Nosocomial infection due to rotavirus in infants in Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of acute diarrhoea during infancy, and the spread of this infection due to rotavirus in paediatric wards can cause acute diarrhoea during hospitalization, and, in turn, prolong hospitalization or rehospitalization. It is, therefore, important to evaluate the problem and to find an appropriate approach to decrease the rate of infection. The incidence of nosocomial infection due to rotavirus was studied in 80 children aged 3-24 months from November 2003 to April 2004 in the Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Rotavirus antigen was detected by latex aggulutation in stool samples obtained during hospitalization and up to 72 hours after discharge from the hospital. The prevalence of nosocomial infection due to rotavirus was 26.25%, which is a considerable prevalence compared to similar studies which reported a prevalence of 27.7%, 19.4%, and 14.6%. Overall, 15% of the 21 children with positive rotavirus antigen in their stools had acute diarrhoea during hospitalization and up to 72 hours after discharge (symptomatic nosocomial infection), and 11.25% of all children (n=80) studied had asymptomatic nosocomial infection. Regarding the low frequency of nosocomial infection due to rotavirus in other studies which have only studied symptomatic cases during hospitalization and reported a prevalence of 3.3 and 9%, it is suggested that the real estimation of nosocomial infection due to rotavirus in asymptomatic cases that might become symptomatic after discharge from hospital should also be considered. Due to the relatively high frequency of nosocomial infection in the Alzahra Hospital, it is necessary to follow stricter health issues, e.g. isolation of patients with diarrhoea and hand-washing before and after the examination of every patient.     

Effects of dietary selenium supplementation on serum and liver selenium,serum malondialdehyde and liver glutathione peroxidase activity in rats consuming thermally oxidized sunflower oil

The present study compared the effects of four isocaloric diets containing (1) fresh sunflower oil not supplemented with selenium (Fresh), (2) oxidized sunflower oil not supplemented with selenium (Oxidized), (3) fresh sunflower oil supplemented with 1 ppm selenium as sodium selenite (Fresh + Se), (4) oxidized sunflower oil supplemented with 1 ppm selenium as sodium selenite (Oxidized + Se) on serum MDA concentrations, liver GPx activity and serum and liver selenium contents in growing male Sprague Dawley rats during a period of 43 days. The oxidized oil used was prepared by heating fresh sunflower oil at 180 °C for 48 h. Serum and liver selenium contents and liver GPx activity were significantly higher in the selenium supplemented groups compared to the non-selenium supplemented groups, but these parameters did not differ significantly between the oxidized oil fed groups and the fresh oil fed groups. Serum MDA concentrations increased significantly in the Oxidized group compared to the Fresh group. This suggests that the ingestion of oxidized oil resulted in, in vivo lipid peroxidation. Serum MDA concentrations remained significantly higher even in comparison of the Oxidized + Se group with the Oxidized group. Our results emphasize that the consumption of oxidized oil increases in vivo lipid peroxidation and thus can be deleterious to health. However, we did not observe a significant beneficial effect of selenium supplementation upon the ingestion of thermally oxidized oil on lipid peroxidation.     

Effect of date palm pollen supplementation on female sexual function in non-menopausal women: A double blind randomized clinical trial

Objective: Despite numerous experimental studies in the literature, there are few clinical trials regarding the effect of date palm pollen (DPP) supplementation on sexual function improvement. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the impact of DPP on female sexual function in Iranian non-menopausal women. Methods: Between October 2019 and December 2019, health centers in the city of Khalkhal, volunteers meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited in randomized clinical trials. Sixty-eight women were randomly stratified and assigned to one of the two study groups: placebo group (n = 35) and palm pollen group (n = 35), and received a starch or palm pollen capsule (300 mg per day), respectively, for 35 d. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) instrument was used to assess female sexual function. Results: After DPP supplementation, the increase in desire, lubrication, and the overall score, was statistically significant compared to the placebo group (P = 0.002, P = 0.000, and P = 0.042; respectively); Whilst there was no significant differences in the remaining domains (arousal: P = 0.763; orgasm: P = 0.370; satisfaction: P =0.474; pain: P = 0.259). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the coitus and preintervention levels of desire (r = 0.298, P = 0.038), arousal (r = 0.328, P = 0.021), lubrication (r = 0.361, P = 0.011), orgasm (r = 0.320, P = 0.025), satisfaction (r = 0.327, P = 0.022), and overall scores (r = 0.338, P = 0.018). Conclusion: This study suggests that DPP (300 mg supplementation for 35 d), given to non-menopausal women, could improve the lubrication and desire domains of FSFI.     

Treatment needs of drug users: The perspective of Iranian women

Background: Treatment needs and health-care issues in women are completely different from those of men. In order to develop and apply successful treatment programs for substance-dependent women, gender-based differences should be considered to provide them with effective health care and treatment services.

The present study was conducted to investigate the views of substance dependent women about their health care and treatment needs.

