Assessment of changes in biochemical parameters associated with kidney function in patients with multiple sclerosis while taking the drug

زمینه و هدف: بیماری مولتیپل اسکلروزیس، یکی از شایع ترین بیماری های مغز و اعصاب محسوب می گردد. هدف از این مطالعه، بررسی تغییرات پارامترهای بیوشیمیایی مرتبط با عملکرد کلیه شامل اوره، اوریک اسید و کراتینین در بیماران مبتلا به ام اس در حین مصرف دارو و مقایسه آن ها با گروه کنترل است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه، سطح سرمی اوره، اوریک اسید و کراتینین در 52 بیمار مبتلا به ام اس اندازه گیری شد و با 52 فرد سالم که از نظر سنی و جنسی و BMI با گروه بیمار هماهنگ بودند، مقایسه گردید. در نهایت داده ها با استفاده از روش تی تست، شاخص های میانگین و انحراف معیار توسط نرم افزار SPSS تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: میانگین سطح سرمی اوره در گروه بیمار و سالم به ترتیب 58/4±38/14 و 33/4±86/13 میلی گرم بر دسی لیتر مشاهده شد. میانگین غلظت اسید اوریک در گروه بیمار 99/0±66/4 و در گروه سالم 06/1±64/4 میلی گرم بر دسی لیتر و میانگین غلظت کراتینین نیز در گروه بیمار و سالم به ترتیب 10/0±85/0 و 11/0±78/0 میلی گرم بر دسی لیتر به دست آمد. نتیجه گیری: یافته های این تحقیق نشان داد که سطح سرمی اوره، اسید اوریک و کراتینین هیچ تفاوت آماری معنی داری بین گروه بیمار و کنترل نداشت

Opium addiction in patients with coronary artery disease: A grounded theory study

Background: There are widespread misconceptions about the positive effects of opium on coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, we performed a study to explore the opium addiction process contributing factors among CAD patients using a grounded theory approach. Methods: The sample comprised 30 addicted CAD patients and their family members, physicians, nurses and friends. Purposive and theoretical sampling was employed; semi-structured interviews were conducted. Coding and constant comparative analysis techniques were as proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1998). Results: The core category was 'Fighting for Survival', comprising three main themes, namely, 'the gateway', 'blowing into the fire' and 'getting stuck in the mud'. Conclusion: Increasing knowledge about the adverse effects of opium on the cardiovascular system would reinforce prevention and rehabilitation measures. Involving patients' family-members in addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs and referring patients to specialized rehabilitation centres could help patients quit opium. Healthcare providers (HCPs) should notice to the effects of opium consumption among CAD patients; nursing care must be holistic in nature. Although opium is stigmatised in Iran, HCPs must treat addicted CAD patients similar to other patients. Nursing students' must be aware of the negative effects of illegal drugs on CAD patients and the misconceptions regarding the positive effects thereof. Any misconceptions must be probed and clarified. Rehabilitation centres must be supervised by cardiologists and HCPs

A comparison of organizational climate and nurses� intention to leave among excellence awarded hospitals and other hospitals in 2013

Background: Human resource is the most important factor of performance, success and better revelation of excellence goals of each organization. By performing excellence plan, healthcare organizations improve their organizational climate and play a valuable role in retaining nurses and improving the quality of their services to patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare hospital organizational climate and intention to leave among working nurses in hospitals performing the excellence plan and other hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive comparison study. Its population included 248 nurses of the hospitals performing the excellence plan and other hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran selected by random sampling. The used instrument had three parts: the first part was related to personal characteristics, the second part was the Munn�s organizational climate questionnaire and the third part was Hinshaw�s questionnaire of �anticipated turnover scale�. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, version 17 and indices of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results: The results of the mean and standard deviation for organizational climate and intention to leave in both performing and non-performing hospitals of the organizational excellence plan were respectively (65.28 ± 19.31 and 56.42 ± 21.36) and (33.64 ± 5.58 and 35.59 ± 4.94). Independent T test revealed a significant difference between the mean scores for organizational climate in both performing and non-performing hospitals, and also a significant difference between the mean scores for intention to leave in both performing and non-performing hospitals (P = 0.004). Moreover, Pearson Correlation test showed a reverse significant correlation between organizational climate and intention to leave in performing hospitals of the organizational excellence plan (r = -0.337) and non-performing hospitals (r = -0.282) (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Performing quality improvement pattern such as organization�s excellence plan improves organizational climate of healthcare sectors, it can reduce nurses� intentions to leave and retain human resources. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses of genetic diversity in Mehr cotton cultivar and its crossing progenies

