The relationship between psychological well-being and empathy quotient

This paper investigates the relationship between psychological well-being and empathy quotient among 200 married students, 100 female and 100 make, in city of Najafabad, Iran. The study uses a questionnaire with 84 questions for measuring psychological well-being, which consists of six parts including Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relation with others, Purpose in life and Self-acceptance, each with 14 questions. Cronbach alphas for these six items were calculated as 0.83, 0.86, 0.85, 0.88, 0.88 and 0.91, respectively. In order to measure empathy quotient (EQ), the study uses EQ-short form, which consists of 22 questions. Cronbach alpha has been calculated as 0.93, which is well above the minimum acceptable level of 0.70. Using stepwise regression technique, the study determines a positive and meaningful relationship between EQ and psychological well-being

Acute transverse myelitis of childhood due to novel coronavirus disease 2019: The first pediatric case report and review of literature

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic appears to have some streaks of severity in pediatrics. These streaks include variable signs of respiratory distress, a new entity called multisysteminflammatory syndrome, and some evidences of neurological symptoms involving both central and peripheral nervous systems.Here, we described the first pediatric patient with COVID-19 who presented with acute transverse myelitis. An 11-year-old otherwise healthy girl presented to our clinic with acute onset of lower limbs paresis, urinary and fecal retention, alongside epigastric pain, and fever for 3 days. A neurological examination revealed a severe flaccid paraplegia in her lower limbs associated with a sensory level at T5. She was evaluated systematically for all probable causes of her symptoms, and finally, due to having a positive nasopharyngeal PCR test, she was considered to suffer from post-COVID-19 transverse myelitis. She underwent intravenous-immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone pulse, and other supportive cares without obvious results. Therefore, she underwent seven sessions of plasma exchange with little effects on muscle strength. The focal inflammation and injury of the spinal cord, otherwise known as transverse myelitis, have a wide array of potential etiologies. Transverse myelitis has been well documented to be the result of viral and bacterial infections. We believe our patient was not involved in a cytokine storm status due to good CRP, IL-6 and Ferritin levels. Albeit, we cannot certainly consider the patient to have a direct viral impact or involved in a late immunity process. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TM in the field of pediatrics occurred after COVID-19. Thus, this is critical to note that children can present with some severe types of COVID-19

Comparison of the Effect of Three Methods of Education (Inquiry-based, Bedside Education and Routine Approach to Clinical Education) on Critical Care Nursing Students' Clinical Learning

Background & Objective: Regarding the importance of nursing education promotion, there is a need to use methods that have the ability to create knowledge and skills in students. This study aimed to assess the effect of education (inquiry, bedside education and routine approach to clinical education) on critical care nursing students' clinical learning. Methods: This quasi-experimental study performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Valiasr hospital in Arak, Iran, during Octobers to March 2014. The subjects were 60 nursing students who were selected via census method and randomly were divided into three groups of 20 subjects. After the administration of pretest, students in the control group were educated using common method; in one of the experimental groups, the inquiry-based method and the other group, bedside method were used for education for 10 days. Then, the three groups completed the questionnaires at the end of education again (posttest). Finally, data were analyzed using ANOVA, paired-t and independent-t tests. Results: The mean total score of the clinical skills and cognitive domain was significantly difference among the three groups after the intervention (F = 136.75, degree of freedom = 2, P = 0.0001). After testing the homogeneity hypothesis of variances and using Games-Howell post-hoc tests, the total scores of training in bedside and inquiry-based education were significantly more than the routine training after the intervention (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: It seems that two methods inquiry-based and bedside education enhanced clinical skills of students. Therefore, it is recommended to use these two methods of clinical educating to enhance students’ clinical learning. Key Words: Inquiry-based education, Bedside education, Routine approach to clinical education, Nursing student

Investigating the Effects of Using of Biochar as a Replacement for Minerals Premix in Layers Diet on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Their Egg Shells

Biochar is a mineral compound with a low cost of production. This compound can also be used as a fertilizer in agriculture to help plants grow faster and is a main source of bioenergy for heating and cooking. The goal of this study was to investigate how replacement of biochar with a mineral supplement, as well as its interaction with vitamin C, would affect eggshell quality of laying hens. In a 5×2 factorial treatment design, 400 laying hens were randomly assigned to 10 treatments, 5 replications, and 8 laying hens for each repetition. Factors tested included biochar levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent replacement with mineral supplements of diet) and vitamin C levels (0 and 100 mg/kg of diet). The results showed that different experimental diets had no significant effect on eggshell quality (shell breaking strength, shell weight, eggshell thickness, and eggshell ash) of laying hens. The results revealed that biochar, due to its availability and easy production, can replace mineral supplements in laying hens’ diet, with no adverse effects on eggshell quality traits

