Significant savings in radiologic report turnaround time after implementation of a complete picture archiving and communication system (PACS)

One of the important advantages of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is the time saved in comparison with the conventional system. A group of 100 radiologic studies done in a conventional radiology department is compared with another group of the same number done in a completely filmless PACS department to assess the difference in the radiologist report turnaround time. There was a statistically significant (P < .00001) decrease in the median imaging-to-dictation time (IDT) of the PACS group (3 hours and 40 minutes) in comparison with the pre-PACS group (25 hours and 19 minutes). This can be attributed to the fact that PACS eliminates all the workload associated with hard copy films, thus, improving the department's efficiency and decreasing the number of lost films.     

A Profile of Harm-reduction Practices and Co-use of Illicit and Licit Drugs Amongst Users of Dance Drugs

This study aimed to identify harm-reduction practices that users of dance drugs applied in relation to their drug-taking behaviour and also the extent of co-use between dance drugs and prescribed / 'over the counter' medication. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from 125 respondents recruited by convenience sampling and the Key Informant Access method. The majority of respondents,especially females, indicated that they applied harm-reduction practices. The most popular of these were drinking water and 'chilling out'. Just under half of all respondents had taken dance drugs with other prescribed or 'over the counter' medication. Females were significantly likely to mix the two. This study highlights areas where future policies on drugs education may have to be considered.     

Rehabilitation of P.E.M. children

Objective. The High Density Diet (HDD) tested in this study is a diet prepared with indigenous food items and is therefore inexpensive.Methods : Malnourished patients were inducted in three groups. Group A was given only high density diet (HDD) for 7 days and then given routine diet plus HDD for the next 7 days. Group B was given routine diet plus HDD for 14 days. Group C was given only routine diet for 14 days and was the control group.Results : The results were best when HDD was used as a supplement to routine diet (group B). The average weight gain in gm/kg/day for this group was 6, while that for the control group was 2.1. Group A had a weight gain of 4.8 gm/kg/day. Similarly the average caloric intake for the controls was very low throughout the 2-week period, while group B had the best intake, which rose steadily from day one and reached 1200 calories on day 14. Children in group A had a maximum intake of 800 calories in the first week and in the second week this rose up to 1200, equaling that of group B. No case of vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps were reported.Conclusion : The High Density Diet is hence, low in cost, easy to prepare at home by mothers and effective in bringing about rapid weight gain in malnourished children.     

Relationships of Fear of Breast Cancer and Fatalism with Screening Behavior in Women Referred to Health Centers of Tabriz in Iran

Background: Fear and fatalism have been proposed as factors affecting breast cancer screening, but the evidence is not strong. This study aimed to determine relationships of fear and fatalism with breast cancer screening behavior among Tabriz women in Iran. Materials and Methods: In a cross- sectional study, 370 women referred to 12 health centers in Tabriz were selected with two-stage cluster sampling and data regarding breast cancer screening, fatalism and fear of breast cancer were collected respectively with a checklist for screening performance, Champions Fear and Pow Fatalism Questionnaires. Data were analyzed by logistic regression with SPSS software version 16. Results: Only 43% and 23% of participants had undergone breast self- examination and clinical breast examination. Among women older than 40 years, 38.2% had mammography history and only 2.7% of them had done it annually. Although fatalism and fear had a stimulating effects on breast cancer screening performance th relationships were not signi cant (P>0.05). There was a negative significant correlation between fear and fatalism (r= -0.24, p=0.000). On logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.037, p<0.01) and income status (OR= 0.411, p<0.05) significantly explained BSE and age (OR=1.051, p<0.01) and body mass index (OR= 0.879, p<0.01) explained CBE. Also BMI (OR= 0.074, p<0.05) and income status (OR=0.155, p<0.01) was significantly effective for mammography following. Conclusions: Breast cancer screening behavior is inappropriate and affected by family livelihood status and lifestyle leads to weight gain, so that for promoting of screening behavior, economic support to families, lifestyle modification and public education are suggested.     

