[Gestational diabetes reduces motor neurons of spinal cord in 4, 8 and 12 weeks rat offspring]

Previous studies have shown the adverse effects of gestational diabetes on hippocampal neuron density in animal model. This study was conducted to determine the effect of gestational diabetes on number of motor neuron in the ventral horns of spinal cord in 4, 8 and 12 weeks rat offspring. In this experimental study, 30 Wistar dams were randomly allocated in control and diabetic groups. Dams in diabetic group were received 40 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin [STZ] at the first day of gestational day [GD] and control group were received an equivalent volume normal saline, intraperitoneally. Six offspring of cases and controls were randomly selected at the 4, 8, 12 postnatal weeks. Postnatal rats were scarified and sections [6 micrometer] were taken from the cervical part of spinal cord, stained by cresyl violet. A photograph of sections was produced using an Olympus BX51 microscope and a DP12 digital camera. The number of motor neurons in the right ventral horns of spinal cord was evaluated in 100000 microm2 area of spinal cord using OLYSIA Autobioreport software. The number of motor neurons in 4 weeks rat offspring were reduced [24.90%] in gestational diabetics compared to controls [17.16 +/- 0.5 vs22.85 +/- 2.1, P<0.05]. The motor neurons in 8 weeks rat offspring were reduced [32.95%] in gestational diabetics in comparison with controls [17.70 +/- 1.7 vs26.40 +/- 2.0, P<0.05]. Also, the number of motor neurons in 12 weeks rat offspring were reduced [24.38%] in gestational diabetics in comparison with controls [17.83 +/- 0.7 vs23.58 +/- 1.4, P<0.05]. The uncontrolled gestational diabetes reduces the number of motor neurons in the ventral horn of spinal cord in rat offspring

[Effect of gestational diabetes on astrocyte density in CA1 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus in rat offspring]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common serious metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia, altered metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. Gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM], affects 3.5-5% of all human pregnancy. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the effect of gestational diabetes on astrocyte density in CA1 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus in rat male offspring. In this experimental study, 12 Wistar Dams rats were randomly allocated in control and diabetic groups. Gestational diabetes induced by 40 mg/kg/body weight of streptozotocin at the first day of gestation [GD] in experimental group and controls were received an equivalent volume normal saline injection intraperitoneally [IP]. Six male offspring of cases and controls dams, at the 7, 21 postnatal day [P7, P21] were randomly selected. Animals were scarified using chloroform anesthesia. The coronal sections of brain by 6 micrometer serially were prepared. The sections were stained with PTAH. The number of astrocytes was evaluated in 100000 micro m[2] area of CA1 and CA3 in 1000X magnification. Data was analyzed by SPSS-11.5 and t-test. In CA1 subfield of hippocampus in offspring, the number of astrocytes significantly reduced by 36.25% and 36.37% in diabetic group in compare to controls in the P7 and P21, respectively [P<0.05]. In CA3, astrocytes density significantly reduced 36.35% and 26.5% in GD in comparison with controls in the P7 and P21, respectively [P<0.05]. This study showed that the uncontrol gestational diabetes significantly reduces astrocytes density in CA1 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus in rat offspring

[Effect of applying progressive muscle relaxation technique on fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients]

Fatigue is the most frequent and disabling symptom in 92% of multiple sclerosis [MS] patients. Fatigue interferes with daily functioning and prevents sustained physical exertion, limits work and social role performance, and is related to lower quality of their life. Complementary therapies are widely used in treatment of people with MS and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique [PMRT] is a form of complementary therapies. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of applying PMRT on fatigue in MS patients. In this Quasi-experimental study, a total of 66 MS patients were selected with convenient sampling according to specific criteria and then were divided randomly into two groups of experimental and control [33 patients in each group]. PMR performed for 63 sessions on experimental group during two months but no intervention was done for control group. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS], and Self report checklists. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software and use of paired-t test, student-t test, analysis of variance [ANOVA] and correlation between variables. Student t-test showed that there was no significant difference between two groups in mean scores of fatigue before the study but this test showed significant difference between the two groups, one month [4.69 +/- 1.03 and 5.43 +/- 0.96, P<0.01] and two months [4.09 +/- 1.06 and 5.43 +/- 1.08, P<0.001] after intervention, respectively. ANOVA test with repeated measurements showed that there is a significant difference in mean score fatigue between two groups in 3 times [P<0.01]. The results of this study showed that PMR is practically feasible and could decrease fatigue of MS patients, so that applying this technique offered to these patients

Systemic complications and their risk factors among Tehranian blood donors

The systemic complications of blood donation are the first reasons why patients fail to return for further blood donation. This study was designed to determine the frequency of these complications and their associated risk factors among blood donors in Tehran. Also, we aimed to provide suitable methods to decrease the frequency of these adverse events, thereby eliminating the most important causes of withdrawal, while maintaining the health of the donors. This analytical descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 554 blood donors who had donated blood from February 2005 through September 2005 in four fixed blood donation bases and four mobile blood collection buses. Each base was considered as a stratum, and a stratified random sampling proportional to size was done to select the donors. Results showed donor reaction rate to be 13.4%, the most common of which were blackout of vision [7%], dizziness [6.3%], fatigue [6.1%] and nausea [1.8%]. There was no significant relationship between the incidence of these complications and type of base blood donation or fasting at the time of blood donation. Logistic Regression analysis showed that sex, condition of blood donor, exercise or walking, duration of donation, and practice to recommendation had significant effects on the odds ratio of systemic complication. Regarding the frequency values derived for the different systemic complications it can be concluded that attention to risk factors of these complications and their control can help encourage donors to become repeated donors as well as to prevent their withdrawal for further blood donation

reasons of lack of discharge planning performance by nurses

Discharge planning for patients, is seen as a key concept in the delivery of nursing care. Despite the advantages of discharge planning for patients, family and society, the definition and performance of this planning in hospital is ambiguous, and practically it is not performed in hospital. Therefore the objective of this study was to assess the reasons of lack of discharge planning performance by nurses. The design was a descriptive study with problem solving method, that carried out to determine the reasons of lack of discharge planning performance by nurses and introduce proper solutions to solve or reduce this problem. So a questionnaire was developed, then validated by 10 academic members. The sample of this study was 115 subgects in 3 groups: nurses, headnurses and supervisors of teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. three groups mentioned 5 reasons as the main barriers of lack of discharge planning performance, that divided into 2 parts nurses' high working load with inappropriate situation of their working environment, and the lack of acquaintance of nurses, patients and their families about discharge planning, related to lack of sufficient information and in service education. Also, the structural reasons with the higest mean score [M=2.04] from the three domains were determined as the main reason of the lack of discharge planning performance. For data analysis, SPSS software was used. According to study result the importance of discharge planning to increase the quality and quantity of nursing care, the best solution determined as: formation of specialized groups with participating of education supervisors, one of clinical experienced nurses and lecturers in order to write and develop proper educational packages with students cooperation in nursing office and departments is recommended