---

Background and Aim: one of the main criterion in developing a society is neonatal mortality rate. Weight is the most sensitive growth criterion and one way to survey health is to measure it. To examine the effect of touch intervention on the weight gain of preterm infants who were admitted in NICU of Imam Reza and Qaem hospitals in Mashhad. Materials and Methods: This study was done on 40 stable preterm infants. Touch intervention (consist of strocking/ passive limb movement for three 15 – minute periods per day for a 10 days) was provided to 20 preterm infants (mean gestational age, 31.3 weeks mean birth weight, 1299g).And the weight gain were compared a group of 20 control infants (mean gestational age, 30.9 weeks mean birth weight, 1321g).` Results:over the 10 – day study period, the treatment groups gained significantly more weight compared to the control group (P <0.001). Conclusion:These data suggest that strocking / passive limb movement can be a cost effective way of faciliating growth in stable preterm infants.

---

Abstract Background and Aim: Health is a valuable gift that God has given to human. Health and the relationship between mind and body have been discussed in all of the time from the creation of mankind. The certain personality characteristics including personality type and hardiness are a major factor in relationship between stress and health which person evaluation of stressful situations of life and coping mechanism too, that are much dependent in personality characteristics. Hardiness is a personality characteristic that is mediating and facilitating a stressful life events and psychological problem. The purpose of this research was the study of relationship between personality type/hardiness and health in students who are educating in Gonabad Islamic Azad University in 2004. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlative cross-sectional study was used a three variable, one group design. The relationship between personality type/hardiness and health among 376 students were examined. 376 students were selected by stratified random sampling. Instruments: sample selection form, a demographic questionnaire, Eysenck personality inventory (introversion, psychoticism, neuroticism), Ahvaz hardiness scale (challenge, commitement, control), A36-item short form (sf-36) that was provided by WHO for health assessment have been used to measure the variable. Data was collected by the above instruments during one simester. Results: There was a significant direct correlation between hardiness and health (r=0.672, P<0.001) also a significant indirect correlation between introversion and health (r=-0.153, P=0.003), psychoticism and health (r=-0.631, P<0.001), and Neuroticism and health (r=-0.601, P<0.001). Conclusion: As it was found that hardiness as personality characteristics plays an important role in health, it is suggested that using the educating method will be addressed as the best, improvement strategy for health in students.

---

Background and Aim: Prostate cancer is mainly an old men disease. This cancer in its early stage is curable therefore if one knows this fact he may obtain a positive attitude and practice to prevent the disease. We decided therefore, to study the knowledge, attitude and practice of men pensioners in Rafsanjan towards prevention of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on 400 pensioners who were selected randomly. A questionnaire that divided into 4 parts including demographic information, knowledge, attitude and practice towards prevention of prostate cancer was applied for each person. After collecting the questionnaires, the information entered into SPSS version 13. In order to analyze the data descriptive statistics (tables) and analytical statistics (Chi2 and Fisher's exact tests) have been applied. Results: Findings of this study have shown that 55% (n=220) have good knowledge, 39.8% (n=159) have positive attitude and 6.7% (n=27) have good practice towards prevention of prostate cancer. Furthermore, the direct associations have seen between knowledge and attitude, attitude and practice, knowledge and practice. However, only the association between knowledge and attitude was not statistically valid. Conclusion: Given that knowledge has a positive effect on attitude and attitude has also a positive effect on practice, we should train high risk persons to improve their attitude and practice towards prevention of prostate cancer.

---

Background and Aim: Delivery is potentially associated with stress. Maternal stress and anxiety stemulate sampatic system and result in changes in vital sings. These changes can have undesirable effects on maternal and fetal health. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of massage on physiologic responses among parturient women attending Bentolhoda Maternity in Bojnord city in 2005. Materials and Methods: In this randomized single blind clinical research, 62 healthy primiparous women with a normal pregnancy such as gestational age between 37-42 weeks, single tone pregnancies and vertex presentation were chosen for experimental and control groups. Sampling was made by purposive method. The experimental group received 30 -minutes directional , reasonably firm and rhythmic effleurage massage in the back ,foot or both and control group received 30- minutes routine nursing cares in the active phase of labor (cervix dilation 5-7 cm). Vital sings between two groups were compared before and after 30 minutes intervention in the active phase. Consequently the data were analysed using SPSS soft ware. Result: Findings showed that all variables decrease after massage therapy. there were statistically significant differences in systolic blood Pressure (P=0.04) and respiratory rate (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this research midwives can use massage for providing relaxation and alleviate physiologic responses to labor in parturient women.