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Epileptic Children in Tehran: A Cross-Sectional Study (2009-2011)

How to Cite This Article: Tonekaboni Sh, Jafari Naeini S, Khajeh A, Yaghini O, Ghazavi A, Abdollah Gorji F. Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Epileptic Children in Tehran: A Cross-Sectional Study (2009-2011). Iran J Child Neurol. 2014 Winter; 8(1):26-31.ObjectiveAlthough the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been evaluated globally, there are few studies in our country on this subject. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern of use, parental sources of information, and benefits of CAM in epileptic children in Tehran.Materials &amp; MethodsOne hundred thirty-three parents or relatives of epileptic children who were referred to outpatient clinics or admitted in neurologic ward of four major hospitals in Tehran, were interviewed by our researcher based on a structured questionnaire; from 2009 to 2010. The information obtained comprised the demographic data of patients and their parents, frequency and morphology of convulsions, the type and sources of CAM and finally, the benefits and adverseeffects of this practice.ResultsForty-four percent of the respondents had used CAM methods either alone or in combination with other methods. The most frequently used CAM was written prayers followed by oral herbs and special diets. CAM was mainly introduced to them by relatives. Only 16.7% of these parents had discussed this matter with their children’s physicians. No efficacy to control seizure was observed for most of these methods.ConclusionThis study showed that use of CAM in our study group is relatively common and may have a potentially hazardous role in the treatment process. So, it is necessary for physicians to have enough information about CAM practice in their patients. References:National Institutes of health. More than one third of US adults use complementary and alternative medicine, according to new government survey. [Serial online] 2004 (cited 2004 May 27). Available from: http://nccam. nih.gov/news/2004/052704.htm.Traditional Medicine: The Fifty-Sixth World Health Assembly WHO, 2003. World Health Organization, 2011. Available from: http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/ pdf_files/WHA56/ea56r31.pdfMichi CA. The use of herbal remedies in Jamaica. Ann Trop Paediatr 1992;12(1):31-6.Ricotti V, Delanty N. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in epilepsy. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2006;6(4):347-53.Aburahma SK, Khader YS, Alzoubi k, Sawalha N. Complemetary and alternative medicine use in a pediatric neurology clinic. Complement Ther Chin Pract 2010;16(3):117-20.Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA 1998;280(18):1569-75.Khonsari A, Gorji K, Abdollahpur F, Dehestani S, Mousavi A, Delfan B et al. Study of international approaches on treatment of common diseases using different methods of complementary medicine. J Ilam Uni Med Sci 2009;4:37-45. (Full text in Persian)Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early identification of refractory epilepsy. N Engl J Med 20003;342(5):314-9.Oshikoya KA, Senbanjo IO, Njokanma OF, Soipe A. Use of complementary and alternative medicine for children with chronic health conditions in Lagos, Nigeria. BMC Complement Altern Med 2008;8:66.Liow K, Ablah E, Nguyen JC, Sadler T, Wolfe D, Tran KD et al. Pattern and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with epilepsy in the mid western United States. Epilepsy Behav 2007;10(4):576-82.Tehrani Banihashemi SA, Asgharifard H, Haghdoost AA, Barghamdi M, Mohammadhosseini N. The use of complementary/ Alternative medicine among the general population in Tehran /Iran. Payesh 2008;7(4):355-62.(Full text in Persian)Ekici B, That B, Abah S, Aydinli N, Ozmen M. Application of complementary and alternative medicine in epileptic children at a tertiary pediatric neurology center in Turkey. Eur J Integr Med 2011;4:e71-5.Soo I, Mah JK, Barlow K, Hamiwka L, Wirrell E. Use of complementary and alternative medical therapies in pediatric neurology clinic. Can J Neurol Sci 2005;32(4):524-28.Cuzzolin L, Zaffani S, Murgia V, Gangemi M, Meneghelli G, Chiamenti G, et al. Patterns and perceptions of complementary/alternative medicine among paediatricians and patients’ mothers: a review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr 2003;162(12):820-7

