فهرست مطالب

Red Crescent Medical Journal - Volume:18 Issue: 6, Jun 2016

Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
Volume:18 Issue: 6, Jun 2016

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1395/04/11
  • تعداد عناوین: 20
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  • Ozcan Kilic, Murat Akand*, Murat Gul, Pinar Karabagli, Serdar Goktas Page 1
    Introduction
    Eosinophilic cystitis (EC) is a rare and poorly understood inflammatory condition, characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of all layers of the bladder wall, which mimics bladder tumors. EC may present with symptoms such as increased urination frequency, dysuria, gross/microscopic hematuria, suprapubic pain and urinary retention..
    Case Presentation
    We present a 17-year-old male patient, who was continent night and day in his childhood, and was admitted to our clinic for complaints of hematuria and nocturnal enuresis for the past six months. His history and physical examination were unremarkable, and routine hematological and biochemical tests were normal. Cystoscopy revealed a 4 × 3 cm erythematous, polypoidal, solid lesion on the bladder dome. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed transitional epithelium with stromal edema, where diffuse, dense infiltration of lamina propria by eosinophils and lymphocytes was also seen. According to these findings, a histopathological diagnosis of EC was made, and the patient was treated with corticosteroids, antimicrobial agents and antihistamines. His symptoms dramatically improved and nocturnal enuresis also recovered after treatment..
    Conclusions
    Although it is a rare entity, EC should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with dysuria, hematuria and any kind of acquired voiding dysfunction, including frequency, pollakiuria and incontinence..
    Keywords: Eosinophilic Cystitis, Bladder Tumor, Hematuria, Enuresis
  • Murat Akand*, Ozcan Kilic, Mustafa Kucur, Mehmet Kaynar, Serdar Goktas Page 2
    Introduction
    Spontaneous nephrocutaneous fistula is a rare manifestation of renal disease that can occur due to various etiologies, such as renal calculus, chronic pyelonephritis, stricture of the ureteropelvic junction, and renal tuberculosis (TB). An autonephrectomy with a nephrocutaneous fistula due to renal tuberculosis can be diagnosed quite late if it is not suspected..
    Case Presentation
    We report a case of a spontaneous nephrocutaneous fistula with tuberculous autonephrectomy. A 40-year-old white male with recurrent flank pain and intermittent purulent drainage from his right flank region for the previous 14 years was admitted to our outpatient clinic. Fistulography and computerized tomography demonstrated a 51 × 60 mm area with a soft-tissue appearance that implied autonephrectomy of the right kidney, and a fistula tract with a 9 mm diameter between the skin and the retroperitoneal space. The patient was successfully treated with nephroureterectomy and excision of the fistulous tract, followed by antituberculous treatment. The pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed chronic atrophic pyelonephritis, calcifications, and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation suggestive of TB..
    Conclusions
    Urogenital TB is difficult to diagnose due to the lack of specific symptoms and signs. In the case of a nonfunctioning kidney without an obvious cause and a chronic spontaneous nephrocutaneous fistula, the possibility of associated renal TB should be kept in mind, especially in immunocompromised patients or in places where TB is a common health problem..
    Keywords: Autonephrectomy, Nephrocutaneous Fistula, Tuberculosis, Chronic Infection
  • Kahraman Ulker, Yuksel Kivrak* Page 3
    Background
    Crowded hospital outpatient clinics and endless waiting lines that make patients feel overlooked tend to exaggerate patients’ anxiety levels. In addition, fear of pain, shyness, religious and traditional thoughts, women’s sexual role in society, and previous information and experience also contribute to people’s anxiety levels with regard to gynecologic examination..
    Objectives
    We aimed to analyze the effect of specific information about gynecologic examination on anxiety levels of women applying to gynecology clinics..
    Materials And Methods
    In this randomized prospective study, the women applying for a gynecological examination were randomly allocated into control, intervention 1, and intervention 2 groups. Power analysis indicated that in order to achieve a one-point decrease from the previous anxiety score of 43.85 ± 5.41 at one side alpha 0.05 with a power of 80%, at least 79 women were needed in each group. Four medical school students interviewed 75 women (25 in control, 25 in intervention 1, and 25 in intervention 2). The data were collected using the demographic, social, and economic data form, and the Turkish version of the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). The women in the intervention 1 and 2 groups were instructed to read a paper that contained brief information about the gynecological examination procedure and the profits obtained from forests, respectively. All participants, including the women in the control group, filled the STAI by themselves. The three groups were compared appropriately..