---

Background and Aim: The certain personality characteristics including hardiness and locus of Control are mediating and facilitatively a stressful life events and psychology problems such as burnout due to work. Nursing has always been a stressful profession and nurses are therefore prone to high degree of burnout, but the majority of studies in this field have emphasis on other factors on preventing of burnout and we can rarely find a study which addressed personality factors as a mediator / moderator for burnout. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive – correlative study the relationship between hardiness / locus of control and burnout among 300 full time nurses were examined. 300 nurses were selected randomly. instruments: sample selection form , demographic inventory , Ahvaz hardiness scale , Rotter,s locus of control scale , Tedium burnout scale have been used to measure the variables. Results: In this study 300 nurses was cooperated with an average age 25-53 years that was 214 ( %71/3) female and 86(%28/7) male data analysis indicated that no differences in burnout were found to sex(p=0.1) and Pearson correlation indicated that burnout scores were not significantly associated with age .A significant negative correlation was found between hardiness and burnout(r=-0.52, p=0.000) and a significant positive correlation was found between external locus of control and burnout (r=0.44, p=0.000) and a significant correlation was found between internal locus of control and burnout . (r = - 0.42, p= 0.000) Conclusion: As it was found that hardiness as personality characteristics plays an important role in burnout and predicts the majority of variances in burnout it is suggested that using the formal-informal training method which hardiness components will be addressed is the best Preventing strategy for burnout in nurses.

---

Background and Aim: Several studies have shown that some neurotransmitters such as opioid and nitric oxide (NO) influence animals' nutritional behavior and their central or peripheral administration can alter some behaviors. These two transmitters occasionally have interactions. This study examined the interaction of L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl-ester(L-NAME)a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, on the food intake of male rats following morphine injection. Materials and Methods: 48 male rats with 250- 300g weight were randomly used in 6 different equal groups. Drugs were injected 12 h after fasting and during light phase. Then the animals were put in the test cages indusial, and allowed to intake ad lib food while the amount of food consumption was measured at each 15 min interval up to 1 h and this measurement continued at 4 h later. Results: Our study showed that the administration of morphine (5 mg/ kg/ s.c.) suppressed rat's food intake during the early 60 first minutes, but increased their consumption during 4 h late period of the test. Administration of L-arginine (50 mg/ kg/ i.p) and morphine increased food consumption in compared with morphine administration individually. L-NAME (50 mg/ kg/ i.p) reduced the amount of food intake and attenuate the hyperphagic effect of morphine, especially for 4 h of late time of the test. Conclusion: This result supports the idea that the nitric oxide and opiates systems have strong synergic interactions on animal's nutritional behavior. The mechanism of these interactions may be triggered through the effect of the nitric oxide and opiates on dopaminergic, glutaminergic and serotonergic neural pathways. More studies are necessary for accepting or declining of these mechanisms.

---

Aims: Epilepsy is one of the common neurological disorders. Today, there are many drugs for treatment of this disease, which most of these chemical drugs have harmful effects on patients’ health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of dill (Anethum graveolens) seeds on the pentylenetetrazole-induced chemical kindling.

Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 50balb/c male mice weighting 25-35g. Mice were divided into five groups of 10. Three experimental groups received hydroalcoholic extract of dill seeds by three concentrations of 150, 300 and 600mg/kg of the animals’ body weight. Positive control group received diazepam (3mg/kg) instead of the extract. Likewise, negative control groups received sterile normal saline (6mg/kg) instead of the extract. In order to exactly compare the different concentrations of the drug and extract on the times after injection on the paroxysm values, ANOVA and supplementary Tukey test as well as SPSS 18 software were used.

Results: At doses of 150 and 300mg/kg, dill had desirable inhibitory effect on the epileptic behavior of animals at different days (p<0.01). Moreover, at dose of 600mg/kg, it favorably inhibited the mice’ epileptic movements (p<0.01).

Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of dill seeds has antiepileptic (anti-seizure) effect at dose of 600mg/kg on mice.

---

Aims: Endotracheal intubation is a process that typically done in intensive care unit and emergency rooms by physicians, nurses and health care personnel. Because several factors such as positive pressure ventilation, duration of intubation, temperature and body movements can cause the cuff pressure changes, this study was done to evaluate the relationship between temperature and cuff pressure of endotracheal tube.

Methods: This single-group correlation study was performed in the middle 6 months of 2011 in intensive care units and emergency departments’ patients of local hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and 70 patients with an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy (with cuff) connected to mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Inventory data collected from the endotracheal tube cuff pressure and temperature were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software using Pearson and Spearman correlation, general linear model coefficients, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results: Endotracheal cuff pressure was abnormal in 80% of cases. There was a positive significant difference between endotracheal tube cuff pressure which was measured at 10 different times and the temperature change (p=0.001). No interactive effects were observed in every 10 measurements, between temperature and inspiratory oxygen percentage and endotracheal cuff pressure (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Endotracheal tube cuff pressure of most patients is outside the standard range. The temperature affects the endotracheal tube cuff pressure.

  

---

Aims: Endotracheal intubation is an invasive technique which is associated with severe cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to compare the effects of lidocaine 10% spray on the laryngoscope blade with intravenous lidocaine on cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in elective surgical patients. Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial that is performed in 2013, 90 candidates of elective surgery in Gonobad City, Iran hospitals were randomly divided to three groups control (no drugs were used), intravenous lidocaine (three minutes before laryngoscopy) and lidocaine 10% (just before laryngoscopy). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded immediately before, immediately after, and 1, 3 and 5min after laryngoscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 by repeated ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. Findings: There were significant differences in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure between control group and each intravenous lidocaine and lidocaine 10% groups after laryngoscopy (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in any of the three variables between intravenous and spray groups. No significant difference was found between the three groups in heart rate (p=0.16). Conclusion: Compared with intravenous lidocaine administration, lidocaine 10% spray on the laryngoscope blade lead to better stability in blood pressure after laryngoscopy, but has no effect on the heart rate.

---

Aims: Diabetes is the most prevalent metabolic disease in human being. Self-care is the most important way of preventing complications. This study aimed at investigating the effects of peer-education on quality of life in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
Materials & Methods: This semi experimental study was conducted at a diabetes clinic affiliated to Gonabad University of medical sciences, Iran in 2017 among 80 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were selected based on available sampling method, and they were randomly divided into two groups, namely intervention and control (40 patients each group). The data of all patients were collected by demographic and disease information questionnaire and diabetic patient quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. The present study was carried out in three main steps: In the first step (before intervention), peers were trained by the researcher during four sessions. In the second step (intervention), quality of life of patients was assessed before training; then, patients in intervention group were trained and instructed during three sessions; the control group received the usual instruction, too. In the third step (one month later), quality of life of patients in both groups was assessed. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistics software Version 20, using Chi-square, Fisher, independent t test, paired t test, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon.
Findings: The mean scores of quality of life in intervention group did not have any significant difference with control group before instruction (p>0.05). After instruction, the mean scores of quality of life in the intervention group compared with the control group increased significantly (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Peer education improves quality of life in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
 

---

---

Aims: Fertility is an important factor for population growth and its proportion. Regarding the overall decrease in the total fertility rate in Iran and reaching below the replacement rate, this study aimed at determining the effect of the education based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on women’s fertility intention.
Methods & Materials: This interventional study was conducted on 100 pregnant women of reproductive age covered by the Gonabad community health centers. The subjects were selected through two-stage cluster sampling and randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups (n=50 per group). Data were analyzed using SPSS V. 20 and Independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test.
Findings: There was no significant difference between the demographic characteristics of the subjects in the experimental and control groups. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean score of the theoretical constructs between the two groups. After the intervention, the mean score of attitude (P=0.014), perceived behavioral control (P=0.042), and behavioral intention (P=0.005) were significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion: The results showed that the educational intervention based on TPB could positively affect the fertility intention of single-child women. Hence, it is suggested to use this model in educational programs related to population growth policy and to plan interventions encouraging couples to have another child.