Methods: In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 opiate using women who were chosen through purposeful sampling from camps, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) centers and women’s prison in Sanandaj, Iran in 2015. Data were analyzed using content analysis (a conventional approach).

Findings: Three main factors were recognized through data analysis: individual factors, structural factors, and social factors.

Conclusions: The results of the study suggests the need for structural changes such as improving comprehensive services and enhancing referral system regarding gender-based differences to provide the substance-dependent women with more effective treatment and medical care.     

Changes in serum phosphorus level in patients with severe burns: A prospective study

BackgroundThe second most abundant mineral in the body, phosphorus (P), is absorbed in the small intestine after ingestion enhanced by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, and its excretion is exclusively regulated by the kidney. It is clinically significant, aside from its disturbance in burn ICU patient’s P mechanism. The increasing rate of morbidity and mortality among the patients can be associated with severe hypophosphatemia. The current study aimed at investigating the changes in serum P levels in the early period after burns, the relationship between serum P level and TBSA (total body surface area) of burn, and the impact of hypophosphatemia on patients’ clinical outcomes.Material and methodsThe current prospective, observational study was conducted on 137 patients hospitalized in the burn intensive unit (BICU) of Velayat Sub-specialty Burn and Plastic Surgery Center from December 2015 to May 2017. According to the TBSA percentage, the patients were divided into three groups. The level of serum P was determined in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th days of hospital stay and before discharge. To evaluate the trend of P changes in the sixtime-points, the average changes along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures (repeated measures ANOVA). A P-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. The analyses were performed using SPSS software, version 19 (SPSS Inc.).ResultsTotally, 137 patients (70% male, mean age 32 ± 21years, and TBSA 32.6 ± 14%) were included in the study. The overall incidence of hypophosphatemia was 75.1%. Hypophosphatemia developed as early as 1.66 ± 0.136 (95%CI: 1.4–1.9) days after injury. The highest decrease in the serum P level was observed on the 3rd and 5th days after burn as 2.78 mg/dL and 2.85 mg/dL, respectively (P-value = 0.001). A correlation was observed between TBSA and serum P level. The mean serum P level decreased with increasing the percentage of burns. There was a correlation between serum P level and mortality; therefore, a decrease in serum P level increased the patient's mortality rate (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe current study highlighted that hypophosphatemia is often observed in patients with burn injuries during their hospitalization. It is potentially beneficial to identify patients at risk of hypophosphatemia. Therefore, it is suggested that P level be assessed regularly in patients with burn injuries for the timely initiation of P replacement therapy.     

Effects of Virtual Reality Compared to Conventional Therapy on Balance Poststroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review the effect of virtual reality on balance as compared to conventional therapy alone poststroke. Methods: The databases of PubMed, Cochrane, and Ovid were searched using select keywords. The randomized controlled trials published between January 2000 and August 2017 in English language were included if they assessed the effect of virtual reality on balance ability compared to conventional therapy alone in adults’ poststroke. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale was used to assess the methodological quality. Results: Fourteen papers were included in this review. The experimental groups largely (n = 13) used virtual reality in combination with conventional therapy. Among the high quality studies, significant between-group improvement favoring virtual reality in combination with conventional therapy was found on Berg Balance Scale (n = 7) and Timed Up and Go Scale (n = 7) when compared to conventional therapy alone. The studies were limited by low powered, small sample sizes ranging from 14 to 40, and lack of blinding, concealed allocation, and reporting of missing data. Thirteen homogenous (n = 348, I² = 37.6%, P = .083) studies were included in the meta-analysis using Berg Balance Scale. Significant improvement was observed in the experimental group compared to control group with a medium effect size of .64, confidence interval of .36-.92. Conclusions: The findings of this review indicate that virtual reality when combined with conventional therapy is moderately more effective in improving balance than conventional therapy alone in individuals’ poststroke.     

Strongyloides stercoralis infection in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients and related risk factors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Strongyloidiasis is caused by nematode infections of the genus Strongyloides, mainly Strongyloides stercoralis, and affects tens of millions of people around the world. S. stercoralis hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis are unusual but potentially fatal conditions mostly due to Gram‐negative bacteremia and sepsis, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Infections with immunosuppressive viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Human T‐cell leucemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) have been reported as risk factors for strongyloidiasis. Hyperinfection syndrome has been described in HIV‐positive patients following the use of corticosteroids or during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). In this research, we conducted a global systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the seroprevalence and odds ratios (ORs) of S. stercoralis infections in HIV‐infected patients. A total of 3,649 records were screened, 164 studies were selected and evaluated in more detail, and 94 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis infection in HIV positive patients was 5.1% (CI95%: 4%–6.3%), and a meta‐analysis on six studies showed that with a pooled OR of 1.79 (CI95%: 1.18%–2.69%) HIV‐positive men are at a higher risk of S. stercoralis infections (p < .0052) compared to HIV positive women.