    Results
    The demographics pertaining to age, gravidity and parity, miscarriage, induced abortion, ectopic pregnancy, offspring number, place of residence, working status, education level and previous experience of gynecological examination did not differ among the groups (P > 0.05). According to the STAI scores, all groups had mild state (control: 40.20 ± 10.53, intervention 1: 42.00 ± 11.98, and intervention 2: 39.53 ± 10.32) and severe continuous (control: 46.78 ± 8.65, Intervention 1: 47.25 ± 9.57, and intervention 2: 46.60 ± 9.72) anxiety levels. However, both state and continuous anxiety scores were not significantly different in all groups (P > 0.05)..
    Conclusions
    Providing brief written information about the gynecological examination procedure and the clinic’s working discipline is not sufficient to lower the anxiety of women applying for a gynecological examination..
    Keywords: Anxiety Disorders, Comparative Study, Gynecological Examination, Hospitals, Obstetrics, Gynecology Department, Outpatients
  • Narges Sadeghi, Marzieh Hasanpour*, Mohammad Heidarzadeh Page 4
    Background
    Hospitalization of a neonate in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a stressful event for parents. They need specific information and communication to alleviate their stress, but these parental needs are not met by NICU staff. Exploration of these needs can help health professionals to provide better healthcare services..
    Objectives
    The purpose of this study was to explore the information and communication needs of families in neonatal end-of-life and bereavement in the NICU..
    Materials And Methods
    A qualitative content analysis method was used for this study. Data were collected through single semi-structured interviews with 24 participants. Sampling was conducted based on the purposive sampling method in five NICU environments in Iran. All interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim..
    Results
    Data analysis revealed two main themes: information and communication. For information, there were two subthemes (true information about the infant’s health and true information about the infant’s death), and communication needs also developed two subthemes (communication with healthcare professionals and communication with the infant before, during and after the infant’s death)..
    Conclusions
    According to the results, parents need accurate information about the health and the death of their neonates in the NICU. They also need to communicate with healthcare professionals and their babies. Communication is regarded as a channel for obtaining information. Therefore, the healthcare team needs to address these families’ needs and attempt to fulfill their requirements in neonatal end-of-life and bereavement in the NICU..
    Keywords: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Access to Information, Bereavement, End, of, Life Care, Infant Death
  • Peyman Petramfar, Farideh Hosseinzadeh, S. Saeed Mohammadi * Page 5
    Introduction
    Pseudo-Foster Kennedy syndrome is a triad consisting of ipsilateral optic atrophy, contralateral optic disc edema, and ipsilateral anosmia in the absence of an intracranial mass. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in DNA synthesis, and its deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy, myeloneuropathy, and, very rarely, optic neuropathy..
    Case Presentation
    In this study, we describe a 34-year-old male who presented with progressive loss of visual acuity and field. Fundoscopy showed optic disc edema with telangiectasia in the right eye, while the left eye had optic disc atrophy. We ruled out nearly all possible and common causes of optic neuropathy, and vitamin B12 deficiency was finally diagnosed. After treatment with vitamin B12, the patient improved..
    Conclusions
    Demyelinating disease, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, autoimmune disease, and hereditary optic neuropathy could cause optic neuropathy. Normal CBC parameters and the absence of clinical manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency could not rule out its diagnosis. Careful physical examinations and history-taking with a classical approach led us to the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency and its treatment..
    Keywords: Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Optic Nerve Disease, Foster, Kennedy Syndrome, Optic Neuropathy, Papilledema, Optic Neuritis
  • Yunus Yilmaz*, Zuhal Tekkanat Tazegun, Emsal Aydin, Mahmut Dulger Page 6
    Background
    Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common problem in infants and children, as well as adults..
    Objectives
    The aim of this study was to assess the most common bacterial uropathogens, their susceptibility, and resistance to antibiotics in children with UTI..
