Initial Results of Bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation for Parkinson Disease in a Newly Established Center in a Developing Country: Shiraz, Southern Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To report the establishment of a new center for deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a surgical treatment for Parkinson disease and the surgical outcomes, from 2014 to 2017 in Shiraz, Southern Iran. METHODS: A new treatment program was established in Shiraz through a multidisciplinary team in 2014. Thirty-four patients underwent implantation of subthalamic nucleus (STN) electrodes during the last 3 years. Twenty-five patients fulfilled the minimum 6-month follow-up criteria. The baseline Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) was assessed 1 month before surgery in both off-medication and on-medication states by a movement disorder neurologist. To evaluate the outcomes, subscores of the UPDRS were assessed in all patients before surgery and at least 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: All 25 patients had advanced Parkinson disease categorized as stage 3 or 4 using the Hoehn and Yahr scale. STN DBS resulted in a dramatic improvement in motor function of most patients. A reduction in dopaminergic medication dosage (average 60% reduction) was observed. The mean improvement was 40% in UPDRS II and 67% in UPDRS III. No surgical or hardware complications were observed. Stimulation-related adverse effects, including increased falling and worsening of speech, occurred in a few patients after surgery. Most of the patients experienced weight gain after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral STN DBS is a satisfactory and safe treatment for carefully selected patients with advanced Parkinson disease. According to the results, the procedure can be performed safely and with comparable results in developing countries around the world.

Surgeon's satisfaction on the use of invented needle magnet in reducing the risk of sharp injuries in the operating room.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers, especially operating room personnel, are at increased risk for sharps injury and transmission of blood-borne pathogens as a result of their occupation. Infection with these pathogens occurs mainly by percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposure to blood-borne pathogens. This study evaluated the effectiveness of using invented needle magnet in reducing the risk of sharp injuries in the operating room. MATERIALS AND METHODS: THE NEEDLE MAGNET DEVICE IS CONSISTED OF THREE PARTS: a cap, a magnet and a metal container. It was invented by the authors for the first time in Iran. The average weight of this device is 200 g and it can be easily placed near the surgery field or on the myostand. It has magnetic properties that attracts the sharp pointed particles during surgery and preserve them in a protected space. The device was used in surgical field by 33 surgeons during 90 surgical operations. Then, the satisfaction of participants and effectiveness of the device in protection against sharps injury was evaluated by a questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-one surgeons (94%) believed that needle magnet reduces dispersion of sharp instruments; 79% of the participants suggested that our device reduces sharps injury during operation; 29 surgeons (88%) intended to use this device during operation. Thus, the use of needle magnet within surgical field may reduce the chances of sharps injury during surgery. CONCLUSION: The use of needle magnet within surgical field reduces the chance of sharp injury during surgery and the surgeons were satisfied with its use.

The Effect of Training Inhalation Technique with or without Spacer on Maximum Expiratory Flow Rate and Inhaler Usage Skills in Asthmatic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The most common treatment for asthma is transferring the drug into the lungs by inhaler devices. Besides, correct use of inhaled medication is required for effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. Thus, it is necessary to train the patients how to use Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). This study aimed to determine the effect of training about MDI usage with or without spacer on maximum expiratory flow rate and inhaler usage skills in asthmatic patients. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 asthmatic patients who were randomly divided into inhalation technique group with spacer, inhalation technique group without spacer, and a control group. Then, the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was measured using a peak flow meter, as a basic test. In addition, the patients' functional skills of inhalation technique were assessed using two checklists. Afterwards, 3 sessions of training were arranged for both groups. PEFR and the ability to use the MDI were evaluated immediately and 1 month after the intervention. Finally, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 18) and analyzed using independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: After the intervention, MDI usage skills improved in the two intervention groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). In addition, a significant difference was found between the intervention groups and the control group regarding the mean of PEFR after the intervention (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups (P=0.556). CONCLUSION: According to the results, providing appropriate training for asthmatic patients increased MDI usage skills, and both methods of inhalation (with or without spacer) could improve the PEFR among the patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT2013091514666N1.

