The attitude of Iranian nurses about do not resuscitate orders

Background: Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders are one of many challenging issues in end of life care. Previous research has not investigated Muslim nurses′ attitudes towards DNR orders. Aims: This study aims to investigate the attitude of Iranian nurses towards DNR orders and determine the role of religious sects in forming attitudes. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-comparative study, 306 nurses from five hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUOMS) in East Azerbaijan Province and three hospitals in Kurdistan province participated. Data were gathered by a survey design on attitudes on DNR orders. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) software examining descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Participants showed their willingness to learn more about DNR orders and highlights the importance of respecting patients and their families in DNR orders. In contrast, in many key items participants reported their negative attitude towards DNR orders. There were statistical differences in two items between the attitude of Shiite and Sunni nurses. Conclusions: Iranian nurses, regardless of their religious sects, reported negative attitude towards many aspects of DNR orders. It may be possible to change the attitude of Iranian nurses towards DNR through education

Visual processing asymmetries in change detection

PubMed ID: 20698471Change detection is critically dependent on attentional mechanisms. However, the relation between an asymmetrical distribution of visuo-spatial attention and the detection of changes in visual scenes is not clear. Spatial tasks are known to induce a stronger activation of the right hemisphere. The effects of such visual processing asymmetries induced by a spatial task on change detection were investigated. When required to detect changes in the left and in the right visual fields, participants were significantly faster in detecting changes on the left than on the right. Importantly, this left-side superiority in change detection is not influenced by inspection time, suggesting a critical role of visual processing benefit for the left visual field. © 2010 a Pion publication

NEW GENERATION K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) PHOTOCATALYTIC SEMICONDUCTING THIN FILMS AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

In this study, lanthan-titanates K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) (Ln=La, Nd, Gd, Sm and Dy) thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates via sol-gel technique for photocatalytic applications. Transparent solutions were prepared from K, Ln and Ti based precursors, propionic acid, glacial acetic acid at room temperature, and deposited on Si (100) substrates using spin coating technique. K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) powders were calcined at 850 degrees C for 3 hours in an electrical furnace. The powders were dissolved in propionic acid (0.1 M). The obtained solutions were deposited on Si (100) substrates by means of spin coating technique and the films were subsequently annealed at 900 degrees C for 90 minutes in air. The thermal, structural and morphological of the films were characterized by DTA, XRD and SEM techniques. Photocatalytic experiments were carried out by the UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The results revealed that K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) films possess perovskite structure with Ln(2)Ti(3)O10(2-) octahedral perovskite layers. Owing to this structure, it easily hydrolyzes toxic organic matters in aqua solutions and even only humidity media under UV light and thus exhibits a very high photocatalytic activity. It can be worked under the sunlight environment and it is aimed to use these productions for degradation of methylene blue in industrial wastewater

Pneumothorax following ERCP: Report of four cases and review of the literature

We report four patients with pneumothorax as a complication of ERCP with sphincterotomy. With conservative treatment all patients recovered. Previously, 16 comparable cases have been reported in the literature. The main risk factor for this rare complication seems (pre-cut) sphincterotomy. Pneumothorax is usually right-sided or bilateral and accompanied by pneumomediastinum, pneumoretroperitoneum and subcutaneous emphysema. The prognosis seems favourable with a non-surgical approach including intravenous antibiotics, fasting and when indicated chest tube drainage