    Materials And Methods
    This study included 7,365 urine samples sent from various departments to the Kars state hospital microbiology laboratory between January 2012 and May 2014. Bacterial isolation from clinical samples was made using standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by disk diffusion, according to CLSI recommendations..
    Results
    Bacterial growth was obtained in 1,373 samples (18.5%). The percentage distributions of the isolates were as follows: Escherichia coli, 940 (68.5%); Proteus spp, 183 (13.3%); Staphylococcus spp, 85 (6.2%); Enterococcus spp, 65 (4.7%); Klebsiella, 62 (4.5%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 21 (1.5%); and other Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, 17 (1.2%). UTIs were more prevalent, after two years of age, among females than males (P
    Conclusions
    The identification of the most common microorganisms causing infectious diseases and regional resistance patterns is important in order to determine the antimicrobial policies and infection control guidelines of hospitals..
    Keywords: Uropathogens, Antibiotic, Resistance, Children
  • Peyman Petramfar, S. Saeed Mohammadi*, Farideh Hosseinzadeh Page 7
    Introduction
    The syndrome of spontaneous intracranial hypotension has been increasingly diagnosed since its discovery through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a rare syndrome that is due to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a tear in the dura and can occur at any age, even among adolescents, but is most frequently seen among females in late middle age..
    Case Presentation
    Here, we describe a 32-year-old woman with a two-month history of headaches and occasional nausea and vomiting (N/V). MRI without gadolinium was normal, but meningeal enhancement was seen in MRI with gadolinium. The lumbar puncture revealed a low opening pressure. Computed tomography myelography (CT myelography) showed no leakage; Therefore, idiopathic intracranial hypotension was diagnosed. Treatment was started using tea, and the patient’s headache got significantly better in about a day..
    Conclusions
    Conservative therapy, such as bed rest and caffeine treatment with eight cups of tea daily, yielded a significant improvement in our patient. Effectively, the patient constitutes a case of idiopathic intracranial hypotension due to undetectable CSF leakage or hyper-absorption, with good response to conservative management through tea-drinking. Further investigations with an appropriate sample size are needed in order to confirm this intervention in the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypotension..
    Keywords: Headache, Intracranial Hypotension, Tea, Caffeine, Idiopathic Orthostatic Hypotension
  • Mahmood Shamshiri, Boudouin Fuh Suh, Nooredin Mohammadi, Reza Nabi Amjad* Page 8
    Background
    Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are acquired by patients while receiving care. The highest incidence of HAIs has been documented in admissions to intensive care units. Adherence to evidence-based practices is the most important step for preventing HAIs..
    Objectives
    To determine the rate of adherence to evidence-based post-insertion recommended care practices after admission into the intensive care unit for the following devices: central line catheter, indwelling urinary catheter, and mechanical ventilator..
    Patients and
    Methods
    A structured observational cross-sectional research design was used. Data were collected using a checklist and a self-report questionnaire. The minimum sample size required for this study was 276 post-insertion care episodes, and 332 episodes were observed. The ANOVA test was used to identify any significant differences among the mean scores of the three devices..
    Results
    Overall observed adherence rates were 18.3%, 59.1%, and 43.1% for central line catheters, indwelling urinary catheter, and mechanical ventilator, respectively. Of the observed episodes of device care, only in 9.4% of the episodes was regular oral care performed for patients on mechanical ventilators and only in 19.3% of the episodes were indwelling urinary catheters properly secure after insertion. More so, in none (0.0%) of the episodes was the central line catheter hub disinfected before being accessed..
    Conclusions
    Evidence-based post-insertion recommended care practices were not consistently and uniformly implemented in the intensive care units. Establishment of a program for the surveillance of adherence to recommended guidelines is required for improving compliance by health professionals and the quality of preventive care..
    Keywords: Catheter, Related Infections, Ventilator, Associated Pneumonia, Evidence, Based Practice, Clinical Practice Guideline
  • Nazim Ercument Beyhun*, Gamze Can, Ahmet Tiryaki, Serdar Karakullukcu, Bekir Bulut, Sehbal Yesilbas, Halil Kavgaci, Murat Topbas Page 9
    Background
    Needs based biopsychosocial distress instrument for cancer patients (CANDI) is a scale based on needs arising due to the effects of cancer..
    Objectives
    The aim of this research was to determine the reliability and validity of the CANDI scale in the Turkish language..
