Hormozgan Medical Journal
Volume:23 Issue: 2, Apr-Jun 2019

Parasitic diseases are medically important, especially among immunocompromised patients. Recently, diabetes mellitus (DM) has become one of the most important clinical diseases, and the combination of this disease with parasitic infections can result in serious consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the infection of intestinal parasites in patients with DM and compare them with healthy individuals in Fasa city and surrounding health centers. In this case-control study a total of 501 patients and healthy individuals (254 patients with DM and 247 healthy controls) referred to health centers in Fasa, Fars province. Fecal specimens of all of these individuals were collected in a special container. These specimens were investigated using direct smear, concentration method, acid-fast and trichrome staining, agar plate cultivation, and Baermann technique. In this study, 254 diabetic patients (50.7%) and 247 (49.3%) healthy controls were included. The age range of these people was between 25 to 89 years old, with an average age of 57.7 ± 10.7. Our findings revealed that the frequency of intestinal parasites in the control group (18.6%) is higher than the patient group (12.6%). Although the frequency of intestinal parasites in the control group was higher than the patient group, this does not reduce the importance of preventative programs for these patients. Considering the significant effect of unpurified water on intestinal parasites, it is better to consider this issue more in health programs.

Intervention of choice for reperfusion is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but it may have side effects; one of which is myocardial injury. Cardiac remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can potentially reduce these adverse effects, especially in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. This study received ethics approval on November 29, 2017 (ethics code: HUMS.REC.1396.93; IRCT code: IRCT20180306038978N1). It was performed on 240 patients (120 cases in the RIPC group and 120 cases in the control group). The patients undergoing PCI were randomly assigned to the RIPC group (blood pressure cuff was inflated up to 200 mmHg for 30 minutes on the non-dominant arm, and then deflated for 5 minutes (reperfusion); it was repeated 2 more times (3 times in general) or the control group (an uninflated cuff around the non-dominant arm). Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was compared between the healthy controls and diabetic patients before and after PCI. No significant difference was observed with regard to positive cTnI (P = 0.136). Positive cTnI was insignificantly higher in the control group compared to the intervention group. However, the frequency of positive cTnI was significantly lower in diabetic patients in the RIPC group compared to the controls (P < 0.001). This study demonstrated that RIPC is beneficial in diabetic patients and reduces the release of cTnI after elective PCI in these patients.

Motivation is an important factor in the substance use field. Self-determination theory is one of the theories that focuses specifically on the issue of motivation in substance use disorder and basic psychological needs issue. The present study aims to evaluate the satisfaction of basic psychological needs in addict persons in comparison to normal persons. In this case-control study, 93 drug addicts and 91 normal people were selected through available sampling method by matching age, gender, educational level, and socioeconomic status, and evaluated using a basic psychological needs scale. The results of multivariate analysis of variances showed a significant difference between two groups in the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relationship (P < 0.001). Also, drug abusers received far fewer scores in three basic psychological needs. The results of this study highlight the weakness in satisfying the basic psychological needs of drug addicts that play an important role in the majority of aspects of each person’s life. Considering this problem, constructive suggestions may be provided for prevention and interventions based on this theory in the field of addiction.

Ethical behaviors of students can result from moral decisions based on moral knowledge and dispositions of them. This study aimed to explore the students’ perception of educational ethical challenges. This qualitative study used a content analysis approach. Purposeful sampling was used to select participants. In order to collect data, in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Each interview lasted approximately 60 to 100 minutes. The analysis of data was performed simultaneously with data collection using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Data saturation reached after interviewing with 40 students. The students were studying in the fields of medicine, nursing, midwifery, paramedicine, allied health, dentistry, and pharmacy. There were 45% were men and 55% were women in the sample. The average age of men and women was 22 ± 1 and 22 ± 1.04 years, respectively. After the analysis of interviews, three themes including scientific challenges, communication challenges, and professional challenges and eight categories were achieved. The study indicate that students are facing scientific, communication, and professional challenges in education. Therefore, the factors influencing ethics in education must identify to increase the effectiveness of education and strength moral values in medical education.