Spiritual Needs of Patients with Cancer Referred to Alinasab and Shahid Ghazi Tabatabaie Hospitals of Tabriz,Iran

Background: Patients' spiritual needs increase drastically after a diagnosis of cancer because of its threatening nature. It is very important to recognize any spiritual crisis. This study aimed to determine needs among Iranian patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: This crosssectional study was undertaken among 200 patients with cancer referred to Alinasab and Shahid Ghazi Tabatabaie hospitals of Tabriz, Iran. The Spiritual Needs Scale was used for data collection. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.916.4 years. The majority expressed their main spiritual wishes as "think to God", "trust to God", "see others happy", "try for life beside the disease", "to be prayed for by others', and "need for kindness and help others". Regarding the relationship between demographic characteristics, factors related to disease and the total score of spiritual needs, the results of chisquare tests showed a significant statistical correlations with occupation (p0.01) and number of children (p0.03). Also the results of Pearson correlation showed that there is a significant statistical correlation between hospitalization frequency and patients' spiritual needs (p<0.01, r0.24). Conclusions: Determination of spiritual needs of patients with cancer in this study can help health carers and especially nurses to design appropriate spiritual care programs based on individual preferences.     

Teachers’ psychological well-being: a comparison among teachers in U.S.A., Turkey and Pakistan

Assessing teachers’ psychological well-being (PWB) is the first step in protecting teacher’s mental health and providing them an environment that helps flourish their professional and personal development. It is also crucial for good teacher–student interactions, which in turn, may affect student self-efficacy, social abilities, and even mental health. However, research about the subject is limited in the literature, and it lacks comparison of the levels of PWB among teachers from different countries. This study has primarily focused on the variations in teachers’ PWB from three different countries: U.S.A., Turkey, and Pakistan. In total, 403 teachers from U.S.A., 990 teachers from Turkey, and 715 from Pakistan completed the survey that contained demographic questions and the PWB scale. Results indicated that the U.S. sample had the highest PWB means followed by teachers in Turkey and in Pakistan, respectively. Results are discussed in light of the literature and implications are presented.     

Effects of a group circuit progressive resistance training program compared with a treadmill training program for adolescents with cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine whether goal-directed group circuit progressive resistance exercise training (GT) can improve motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare outcomes with a treadmill training (TT) intervention. Methods: In a multi-centered matched pairs study, 95 adolescents with spastic CP (GMFCS II-III) were allocated to GT or TT interventions for 30 bi-weekly one hour training. Outcome measures of GMFM-66, GMFM-D%, GMFM-E%, TUG, 10 meter walk test (10 MWT), and 6 minute walk test (6 MWT) were made at baseline (T1), after interventions (T2) and 6 months post training (T3). Results: Both training programs induced significant improvement in all outcome measures (T2–T1) that were mostly retained at T3. At the end of the intervention, the GT group showed an advantage in all measured changes compared to the TT group and in percentage changes. Differences were significant (p < 0.02) for GMFM-66, GMFM-D%, GMFM-E% and TUG. The advantage trend for the GT group was less apparent at follow up (T3–T1). Conclusion: Both programs were effective in improving motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy. The GT program had generally greater benefits based on the functional measures.     

Concurrent assessment of calpain and caspase3 activities in brains of mice with acetaminophen-induced acute hepatic encephalopathy

To develop pharmacological therapy for acute hepatic encephalopathy (AHE), understanding the molecular basis for cell injury is essential. Excitotoxic neural cell injury mediated by calpain as a post- receptor mechanism has been proposed as a player in neuronal injury in AHE. Concurrent assessment of Calpain and Caspase3 activities in the brain of AHE mice in acetaminophen- induced mourine model was performed. After induction of AHE by acetaminophen in mice, the model was confirmed by histopathological, biochemical and behavioural studies. The brains were removed, western blot analysis was done and the relative activity of calpain and caspase was estimated and compared to control group calpain but not caspase 3 activity was significantly increased in the AHE group compared to the control brains. Experimentally, this finding is the first to report. Increased calpain activity in liver has been previously reported. To translate both finding it can be suggested that calpain inhibition can be an investigational intervention in saving lives in AHE. To confirm the results, besides more advanced toxicodynamic studies on acetaminophen, the results should be confirmed in other models of AHE in future.