Comparing the effects of lidocaine cream and mefenamic acid on post episiotomy pain

Introduction: A large number of womensuffered from the post episiotomy pain and the common method for pain relief is oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. With considering the adverse effects of these drugs, the aim of present study was to compare the effects of lidocaine cream and mefenamic acid capsule on post episiotomy pain. Methods: This clinical trial was carried out in 2011 on 60 women with singleton pregnancy at 38-42 weeks of gestation who underwent episiotomy. Cases were randomly divided into both groups and received lidocaine cream and mefenamic acid capsule. Data were collected by questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale. Pain intensity was compared with the first complaint of mother and 6, 12 and 24 hours after the delivery in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16), t-test and paired t-test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: With the first complaint of women, the mean of pain intensity was 4.92±1.9 in lidocaine group and 4.90±1.5 in mefenamic acid group that was not significant (p=0.20). Mean intensity of post episiotomy pain in two groups receiving lidocaine cream and mefenamic acid capsule were not significant at hours 6 (3.26±1.3 vs. 3.10±1.6, p=0.05), 12 (2.26±1.7 vs. 2.86±1.4, p=0.36) and 24 (1.46±1.2 vs. 1.49±1.2, p=1) after delivery. Conclusion: The effects of lidocaine cream and mefenamic acid capsule in relief of post episiotomy pain were similar. With considering the side effects of mefenamic acid, lidocaine cream is an appropriate alternative drug in relief of post episiotomy pain

The effect of Cornus mas in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in women: A randomized controlled trial

Background and aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common and the second leading infections, after respiratory tract infections, in women. Currently, various chemical drugs are used to prevent the UTIs. Chemical drugs may cause antibiotic resistance and cause resistant strains likely grow in the long-term treatment with antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Cornus mas in preventing recurrent UTIs in women aged 15-45 years referring to Ayatollah Kashani Hospital Clinic in Shahrekord. Methods: This experimental study (Parallel Design and Triple-blind) was conducted on 42 women aged 15-45 years referring to Ayatollah Kashani Hospital Clinic of Shahrekord and diagnosed with chronic cystitis. The exclusion criteria were neurogenic bladder, genitourinary system anatomical abnormalities (hydronephrosis, ureterocele stone, etc), and bacterial resistance. The women were randomly assigned to 2 groups. At baseline, the women were examined for any functional and anatomical disorders and if it was necessary, they underwent ultrasound. After the current UTIs were treated and the women clinically recovered, one group was administered with Cornus mas tablet 500 mg and another group administered with placebo for 6 months. All the women were followed up for 6 months. Every 2 months, the patients were clinically examined and their urine cultures were investigated for the clinical signs of cystitis. As the symptoms of the UTIs occur, the patients were recommended to refer for repeated urine culture. All patients (42 women) completed the study. Results: In our study, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of recurrent UTI recurrence, although there were differences (P>0.005). Positive urine culture in Cornus mas group was 19 and in placebo was 33.4. In terms of dysuria in 6 months and the second time, there was a significant difference between placebo and Cornus mas (P=0.004) Dysuria in Cornus mas group was 14.2 and in placebo was 56.2. Conclusion: Cornus mas can decrease dysuria and frequent urination in patients with recurrent UTIs, so it can be used in the treatment of these patients

Micromechanics of fatigue in woven and stitched composites

The goal is to determine how microstructural factors, especially the architecture of microstructural factors, control fatigue damage in 3D reinforced polymer composites. Test materials were fabricated from various preforms, including stitched quasi-isotropic laminates, and through-the-thickness angle interlock, layer-to-layer angle interlock, and through-the-thickness stitching effect weaves. Preforms were impregnated with a tough resin by a special vacuum infiltration method. Most tests are being performed in uniaxial compression/compression loading. In all cases to date, failure has occurred not by delamination, but by shear failure, which occurs suddenly rather than by gradual macroscopic crack growth. Some theoretical aspects of bridging are also examined

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Hospitalized Patients Infected With 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus in Qom, Iran, in Oct-Nov. 2009

Background: Pandemic H1N1 influenza A 2009 (H1N1/09) virus has been identified as a leading cause of febrile respiratory diseases worldwide, and pregnant women constitute a high risk group. Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with H1N1 influenza A hospitalized in university hospitals of Qom city in Iran. Patients and Methods: This descriptive retrospective study was conducted using existed data related to October and November 2009. All pregnant women with influenza manifestations were admitted to the hospitals to undergo nasopharyngeal culture. H1N1 virus was confirmed in 11 cases. Data including demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and pregnancy complications was extracted from medical records, and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age of the women was 28.1 ± 4.7 years with a mean gestational age of 28.7 ± 10.9 weeks. The most common clinical manifestations included coughing (100%), fever (87.5%), and dyspnea (75%). The most common abnormal test was anemia (88%). Pregnancy complications included preterm delivery (36.3%), low birth weight (18%), oligohydramnios (9%), gestational diabetes (9%), and fetal distress (9%). Also one (12.5%) wound dehiscence happened. Conclusions: vaccination seems to be necessary to prevent this potentially fatal infectious disease. Furthermore, timely prescription of antiviral medications is recommended to decrease the risk of severe complications

