The effect of environmental index on mental health in nurses working in emergency and non emergency wards in Khorramabad hospitals

زمینه و هدف : یکی از دغدغه های ذهنی جوامع امروزی ، تامین سلامت و بهداشت روانی افراد به خصوص پرستاران است . پژوهش حاضر با هدف تعیین عوامل مرتبط با شاخص های محیط کار بر سلامت روان پرستاران شاغل در بیمارستان های شهر خرم آباد انجام گرفته است. روش بررسی: این یک مطالعه مقطعی است. جامعه آماری این پژوهش شامل کلیه پرستاران در بیمارستان مذکور که شامل 433 نفر و نمونه آماری شامل 207 نفر از پرستاران دو بخش بودند که در بیمارستان عشایر با روش نمونه گیری در دسترس و در بیمارستان تامین اجتماعی با روش سرشماری انتخاب شدند. ابزار جمع آوری اطلاعات عبارت بودند از : پرسشنامه اطلاعات جمعیت شناختی، پرسشنامه سلامت عمومی GHQ و نمره بندی تنش های محیط کار WES که پایایی و روایی آنها تایید شده است. برای آزمودن فرضیات از آزمون t مستقل ، تحلیل واریانس یک طرفه و ضریب همبستگی استفاده گردید. یافته ها : در تحقیق حاضر 119 زن و 88 مرد مورد مطالعه قرار گرفتند که 43.30 درصد پرستاران در بخش اورژانس و 57/69 درصد در سایر بخش ها مشغول به کار بودند. نتایج آزمون t مستقل نشان داد که تفاوت معناداری بین میانگین نمرات سلامت روان در پرستاران بخش اورژانس (71.14±19.29) در مقایسه با پرستاران سایر بخش ها (48.13±13.30) وجود ندارد (0.654=p). نتیجه گیری : ﭼﻨﺎن ﻛﻪ ﻧﺘﺎﻳﺞ مطالعه ﺣﺎﺿﺮ نشان می دهد ﻫﺮ ﭼﻨﺪ ﺷﺎﻏﻼن در ﺑﺨﺶ اورژاﻧﺲ ﺗﺮوﻣﺎی ﺑﻴﺸﺘﺮی را ﺑﺎ ﺗﻮﺟﻪ ﺑﻪ ﺳﺎﺑﻘﻪ ی ﺣﻮادث ﺷﻐﻠﻲ ﺑﺮای ﺧﻮد و ﻫﻤﻜﺎرانشان تجربه کرده اند، تفاوت معنی داری بین اختلالات مرتبط با سلامت روان ناشی از فشار عصبی و روانی محیط کار در پرستاران بخش های اورژانس و غیر اورژانس در ﺑﻴﻤﺎرﺳﺘﺎن ﻳﺎﻓﺖ نشد

Near- to mid-infrared picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO4

We describe a Ti:sapphire-pumped picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO4 that is broadly tunable in the near to mid infrared. A 4.5-mm single-grating crystal at room temperature in combination with pump wavelength tuning provided access to a continuous-tuning range from 3.35 to 5 mu m, and a pump power threshold of 90 mW was measured. Average mid-infrared output powers in excess of 100 mW and total output powers of 400 mW in similar to 1-ps pulses were obtained at 33% extraction efficiency. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.</p

Nitric oxide radical scavenging potential of some Elburz medicinal plants

Some plants scavenge nitric oxide (NO) with high affinity. For this purpose, forty extracts from 26 medicinal plants, growing extensively in Elburz mountains, were evaluated for their NO scavenging activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of these extracts were also measured by Folin Ciocalteu and AlCl3 colorimetric assays, respectively. Sambucus ebulus fruit aqueous extract and Pterocarya fraxinifolia leaf methanol extract showed better activity than others with IC50 equal to 29 and 65 g ml-1, respectively. NO is also implicated in inflammation and other pathological conditions, therefore very powerful scavenging activity of S. ebulus fruit extract may explain its very good anti-inflammatory activity. Phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts varied between 10.2 - 200.4 and 2.1 - 90.9 mg g-1 of extract, respectively. Good correlations could be found between total phenolic contents and NO scavenging activity through linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.63). There was also a better correlation between total flavonoids and NO scavenging activity (R2 = 0.73). High NO scavenging activity in plants can candidate them for testing their anti-inflammatory property.Key words: Antiinflammatory, flavonoid contents, medicinal plants, nitric oxide scavenging activity, phenolic contents, Sambucus ebulus, Pterocarya fraxinifolia

Correlation Between Health-Related Quality of Life in Veterans With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury and Their Caregiving Spouses