Cotton is cultivated in Iran with diploid and tetraploid forms and hybridization is a means to increase the genetic diversity and obtain new elite cultivars in this crop. This present study considered the molecular genetic diversity in Mehr (Gossypium hirsutum) cotton cultivar and its crossing progenies. 21 of 30 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers produced 220 reproducible bands with average of 10.47 bands per primer and 80.12% of polymorphism. OPR02 primer showed the highest number of effective allele (Ne), Shannon index (I) and genetic diversity (H). Some of the cultivars had specific bands, for example the F1 progeny of Mehr X No. 200, Mehr parental genotype and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrid genotype. Results show that some RAPD bands were present in the F1 progenies, but absent in the parental genotypes. Some others were present in the parental genotypes, but were absent in their hybrids. The highest values of genetic diversity in RAPD markers were obtained in Mehr X Sindose and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrids. Nine of ten inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers used produced 113 reproducible bands with average of 54.35% polymorphism. UBC834 locus revealed the highest number of Ne, I and H values. Also, some ISSR bands occurred only in the parental genotype while some others occurred only in the hybrid genotypes. The highest values of genetic diversity in ISSR markers were obtained in Mehr X Sindose and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrids.Key words: Cotton, genetic diversity, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR)

Características palinológicas de las subspecies de Linum mucronatum Bertol. con heterostilia

Linum mucronatum is a heterostylous species from sect. Syllinum with four subspecies in Iran. The present study examines palynological characteristics of the heterostylous subspecies of Linum mucronatum, pollen characters of brevistylous individuals (pins) as well as longistylous individuals (thrums) of these plants by scanning electron microscope and light microscope using the prolonged acetolysis procedure. Sixteen qualitative and quantitative characters were investigated. Pollen equatorial shapes varied between pin and thrum individuals of each subspecies with the exception of L. mucronatum subsp. assyriacum. Pollen sculptures varied between pin and thrum samples of each subspecies and were seen in the gemmate, clavate and baculate shapes. In addition, quantitative palynological characters differed between plants and ANOVA test showed significant variations for traits such as equatorial length, colpi width and apocolpium diameter. Hetrostylous individuals of each subspecies were separated from others in the UPGMA tree and also in the PCO and PCA plots. This study confirmed variations in pollen features between pin and thrum individuals of each subspecies.Linum mucronatum es una especie con heterostilia, que pertenece a la sección Syllinum del género Linum, y tiene cuatro subespecies en Irán. En el presente estudio se examinan las características palinológicas de las subespecies heterostilas de Linum mucronatum Bertol., así como los caracteres polínicos de individuos de los morfos brevistilo (pin) y longistilo (thrum) de estas plantas, mediante microscopía electrónica de scanning y microscopía óptica usando el método de acetolisis prolongada. Se estudiaron un total de 16 caracteres cualitativos y cuantitativos. La forma ecuatorial del polen varía entre los morfos pin y thrum en todas las subspecies, excepto en L. mucronatum subsp. assyriacum. La ornamentación también varía entre las muestras de morfos pin y thrum de cada subespecie, en los que se puede observar polen gemado, clavado y baculado. En algunos caracteres palinológicos cuantitativos, se encontraron también diferencias entre morfos y el test de ANOVA muestra que son significativas en cuanto a la longitud ecuatorial, la anchura de los colpos y el diámetro del apocolpio. Los individuos heterostilos de cada susbespecie aparecen separados en el árbol UPGMA y también en los gráficos de PCO y PCA. Este estudio confirma las diferencias en las características del polen entre individuos pin y thrum de cada una de las subespecies