    Patients and
    Methods
    The study was performed with the participation of 172 cancer patients aged 18 and over. Factor analysis (principal components analysis) was used to assess construct validity. Criterion validities were tested by computing Spearman correlation between CANDI and hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS), and brief symptom inventory (BSI) (convergent validity) and quality of life scales (FACT-G) (divergent validity). Test-retest reliabilities and internal consistencies were measured with intraclass correlation (ICC) and Cronbach-α..
    Results
    A three-factor solution (emotional, physical and social) was found with factor analysis. Internal reliability (α = 0.94) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.87) were significantly high. Correlations between CANDI and HADS (rs = 0.67), and BSI (rs = 0.69) and FACT-G (rs = -0.76) were moderate and significant in the expected direction..
    Conclusions
    CANDI is a valid and reliable scale in cancer patients with a three-factor structure (emotional, physical and social) in the Turkish language..
    Keywords: Cancer, Psychological Stress, Need, Validity, Reliability
  • Abbas Heydari, Fatemeh Khorashadizadeh*, Fatemeh Heshmati Nabavi, Seyed Reza Mazlom, Mahdi Ebrahimi Page 10
    Context: In order to gain a more detailed insight into the concept of spiritual health, a hybrid model of concept analysis was used to remove some of the ambiguity surrounding the conceptual meaning of spiritual health in Islamic and Iranian contexts. The purpose of this study was to clarify the meaning and nature of the spiritual health concept in the context of the practice of Islam among Iranian patients..
    Evidence Acquisition: The current concept analysis was undertaken according to the modified traditional hybrid model, which consists of five phases: theoretical phase, initial fieldwork phase, initial analytical phase, and final fieldwork and final analytical phase. In the theoretical phases of the study, the concept of spiritual health was described based on a literature review of publications dealing with the Islamic viewpoint (years: from 2013 to 2014, Databases and search engines: Pubmed, SID, Magiran, Noormax, Google Scholar, Google and IranMex, Languages: English and Persian, Keywords: spiritual health AND (Islam OR Quran), spirituality AND (Islam OR Quran), complete human AND Islam, healthy heart (Galb Salim) AND Islam, healthy life (Hayat tayebeh) AND Islam, calm soul (Nafse motmaeneh) And Islam and healthy wisdom (Aghle Salim) AND Islam). Purposive sampling was conducted and nine participants were selected. Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted periodically for data collection after obtaining informed consent. Observational, theoretical, and methodological notes were made. Then, using MAXQUDA 7 software, the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis..
    Results
    The relevant literature in the theoretical phase uncovered the attributes of the concept of spiritual health, including love of the Creator, duty-based life, religious rationality, psychological balance, and attention to afterlife. These attributes were explored in depth in later stages. Finally, the definition of spiritual health was developed..
    Conclusions
    Islam has a unique perspective on spiritual health as it encompasses all aspects of human beings. Thus, it is necessary to carefully study the difference between the Islamic concept of spiritual health and that of other religions and ideologies to design suitable and useful nursing care for Iranian patients that satisfy their spiritual needs..
    Keywords: Hybrid Model, Spiritual Health, Islam, Nursing Care
  • Esma Altinel Acoglu*, Meltem Akcaboy, Melahat Melek Oguz, Mustafa Kilic, Pelin Zorlu, Saliha Senel Page 11
    Introduction
    Cow’s milk allergy is the most common food allergy in children. Symptoms usually involve the skin and the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Gastrointestinal tract manifestations of cow’s milk allergy are nonspecific, and are the only type that can be diagnosed in all age groups. Here, we report a rare case of cow's milk allergy in an infant with hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition..
    Case Presentation
    A nine-month-old girl was admitted to Dr. Sami Ulus maternity and children’s health and diseases training and research hospital, Ankara, Turkey, in September 2013, for weakness and swelling of the legs that had endured for two days. She had bilateral pretibial pitting () edema. Laboratory data revealed albumin at 1.7 g/dL; serum Na, K, urea, creatinin, and alanine-aspartate aminotransferase levels were normal. Her urinary analysis did not reveal proteinuria. Stool samples were normal, and stool steatocrite was negative. Anti-gliadin, anti-endomysium, and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies were negative. Cow’s milk allergy was diagnosed due to cow’s milk-specific IgE and skin prick test results..
