Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Neyshabur County, East of Iran (2011-2017)

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) isn’t a deadly disease, but it has always been taken into consideration due to the long-term involvement of patients with skin. Various factors can play an intervening role in increasing the rate of disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of disease from 2011-2017 and provide appropriate control strategies for reducing its incidence in Neyshabur county. METHODS: All patients with CL, who had medical records in the health centres of Neyshabur from 2011 to 2017, were examined for conducting this analytical-descriptive study. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square test at a significant level of 0.95 using SPSS V22. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the highest annual incidence was in 2016 (229 patients), and the least incidence was in 2014 (100 patients). The majority of patients were under 10 years of age and 51.7% of patients were male. About 59.5% of patients were living in cities and 35% of them were living in North of Neyshabur city. Hands were the most affected part of the body (56.0%) followed by trunk (1.3%). Most patients (69.9%) were treated with topical regimens. CONCLUSION: This study showed that CL was hypo-endemic in Neyshabur. Also, the disease was more prevalent in urban areas. Therefore, appropriate health measures to improve environmental conditions, public health educations, and the public awareness of the positive impact of early diagnosis of disease in the success of treatment (especially for inhabitance suburbanite) are essential

The Impact of Pursed-lips Breathing Maneuver on Cardiac, Respiratory, and Oxygenation Parameters in COPD Patients

BACKGROUND: Respiratory system, together with the cardiovascular and central nervous system, is responsible for all processes related to oxygenation and hemodynamics and the defect in the functioning of each of these systems, along with ageing, can have mutual effects on their performance and physiological symptoms. The use of Pursed-lips Breathing (PLB) training is an essential part of the treatment of patients with the obstructive pulmonary disease, PLB stimulates the autonomic nervous system and causes relaxation and improvement of physiological parameters. AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PLB on cardiac, pulmonary and oxygenation level in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: A three-group clinical trial study with experimental and control which was purposefully conducted with the participation of patients with COPD and healthy individuals referring to Madani hospital Khoy, in 2017. The sample size was selected to be 60 subjects. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups of intervention and control with 20 patients, and 20 healthy subjects were assigned to the healthy intervention group. The demographic, anthropometric information form and checklist recording changes in levels of oxygenation, respiration, temperature, heart rate and blood pressure with cardiopulmonary follow up in three stages before, during and after PLB were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, repeated measure test, ANOVA, and Chi-square. RESULTS: On evaluation within the COPD patient intervention group in Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (SPO2) index with the mean difference of 2.05 percent, Respiratory Rate(RR)-0.65 minute and Pulse Rate(PR)-1.6 bpm was significant (p ≤ 0.05), and systolic blood pressure index in healthy subjects was increased (3.35 mmHg). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that using effective PLB as an easy, inexpensive, non- invasive and non-pharmacological method is considered as an important factor in improving the status of oxygenation and physiological indicators in patients with COPD and should be considered as an important part of rehabilitation programs for these patients

The The Influence of Benson Relaxation on Oxidative Stress Marker of Premenstrual Syndrome in Students of Khoy University of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common painful disorder in females. The use of Benson's relaxation technique with a focus on sensations affects a range of physical and mental symptoms, reduces stress, and subsequently leads to changes in oxidative stress indexes. AIM: The present study aimed to determine the impact of Benson's relaxation technique on oxidative stress indexes of premenstrual syndrome in students in Khoy University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups was used in this study. The female nursing students at Khoy University of Medical Sciences were selected by convenience and were assigned by the simple random method to control and intervention groups, each of which with 30 samples. The data collection tool was a three-part questionnaire and a checklist for recording values. Data collection was done at two stages of before and after intervention on days 21 to 28 and the third day of menstruation by distributing questionnaires and a blood sampling. The Mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage using descriptive statistics and Inferential statistically were utilised to analyse data through paired T-test, independent T-test, and Chi-square tests in addition to analysis of relations by using SPSS V25 at the p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: According to the findings, most of the samples were single (90%), native (61.6%) and had PMS symptoms (83.3%). The participants' mean age was 21 ± 1.5 years, and most of them had physical symptoms of headache, fatigue, behavioural symptoms of nervous tension and mood swing. The results indicated a significant difference between control and intervention groups in malondialdehyde2 (MDA2) and Total Antioxidant Capacity2 (TAC2) (p = 0.001). The within-groups comparison indicated a statistically significant difference between the total MDA index with a mean difference of 0.126 and TAC index (-.122) of the intervention group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The research results emphasised the importance of using Benson's relaxation techniques as an alternative medicine on the variability of levels oxidative stress markers and Consequently for reducing physical and mental symptoms