The effects of prolonged vegetative reproduction of the two Iranian olive cv. tree cultivars (Dezful Baghmalek and Dezful Safiabad) on morphological traits

Somaclonal variation of the two Iranian olive cultivars named Dezful Baghmalek (DB) and Dezful Safiabad (DS) during the long-term propagation among 7 subcultures were evaluated. Morphological traits such as leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves on shoot, the length of shoots, internode distance and rooting percentage were measured. The study results showed that DB affected somaclonal variations more than the DS cultivar, especially rooting percentage, but the DS cultivar had a steady behavior, especially rooting percentage, during several subcultures. Although in all the traits that were fluctuating, irregular and unpredictable changes such as the length of shoots were observed, the most significant trait that was studied with almost a similar vibration in the two cultivars were leaf length and width changes measures. Totally, we could not select any specific subculture period for the creation of the maximum satisfied morphological changes, because it was suitable for increasing the internode distance (DB) and leaf length which were in the second and seventh subcultures that were optimized. Consequently, it was suitable for DS in the seventh subculture. For the purpose of accomplishing the proper morphological changes in the length of shoots, number of leaves and enhancement of rooting percentage in DB cultivar and also, internode distance and leaf width increase in DS cultivar, somaclonal variation during several subcultures will be appropriate.Key words: Olea europaea L., somaclonal variation, Dezful cultivars

Disclosure of Medical Errors: Attitudes of Iranian Internists and Surgeons

Background: Despite the widespread prevalence of medical errors and increased concerns of healthcare managers and the public about the disclosure of medical errors in recent decades, existing evidence shows that physicians still ignore the importance of disclosure of those errors. The present study aims to investigate the attitudes of Iranian internists and surgeons towards the disclosure of medical errors. Method: In this cross-sectional study, after a research purpose briefing, a checklist eliciting basic information and a questionnaire measuring attitudes towards the disclosure of medical errors was distributed to participant physicians at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The questionnaires were returned filled out by 107 participants (54 internists and 53 surgeons). Results: Although 77%, 53% and 44% of the participants agreed to the disclosure of serious, minor and near miss medical errors, respectively, 83% believed that it's very difficult for them to disclose medical errors and 48% asserted that disclosure of medical errors would threaten patients' trust in physicians. In addition, 78% of the participants believed in notifying hospital or ward authorities of the occurrence of medical errors while only 53% agreed to notify colleagues in case of medical errors. Patients' litigations (51%), unfamiliarity with patients' temperament (46%) and patients' asperity (40%) were the most prevalence reasons for nondisclosure of medical errors. No significant difference was found among participants' attitudes in terms of sex and age groups (p>0.05). In terms of specialty, surgeons expressed significantly more agreement than internists about declaration of medical errors to hospital and ward authorities (87% Vs 70%, p=0.039) and to other colleagues (66% Vs 41%, p=0.009). In addition, the surgeons believed that the disclosure of medical errors would minimize the likelihood of patients' litigations (60% Vs 42%, p=0.049). Internists and surgeons' attitudes did not differ over other issues (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although the majority of specialists agreed to the disclosure of serious medical errors, more than 80% of them regarded it as an awkward act. In addition, half of the participants considered disclosure as a threat to patient trust and felt deterred by patients' litigations. Therefore, it seems that disclosure of medical errors is a serious issue in Iran which needs to be addressed by healthcare system policy makers

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the spermatic cord: a case report and review of the literature

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a morphologically ill-defined tumour of the soft tissues and may involve nearly every organ of the body. MFH of the spermatic cord represents an extremely rare entity and reports of it in the literature are limited. We report a 69-year-old man found to have a left spermatic cord MFH and retroperitoneal and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who was treated with radical orchiectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The morphological findings of the spermatic tumour are presented and the literature is reviewed to clarify the potential diagnostic/therapeutic approaches and the prognosis related to spermatic cord MFH