    Conclusions
    On rare occasions, cow’s milk allergy presents with hypoalbuminemia. When diagnosis is delayed, this allergy may impair the growth and quality of life and may even be life-threatening..
    Keywords: Cow's Milk Allergy, Malnutrition, Hypoalbuminemia, Infant
  • Narges Gholami * Page 12
    Introduction
    Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a proliferative disorder of histiocytes in multiple organs. Langerhans cell histiocytosis involves bones, skin, lung and other organs..
    Case Presentation
    This study describes a seven-month-old Iranian girl who presented with skin rash and cervical lymphadenopathy. Langerhans cell histiocytosis was suspected when it was associated with anemia, splenomegaly and lytic bone lesions. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. During hospitalization, the patient looked ill with respiratory distress. A chest X-ray showed a ground glass view, and echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion..
    Conclusions
    Pericardial effusion was a rare finding in this case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Pericardial effusion in Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which is an unusual presentation, should be considered when the patient experiences respiratory distress..
    Keywords: Histiocytosis, Langerhans Cell, Pericardial Effusion, Infant
  • Malika Raza, Hasnain Abbas Dharamshi*, Syed Zohaib Ahsan, Zehra Naqvi, Tahira Naqvi, Ali Abbas Mohsin Ali, Jamaluddin Malik Abbas Page 13
  • Hamideh Hajnasiri, Reza Ghanei Gheshlagh, Kourosh Sayehmiri*, Farnoosh Moafi, Mohammad Farajzadeh Page 14
    Context: Violence against women, or domestic violence, is both a physical and mental health issue that is rampant in many societies. It undermines the personal health of those involved by inflicting physical, sexual, and psychological damage. The purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the prevalence of domestic violence in Iranian society..
    Evidence Acquisition: A total of 31 articles published between 2000 and 2014 in Iranian and international databases (MagIran, IranMedex, SID, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Pre Quest, and Scopus) were examined. The data collected from the articles were analyzed through a meta-analysis using a random effects model. The heterogeneity of the articles was examined using the I2 index, and the analyses were performed with STATA software version 11.2..
    Results
    Based on the 31 articles, which represent a sample size of 15,514 persons, we estimated the prevalence of domestic violence to be 66% (CI 95%: 55 - 77). The geographical classification showed that the prevalence of domestic violence was 70% (CI 95%: 57 - 84) in the east of the country, 70% in the south (CI 95%: 32 - 100), 75% in the west (CI 95%: 56 - 94), 62% in the north (CI 95%: 37 - 86), and 59% in the center (CI 95%: 44 - 74)..
    Conclusions
    The results of the study showed a high prevalence of domestic violence in Iran, which requires the adoption of appropriate measures and the initiation of effective interventions by the legal authorities. These measures and interventions should aim to determine the causes of domestic violence and to develop ways of controlling and reducing this destructive phenomenon..
    Keywords: Domestic Violence, Women, Meta, Analysis
  • Sina Gerayli, Alireza Pasdar, Mohammad Taghi Shakeri, Samaneh Sepahi, Seyed Mousalreza Hoseini, Mitra Ahadi, Sina Rostami, Zahra Meshkat* Page 15
    Background
    Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with elevated serum iron markers. Polymorphisms in the hemochromatosis (HFE) genes are responsible for iron accumulation in most cases of hemochromatosis, and may play a role in HCV infection..
    Objectives
    We aimed to assess the prevalence of HFE gene polymorphisms in a group of Iranian HCV-infected patients, and to explore the association of these polymorphisms with HCV infection..
    Patients and
    Methods
    HFE gene polymorphisms were examined in a total of 69 HCV patients and 69 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Haplotype and diplotype analyses were performed using PHASE software..
    Results
    In a recessive analysis model of the His63Asp (H63D) locus (HH vs. HD DD), the HH genotype was more common in patients compared to controls (adjusted P = 0.012; OR = 6.42 [95% CI: 1.51 - 27.33]). Also, in a recessive analysis model of the Cys282Tyr (C282Y) locus (CC vs. CY YY), the CC genotype was more frequent in patients compared to controls (adjusted P = 0.03; OR = 5.06 [95% CI: 1.13 - 22.06]). In addition, there was a significant association between the HC haplotype and the HCDC diplotype and HCV infection..