Background: Recently, investigations have indicated that caring of a chronically ill family member strongly influences the health status and the quality of life (QOL) of the caregiving family members. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between health-related QOL of veterans with chronic spinal cord injury and their caregiving spouses. Patients and Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study including two groups; veterans with chronic spinal cord injury and their caregiving wives who were living in the city of Mashhad, Iran. The patients with spinal cord injury were veterans from the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). All the participants filled out the short form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the scales of the two groups. Results: The mean age and standard deviation of veterans and their spouses were 48.5 ± 5.9 and 44.8 ± 7.2, respectively and their number of children ranged between 0-6. Our data analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in some domains of the SF-36, including PF, MH, PCS, MCS, BP and GH (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in RP, VT, SF and RE between the two groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that a decrease in health status level of veterans, physically and mentally, can affect the health-related QOL of their caregiving spouses

Effects of exogenous tannase enzyme on growth performance, antioxidant status, immune response, gut morphology and intestinal microflora of chicks fed grape pomace

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary addition of tannase to feed of chicks including grape pomace (GP) on growth performance, antioxidant status, immune response, blood parameters, gut morphology, intestinal microflora, liver function, and histopathological responses. The experimental diets were i) control (corn and soybean diet) (C); ii) C+10%GP; iii) C+10%GP+T1 (500 mg/kg tannase enzyme); and iv) C+10% GP+T2 (1000 mg/kg tannase enzyme). At 10 days old, the bodyweight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) of the birds fed the diet supplemented with GP was lower compared with the control group. In contrast with the control, supplementation of diets with 10%GP+1000 mg/kg tannase elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and depressed the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum. The addition of GP to the chicken diets had a significant impact on the total anti- sheep red blood cells (SRBC) titers and IgG, and IgM antibodies at 21 and 42 days old. The muscularis thickness of the chicken duodenum decreased in the Trial 3 compared with control groups. The inclusion of GP in the chicken diets reduced the concentration of Escherichia coli and increased that of Lactobacillus compared with the control. The results of the present study suggest that the inclusion of up to 10 percent GP in diets did not adversely affect broiler growth performance, and supplementation of tannase improved the antioxidant status and immune responses,and increased the caecal populations of beneficial bacteria in the cecum of broiler chickens.Keywords: Broiler chickens, histopathological responses, glutathione peroxidase, polyphenol, sheep red blood cell

Effects of grape pomace and vitamin E on performance, antioxidant status, immune response, gut morphology and histopathological responses in broiler chickens

We investigated the effects of grape pomace (GP) and vitamin E on the performance, antioxidant status, immune response, gut morphology and histopathological responses in broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to five dietary treatments (50 birds/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were as follows: i) Control corn-soybean meal diet (C); ii) C + Vitamin E (200 mg/kg of α-tocopherol acetate); iii) The diet containing 5%GP; iv) The diet containing 7.5% GP; v) The diet containing 10% GP. No differences were found in performance of the experimental birds. Birds fed 7.5% GP showed a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidise (GSH-Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) at 42 days (d) of age in the control and 7.5% GP fed groups were lower than others. The primary IgM concentration of birds fed 10% GP was higher than the birds fed the control diet, the vitamin E supplemented diet or the diet containing 5% GP. The secondary titer against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was increased significantly in the birds fed 10% GP and the secondary IgG concentration of birds fed 10% GP was higher than the birds fed the control diet and the diets containing 5% or 7.5% GP. In duodenum part of small intestine, villus height/crypt depth ratio and muscularis thickness were decreased. The results of the present study suggest that the inclusion of up to 10% GP in diets did not adversely affect broiler chickens’ performance and improved the antioxidant and immune responses of broiler chickens.Keywords: Glutathione peroxidise, polyphenol, poultry, red blood cells α-tocopherol acetate, sheep, superoxide dismutas

Introducing genetic markers to identify and distinguish five species of Cyprinidae in the Caspian Sea using PCR-RFLP