NE102A Plastic Scintillator Response to He-3 Ions

Plastic scintillators are widely used in detecting nuclear radiation due to their low construction cost, the ability to be produced in nearly any shape and size and relatively fast time response, among which NE102A (or its equivalents, BC400 and EJ-212) is one of the most famous and widely used scintillators in the focal plane of the particle magnetic spectrometers. In this study, the response of a large NE102A scintillator to He-3 ions was investigated in the energy range of 55-87 MeV. The experimental data were collected from the measurements carried out at the accelerator center of University of Groningen, the Netherlands (KVI-CART). The results of this research, acceptably consistent with previous published experimental data, confirmed that the response of the NE102A scintillator to He-3 ions with energies more than 10 MeV is approximately linear

Study of the gastrointestinal parasites in the feces of wild and domestic waterfowl with a focus on zoonotic parasites in Ahvaz, Iran

Due to the importance of parasitic infections in birds and the increasing growth of waterfowl breeding, especially goose and duck, this study aimed to investigate gastrointestinal parasites, including worms and protozoa in the feces of some species of wild and domestic waterfowl with a focus on zoonotic parasites. In this study, 100 fecal samples were collected from eight different wild and domestic waterfowl species in Ahvaz, including domestic goose, wild goose, domestic duck, wild duck, swan, pelican, and Ukrainian goose, and to identify gastrointestinal parasites. The samples were evaluated using the Clayton- Lane method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen and Trichrome staining methods. SPSS Statistics 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Out of 100 fecal samples, 17 samples (17%) were positive for gastrointestinal parasites. Fourteen samples (14%) were infected with Eimeria spp., and three samples (3%) were infected with Giardia species. Among the different species of waterfowl that were positive, pelicans had the highest rate of infection (57.28 %). The highest rate of parasitic infection in waterfowl was related to protozoan infections, and the highest rate of protozoan infection was associated with Eimeria (14%). Of the positive cases, only four had clinical symptoms such as lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea, and the rest of the positive cases were from apparently healthy birds. Considering that most parasitic infections have been detected in apparently healthy birds, it is recommended to observe hygiene and to disinfect cages regularly and also reduce the density of birds. Due to the zoonotic potential of Giardia and due to the contamination of some birds in bird shops with this parasite, this issue should be considered by public health officials, bird shops, owners, and breeders of these birds

Intravenous Morphine vs Intravenous Ketofol for Treating Renal Colic; a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: The main purpose of emergency department (ED) management for renal colic  is prompt pain relief. The present study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of intravenus (IV) ketofol with morphine in management of ketorolac persistent renal colic. Methods: This study is a single blind randomized, clinical trial, on patients who were presented to ED with renal colic, whose pain was resistant to 30 mg IV ketorolac. The patients were randomly assigned to either IV morphine (0.1 mg/kg) or IV ketofol (0.75 mg/kg propofol and 0.75 mg/kg) and the measures of treatment efficacy were compared between the groups after 5 and 10 minutes. Results: 90 patients with mean age of 38.01 ± 9.78 years were randomly divided into 2 groups of 45 (66.7% male). Treatment failure rate was significantly lower in ketofol group after 5 (20% vs 62.2%, p &lt; 0.001) and 10 minutes (11.1% vs 44.4%, p &lt; 0.001). ARR and NNT for ketofol after 5 miutes were 42.22% (95% CI: 23.86 – 60.59) and 3 (95% CI: 1.7 - 4.2), respectively. After 10 minutes, these measures reached 33.33 (95% CI:16.16 – 50.51) and 4 (95% CI: 2.0 - 6.2), respectively. NNH and ARI for hallucination or agitation were 12 (95%CI: 5.8 - 174.2) and 8.89% (0.57 - 17.20), respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study, showed the significant superiority of ketofol (NNT at 5 minute = 3 and NNT at 10 minute = 4)  in ketorolac resistant renal colic pain management. However, its NNH of 12, could limit its routine application in ED for this purpose