    Conclusions
    Polymorphism in the hemochromatosis gene may confer some degree of risk for HCV infection, and individuals carrying the H and C alleles may be susceptible to this disease; however, a larger sample of HCV patients and healthy individuals may be necessary to further illustrate the role of these polymorphisms in HCV.
    Keywords: Hepatitis C Virus_Hemochromatosis (HFE) Gene Polymorphisms_Prognosis
  • Sayed Fazel Zinat Motlagh, Reza Chaman, Erfan Sadeghi, Ahmad Ali Eslami* Page 16
    Background
    An assessment of an individual’s hypertension self-care behavior may provide clinicians and practitioners with important information regarding how to better control hypertension..
    Objectives
    The objective of this study was to investigate the self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients..
    Patients and
    Methods
    This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 in a sample of 1836 patients of both genders who had been diagnosed with hypertension in urban and rural health centers in the Kohgiluyeh Boyerahmad Province in southern Iran. They were randomly selected and were invited to participate in the study. Self-care activities were measured using the H-hypertension self-care activity level effects..
    Results
    The mean age of the respondents was 63 (range: 30 - 92), and 36.1% reported adherence to the recommended levels of medication; 24.5% followed the physical activity level guidelines. Less than half (39.2%) met the criteria for practices related to weight management, and adherence to low-salt diet recommendations was also low (12.3%). Overall, 86.7% were nonsmokers, and 100% abstained from alcohol. The results of a logistic regression indicated that gender was significantly associated with adherence to physical activity (OR = 0.716) and non-smoking (OR = 1.503) recommendations; that is, women were more likely to take part in physical activity than men. There was also a significant association between age and adherence to both a low-salt diet (OR = 1.497) and medication (OR = 1.435)..
    Conclusions
    Based on our findings, it is crucial to implement well-designed educational programs to improve hypertension self-care behaviors..
    Keywords: Self, Care, Hypertension, Behavior, Patient
  • Hamid Alavi Majd, Atefeh Talebi *, Kambiz Gilany, Nasibeh Khayyer Page 17
    Background
    Gene networks have generated a massive explosion in the development of high-throughput techniques for monitoring various aspects of gene activity. Networks offer a natural way to model interactions between genes, and extracting gene network information from high-throughput genomic data is an important and difficult task..
    Objectives
    The purpose of this study is to construct a two-way gene network based on parametric and nonparametric correlation coefficients. The first step in constructing a Gene Co-expression Network is to score all pairs of gene vectors. The second step is to select a score threshold and connect all gene pairs whose scores exceed this value..
    Materials And Methods
    In the foundation-application study, we constructed two-way gene networks using nonparametric methods, such as Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and Blomqvist’s measure, and compared them with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. We surveyed six genes of venous thrombosis disease, made a matrix entry representing the score for the corresponding gene pair, and obtained two-way interactions using Pearson’s correlation, Spearman’s rank correlation, and Blomqvist’s coefficient. Finally, these methods were compared with Cytoscape, based on BIND, and Gene Ontology, based on molecular function visual methods; R software version 3.2 and Bioconductor were used to perform these methods..
    Results
    Based on the Pearson and Spearman correlations, the results were the same and were confirmed by Cytoscape and GO visual methods; however, Blomqvist’s coefficient was not confirmed by visual methods..
    Conclusions
    Some results of the correlation coefficients are not the same with visualization. The reason may be due to the small number of data..
    Keywords: Gene Expression, Gene Regulatory Networks, Gene Ontology, Molecular Structure, Nonparametric
  • Ali Sadrollahi, Masoumeh Hosseinian*, Negin Masoudi Alavi, Zahra Khalili, Sophia Esalatmanesh Page 18
    Background
    Physical activity is an important component of health in old age that provides personal independence, physical ability, and quality of life..
    Objectives
    The current study aimed to evaluate physical activity and associated factors among the elderly population in Kashan, Iran..
