Helicobacter pylori infection and serum homocysteine in hemodialysis patient

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a factor that is found to be responsible for the development of atherosclerosis in the setting of chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection. In the recent years, homocysteine (Hcy) has been demonstrated to be an important contributor to atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to elucidate whether in patients with uremia on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), the infection of H. pylori affects the levels of Hcy. he patients were 39 HD ones with mean ages of 46 +/- 18 years. The time of hemodialysis were 30 +/- (35) months (median: 18 months). The value of serum Hcy of all patients was 5 (+/- 2) mu mol/L (median: 4.5 mu mol/L). The value of serum H. Pylori specific IgG antibody titers was 7.6 (+/- 9.9) u/ml (median: 2 u/ml). In this study a positive correlation was found between serum homocysteine and H. Pylori infection. As elevation of serum Hcy is observed in the great majority (>85%) of patients undergoing maintenance dialysis, further research is needed to determine the importance of association between elevated serum homocysteine and H. Pylori infection. Furthermore, whether or not the treatment of H. pylori infection in HD patients can diminish serum homocysteine level should be elucidated. Mahmoud Rafiean-Kopaei, Azar Baradaran, Ahmad-Reza Maghsoudi, Shamin Ghobadi and Hamid Nasri. Helicobacter pylori infection and serum homocysteine in hemodialysis patient. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):3696-3702]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 54

The viewpoints of members of medical teams about patients’ privacy

زمینه و هدف: حریم خصوصی در محیط های درمانی ارتباط بسیار نزدیکی با ارزش های هنجاری دارد و موضوعی است که افراد به طور معمول میل دارند آن را محفوظ داشته، از آن حفاظت کرده و بر آن کنترل داشته باشند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی دیدگاه اعضای تیم درمان نسبت به حریم خصوصی بیماران طراحی و اجرا شده است تا بدینوسیله راهکارهایی در راستای حل مشکلات موجود و افزایش رضایتمندی بیماران اندیشیده شود. روش بررسی: این مطالعه یک بررسی توصیفی مقطعی با روش نمونه گیری آسان است که در آن دیدگاه ها و نظرات 150 نفر از اعضای تیم درمان در مراکز آموزشی درمانی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد اعم از پزشکان، پرستاران، ماماها، کارکنان آزمایشگاه و کارکنان بخش رادیولوژی در نیمۀ اول سال1391، در خصوص رعایت حریم خصوصی بیماران در مراکز درمانی با استفاده از پرسشنامه پژوهشگر ساخته مورد نظرسنجی قرار گرفت. یافته ها: از نظر اکثر شرکت کنندگان در مطالعه (92) حفظ حریم افراد مفهومی مهم و نیازی اساسی در انسان است. همچنین 3/93 اعتقاد داشتند برای جلوگیری از تجاوز به حریم خصوصی بیماران ارائه راهکارهای جدید ضروری است و طبق نظر 7/66 افراد در رابطه با حفظ حریم بیماران در بعد آموزش توجه زیادی صورت نمی گیرد. 7/72 افراد لزوم تغییر در برنامه آموزش دانشجویان علوم پزشکی در خصوص حریم خصوصی بیمار را ضروری دانستند. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج این مطالعه تغییر در برنامه آموزشی دانشجویان گروه علوم پزشکی در خصوص حریم بیماران به نحوی که باعث افت کیفیت آموزشی نشود، یک راهکار مناسب جهت اصلاح دیدگاه و عملکرد دانشجویان و فارغ التحصیلان در این زمینه و بر بالین بیماران است

Efficacy of supplementary vitamin D on improvement of glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; a randomized double blind clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION Studies have revealed the association between vitamin D deficiency and changes in blood glucose and insulin levels as well as sensitivity of the target tissues to insulin. OBJECTIVE In this study, we examined the effect of adding vitamin D (cholecalciferol ; 50,000 units) to therapeutic regimen of T2DM patients compared to placebo on regulating the blood glucose and glycemic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was a double blind clinical trial conducted on 60 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Exclusion criteria were taking calcium, vitamin D supplements or any drugs effecting calcium and vitamin D metabolism in the past 6 months. Serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] level was measured with ELISA method. Patients were administered weekly vitamin D supplementation (50000 units) for 12 weeks. RESULTS There was no significant relation between HbA1c and 25(OH)D level prior the study (p> 0.05). After intervention, 25(OH)D level in interventional group was significantly higher compared to that of control group. HbA1c in male interventional group was significantly less than that of control group (p= 0.0068). CONCLUSION Weekly vitamin D supplementation had beneficial effect on glycemic parameters in male type 2 diabetic patients