In recent years, radial access has emerged as an alternative for femoral access in coronary arteries angiography. The former has the privilege of shorter hospitalization and fewer side effects, as compared to the latter. The present survey aimed to compare the X-ray duration and contrast agent use between radial and femoral access sites. The present descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample of 400 patients in 2017 in Bandar Abbas. The sample size was the same in the radial and femoral groups. Information such as age, sex, weight, angiography type and method, X-ray duration and amount of contrast agent was recorded. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS-23. The mean volume of the contrast agent was 44.74 ± 26.31 cc in the radial group and 28.77 ± 20.91 cc in the femoral group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The mean duration of X-ray was 383.66 ± 329.42 seconds in the radial group and 248.83 ± 225.72 seconds in the femoral group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Overall, the duration of X-ray and amount of contrast agent used in patients undergoing coronary angiography was higher in radial than in femoral access. This was more evident among patients who had only diagnostic angiography than those who undergone angiography and PCI at the same time.

Glutamine supplementation for recovery is common in sports. Leech therapy has also been used as complementary medicine in traditional Iranian medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of glutamine intake and leech therapy on blood lactate level and pain index in a single bout exhaustive exercise in athletes. Thirty-two male athletes (22.22.06 years) were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 8) of control, glutamine (0.6 g/kg body weight), leech therapy (2 leeches), and combined leech therapy + glutamine. The subjects participated in an exhaustive test. The levels of lactate and muscle pain perception were measured before, immediately after, and a half and an hour after the test. The significance level was considered P0.05. In all groups, lactate increased immediately after the activity, the highest increase was observed in the control, leech therapy, glutamine, and glutamine + leech therapy groups, respectively. Also, the most reduction in lactate level was observed in 1 hour and a half hour after the activity, which was related to the glutamine + leech therapy group. The highest reduction in the pain was observed at 1 hour and a half hour after the activity, which was related to the glutamine + leech group. The results showed that glutamine supplementation prior to a single bout exhaustive exercise followed by leech therapy led to a decrease in the lactate level and pain index during the recovery period compared to the other three groups, suggesting that this method may be effective. However, more research is needed to prove the benefits of this method to reduce the lactate and pain subsequent exhaustive exercise.

Regular physical activity can reduce the complications of obesity. Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) is recognized as a rich source of health promotion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic training and C. vulgaris intake on lipid profile and leptin in obese women. We randomly divided 32 obese women into control (C), aerobic training (AT), C. vulgaris (CV), and aerobic training plus C. vulgaris (AT+CV) groups. Interventions were performed for eight weeks. C. vulgaris was used at the dose of 1200 mg/day. The aerobic training included activities on a treadmill with 65% - 80% of maximum heart rate (MHR) (three sessions/week). Blood samples were taken before and after the interventions. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), leptin, triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C significantly improved in the AT and AT+CV groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the AT and AT+CV groups (P > 0.05). Aerobic training can improve the lipid profile and leptin in obese women by reducing weight, increasing oxygen uptake, and improving lipid oxidation. Nevertheless, the effect of C. vulgaris was not detected individually. However, the effect of trainingmaybe due to the modification of exercise-induced responses by C. vulgaris properties. Therefore, there is a need for further investigation of C. vulgaris physiological function in the field of sports medicine.

The understanding of the epidemiology and demographic patterns of diseases can accelerate diagnosis and treatment, as well as decrease morbidity and mortality. This study was performed to determine the epidemiological pattern of infective endocarditis in the city of Ahvaz, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 79 patients with infective endocarditis were studied between 2004 and 2013 in Razi Teaching Hospital affiliated to the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The diagnosis was made based on the Duke criteria. The data were recorded in a checklist for epidemiologic data including age, gender, time to defervescence, etc. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 18 software. Amongthe sample of 79 patients, the frequency was highest inmen(n = 65, 82.3%) and in the age group of 26 - 35 years (38%). The fever was resolved in 49 (49.4%) patients after four days whereas 19 (24.1%) patients had no fever. The mostcommonpredisposing factor was being an intravenous drug user, which was true for 44 (55.7%) patients. The mostcommonaffected valve was the tricuspid valve, as seen in 43 (54.4%) patients. The most common peripheral manifestation was musculoskeletal manifestations seen in 13 (16.5%) patients. Blood cultures were positive in 12 (15.2%) patients. Fifteen (19%) patients expired during the study period and 64 patients were improved, of whom 23.4% required surgical intervention. Appropriate diagnosis is necessary for decreasing mortality.