Exploring Iranian political refugees’ experiences in Britain - phoenix rises from the ashes - an existential-phenomenological study

The refugee issue is as old as human history. Today the spiralling crisis for host countries and for the refugees themselves needs to be addressed psychologically, as well as politically and sociologically. This study focuses on the lived experience of nine Iranian political refugees in the UK. My main sampling criterion is the willingness of participants to discuss in depth their lived experiences. I chose Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to carry out the investigation. My literature review developed as themes emerged from the participants’ data, which I collected through semi-structured interviewing. Following IPA criteria, five super-ordinate themes developed: Violation of human rights as a threat to the self; their value system and commitment; Taking risks to create possibilities ; psychological rebirth and overcoming obstacles ; and finally their sense of self and cultural adaptation. Within these super-ordinate themes were twenty-five sub-themes. Recognising the value of reflexivity, I asked an IPA researcher to interview me twice: once before commencing my research and again after completing the data analysis. My research showed my nine participants’ capacity to overcome extreme crisis. Through a challenging and painful process, they created a new life in the UK. This research enabled me to recommend a therapeutic model for working with political refugees in particular, and with all others who face traumatic upheaval

Effect of fasting on prenatal care in Shahrekord

با توجه به اینکه مطالعات گذشته در باره اثرات روزه داری بر پارامترهایی که به عنوان مراقبت های دوران بارداری که غیر مستقیم سلامت جنین و مادر را بررسی می کند در ماه مبارک رمضان نتایج متفاوتی را نشان می دهند، این مطالعه برای بررسی تغییرات مراقبت های دوران بارداری که شاخصی از سلامت مادر و جنین است در روزه داران باردار انجام شد. طی یک مطالعه کوهورت از بیست مرکز بهداشتی درمانی شهرستان شهرکرد با روش نمونه گیری آسان تعداد 623 نفر خانم حامله وارد مطالعه شدند. از هر نفر در سه نوبت یک هفته قبل از آغاز مطالعه در صبح و روزهای 14 و 28 ماه رمضان یک ساعت قبل از اذان مغرب نمونه گیری ادرار انجام شد و مراقبت های دوران بارداری شامل اندازه گیری فشار خون، قد، وزن، اندازه ارتفاع رحم، سمع قلب جنین و احساس حرکت جنین توسط مادر انجام شد. طول مدت ناشتائی 5/. ±5/11 ساعت در شبانه روز بود. از این تعداد، 466 نفر در نیمه اول ماه رمضان روزه نگرفتند و 152 نفر حداقل 7 روز، روزه گرفته بودند و در آخر ماه رمضان تعداد 130 نفر حداقل 15 روز به روزه گرفتن مبادرت کرده اند و 488 نفر بقیه روزه نگرفته بودند. 55 کل افراد در ترایمستر سوم حاملگی و 26 در ترایمستر دوم و 19 در ترایمستر اول قرار داشتند. گروه روزه بگیر باردار با گروه غیر روزه باردار از نظر پارامترهای تغییرات فشار خون سیستولیک و دیاستولیک، شاخص توده بدنی، افزایش ارتفاع رحم، سمع قلب جنین، احساس حرکت جنین توسط مادر و کتون ادرار با هم مقایسه شده اند. بین میانگین فشار خون سیستولیک و دیاستولیک در افراد روزه گیر و غیر روزه نسبت به فشار خون پایه (قبل از ماه رمضان) در دو نوبت وسط ماه رمضان و آخر ماه رمضان اختلاف معنی دار آماری وجود نداشت. همچنین بین میانگین مقادیر افزایش شاخص توده بدنی در وسط و آخر ماه رمضان افراد روزه گیر و غیر روزه گیر نسبت به شاخص توده بدنی پایه تفاوت معنی داری مشاهده نشد. حس حرکت جنین و سمع قلب جنین همه مادران باردار روزه دار و غیر روزه در قبل از ماه رمضان 5/45 و در آخر ماه رمضان 6/75 بود که افزایش آن به دلیل افزایش سن حاملگی است. موارد کتون مثبت ادرار افراد باردار روزه گیر در وسط و آخر ماه رمضان نسبت به باردار غیر روزه بیشتر بود. بین میانگین افزایش اندازه ارتفاع در وسط ماه و آخر ماه اختلاف آماری معنی داری بین دو گروه وجود نداشت و متوسط افزایش اندازه ارتفاع رحم حامله ها در ترایمستر دوم و سوم حاملگی در آخر ماه رمضان3/0±5/3 سانتی متر بود. نتایج حاصله از این مطالعه نشان می دهد که روزه داری زنان باردار بر روی پارامترهای ارزیابی شده در دو گروه مورد و شاهد تفاوت معنی داری مشاهده نشد، لذا به نظر نمی رسد روزه داری برای مادران باردار مشکل ایجاد کند به شرطی که آنها تحت مراقبت های دوران بارداری قرار بگیرند

