Effect of acupressure on cervical ripening

Background: Cervical ripening is one of the main stages of initiation labor. Acupressure in Chinese medicine is considered as an invasive technique, which through reliving oxytocin ripens the cervix. Acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) was selected in this study because it is the acupoint selected in gynecology and it is easy for women to locate and apply pressure without medical assistance. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acupressure on cervical ripening. Patients and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 150 primigravida with term pregnancy who had referred to Deziani hospital in Gorgan were chosen and divided to three groups: in the first group acupressure was done by the researcher while in the second groups this was performed by the mother her self, and the third group served as a control and only received routine care. For both intervention groups the pressure was applied on Sp6 for about 20 minutes during one to five days. Elements were checked from cervical ripening at 48 and 96 hours after intervention and at the time of hospitalization. The tools for gathering information included demographic characteristics and midwifery history questionnaire, daily records and follow up forms. Content validity was used for validity of tools. Reliability of the observation check-list and physical examination was confirmed by inter-rater scores (inter observer), and daily records by test-re-test. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared tests (P ≤ 0.05). Results: There was a significant difference between mothers’ educations in the three groups. Most of the mothers (59.5%) in the researcher-performed acupressure group had secondary education. Cervical ripening was significantly different between the three groups after 48 hours (P ≤ 0.05), yet there was no significant difference after 96 hours and at the time of admission. Mean Bishop score was enhanced after 48 hours in the researcher-performed acupressure group (P ≤ 0.021) and the self-performed acupressure group (P ≤ 0.007) in comparison to the control group. Conclusions: The results showed that acupressure is a safe technique and leads to cervical ripening. Thus, regarding the desired results that were achieved when mothers applied acupressure themselves, it could be suggested that it is beneficial for mothers to be trained to apply this method at home. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Clinical microbiology study of diabetic foot ulcer in Iran; pathogens and antibacterial susceptibility

The aim of this study was to investigate microbial pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility profile in infected diabetic foot ulcers in Iranian patients. This was a one-year cross sectional study on diabetic patients with infected diabetic foot ulcer at Shariati Teaching Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Grade of ulcer was determined by Wagner's criteria. Specimens were obtained from the base of ulcer, deep part of the wound or aspiration and were tested with gram staining and antibacterial susceptibility was determined with both disk diffusion and E-Test methods. Total of 546 pathogens were isolated from 165 ulcers of 149 patients. Gram positive aerobes including Enterococcal species and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (21.4 and 19.4%, respectively) were identified as the most common pathogens followed by Gram negative isolates including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas-aeruginosa (12.6 and 5.4%, respectively). The majority of wounds were classified as Wagner grades 2 and 3 (15.7 and 75.7%). Appropriate empiric treatment to cover both these Gram positive and Gram negative pathogens is crucially important

Glycated hemoglobin measurements from dried blood spots: Reliability and relation to results obtained from whole blood samples

Background: Main objective was to measure glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in dried blood spots on paper filter and in whole blood samples in diabetic patients to evaluate relationship between two methods and their respective reliability. Methods: The 20�10 μl of venous blood samples of 33 diabetics were blotted onto the filter paper allowed to dry at room temperature and then stored at 25°C and 4°C. HbA1c was measured via the Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Technique. The relation was evaluated with correlation and linear regression tests using STATA software and SPSS. Agreement between the results obtained from the dried blood spots and others was evaluated using the Bland and Altman. The pitman's permutation test was also employed to compare the difference in variance. Results: A high positive correlation was detected between whole blood samples and dried blood spots stored at 4°C (r2 =0.90) and at 25°C (r2 = 0.95). The Bland and Altman graphs, as well as the Pitman tests, showed statistically significant differences in variability between the values obtained from whole blood samples and those derived from dried spots stored at 4°C (p=0.05) or 25°C (p=0.004). Conclusion: HbA1c measurements from dried blood spots on the filter paper yielded reliable results. That the Hitachi autoanalyzer is available in most countries renders this assay less costly than the High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method (HPLC). In addition, the filter paper method for Immuno-turbidimetric estimations of HbA1c at different temperatures is reliable and may be particularly useful in outpatient diabetes clinic

Effects of acupressure at the hugo point (LI4) on labor pain and duration of delivery in nulliparous women

Introduction: Most women have experienced child birth and its pain, which is inevitable. If this pain is not controlled it leads to prolonged labor and injury to the mother and fetus. This study was conducted to identify the effect of acupressure on sanyinjiao and hugo points on delivery pain in nulliparous women. Methods:This was a randomized controlled clinical trial on 84 nulliparous women in hospitals of Ardebil, Iran. The participants were divided by randomized blocks of 4 and 6 into two groups. The intervention was in the form of applying pressure at sanyinjiao and hugo points based on different dilatations. The intensity of the pain before and after the intervention was recorded by visual scale of pain assessment. To determine the effect of pressure on the intensity of labor pain, analytical descriptive test was conducted in SPSS (version 13). Results:There was a significant decrease in mean intensity of pain after each intervention in the experimental group with different dilatations (4, 6, 8, and 10 cm). Moreover, the Student’s independent t-test results indicated that the mean intensity of pain in the experimental group after the intervention in all four dilatations was significantly lower than the control group. Repeated measures ANOVA test indicated that in both experimental and control groups in four time periods, there was a statistically significant difference. Conclusion:Acupressure on sanyinjiao and hugo points decreases the labor pain. Therefore, this method can be used effectively in the labor process

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice of Urban and rural households toward iron deficiency anemia in three provinces of Iran

Background: Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems and consequently improper practice, which can lead to several complications. This study has been designed in order to compare knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban and rural households regarding iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in Boushehr, Golestan and Sistan & Balouchestan provinces in 2004. Methods: The sampling method at household's level in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household. Comparison of frequency of variables between urban and rural areas were tested by chi square test. Results: A total of 2306 households were selected as overall sample size. In urban areas, people recognized iron food sources better than rural areas. Knowledge level of respondents about vulnerable group for IDA and the favorite attitude of households toward IDA were better in urban areas of Sistan & Blouchestan and Golestan provinces. In Sistan & Balouchestan and Golestan, rural households who drank tea immediately before or after meal was more than urban ones. The majority of pregnant and lactating mothers (except for rural areas of Bushehr) did not take iron supplement regularly. Less than 60 percent of children used iron drop regularly. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of households toward IDA were not acceptable. One of the best ways of improving nutritional practice is nutritional education with focus on applying available food resources

Solvent effect on 14N NMR shielding of glycine, serine, leucine, and threonine: comparison between chemical shifts and energy versus dielectric constant

The polarizable continuum model (PCM) is employed to describe the system in the condensed phase. The performance of DFT and PCM in describing high order nonlinear mixed electric and magnetic effects in condensed phase are described. In this paper we consider the effect of 10 solvents with a wide range of dielectric constants on 4 amino acids. NMR shielding values (ppm), isotropic and anisotropic effects, energy interaction between solute and solvent, and the effect of hydrogen bond on shielding are described. Direct and indirect solvent effects on shielding are also calculated. The observed solvent-induced shielding variation is more strongly related to the intensity of the solvent reaction field rather than on the change of molecular geometry induced by the solvent. KEY WORDS: Solvent effect, 14N NMR shielding, Solvent-induced shielding, Polarizable continuum model, Amino acids   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(1), 111-116

Goiter frequency is more strongly associated with gastric adenocarcinoma than urine iodine level

Purpose: We designed our study to evaluate the hypothesis that gastric cancer is correlated with iodine deficiency or thyroid dysfunction. Materials and Methods: We investigated the total body iodine reserve, thyroid function status and autoimmune disorder in 40 recently diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma cases versus 80 healthy controls. The participants came from a region with high gastric cancer rate but sufficient iodine supply due to salt iodination. The investigation included urine iodine level, thyroid gland clinical and ultrasonograph-ic examination, and thyroid function tests. Results: Goiter was detected more frequently in the case group (P=0.001); such a finding, however, was not true for lower than normal urine iodine levels. The free T3 mean level was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group (P=0.005). Conclusions: The higher prevalence of goiter rather than low levels of urinary iodine in gastric adenocarcinoma cases suggests that goi-ter, perhaps due to protracted but currently adjusted iodine deficiency, is more likely to be associated with gastric adenocarcinoma com-pared to the existing iodine deficiency itself. © 2013 by The Korean Gastric Cancer Association

Relation of amniotic fluid C-peptide and insulin level and neonatal macrosomia

Background: Fetal hyperinsulinemia correlated with large birth weight and impaired glucose tolerance test and obesity in second decades of life. In this study we compared the correlation between fetal insulin production (as estimated by amniotic fluid (AF) C-peptide concentration) and AF insulin with macrosomia (as estimated by neonatal birth weight >4000 gr). Methods: Thirty eight neonates were studied. Ten infants were macrosom and 28 were normal (birth weight < 4000 gr). Amniontic fluid C-peptide and insulin concentration and mother and fetal blood C-peptide and insulin were measured during delivery with radioimmunoassay and mother and fetal glucose were measured at the same time and correlated with neonatal macrosomia within first hour of birth. Results: There was a significant correlation between infant serum C-peptide level and macrosomia. Amniotic fluid insulin level was higher in the macrosom infants but this correlation was not significant. AF C-peptide was higher in the macrosom group. Also there was a significant correlation between maternal serum C-peptide and macrosomia. Infant and mother serum insulin was higher in the macrosom group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that fetal insulin (as estimated by AF C- peptide) and mother insulin and C- peptide production, can influence fetal weight and induce fetal macrosomia

Effect of Zinc Galvanization on the Microstructure and Fracture Behavior of Low and Medium Carbon Structural Steels

Microstructure and fracture behavior of ASTM 572 Grade 65 steels used for wind tower applications have been studied. Steels of two carbon level chemistries designed for this grade were used in the study. Fracture toughness of the steels was studied using 3-point bend test on samples coated with zinc and not coated with zinc. Lower carbon steel showed higher resistance to fracture than medium carbon steel after zinc galvanization. SEM study suggests that zinc and zinc bath additives that migrated to crack tips are responsible for the loss in ductility. The phenomenon of Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) is suggested to have taken place. Zinc bath additives traced at crack zones are suggested to have migrated at the zinc galvanizing temperatures