Effects of Triage Education on Knowledge, Practice and Qualitative Index of Emergency Room Staff: A Quasi-Interventional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of triage education based on emergency severity index (ESI) on promoting the knowledge and performance of nurses and qualitative indices of emergency department. METHODS: This study was a quasi-interventional study being performed in Vali Asr Hospital of Fasa University of Medical Sciences during 2012. For this purpose, 50 members of staff including nurses and technicians of emergency medicine in the Emergency department with the inclusion criteria for participation were selected. Data collection instruments included a questionnaire consisting of two parts, (personal characteristics, and knowledge) and the performance assessment checklist was prepared. Content validity was used to determine the validity. The test-retest method and quder-Richardson 20 were applied to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Interobserver reliability and the correlation between the two observers and imaging modalities were measured to determine the reliability of the performance checklist. The questionnaires and checklist were completed by the participants before, 2 days and 6 weeks after completion of the training. Workshop in two 9-hour sessions was provided which consisted of lectures, questions and answers. RESULTS: The triage scores were 10.7±3.1, 17.8± 1.6 and 16.1±2.3 before, 2 days and 6 weeks after training, respectively. Triage performance score increased from 48.9 ± 9.9 before training to 59.8 ± 7.6, two days after training and to 59.7 ± 8.1 six weeks later (p=0.001). In addition to triage training of the nurses the emergency department qualitative indices were impressively upgraded. Other results showed that there was no significant correlation between individual characteristics and personal knowledge of triage score 6-week after training (r=0.018, p=0.126). However, significant positive correlation was found between nursing work experience, work experience in emergency ward and type of employment and performance scores 6 weeks after training (r=0.258, p=0.032). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that triage education influences the practice and knowledge of nurses and improves the qualitative indices of emergency department. Therefore, it is recommended to include theoretical and practical training of triage for nurses in hospitals.

The prevalence of pediculus capitis among the middle schoolchildren in Fars Province, southern Iran.

UNLABELLED: Background : Pediculosis capitis is a common parasitic infection of children. In this study we assessed the prevalence of head pediculosis among the middle schoolchildren in the urban and rural areas of Fars province, southern Iran. METHODS: All middle schoolchildren ages 11-14, in all the urban and rural areas of the province were screened for head lice infestation by examining their hair and scalp. The parents of the infested children were also examined. The study was repeated in the different seasons in the same areas. Moreover, the infested children were treated with permethrin shampoo and re-examined one week later for any relapse. RESULTS: The general prevalence of head lice infestation in middle school students was 0.23% in autumn, 0.27% in winter and 0.11% in spring. In all three seasons, pediculosis capitis prevalence was higher among females and in the rural areas. Treatment with permethrin shampoo was markedly more successful in males from both regions in all months except the urban areas in spring. CONCLUSION: The results show that pediculus capitis is generally uncommon among Fars Province middle schoolchildren. It is needed that health providers promote heath education programs especially in the rural areas.

Meningoencephalitis with Aspergillus and mycobacterium tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient.

OBJECTIVES: We report a case of central nervous system coinfection with 2 types of opportunistic organisms-Aspergillus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis-in a 33-year-old woman who underwent a renal transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: She developed a high-grade fever and right-sided weakness 1 month after the transplant while on mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, and cyclosporine. RESULTS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple mass lesions with peripheral ring enhancement. Colony-stimulating factor polymerase chain reaction was positive for Aspergillus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Broad-spectrum antibiotics, antituberculous agents, and amphotericin were started. Unfortunately, the woman's condition deteriorated, and she died 2 weeks after admission to the hospital.

