Expression of spinal cord Fos protein in response to intrathecal adrenomedullin and CGRP in conscious rats.

Adrenomedullin (AM) immunoreactivity and mRNA, in addition to a large number of specific AM-binding sites, exist in the rat spinal cord. However, no phenotype has been reported for AM in the spinal cord. Here, expression of c-fos in response to intrathecal (i.t.) administration of AM, proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of spinal cord in conscious rats. Two hours after i.t. administration of either CGRP (2.5 and 10 microg) or AM (10 microg), the number of c-Fos immunoreactive nuclei was increased in all the spinal regions examined in this study, with the highest increase observed in the superficial dorsal horn. Few cells with c-fos immunoreactivity were found in the spinal cord of rats 2 h after i.t. injection of either saline or PAMP. Effects of AM (10 microg) and CGRP (2.5 microg) on c-fos expression were blocked when rats were pretreated with 40 microg of intrathecal CGRP8-37 (CGRP1 receptor antagonist). Fos-like immunoreactivity induced by i.t. CGRP and/or AM were also significantly abolished by i.t. administration of the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor, l-NAME, indicating that endogenous NO is a necessary intermediary in CGRP and AM induced c-fos expression in the rat spinal cord. In conclusion, AM induces c-fos expression in rat spinal cord when administered intrathecally, with the pattern being similar to those produced by i.t. CGRP. Effects of the two peptides are sensitive to CGRP8-37 and l-NAME.

Knowledge, practice and attitude towards standard isolation precautions in Iranian medical students.

Medical students are at high risk of being exposed to blood-borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to identify the levels of knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students regarding standard isolation precautions in Iran. A questionnaire was filled out by 468 medical students in their fifth to seventh year of study. Their mean knowledge, attitude and practice levels of standard isolation precautions were 6.1+/-1.5 (maximum possible score 9), 32.3+/-3.5 (out of 45), and 2.3+/-1.6 (out of 9), respectively. Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practice, and practice and attitude. Ninety percent of medical students in Shiraz had received no education of standard isolation precautions, and 75% of respondents wanted more education on standard isolation precautions. Education on infection control issues should not only be focused on healthcare workers, but should also include medical students.

Job stress dimensions and their relationship to musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian nurses.

BACKGROUND: There is little data available on job stress dimensions and their relationship to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Iranian nurses. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate job stress dimensions and examine their relationship to MSDs among nurses of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) hospitals. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 385~randomly selected nurses of SUMS participated. The Persian version of Job Content Questionnaire (P-JCQ) and Nordic MSDs questionnaire were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Decision latitude and social support dimensions had low levels, but psychological and physical job demands as well as job insecurity dimensions had high levels among the nurses. 89.9% of the subjects experienced some form of MSDs during the last 12 months. Lower back symptoms were the most prevalent problem reported (61.8%). Physical isometric loads was the only sub-scale that had significant relationship with MSDs. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of cases, subjects were exposed to high levels of job stress. MSDs prevalence was high. Based on the results, any interventional program for MSDs prevention should focus on reducing physical and psychological job demands as well as increasing decision latitudes.

Comparison of pap smear quality with anatomical spatula method and the common method (spatula-cytobrush): a single blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women in the world. Papanicolaou smear is known as a standard test for cervical cancer screening; however, the most important challenge is high rates of false negative results. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of smears obtained by anatomical spatula and spatula-cytobrush. The most important factor in false negative result is inappropriate tool of sampling. METHODS: One hundred married women participated in this single blind clinical trial. All participants were interviewed; two samples were obtained from every participant: one with spatula-cytobrush and another one with anatomical spatula. All slides were encoded and were assessed by two pathologists. Then, data were analyzed by means of kappa coefficient. RESULTS: Cell adequacy was 96.1 % in anatomical spatula method and 91.2 % in spatula-cytobrush method (p= 0.016). The rates for endocervical cells and metaplasia cells in anatomical spatula method were 70.6% and 24.5% respectively and these amounts were 69.6% and 24.5% respectively in the spatula-cytobrush method (p <0.001). No one reported any pain and the amount of bleeding was 38.2% in both methods (P>0.05). Regarding infection and inflammatory reactions there was no statistically significant difference between two methods (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings in this study, results of sampling with anatomical spatula method were more acceptable and better than those with spatula-cytobrush sampling.

A comparison between the efficacy of dydrogesterone and calcium plus vitamin D in improving women's general health.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of dydrogesterone and calcium plus vitamin D on young women's general health. METHOD: One hundred and eighty students studying at Shiraz University were recruited. Students completed the General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-28) prior to participation. They were then randomly assigned to take a tablet containing either 5 mg of dydrogesterone, 500 mg of calcium plus 200 mg of vitamin D, or a placebo twice daily from the 15th to the 24th day of their menstrual cycle for 2 consecutive cycles, and to complete the same questionnaires during both the intervention cycles. RESULTS: The effects of dydrogesterone and calcium plus vitamin D on general health scores were similar during the first month of intervention (11.41 ± 4.28, 12.23 ± 3.76, respectively) (p>0.05) and both of them were more effective than placebo (16.69 ± 3.28) (p<0.05). However, dydrogesterone was more effective than calcium plus vitamin D and placebo during the second month of intervention (4.33 ± 2.69, 6.2 ± 3.55, 14.39 ± 3.45, respectively) (p<0.05). No significant differences between groups regarding drugs' side effects (p>0.05) were found. CONCLUSION: Both dydrogesterone and calcium D were more effective than placebo in promoting women's general health. Dydrogesterone was, however, more efficient than calcium plus vitamin D.