ABSTRACT
Introduction: The decline of visual function with increasing age is a significant concern in elderly. Despite previous work on prevalence of specific ophthalmic pathologies, there has not been enough valid data about overall eye disorders in Tehran yet, and it is poorly defined and not underpinned by strong evidence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the common eye disorders in the elderly population of Tehran
Methods: A total of 392 elderly community residents aged 60 to 96 were enrolled. The 278 older adults referred to Tehran's Polyclinic of 6th Region of municipality and 114 older adults referred to the health centers of 9th Region of municipality between 2013 and 2014 were examined. All participants underwent an extensive ophthalmologic screening examination including cataract, diabetic retinopathy of optic nerve, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. The prevalence of various eye disorders was calculated as percentages of the total study population and categorized by age and sex
Results: Of the 392 participants, 152 subjects [38.8%] had no eye disease. Common visual impairments in elderly were cataract [39.3%], macular degeneration [11.5%], diabetic retinopathy of optic nerve [5.6%] and glaucoma [4.8%]. It has also showed cataract prevalence increased with age from [6.3%] in the 60-64 age group to [47.6%] for the patients 85years of age and older
Conclusion: Cataract is the most frequent eye disease in community dwelling older adults that should be considered at a younger age by health officials to provide preventive programs. Improving accessibility to surgery for the treatment of cataract among the old people will help diminish of untreated cataract that lead to visual impairment
ABSTRACT
Background: Sleep disturbance is a common complaint of patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy [MMT]. There are limited studies about the effect of different treatments on insomnia due to MMT. In this study, we evaluated the effect of cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia [CBTI] on sleep disorders in patients undergoing MMT
Methods: Twenty-two patients with insomnia due to MMT [aged 18-60 years] participated in this randomized double-blind clinical trial. The intervention group received CBTI from a clinical psychologist for 8 weeks, whereas the control group received behavioral placebo therapy [BPT]. The duration of individual sessions was 45 minutes, which was conducted once a week. The primary outcome was sleep disturbance assessed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19
Results: Eleven patients were assigned to each group. Two groups were matched according to demographic characteristics [age, marital status, education, and daily methadone doses]. Although PSQI score was significantly reduced during weeks 5 and 8 after both interventions, there was a significant difference in intervention versus time interaction [P<0.02]. The effects of CBTI versus placebo were significantly different [P<0.001]. The time course was also significant [P<0.001]
Conclusion: This study showed that CBTI is more effective than BPT in overall sleep quality. We recommend further studies, with a larger sample, on CBTI in patients undergoing MMT
ABSTRACT
Detection of adverse drug reactions [ADRs] in hospitals provides an important measure of the burden of drug related morbidity on the healthcare system. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs is scare and several obstacles to such reporting have been identified formerly. This study aimed to determine the role of clinical pharmacy residents in ADR reporting within a hospital setting.Clinical pharmacy residents were trained to report all suspected ADRs through ADR-reporting yellow cards. The incidence, pattern, seriousness, and preventability of the reported ADRs were analyzed. During the period of 12 months, for 8559 patients, 202 ADR reports were received. The most frequently reported reactions were due to anti-infective agents [38.38%]. Rifampin accounted for the highest number of the reported ADRs among anti-infective agents. The gastro-intestinal system was the most frequently affected system [21.56%] of all reactions. Fifty four of the ADRs were reported as serious reactions. Eighteen of the ADRs were classified as preventable. Clinical pharmacy residents' involvement in the ADR reporting program could improve the ADR reporting system
ABSTRACT
Background: It is widely recognized that neuromuscular function is temperature sensitive. Changes in muscle temperature may affect muscle force development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature on wrist flexor muscles endurance
Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects [mean age 21.13 +/- 1.30 years] participated in the present study. The wrist flexor muscles endurance was measured before and after applying ice and hot packs over the forearm for 15 minutes. Paired t tests were used to compare differences between pre and post intervention endurance
Results: The results showed a significant increase in wrist flexor muscles endurance after heating. [P=0.04]. We also found that, cooling the forearm muscles leaded to significant decrease of wrist flexor muscles endurance [P=0.01]
Conclusion: These results suggest that hand function is temperature sensitive. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of cold on muscular function in people working in workplaces with extreme temperature