    Patients and
    Methods
    This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was 400 elderly people (aged more than 60 years) living in Kashan, Iran in 2014. The subjects randomly selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from healthcare centers in three regions of Kashan. The sample size differed by gender and residence type. Each participant’s demographic characteristics and level of physical activity were recorded in a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and ordinal regression were used in the data analysis. The significance level for all the tests was P
    Results
    237 (59.2%) of the subjects were female. The average age of the study population was 67.6 ± 6.8 years. Their average physical activity energy consumption was 326.21 ± 364.84 according to the metabolic equivalent of hours per week. 20 subjects (5%) reported no physical activity. 320 (80%) and 59 (14.8%) subjects had low and moderate physical activity levels, respectively. Only 1 subject (0.2%) had extreme levels of physical activity. Men (n = 43, 26.4%) were more likely to be moderately or extremely physically active than women were (n = 17, 7.2%). There was a significant relationship between physical activity and sex (P
    Conclusions
    The study revealed low physical activity in the elderly population in Kashan. The pattern of physical activity in the elderly depends on their lifestyle. A promotion of active lifestyles should be a part of health care planning for the elderly..
    Keywords: Physical Activity, Aging, Lifestyle
  • Esfandiar Azad, Marzabadi*, Mohammad Gholami Fesharaki Page 19
    Background
    In recent years, job stress has been cited as a risk factor for some diseases..
    Objectives
    Given the importance of this subject, we established a new model for classifying job stress among Iranian male staff using path analysis..
    Materials And Methods
    This cross-sectional study was done on male staff in Tehran, Iran, 2013. The participants in the study were selected using a proportional stratum sampling method. The tools used included nine questionnaires (1- HSE questionnaire; 2- GHQ questionnaire; 3- Beck depression inventory; 4- Framingham personality type; 5- Azad-Fesharaki’s physical activity questionnaire; 6- Adult attachment style questionnaire; 7- Azad socioeconomic questionnaire; 8- Job satisfaction survey; and 9- demographic questionnaire)..
    Results
    A total of 575 individuals (all male) were recruited for the study. Their mean (±SD) age was 33.49 (±8.9) and their mean job experience was 12.79 (±8.98) years. The pathway of job stress among Iranian male staff showed an adequate model fit (RMSEA=0.021, GFI=0.99, AGFI=0.97, P=0.136). In addition, the total effect of variables like personality type (β=0.283), job satisfaction (β=0.287), and age (β=0.108) showed a positive relationship with job stress, while variables like general health (β=-0.151) and depression (β=-0.242) showed the reverse effect on job stress..
    Conclusions
    According to the results of this study, we can conclude that our suggested model is suited to explaining the pathways of stress among Iranian male staff..
    Keywords: Job Stress, Path Analysis, General Health, Physical Activity, Personality Type, Job Satisfaction, Depression
  • Mojtaba Anvarinejad, Maneli Amin Shahidi, Gholam Reza Pouladfar, Mohammad Ali Dehyadegari, Jalal Mardaneh* Page 20
    Introduction
    Campylobacter jejuni is a slender, motile, non-spore-forming, helical-shaped, gram-negative bacterium. It is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis in the world. The aim of this study was to present a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), who was infected with Campylobacter jejuni..
    Case Presentation
    We describe the medical records of a pediatric ALL patient with bacteremia caused by C. jejuni, who was diagnosed at Amir hospital, Shiraz, Iran. This 14-year-old male visited the emergency department of Amir hospital with night sweats, severe polar high-grade fever, reduced appetite, and nausea in August 2013. Given the suspected presence of an anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganism, aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures were performed using an automated blood cultivator, the BACTEC 9240 system. In order to characterize the isolate, diagnostic biochemical tests were used. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done with the disk diffusion method. The primary culture was found to be positive for Campylobacter, and the subculture of the solid plate yielded a confluent growth of colonies typical for Campylobacter, which was identified as C. jejuni by morphological and biochemical tests. The isolate was resistant to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, cephalexin, piperacillin/tazobactam, nalidixic acid, aztreonam, cefuroxime, cefixime, ceftazidime, and tobramycin..
    Conclusions
    C. jejuni should be considered in the differential diagnosis as a potential cause of bacteremia in immunosuppressed patients. In cases where the BACTEC result is positive in aerobic conditions but the organism cannot be isolated, an anaerobic culture medium is suggested, especially in immunocompromised patients..
    Keywords: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Bacteremia, Campylobacter jejuni