The effect of eye mask on sleep quality in patients of coronary care unit O efeito da mascara de olhos na qualidade de sono em pacientes em uma unidade coronariana

Objectives: Patients in coronary care unit (CCU) are at risk of sleep deprivation. This study investigated effects of eye mask on sleep quality in patients of CCU in Southeast of Iran by a cross-over design. Methods: Using Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale (VSH Sleep Scale), quality sleep of 60 patients with and without usage of eye mask were evaluated. This tool consists of 16 items that includes three main sleep sub scales: disturbance, effectiveness, and supplementation. Results: In total, 34, 22 and 4 out of 60 patients were admitted to CCU due to myocardial infarction (MI), chest pain and angina pectoris, respectively. Mean time of patients' nocturnal sleep was 6.6 ± 1.1 hours. Using eye mask have statistically significant increased the quality of sleep in subscales disturbance and effectiveness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In general, the use of eye mask is an easy and cheap method to improve the quality of sleep in CCU patients

Effect of forest covers on water conservation and surface runoff reduction in Bazoft river basin

Function of water retention and avoidance of its loss, is one of the most important functions and services of the forest ecosystems which has a major role in provision of human welfare. In this study, in order to estimate the effect of forest cover on water retention and surface runoff reduction, the runoff depth has been calculated using Curve Number method. Firstly, study area has been homogenized in the basis of land use/land cover and hydrologic soil groups' characteristics and the Curve Number of each homogeneous unit determined. Thus, the average weighted Curve Number for entire of the basin has been calculated. Lag time and time of concentration parameters of the basin were also calculated. Then, the input data were entered into the HEC-HMS model and the model was run using Curve Number (SCS) method for six observed rainfall-runoff events. Four hypothetical scenarios have been developed for the concept of water retention by forests and repeated the running of model for the developed scenarios. Results showed that in the case of scenario 1 which assumes that the entire of watershed area is covered by forests, the values of initial loss and lag time in the watershed has increased while Curve Number and flood peak discharge values decreased that indicates the role of forest cover on the prevention of water loss and its retention in the soil. Furthermore, the volume of infiltrated water in scenario 1 is about 2.7×106 m3

The Effect of Sun Radiation on the Course of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in BALB/c Mice

Objective(s)Studies have described immunomedulatory effects of sun exposure and ultraviolet radiation on infectious and neoplastic diseases. Here the effect of exposure to low potency radiation of sun on the course of leishmaniasis in mice was studied. Materials and MethodsFifteen BALB/c mice were exposed to suberythemogenic doses of sun (mean 180 mJ/cm2/day of UVB) 2 months before and 4 months after Leishmania major inoculation to food pad. Control group was kept in the sun protected environment. From 2nd to 17th week after inoculation, size of the lesion was recorded in each group weekly and at last week the parasite burden in spleen was detected. Results were compared between two groups. ResultsSeven mice from case group and 9 mice from control group survived up to last week. The mean lesion size was 0.90±0.59 cm in exposed and 4.01±3.59 cm in unexposed mice (P= 0.037). Parasite burden in spleen of case and control groups were 5.5±4.61 and 106.94±279.76 respectively (P= 0.006).ConclusionChronic exposure of BALB/c mice to suberythemogenic doses of sun suppressed skin lesion and decreased the extension of L. major to spleen