---

Introduction: The reported 12 months prevalence of low back pain in nurses ranges from 43% to 76%. In most researches physical factors were only a part of high prevalence of low back pain in nurses. This study was conducted to determine the association between occupational stress and low back pain in nurses. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 80 nurses as case group and 80 nurses as control group were selected via convenience sampling. Case group were defined as those subjects who had experienced low back pain in the last 12 months. Control group were defined as those subjects who had not experienced low back pain in the last 12 months. A questionnaire was used for data collection which consistsed of 3 sections: demographic information, history of low back pain and occupational stress. Data was analyzed using paired T, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square tests, correlation coefficient and one way ANOVA Results: Results indicated that, there was an association between low back pain and occupational stress (p<0/01).Also an association existed between low back pain and working hours per month (p<0/05). Statistical tests showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, marital status, number of childbirth, number of pregnancy, smoking, sport, work shift, number of years spent in the hospital (nursing experience). Conclusion: Results indicated that occupational stress in case group was more than control group. Since there was not any significant difference between other factors and low back pain, it can be concluded that there is an association between low back pain and occupational stress.

---

Introduction: The use of complementary and alternative therapy is increasing and touch is one of them but several studies have indicated that premature neonates hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit receive very little touch. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of touch on arterial blood oxygen saturation in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with repeated measures that was performed on 37 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. An information record form was used for data collection. The information record form was consisted of two parts: demographic information and a table for recording oxygen saturations. Oxygen saturation was measured by Nelkor pulse oxy meter. Information was collected in 3 sequential days. Arterial blood oxygen saturation was controlled 5 minutes before touch, then samples undergone 5 minutes touch and then in 5 and 15 minute intervals arterial blood oxygen saturation was controlled again. Data was analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. Results: Findings showed that in the first day, arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/67, 95/91, 96 respectively. In second day, arterial blood and oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/72, 96/05, 96/08 respectively. In third day, arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/75, 96/16, 96/13 respectively. Arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 and 15 minutes after touch were more than 5 minutes before touch in each 3 day(p<0.01). But there was no significant difference between 5 and 15 minutes after touch. Data analysis also showed no significant difference comparing arterial blood oxygen saturation in the 3 days. Conclusion: Findings suggested that premature neonates physiologically responded to touch. Nurses working in NICUs must be educated about the importance of touch in providing care for these neonates. Findings showed that touch is useful for premature neonates and this fact can be a start point for other investigations.

---

Background: Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common infections in women at reproductive age. Although metronidazole is recommended as the first-line treatment, it has various side effects which make it difficult for patients to continue the treatment. Thus, the need is felt for finding a medication with fewer side effects. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of micosin vaginal cream (made of garlic) and metronidazole vaginal gel on treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical trial which was conducted on 100 married women, aged 18-44, whose infection with bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed through clinical Amsel criteria. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 50 persons each: Micosin vaginal cream and metronidazole vaginal gel. Patients identified with tricamona or candidiadis infections were excluded from the study. Treatment period in each group lasted for seven days. Clinical Amsel criteria and patient complaints were again checked 2 to 7 days after completion of the treatment period, and the side-effects were registered. Results: Following the treatment with micosin vaginal cream and metronidazole vaginal gel, patient complaints and clinical Amsel criteria showed a significant decrease (p<0.05), in a way that clinical recovery rates in micosin and metronidazole groups were 80% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion: Micosin vaginal cream seems to be an appropriate alternative for metronidazole vaginal gel in treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

---

Background: Preeclampsia is one of major reasons of mortality in mother and child and its early diagnosis is one of the most important parts of health care during pregnancy. The current study was done to find the relationship between hemoglobin and hematocrit in the first trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of preeclampsia in women referring to Milad Hospital in Tehran in 2009-2010. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 700 pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy, selected by convenience sampling. Prenatal tests were run in Milad Hospital and the results were recorded. Then samples were monitored for preeclampsia until delivery. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18 (P < 0.05). Results: The highest percentage of research groups suffering from preeclampsia was in hemoglobin ≥12/5% g/dl and hematocrit of ≥38% group. There was a significant relationship between hemoglobin and hematocrit levels during the first trimester of pregnancy and preeclampsia (P<0.001, P=0.002). Hemoglobin of ≥ 12.45 g/dl presented a sensitivity of 85%, the specificity of 43.04%, positive predictive value of 9.63%, and negative predictive value of 97.57%. Hematocrit of ≥ 38% presented the sensitivity of 77.5%, the specificity of 50.71, the positive predictive value of 10.1%, and the negative predictive value of 96.93%. Conclusion: The presence of high hemoglobin and hematocrit in the first trimester of pregnancy can be a predictive factor for diagnosing preeclampsia

---

Background: Nowadays, cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world and mutagens cause death in millions of patients. Noticing the side effects of the drugs used to treat cancer, scientists are looking for drugs with fewer side effects and more therapeutic effects. Accordingly, the number of studies in this field is rapidly increasing. This study was done to evaluate the effects of antimutagenesis of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of A. vera leaf gel and latex by Ames test against the mutagenic substance named sodium azid in the presence and absence of microsomal homogenates of rat liver (S9). Materials and Methods:In this experimental study, after preparing different extracts of A. vera gel and latex, the antimutagenic effect of different extracts was assessed by Ames test, within which a mutant strain was grown on a culture containing mutagen substance (NaN3). Antimutagen (A. vera extract) reduced reversed mutation. The difference between the mean number of revertants per plate in relation to the mutagens was analyzed through one-way ANOVA using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that the ethanol extract of latex and aqueous extract of gel had the maximum (91%) and minimum (56%) percentages of inhibition, respectively. Conclusion: This assessment revealed strong antimutagenicity effect for all of the extracts due to the presence of different kinds of antioxidants substances such as various anthraquinones, flavonoids, and vitamins A, C, and E. The maximum inhibition of mutation was observed in ethanol extract of latex. This observation supports the results obtained from the application of microsome mixture as well as those reported by other researchers.