Changes of blood sugar and total calcium in hyperbilirubinemic neonates after exchange transfusion

Exchange transfusion is a therapeutic method for immediate treatment of hyperbillirubinemia to prevent kernicterus, but it has some complications including hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia. This study was performed to find the changes of blood sugar and calcium after blood exchange and their possible correlation with weight, blood incompatibility and bilirubin decrease rate. Thirty-six neonates with blood exchange were evaluated over a period of 6 months. Blood samples were collected from umbilical vein catheter, before and 6 hours after the exchange transfusion, and their total calcium, bilirubin and blood sugar were measured. Following every 100 ml of blood exchange, 1 ml of calcium gluconate (10%) was infused slowly. Our results showed that, 6 hours after exchange transfusion, the total calcium level was decreased. There was no significant correlation between calcium decrement and weight. Also, no significant correlation was found between blood incompatibility and bilirubin decrement. There was no significant alteration of blood sugar 6 hours after exchange transfusion. We recommend using of calcium gluconate during exchange transfusion and serial measurement of calcium level until its level is stable

Investigation of cancers incidence relevant to radiation in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province during five years (1998-2002

زمینه و هدف: پرتوهای یونیزان با دوزهای پایین (پرتوهای زمینه طبیعی) یکی از عوامل شیوع برخی از سرطان ها می باشد. در کشورهای در حال توسعه مثل ایران، 94 پرتوگیری انسان از منابع طبیعی پرتو می باشد. در نواحی مرتفع همانند استان چهارمحال و بختیاری که دارای سطح اشعه زمینه طبیعی بالا (بالاتر از میانگین جهانی) می باشد، بررسی میزان شیوع سرطان های مرتبط با اشعه حائز اهمیت است که هدف این تحقیق می باشد. مواد و روشها: در این مطالعه تعداد 751 مورد بیمار مبتلاء به سرطان در مدت 5 سال (81-1377) که برابر با معیارهای ICD10 لفظ بدخیم به آنها اطلاق می شد و در این استان به ثبت رسیده بودند، مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. از این تعداد، 362 بیمار که مبتلاء به سرطان های پوست، پستان، ریه، تیروئید و لوسمی بودند، انتخاب شدند. اطلاعاتی نظیر جنس، سن و دیگر اطلاعات لازم از مرکز بهداشت و بخش های پاتولوژی بیمارستان های استان جمع آوری گردید و داده ها توسط آزمون آماری Chi-square مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. نتایج: در نتیجه این بررسی، شیوع سرطان های پوست، پستان، تیروئید، ریه و لوسمی نسبت به کل سرطان های ثبت شده به ترتیب 5/20، 5/7، 6/2، 1/1 و 2/16 تعیین گردید. از کل موارد بررسی شده 3/48 موارد مرد و 7/51 موارد زن بودند. ارتباط آماری معنی داری بین جنس و نوع سرطان ها وجود داشت (05/0

Can we rely on public data as a source of information for cancer registry in developing countries?

Background/aims: Although a "hospital-based cancer registry" is important in improving patient care, a "population-based cancer registry" with emphasis on epidemiology is important in allocating health care resources and prioritizing public health programs. Because of its reliance on retrieved clinical and para-clinical documents, there is some limitation in registering all cancer incidents in this system, especially in developing countries. In this study we examined the possibility of using public data as a complementary source of information for recording cancers in a population-based cancer registry. Methods: Along with the annual census in rural areas, a survey was performed in Golestan province in March 2004 to identify public awareness about cancer incidents in the community. Individuals were questioned about history of cancer in their close relatives during the last two years. Those who reported cancer in their relatives were also asked to name the main organ of involvement. A similar list was retrieved from the cancer registry at the Ministry of Health in Gorgan, and cases with upper GI (esophagus and gastric) cancer diagnosis from 21 March 2002 through 20 March 2004 were selected for this study. Finally, these two lists were compared for examining accuracy of the collected data. Results: We included 137 cases in our study with rural residence and known addresses. Only 35 (25.5%) cases were reported by the relatives and among them only 20 (57.1%) relatives correctly reported the tumor location. Although we found a difference in accurate reporting of cancer incidents by year of diagnosis (more correct cases reported during the second versus the first year), the difference was not statistically significant between the two years. Conclusion: In this study, we examined the possibility of using public awareness about cancer incidents as a complementary source of information for a population-based cancer registry. We found that this approach is not ideal for reducing limitations. Therefore, we recommend a nationwide cancer registry to record all cancer-related information at the time of diagnosis. This strategy will reduce the need for performing retrospective surveys in collecting cancer-related information

Age of Menarche and Its Related Factors in School Girls of Shahrekord

Abstract Background: Considering different effective factors in age of menarche in different geographical areas and the necessity of determining a reliable and upto-date reference in this field, the aim of this study was to determine the mean age of menarche in 11-18 years old school-girls of Shahrekord. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 778 school girls aged 11-18 years of Shahrekord which were selected by clustering method among 8163 students. Data was collected using a questionnaire about demographic ..

