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Background and Objective: Constraint induced movement therapy is an approach that with limitation of the healthy upper limb movement of a person with hemiplegia obligate to use the affected limb. This study was done to determine the modified constraint induced movement therapy on quality of upper extremity skills in affected limb in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: This single blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 21 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy referred to rehabilitation centers in Tehran-Iran during 2008. Samples randomly were divided into experimental (n=11) and control (n=10). Common therapeutic physical practice was carried out for 6 weeks in both groups equally. In treatment group intervention was practiced by constrain induced movement therapy methods for 3 hours daily. Quality of upper extremity skills pre and post intervention based on the quality of upper extremity skills test (QUEST) was evaluated. Data were analyzed by SPSS-16 software, Kolmogrov-Smirnoff, chi-square, T student and repeated measurement tests. Results: Mean age of children in the experimental group (7 girls, 4 boys) and control group children (5 female, 5 male) were 46.55±17.5 and 48.10±19.2 months respectively. Internal analysis of all items in interventional group were significant after 6 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). but in control group only grasp item was significant (P<0.05). Analysis between two groups did not show any significant difference in total and subtitle score including dissociated movement, weight bearing and protective extension. But only grasp subtitle showed significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that modified constraint induced movement therapy only affect in quality of grasp.

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Background and Objective: The silent brain infarctions are common in first-ever stroke. Some recent studies show the possible role of silent brain infarction in ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of silent brain infarction in acute first-ever ischemic stroke and its association with stroke risk factors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive - analytical study was carried out on 203 (94 males, 109 females) patients with acute first-ever ischemic stroke in Shafa hospital in Kerman, Iran during 2010. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke was made by physical examination and was confirmed by MRI and CT Scan. A questionnaire containing demographic information and risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease for stroke as well as presence of silent stroke was completed for each patient. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and logistic regression test. Results: The mean age of patients was 62.56±17.35 years. Among our patients history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, diabetes, history of ischemic heart disease, history of other cardiac disease and silent stroke were observed in 66 (32.5%), 26 (12.8%), 16 (7.9%), 40 (19.7%), 27 (13.3%), 16 (7.9%) and 31 (15.3%), respectively. The probability of silent stroke among patient with hyperlipidemia, was 3.7 times more than those without hyperlipidemia (95%CI: 1.556-12.780, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between silent stroke and the above risk factors. Conclusion: Silent stroke was found in 15% of patients with ischemic stroke. Control of hyperlipidemia can have a vital role in the prevention of silent stroke.

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Background and Objective: Ferula gummosa Boiss. (Barije.) contain medical and antimicrobial properties. This study was done to determine the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of roots of Ferula gummosa Boiss. on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the plant was dried in dark place and aqueous, alcoholic extracts of Barije's root, powder were prepared using Soxhlet method. The efficacy of 0.1 dilution of different values of extracts of Ferula gummosa Boiss. on the strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PTCC 1430) were evaluated by disk diffusion, Agar-well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was completely resistant to the aqueous extract, and the MIC for the methanol and ethanol extracts was 1.25×10⁴ μg/ml and 6.25×10³ μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Ferula gummosa Boiss. have antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in in-vitro model.

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Background and Objective: Thalassemias is the most common inherited disease in the world. This study was designed to assess general health of patients with beta-thalassemia major in Gorgan, northern Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 163 patients with beta-thalassemia major whom referred to Thalghani hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran. Socio-Psychosocial status of patients was assessed by using general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Results: Socio-Psychosocial status of 44.2%, 46% and 9.8% of patients was normal, suspected and suffered from psychosocial disorders, respectively. Social dysfunction (12.9%) and depression (10.4%) were the most prevalent and anxiety was the less prevalent (4.9%) in the patients. There were significant correlations between psychosocial status and mother’s ocupation (P<0.05), patients level of education (P<0.05) and history of associated diseases (P<0.05). Conclusion: Social dysfunction and depression were the two major general health complications in beta-thalassemia patients in this region.

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Background and Objective: Due to high prevalence of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and its effect on the educational, professional activities and familial behaviors, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of clinical manifestations of pre-menstrual syndrome and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder in medical students. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was done on 162 female medical students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, Iran during 2010. Demographic characteristics and PMS and PMDD clinical manifestations questionnaire based on DSM-IV-TR and ACOG criteria was filled for each subject. Results: Mean age and menarche age of subjects was 22.2±2.5 and 13.3±1.2 years, respectively. 145 students (89.5%) were single. 57.4% and 22.8% of participants fulfilled the criteria of PMS and PMDD, respectively. The most frequent affective and somatic symptom was lethargy and fatigability (57.4%) followed by sensation of bloating and weight gain (45.7%). The lowest frequent somatic and affective symptoms were dyspnea (8%) and insomnia (1.2%), respectively. There was significant correlation between the prevalence of PMDD and chronical and menarche age (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pre-menstrual syndrome is a prevalent disorder in medical students of Golestan University of medical sciences in Iran.