Comparing sexual dysfunction in maintenance therapy with Methadone and Buprenorphine in married male

Background and aims: Sexual dysfunction is a common complaint among drug abusers in the treatment with Methadone and Buprenorphine. The aim of this study was to assess sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing Methadone or Buprenorphine for maintenance therapy. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. A 3-parts questionnaire (demographic questions, international index of erectile function questionnaire (IIEF) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)) was used for data collection. Results: Overall, 3.5% reported no Erectile Dysfunction (ED), 79.9 % reported mild to moderate ED, and 10% reported severe ED. There were no statistical differences in the components of the IIEF questionnaire between Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and Buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) group. Statistical analysis show that depressed subjects has a higher sexual dysfunction (r= -0.435, P<0.001). The results showed no significant relation between drug dose and sexual function (r= 0.031, P= 780). Conclusions: Based on our findings, sexual dysfunction was relatively high among males who received MMT and BMT and the disorder was more prevalent in depressed people. As the results, the problem needs more attention and should be offered the right solution to solve it

Antihypertensive drug prescription trends in shahrekord, iran

Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most leading causes of death worldwide. It is an important risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cerebrovascular diseases. Objectives: The aim of the study was evaluation of the status of blood pressure control and trends in prescribed antihypertensive medication usage among hypertensive patients in Shahrekord, Iran. Patients and Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive study 250 hypertensive patients were enrolled. The patients were evaluated based on the status of blood pressure (BP) control and the prescription trends and efficacy of antihypertensive drugs. The data were also evaluated in subgroups of diabetics or non-diabetics, smokers or non-smokers, patients with or without CKD, patients with or without IHD. Results: A total of 250 patients (149 women and 101 men) were enrolled in this study. The mean age of participants was 66.22 ± 13.58 years. Mean systolic and diastolic BP were 143.4 ± 29.4 mm Hg and 85.8 ± 12.5 mm Hg respectively. Poor controlled BP was seen in 106 patients. The more common prescribed antihypertensive drugs were angiotensin receptor blockers (46), diuretics (33.6) and beta-blockers (32.8). Conclusion: The study showed that most of the patients had poor controlled BP and physicians increasingly prescribe angiotensin receptor blockers

Comparing sexual dysfunction in maintenance therapy with Methadone and Buprenorphine in married male

Background and aims: Sexual dysfunction is a common complaint among drug abusers in the treatment with Methadone and Buprenorphine. The aim of this study was to assess sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing Methadone or Buprenorphine for maintenance therapy.\ud Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. A 3-parts questionnaire (demographic questions, international index of erectile function questionnaire (IIEF) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)) was used for data collection.\ud Results: Overall, 3.5% reported no Erectile Dysfunction (ED), 79.9 % reported mild to moderate ED, and 10% reported severe ED. There were no statistical differences in the components of the IIEF questionnaire between Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and Buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) group. Statistical analysis show that depressed subjects has a higher sexual dysfunction (r= -0.435, P<0.001). The results showed no significant relation between drug dose and sexual function (r= 0.031, P= 780).\ud Conclusions: Based on our findings, sexual dysfunction was relatively high among males who received MMT and BMT and the disorder was more prevalent in depressed people. As the results, the problem needs more attention and should be offered the right solution to solve it.\u

Estimation and validation of visibility factor for PWID and FSW groups.

<p>M: Male names, F: Female names.</p><p>VF: Visibility Factor.</p><p>Estimation and validation of visibility factor for PWID and FSW groups.</p

The four strata for collecting the number of alters in PWID and FSW survey.

<p>The four strata for collecting the number of alters in PWID and FSW survey.</p