Scorpion fauna (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Darmian county, Iran (2015-2016)

Background and purpose: Venomous bite and specific morphological features of scorpions are the most important reasons for paying attention to scorpions. Anxiety and stress caused by scorpions and their stings are amongst the important health issues in many countries especially in Iran. This study was conducted on scorpions’ fauna in Darmian County, South Khorasan province, Iran. Materials and methods: In this study, 21 districts in Darmian were sampled including plains, mountains, residential, non-residential, rural and urban areas. Sampling effort was conducted monthly in 2015-16. Scorpions were collected by actively searching in day and night using pitfall trap. The specimens were identified by appropriate identification keys. Results: Totally 685 specimens were collected. Five species including Mesobuthus eupeus, M. caucasicus Androctonus crassicauda, Orthochirus scrobiculosus, and Compsobuthus matthiesseni were identified from Butidae family. The most frequent species was M. eupeus (n= 373, 54.5%), while A. crassicauda (n= 22, 3.2%) was recognized as the least frequency species. Conclusion: Androctonus crassicauda (black scorpion) was found as the most dangerous species in Iran, so, alongside care programs for scorpionism in Darmian, prescription of anti-scorpion serum in cases stung by scorpion should be done by considering the coloring of scorpion and residential area of injured person. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Prevalence of Human T-lymphotropic Virus in patients with Multiple Transfusions (Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Hemodialysis)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) is a member of the retrovirus family, which often leads to the asymptomatic infection of individuals. Transmission of this virus is possible through breast-feeding, sexual contact, transfusion of contaminated blood products and use of contaminated needles. This study aimed to review the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in high-risk patients, particularly those with thalassemia, hemophilia and hemodialysis in Iran and other countries. METHODS: In order to find related articles, we searched in different sites including Google, Yahoo, PubMed, Irandoc, IranMedex, Magiran and SID using keywords such as HTLV-1, high-risk, transfusion, thalassemia, hemodialysis, Iran and world. FINDINGS: In total, 45 articles were found in relation to the subject of the study. Based on the specified criteria of the study in the Iranian population, 17 papers conducted in relation to the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in patients with thalassemia major and hemophilia were collected, 14 cases of which were about patients with thalassemia alone or those with a combination of hemodialysis and hemophilia. As for the studies conducted in other countries, 12 articles were found, 7 cases of which were about thalassemia patients therefore, they were selected and studied. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in high-risk patients with thalassemia, hemophilia and hemodialysis in endemic areas was higher than non-endemic area

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy in the Northern Iran (2010)

Background and Objective: Pregnancy can not only protect mothers against intimate partner violence but even it may increase the rate and severity of intimate partner violence. This study was done to determine the intimate partner violence during pregnancy in the Northern Iran. Method: This cross-sectional - analytical study was done on 1500 mothers whom attended the primary health centers of Mazandaran province, Northern Iran from Feb to Sep 2010. Mothers screened using modified standard world health organization intimate partner violence questionnaire via interview. The questionnaire included physical, emotional and sexual intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence was categorized to severe, moderate and mild. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictor of intimate partner violence. Results: The most common intimate partner violence was restriction of mothers in terms of money, food, and clothing (88.8%). The prevalence of physical, psychological and sexual intimate partner violence was 14.1%, 69.9% and 10.8%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio for physical intimate partner violence in mothers with low education and low socio-economic status were significantly higher in those mothers with high education and fair socio-economic status (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mild psychological intimate partner violence is prevalent in Mazandran province, North of Iran

Comparing the Effect of Erythromycin and Ginger Extract on the Gastric Residual Volume in Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition Order in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gastric residual volume is considered as an important parameter for gastric emptying and feeding tolerance. This volume is measured before each time of feeding and it has direct effect on the volume and time of the next feeding. Ginger is one of the medicinal plants that have effect on gastric emptying rate. This study aims to compare the effect of erythromycin and ginger extract on gastric residual volume in patients receiving enteral nutrition order in the intensive care unit. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted among 74 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Patients were fed with similar nutrition formula every 3 hours for 24 hours. Before each gavage feeding, the gastric residual volume of patients was aspirated and recorded. The gastric residual volume of 28 patients (more than 200 cc) was allocated to one of the groups of erythromycin (n = 13) and ginger (n = 15). Patients were fed with 2.5 mg/kg erythromycin in 4 divided doses or 2 grams per day ginger extract in 4 divided doses. The gastric residual volume was recorded for 4 consecutive days and the data obtained from the two groups were compared (IRCT: 201505257494N13). FINDINGS: The mean difference of gastric residual volume in erythromycin group was 111.71±7.04 cc before the intervention and 4 days after that, which was not statistically significant. This difference was 108.61±11.47 cc in ginger group. Results demonstrated that mean gastric residual volume in erythromycin and ginger groups were 98.52±27.88 cc and 95.71±18.91 cc, respectively during the first 4 days and there was not a statistically significant difference between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that the effect of ginger is very similar to erythromycin. Therefore, ginger can be a proper substitute for erythromycin to prevent increased gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit

The Impact of Peer Education on Stress Level in Patients Undergoing ‎Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting ‎

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most effective methods in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. CABG can be a source of stress in candidate patients. Training and education can reduce the induced stress and its devastating physical and psychological side-effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of peer education on stress management in CABG candidates. METHODS: In this clinical trial, 100 CABG candidates, admitted to Mazandaran Cardiac Center, were selected and randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The control group was routinely trained, while peer education, in addition to routine training, was applied in the intervention group in a one-hour meeting the day before the surgery. In order to record patients&#39; personal and medical information, a researcher-made checklist was used. Also, for stress evaluation, DASS-21 questionnaire was applied the day before and one hour before the surgery (IRCT: 2014102619677N1). FINDINGS: In terms of stress score, no significant difference was observed&nbsp; between the intervention (8.48&plusmn;1.11) and control (8.86&plusmn;1.29) groups before the intervention. However, after the intervention (one hour before the surgery), the mean stress score in the intervention group (4.70&plusmn;0.93) was lower than the control group (9.92&plusmn;1.88) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, peer education could reduce the level of stress in CABG candidates. Therefore, this method is recommended for reducing stress in these patients