---

Background: Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vireh. or gray mangrove tree, belonging to the family Avicenniaceae, has long been used as a remedy to treat ulcers and skin diseases. In the present study, the antimutagenic activities of young and mature leaf extracts of Avicennia marina against the mutated bacterium Salmonella typhimurium TA100 were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the bacterial strain was checked for the intended genotypes. Leaves were isolated, dried, and chopped finely using a blender and they were extracted with 80% ethanol or water using a Soxhlet extractor. Metabolic activation was prepared from male rat homogenized liver. Antimutagenic effect of the extracts was tested using Ames test in the presence of a mutagen. Results: The number of mutant colonies decreased in the presence of both ethanol and water extracts with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolic activation. The ethanolic extract exhibited a higher antimutagenic activity than the water extract. There were no inter-assay differences in the presence and absence of the S9 mixture. The highest (71%) and the lowest (24%) inhibition rates of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 bacterial growth were observed with the ethanolic extract of mature leaves from Bordekhon region and the aqueous extract of young leaves from Assaluyeh region, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that Avicennia marina (Forssk) Vireh. leaf extracts may contain bioactive compounds that can inhibit mutation, and that biotic and/or abiotic stress might have an effect on the antimutagenic potential of these leaf extracts in the two regions.

---

Background: Some clinical trials have revealed the effects of Matricaria chamomilla on premenstrual syndrome symptoms. This study was done to compare the effects of Matricaria chamomilla extract and mefenamic acid on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

Materials and Methods: In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, 90 students completed daily rating form for the diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and its severity for two consecutive cycles. After verification, they were randomly divided into two equal groups. The participants received one 100 mg capsule of Matricaria chamomillaor 250 mg mefenamic acid three times daily from day 21 of menstrual cycle till the beginning of the menstruation. They completed the daily symptom rating form at the same time.

Results: General severity reduction of symptoms was significantly greater among Matricaria chamomilla extract users (25±13.8 and 28±14.5%) than that among mefenamic acid users (14.8±18.5 and 16.2±18.2%) after the first and second cycles (p<0.05). Severity of emotional symptoms was significantly higher among Matricaria chamomilla extract users (30.1±26.6 and 33.4±25.3%) than that among mefenamic acid-users (11.6±25.7 and 10.7±26.8%) after two cycles intervention (p>0.05).Reduction of physical symptoms was not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Matricaria chamomilla reduces the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome symptoms during treatment. Matricaria chamomilla effect on the severity of general and emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome symptoms is greater than that of mefenamic acid.

---

Background: Genital tract infections are one of the main causes of frequent referrals to gynecological clinics. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second common infectious vaginitis. On the other hand, probiotics are microorganisms that can have beneficial effects on the host. Noticing the limited number of studies reporting new treatments for this disease, the present study was designed to compare the effects of the combination of fluconazole and oral protexin and fluconazole on the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Materials and Methods: A double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 90 women who were referred to the 12-e-Bahman Clinic in 2011. The patients were randomly classified into "combination of fluconazole and oral protexin" or "fluconazole and placebo" groups. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and McNemar’s test).

Results: The combinations, fluconazole-oral protexin and fluconazole-placebo, were equally effective in reduction of complaints and symptoms however, the effect of fluconazole-oral protexin on dysuria was more (p=0.02). Also, the fluconazole-oral protexin combination elicited a better therapeutic response (p=0.01). In addition, fluconazole-oral protexin combination treatment demonstrated a better recovery time (p=0.04).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that complementary treatment with probiotic lactobacillus increased the efficacy of fluconazole in treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Further research, however, is suggested.

---

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the leading causes of low quality of life and iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age. This study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effects of mefenamic acid and the hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica on the volume of bleeding in heavy menstrual bleeding.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 90 women with heavy menstrual bleeding were selected and after a control cycle for evaluating the primary bleeding volume, using Excel software, were randomly allocated to Urtica dioica or control groups. Both groups were subjected to mefenamic acid treatment with 500 mg every 8 hours, from the first day to the end of bleeding, up to seven days, for two consecutive cycles. In Urtica dioica group, in addition to mefenamic acid, Urtica dioica capsules, five per day, two in the morning, two at noon, and one at night (every eight hours), from the first day to the end of bleeding, up to seven days, were prescribed. In the control group, instead of Urtica dioica capsules, placebo of Urtica dioica was prescribed with the same order. Data on the amount of bleeding (using PLBAC chart) was checked and compared by SPSS software.

Results: The amount of bleeding before and after treatment, between and within groups, was compared. The obtained results showed that the amount of bleeding reduced significantly in both groups after treatment (p=0.001). The reduction of bleeding amount in the Urtica dioica group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p=0.010).

Conclusion: It seems the extract of Urtica dioica can be effective in reducing the amount of bleeding in women of reproductive age with heavy menstrual bleeding. This drug, due to its short course of prescription, fewer side effects, and not having hormonal effects, seems to be an effective drug for treating heavy menstrual bleeding.