Hirschsprung's disease: a clinical and pathologic study in Iranian constipated children

Hirschsprung's disease [HD] is a complex disorder resulting from absence of ganglion cells in the bowel wall leading to functional obstruction and bowel dilatation proximal to the affected segment. The aim of our study was to evaluate rectal biopsies from constipated children in different age groups to see in which age it is more likely to encounter HD to avoid unnecessary rectal biopsy. Records of all children with chronic constipation undergoing a rectal biopsy to exclude HD were obtained from the files of Children's Medical Center in Tehran, Iran. A detailed retrospective demographic review, including age of beginning of signs and symptoms was made of all cases. Totally, 172 biopsies were taken from 168 children in a five year period, of which 127 cases [75%] had HD. The mean age of constipated patients at biopsy was 39 months and the mean age of patients with proven HD was 18 months. Males were affected more than females. Congenital anomalies associated with HD were found in 9.6%. In 85 [91%] cases constipation had begun in neonatal period. Our data supports previous studies that if constipation begins after the neonatal period, the child is unlikely to have HD. In neonates delay in meconium passage is the most important clinical sign of HD

experience of spiritual well-being from the perspective of oncology nurses: a qualitative content analysis

Background and Purpose: Spiritual wellbeing as one of the effective factors on human health outcomes has been increasingly considered in recent years. Based on the literature, nurses' spiritual wellbeing influences their spiritual care. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to explain spiritual wellbeing from the perspective of oncology nurses

Methods and Materials: This qualitative phenomenological study involved 24 oncology nurses as participants from 12 hospitals affiliated to medical universities of Iran, Tehran, and Shahid Beheshti in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through 20 semi-structured interviews and 2 focus group sessions with efficient age and sex diversity, and were analyzed by qualitative content analysis

Results: In the final step of analysis, 11 themes or main categories emerged: religious belief, Quran and the Hereafter, belief in God, Prophets and Imams, understanding of principles and philosophy of creation, searching for God, whole health, scientific and altruistic nursing, sense of life satisfaction, reaching transcendence, meaning and purpose in life, and inner energy resources

Conclusion: Oncology nurses experienced the spiritual wellbeing as belief in God and the Holy Quran, understanding the mystery of creation and searching for God [religious wellbeing] and attaining health, knowledgeable nursing, life and job satisfaction and finding the meaning and purpose of life [existential wellbeing]

[Study of factors relation to internet use with usage of internet by teachers according to theory of reasoned action]

Due to the necessity of using the Internet as a source of important information by scientific community is increasing, thus determining the factors affecting faculty member's intention to use the Internet according to their position must be knowledge and important sources of information are familiar, has been considered. Therefore this study to determine the rate and factors relation to use the Internet to use intention by faculty members based on the theory of reasoned action was done. This descriptive correlation study that was conducted in 1388, the theory of rationed action was selected as the theoretical foundation and relation of the three factors: attitude to internet vise, subjective norms to internet use and external variables [demographic characteristics] with intention to use the internet was measured. Sampling method was sensuous and samples included all faculty members of the one of school of Nursing consisting of 29 persons. For attitude measurement to use the internet was used validated and reliable questionnaire 40 items and measurement of subjective norms to use the internet [8 items] and intention to use the internet [6 items] was done by making researcher questionnaire after acquisition of validity and reliability. Statistics tests were performed as Spearman, Pearson, Linear Regression Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis and Multicollinearity analysis. In most samples, attitude was average and subjective norms were high and in half the samples, intention to the internet was average. According to the theory of reasoned action, between attitude and subjective norms to use of internet was existed direct correlation and was predictable [P<0.01]. Significant correlation between gender and attitude to use of internet [P=0.012] and also level of education had significant correlation with intention [P=0.014]. Also between clinical experience and attitude to use of internet was seen correlation [r=O.56, P=0.003]. Increasing of positive attitude and subjective norms to internet use will culminate intention to internet use [factors of the Theory of reasoned action]

Adverse events associated with neonatal exchange transfusion for hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of hyperbillirubin treatment is to prevent high billirubin concentration that may cause Kernicterus. We conducted this study to estimate the incidence of blood exchange and determine causes and complication of blood exchange and identify strategies for risk reduction of Kernicterus in newborn with jaundice. METHODS: From march 2004 to march 2006 in neonatal Department in children hospital, medical center Tehran, Iran, 346 neonates were admitted as neinatal jaundice without sign and symptoms of infections. We identified causes and complications of exchange. data processing and analysis was conducted by SPSS versions 11.5. RESULTS: Of 346 infants with jaundice who received phototherapy. 50, 14.45 percent cases underwent exchange transfusion with mean age 9.38+5.75 days. The mean total Serum billirubin level was 29.39+6.13mg/dl. ABO incompatibility was the most common cause for hyperbillirubinemia.the incidence of apnea was 12% there was no direct death frmo exchange transfusion. CONCLUSION: To make payment women aware to cbserve jaundice regularly after birth of their child and short breast feeding to control dehydretion.

[The effect of different concentration of methanol and aqueous extracts of garlic on opportunistic fungi Sporothrix schenckii, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans]

The curative properties of garlic in medicine have been known for a long time. However, it was only in the last three decades when garlic properties were seriously investigated confirming its potential as therapeutic medicine. The aim of this study was to measure the MIC of aqueous and methanolic extracts of garlic and to compare them with ketoconazole as positive control. In this laboratory study, the fresh smelly bulb of garlic was cleaned, skinned dryad and powdered. Garlic powder was solved in 80% methanol and distilled water. This yellow solution remained in the lab for 4 days. After that the stimmed, filtered and concentrated solution was kept remained inside the pipet in oven for 48h in 50[degree]C to make dry extract. Then methanol and aqueous dilutions [0.625 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/d 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 20 mg/ml] were prepared separately from 200mg powder of the concentrated extracts of garlic. Three strains of dermatophytes were cultured on the media which contained different dilutions. This experimental study showed that the rate of the effect of the aqueous extracts of garlic on Sporothrix schenckii in the minimum dilution [0.625mghl] was 8% and in the maximum dilution [20 mg/ml] was 100%. This rate in methanol extract on the same fungus was 25% and 100% in 10mg/ml dilution, respectively. The amounts of the effects of extracts on Candida albicans were 17% in the minimum dilution and 100% in 10% dilution. The effect of this plant on Cryptococcus neoforrnans was more than our expectation, because the amount of MIC in all dilutions was close to its minimum dilution [0.625mg/ml]. As the effects of the garlic extracts were the same or even more than ketoconazole and also regarding the side effects of the synthetic drugs, the use of herbs as useful drugs are necessary

Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes: a radioimmunoassay method for direct determination of EIF-2 concentrations in reticulocyte lysates

A racdioimmunoassay method for direct determination of eIF-2 concentration in reticulocyte lysate has been developed. This assay method measures eIF-2 concentrations in nanogram range. A value of 40 pmol eIF-2 per ml of reticulocyte lysate was obtained. This investigation was supported by National Institute of Health Research Grants GM-18790 and GM-22079. This paper is No. 29 of this series. The previous paper in this series is Ref, 1