10 minutes] on their feet; and the control group received massage for 20 minutes on their legs. Anxiety level, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention using Spielberger questionnaire. Anxiety level did not differ between the two groups at baseline [P=0.85]. After the intervention, the mean of anxiety level was significantly lower in the reflexology group than in the control one [P<0.001]. The pulse rate [P=0.44] and blood pressure [P=0.59] did not differ significantly in two study groups after the intervention. Reflexology reduced anxiety level in labor

[ effect of lavender a aromatherapy on the pain intensity perception and intrapartum outcomes in primipare]

;Labor pain is one of main preoccupations of pregnant women. In this study, our aim was determining the lavender aromatherapy on pain intensity perception and intrapartum outcome in primipare. The present randomize control trial [RCT] study was conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2007. Qne hundred sixty participants, who enrolled voluntarily in our survey and signed the consent form, were divided into two equal groups by simple sampling. The intervention days were randomly separated to avoid any bias. The aroma group received 0.1 milliliter of lavender essential oil mixed with 1 milliliter of distilled water, via tissues attached to their gown close to their nostrils, and the control group received just 2 cc of distilled water via the same way. Pain perception intensity was measured by visual analogue scale [VAS] before the intervention, 30 and 60 minutes after aromatherapy respectively. Both groups were observed during labor time to monitor any aroma side effects. Collected data were analyzed by t-test and chi-square using the SPSS software. Independent T test analysis revealed that the differences in the means of pain perception intensity before intervention between the two groups are not significant while the means of pain perception intensity in the aroma group was lower than that of the control group at 30 and 60 minutes after the interventions [p<0.001]. Paired T test showed that the means of pain perception intensity in the aroma group did not differ before the intervention 30 and 60 minutes after the intervention, but in the control group, had significant increasing in pain perception intensity [p<0.001] was seen. Aromatherapy with lavender did not affect the duration of labor phases and Apgar score. The present study revealed that aromatherapy with lavender affects pain perception of labor pain in the aroma group, but did not affect duration of labor phases and Apgar score

[ effect of lavender essence smelling during labor on cortisol and serotonin plasma levels and anxiety reduction in nulliparous women]

Labor conditions cause stress and anxiety specifically in nulliparous women and hence the chance of a normal vaginal delivery is reduced. According to some studies lavender scent improves mood and reduces stress and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lavender scent on anxiety status in nulliparous women and also to determine changes in plasma cortisol, serotonin and 5- hydroxyl indol acetic acid [5-HIAA] concentrations. In this study 121 nulliparous women with gestational age >37 weeks and cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm, referring to labor room of Zeinabieh and Hafez hospitals in Shiraz were devided into case group [N=63] and control group [N=58]. The case group smelled lavender essential oil for 1 hour. In both groups anxiety changes were determined before and after aromatherapy by Spielberger questionnaire, and at the same times pulse rate, blood pressure and plasma cortisol, serotonin, and 5-HIAA concentrations were determined by ELISA. Anxiety status and hormone levels were the same in both groups at the beginning of the experiment. Lavender decreased significantly anxiety and cortisol concentration while increased plasma serotonin and 5-HIAA concentrations. The difference between cortisol concentration before and after the aromatherapy in the test group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Lavender scent did not affect blood pressure and pulse. Aromatherapy with lavender improves anxiety status during labor in nulliparous women and decreases cortisol secretion from adrenal gland and increases serotonin secretion from GI tract

[ effects of acute L-carnitine supplementation on anaerobic threshold and lactate accumulation during an incremental exercise]

Appropriate nutrition is an essential prerequisite for effective improvement of athletic performance, conditioning, recovery from fatigue after exercise, and avoidance of injury. Nutritional supplements containing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals have been widely used in various sporting fields to provide a boost to the recommended daily allowance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute L-carnitine supplementation on anaerobic threshold and lactate accumulation during incremental exercise. The study was double-blind, randomized and crossover in design. The subjects were 12 randomly selected active male physical education students, 21.75 +/- 0.64 years old, with a mean body mass index [BMI] of 23.7 +/- 0.94, divided into 2 groups. They received orally either 2g of L-carnitine dissolved in 200 ml water plus 6 drops of lemon juice or a placebo [6 ml lemon juice dissolved in 200 ml water] 90 minutes before they began exercise on treadmill. They performed a modified protocol of Conconi test to exhaustion. Plasma lactate concentrations were recorded at rest and immediately after the test. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used for data analysis. The results showed that lactate accumulation immediately after exercise in the L-carnitine group [3.870 +/- 0.19] was significantly lower [p=0.000] than in the placebo [6.080 +/- 0.58] group. In addition, the intervention led to a higher increase [p=0.000] in the maximum oxygen consumption [50.54 +/- 1.48], as compared to the placebo group [45.16 +/- 1.51]. The data also showed that the length of time required to reach the anaerobic threshold was higher in the L-carnitin group [19.14 +/- 0.65, vs 16.00 +/- 0.28 for the placebo group]. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the respiratory exchange ratio. L-carnitine supplementation seems to cause a reduction in the blood lactate accumulation and delay anaerobic threshold in an incremental exercise, resulting in improved performance

[ randomised cohort trial comparing amoxicillin and erythromycin effect on the treatment of asymptomatic chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women]