Micromechanics of fatigue in woven and stitched composites

The goals of this research program were to: (1) determine how microstructural factors, especially the architecture of reinforcing fibers, control stiffness, strength, and fatigue life in 3D woven composites; (2) identify mechanisms of failure; (3) model composite stiffness; (4) model notched and unnotched strength; and (5) model fatigue life. We have examined a total of eleven different angle and orthogonal interlock woven composites. Extensive testing has revealed that these 3D woven composites possess an extraordinary combination of strength, damage tolerance, and notch insensitivity in compression and tension and in monotonic and cyclic loading. In many important regards, 3D woven composites far outstrip conventional 2D laminates or stitched laminates. Detailed microscopic analysis of damage has led to a comprehensive picture of the essential mechanisms of failure and how they are related to the reinforcement geometry. The critical characteristics of the weave architecture that promote favorable properties have been identified. Key parameters are tow size and the distributions in space and strength of geometrical flaws. The geometrical flaws should be regarded as controllable characteristics of the weave in design and manufacture. In addressing our goals, the simplest possible models of properties were always sought, in a blend of old and new modeling concepts. Nevertheless, certain properties, especially regarding damage tolerance, ultimate failure, and the detailed effects of weave architecture, require computationally intensive stochastic modeling. We have developed a new model, the 'binary model,' to carry out such tasks in the most efficient manner and with faithful representation of crucial mechanisms. This is the final report for contract NAS1-18840. It covers all work from April 1989 up to the conclusion of the program in January 1993

An engineering model of woven composites based on micromechanics

Composites with three-dimensional woven architectures exhibit large strains to failure when compared to composites made up of the same materials but not with three-dimensional interlocking tows. The fracture mechanics of such three-dimensional architectures is a subject requiring substantial investigation and experimental testing. Classical fracture mechanics concepts (for instance, an isolated defect in a homogeneous body) will not be applicable to the woven fracture test specimen. The use of an isolated singularity to characterize an entire specimen is inadequate when the density of defects is considerable and the material is heterogeneous. Modelling of such a complex system requires a great deal of insight and consideration as well as prudent choices of model sizes to make numerical schemes feasible. The purpose of this manuscript is to review our recently acquired knowledge of damage accumulation in woven composites and to describe a practicable model of the macroscopic behavior in these and other complex composite architectures based on such knowledge. In this manuscript, discussion will be limited to uniaxial compressive loading; considerations of general loading (monotonic and cyclic) will appear in a subsequent manuscript. Our modelling efforts may be briefly described as follows: the composite is subdivided into microstructural elements (microelements) in which the micromechanical modelling is either understood rigorously or can be represented adequately by statistical parameters. There can be microstructural elements for many different types of composite components, such as the various types of warp and weft and matrix for three-dimensional woven composites. The physical dimensions of microelements are made as large as possible while the response within the element can still be represented by a single micromechatlical calculation. The various elements are linked together(sometimes by associating distinct corners and edges, sometimes by superposition) in a pattern which resembles a particular weave architecture. The model can then be loaded in any manner and the linear and nonlinear elastic responses of representative weaves can be calculated. After the elastic regime, the fracture response is determined by monitoring the damage accumulation

Mechanisms of compressive failure in woven composites and stitched laminates

Stitched laminates and angle interlock woven composites have been studied in uniaxial, in-plane, monotonic compression. Failure mechanisms have been found to depend strongly on both the reinforcement architecture and the degree of constraint imposed by the loading grips. Stitched laminates show higher compressive strength, but are brittle, possessing no load bearing capacity beyond the strain for peak load. Post-mortem inspection shows a localized shear band of buckled and broken fibers, which is evidently the product of an unstably propagating kink band. Similar shear bands are found in the woven composites if the constraint of lateral displacements is weak; but, under strong constraint, damage is not localized but distributed throughout the gauge section. While the woven composites tested are weaker than the stitched laminates, they continue to bear significant loads to compressive strains of approx. 15 percent, even when most damage is confined to a shear band

Subcritical Crack Growth in Ceramic Composites at High Temperature Measured Using Digital Image Correlation

An in situ experimental technique is described that allows high resolution, high sensitivity determination of displacements and full-field strains during high temperature mechanical testing. The technique is used to investigate elevated temperature crack growth in SiC/Nicalon sub f composites. At 1150 degrees C, the reinforcing fibers have a higher creep susceptibility than the matrix. Fiber creep leads to relaxation of crack bridging tractions, resulting in subcritical crack growth. Differential image analysis is used to measure the crack opening displacement profile u(x) of an advancing, bridged crack. With appropriate modeling, such data can be used to determine the traction law, from which the mechanics of cracking and failure may be determined

Negative Effects of “Predatory” Journals on Global Health Research

Predatory journals (PJ) exploit the open-access model promising high acceptance rate and fast track publishing without proper peer review. At minimum, PJ are eroding the credibility of the scientific literature in the health sciences as they actually boost the propagation of errors. In this article, we identify issues with PJ and provide several responses, from international and interdisciplinary perspectives in health sciences. Authors, particularly researchers with limited previous experience with international publications, need to be careful when considering potential journals for submission, due to the current existence of large numbers of PJ. Universities around the world, particularly in developing countries, might develop strategies to discourage their researchers from submitting manuscripts to PJ or serving as members of their editorial committees

Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt