Elective induction of labor versus spontaneous labor in Hajar hospital, Shahrekord

Background and aim: With attention to increasing of the early hospitalization of women, induction of labor and its complications, the present study designed to compare the elective induction and spontaneous labor considering the mother and infant outcome. Methods: In a prospective and analytical study using of questionnaire and check list, 50 nulliparous women who were hospitalized for elective induction were compared with 50 nulliparous women with spontaneous labor in terms of Bishop score of cervix, duration of labor stages, number of vaginal examinations, intensity of uterine contractions, fetal distress, mode of delivery, Apgar score and birth weight of infants. The exclusion criteria were, multifetal pregnancy, abnormal presentation, premature rupture of membrane, preterm labor and placenta abruption. Data analyzed by t, Chi square and Pearson correlation tests. Results: There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of age, job and gestational age, mean of duration of labor stages, number of vaginal examinations, birth weight and Apgar score. In 98% of women with induced labor, Bishop score was <5. In this study group tetanic contractions, fetal distresses and cesarean sections were more than those of women with spontaneous labor (p<0.001). Conclusion: Elective induction of labor must be applied when there is a medical indication for termination of pregnancy. Onetime admission of women for delivery and change the women’s attitude towards the benefits of spontaneous labor and complications of elective induction are suggestive ways until they decide with knowledge and select these methods

Epidemiology and the agreement rate of serological tests in human brucellosis in North East of Iran

Background: Brucellosis still remains a major health problem with different symptoms and various diagnostic methods. Diagnostic methods of brucellosis are usually based on detecting specific antibodies in the patient’s serum. Nowadays, many serological tests are applied for the diagnosis of human brucellosis. Most routine tests are serum agglutination tests based on Wright and 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Objectives: The aim of this study (cross sectional study) was to evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis and assess the degree of agreement among serum samples of suspected brucellosis serological tests routinely performed in Mashhad, Iran. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in Mashhad from August 2011 to September 2012. Sera (2 - 3 mL) were collected from 83 cases suspected of brucellosis among 594 patients. Ten serum samples were collected from healthy subjects as control sera. Rose Bengal test for initial screening and Wright and 2 ME as standard tests were conducted to determine antibody titers. Thereafter, IgG and IgM levels were determined by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Results: Among 83 serum samples, Rose Bengal test was able to identify 20 (12%) positive specimens; the standard tube agglutination test was able to detect 30 (18%) positive samples, and the ELISA IgG and ELISA IgM were able to trace 42 (21%) and 13 (6.5%) positive samples, respectively. Ten control samples had negative results for the ELISA method. The results were calculated by the Kappa formula. The highest level of agreement was among 1 = KRB-SAT tests and the lowest level of agreement was among tests K ELISA IgM-IgG = 0.30. Conclusions: According to the results, brucellosis has remained endemic in this region. Most cases were detected by ELISA IgG. The highest kappa agreements were between tests KRB-SAT, KRB-IgG and KSAT-IgG, while the lowest levels of agreement were between tests SAT-IgM and ELISA IgM-IgG. Considering that ELISA IgM results are covered by SAT and ELISA IgG test results, applications of this test do not seem necessary. © 2015, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center

Use of single-chain antibody derivatives for targeted drug delivery

Single-chain antibodies (scFvs), which contain only the variable domains of full-length antibodies, are relatively small molecules that can be used for selective drug delivery. In this review, we discuss how scFvs help improve the specificity and efficiency of drugs. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery using scFv-drug fusion peptides, siRNA delivery using scFv-conjugated nanoparticles, targeted delivery using scFv-viral peptide-fusion proteins, use of scFv in fusion with cell-penetrating peptides for effective targeted drug delivery, scFv-mediated targeted delivery of inorganic nanoparticles, scFv-mediated increase of tumor killing activity of granulocytes, use of scFv for tumor imaging, site-directed conjugation of scFv molecules to drug carrier systems, use of scFv to relieve pain and use of scFv for increasing drug loading efficiency are among the topics that are discussed here. © 2016, University of Michigan. All rights reserved

Educational needs of midwife alumni work in health care centers

Abstract Aims: Determination of educational needs is the first step in educational planning and the first factor of ensuring the quality and efficacy of education process. Midwives’ sufficient knowledge and improvement of their decision-making will lead to performance progress. The aim of this study was determining the educational needs of midwives working in hospitals and healthcare centers of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 280 midwives and 50 healthcare center authorities of hospitals and healthcare centers of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari who were selected by census sampling method in 2009. Data was collected by a researcher-made questionnaire containing three sections of demographic characteristics, educational needs related to their specialty or general domains and priority in educational needs. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square, student T-test and one-way ANOVA using SPSS 15 software. Results: There wasn’t significant difference in the average scores of educational needs in specific and general domains from authorities and midwives’ point of view (p>0.05). There was a significant relationship between the average score of educational needs and work place in obstetrics (p=0.002), maternal and child health (p=0.038) and neonatal (p=0.025) domains. There was a significant relationship between the average score of educational needs and the academic level of education in general domains (p=0.025). Conclusion: Holding educational classes of English, use of Information Technology (IT) in obstetrics, resuscitation, research methodology, religious and legal commandments, abnormal uterine bleeding, hypertensive disorders, neonatal medical treatment and common gynecologic infections seems essential as educational priorities. Keywords: Midwife, Hea