Cyprinids are the main and most significant bony fishes found in the Caspian Sea. In this study, 15 specimens of Rutilus fish kutum (Kamensky, 1901), 10 specimens of Barbus capito (Gueldenstaedtii, 1772), 10 specimens of Bream Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1785), 10 specimens of Redlip, Aspius aspius, and 15 specimens of Kora volba, Rutilus rutilus caspius, were collected from commercial catch stations. DNA from all specimens was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method in 500[1.1 tubes and amplified using PCR method with a pair of primers with cytochrom b gene sequence of Kora volba. For RFLP analysis, PCR products of cytochorome gene b (1117 bp) from each species were digested with five restriction enzymes under suitable conditions of incubation. DNA bands were visualized by gel electrophoresis (polyacrylamide) and staining with silver nitrate. Five enzyme Rsa I, Hinf I. Hha I , Hine II, and Mbo I showed polymorphism. Genotypes obtained from digestion of enzymes Rsa I, Hinf I, Hha I showed haplotypes AAAAA for Barbus capito, BBBB for R. rutilus caspius, CCCC for Bream Abramis brama, DDDD for Aspius aspius and EEEE for R. frisii kutum. Each of these haplotypes serves as a genetic marker for the species and is of significant importance in distinguishing them

In vitro antioxidant analysis of Achillea tenuifolia

Achillea tenuifolia (AT) is one of the most herbs are being used by people as a traditional medicinal remedy. Antioxidant activity of AT different extracts and total flavonoid and phenol levels in the extracts were investigated in this study. Plant extracts were prepared by maceration method using ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol-water (1:1). Folin Ciocalteu reagent in terms of gallic acid equivalent achieved the total phenol's content. AlCl3 was used as a reagent for flavonoid determination. Flavonoid content of the plant extracts obtained in terms of quercetin equivalent. DPPH radical scavenging effect of the extracts was determined by UV spectroscopy. Also in order to determine lipid peroxidation inhibition of the extracts of A. tenuifolia, ferric thiocyanate method with BHT, a synthetic reference standard, was carried out in this study. Phenol contents were 43.97 &#177; 0.034, 74.16 &#177; 0.55 and 106 &#177; 0.693 mg g-1 in theethyl acetate, methanol and methanol-water extracts, respectively. Flavonoid amount obtained in the ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol-water extracts were 10.6 &#177; 1.85, 23.1 &#177; 0.5 and 190 &#177; 1.3 mg g-1, respectively. The percentage of DPPH radical scavenged by the most active extract (methanol-water) of A. tenuifolia was 92% at a concentration of 1 mgml-1 greater than 94% of BHT at 2 mgml-1. IC50 of methanol-water extract and BHT were 0.015 and 0.053 mgml-1, respectively. Lipid peroxidation inhibition was observed by the most polar extract of AT about 91.84%. Phenol and flavonoids content confirm theexistence of more polar hydroxyl containing chemical structures in the plant. The potency of radical scavenging effect of methanol-water extract was about 3.5 times greater than synthetic antioxidant BHT. The inhibitory activity of the extracts on the lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid in ferric thiocyanate test was also significant (&gt; 90%). In this study we concluded that there is a direct relation between phenol and flavonoid content of plant extracts and the antioxidant activity. So that the greater amountof phenolic compounds leads to more potent radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities as it was observed in A. tenuifolia polar extract in the present study

Antidepressant and antioxidant activities of Artemisia absinthium L. at flowering stage

Artemisia absinthium (Asteraceae) is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine. Its effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds. Methanolic extract of A. absinthium aerial part at flowering stage was screened for antioxidant activities by five complementary test systems. Also, its antidepressant activity was determined by forced swimming (FST) and tail suspension tests (TST). The extract showed good antioxidant activity. Also, the extract showed good reducing power activitybetween 50 and 800 ìgml-1. The extract exhibited a good activity in H2O2 scavenging (IC50 = 243 ± 12.15 ìg ml-1). IC50 for iron ion chelating activity was 419 ± 20.95 ìg ml-1. Quercetin, BHA, EDTA and ascorbicacid used as positive controls in parallel experiments. The extract showed high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Extract showed good antidepressant activity in FST. The extract shortened remarkably the immobility period during the FST and TST and exhibited a dose dependent activity. All test groups were significantly different form control group (P 0.05) in TST. LD50 was 3700 mg/kg. These results introduced A. absinthium aerial parts as an easily accessible and edible source of natural antioxidants and antidepressant

Non-surgical removal of some stones from a red tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) stomach as gastric foreign bodies

A red-tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) referred to Aquatic Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran for showing lethargy, bottom sitting, extension of abdomen and severe abdominal injuries. Its abdomen was swollen and the bulk of the foreign bodies were easily palpated. The heaviness of foreign bodies had made swimming and buoyancy difficult for fish. Several radiographic images were taken after anaesthetizing the catfish with 10% carvacrol, 2 drops in 1 liter of water. Radiographs revealed some stones with their size, number and location. Stones were removed non-surgically through the large oral cavity using suitable forceps. Totally 16 stones and 2 shells were removed from the stomach of the fish. The catfish was then returned to the water where normal swimming and buoyancy was restored