A report about a case of Gestational trophoblastic tumor associated with ectopic pregnancy

مقدمه: تومور تروفوبلاستیک حاملگیGTT)) متعاقب حاملگی خارج رحمی یک رویداد بسیار نادر است. در این مقاله یک مورد مول مهاجم که از یک حاملگی خارج رحمی لوله‌ای نشأت گرفته بود معرفی می‌شود. گزارش مورد: بیمار خانم 26 ساله با حاملگی دوم و اولین حاملگی خارج رحمی (G2L1EP1) بود که به خاطر افزایش میزان هورمون گنادوتروپین جفتی((BHCG بعد از عمل حاملگی خارج رحمی (EP) به بیمارستان شهید بهشتی اصفهان ارجاع شد. درمان اولیه EP بیمار با عمل سالپنژکتومی بوده است. پیگیری پاتولوژی سالپنژکتومی مول مهاجم تشخیص داده شد که بیمار تحت دو دوره درمان با متوترکسات قرار گرفت و با توجه به گزارش توده در آدنکس راست در سونوگرافی یک نوبت لاپاراتومی ‌شد که باز هم تشخیص مول مهاجم بود. بنابراین بیمار تحت رژیم درمانی (etoposide methotrexate actinomycin D cyclophosphamide vincristine) EMA/CO قرار گرفت و نهایتاً با BHCG معادل 1 مرخص شد. نتیجه گیری: پیگیری عدد BHCG بعد از عمل جراحی EP هم برای تشخیص EP پا برجا و هم برای رد GTT بسیار مهم است هم چنین پیگیری جواب پاتولوژی اعمال جراحی در صورتی که از تشخیص نیز مطمئن هستیم ضرورت دارد

A New Wideband Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna

A wideband and compact circularly polarized (CP) C-shaped dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is presented. The proposed C-shaped DR is excited by a simple stripe line connected to a coplanar waveguide (CPW) feeding line. The C-shaped DRA is circularly polarized with 19% axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. It is found that the CP bandwidth can be expanded by using a narrow short circuit strip. The final design achieves CP with 50% AR bandwidth. The proposed circularly polarized DRA (CPDRA) with good radiation characteristics offers an impedance bandwidth of 58% between 3.45 and 6.26 GHz for VSWR ≤ 2. The proposed DRA is fabricated and tested. Very good agreement between simulated and measured results is obtained

Internal Consistency and Convergent Validity of the Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity of a new questionnaire for hyperacusis, the Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms (IHS; Greenberg & Carlos 2018), using a clinical population. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. Data were gathered from the records of 100 consecutive patients who sought help for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis from an audiology clinic in the United Kingdom. The average age of the patients was 55 years (SD = 13 years). Audiological measures were the pure-tone average threshold (PTA) and uncomfortable loudness levels (ULL). Questionnaires administered were: IHS, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ), Insomnia Severity Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for the 25-item IHS questionnaire was 0.96. Neither the total IHS score nor scores for any of its five subscales were correlated with the PTA of the better or worse ear. This supports the discriminant validity of the IHS, as hyperacusis is thought to be independent of the PTA. There were moderately strong correlations between IHS total scores and scores for the HQ, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with r = 0.58, 0.58, 0.61, 0.54, respectively. Thus, although IHS scores may reflect hyperacusis itself, they may also reflect the coexistence of tinnitus, anxiety, and depression. The total score on the IHS was significantly different between patients with and without hyperacusis (as diagnosed based on ULLs or HQ scores). Using the HQ score as a reference, the area under the receiver operating characteristic for the IHS was 0.80 (95% confidence interval = 0.71 to 0.89) and the cutoff point of the IHS with highest overall accuracy was 56/100. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 82%. CONCLUSIONS: The IHS has good internal consistency and reasonably high convergent validity, as indicated by the relationship of IHS scores to HQ scores and ULLs, but IHS scores may also partly reflect the co-occurrence of tinnitus, anxiety, and depression. We propose an IHS cutoff score of 56 instead of 69 for diagnosing hyperacusis

Eye movements in mild traumatic brain injury: Clinical challenges

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, is a common injury which affects patients of all demographics. There is a global effort to accurately diagnose and identify patients at highest risk of prolonged symptom burden to facilitate appropriate rehabilitation efforts. Underreporting is common with large numbers not engaging with services, in addition to differences in treatment outcomes according to ethnicity, age, and gender. As patients recover, symptomology evolves which challenges rehabilitative efforts with no clear definition of ‘recovered’. This review describes key areas in mTBI such as diagnostic challenges, epidemiology, prognosis, and pathophysiology which serves as an introduction to “Eye Movements in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Ocular Biomarkers.