Quantifying the non-ergodicity of scaled Brownian motion

We examine the non-ergodic properties of scaled Brownian motion, a non-stationary stochastic process with a time dependent diffusivity of the form $D(t)\simeq t^{\alpha-1}$. We compute the ergodicity breaking parameter EB in the entire range of scaling exponents $\alpha$, both analytically and via extensive computer simulations of the stochastic Langevin equation. We demonstrate that in the limit of long trajectory lengths $T$ and short lag times $\Delta$ the EB parameter as function of the scaling exponent $\alpha$ has no divergence at $\alpha=1/2$ and present the asymptotes for EB in different limits. We generalise the analytical and simulations results for the time averaged and ergodic properties of scaled Brownian motion in the presence of ageing, that is, when the observation of the system starts only a finite time span after its initiation. The approach developed here for the calculation of the higher time averaged moments of the particle displacement can be applied to derive the ergodic properties of other stochastic processes such as fractional Brownian motion.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures (IOP LaTeX

Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Darbepoetin Alfa from Leishmania tarentolae

Darbepoetin alfa is a biopharmaceutical glycoprotein that stimulates erythropoiesis and is used to treat anemia, which associated with renal failure and cancer chemotherapy. We herein describe the structural characterization of recombinant darbepoetin alfa produced by Leishmania tarentolae T7-TR host. The DNA expression cassette was integrated into the L. tarentolae genome through homologous recombination. Transformed clones were selected by antibiotic resistance, diagnostic PCRs, and protein expression analysis. The structure of recombinant darbepoetin alfa was analyzed by isoelectric focusing, ultraviolet–visible spectrum, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Expression analysis showed the presence of a protein band at 40 kDa, and its expression level was 51.2 mg/ml of culture medium. Darbepoetin alfa have 5 isoforms with varying degree of sialylation. The UV absorption and CD spectra were analogous to original drug (Aranesp), which confirmed that the produced protein was darbepoetin alfa. Potency test results revealed that the purified protein was biologically active. In brief, the structural and biological characteristics of expressed darbepoetin alfa were very similar to Aranesp which has been normally expressed in CHO. Our data also suggest that produced protein has potential to be developed for clinical use. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

INCIDENCE AND SOURCE OF ANXIETY OF MIDWIFERY STUDENTS IN CONDUCT THEIR FIRST VAGINAL EXAMINATION.

Background & Aims: The professional education can be a very stressful experience. Vaginal examinations are especially sensitive, both for the inexperienced midwifery student and for the pregnant woman being examined. This study aimed to determine anxiety of midwifery students when they conduct their first vaginal examination. Materials & Methods: In this cross- sectional study included 47 sophomore midwifery students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. The students were asked to complete two questionnaires. Spielberger's ..

Effect of initiation time of oral hydration on the return of bowel function and woman's satisfaction after elective caesarean section in primiparous women

Background and Objective: Abdominal operations as gynaecological procedures result in gastrointestinal dysmotility. Early feeding and ambulation are nonpharmacologic interventions which can be useful in re-initiation of bowel function. This study was done to evaluate the effect of early oral hydration on the return of bowel function and woman's satisfaction after elective caesarean section in primiparous women. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 120 primiparous women undergone elective cesarean section were assigned to control and intervention groups in Hajar hospital, Shahrekord, Iran during 2007. In the interventional group, oral hydration with liquids was started 4 hours after surgery regardless of presence of bowel sounds and solid food was started after bowel sounds appeared. The control group recieved liquid diet 12 hours after the operation if it was tolerated, they were given soft diet and regular food at the next meal. The return of bowel activity, time of ambulating, satisfaction, discharge from the hospital and complications were compared in two groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS-15, Chi-Square, T and one way ANOVA tests. Results: The mean postoperative time interval to first hearing of normal intestinal sounds in interventional versus control groups were (9.5±1.38 and 12.5±2.5 hours) the first passage of flatus (15.7±3.61 vs.22.4±4.1 hours), time to first sensation of bowel movement (10.8±1.99 versus 15.7±3.4 hours) and defecation (18.9±3.65 versus 23.4±4.85 hours). These differences were significant (P<0.05). Also discharge from the hospital (0.96±0.18 versus 1.1±34 days) were significantly shorter in interventional group (P<0.05). The women in the early feeding group got out of bed (patient mobilisation) earlier than their interventional group (14.1 hours versus 18.8 hours (P<0.05). Maternal satisfaction was significantly higher among the early fed women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Early oral hydration after elective cesarean section associated with rapid resumption of intestinal motility and increased woman’s satisfaction

EFFECT OF VITEX ON HOT FLASH OF MENOPAUSAL WOMEN REFERRED TO HEALTH CENTER OF ISFAHAN

Background and Aim: Menopause is a period in women’s lives that is accompanied with outcomes and effects which can adversely affect on the quality of life and weaken well-being. The most widely recognized outcome of menopause is hot flash that adversely affects on work, social activities, enjoying life, sleep, andin sum- total quality of living. The common treatment of this symptom is hormone treatment (HRT) which has some adverse effects and sometimes some contraindications. The present study aimed at assessing the effect of Vitex on hot flash. Materials and Methods: This double –blind and clinical trial was performed on 54 women with hot flash aged between 45 and 55 years in Isfahan in 2002, which had been referred for treatment. The population was randomly divided into 2 groups: 1) taking Vitex 2) control group, taking placebos. Data collection was done through interviews and a questionnaire considering demographic and hot flash characteristics (using Kupperman Index), which was filled out for each woman. Hot flash was assessed in three stages .The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software, descriptive and inferential statistics; and P%0.05 was taken as the significant level. Results: It was found that there was a significant difference in severity of hot flash before and after treatment in vitex group (P<0.012).While the difference was not significant after treatment in the placebo group. (P>0.05).Comparing the two groups with respect to severity of hot flash after treatment revealed a significant statistical difference (P<0.05); though the difference was not significant before treatment. Conclusion: Vitex can act as an alternative in treating menopausal hot flash; particularly in those who cannot safely bear hormonal treatment