Introduction and Objective: chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most common sexual infections among childbearing women. Proper treatment of this infection in pregnant women is an important public health issue. Our goal was to compare the efficacy of amoxicillin and erythromycin on treatment of asymptomatic acute and chronic chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women

Material and Methods: a randomized cohort trial of pregnant women with chlamydia trachomatis IgM and IgG positive serum receiving care at two inner city, university - based prenatal clinics were randomly assigned to receive either oral amoxicillin, 500 mg three times daily for 7 days [case group 1], erythromycin 400 mg four times for 7 days [case group2] or placebo 500mg three times for 7 days[control group]. Participants referred for retesting 4 weeks after initiation of treatment and the patients were followed till delivery. Patients with positive follow up blood tests were crossed over into the alternate treatment and retested at a later visit. Statitical analysis was performed by using McNemar, exact Fisher tests and chi square analysis

Results: 333 pregnant women were enrolled in this study and 92 chlamydia infected women [27.62%] completed the protocol. There was no significant difference between delivery gestational age of the groups [39.05, 38.72, 38.6 week] showing that chlamydia infection was not associated with preterm labor. Acute chlamydia infection rates before and after treatment in both amoxicillin and erythromycin groups were significantly different.The rates of acute chlamydia infection reduced from 83.87% before treatment to 35.48% after treatment [p<0.001] in group treated by amoxicillin. This change was 64.51% before treatment vs 29.03 after treatment [p<0.001] in erythromycin group. Chronic chlamydia infection rates in erythromycin group was significantly reduced in compare amoxicillin group after treatment. Based on the results of this study, the rates of chronic chlamydia infection in erythromycin group reduced from 41.93% before treatment to 19.35% after treatment [p=0.01]. The change in amoxicillin group was observed before treatment 19.35% vs 12.9% after treatment. In the amoxicillin group, 6 women [19.35%] were intolerant, compared with 10 women [32.25%] in erythromycin group

Conclusion: chlamydia infection was not associated with preterm labor. Two kinds of treatments used in this study had the similar effects on acute chlamydia infection but erythromycin was more effective than amoxicillin on chronic chlamydia infection. Women treated by amoxicillin had less gastrointestinal complications than those treated by erythromycin

Clinical correlations between auditory brainstem response and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with definite multiple sclerosis

In an attempt to assess objectively the integrity of the auditory pathways in 30 patients with definite multiple sclerosis [MS], an audiometric evaluation was performed and auditory brainstem responses [ABRs] were obtained. Stressing the auditory system by increasing the stimulation rate showed some enhancement in the identification of MS. 24 [80%] patients had an abnormal ABR along with clinical signs of brainstem dysfunction at the time of assessment by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], while those without such signs had no incidence of abnormalities. This is independent of the clinical classification of the patients

Hearing loss in chronic renal failure and changes with kidney transplantation

Loss of hearing is a known problem in patients with chronic renal failure, occurring in 40-80% of cases and being most often of the high frequency sensori-neural type. We performed a study on 50 patients with this disease, including 20 who had undergone a successful kidney transplantation- Our results show an 80% incidence of hearing loss in these patients and a chance of improvement in at least 60% of cases after transplantation

ENT complications in B-thalassemia major

During three years [from 1989-1991], 100 cases of homozygous beta-thalassemia were investigated for ENT complications. All cases were receiving irregular, low dose. subcutaneous infusion of desferrioxamine. One hundred healthy subjects were studied as controls. Conductive hearing loss in 20 patients [20%; 18 bilateral] and sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies in 5 patients [5%; 4 bilateral] were found. Ototoxic effects of desferrioxamine are dose-related and can occur at relatively high doses. The homozygous beta thalassemic patients showed more auditory impairment than controls. There was also a higher incidence of tonsillar hypertrophy, adenotonsillitis and submandibular lymph node enlargement compared with the controls. Twenty patients [20%] had significant problems requiring surgery

prospective study of otosclerosis surgery in Southern iran

A total of 182 cases with clinical otosclerosis and hearing loss were treated by various stapedial procedures during a 9-year period from 1981 to 1990. Of these, 98 cases who had not undergone operations previously and had full follow-up were selected for this study. Postoperatively, a minimum of one and a half year follow-up constituted the study period. Total stapedectomy was performed in 65 patients [66%] including Teflon piston insertion in 41 subjects [63%] and House wire prostheses in 24 patients [36%]. 22 patients [22%] underwent stapedotomy with wire piston insertions with the result of hearing improvement, especially in higher frequencies, being much better, with less complications and side effects in the latter group. Stapedioplasty did not produce satisfactory results, with 3 failures among 9 subjects. Two mobilization cases recurred within 2-3 years. Eleven failures were encountered in this study, necessitating revision surgeries

Recurrent meningitis due to a perilymph fistula: a case report and review of the literature

A perilymph fistula of the round or oval window due to trauma or exertion is a dilemma that can lead to labyrinthitis or meningitis. In addition it may have a variety of otological or vestibular manifestations, or it may be symptom free. Operative findings and etiologies are discussed with particular reference to hydrodynamic explosive and aerodynamic implosive routes. The case presented here could be unique regarding the frequent number of meningitis episodes with no clinically distinguishing otological findings