Evaluation of biochemical parameters in operating room staff exposed to radiation and anesthetic gases.

Background: Exposure to ionizing radiations and other hazardous agents such as anesthetic gases pose serious risks to the health of healthcare workers. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in blood and biochemical parameters of the operating room staff exposed to ionizing radiations and remnants of anesthetic gas. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at (Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital). The control group was selected from different parts of the hospital that were not exposed to ionizing radiations and anesthetics, including the office, services, and treatment. The case group included all operating room personnel. Hematopoietic parameters such as complete blood count and WBC differential, and parameters of liver function such as serum activity of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH) and serum bilirubin levels, fasting blood sugar, serum lipid profile, level of vitamin D and magnesium were measured for the exposed and referent subjects. Additionally, a checklist was used to gather data regarding the occupational variables and medical histories of the studied subjects. Results: The mean values of Hb, Hct, Vitamin D, and MCHC, as well as the RBC count, were significantly lower in the exposed individuals than in the referent subjects. In contrast, the proportion of smokers was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the referent group. No significant differences were noted between exposed and unexposed groups as far as other parameters were concerned. However, no significant differences were noted between the case and control groups as far as other measured parameters were concerned. Likewise, no significant differences were noted between exposed and referent groups as far as blood types, history of underlying diseases, work history, working hours per month, number of morning and evening shift hours, type of diet, consumption of a high-fat diet a day before blood sampling, X-ray in the recent year, history of radiotherapy, and therapeutic agents use was concerned. Conclusions: Exposure of operating room staff to ionizing radiations and waste anesthetics gases is associated with subtle, subclinical prepathologic decreases in some hematopoietic parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCHC levels, RBC count as well as vitamin D levels.

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on the Pain Intensity During Insertion of Needle in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Needle insertion pain during spinal anesthesia is an unpleasant experience for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on the pain intensity during the insertion of spinal needles in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blind clinical trial, 60 candidates for elective Trans Ureteral Lithotripsy surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The electrodes of the TENS device were placed in the space between L3-L4 and L5-S1 vertebrae. The intensity of pain during insertion of the spinal needle by Visual Analog Scale and the frequency of attempts were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the study samples was 34.26 ± 5.07 and 32.8 ± 5.28 in the control and intervention group, respectively. The pain intensity during insertion of spinal needles was less significant in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). The number of attempts to insert the spinal needle between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.51). The duration of spinal anesthesia implementation procedure by physician in the intervention group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of TENS effectively reduced the pain of spinal needle insertion. Considering these beneficial effects, it is suggested that this procedure be used to relive pain in patients with spinal anesthesia.

General health of students of medical sciences and its relation to sleep quality, cell phone overuse, social networks and internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the phenomena of access to the cell phone and addiction to the Internet have been developed among students due to their many applications and attractiveness. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating general health status and also determining the predictive role of variables such as cell phone usage, sleep quality, internet addiction and social networks addiction in students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 321 students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in an analytical approach. Data collection tools were: Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire, Pittburgh Sleep Quality Index, Young Internet Addiction Test, Social Network Addiction Questionnaire, and Cell Phone Overuse Scale. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21 and general linear model. RESULTS: Based on the results, the mean (SD) score of the general health was 21.27 (9.49). Variables of gender, sleep quality, and levels of cell phone usage were independent predictors of student's health. Male students (ß (95% CI) = - 0.28 (- 0.49 to - 0.01) and students with favorable sleep quality (ß (95% CI) = - 0.22 (- 0.44 to - 0.02) had lower total health score than the reference category (female students and students with unfavorable sleep quality, respectively). In addition, students with cell phone overuse (ß (95% CI) = 0.39 (0.08 to 0.69) had a higher general health score than the reference category (students with cell phone little use).In general, this group of students had lower general health status (Low or high scores of general health indicate a higher and lower general health status for subjects, respectively). CONCLUSION: Variables of gender, sleep quality and cell phone use were the most important variables associating the general health of medical students.

Studying the effect of abdominal massage on the gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: The main problem of hospitalized patients in intensive care units is feeding, and if the patient does not receive the daily caloric intake required to his body, he will have malnutrition and problems related to it. Abdominal massage is a method used to improve digestive function in various studies, but few studies have been conducted in intensive care units, and sometimes, contradictory results have been obtained. Therefore, the present study is conducted with the aim of determining the effect of abdominal massage on the gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. METHODS: This study was conducted as a clinical trial in Ahwaz, in 2017. Samples were 60 patients hospitalized in intensive care units who were randomly divided into case and control groups. The intervention period for the case group was 3 days and twice daily for 20 min. Measuring the gastric residual volume was investigated before the intervention and 1 hour after the second massage each day. Data were entered into the checklist designed by the researcher and were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and descriptive and inferential tests. RESULTS: The gastric residual volume on the second and third day after the intervention was less than before the intervention (p value< 0.05), the gastric residual volume before intervention with after intervention in the control group during different days, on each of the 3 days after the intervention, was more than before the intervention (p value< 0.05), and the gastric residual volume after the intervention in different days and the mean of different days in the case group was lower than the control group (p value> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results represent the effect of abdominal massage on reducing the gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Therefore, it is suggested that this method can be considered as a caring method in the daily care program for these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT2017062134641N2, registered 26 July 2017.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation at the Acupuncture Points to Relieve Pain of Patients Under Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Electrical stimulation and acupuncture points as nonpharmacological methods have been the focus of pain reduction in different patients. This study is aimed at determining the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the acupuncture points of pain in patients under mechanical ventilators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 50 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of Imam Reza hospital in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2017. The patients were randomly allocated into intervention and placebo groups. In the intervention group, TENS electrodes were placed on points Hegu and Zusanli. Pain severity was measured using the Care Pain Observation Tool scale, and the dosages of narcotics and sedation intake were recorded. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 19. RESULTS: The level of pain in patients decreased in the intervention group in comparison with the sham group, and this decline was significant during certain hours (p < 0.05). The amount of analgesic and sedation drugs used was less significant in the intervention group than in the sham group (p = 0.01; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the use of TENS on acupuncture points can decrease the level of pain and opioid consumption in intubated patients under a mechanical ventilator.