Prophylaxis of Childhood Migraine: Topiramate Versus Propranolol

How to Cite this Article: Tonekaboni SH, Ghazavi A, Fayyazi A, Khajeh A, Taghdiri MM, Abdollah Gorji F, Azargashb E. Prophylaxis of Childhood Migraine: Topiramate Versus Propranolol. Iran J Child Neurol. 2013 Winter; 7 (1):9-14. ObjectiveHeadache is a common disabling neurological disorder and migraine comprises more than half the causes of recurrent headaches in children. Despite extended prevalence of this type of headache there is lack of evidence about best drug treatment for migraine. So we aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of these drugs on childhood migraine.Materials &amp; MethodsIn the current study, a randomized clinical trial consisting of 78 patients according to 2004 International Headache Association criteria were randomly assigned to two groups that matched by age and sex. One of these two groups was treated with Topiramate, while the other was given Propranolol. After one and four months, the efficiency of these treatments was measured in terms of frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks.ResultsResults obtained from the data collected showed that of these 78 studied patients, 38 patients received Topiramate treatment (group A) and the rest (40 patients; group B) was treated with Propranolol. The average age of group A was 8.5± 2.9 years and that of group B was 8.3 ± 2.8 years. No significant difference was observed between these two groups in terms of reduction in frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks.ConclusionResults showed that both treatments had the same efficiency in healing migraine headaches and there was no significant difference between their treating results. However, further studies are needed to examine medical effects of these two medicines. ReferencesAbu-Arefeh  I,  Russell  G.  Prevalence  of  headache  and migraine in schoolchildren. BMJ 1994 Sep 24; 309 (6957): 765-9.Lipton RB, Silberstein SD, Stewart WF. An update on the epidemiology of migraine. Headache 1994 Jun; 34 (6):319-28.Stewart WF, Linet MS, Celentano DD, Van Natta M, Ziegler D. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates of migraine with and without aura. Am J Epidemiol 1991 Nov; 134 (10): 1111-20.Marcos J. Cruz, Ignacio Valencia, Agustı´n Legido, et al, Efficacy and Tolerability of Topiramate in Pediatric Migraine. Pediatr Neurol 2009; 41: 167-170.Ashrafi  MR,  Shabanian  R,  Zamani  GR,  Mahfelati  F. Sodium valproat versus Propranolol in pediatric migraine prophylaxis. Eur J Pediatr Neurol 2005; 9 (5): 333-8.Hershey AD, Winner PK. Pediatric migraine: recognition and treatment. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2005 Apr; 105:4 ( Supple 2):2S–8S.Lewis DW, Scott D, Rendin V. Treatment of pediatric headache. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2002 Oct;3(10):1433-42.Stewart WF, Lipton RB, Kolodner K, Liberman J, Sawyer J. Reliability of the migraine disability assessment scores in a population-based sample of headache sufferers. Cephalalgia 1999 Mar; 19 (2): 107-14.Hershey AD,  Powers  SW,  Vockell ALB,  LeCates  SL, Kabbouche MA, Maynard MK. PedMIDAS: development of a questionnaire to assess disability of migraines in children. Neurology 2001 Dec; 57(11): 2034-9.Hershey AD, Powers SW, Vockell ALB, LeCates SL, Segers A, Kabbouche MA. Development of a patient- based grading scale for PedMIDAS. Cephalalgia 2004 Oct; 24 (10): 844-9.Ferraro D, Di Trapani G. Topiramate in the prevention of pediatric migraine: literature review. J Headache Pain 2008 Jun; 9 (3): 147-50.J W. Lance and P J. Goadsby. Mechanism and Management of Headache. Butterworth-Heinemann; 7th edition, 2004.Lipton RB, Silberstein SD. Stewart WF. An update on the epidemiology of migraine. Headache 1994 Jun; 34(6):319-28.

The Effect of Moderating Noise Pollution on Premature Infants' Behavioral and Physiological Responses in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of moderating noise pollution on premature infants' behavioral and physiological responses in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: 110 premature infants hospitalized in the NICU ward of hospitals in Tehran were selected. All the infants who met the research criteria were allocated and assigned to the experimental and control group (n = 55). The sampling method was non-probability and convenient. In the first section of time, each infant with inclusion criteria, inserted in the control group and then in the second section of time, infant with inclusion criteria placed in the experiment group. In the first section, the educated nurse measured the LAeq, LC, LA, infants’ behavioral responses, and physiological responses. In the second section, noise modifying interventions were implemented in the experimental group for 6 weeks, and then LAeq, LC, LA, infants’ behavioral responses and physiological responses were measured with the same methods. Results: Infants' heart rate in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (Pvalue&lt;0.05), and atrial blood O2 Saturation was significantly higher than the control group (Pvalue&lt;0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean number of crying, sleeping, and Moro reflex of premature infants in the two groups. Also, the sound-pressure level in the C-weighted network in the experimental group was lower than the control group (Pvalue=0.021). The sound-pressure level of the C-weighted network was obtained in the same way (Pvalue=0.008). Conclusions: Based on the results, moderating noise pollution in NICU can lead to heart rate deceleration and atrial blood O2 Saturation acceleration in premature infants. Keywords: Noise pollution, Premature infants, Behavioral responses, Physiological responses, Neonatal Intensive care unit