مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مازندران
پیاپی 96 (دی 1391)

Background and

General anesthesia for oocyte retrieval may interfere with outcomes and success rate of assisted reproductive technology. This study was performed to compare the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology in women regarding recovery time, patient satisfaction and postoperative side effects using remifentanil-propofol and alfentanil-propofol.

We studied 102 women who were scheduled for oocyte retrieval. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. General anesthesia was performed with remifentanil-propofol (group I) or alfentanil-propofol (group II). The numbers of oocytes collated, fertilized, transferal and pregnancy rate were recorded. Hemodynamic variables, patient satisfaction, recovery time and side effects were also recorded.

There were no significant differences in oocytes collected and pregnancy rates between the two groups. But fertilization was significantly higher in remifentanil-propofol group (P= 0.01). The recovery of patients in remifentanil-propofol was significantly rapid (P= 0.01). Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, postoperative satisfaction and side effects were found to be similar in both groups.

Remifentanil-propofol is of great benefit in providing an earlier recovery, however, both remifentanil-propofol and alfentanil-propofol regimens are suitable for oocyte retrieval.

Background and

High concentrations of heavy metals have always been a major cause of contamination in aquatic ecosystem. Sturgeons are important sources of food and income throughout the world. In this study, concentrations of Cadmium, Vanadium, Nickel and Zinc (Cd, Ni, V and Zn) were examined in edible and inedible tissues of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) and beluga (Huso huso) collected from coastal waters of the South Caspian Sea in spring, 2011. Also, the human health risk due to consumption of muscle tissue of stellate sturgeon and beluga were evaluated.

Two species of sturgeons, beluga (n = 4), stellate sturgeon (n = 8), were collected from two of the most important sturgeon fishery zones in Guilan and Golestan provinces and stored at -20°C before chemical analysis. Concentrations of Zn were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer using an air/acetylene flame (Shimadzu, AA-670, Kyoto, Japan). Concentrations of Cd, Ni and V were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (Shimadzu, AA-670G, Kyoto, Japan).

Stellate sturgeon liver showed the highest concentrations of Cd, Ni, V (1.70 ± 0.32, 0.87 ± 0.23 and 2.71 ± 1.44 µg/g dry weight, respectively) and highest concentrations of Zinc (182.26 ± 51.87 µg/g dry weight) in beluga heart (P<0.05). The lowest concentrations of Zn and Cd (16.82 ± 4.90 and 0.006 ± 0.002 µg/g dry weight, respectively) in stellate sturgeon and lowest concentrations of Ni and V (0.08 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.03 µg/g dry weight) were observed in stellate sturgeon heart and beluga heart, respectively (P<0.05).

The mean concentrations of Zn, Cd and V in caviar and muscle samples were lower than the permissible limits proposed by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF 2000) and World Health Organization (WHO). The guidelines for Cd, V and Zn are 0.2, 0.5 and 50 µg/g wet weight, respectively. The measured concentrations for these heavy metals are less than the published guidelines and do not constitute any threat to the human population that may consume these sturgeons obtained from the studied locations.

Background and

Aging is a series of biological changes that could result in loss of life ability and an elderly needs efficient copping skills to adapt the new situation. Old population is exposed to many potential threats due to mental and physical disabilities such as personal independence. This study was conducted to determine factors associated with functional and cognitive impairment.

This descriptive cross- sectional study was performed in 360 people >65 years of age using two stage cluster classification. The subjects were those who suffered at least from one chronic disease. A questionnaire and face to face interviews were applied to collect the data. To analyze the data statistical tests were applied.

The average impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) was 1.15 ± 1.69, and the average impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was 2.78 ± 4.68. Among the elderly 12.2% afflicted with sever cognitive impairment. ADL/IADL and cognitive impairments and reported chronic diseases had a significant correlation with gender, inadequate income, age, and educational level (P<0.05).

According to the findings, demographic variables highly affect the ability of old people. Therefore, more efforts are essential to modify these effects in endangered group in order to protect their independence.