Effect of education on the incidencerate of occupational exposure resultingfrom sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluidsof patients among nursing personnel of Valiasr Hospital- Fassa, 2008 / Efecto de la educación en la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional por objetos cortopunzantes y por contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales en enfermeros del hospital de Vliasr-Fassa / Efeito da educação na taxa de incidência de exposição ocupacional por objetos perfurantes e por contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais em enfermeiros do hospital de Valiasr-Fassa

Objective. To determine the effect of education on the incidence rate of occupational exposure esulted from sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients among nursing personnel of Valiasr Hospital- Fassa, 2008. Methodology. Interventional study. Samples consisted of 120 nurses (60 as study group and 60 as control group) selected by systemic randomized allocation. The study group was trained in occupational exposure for a period of ten hours. The data collecting tool was an occupational exposure questionnaire that was completed forboth groups, before and two months after education. A knowledge test was also applied to both groups before and after education. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics, frequency, mean and standard deviation, inferential statistics, x², T-test and paired t, and a level of significance p<0.05 was statistically accepted. Results. Results of the research, indicated an increase of the knowledge level and a reduction of the incidence rate of occupational exposure among the study group in such a way that, the knowledge mean score of this group went from 8.1 before education to 14.1 after education (p<0.05). The incidence rate of occupational exposure resulting from sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients was also reduced after education in the case group (p<0.05). Conclusion. The results of the study indicated improvement of knowledge and practice level in the the case group, concerning occupational exposure due to sharp bodies and mucocutaneous contamination with blood and body fluids of patients after the training intervention. In addition, continuous education in this respect is necessary because its effect lowers with time-lapse.

Objetivo. Determinar el efecto de la educación en la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional por objetos cortopunzantes y por contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales en enfermeros del Hospital de Valiasr en Fassa (Irán) en 2008. Metodología. Estudio de intervención. Se tomó una muestra de 120 enfermeros (60 en el grupo de estudio y 60 en el grupo control) asignados por aleatoriazación sistemática. El grupo de estudio recibió 10 horas de capacitación en prevención de exposición ocupacional. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario, el cual fue completado por ambos grupos antes y dos meses después de la capacitación, igualmente se aplicó un examen de conocimientos a ambos grupos antes y después de la capacitación. Resultados. Los resultados del estudio indicaron aumento del nivel de conocimiento y disminución de la tasa de incidencia de exposición ocupacional en el grupo de estudio de tal manera que el puntaje de la media del nivel de conocimiento de este grupo alcanzó un puntaje de 8.1 antes de la capacitación a 14.1 después de la capacitación, (p<0.05). Conclusión. El programa educativo se asoció a mejores prácticas preventivas del riesgo de exposición a objetos cortopunzantes y contaminación mucocutánea con sangre y fluidos corporales de pacientes.

Objetivo. Determinar o efeito da educação na taxa de incidência de exposição ocupacional por objetos perfurantes e por contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais em enfermeiros do Hospital de Valiasr em Fassa (Irã) em 2008. Metodologia. Estudo de intervenção. Tomou-se uma mostra de 120 enfermeiros (60 no grupo de estudo e 60 no grupo controle) atribuídos por escolha aleatória sistemática. O grupo de estudo recebeu 10 horas de capacitação em prevenção de exposição ocupacional. Para a recolha de dados se utilizou um questionário, o qual foi completado por ambos os grupos antes e dois meses depois da capacitação igualmente se aplicou um exame de conhecimentos a ambos os grupos antes e depois da capacitação. Resultados. Os resultados do estudo indicaram aumento do nível de conhecimento e diminuição da taxa incidência de exposição ocupacional no grupo de estudo de tal maneira que a pontuação da média do nível de conhecimento deste grupo atingiu uma pontuação de 8.1 antes da capacitação a 14.1 depois da capacitação, (p<0.05). Conclusão. O programa educativo se associou a melhores práticas preventivas do risco de exposição a objetos perfurantes e contaminação mucocutânea com sangue e fluidos corporais de pacientes.