[Correlation between gastric acidity and location of primary intracerebral hemorrhage]

Stroke after heart diseases and cancer is the third most common cause of death. Intracranial hemorrhage is the third most frequent cause of stroke. Primary [hypertensive] intracerebral hemorrhage that is due to predominantly to chronic hypertension and degenerative changes in cerebral arteries and gastrointestinal bleeding is one of its acute phase complications. The purpose of this cross sectional analytical study was to find correlation between gastric acidity and location of intracerebral hemorrhages and blood pressure of patients. This study was performed on 89 patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage that referred to Ahvaz Golestan hospital between 2002-2003. The location of hemorrhage was detected by brain CT scan at the first day of admission to hospital. Acidity of patients' gastric juices was measured four times [2 times in first day and 2 times in fourth day] and simultaneously patients' blood pressure was determined. According to this study there was a significant correlation [P< 0.05] between gastric acidity and intrathalamic hemorrhage in the first day. So that, patients with intrathalamic hemorrhage had higher gastric acidity than others. Patients' mean blood pressure did not have a significant correlation with gastric acidity and location of intracerebral hemorrhage. Regarding the position of thalamus that is near hypothalamus and its role in secretion of gastric acid, one can guess a high gastric acidity in first day due to stimulating effect of intrathalamic hemorrhage; furthermore, prescription of antiacid agents in the first day after intrathalamic hemorrhage can prevent gastric bleeding

Evaluation of availability, accessibility and prescribing pattern of medicines in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Prescribing, dispensing, availability and affordability of drugs were evaluated in 100 primary health care centres in 5 provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran using WHO indicators. On average, 92% of the 12 essential drugs monitored were available in the health centre pharmacies and 95% of the drugs prescribed by the physician were dispensed by the health centre pharmacy. The stock-out duration was less than 1 month on average. A complete treatment for pneumonia cost only 2% of the lowest weekly government salary. The national average number of drugs per prescription was 3.4. Prescription of antibiotics and injectable drugs was very high [58% and 41% respectively]. Although availability and affordability of essential drugs is good in this country, rational use of drugs needs to be emphasized